How strong is humans' will to inflict pain?

If someone told you to press a button to deliver a 450-volt electrical shock to an innocent person in the next room, would you do it? Common sense may say no, but decades of research suggest otherwise. full story

Health Tip: Pain Reliever Side Effects

(HealthDay News) -- Before you take a pain reliever for conditions such as headache, sinusitis, muscle or joint pain, make sure you know about the potential side effects.

The American Academy of Family Physicians says you should talk to your doctor about these potential risks of pain medications:

• Liver damage can occur in people who take large quantities of acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol), or in those who already have liver problems.


• Gastrointestinal problems -- such as ulcer, gastrointestinal bleeding or upset stomach -- can occur in people who take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for long periods. NSAIDs include aspirin and ibuprofen.


• Kidney damage, if NSAIDs are used frequently for long periods.


• NSAIDs may interact with medicines that people take to combat high blood pressure.


• NSAIDs can also elevate blood pressure on their own.


• In rare cases, people can be allergic to pain medications.

How I'm Battling Supermarket Sticker Shock

A health-conscious eater learns to trim the fat from her budget
by Julie Upton, RD

I don't believe in skimping on good food, but my supermarket bill yesterday has forced me to confront my inner cheapskate.

My weekly shopping bill is usually just over $130, with a few odds and ends picked up midweek and the occasional meal out. This week, however, the tab was almost $165—a 27% increase. I rechecked to see if we had bought something pricey like steak or wine. No and no. The escalation of food costs has made news virtually daily, and according to the Consumer Price Index, food costs have increased more in the first quarter of 2008 than they have since 1990—and there's no sign of them heading south anytime soon.

Some of my big-ticket items were cage-free eggs ($5), organic milk ($3.50), imported cheese ($4.50), artisan seven-grain bread ($5.50), and New Zealand apples ($6). And I don't want to give most of them up.

So I researched some ways of putting my grocery shopping on a diet without ruining my healthy diet. I refuse to either spend Sundays clipping coupons or head to big-box retailers, where you can easily save 30% or more on food items, so here is what I'm doing to trim some of the fat from my weekly shopping budget.

Make a List
According food marketing specialist Phil Lempert: "Surveys of supermarketguru.com readers show that list makers spend 40% less when grocery shopping." Now I hope I can stick to only what's on the list.

Brown Bag It
Unlike my mother, who loves to cook and prefers cooking to eating out, I am not much of a cook. However, the best way to s-t-r-e-t-c-h my food budget is to eat in more often. My takeout lunch is around $10, but I can make a sandwich or have soup and salad at home for around $2.

Shop Full
I'm usually pretty disciplined when I go food shopping, but when I'm hungry I wind up with a cart filled with foods that curb my carb cravings: snack bars, pretzels, and more crackers than I know what do to with. These convenience foods are among the most expensive in the supermarket and add little nutritional value to my diet. So next time I go shopping, I'll avoid temptation and go on a full stomach.

Eating Green to Save Green
I'm going to stick to my vegetarian ways even more so now, because the foods that cost the most per serving are high-quality proteins (aka beef, poultry, and seafood). Consider this: Salmon costs about $.62/ounce and beans cost .$04/ounce, making the salmon 15 times more expensive than the beans. And, when I do eat meat, I'll make it go further financially by adding in a lot more vegetables to the dish.

Head to the Farmer's Market
I'm going to try to kick my daily New Zealand apple and South American banana habit. Living in California means that I have great locally grown berries available right now, as well as plenty of veggies. Eating in season can save you $2/pound on many fruits and vegetables. Right now, I can get fresh California-grown strawberries for less than $1/pound, whereas imported blueberries from Chile were $20/pound at the supermarket! Since berries deliver similar nutritional benefits, I'll take the strawberries, thank you.

Compare Prices
Using the unit pricing system (shelf tags), I can do my own price checks on comparable items to see which offers the best deal. Unit pricing provides the price per standard unit, often one ounce. For example, I found Tropicana orange juice costs $.09/ounce but the exotic pomegranate-blueberry juice next to it was .25/ounce—more than twice the price. In the cereal aisle, most big brands were around $.30/ounce but store brands were about $.15/ounce, or half the price.

Let me know if you're feeling my pain in the pocketbook, too—and what you're doing to save some green when shopping.

Chemotherapy Has Turned Me Into a Bloodhound

Cancer drugs scramble the signals that the nose and tongue send to the brain, with bizarre results by Jason Carpenter

When one of the doctors offhandedly mentioned that my sense of taste or smell could be affected by the high-dose chemotherapy treatments I was getting in my battle against multiple myeloma, I didn't pay much attention. Not until I found I could detect the slightest whiff of anything from 20 feet. Not until anything I put in my mouth had a taste so intense that I vomited every meal for two weeks.

It was a horrible cycle that I could not break: When a meal came back up, it smelled awful and made me puke more. My mom, who spent some time at the hospital with me and at my house after I was discharged, developed a two-puke-pan routine: She would remove one pan on my command, then slip another one under me so I didn't have to endure the output.

While in the hospital, I developed a vomit association with just about everything the institution stocked for supplies: bathroom soap, hand soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, and even facial tissue (I could smell tissues rippling in the air across the room). Clearly, some of this was in my head, but a good portion of it was not, according to breastcancer.com.

Thirty-two days after my transplant, I cannot smell hospital supplies without gagging. Because I need to constantly disinfect my hands and face (trying to banish germs that could attack my weakened immune system), I've had to switch to neutral-smelling antibacterial baby wipes. Things are somewhat better: I gag but don’t usually vomit, though I do risk hurling on my laptop just writing this down. I'm told this will slowly ebb over the next weeks or months.

Even my sense of touch has been affected. For the first few post-op visits to the hospital, I nearly jumped out of my skin with pain when the nurse drew blood. I have had my blood drawn hundreds of times, and it's never hurt like this. The nurse noticed and said, "Your nerves are sensitive because of the chemo. It's completely normal."

