STRESS BREAKDOWN: TREATMENT OF STAGE THREE SYMPTOMS
CANCER AND AGING
SYMPTOMS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA): SKIN
SURGERY TO RELIEVE ARTHRITIC PAINS
We have just explained that surgical operations on organs or glands cannot solve the question of arthritis. But can a doctor “operate” on actual arthritic bones and relieve your pain? The answer is “Yes.”
After deformity has set in, there are a number of orthopaedic operations which are helpful. More surgery will undoubtedly be devised in the future. Meanwhile, some of the operations now being used successfully for deformed arthritics only are known as synovectomy, arthrodesis, arthroplasty, etc.
Operations can be performed to remove any flesh-like tabs clinging to joint linings. These are frequently found in osteo-arthritis and sometimes they impede joint mobility. Surgery can also cut away some bone-spurs or extraneous deposits of cartilage or bone called “joint mice.”
But before allowing your arthritis to reach the stage where surgical help is needed, wouldn’t it be far better to practise the dietary and oil regime in this book? Prevent deformity by sane eating habits, and escape the surgeon’s knife.
If a knee swells up to twice its normal size, and the trouble is a diseased lining, it is true that the joint membrane can be removed surgically. Joint linings will then regenerate, and your body will build new ones. At that time you may decide to straighten out your diet, to protect your “second set” of linings. Why not eat correctly now? You’ll save yourself a trip to the surgeon and a long convalescence.
One type of deformity is “fusion.” When a joint becomes fused, it is said to be ankylosed. An ankylosed joint is frequently free from pain. The operation known as arthrodesis is primarily designed to give the fused joint some degree of service … at least enable it to bear some weight. An arthoplasty operation will improve ball and socket joint mobility, by inserting a metal cup in your joint. Again, we say, however, stop your arthritic advancement by diet, before you need to undergo these major measures.
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SIDE-EFFECTS OF HRT/ PROGESTOGENSIS :WHAT ADVERSE EFFECTS CAN PROGESTOGENS CAUSE?
These can be physical or psychological; numerous side-effects have been attributed to progestogens and those that we encounter most frequently are shown below. Because too few data on the frequency and severity of the symptoms are available for meaningful conclusions, they are presented in alphabetical order.
Physical and psychological side-effects associated with administration of progestogen
PHYSICAL:
Abdominal ‘cramps’
Accident-prone
Acne
Backache
Breast tenderness
Clumsiness
Dizziness
Flatulence
Fluid retention
Generalized aches and pains
Greasy skin
Headaches
Hot flushes
Poor sleep
Tiredness
Weight gain
PSYCHOLOGICAL:
Aggression
Anxiety
Apathy
Confusion
Depressed mood
Difficulty making decisions
Emotionally labile
Forgetfulness
Irrational
Irritability
Panic attacks
Poor concentration
Restlessness
Tearfulness
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TREATMENT OF CELLULITIS
Cellulitis should be treated with systemic antibiotics. Limited disease of the torso and extremities can be treated with oral antibiotics. Treatment choices include penicillinase-resistant penicillins, first-generation cephalosprins, amoxicillin-clavulonate, broad-spectrum macrolides, second-
generation fluoroquinolones, or clindamycin. Some clinicians administer an initial dose of intravenous antibiotics (i.e., cefazolin, ceftriaxone) to reduce the risk of progression before starting oral medication.
A recent study demonstrated the effectiveness of home-administered once-daily intravenous cefazolin plus oral probenecid. Close follow-up is important once treatment is started. At the initial visit, the margin of the rash should be traced with a marker. Patients should be seen within 24 hours for reassessment. Most cases will improve after 1 day of treatment, but sometimes it may take several days to see regression. As long as the cellulitis does not progress, it is reasonable to continue the initial antibiotic and monitor patients closely. Once the infection has demonstrated significant regression, patients can be instructed to finish their antibiotics and return as needed.
