Health Living Tips

If you are a teenager or young adult, I am sure you would have noticed that only a small percentage of people are blessed with a perfect and radiant skin. You would agree with me, that not only are the majority of people not endowed with beautiful skin, a large number of young adults and teenagers are afflicted with the “monster” called acne.

Most dermatologists seem to conclude that more than 80% of the human population is prone to having the acne problems. Ever since the mass media decided to tout that only appearance matters in everything, there has been an increase in the number of adult acne treatments in the market recently. It also looks like products, which contain some form of herbal ingredients is demanded by a large number of teenage and adult acne sufferers. Before you go buying and using any remedy you should identify the type of acne problem that you have.

We all tend to feel that only the fat, pus-filled pimples that appear on our face is acne. In case you may not know, your acne problem is not only restricted to having pimples. If you suffer from the mild type, you might not be aware of other types of acne. On some occasions you might notice some bumps developing on your back or necks, such bumps are due to your acne condition.

Even though all kinds of acne problems start in the same way, which is having too much oil also known as sebum, which breeds bacteria, blocks the hair pores and forms skin inflammation which appear as bumps. The different kinds all vary in their seriousness and appearance. In this article let us classify the kinds of acne into three: acne rosacea, acne vulgaris, and the serious type.

The commonest kind of acne, which is acne vulgaris, is divided into the mild and the serious categories. The first classification of acne vulgaris is the whiteheads. These are formed due to the mixture of bacteria, too much sebum (oil) and dead cells. Whiteheads do not turn into brownish color chiefly because they are not really exposed and they are confined in the hair pores, which mean they cannot oxygenate. However they do turn into a yellowish lump on some occasions. The whiteheads that you see on your skin could also occur due to frequent cellular exfoliation that can block your hair pores.

Another classification of acne vulgaris is the blackheads, which are mixture a of dead cells, bacteria and sebum (oil). The difference between them and whiteheads is that they are only moderately blocked in the follicle. Because of that, blackheads are exposed to oxygen and as a result they turn to dark spots. Blackheads take longer time to be eliminated as when compared to whiteheads. Other acne vulgaris’s types are papules and pustules. Papules are recognized as small bumps that are usually inflamed. Never attempt to prick these bumps as the may result in scars. Meanwhile, pustules are large, infected, pus containing bumps on the skin. You should never prick these bumps also as they can cause severe acne scars.

Very serious types of acne vulgaris include cyst and nodules, which are larger than the types mentioned previously and are very painful. Nodules are big lumps located underneath the surface of the skin, while cysts are lumps filled with pus with an average size of 5mm. Cases of cystic and nodules should be attended to by a medical practitioner to prevent severe scarring and increase of the acne lesions.

The second kind of acne which is rosacea is like vulgaris; but one difference is that it only occupies a third of the face’s middle part, usually the forehead, nose and cheeks. A large number of people with rosacea are women in their 30s, but it seems men are usually the ones with the severe cases. It is usually characterized with rashes, swollen skin and in some cases; the blood vessels may become visible. Even though rosacea is usually mistaken for vulgaris, you should visit a dermatologist if you are afflicted with any on the above condition, in order to prevent it from become more serious like rhinophyma.

Individuals who suffer from any of the mentioned kind of acne usually experience a lot physical and emotional pain mostly caused by a number of embarrassing situations. Aside all the previously mentioned types there are more serious types of acne which include pyoderma faciale, acne fulminans, gram-negative folliculitus, and acne conglobata.

Pyoderma faciale is characterized by the severe types of nodules, lesions and pustules that are in large numbers on an afflicted person’s face. These “monsters” leave very ugly scars. This condition is prone to women aged between 20 and 40. Although these condition cause damage to an individual, they usually end in less than a year.

Acne fulminans is more prone to young men and it is usually accompanied with joint fever and ache. A person with this type has an extreme case of nodulocystic and is prone to severe scarring.

Meanwhile gram-negative folliculitus is classified as a bacterial complication of pustules and cysts usually resulting from an extensive treatment of acne vulgaris. This is a special case of acne and doctors and dermatologists do not know which of the sexes are prone to this classification of acne.

Finally acne conglobata is more common in young men aged 18 to 30. It is recognized as large lesions with blackheads occurring on the buttocks, back, chest, face, thighs and upper arms. This particular type causes severe and sometimes long-lasting damages on the skin, which include large and deep scars. Sufferers of this acne problem should run to a dermatologist for help.

Whatever type of acne you afflicted with, acne is a stumbling block to achieving the level of self-esteem and self-confidence you desire. The best time to treat your acne problem is now, in order to avoid any future damage on your skin. There are quite a number of acne treatments available, but there are only a few, which actually give excellent results. A skin care product like Clear pores is a very good option as it combats the root of cause all acne problems, which is usually due to chemical and hormonal imbalances in the body. Other options are the Acnezine and the Healthy pores acne system, which also include herbal supplements that fight acne internally and externally.