Normal, my ass. I'm a bloodhound; my food tastes as if someone turned the volume to 11; and I screech like a little girl when I have my blood drawn. But I’ll say it again: I'll take all these wacky side effects over cancer.

As to my progress, I went to the doctor today and my white blood count is back up to 4.1 (close to the low end of normal), my platelets are good, and my red blood cells are charging back. The doctor is so pleased with my recovery that I don't need to see her for three weeks. She even said that I can start to ease the restrictions of being around people. Which means I’m planning to play poker again, tonight, latex gloves and all.

See Jason Carpenter's ongoing video postings about his life with cancer. Warning: Some expletives.

Stem Cell Transplant Update: Advice On Hair Falling Out

Arthroscopic Surgery Eases Tough-to-Treat Tennis Elbow

(HealthDay News) -- Arthroscopic surgery can offer long-term pain reduction and increased mobility for people with tennis elbow, U.S. researchers report.

Of the 30 patients who underwent the surgery and were followed by the researchers for almost 11 years, 93 percent said they would have the procedure again, according to a study slated for presentation Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

An arthroscope is a tiny tube with lenses, a video camera and a small light that allows surgeons to see and work inside a joint without making a big incision. According to the researchers, arthroscopic surgery speeds rehabilitation and has fewer complications than open surgery.

In the study, a team led by Dr. Champ L. Baker III, an orthopaedic resident at the University of Pittsburgh, followed 30 patients who underwent surgery for tennis elbow for 130 months. The patients were enrolled through Hughston Clinic in Columbus, Ga.

"This is the first longitudinal study of arthroscopic treatment of tennis elbow," said Baker in a prepared statement. "The initial success from our original short-term study was maintained long-term. I am happy to say that arthroscopic release is a good treatment option for lingering tennis elbow."

Baker recommends the surgery for people who have suffered with the condition for more than a year but have found no relief through other approaches, including rest.

Tennis elbow results from repetitive motions with the arm extended and the wrist moving up and down. In addition to playing tennis, lifting heavy boxes, long-term keyboard use and shaking hands on the campaign trail can all cause the condition.

More information
To learn more about elbow injuries and disorders, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Frying Tumors Can Boost Lung Cancer Survival

(HealthDay News) -- Needle-delivered frying or freezing technologies can be useful weapons against both lung and kidney cancers, new research shows.

In one study conducted in France, patients with advanced lung cancer who were not candidates for surgery underwent a procedure known as radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which basically heats the tumors and kills them.

Seventy percent of the patients with lung metastases or primary non-small cell lung cancer were still alive after two years -- similar to results seen after surgery.

Furthermore, 85 percent of patients with non-small cell primary lung cancer treated with RFA had no viable tumors visible on imaging one year later, while 77 percent had no viable tumors after two years.

"It means that you can actually do a very good job of local control of lung tumors in patients who aren't fit for surgery," said Dr. Damian Dupuy, a professor of diagnostic imaging at Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University and director of tumor ablation at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

"The medical establishment, being very conservative, has always said if you aren't fit for surgery you just basically get chemo and radiation and most of the time [they] don't work well and you die of your tumor. But even the most unfit for surgery can have this procedure safely," Dupuy said.

The Brown researcher was not involved in the French study, but his group completed a lung cancer trial last year with similarly good results.

The new study, led by Dr. Thierry de Baere of Institute Gustave Roussy, in Villejuif, France, was to be presented Monday at the annual meeting of the Society for Interventional Radiology in Washington, D.C.

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the United States and a full 25 percent of patients who have operable disease can't undergo surgery because of co-existing conditions, Dupuy noted.

"This is a huge advance for them," he said. "This procedure is done at almost every hospital that has an interventional radiologist, which is most. It's like a lung biopsy."

"If you have to stick a needle in to diagnose lung cancer anyway, why not do it in a single sitting?" Dupuy asked.

Most patients go home the same day, he noted. According to Dupuy, the procedure may also hold promise for pain relief in patients who are dying.

Two other studies presented at the meeting used the other end of the temperature spectrum -- cryoablation -- to successfully freeze and kill kidney cancer tumors.

"This is a minimally invasive, non-surgical cancer treatment without an incision, explained Dr. Christos S. Georgiades, lead author of one of the studies and an assistant professor of radiology and surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. "You put a probe, which is basically a needle, into the tumor, freeze the central volume of the tissue with temperatures close to negative 150 degrees centigrade. The patients don't feel the cold."

In Georgiades' study, the procedure was 95 percent effective for tumors 4 centimeters or smaller and almost 90 percent effective in tumors up to 7 centimeters in diameter after one year. This was in patients with disease that had not yet spread beyond the kidney, he noted.

"The technique has been around for a few years, but we're only now proving that it works," Georgiades said. "Patients have recovery close to that of surgery and many do not have to have surgery. Many procedures are done on an outpatient basis."

The third study, from the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, looked at tumors treated with cryoablation whose average size was 2.8 centimeters. After 1.3 years, most of the tumors still came up on imaging as dead tissue, the team found.

More information
For more on these and other procedures, visit the Society of Interventional Radiologists.

GPS Devices Measure Severity of Peripheral Artery Disease

(HealthDay News) -- The same device that keeps you from getting lost while driving in your car might also give doctors a way to determine the severity of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in patients, French researchers suggest.

People with PAD have clogged leg arteries that cause them severe pain when they walk. In this study, the researchers used Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and a computer spreadsheet to trace and analyze the maximal walking distance (MWD) of 24 PAD patients as they strolled through a public park. MWD is the maximum distance a PAD patient can walk at a normal pace on a flat surface before leg pain forces them to stop.

Currently, a treadmill test is the standard method of determining MWD. However, treadmill assessments are time-consuming, have to be done in vascular laboratories, and may not provide an accurate estimation of MWD or PAD-related disability.

"We found that MWD obtained at a person's usual pace is largely superior to the MWD measured on a treadmill. GPS may allow for a more objective measurement of walking capacity in patients with PAD," study senior author Dr. Pierre Abraham, a physician at the vascular investigation laboratory at University Hospital in Angers, France, said in a prepared statement.