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PUBERTY: SEXUAL MATURATION IN BOYS
The physical signs of puberty in boys are also controlled by hormone changes, but puberty usually starts one to two years later than in girls. The earliest change during puberty is growth of the testes, resulting from LH stimulation and subsequent testosterone production. The increasing levels of testosterone also stimulate growth of the penis and the accessory male sex organs (prostate, seminal vesicles, and epididymis). Ejaculation is not possible before puberty because the prostate and seminal vesicles do not begin to function until they receive appropriate hormone signals.
Boys begin to undergo genital development at an average age of 11.6 years and the genitals reach adult size and shape at an average age of 14.9. In some boys, genital development occurs rapidly (in about a year), while in others it may take up to five and one-half years. Sperm production (which begins in childhood) becomes fully established during puberty, so fertility is present.
There is no exact counterpart in male puberty to menarche, but wet dreams seem to have a parallel degree of psychological importance. Kinsey and his colleagues (1948) reported that one-quarter of fourteen-year-olds and nearly two-thirds of seventeen-year-olds had this experience, yet many pubertal boys are not told about the possibility of nocturnal emissions and are surprised, puzzled, or frightened upon discovery of the event. The ejaculatory experience itself or the resulting sensation of wetness or stickiness may awaken the boy having a nocturnal emission, and — just as uninformed girls may view their initial menstrual flow as a sign of illness — he may become anxious about disease or injury. Whether informed or not about this experience, the pubertal boy may attempt to “hide the evidence” of a stained sheet or pajamas to avoid embarrassment or questioning by his parents.
Growth of pubic hair begins around the time of genital development and is usually followed a year or two later by the appearance of facial and axillary hair. Facial hair growth is an important event because the earlier changes of male puberty are usually less visible than breast development in the female and beard growth is a visible sign of “becoming a man.” Facial hair growth begins at the corners of the upper lip with a fine, fuzzy appearance, and then spreads to form a mustache with coarser texture. Hair next appears on the upper cheeks and just below the lower lip, and last of all develops on the chin. Body hair also appears during puberty, and chest hair continues to grow for a decade or more after this time.*
Deepening of the voice is another change of puberty and is caused by testosterone stimulation of the voice box, or larynx. As the larynx grows, the boy’s voice may go through an awkward period of breaks and squawks, which may be a source of embarrassment. Like age at menarche, the average age of this voice change in boys has decreased, from eighteen years in 1749 to about 13.5 years today. Breast enlargement, or gynecomastia, is commonly seen in male puberty but is characteristically transient.
Hormone differences between adolescent boys and girls also cause differences in body shapes. For instance, the average seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boy has a leaner body and more muscle mass than his female counterpart. This is because estrogens cause accumulation of fat under the skin, while testosterone stimulates muscle growth. The structure of pelvic bones is also different in males and females, with the wider female pelvis creating a properly sized birth canal.
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NATURAL MEN’S HEALTH: BRAIN POWER – SUPPLEMENTS
Ginkgo biloba: one or two tablets of the pure herb each morning. Repeat the dose later in the day if you are working long hours. Consult your naturopath, pharmacist or health store about a good quality tablet. It has assisted a number of my clients who work long hours and who need to apply strong powers of concentration daily. As ginkgo stimulates the brain, do not take it less than four hours before retiring, as it will tend to keep you awake, but when you have to work extremely long hours, a ginkgo tablet every three to four hours can be extremely helpful. Take it for at least three to four months to see how it can assist your concentration and sense of general wellbeing.
Ginkgo [Ginkgo biloba)
Ginkgo biloba is a herb that has been used worldwide for increasing circulation to the extremities of the body including the hands, feet and brain. Because of this action, it is also terrific for enhancing brain activity. The ginkgo is a deciduous tree that has been around for 150 million years. The green leaf that comes from this tree is a wonderful treatment for problems of memory, tinnitus, dizziness and the effects of high altitude. It can also help prevent stroke.
Ginkgo is especially useful for treating the early effects of dementia. I use it frequently to enhance memory, particularly in the 50-plus age group. If you are using aspirin or warfarin, check with your doctor before taking ginkgo.
Many other supplements have a general positive effect on good health but also specifically target the brain.
Coenzyme Q10: 60-100 mg each morning; double the dose if you are going through a heavy work program for a few months. This anti-oxidant boosts oxygen levels to all parts of the body and repairs free radical damage. This supplement is particularly good for those who have suffered from chronic fatigue and have not fully regained their health.