For more information on how you can rid your skin from all sorts of acne problems , visit adult acne treatment Now!!!

INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

As a medical biochemist I have been working for many years side by side with medical doctors toward the same goal - to protect and heal patients from diseases. During my professional training program I got very basic knowledge of medicine, but I never understood why highly trained medical professionals were never taught anything about self-healing and the natural healing capacity of human beings. I asked myself why they were so uncomfortable with alternative (traditional) therapies and spirituality. Where are all the free thinkers in modern medicine that have the power to bring attention to alternative therapies?

My next question was; is modern medicine neglecting our natural mind-body connection? I hope, not. Although integrative medicine is gaining recognition by the medical establishment, the pace is much too slow. By the end of their training, many doctors feel that the compassion and spirit which drew them to medicine has been lost. Why is that?

To better understand the terms used in this article, I would like to give you a few definitions:

Modern medicine, also known as western, regular or conventional medicine, is focused mainly on the physical aspect of the body for treatment. Another name for modern medicine is allopathic medicine.

Alternative medicine, known as traditional or natural medicine, is a general term given to wide range of therapies, most of which are more than 100 years old. Alternative medicine takes a holistic approach, meaning that it does not involve only the physical body, but also considers the mind and spirit. It defines health as a state of complete balance between the mind, body, and spirit.

Integrative Medicine combines western and alternative approaches and supplements, but does not replace conventional therapy. Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically.

At the very beginning of the Integrative medicine era, many

physicians were faced with a huge dilemma: either they learn and incorporate alternative therapies into their practice or they ignore them. But to incorporate them was to take a risk, the risk of losing the trust and confidence of their patients who were accustomed to other therapies. Also, physicians didn’t want to violate the sacrosanct principle they were taught: “First, Do Not Harm”. They were afraid of trying something new or different because conventional science tells us that “alternative treatment can’t work because we don’t know how it works “!

The dilemma is understandable from a medical point of view.

Modern medicine wants everything to be explained scientifically and logically. That’s OK, but, on the other hand, there is a demand for alternative medicine, which people have tried and benefited from. How should one respond to huge demands for alternative methods? If alternative therapies work, and we know they do, then physicians need to consider them. Happily, they finally are doing so.

The medical profession is finally learning the ancient theory

that we cannot understand disease unless we understand the person who has the disease and accept the fact that the mind and body are bound together. Our minds and bodies are designed to stay in balance. The great majority of diseases for which patients seek medical help are in part psychosomatic, meaning that bodily symptoms are caused by mental or emotional disturbance.

Therefore, we need the help of science to deal with our health, but we also need to provide the patient with hope and faith in the treatment. Today’s MD’s should be emotionally and

scientifically competent to treat psychosomatic illness; if not

the patient will return with another problem! Do you know why?

Because no one looked into why he developed the illness in the first place!

Future generations of physicians need time to become familiar

with integrative medicine. Hopefully they will find the time to

better understand not only illness but also their patients.

Integrative medicine is one step closer to a better relationship

between patient and doctor.

We are glad that we now have Integrative medicine: a combination of alternative and western medicine, healing-oriented medicine. Integrative medicine considers the body, mind, and spirit, including lifestyle. This medicine uses conventional and alternative methods, bringing together the best of both worlds.

In many cases traditional healing methods were introduced to

western medicine by patients! They brought their own healing

traditions to their MD’s . Actually, they knew their tradition

had been effective for them in the past and they wanted to use them now!

Fortunately, they have found very gifted, open-minded doctors, who let them use their own healing traditions, but kept a watchful eye on the treatment to make sure they didn’t hurt their patients. And that’s how modern western medicine learned about traditional, alternative therapies. Bit by bit, modern medicine accepted the reality that western medicine can not offer all the solutions, yet it remains confident in modern science while accepting alternative treatments.

Integrative medicine use mind-body therapies such as meditation, spiritual healing, acupuncture, self-hypnosis, mindfulness, stress reduction, visualization, yoga, Tai Chi, body energy fields, reflexology, massage, guided imagery, prayer and many other alternative methods. Although we know for sure that our mind plays a positive role in the healing process, how it does so remains a mystery!

Yes, integrative medicine brought the patient’s attitude, spirit,

hope, faith, meaning and beliefs into medical offices, definitely

changing the western approach to healing. Integrative medicine is still surrounded with skepticism and controversy. In the near future, it needs to be implemented in medical schools and residencies, with more certificate courses for practicing physicians and other health professionals. The challenges are many, and the opportunities are great.

