Cold and Flu Symptoms

Cold and Flu Symptoms
By: jenifer Hobson , articlecube.com

You almost certainly are aware that giving your immune system a helping hand can ward off colds and the flu. But did you know that ordinary exposure to toxic chemicals in your everyday life can actually raise your probability of becoming sick?

Catching a cold or flu require introduction to bacteria and viruses and a body with a weak immune system. When bacteria and viruses come across a strong immune system, the immune system recognizes the bacteria or virus as a foreign invader and fights them off. But when the body's immune system is compromised, it can't do its job of protecting us next to the bacteria and viruses that can make us sick.

Unfortunately, nowadays, our immune systems are exposed to a torrent of toxic chemicals that can weaken its capability to defend the health of our bodies. Plastics, pesticides, and pollutants of all kinds are in most customer products. And virtually all of these chemicals can harm the immune system, leaving your body vulnerable to attack.

On the other hand, from time to time what may seem like a cold or flu may not be a cold or flu at all, but is actually a poisoning. In the wintertime, for example, during the "flu season," many families turn on their gas heat. Exposure to combustion by-products from burning gas can outcome in flu symptoms. Taking a cold or flu remedy won't help relieve those symptoms of toxic exposure.

Cold and flu symptoms can also be a sign that your body is at work to eliminate toxic chemicals it has been exposed to. A runny nose or sneezing might be a cold, or it might be the body trying to clear out nasal passages that have been inhaling toxic chemicals. There are a lot of toxic exposures in the standard American home. A lot of fact that there is a whole class of chemicals Known as immunotoxicants which by definition cause increased incidence or severity of infectious diseases.

Removing immunotoxicants from your home will do even more than stop colds and flu--it will protect you and your family from all contagious diseases, including bronchitis and pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, mumps, whopping cough, and others. Flu shots and vaccinations? Removing immuntoxics from your home allows your immune system to regenerate naturally, and fight off all infectious diseases.
Here are five simple things you can to start eliminating immunotoxicants from your home and strengthen your immune system.

1. Open the window. During the winter, we keep windows closed to keep warm and save energy, but this also keeps toxic chemicals inside the home. Open a window occasionally to let the toxic fumes out and bring fresh air in.
2. Don't spray disinfectants. It's second nature to reach for a disinfectant to kill cold germs and flu viruses, but disinfectants only make things worse. Disinfectants contain the immunotoxicants cresol, phenol, ethanol, and formaldehyde, which reduce the ability of the immune system to fight the germs they are killing. Improved to strengthen the immune system to defend the body from germs as it should. If you require killing germs, use hot water or tea tree oil.
3. Don't use "permanent" markers. These contain the solvents cresol, toluene and xylene, all powerful immunotoxicants. Choose water based markers instead.
4. Don't use nonstick cookware. A 2008 study by the Environmental Working Group through West Virginia University found higher levels of a chemical in Teflon found in the blood of test subjects correlated with lower levels of a protein that helps the body fight bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. Instead use cast iron, porcelain enamel, glass, clay, or one of the new PFOA-free "green pans."
5. Sleep on untreated cotton or linen sheets. All polyester or cotton and permanent-press cotton sheets are treated with a formaldehyde finish that cannot be removed and continues to emit formaldehyde for the life of the sheet. Common symptoms from this immunotoxicants include runny nose, itchy eyes, and other cold and flu symptoms.

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Know About Smoking

What Teens Need To Know About Smoking
By: Jon Simms, Articlecube.com

Teens are innocent of the dangers of smoking because they see their elders merrily winded away. Peer coerced is another culprit that leads early people to smoke, but in some gear, smoking is an act of insolence or purely the findings of curiosity. If you think your teenager is into smoking and if your disbelief mark, be fretful and educate your spawn on the dangers of smoking.

Smoking and It's Threat to Life and Limb

Each year, millions of people die from smoking-linked diseases. The form is possible to improve yearly as more litter people are charming up the deadly vice. The youngest smoker is a 7-year-old kid who earns his keep scrounging for recyclable scraps.