Two B complex tablets each day with 50-100 meg B12 and folate. Recent research suggests that they are essential for healthy arteries. When the arterial blood is constricted, then fogginess, vagueness and sudden mood changes can happen, even if you have lots of sleep and a good diet.
Vitamin E is found in avocado oil and other vegetable oils, especially wheat germ oil. This anti-oxidant vitamin assists in heightening energy due to its powerful effect on neutralising free radicals in the body. Using these oils on salads is a good idea; but it is generally not a high enough daily dose to assist the movement of oxygenated blood to brain cells, which ensures alertness of the brain. Take 500IU daily to improve alertness.
A Siberian ginseng tablet will help your system adapt to high levels of stress. Take one tablet twice a day during times of high stress.
There are other anti-oxidants that you may wish to include in your daily regime. This really depends on how dedicated you are to achieving increased health and vitality with extra brain power. These include: green tea, grapeseed oil, turmeric, bacopa and schisandra. Sometimes you may find these extra herbs combined in a good quality anti-oxidant tablet: take one or two a day. One glass of red wine daily or two every second or third day is also acceptable.
Omega 3 and 6 oil capsules, two to four capsules daily.
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BACH FLOWER REMEDIES: PINE REMEDY – PROF M. SINGH’S CASE
Prof M. Singh was as capable as honest, and was very popular amongst his society members. Nobody ever saw him doing anything wrong and yet he looked always sad, and he never blamed anybody else for any mishappening. He was a patient of chronic asthma and when his grand-child got this disease, Prof. Singh was penitent. He blamed himself for having passed on this disease through blood to his progeny. Once he got his house-tax bill for a second time. He was much upset, and blamed himself for not having made sure that the money that he had paid earlier was properly posted in municipal records.
Recently he had started thinking that his daughter-in-law was mixing something in his food for slow poisoning. On that assumption, he had developed great hatred for her. He was prescribed ‘HOLLY (for hatred of his daughter-in-law) and PINE (for self blame) T.D.S for 4 weeks, after which time HOLLY was discontinued as he had already got rid of his hatred. PINE was continued for another 8 weeks to rid himself of his guilt complex, and along with his guilt complex went his chronic asthma. He had only one slight attack of asthma during this period which subsided by itself in a short while. On the treatment of unclean and undesirable thoughts by Flower Remedies, remember that: PINE holds fast to his guilt feeling, CRAB APPLE wants to get rid of any unclean feeling or thought immediately.
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DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES: CONSTIPATION
When the bowels do not move with their accustomed frequency or when waste material is passed in small, hard masses, sometimes with pain, the symptom is called constipation. Accompanying the condition one may have a sense of fullness or tightness in the abdomen, and sometimes pain. Other associated symptoms include headache, weakness, indigestion, belching, aching muscles, and even painful urination.
Constipation is not a disease – it is a symptom indicating that the fundamental difficulty lies in improper diet, wrong eating habits, a variety of diseases or abnormalities of structure, and, quite frequently, emotional difficulties or disorders of personality.
Most people have one or two actions of the bowel daily, usually after breakfast or after the largest meal of the day. Irregularity of eating or sleeping brings on irregularity of bowel action. Travel, stress, complete changes in nature of food, also disturb regularity of bowel action.
In old people blocking of the lower bowel may occur, due to inefficiency of the bowel musculature and lessened sensitivity of the nervous system. Exceedingly old people, who spend much of their time in bed, note particularly the tendency to less frequent action of the bowel. Most people under sixty years of age may be trained to proper rhythm by teaching good habits aided by a carefully selected diet.
The simplest materials for use in ordinary cases are the lubricants such as paraffin oil or mineral oil, which must not be used routinely because it picks up vitamin A; also useful are bulk materials, such as agar or cellulose, which are available in special preparations.
Spasticity of the colon and sensitivity to various foods such as chocolate, onions, garlic, cabbage, or other common sensitizers must be investigated.
The frequently used laxatives contain phenolphthalein, or senna, or magnesia; stronger are salts and castor oil.
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