"Patients often report their walking capacity varies from one day to another and also varies from one moment to another within a single stroll," Abraham said.

"GPS allows for the analysis of the distanced walked, of course, but also the speed, duration of resting, and the number of walking bouts over a prolonged recording period," he noted.

However, GPS can't entirely replace treadmills for measuring MWD, Abraham added. That's because treadmill tests are standardized and simultaneously record multiple measurements, such as blood pressure, oxygen consumption and heart rate. In addition, not all PAD patients can do the outdoor GPS test.

PAD affects about 8 million Americans, and people with the vessel disease face a four to five times greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

The study is published in the current issue of Circulation.

More information
The Society for Vascular Surgery has more about peripheral artery disease.

Sleep Problems Plague the Older Set

(HealthDay News) -- Older Americans often have difficulty getting a good night's rest. It's a huge quality-of-life problem, experts say, because contrary to popular belief, seniors require about the same amount of sleep as younger adults.

"Sleep problems and sleep disorders are not an inherent part of aging," said Dr. Harrison G. Bloom, a senior associate at the International Longevity Center-USA and associate clinical professor of geriatrics and medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.

"It's pretty much of a myth that older people need less sleep than younger people."

Yet, in a study published recently in The American Journal of Medicine, researchers found that more than half of older Americans have problems getting the shuteye they need.

Older people tend to have "sleep fragmentation," meaning they wake up more often during the night, said study author Dr. Julie Gammack, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Geriatric Medicine at St. Louis University.

They also seem to get less "REM" sleep, the type of sleep during which rapid eye movement occurs, Bloom added.

It's unclear what role these naturally occurring changes in sleep patterns have on a person's quality of life, Bloom said. "What is important, though, is that older people often have actual sleep disorders and problems with sleep," he said.

And, experts say, there is usually more than one cause.

"Sleep disturbance in older adults is typically associated with acute and chronic illnesses, including specific sleep disorders like sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome that appear with greater frequency in older populations," said Michael V. Vitiello, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and associate director of the University of Washington's Northwest Geriatric Education Center.

As people age, they typically develop more diseases and suffer from aches and pains. "These things can disrupt sleep, so what they may perceive as a sleep disorder may actually relate to the effects of some of their other medical problems," Gammack noted.

Taking multiple medications, as many older people do, can also lead to fatigue and "hypersomnia," or being tired all the time, Bloom added.

Another big problem, he noted, is depression and anxiety. "Those are very commonly associated with sleep problems."

Despite the prevalence of sleep difficulties in older adults, many patients aren't getting the help they need.

"The average physician receives very little training about sleep disorders and typically does not routinely screen patients for them," said Vitiello, who serves on the board of directors of the National Sleep Foundation. This may be due to a lack of time or training or the belief that there is little that can be done to improve sleep, he explained.

As a result, problems like insomnia, restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea and circadian rhythm disorders are underdiagnosed and undertreated, Bloom said.

To rectify the problem, a national coalition of aging, geriatric medicine and sleep organizations is currently developing guidelines to promote prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sleep problems in older adults. The National Coalition for Sleep Disorders in Older People expects to publish its recommendations by mid-2008.

"The reason we're concerned with these [problems], besides a major issue on quality of life and being tired the next day and not functioning properly, is that these sleep disorders are associated with hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary disease, heart disease, depression and anxiety," said Bloom, chairman of coalition's expert task force.

A cause-and-effect relationship has yet to be established between sleep disorders and these chronic health problems, but Bloom suspects they at least contribute to each other. And he believes a causal relationship may be found in years to come.

"This is very, very much a tip-of-the-iceberg problem," he said.

More information
For tips on better sleep, visit the National Sleep Foundation.

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Health Tip: After Hysterectomy

(HealthDay News) - Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure in which a woman's uterus and possibly other female reproductive organs are removed.

Here are guidelines to help you prepare for recovery from a hysterectomy, courtesy of the New York State Department of Health:

• You will have to stay in the hospital at least overnight. The length of your stay will depend on the type of hysterectomy and whether you have complications.
• For a few days after surgery, you may have pain and discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication.
• You should be able to walk on your own within two or three days of surgery.
• You should be able to resume sexual activity after about six to eight weeks.
• You should be able to resume most activities in about four to eight weeks.
• You may tire easily and quickly during your recovery.

Health Tip: Understanding Crohn's Disease

(HealthDay News) - Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulcers to form along the gastrointestinal tract.

Symptoms may range from mild to severe; some severe cases may require surgery.

Here's more information about Crohn's disease, courtesy of the American Academy of Family Physicians:

• Symptoms often include stomach cramps, diarrhea and bloody stools.
• Additional signs may include fatigue, nausea and joint pain.
• For mild forms, antibiotics and drugs called salicylates may help. Steroids are generally prescribed for people with more severe disease.
• Crohn's cannot be cured, but many people who are treated have no symptoms for long periods.

Morphine Painkillers Won't Impair Driving

(HealthDay News) -- Moderate, long-term use of opioid pain medications such as morphine does not impair a person's driving ability, U.S. researchers report.

A team at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago compared two groups of people -- 51 long-term users of oral morphine and 49 who weren't taking any pain medication. All the participants spent about 12 minutes in a driving simulator that measured deviation from the center of the road, weaving, number of accidents, and reaction time to unexpected events.

The average amount of weaving for both groups was 3.83 feet, and the morphine group had 5.33 collisions, compared with 5.04 collisions for the control group. Average reaction time for the morphine group was 0.67 seconds, compared with 0.69 seconds for the control group.

The findings suggest that patients who require long-term pain medication may "become tolerant" to side effects that could potentially impair function, said researcher Dr. Asokumar Buvanendran, an associate professor in the anesthesiology department at Rush.

The study was expected to be presented Oct. 13 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, in San Francisco.

