Facts

Widely known as the universal solvent, water indeed does a lot of beneficial functions to humanity. Such enormity of water element is vividly manifested in different fields of application, from culinary arts to medicine. Even diet plans need water to become more efficient to dieters.

Talking about medicine, water is deemed as the most potent element in healing different illness. One indication of water’s use in medicine is the prominent practice of hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy uses water as its main healing component. Such practice has influenced the life of many people since the ancient era up to the present. This therapy was popular in the prehistoric places of Rome, Japan and China. Because of its patent positive results, hydrotherapy became even a further well-liked alternative remedy since the 19^th century.

Uses and Benefits to Human Health

Hydrotherapy comes in different techniques with unified healing purposes. Four of the most well-known hydrotherapy techniques with their uses and benefits are the following:

1. Cold Rubbing Technique. This is one of the widely-used hydrotherapy techniques with the main purpose of revitalizing human body. It is done by soaking a linen cloth in cold water, circling it out, and then rubbing it in the whole body. After these procedures, the patient shall go to bed to dry and warm his body. Later on, he could feel the invigorating effects.
2. Douche Technique. This is another hydrotherapy procedure that is mainly used as remedy to sleeping problems, skin dilemmas like varicose veins and bruises, blood pressure deviation, and headaches. It is done by gently utilizing a hose, shower head or a container of water poured in to the heart area. This should be done slowly in order not to splatter the water on the skin. Afterward, the patient will shake off the glut water, get dressed and then work out. Two of the most popular douches are available. They are the thigh douche and the knee douche. Each name implies their specific usage. Both of them guarantee healing effects to the patient.
3. Steam Bathe. Steam bathe is also a form of hydrotherapy used to augment the immune system of the body. It also aids the circulation of the blood, ease breathing, heart rate and helps in generating hormones. It is done by utilizing warm water but not too hot, though. The steam bathe session should only last until fifteen minutes. Beyond that time length is strongly discouraged. Steam bathe hydrotherapy is best for diminishing depression, offering a worthwhile relaxation.
4. Wraps Therapy. Known for its helpful usage in healing fever and irritations, wraps therapy also utilizes water as its main component for treatment. The procedure is done by wetting a linen cloth with cold water, and then squeezing it out. The cloth should be strongly wrapped around the body area to be treated, without squeezing the spot. After wrapping with the wet cloth, utilize a dry cloth and wrap the spot again. After fifteen minutes, if the wrap is no longer warm, hot water in a bottle should be utilized.

All these and more manifest the uses and benefits of hydrotherapy to the human body. Likewise, these entail the influence of water in offering cure to various maladies. All come naturally in a form of hydrotherapy.

Critics of the ban said that after smoking was banned in public places like pubs and clubs, it would lead more people to drink at home, where they could light up. When it was originally introduced in 2007, pro-smoking groups like Forest said that more children could be exposed to second-hand smoke.

However a study at Cardiff University of 3,500 primary-school age children found that since 2007 there had hardly been any change in the amount of second-hand smoke they were exposed to.

The researchers took saliva swabs from the children, aged between 10 and 11, the year before the ban came in. They then did the same a year after the ban was introduced. The swabs were then tested for exposure to second-hand smoke. The children were also asked to fill in questionnaires.

In the report on the results, published in the BMC public health journal, it was concluded that after the introduction of the ban there was no significant increase in how much second-hand smoke the children were introduced to.

While the results were seen as a vindication of the smoking ban, it has been acknowledged that it is disappointing that the levels of exposure remained the same, rather than dropping. It has been hoped that the ban would lead to greater numbers of people trying smoking cessation treatments as the ban gave them extra impetus to quit.

The NHS has been strongly promoting the message that quitters are more likely to succeed if they accept help, such as nicotine replacement therapy or drugs like Champix.  They have launched aggressive marketing campaigns to encourage quitting – such as the one featuring children begging their parents to give up – and have sought to make smoking cessation treatments such as Champix more widely available.