This scenario is in a third world country and is just the tip of an iceberg. Smoking is ingestion away brood lives but earning governments billions of dollars in tax revenues. So the emanate remainder unresolved, similar to the early dire overall warming predictions, which many show to discount.

Several cancers results of time of smoking and infantile people are at a higher venture because of their early and prolonged exposure to the poison. Nevertheless quitting smoking is just as tricky as quitting heroin. Support groups are open to help people get out of the rat weakness and found living recovered lives. Nevertheless it is difficult. Smoking is not illegal and minors immovable smoking are not penalized. Therefore, the vicious rotation continues. If you parent with youth who smoke, you should be alarmed and take immediate action to help your teens desert the addictive routine.

Helping Teens Quit Smoking

A distraught mom reported that her son and daughter were immovable smoking in their rooms. The betraying whiff of cigarette smoke gave away the enigma. Empty cigarette packs and cigarette butt were open in the gibberish bin. Alarmed, she reported the skirmish to her husband, also a non-smoker and together they educated their children on the dangers of smoking, enlisting them in rehabilitation and keep program to help wean their children from smoking.

If you can't fastener your children smoking at home, try to find out who they sling out with, and where they consume time after educate. Somehow, superstar will be able to tell you if your teenager's contacts are into smoking for the fun of it.

Telling your son or daughter not to go with their smoking links will not yield any capable significance. Instead, provoke their links over and show them YouTube videos on the irreversible effects of smoking on the body. Give them books on the produce of smoking or invite a surgeon to your children's drill or to a homeowners' association seminar to converse the perils of smoking. Organize parents and ask the teach's administration and faculty to wage war on smoking. There shouldn't be smoking and non-smoking areas in schools. Instead, smoking should be banned outright. Amid protests, you can always make it obvious that sometimes parents and teachers have to be cruel to be kind. Smoking is deadly and there is no other euphemism for it.

Be unswerving in your labors to wage war against teen smoking. Smoking teens will be smoking adults and will undergo the consequences in the upcoming. Instead of waiting at disaster to assault, plus the movement now. If you fondness your teens, put your bottom down. They'll thank you for your sustained labors to help them get rid of a deadly and costly addiction.

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PRANA INDONESIA

CLICK the image below for further information

ABOUT YAYASAN PRANA-NASIONAL INDONESIA (abbreviated : YPI): YPI is the official Center of Development and Spreading of Pranic Healing throughout Indonesia. This website gives complete information on Pranic Healing and its activities in Indonesia.

MASTER CHOA’S WORKS: Besides books which have been translated into several languages, Master Choa also issued CDs and all kind of workshops. He also established several humanity foundations. We enclosed the pictures of the book and CD covers and also a short information in order to make it clearer for you.


THE HEALING PROTOCOL: The techniques of Pranic Healing for all kind of diseases are available. It should be emphasized that the available techniques could only be understood and practiced by those who have attended the Basic, Advanced, Psychotherapy and Healing by Crystal Workshops. Most of the Healing Protocols are taken from PHQandA (Pranic Healing Questions and Answers).


ARTICLES: Here we discuss a lot of interesting things which are still connected with the Pranic Healing Techniques. There are a lot of articles about enhancing the Healing Techniques, additional knowledge and other benefits which can be used to enrich your understanding about healing.



ACTIVITIES IN PICTURES: Throughout Indonesia there are a lot of activities carried out yearly, at least more than 100 workshops and more than a dozen Free services, which resulted in an abundance of photo documentation. Here we try to present them to you in a brief way.



QUOTES: Most of the quotes here are Master Choa’s sayings.






FROM YOUR BEST FRIEND: To those who are not yet interested in Pranic Healing, you can directly open this interesting and useful page. This is a compilation of e-mails sent by friends, sometimes not even connected with Pranic Healing, but quite beneficial.