Opioid pain relievers carry warning labels urging patients not to drive or operate heavy machinery while taking the medications, and drivers under the influence of pain drugs are typically subject to the same laws and penalties as people who drink and drive.

According to Buvanendran, this study's findings suggest that patients on long-term pain medication may be able to live "like normal functioning people, without the stigma and limitations now associated with long-term pain medication use."

More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about chronic pain medicines.

Health Tip: Causes of Fainting

(HealthDay News) -- Fainting occurs due to a sudden drop in blood flow to the brain, resulting in brief loss of consciousness. Fainting can be accompanied by dizziness or nausea.
Here are some common triggers, courtesy of the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• Straining during urination or a bowel movement.
• Excessive coughing.
• Standing for too long in the same position, or quickly standing up from a lying position.
• Severe pain, stress, fear or emotional distress.
• Excessive bleeding or dehydration.
• Medications used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, anxiety, allergies and nasal congestion.
• Use of drugs or alcohol.
• Low blood sugar.

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Women Slower to Recover From Knee Surgery

(HealthDay News) -- Women have a more difficult time recovering from knee surgery in the short term than men, according to a new study.

Researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, this weekend also noted that people with osteoarthritis have a tougher time recovering from knee surgery during the first year after the procedure.

These factors are different from those that affect long-term recovery, such as tear size, amount of tissue removed, advanced patient age and obesity.

In the study, Yale University medical student Peter Fabricant and colleagues studied 126 patients who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery.

"We couldn't find anything in the literature to predict recovery during the first year," said Fabricant in a prepared statement. "Physicians need to be able to discuss with patients how long it might be before they can return to optimal function levels in work and activities of daily living."

The researchers noted that osteoarthritis may be a marker for worse overall knee function and suggested that patients with severe osteoarthritis should not have knee surgery because of the cartilage and soft tissue they have already lost.

The investigators could not explain how gender complicates recovery, except to note that gender might affect the way in which the original injury occurred. Women in the study reported more knee pain and decreased function prior to the surgery than men.

More information
To learn more about osteoarthritis, visit the U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Steam & Sauna Bathing Offers Multiple Rejuvenating & Healing Benefits

Written by The International Steam Therapy Association

Part 1
Most people laugh when they hear that the Finnish Olympic team lugs a portable sauna with them wherever they go. However, the fair-haired Nordic athletes might be doing more than simply acting out a home-sick longing for the slender birch trees and island dotted lakes of the homeland. They could be on to a secret, non-drug-induced means of giving themselves an edge in the fierce competition of modern-day Olympics.

Although most people simply consider it a pleasant means of relaxation, sweat therapy might in fact have powerful heath-enhancing effects.

In the test of time is any measure, steam bathing has certainly withstood it. For thousands of years people of all cultures have indulged in the soothing warmth of sweat baths. The Romans are well-known for their elaborate baths. The wealthy of 200 B.C. India did not consider their mansion complete unless it included a bathhouse with a steam room. The Muslim Hamman, or bathhouse, with its domed, central steam chamber is stall an integral part of life in Muslim countries. A derivation of the Hamman, the Turkish bath, has been popular in Europe for centuries.

Today, steam and sauna facilities are an integral part of the hydrotherapeutic offerings at European and American spas, and steam rooms and saunas are a common feature of health clubs and public pools. Yet, there is surprisingly little awareness of the wide ranging benefits of steam and sauna bathing. There is evidence that these sweat-inducing treatments stimulate the immune system, improve circulation, and help the body to purge itself of impurities.
Hippocrates, the founder of Western medicine more than two-thousand years ago said, "Give me the power to create a fever, and I shall cure any disease."

Although often misunderstood as a symptom of disease, fever actually is a part of the body's natural healing response. Steam baths, sauna, and other heat-inducing treatments elicit similar healing responses in the body, and consequently are often called "artificial fevers".

During a fever, the functioning of the immune system is stimulated, while the growth of bacteria and virus is forced to slow down. The production of white blood cells, the primary agents of the immune system, is increased, as is the rate of their release into the blood stream. The generation of antibodies speeds up, as does the production of interferon, an anti viral protein that also has powerful cancer-fighting properties.

Apart from stimulating the immune system, fever slows down the proliferation of invading organisms by creating an inhospitable environment. At 104 degrees F., for example, the growth rate of the polio virus is reduced up to 250 times; at 106 degrees pneumococcus, a bacterium responsible for pneumonia, dies.

Part 2
Before the advent of antibiotics, syphilitics were often infected with malaria to prevent the spread of the disease. In addition, there is evidence that the frequent fevers of malaria might function as a cancer-protecting factor. Dr. Paavo Airola in his book, Worldwide Secrets of Staying Young relates the story of the Pontine swamps near Rome in Italy, which, until a few decades ago, were a breeding ground for malaria-carrying mosquitoes. The swamps were dried out, and the malaria disappeared. However, during the next decades, that area, which had before been almost free of cancer, saw an increase in cancerous diseases. After a generation, the cancer incidence level of that area had reached the level of the rest of Italy.

Malignant cells are selectively destroyed at temperatures of 106 to 110 degrees F., so the frequent fever attacks of people in the malaria-infected area might have mobilized the body's own defenses too frequently for a cancer to take hold.

Although the artificial fever induced by sweat therapy does not have the comprehensive effect of real fever, it still produces a striking effect on a number of bodily processes.

There is evidence that artificial fever works as an immune system stimulant by increasing the number of white blood cells in the body. In a 1959-review of studies on the effects of heat treatments, Mayo Clinic researcher Dr. Wakim and colleagues cite findings indicating that the number of white blood cells in the blood increased by an average of 58% during artificially induced fever. Researchers also have found increases in the activity of the white blood cells during induced fever.

In addition, as in the case of bodily induced fever, the raised temperature during the artificial fever reduces the growth rate of most bacteria and viruses, giving the immune system time to mobilize its own forces. Indeed, many regular steam or sauna bathers have experienced that a good, long sweat bath at the early onset of a cold or flu can help ward off the disease before in manifests as actual symptoms.