These tactics, combined with the smoking ban and the new photos of potential diseases on smoking packets, have resulting in a drop in the number of smokers of 22% from 2007 to 2008. The Cardiff study also supports findings in September which showed that a reduction in second-hand smoke in public places has resulting in a drop of 10% in the number of heart attacks in the UK.

The news comes at a time when the government has been facing fierce criticism of the ban from pub and bar owners, who say that it has resulted in a significant loss of revenue, forcing many establishments to close.
The news comes at a time when the government has been facing fierce criticism of the ban from pub and bar owners, who say that it has resulted in a significant loss of revenue, forcing many establishments to close.

Though she did qualify this by adding, “You try to remember, but it never works” she has been lambasted for quoting a saying frequently used on pro-anorexia websites. The sites contain weight loss tips and encourage users to embrace their eating disorder, rather than fight against it.

Anorexia charity Beat described the interview as “dangerous” and “very unhelpful.” They warned that ‘ana’ sites would seize on her comments, believed to originally be one of the weight loss tips that members of the weight loss program Weight Watchers used to share with each other to encourage fast weight loss.

The model Katie Green, who with MP Lembit Opik set up the Say No To Size Zero campaign, said, “”I think Kate Moss should really have thought before she spoke like most of us do before giving interviews… Millions of girls aspire to be like Kate Moss. These comments are shocking and irresponsible.”

Moss’ comments came as a study in Exeter showed that most teenage girls feel they need to follow some sort of weight loss plan, though few were actually overweight. 40% of 10 – 11 year olds said they felt overweight.

Many were sharing weight loss tips that they hoped would lead to rapid weight loss and therefore putting their health at risk.

The study showed that girls were likely to devise a weight loss plan that meant the regularly missed two meals.   26%  of 14-15 year olds usually skipped breakfast, while 22% missed lunch. 10%  of the girls said they regularly missed dinner.

Critics have said that as a role model for young girls, Moss should have known better than to promote the idea that thinner is better.

TV presenter Denise Van Outen, who recently announced she was pregnant, said Moss was talking out of her ‘size zero backside’. Speaking to the Sun, she commented, “Having been in the industry for so long, she knows the impact her comment will have on vulnerable young women.”

She then explained that she only believed in healthy dieting, vowing to lose the baby weight by following a sensible weight loss plan of healthy eating and exercise, rather than chasing rapid weight loss through extreme diets.

The scientists from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in America used data from the Framingham Heart Study, a huge study involving residents in a Massachusetts town, to see whether cholesterol was implicated in heart failure.

They were prompted to do so by numerous clinical trials into the high cholesterol  treatment statins, such as the Jupiter trial for Crestor, which indicated that cholesterol reduction lowered the risk of heart failure. The trials were not conclusive, with some scientists arguing that the decrease in heart failure was a result of less people experiencing heart attacks after using statin-based cholesterol treatments.

The team identified 6,860 who took part in the study who did not have heart disease when they originally enrolled. The average participant age at the start was 44 and just over half of the group were women.

During the 26-year period the volunteers were monitored for, 680 of the participants developed heart failure. Of those people,  13.8% of them had high levels of the ‘bad’ cholesterol LdL, compared to 7.8% who had low cholesterol levels.

The team adjusted the results to take into account age, sex, body weight and risk factors for heart disease like smoking, diet and other health conditions. They discovered that those with high levels of LdL were 29% more likely to experience heart failure.

Conversely, those with high levels of HdL, considered to be a ‘good’ cholesterol, saw their risk of heart disease decrease by 40%.

The findings support data from recent clinical trials into Crestor, which strongly suggested that taking cholesterol-lowering statins improved mortality rates for heart failure.

However the lead scientist on the study Dr. Daniel Levy warned that as the research was not a clinical trial, physicians should not change how they prescribe statins. He added that as well as statins, cholesterol levels could be improved through measures like increased physical activity, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol consumption and following a diet high in monosaturated fat.

