12. Homeopathy can cure swine flu, claims practitioner

At a time the country is grappling with H1N1 virus and Tamiflu tablet is belived to be the only solution, a well-known medical practitioner today claimed that people can have a cost-effective treatment in homeopathy for swine flu. "The people can take some of cost-effective and clinically proved homeopathic medicines for swine flu treatment as well as prevention," Batra's Positive Clinic's chairman and managing director, Dr Mukesh Batra, said.

Batra recommends `Oscilococcinium 30' and `Influenzium 200' for swine flu prevention as well as to improve the immune system among the general public towards the flu. "The homeopathy medicine 'Gelsemium 30' has been proved effective clinically in the treatment of swine flu in France a decade back and has been reported in the British journal of Clinical Medicine," Batra said. Similarly, treatment for swine-flu was done in Spain during 1917-18 war period with 'Bryonia 30' and proved effective, he said. In the case of Spanish flu, homeopathy brought mortality rate from 30 per cent to one per cent, he claimed.

11. Immune system cancer in young 9/11 officers

Researchers say a small number of young law enforcement officers who participated in the World Trade Center rescue and cleanup operation after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks have developed an immune system cancer.

The numbers are tiny, and experts don't know whether there is any link between the illnesses and toxins released during the disaster. But doctors who coordinated the study, published Monday in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, said people who worked at the site should continue to have their health monitored.

"What we are trying to get out there is: Be alert,'' said Dr. Jacqueline M. Moline, director of the World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. The researchers looked at 28,252 emergency responders who spent time amid ground zero dust and found eight cases of multiple myeloma.

Those findings were no surprise. Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological cancer in the US after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Normally, researchers would expect to find about seven cases in a group as large as the one examined in the study. However, four of the people who fell ill were under age 45, and multiple myeloma is thought to be more rare among people of that age.

Under normal circumstances, researchers would have expected to find only one case of the disease in that age group. Those four young multiple myeloma patients included one officer who was caught in the dust cloud on 9/11 and then spent months working long hours at the site. Another spent 111 days at the Staten Island landfill where the rubble was sifted. Two others had less exposure, working 12 and 14 days each in the pit and rubble pile.

The study said it is possible the monitoring program was simply more effective at finding the illness among people who wouldn't ordinarily be subjected to intense medical tracking.

Nevertheless, Moline said, "You shouldn't be seeing so many cases of myeloma in younger folks.'' The median age of diagnosis for that cancer in the general public is 71. Several groups are studying New Yorkers exposed to toxic dust when the skyscrapers collapsed. To date, no study, including the one published Monday, has established a link between that dust and cancer, said Lorna Thorpe, a deputy commissioner and epidemiologist at New York City's health department. The timing of the four cases examined by the team at Mount Sinai also raised questions about whether they are related to their work at ground zero, she said.

Most research on multiple myeloma indicates that it usually takes 10 to 20 years for someone to develop that cancer after an environmental exposure to a carcinogen. In these cases, the cancers were diagnosed in as little as three to four years after the attacks, suggesting that something else caused the disease.

10. Treatments in Ayurveda

Pizhichil :-
It is one among the rare and special treatments of Kerala. In this treatment, lukewarm herbal oils are applied all over the body by two to four trained therapists in a special rhythmic way continuously for about 60 to 90 minutes per day for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is done in a special table made from a single piece ofStrychnos Nuxvomica wood. This treatment is very useful for Rheumatic diseases like arthritis, paralysis, hemiplegia, paralysis – agitanus, sexual weakness, nervous weakness and nervous disorders etc.

Njavarakizhi :–
It is a type of sudation process in which the whole body or any specific part there of is made to perspire by the application of certain medicinal puddings externally in the form of boluses tied up in muslin bag. Two to four masseurs apply this for about 60 to 90 minutes per day for a period of 14 days. This treatment is for all types of rheumatism, pain in the joints, emaciation of limbs, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and certain kind of skin diseases.