Apart from the immune system-stimulating effects of sweat therapy, many thought it as one of the most effective and painless detoxifying treatments available.

Dr. Veronica Butler, medical co-director at the Raj, a health center based on principles of Ayurveda, recommends herbalized steam baths, called swedenas, to clients as part of the ancient Ayurvedic purification treatment, known as panchakarma.

According to the classical Ayurvedic texts, for maximum results, a swedena or steam bath should be given while keeping the head cool and the client supine.

"A swedena clears the shrotas, the channels through which the biological intelligence flows," says Dr. Butler. "If impurities clog these channels, the flow of intelligence in the body becomes more susceptible to disease."

Part 3
Heat speeds up the chemical processes in the body, making steam and sauna bathing one of the simplest and most comfortable ways to rid the body of accumulated toxins. As the pores open up and the million of sweat glands start to excrete, the body rids itself of metabolic and other waste products. Sweat contains almost the same elements as urine, and for this reason, the skin is sometimes called the third kidney. It is estimated that as much as 30% of bodily wastes are eliminated by way of perspiration.

However, more than common metabolic waste products are secreted through the skin. Natural health practitioners often notice that when heavy smokers get a steam bath for a body wrap (where the body 'simmers' for up to 45 min. Under hot covers), they will leave a yellow residue on the towels. Reino Tarkianinen, President of Finlandia Sauna, reports that when the company replaces sauna benches from public baths, a thick, black layer of accumulated tar can be found underneath the benches.

In Finland, research is being done on the use of sweat therapy in the treatment of people who are chemically affected. The purifying effects of perspiration could also be behind claims that steam and sauna treatments can help cur or control such ailments as acne and arthritis.

Last but not least, steam and sauna bathing produces powerful therapeutic effects simply by increasing circulation. As the carrier of the rebuilding forces of the nutrients to all parts of the body, the bloodstream plays a crucial role in the maintenance of health.

Steam and sauna treatments have a stimulating effect on the cardiovascular system. The pulse rate increases from 75 beats per minute to between 100-150 beats per minute during a 15-20 minute treatment. This increases blood circulation, but not blood pressure, since the heat also causes the tiny blood vessel in the skin to expand, accommodating the increased blood flow. The dilation of the capillary vessels enables the bloodstream to carry great amounts of nutrients to the skin, enhancing the nutritive status of the skin. The flushed, youthful look that steam and sauna bathers maintain for up to several hours after treatment is due to this effect.

Which is the best way of taking a steam or sauna treatment?
First of all, it is good to be aware of the distinction between the two. Most people think of the heat of a sauna as dry heat and the heat of a steam room as wet, humid heat. This distinction is only partially correct. Sauna bathers in Finland splash water on the heated stones in the sauna, raising the humidity level to as much as 40%. Without that, the hot, dry sauna air can irritate the mucus membranes.

Part 4
In the hydrotherapeutic tradition used at European and America spas, sweat therapy is used in preparation for massage as a means of increasing the suppleness of the muscles and creating a deep sense of relaxation in body and mind. In the Ayurvedic tradition of India, which has gained popularity in the U.S. in recent years, steam treatments are part of the traditional purification treatment panchakarma, where they are used after massage to help the body get rid of toxins dislodged during the treatment.

Sweat treatments can also be enjoyed on their own, as a workout for the cardiovascular system, a deep-cleansing treat for the body, an immune system booster, and a soothing and invigorating refreshment for the mind.

There are a few precautions to keep in mind. Because of the increase in cardiovascular activity caused by the high heat, sweat therapy is not recommended for people with heart disease or other cardiovascular problems. Individuals with high blood pressure pressure should first consult their doctor.

In addition, the treatment is not advised for pregnant women, small children, or the elderly. Do not take a sweat treatment if you have a fever or an open wound. If you have been working out, be sure that your body has had time to cool down before exposing it to the heat of a sweat bath.

Limit treatment time to 10 to 15 minutes. Drink plenty of water of herbal tea before and after the sweat bath to replace fluids lost during the treatment. The sweat glands can secrete up to 30 grams of sweat per minute, or almost one pint per 15 minutes, so dehydration is a very real possibility, if you are not careful. Fatigue and other indications of dehydration can occur with as little as 1 to 2% loss in body weight.

The main thing to keep in mind is to enjoy the process. Do not push your body beyond its comfort level; the point is not to sweat it out the longest, but to allow your mind and body to luxuriate in this health-enhancing and invigorating miniature spa treatment.

Working up a sweat is one of our oldest folk remedies. "Give me an opportunity to create fever and I will cure any illness," said the Greek physician Paramenides two thousand years ago.

Today, besides creating a relaxing sense of well-being, relaxes and loosens muscles tissue, reducing daily buildup of tension and increasing muscle flexibility:
-boosts blood circulation, which helps aching and injured muscles to recover faster, because the stronger the flow of blood, the faster metabolic waste products are carried off. -stimulates vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels, which relives pain and speeds healing of sprains and strains; -speeds up the metabolic processes of vital organs and endocrine glands resulting in a calorie loss of between 200 and 450 in a 20 minute session.

Part 5
According to Michael Marino, research associate at Lennox Hill Hospital's Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York City:
"….. heat exposure stimulates the hypothalamus, the gland that normally maintains and stabilizes body temperature to dissipate the excess heat. Heart rate increases as more blood flow is diverted from the inner organs towards the extremities of the skin. This automatic "cooling" reaction is actually a form of beneficial stress, a passive kind of cardiovascular exercise that helps to keep the body's system alert and functioning well."

The beneficial stress of heat on the heart is confirmed by physical fitness expert Bernard Gutin, Professor of Applied Physiology and Education at Teacher's College, Columbia University:
"Heat acts as a form of mostly beneficial stress on the body that produces physiological changes in heightened blood pressure, stepped-up heart rate and an increase in stress hormones."
According to Dr. Paavo Aviola, an author in health matters:

"The sauna increases the eliminative, detoxifying and cleansing capacity of the skin by stimulation of sweat glands. A steam bath provides a mild cleansing process for the skin as certain body fluids are released through the skin. It also promotes healthy skin tone and texture due to increased blood circulation."