Integrative medicine is not only for the ill, but for those who

wish to increase their self-awareness, enhance their well-being, and help prevent health-related problems. In bringing meditation and other spiritual and alternative therapies into western medicine, medical professionals have changed the face of modern medicine.

Thankfully, after many years of denying alternative therapies,

modern western medicine is ready to accept mind/energy oriented therapies and other alternative treatments as powerful tools in their battle for people’s health. In this way patients and practitioners are partners in the healing process.

Today, physicians are more educated about alternative methods yet remain uncomfortable while practicing it. A new approach to medicine requires a new approach to medical education. However, this is changing because of newly introduced training programs in Integrative Medicine. The world of modern western medicine is changing every day for better, and that is good for patients.

It is my wish that alternative therapies will gradually play a

more important role in our current medical system.

Jahiel - Yasha- Kamhi

jasakamhi@hotmail.com

A professional skin care regime is one of the most important parts of maintaining your skin’s health. Your skin is not a smooth surface like a sheet of glass. On the contrary, your skin is more like a riverbed, full of little lumps, bumps, crevasses and holes. You can give these dermatological names such as fine lines, pores, sebaceous glands, etc., but at the end of the day the fact remains your skin is far from a flat, smooth surface.

Because of this and because your skin is a living, breathing part of your body and fulfils several major functions including temperature regulation, immune defence, protection from the external environment, etc., you will need to look after it if you wish to have it work at its optimal level and hope to have good, healthy skin into your late 70’s and beyond.

What about the type of products I should use for my skin care regime?

You should always choose natural skin care products as many commercially mass-produced skin care products utilise potentially toxic chemicals and highly modified ‘natural’ ingredients.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products hand makes a range of holistically-natural skin care products suitable for your particular skin type. These products are based on traditional naturopathic principles and utilize herbal extracts and essential oils to produce lasting effects.

Their products are designed to benefit your skin’s health for the long term and include only the best ingredients suitable for your specific skin type.

Daily Skin Care Regime

Cleansing your skin

Cleansing your skin is one of the most important steps if you want to maintain a healthy, vibrant and youthful looking skin.

As well as providing the basis for an advanced skin care regime, effective cleansing can actually improve the quality of our skin, enhancing its radiance and keeping it looking younger for longer.

Thorough cleansing is one of the most important steps of a complete skin care regime. Cleansing of your skin should be done morning and night to ensure the removal of surface impurities, make-up, and stale skin oils. When regularly performed cleansing will enhance the skin’s ability to breathe and maintain its other important functions.

One of the best ways to do this is to make cleansing your skin part of your daily skin care regime.

This is how you do it:

First, moisten your face with lukewarm water. Then apply a small amount of facial cleanser. Gently spread the product over your skin, using light, circular movements. At this stage, spend an extra minute massaging the product into your face to boost your skin’s circulation and help decongestion.

Secondly, be sure to be gentle, your skin is a delicate organ and needs to be treated with care and respect.

Lastly, rinse off the cleanser, using lukewarm water and pat your face dry.

If you are still using ordinary soap, STOP. You are seriously compromising the health of your skin. Throw it away and start using a quality cleanser.

Toning your skin

Toning is the second step in your daily skin care regime. These days, women often leave this step out and yet it is just as important as the cleansing of your skin or the moisturizing. It is a must include step. The one or two minutes it takes are worth every second if you desire to have healthy, vibrant skin with a minimum of lines and wrinkles. Don’t leave this step out.

You have just spent time cleaning your skin, ridding it of stale oils, makeup, dead skin cells and other impurities, now you have to tone your skin.

A quality cleanser may contain such ingredients as clay. This helps to remove dead skin cells and other impurities, but may not rinse off totally. This is why you need to use a quality toner.

Firstly, it removes every last bit of the cleanser such as the fine clay particles and other residues from the cleansing process.

Secondly it will close the skin’s pores to protect it from further loss of moisture, which invariably happens when cleansing your face.

Thirdly it provides nutrients and restores the pH balance of your skin.

Now that is worth spending a minute or two, isn’t it?

Moisturising your skin

This is the third part of your daily skin care regime and should also be done morning and night using a day crème in the morning and a night crème before retiring.

A quality moisturiser protects your facial skin from environmental damage, provides nutrients for the skin and prevents loss of moisture, thereby slowing down the aging process.

In addition, a moisturiser should help to maintain the acid mantle of your skin, which is part of your immune system and if the pH of your skin becomes too acidic or alkaline, the acid mantel is compromised.

Weekly Regime

To complete your skin care regime, you should set aside a few minutes once a week, preferably at the weekend to deeply cleanse and nourish your skin. Your weekly treats should include, the use of a Facial Mask and Exfoliation.