MEDIA PRANA: To date Media Prana has already been published up to edition No. 40, year X. Media Prana is the official bulletin (60 pages) published by Yayasan Prana-Nasional Indonesia. For those who want to subscribe to Media Prana, please contact YPI secretariat. This bulletin in Indonesian is published 4 times yearly.


SELF REALIZATION: Here we have meaningful stories which can touch the depth of our hearts. The more we dwell on their meaning, the more we will be aware of its depth. Thus these stories are expected to make our self realization and spirituality develop more expansively.



HUMOR: The humor presented here are mostly what we call innocent humor, not the dirty ones. You might have heard or read some of them, they continuously live and circulate, however they still make us laugh happily and feel healthier.




GLOBAL WARMING: It is really important for us to know about the Global Warming and Climate Change and how to cope with them. Yayasan Prana-Nasional Indonesia took steps to spread the knowledge and awareness about these. Not long ago YPI is spreading and distributing hundreds of VCDs about Global Warming to all its branches and other communities as well.


SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES: This contains information on the schedule of activities held by YPI or the Pranic Healers in Indonesia, including information on the schedules of meditation, workshops, meeting of the alumni, yearly get-together, free services and other important events.



MOTIVATION: What is the difference with the Self Realization section ? The Self Realization is more inclined to stories in connection with efforts of spiritual development, while the Motivation Section deals more with Self Development or Personality Development.



INSPIRATIONAL STORIES: Inspirational Stories Section is a section telling stories which will invoke inspiration, touch feelings and stimulate the spirit, care and love for mankind and also love for the environment where we live.




PARENTING: There is only one way to make children have a moral attitude and a high inner resistance which will decide their way of life. Even if there are government programs, neighbours, teachers or special trainers, learned men who can give illumination, still it is the parents who can give the children the values, morality and the ethical standards to their children.

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Indonesia National Pranic Healing Foundation

The Center of Development and Spreading of the Pranic Healing Teachings throughout Indonesia, in cooperation with
the Institute for Inner Studies and
the World Pranic Healing Foundation.

*
GrandMaster Choa Kok Sui

He was the Pioneer of the Modern Pranic Healing and Arhatic Yoga, an International Speaker and a successful writer. He had written more than 20 books and they have spread to more than 75 countries and most have been translated into 27 languages including into Indonesian.