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ozone_oxygen

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The Benefits of Steam Sauna and Ozone

The use of a sauna should be an important part of any detoxification program.

The sauna increases the eliminative, detoxifying and cleansing capacity of the skin by stimulation of the sweat glands and also promotes healthy skin tone and texture due to increased blood circulation.

Using the steam sauna with ozone allows the steam to surround the body and ozone can be introduced through the skin.

Humid heat opens the pores, which allows the ozone through the skin to the bloodstream, where it can travel to the fat and lymph tissue. It is very important to cleanse the lymph tissue of toxins and the ozone/steam sauna is the easiest and best way to accomplish this.

Artificially induced hyperthermia (rising body temperature results in the destruction of bacteria and viruses) combined with heavy sweating and a cleansing effect initiated by ozone will result in elimination of toxins accumulated mainly in the lymphatic system relieving the liver from the difficult task of dealing with them.

Through the centuries, men and women have used steam to purify the skin, soothe sore muscles, boost circulation and to simply relax.

The combined action of moist heat and ozone cleanse the lymphatic system, which carries 90% of the body's fluids.

Ozone brings oxygen to the tissues for enhanced health and vitality.

The combination of steam and ozone is a natural, effective way to promote a refreshing sense of well-being.

We believe that a an Ozone/Steam Sauna cabinet represents a pleasant and easy to follow form of body cleansing.

Benefits of ozone sauna: Relaxes and loosens muscles by reducing the buildup of lactic acid and increasing muscle flexibility. Oxidizes toxins so they can be eliminated through the skin, lungs, kidneys and colon.

Boosts blood circulation, helping injured muscles to repair quicker. Stimulates vasodilatation of peripheral blood vessels relieving pain and speeding the healing process. Eliminates bacterial and viral infections of all kinds.

Speeds up the metabolic processes of the inner organs and endocrine glands resulting in a loss of 200-450 calories in a 20 minute session.

Newest research shows steam hyperthermia an effective treatment for: * Detoxification programs * Immune system deficiencies * Pain management * Cancer * Arthritis * Stress and muscle tension * Increasing body metabolism * Elimination of toxins * Blood circulation

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http://www.dreddyclinic.com/integrated_med/ozone_oxygen.htm


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Ozone machine for car OZZON 53

We have the Technology to stop the Virus Spreading and Eliminate any future outbreaks.
Ozone is a naturally occurring component of fresh air.

It can be produced by the ultraviolet rays of the sun reacting with the Earth's upper atmosphere, which creates a protective ozone layer, or it can be created artificially with an ozone generator.

The ozone molecule contains three oxygen atoms whereas the oxygen molecule contains only two. Ozone is a very reactive and unstable gas with a short half-life before it reverts back to oxygen.

Ozone is the most powerful and rapid acting oxidizer man can produce, and will oxidize all bacteria, mould and yeast spores, organic material and viruses.

As based on the specific (medical and physiological) effects of ozone, we find the indications listed in the following table:
Gas and gas pains
See also: The story of ozone

Why Ozone?
Cost effective Installation
High Oxygen transfer rates
Minimal Maintenance as there is only one moving part in the system. Either an Air-blower when an Air disk supplies Ozone.
Injector supplies the Ozone
Makes clear and healthy water.
Increases the Oxidation power of the Water
Removes toxic Nitrite by 90%
Reduces decay processes in wastewater, fishponds and other organic contaminated ponds or Canals.

Improves the filter efficiency by 80%
Removes yellow substances from the water which putting strain on living creatures in the water.

Increases the Redox potential.
Supports biological filtration.
Reduces the B O D and C O D by 80%.
Promotes continues aerobic conditions therefore no bad smell.
Reduces heavy metal concentrations by oxidizing the metals in to sulfates.
Eliminates eutrophication in Lakes and Rivers.
Reduces Algae growth or eliminates the growth of Algae complete.
Depresses the growth of water born parasites like Mosquitoes, Tsetse Flies and other water-born deceases

Reduces Water treatment costs more than 35% savings depend on what kind of water to treat.
Place the ozone machine in the car room, the machine will generate ozone and spread out the whole vehicle room area. After testing for ten minutes the smell was eliminated. First ozone will deodorize the Contaminated Air giving the Fresh Smell of Ozone. Bad smell or undesirable smell was 100% eliminated. Ozone was known in a form of 3 oxygen atoms denoted as ozone molecule and is very high sensitive deodorize element. It destroys the undesirable molecule's structures.

more info: http://www.dreddyclinic.com/ozone_machine_for_car.htm

• Ozone machine for our patients at home
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• Ozone machine for car
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• Colon Hydro Therapy Instrument
• Microscope Equipment
• our zapper
• Terminator II-Parasite -Zapper
• UV lamp and Ozone lamp
• Ozone steam sauna
• Infrared heat sauna

Back Pain Constipation

Defining Constipation

Constipation is a term used to describe infrequent bowel movements and affects many people every year.

However, surpassed only by cold and flu symptoms as “motivators,” having a sore back is the second most common reason people visit their doctors.

While the most obvious symptom of constipation is difficulty in having regular bowel movements, another prevalent symptom is back pain.

Most of us will experience some sort of pain or discomfort in our backs at some point in our lives, and constipation could be the cause.

Structure and Function of the Back

The back has many muscles attached to, intersecting, or covering the spine. The spine itself is made up of an elongated, curved stack of bones called vertebrae. These vertebrae are basically round and between each of them is a special disc.

These discs are composed of rubber-like tissue and provide flexibility of the spine. Without this flexibility, we wouldn’t be able to bend over, twist, sit, or walk. However, we wouldn’t want to be as flexible as a snake either. Along with the discs, we have strong ligaments spanning from vertebrae to vertebrae for more support.

The spine also has the critical job of protecting the spinal cord, which sends messages back and forth to the body and the brain, so we can see the logic of having spinal “armor” shielding it.