Sirodhara :–
Sira – means Head and Dhara means the continuous flow of a liquid. In this process some herbal oils, medicated milk, medicated butter milk etc, are poured on the forehead in a special method of about 40 minutes in a day for a period of 7 to 21 days. This treatment is mainly for insomnia, loss of memory, headaches, mental tention and certain skin diseases.

Vasthi :–
Otherwise known as Medicated Enema. Vasthi is a Therapeutic procedure in which certain herbal oils, herbal extracts, etc are applied through the rectum daily for a period of 5 to 25 days. This treatment is effective for arthritis, paralysis, hemiplegia, numbness, gastric complaints, rheumatism and chronic constipation.

Sirovasthi :–
Certain lukewarm herbal oils are poured into a cap fitted on the head and held for 15 to 60 minutes per day according to the patient’s conditions for a period of 07 days. This treatment is highly effective for facial paralysis, dryness of nostrils, mouth and throat, severe headaches and other diseases of the head.

Udvarthanam :–
This treatment is otherwise known as Powder Massage. This is found very effective in the obesity, hemiplegia, paralysis, skin diseases, impaired circulation etc and similar diseases. In this procedure 2 therapists apply certain special Herbal Powders in a peculiar way on the body for about 30 to 40 minutes daily for a period of 14 to 28 days.

Abhyangam :–
This is a special type of oil massage in which strokes arte given according to the circulatory channels for 45 minutes per day for 14 days. This treatment is very useful for obesity, loss of skin luster, sleeplessness and fatigue.

Nasyam :–
Being one among the Panchakarma procedures, Nasyam is a treatment in which herbal juices, medicated oils etc, are applied through nose for 7 to 14 days. This treatment is highly effective for certain kinds of headaches, paralysis mental disorders, some types of skin diseases etc.

Kizhi :–
Herbal leaves or powders are made in boluses and are applied on the whole body or a part specified after dipping it in warm medicated oils. This is done for 45 minutes daily for a period of 07 to 14 days. This is very effective for osteo arthritis, spondylosis, sports injuries etc.

Sandhi Vatha Chikilsa :–
Unlike the modern medicine Ayurveda has very effective cures for Arthritic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteo arthritis, ankylosing spondylosis, cervical spondylosis, osteo porosis etc. This programme includes massage, lepanam, and oil application on affected parts, kizhi, steam bath, snehavasthy, kakshaya vasthy, pizhichil, njavarakizhi, snehapanam and internal medicines.

Snehapanam :-
This word literally means oral intake of medicated oils or ghee preparations. This is done as a therapeutic procedure and also as a preparatory process during the body purification therapy. In this treatement medicated ghee or oils are given internally in proportionally increasing quantity for a period of 08 - 12 days. This treatment is very effective for osteo arthritis, psoriasischronic constipation, haemorrhoids etc,.

Dahanyamla Dhara :-
Warm herbal liquid is poured all over the body in rhythmic way using a special vessel. This is done for 45 minutes to 01 hour daily. this treatment is very effective for hemiplegia, paralysis.

Yoniprakshalanam :-
Herbal oil and decoction are applied through the vaginal root, this treatment is good for gynecological disorders. It is also a purification process for genital organ.

Kativasthi :-
In this process specially prepared warm medicated oil is kept over the lower back with herbal paste boundary. This treatment lasts for 45 minutes to 01 hour and it is good for any type of back pain and spinal disorders.

Urovasthi :-
Like Kativasthi warm medicated oil is kept over the chest for 45 minutes. This is an effective treatment for Asthma, other respiratory problem, heart diseases and muscular chest pain.

Ksheeradhoomam :-
This is a special procedure in which a mixture for medicinal decoction and cows milk is heated and the steam thus liberated is passed to a tube and applied over the affected area or whole body. This is found very effective for facial palsies, speech disorders, ptosis and various nervous disorders.

Thalam :-
Special powder mixed with medicated oil is applied on the top of the head for 20 to 45 minutes. This treatment is helpful for curing ENT problems, insomnia, migraine etc.

Lepanam :-
This is a process in which medicated herbal paste is applied on the affected part, this is useful for various types of inflammatory conditions, skin diseases, arthritis, gout, etc.