These treatments encourage cellular repair, step up collagen production and help strengthen, tone and firm up your skin.

Facial Clay Mask:

Using a clay mask will help to draw toxins from your skin, whilst moisturising and nourishing the skin at the same time. There are different clays that will work for specific skin types and choosing the right products containing the clay that is most suitable to your skin type is important. There are 3 basic clays: Green, Yellow and Red.

Exfoliation

Think of Exfoliation from this perspective. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, soothes the skin and improves its tone. Dead skin cells are the very top layer of your skin. Applying moisturiser to dead skin cells does not make sense, does it? So exfoliation, removes the dead skin cells, promotes blood circulation and helps to invigorate and prepare the skin to more easily absorb any moisturising product you apply.

Exfoliation also helps speed up the rate of cell turn over. Another word for exfoliation is scrubbing. Using a facial scrub at least once a week, makes your skin more receptive to creams and treatments. However care must be taken not to over exfoliate.

The aim is to remove any dead cells from the skins surface without disturbing the healthy cells beneath.

In conclusion, to follow a skin care regime is like taking out an insurance policy on the health and vitality of your skin. Can you afford not to follow a complete, daily skin care regime?

No general screening test is more efficient, effective and affordable than a comprehensive blood chemistry panel. It allows the healthcare provider to establish a baseline of biomarkers to track the patient’s health and nutritional needs. Getting a blood test is essential to understanding your current health and your nutritional needs.

What is Blood Nutrition?

Blood NutritionTM, is an innovative, science-guided look at nutritional strengths and weaknesses through an individual’s blood test. This new scientific approach can offer a clear plan for your optimum health. As a result, a new generation of healthcare professionals is emerging with the tools and keys that can reveal the more subtle imbalances and assist in correcting them.

Blood NutritionTM is a comprehensive approach to health. To address the true cause of symptoms, one should look for their origin from a science-generated perspective by considering:

• Physiological distress or disease conditions

• Nutritional distress or imbalances

• Mental/emotional distress

Any of these factors may be the source or a contributing factor for the symptoms of imbalance. The cornerstone of an effective health strategy is a nutritional and lifestyle plan that is based on your biochemistry. Success here is dependent on the establishment of an accurate nutritional profile guided by scientific approaches such as a comprehensive blood test.

Blood Nutrition and Science

This advanced scientific approach identifies nutritionally significant information through the careful analysis of the various blood values. Certain indicators can reveal electrolyte, mineral and other nutritional imbalances. Once addressed, one can optimize the metabolic processes and help maintain the healthy performance of the body. A balanced nutritional state is essential for achieving and maintaining health.

Nutritional analysis of your Blood Test may indicate the need for:

• Key nutrients such as vitamin A, B6, B12, D

• Fluid and electrolyte balance

• Minerals such as magnesium, calcium and iron

• Tissue hydration

• Antioxidants

• Enzymes

• Nutritional support of key organs

• Nutritional support of metabolic pathways

• The need for lifestyle changes

Nutritional Imbalances

If you have nutritional imbalances, you may be experiencing the following:

• Mental/emotional symptoms including mood swings and anxiety

• Structural/musculoskeletal symptoms such as pain or stiffness

• Digestive issues such as bloating, indigestion and elimination problems

• Optical symptoms such as difficulty in night vision or blurry vision

• Symptoms such as weight gain, fatigue, insomnia, food cravings

• Cardiovascular health issues

• Dry skin, brittle nails, hair dryness or loss

• Others

Are you suffering from the effects of nutritional deficiencies or imbalances? Nutrients such as amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes are the building blocks of the body. They provide energy, support metabolism and are needed for many biochemical reactions to sustain health. Key nutrients may become deficient for various reasons. These may include:

• Disease processes, which may block metabolism

• Poor dietary habits

• Physical, mental and emotional stress

One of the most scientific ways to identify nutritional imbalances is to have your blood test evaluated by a nutritionally trained doctor or healthcare practitioner who is experienced in Blood NutritionTM assessment. A comprehensive blood test is affordable and results are normally received within a few days.

When key nutrients become deficient, many metabolic processes are affected. The body may initially try to compensate for such imbalances. However, if they are prolonged, they may contribute to hormonal issues, metabolic disorders, increase in toxic load, oxidative stress, organ weaknesses and many other health issues. Many symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue and irritability may be effectively addressed with proper nutritional considerations.

A blood test is one of the most efficient tests you can get to determine the quality of your overall health. Once you have received your test results, working with a specialist who is experienced in Blood NutritionTM will enable you to achieve the optimum health that is essential to a long life full of vitality.