Scientists followed almost 3,000 overweight people who agreed to take part in a three-year program to prevent diabetes. Initially, the volunteers were split into three groups, one which followed the weight loss plan and exercised, one which was given the diabetes drug metformin and one which was given a placebo. All were offering ongoing lifestyle coaching when the trial ended.

On average those on the weight loss program lost 15 pounds, those taking the metformin lost5 pounds and those taking the placebo lost less than two. However those on the weight loss plan eventually regained 10 pounds.

It was discovered that those who followed the weight loss program, aimed at helping them lose 7% of their body fat, reduced their chances of developing diabetes by 58% compared to the group who were given the placebo. The results were achieved after the weight loss plan was combined with half an hour’s exercise 5 days a week.

While those taking the metformin were a third less likely to develop diabetes, the weight loss program had the most dramatic impact on the rates of the disease.

In the seven years after the volunteers began the program the number of people who went on develop diabetes suggests that a weight loss plan can delay the onset of diabetes by 4 years and still be having positive effects 10 years later.

Between 5- 6% of the weight loss group developed diabetes each year, while this rose to 8% in the metformin group and 11% in the group on the placebo.

The study was reported in the journal the Lancet and the lead author, Dr. M Nathan of the Massachusetts General Hospital, said, “The benefits of intensive lifestyle changes were especially pronounced in the elderly. People age 60 and older lowered their rate of developing diabetes in the next 10 years by about half.”

In the editorial that accompanied the study, Dr. Anoop Misra pointed out that there was no quick fix for the problem of diabetes. With many overweight people are desperate for a quick fix to their problems, hoping for a pill that will promote rapid weight loss, doctors are eager to emphasise that rapid weight loss doesn’t equal health – sustained lifestyle changes do.

He wrote, “Prevention of diabetes is a long and winding road. There seems to be no shortcut, and a persistent and prolonged lifestyle intervention seems to be the most effective mode to travel on it.”

Author: Andres Hudson is freelance writer. Who has written many Article on rapid weight loss. For more information on Weight Loss Program and Weight loss solutions, he recommends you to visit his site.

You may have heard of the terms: The lemonade diet, or Beyonce’s Quick Weight-loss diet. In fact, most people would be surprised to hear that their “quick fix diet” was originally designed to cleanse and heal. This weight loss phenomenon, The Master Cleanse, was designed by Stanley Burroughs as he used its powerful cleansing abilities to heal his patients of many frailties including ulcers. (Burroughs, 1976, P. 8 )

This cleanse entails drinking 6 or more glasses of lemonade a day consisting of lemon, maple syrup, cayenne, and water. You use natural laxative and flushing remedies to help the toxins be eliminated from your system. Prepare yourself mentally beforehand and learn to make better choices and understand your body’s natural signals. Post-Cleanse, as you add healthy items back to your diet, you will learn what your body approves of. The Cleanse is meant to be followed anywhere from 10 to 40 days. While it is challenging, it is a worthwhile journey.

In the process, “fecal matter that has built up over the years inside your body” is eliminated. “Your body needs nourishment, and that comes from food, but by only consuming the lemonade your body gets a rest and is able to focus on the internal impurities, and work at getting rid of them.”(Sterling, 2007, P. 16) In my experience, I have regained the confidence that I lost during the violent storms that undeniably beat on us all. Losing 30 pounds, I made it back to my high school weight, and have been emotionally strengthened. This cleanse makes the body feel light and aware in addition to providing a special opportunity to face emotions and clear the mind.

The possible outcomes and benefits are limitless. People have reported sight enhancement, improved digestion, and elimination of colds and sicknesses. The cleanse gets down to the root of the problem and “people have reported items they had swallowed as a child coming out”. (Sterling, 2007, P. 2) The most rewarding is the beautiful and well-deserved feeling of overall health improvement and the refreshing resolve to live life from a clearer view.