Thalapothichil :-
Various medicinal herbs selected according to dosha predominance is made into a paste and applied to the scalp for 30 to 45 minutes. This treatment is good for insomnia, premature, greying and other problems to the hair and scalp.

Swasa Kasa Chikilsa :-
Respiratory diseases like bronchill asthma, prolonged cough, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis etc, can be very effectively treated in Ayurveda. This program includes body massage, urovasti, pizhichil, podikizhi, snehavashti, kashaya vasthy, nasyam and internal Ayurvedic medicines.

Sukhanidra :-

Ayurveda , the knowledge of the life is not only related with the body, but with the mind and soul also, this particular treatment program is very much helpful for conditions like insomnia (lack of sleep), anxiety and it improves immunity and self confidence. This treatment program includes body massages, shirovasthy, ksheeradhara, thailadhara, thalam, thalapothichil and internal Ayurvedic medicines , yoga and meditation.

Psoriasis Treatment Program ( Sidhma Chikilsa) :-
Ayurveda forms very effective treatment for all type of psoriasis and various other skin diseases. This special Ayurvedic treatment program last for 21 to 28 days. This program includes special lepanam, abhyangan, snehapanam, pizhichil, medicated steam bath, shirovasty, exclusievely prepared internal herbal medicines along with yoga meditation because, Ayurveda emphasis that most diseases are psychosomatic.

9. Healthy Habits and DNA

Healthy habits can actually repair your DNA, say researchers Drs Dean Ornish and Elizabeth Blackburn. Their study subjects ate vegetarian whole foods with 10% of calories from fat, walked 30 minutes six days a week, used stress deducing techinques, and went to a weekly support group.

The result? Besides a decrease in LDL cholesterol and stress levels, they showed a 29% rise in telemerase. This enzyme repairs and lengthens tiny protein complexes on the ends of chromosomes that are vital for immunity and longevity.

Short telomeres and low levels of telomerase signal in increased risk of heart disease and cancer, plus a poor prognosis if you do get ill.

8. Simple Habits Pay Off

Sticking to four healthy habits regularly will help you live longer, according to Harvard researchers. Middle aged women who ate right, exercised, stayed at a healthy weight, and never smoked had a 71% lower risk of premature death than those who had none of the healthy habits.

The healthy women also reduced their risk of cancer death by 95% and fatal heart disease by 87%. Those who smoked one to 14 cigrettes a day had a 94% higher risk of early death

But as obesity becomes much more common than smoking, this may change

7. Move More, Cut Cancer

An active lifestyle may help prevent cancer- especially in women, say Japanese ressearchers. Tracking almost 80,000 people, they looked at energy expanded during standing, walking, sitting, and working out. The most active men were 13% less likely to get cancer than the least active men; for women, the gap was 16%. Even small increases in activity improved the odds of staving off the disease.

6. Migrain and Risk of Stroke

Reseach shows that women who have migraines accompanied by their distinctive 'aura' symptoms are at greater risk of having a stroke than those who don't get migraines.

Why the link: Migraine headache are caused by inflamation of the areteries surrounding the brain. Other arteries inside the brain may spasm during an attack as well, temporaily cutting off circulation, thus increasing the odds of a stroke.

Additional risks: Abnormalities in the lining of arteries may also allow blood to clot more rapidly. And in rare cases , arteries leading to the brain may tear more easily. These tears can cause vessels to narrow and clots to form. Extra oestrogen from oral contraceptives (especially in smokers) or hormone therapy can further boost clotting factors to create a perfect storm for a stroke.

How to reduce the risk: Ask your doctor about taking low-dose aspirin. It has been shown to decrease stroke risk in women over 45 and may prevent migraines. Your doctor can also help you reduce the risks associated with abnormal arteries. Maintaining healthy blood pressure in one way, but also ask your physician to order a routine blood test to determine whether you have markers for increased clotting.

If you do, discuss aspirin therapy, anticlotting medications, or alternatives to hormone therapy.

5. Sugar Coated Myths

All sugar and sugar products should be elliminted from diet to lose weight.

Many teenagers, especially girls, belive this to be gospel truth. Weight gain is caused by taking in more calories than our body burns for fuel. Faulty food habits make you fat, not sugar.