It’s no wonder people end up with sore back muscles, “slipped discs,” and other lower back problems because we have so many different parts to twist, pull, tear, and strain!

Back pain can be caused by lifting something too heavy, twisting too suddenly, or even sleeping in an awkward position and it can even be related to something unusual like constipation. The lower back also feels impact from walking, running, and many other everyday motions.

Constipation only worsens the situation as the lower back feels greater strain when natural movement is obstructed or hindered by an over-full or impacted colon.

Incredibly, even children can experience back pain constipation. You see—constipation is really just the body not getting rid of waste often enough. If waste remains in the colon too long, the body can reabsorb the water and thus the stool becomes too dry.

If a child is trying to pass a stool that is hard, dry, or very large, they have to strain to manipulate the intestinal muscles. As a result, they may experience lower back pain from all that extra effort. Children may experience additional pain in the anus from it getting stretched open for the large, dry stool to get pushed out.

When to See a Doctor

People with severe or chronic constipation can also develop a condition known as fecal impaction. This occurs when the rectum is blocked by a hardened bowel movement and it can lead to back pain and cramps, bloating, and even feelings of lethargy from the waste remaining inside the body too long.

Most people endure these types of problems without realizing a solution can be obtained; they find ways to work around any lower back pain they might be experiencing and just trudge along with the added difficulty. Nonetheless, it can be a sign that something else is wrong. If you have any of the following symptoms, consult a qualified physician:

The pain is constant and doesn’t improve by resting your back or lying down.
The pain developed suddenly and you are under 20 years old or over 55 years old.
The pain travels up the back and into the chest area.
The pain came on slowly and gradually became worse (most back pain comes on quickly from some injury or stress).

Recurrent nausea or loss of appetite affects your normal diet patterns.
You experience weakness or numbness in your legs or feet or any part of your buttock region.
You are also experiencing problems with your bladder or bowel function.

Of course, if you’re experiencing back pain constipation, once you begin having regular bowel movements again the pain should subside. But what if you’ve had back pain recently, and it feels better now, yet you are still constipated? Surprisingly, back pain constipation can also be related to medications you're taking such as painkillers or anti-inflammatory drugs.

Medications and Constipation

Stronger painkillers, like Codeine, have a tendency to constipate, as do non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Here are some medications or drugs you may not recognize as potential causes of constipation:

Antacids containing aluminum hydroxide
Anti-depressants
Anti-diarrhea products
Anti-spasmodic drugs
Diuretics
Medications for Parkinson’s disease
Iron supplements
Calcium channel blockers (high blood pressure treatments)
Decongestants and anti-histamines
Pain Relief

Helpful Hints for Reducing Back Pain Constipation

Some people are surprised to learn constipation could be causing lower back pain, but the truth is—constipation can cause all sorts of aches, pains, and general malaise. Abdominal pain pain and nausea are common symptoms, as well as a loss of appetite.

If there is fecal impaction associated with your back pain constipation, it can cause rectal cramps. Fecal impaction may occur in the elderly; and because liquid stool tends to ooze out around blockages, it can often be mistaken for diarrhea.

If you are suffering from the discomfort of back pain constipation here are some resolutions you can try:

Dehydration can be a major cause of back pain constipation. Drink lots of water, or hot teas and broths.

Begin exercising more. Easy, relaxed swimming or walking are excellent choices.

Cut back on eating refined foods and get back to the healthful basics such as fresh fruits and green, leafy vegetables.

Raise your feet with a footstool when you are sitting on the toilet. It puts the bowel at a better angle for passing the stool more easily.

Try using a natural oxygen-based intestinal cleanser, like Oxy-Powder®.

Take the time to thoroughly research your sleeping conditions. Invest in not just an “okay” bed but the best one you can afford. Getting a great night’s rest is critical to keeping the body in proper working order.

Back pain constipation is a detriment to health we may all have to face someday. If you find it’s happening more often, it's probably a good time to change your routine.

Focus on exercises strengthening both stomach and back muscles such as good old-fashioned sit-ups, rowing, back extensions, leg lifts, or the afore-mentioned aquatic activities. Be aware of potential side effects from any medication you are taking. Make sure you're sleeping well on a comfortable mattress;

some people prefer firmer and some prefer softer, but everyone should feel refreshed in the morning. And, perhaps most beneficial, begin eating a healthful, well-balanced diet with plenty of fruit, whole grains (for fiber), and vegetables.

Back pain constipation can be a debilitating, painful condition but can be alleviated with a little common sense and preventative measures. Be good to your back—it’s really the foundation of a body’s strength and must be maintained for overall good health.

more info at: oxypowder

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Constipation and Diarrhea

Constipation and diarrhea goes hand in hand with each other.

Even though constipation and diarrhea are generally temporary ailments, they can cause stomach pain and discomfort, an urgent need to move your bowels, abnormally frequent bowel movements, or loose/watery stool.

There are drugs that can cause these conditions. For instance, Phentermine is a weight loss drug that is used in combination with diet and exercise to reduce the appetite and assist in weight loss.

Common side effects of this medication include dry mouth, unpleasant taste, diarrhea and constipation. These side effects may be lessened by taking Phentermine with food.

Constipation and diarrhea can also be caused by food intolerance and infection. This happens when elderly people eat a large amount of beans and fruits.

Constipation and diarrhea often alternate, and abdominal cramping, gassiness, and bloating are other common complaints.

Although Irritable bowel syndrome can produce lifelong symptoms, it is not a life-threatening condition.

It often worsens with stress, but there is no specific cause or anything unusual that the doctor can see in the colon.

more info at: http://www.dreddyclinic.com/products/oxypowder.htm

Constipation and Bowel Movements

By: Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, Ph.D, DACBN





Have You Had Your Bowel Movement Today?
Many people are under the impression they need to have only one bowel movement a week or fewer. Bowel disease, constipation, colon cancer, and stomach pain are all disorders that are leading to what I call the "Silent Killer in America". Colon health and colon problems are the most over-looked health problems in today's society.