Everyone seems to experience a different outcome, but the results are often phenomenal. By giving this gift to your body, you are giving it the opportunity to heal itself through a well needed break. Whatever problems you feel you may have accumulated; your body knows best. If you listen to your body and give it a rest, it may reward you with the beautifully healthy body of your dreams.

To assure maximum benefits, make sure you are educated on the details of The Cleanse by locating a copy of Stanley burroughs book, The Master Cleanse or any updated version.

References:
Stanley, Burroughs. The Master Cleanse. Reno, NV: Burrough Books, 1976. 8-10. Print.
Sterling, Raylen. Master Cleanse Secrets. Online: Ebook, 2007. Print.09.

They said that following two randomized Stage III trials they were confident that their medication met the benchmarks demanded by the FDA for approval and that they would be seeking permission to sell the drug next year. They plan now to find a pharmaceutical company to help market the product.

The first trial involved some 1,267 morbidly obese patients and the second 2,487 who were overweight or obese and also had other health problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

Vivus said that after a year of taking the medication, the patients in the one group taking the highest dose of Qnexa lost on average 10.4% of their total body weight, while those in the other trial lost an average 11%, compared to the placebo group who lost between 1.6 to 1.8%.

Overall this means that the diet pills caused an average weight loss of 9% on average, after the placebo effect was taken into account. This more than meets the FDA’s requirements for any new slimming pill, which demands that patients lose at least 5% of their body weight.

The data also showed that on one trial, 67% of patients taking the drug lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared to 17% taking the placebo. On the other trial  the percentage was even higher, with 70% of patients taking the weightloss pills losing the required amount compared to 20% of those in the placebo group.

The race is now on between three companies to see who first gets their weight loss pills on the market. Orixigen Therapeutics are developing Contrave and also recently published promising late trial results. Arena Pharmaceuticals are also hoping to get their slimming pills, lorcaserin, onto the market soon.

The potential for gain for whichever company manages it first is huge. At the moment there are only two diet pills that are licensed for prescription by the FDA and European regulators, Reductil and Xenical. Reductil is an appetite suppressant while Xenical limits the amount of dietary fat absorbed by the body.

If Vivus or one of their competitors manages to get another weight loss solution approved then they stand to grab a large chunk of sales, which in total are worth an estimated $10 billion a year. A market analyst told Bloomberg earlier in October that Qnexa could generate sales of up to $3 billion a year if the slimming pill received approval.

If you are thinking of how to shrink hemorrhoids, water therapies are extremely effective.  If you have a bath tub, you could immerse yourself in warm water for 15-20 minutes, about three to four times a day.  You can also soothe the part that is sore, rather than your whole body, by taking sitz baths, instead. Sitz baths are normally available at drug stores.  This will quickly They will vanish completely, if you give them ample time, as the tissues in that area will become smaller.

To shrink hemorrhoids you can also try herbs like horse chestnut and witch hazel. If you look at any product that helps to cure hemorrhoids, witch hazel is usually among the main ingredients. You should take both of these herbs by mouth and do not stop till your discomfort lessens and the hemorrhoids begin to let up.

Want to know more on ways to shrink a hemorrhoid?  Look in your pantry, because if you can get vinegar, you have a remedy. A little bit of vinegar on a cotton ball rubbed on to the hemorrhoids three times a day should start producing results in a few days.  Usually, you will have to use the vinegar for at least ten days so you can shrink hemorrhoids, although many people say they feel better before that. Be gentle and cautious when using the vinegar to prevent worsening the existing hemorrhoids.

If your diet isn’t what it should be, you may suffer from constipation which often is one of the causes of hemorrhoids. That’s why, it becomes imperative to watch your diet in order to cure the current condition and to prevent future episodes.  Add a lot of fibrous foods to your diet, which help in softening stools.  Consume a liter and a half of water each day and make sure your diet has plenty of vegetables and fruits in it.  You can also read more about internal hemorrhoids.