In 2002, a three year study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences concluded, "There is no clear and consistent association between increased intakes of added sugars and BMI" BMI(Body Mass Index) is an indicator of body weight and obesity.

The American Diabetes Association advises diabetics that sugar may be included in their diets provided it's counted as part of their daily carbohydrate allowance.

4. The Health Myths and the Truths Behind It.

There are countless health myths believed for generation. And now, scientists have debunked the biggest health myths that have existed untill now, reports The Mirror. The Myths and truths are:

1. Myth: Eating carbs makes you fat.

Truth: According to the Food Standards Agency, starchy foods only become fattening when actual fat, such as cream or margrine, is added. Carbs contain less than half the calories of fat and tend to be more filling, making you less likely to overeat.

2. Myth:You need to drink eight glasses of water a day.

Truth: Scientists at the university of Pennesylvania found not a single study to back this up. Excessive amount of water can actually be dangerous, even fatal. Most people only need 750ml to 1 litre and can get this from juice, tea, coffee or bear.

3. Myth:The flu jab can give you flu

Truth: The flu jab isn't a live vaccine; so it can't infect you withthe virus. People make this mistke because the jab is usually given in autumn, the peak time for cold virusess. If they go on to get a minor cold they misinterpret it as flu.

4. Myth:I am fat because i have slow metabolism.

Truth: A recent study by the university of Chicago recealed that fat people have faster metabolisms and burn off more calories as energy than slimmer people.

5. Myth: Pregnant women should eat for two

Truth: Two out of five women admit to believing this myth, according to SMA Nutrition. But they only need an extra 200 calories a day- equal to two slices of bread- and even then, only in the last three months.

6. Myth: Vitamins make you live longer

Truth: Popping 'antioxident' vitamins such C, A and E won't extend your life, concluded on study last year. They may even lead to a premature death.

7. Myth: Chocolate gives you spots.

Truth: Acne is caused by the effects of hormones on sebaceous oil glands in the skin. This is why it particularly affect teenagers and can also be increased by stress. So chocolate won't make a difference.

3. Discounted Drinks

Discounts are promoting the sale of unhealthy drinks that are rich in fat and sugar, a study has found. Researchers in New Zealand's University of Otago looked at about 1500 discounts over a month in four supermarkets across Wellington. They found only 15% of all the non-alcoholic drinks discounted were classed as 'healthy'.

Beverages classed as 'healthy' in the study were water, plain reduced-fat milk and plain reduced-fat soy drinks. In the 'unhealthy' group were sweetened carbonated beverages, sport beverages and flavoured waters and cordial.

2.Green Tea for Stroke

Drinking a cup of green tea once a week can significantly cut down the risk of stroke, a new study by Curtin University(CUT).

Researchers looked at the amount of tea leaf consumed, how long the patients who had suffered a stroke had been drinking green tea and how much they consumed per day. A significant decrease in ischemic stroke( when an artery to the brain is blocked) risk was observed for those drank at least one cup of tea per week. The risk reduction was largest for those who drank one to two cups of green tea per daily.

1. Best Skin Care Ingredients in Summer

In summer season, the skin care shelves in stores are packed with antiaging products and claims. Here are the topical ingredients clinically shown to help diminish the fine lines and wrinkles that appear when collagen fibres break down.

Vitamin A: Often listed as restinol, it penetrates skin to increase collagen production, eventually smoothing lines.

Vitamin C: It can stimulate collagen to help build up your skin and smooth and fade lines. It works best when you apply it at night.

Vitamin E: Look on the label for DL-alpha-topopherol; it blocks the cancer-causing effect of UV light and slows the production of wrinkles. And vitamin E enhances the efficiency of sunscreen, decreasing redness and swelling after sun exposure.

Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA): Used as an exfoliant, it's also listed as glycolic acid. By peeling off the top layer of dead skin, it gives you a more youthful appearence.

Vitamin B3 (niacin): It helps shield skin from toxins and decreaes brown blotches. It helps ease the irritation that can be a side effect of vitamin A creams.