Due to the poor diet in America, 200 million people suffer from constipation and do not have the required two to four bowel movements daily. The average person, by the time they are 30 years old, in America, has between 10 to 15 pounds of hard compacted fecal matter in their bowel.

The intestinal tract is composed of the small intestine which is attached to the lower part of the stomach then moves into the large intestine and finally the colon. Whatever you eat has to be properly digested and then move its way through a long, approximately 35 feet in length, intestinal lining to finally exit the rectum. So don't you think the most important area to keep clean in your body would be that 35 feet of food processing wasteland?

Constipation and Bowel Movements
It's important to understand how the digestive track breaks down food into smaller particles and then ultimately into the vitamins, minerals and nutrients you need to survive. As we age, we develop a thick coating along the sides of the intestinal walls as hard as wood and even harder to eradicate.

When this coating adheres to the walls of your intestinal lining and your food tries to move through, it's difficult for your body to absorb the proper amount of nutrients.

These nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream so the blood can carry them to all the organs and tissues in your body. This is why it is essential to not only clean the colon but to purify and keep the whole intestinal lining clean at all times and free from any plaque or debris. You must have a minimum of one bowel movement a day but we recommend having two a day.

After years of research and studying bowel habits, especially constipation and bowel movements in general, we discovered keeping the bowel clean will not only reduce or prevent most types of disease but will also eliminate chronic bloating, symptoms of fatigue, headaches, nausea and a whole list of other symptoms. We recommend and use a product called Oxy-Powder® that will focus on cleansing and keeping clean your whole intestinal tract.

By using Oxy-Powder® every other evening you can ensure that you will have regular bowel movements and keep your intestinal lining clean and functioning properly. You must have regular bowel movements to prevent toxic chemicals from leaking through the walls of the intestinal tract into the blood. I also recommend drinking at least 64 ounces of purified water daily to help the intestinal tract move the toxic residue out of the body.

Constipation and bowel movements irregularity is a sneaky, undiagnosed, disabling epidemic that is sweeping America as we speak. Perhaps all of this doesn't surprise you.

Let's take a look at the following categories of disease and disorders that can be related either directly or indirectly to the colon and constipation: heart disease, high blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, varicose veins, gas, heart burn, bloating, obesity, diabetes, arthritis and more.

Some of these side effects or symptoms are a hundred times worse than the constipation itself. So if your doctor is treating you with traditional drugs or surgery he is most likely covering up your symptoms and possibly making your condition worse.

I recommend the following to ensure a healthy clean colon, easily and naturally without any drugs, surgery or toxic side effects: colon hydrotheraphy, a good diet, lots of live foods, a lot of pure water, the product Oxy-Powder® and exercise.

Constipation and bowel movements have a contradictory relationship--to have the latter on a regular basis the former condition must be eliminated (no pun intended). With a little diligence and common sense, you too can enjoy the benefits of a clean, healthily functioning digestive system!

more info at: oxypowder

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Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A New Approach

(HealthDay News) -- With incisions no bigger than keyholes, a woman can undergo a hysterectomy, go home the same day, and be back at her desk within two weeks.

Doctors say that as technology improves, and they become more familiar with the techniques, they are performing laparoscopic hysterectomies more often, usually at the behest of women who want to be back on their feet in a hurry.

Some women may have postponed the procedure for years, enduring pain or bleeding, because they couldn't afford the usual recovery time.

"One of my patients was self-employed and couldn't take the six weeks off," said Dr. Mayra Thompson, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. "She said, 'I'll lose my business and my home, and I can't do it.' "

Thompson ultimately operated laparoscopically, inserting a scope to view the internal site and using long-handled instruments to peel away the uterus. The patient was back at work in 10 days, said Thompson. "How can you beat that? Otherwise, she would have been really out of luck," she said.

Thompson is among those physicians who think it's best to perform a procedure known as a "supracervical" hysterectomy, leaving the cervix -- the narrow outer end of uterus -- intact in women who do not have irregular Pap smears or other complications.

The thought is that leaving the cervix will protect vaginal supports and help prevent prolapse, a condition that occurs over time when the bladder or rectum is pulled downward. This kind of surgery also eases the worries of some women who think removing the cervix will interfere with their sex lives, though studies have shown there is usually no physical change to prevent normal sexual pleasure after healing, doctors said.

Other doctors prefer to perform vaginal hysterectomies, which also have a faster recovery time than "open" surgery.

"I still think vaginal is the preferred way to go if the patient is OK with having the cervix out," said Dr. Howard T. Sharp, associate professor and chief of the General Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Utah School of Medicine in Salt Lake City. "Up to a third of women who have a subtotal hysterectomy (removing the uterus only) will end up having the cervix removed at a later time because of bleeding or prolapse."

Others are reserving judgment in what has become a hotly debated subject.

"I can tell you there is not a lot of science for either side of that coin. It's too early. We don't know whether removing the cervix reduces the risk of prolapse or not," said Dr. Barry Jarnagin, associate professor of gynecology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.
Given a choice, he prefers to leave the cervix because there is less disruption to the pelvic floor, which is less painful to the patient and beneficial in prolapse and other surgery that may become necessary later on.

Regardless of the extent of the organ removal, however, some doctors prefer the laparoscopic technique because the scopes used in the surgery make it possible to view places in the body they have trouble seeing with the standard "open" surgery technique, Thompson said.

And, while skeptics once complained that minimally invasive surgery actually took longer, it can be a far shorter procedure for surgeons with up-to-date equipment and lots of experience, she said.

But the surgery isn't for everybody, the doctors said. And, not all patients can go back to work immediately, particularly if their jobs are physically straining.

"It is still major surgery, and everybody heals differently," said Dr. Karen Bradshaw, professor of obstetrics, gynecology and surgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

But, for patients who are good candidates, it's a fine alternative to traditional surgery, she said. "Patients recover so much faster."

More information
For more on hysterectomies, visit the U.S. National Women's Health Information Center.