The 17-year old girl bought the slimming pills on the internet to encourage rapid weight loss but after she started taking them she began to experience paranoia, hallucinations and suicidal thoughts. In a statement, the Department of Health said she was admitted to the United Christian Hospital after she began harming herself.

Officials seized the diet pills and conducted tests, which showed that they contained a banned ingredient called phenolphthalein. Previously this medication was used to treat constipation but was banned, as it is believed to cause cancer.

The pills also contained the drug sibutramine, which is a medication used to treat obesity. It is only available legally with a doctor’s prescription for those on a serious weight loss program, as when misused or mis-prescribed it can cause dangerous side effects, including high blood pressure and convulsions. Sibutramine is the ingredient in the legal slimming pills Reductil, which reduces appetite.

Neither of the ingredients were declared on the packaging of the pills.

The girl is believed to have bought the illegal diet pills over the internet, highlighting the growing problem of illegal sales of medication on the web. Criminal gangs have been selling diet pills like Reductil and Xenical without a doctor’s prescription, putting the health of consumers at risk. Often they claim that the pills will encourage rapid weight loss, when in fact they are meant for dieters on a long-term weight loss program.

The illegal medication is usually counterfeit, manufactured in factories in South-East Asia and then smuggled into different countries.

The heath authorities have announced that the mental state of the girl being treated remains unstable. They have called for any patients using the slimming pills to stop immediately and contact their doctors if they feel unwell.

If the suppliers of the medication are discovered, they could face a maximum fine of $100,00 and two years imprisonment under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance.

A spokesperson said, “Weight control should be achieved through good diet and appropriate exercise. They should consult health care professionals before using any medication for weight control.”

However, laser treatment is actually one of the most straightforward (and least invasive) acne reducing procedures. And, it usually doesn’t involve taking additional medication.

So, how does acne laser treatment work, and what results can you expect?

How acne forms?

Before we look at how lasers can help reduce acne, it’s helpful to understand how acne appears in the first place.

It’s thought that acne is triggered by hormonal changes, usually during puberty (with around 80% of all teens suffering acne at some stage). However, many people experience acne much later into their 20s and 30s.

Sebaceous glands in the skin on the face, neck and back produce the oily substance sebum. The sebum traps and blocks pores by collecting dead skin cells and creating an environment for bacteria to develop.

In many cases, this bacteria is resistant to common antibacterial agents.

Furthermore, as the pores get blocked, they can become inflamed, itchy or hardened. This results in classic signs of acne. If serious, it can lead to scarring of the skin.

How can lasers help?

Different types of laser acne treatment work in different ways. Generally, there are two types of laser procedure – infrared and pulsed dye. In both cases, the laser is used to deliver focused beams of light to specific areas. The process usually aims to tighten the skin, close pores and inhibit bacteria.

For example, one of the most effective methods is the N-Lite laser treatment.

This targets and destroys the acne-causing bacteria. Simultaneously, the laser promotes the growth of natural skin healing agents, such as collagen, which help to repair damaged skin and reduce scarring.

What about results?

Laser treatment can be one of the most effective anti-acne procedures.

Again, using N-Lite as an example, trials by leading dermatologist Dr. Tony Chu, found that it improved the appearance of acne in 87% of patients after just one session.

With some types of laser acne treatment you may not see results until after several sessions. You may also experience a slight reddening of the skin for a few days after treatment. You should discuss with your dermatologist or skin specialist which laser method is right for you, and what kind of results you can expect.

Where should I look for treatment?

Generally, laser treatments are not available for free on the NHS.

However, it’s essential that you visit a practice that is registered with the Care Quality Commission. The procedure should be carried out by a trained (and qualified) medical practitioner.

By visiting the right clinic and discussing your situation with an experienced consultant, you’re sure to get the right treatment and reduce your acne using this revolutionary technique.