Master Choa’s education background was Chemical Engineering. During his lifetime he was a successful businessman and GrandMaster of the Pranic Healing which he learned since his teenage years. Since his youth GrandMaster Choa Kok Sui had studied and mastered all kinds of energy healing techniques, doing research and testing by clairvoyancy which was then scientifically validated. He then summarized it and made it very simple, but still maintained its effectiveness, discarding superstition, mystics and unnecessary rituals and named it the Science and Art of Pranic Healing, which is very simple, effective and easily learned.

~~~~~~~~~~

Chair Massage Techniques

Chair Massage Techniques

By: Eric Brown

Chair massage techniques are unique. Many massage therapists try to use traditional Swedish massage techniques when doing chair massage, but this kind of approach doesn?t translate well to seated massage.

Swedish massage techniques largely consist of gliding strokes and this method is doesn?t work well because chair massage is done over the clothing and no oils are used.

There are essentially six types of chair massage techniques:

1. Compression techniques: These are what you may think of as acupressure techniques and are the most commonly used chair massage techniques. The creator of the chair massage concept was trained in Amma massage, an ancient system of acupressure techniques and this style of massage is often used in chair massage technique training. These can be hard on the thumbs as they are typically used, especially since many trainers lack adequate knowledge in the application of these techniques. However, at Relax to the Max, students are taught to do these techniques safely with a great deal of emphasis on the biomechanics of the movements. As well, the thumbs are used very seldom used in the Relax to the Max chair massage techniques as other contact points are often used, including fists, the heels of the hands, knuckles, elbows and forearms.
2. Squeezing techniques: With these types of massage techniques, the practitioner squeezes the muscles between two contact points. These are often performed on large muscle groups and muscles that are not firmly attached to underlying structures. It is critical when doing these techniques to accurately identify the edges of the muscles and this is a big focus on training when learning to do these chair massage techniques at Relax to the Max.
3. Kneading techniques: These are circular movements. Like the other chair massage techniques we?ve already discussed, there are ways to do these techniques that put minimal stress on the body. Whereas most schools teach students how to do this with the thumbs, Relax to the Max utilizes unique contact points like the elbows and pisiforms when doing these techniques to save your thumbs and to reduce the amount of effort.
4. Percussion: These stimulating techniques are what many people refer to as karate chops. When applied properly these percussive chair massage techniques feel great. Customers often report that this is the favorite part of their seated massage experience.
5. Friction techniques: This is an adaptation of traditional Swedish style movements and are used occasionally in the chair.
6. Gliding techniques: Although not performed frequently, there are times when these can be used effectively. At Relax to the Max you learn when these kinds of chair massage techniques are indicated.

If you are going to learn chair massage techniques, be sure to get adequate training from specialists who know what they are doing. Relax to the Max is the only massage school in North America that specializes in chair massage techniques and is a first choice for chair massage training by professionals from around the world.

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Faith and Pranic Healing

FAITH AND PRANIC HEALING

By Master Nona Castro

In hindu tradition it is called “sharanagati” or total surrender, in Latin “fiat” in Pranic Healing we know it as”“receptivity and conductivity” without which both healer and patient may find difficulty in achieving results, but with it, miracles can transpire.

Faith is captured in the famous story of Hanuman who brought the mountain where grew the flower that Lord Rama needed to his master’s feet. Hanuman’s faith enabled him to move the mountain. This was repeated in the words of Master Jesus when he said, “If you have faith even as small as a mustard seed, you can move mountains.”

Faith in the practice of Pranic Healing is not religious in nature. It is the level of receptivity and openness to the reality of prana and the ability to be able to conduct and use it for healing. And it has been experimented and proven, that the higher the receptivity is, the purer the conductivity, and thus the more effective and efficient the healing. Thus it is required from both healer and patient.

The talk will provide instances of the effectivity of this technique (receptivity is one of the seven basic techniques) in many aspects of pranic healing, From the experiences the speaker has gathered in the countries she coordinates, some can be called miraculous. Our teacher has provided us with an invocation of faith that has made receptivity and conductivity very much easier and simpler to achieve. Surprising healings have been achieved by this invocation.

I am swimming in the infinite ocean of prana.
I am one with the infinite ocean of prana.
I am one with prana.
I am one with my teacher.
I am one with the healing angels.
I am one with God (or one’s equivalent term)
I am one with all.
We are one.

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Maximize Your Minerals

Source: PHQandA, Message 207.

(NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. CONSULT WITHYOUR NATURAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER.)

BORON

Function: Helps prevent bone loss and demineralization; modulates immune and inflammatory processes.

Deficiency Symptoms: No deficiency symptoms identified.

Increases Need: Diets that are low in fruits and vegetables.

Suggested Intake for Adults: No RDA established; becomes toxic at 1 gram.


CALCIUM

Function: Helps in the formatin of strong bones, teeth, muscle tissue; regulates heart beat; essential to muscle action and nerve function; aids inblood clotting.

Deficiency Symptoms: Soft, brittle bones; back and leg pains; heart palpitations. Excess protein and high-phosphorous foods such as softdrink is increase excretion.

Increases Need: Poor dietary intake, excess protein, physical and emotional stress, growth, pregnancy and lactation.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 800 to 1,500 mg. daily. Vitamin D increases calcium formation. Boron decreases calcium excretion.


CHROMIUM

Function: Aids insulin function (use blood sugar for energy production).

Deficiency Symptoms: Atherosclerosis, glucose, intolerance, fatigue.

Increases Need: High intake of processed foods, aging, diabetes.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 50 to 200 mcg. daily.


COPPER

Function: Helps the body absorb and use iron to synthesize hemoglobin;is an important constituent of enzymes required for energy production.

Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia, skeletal defects, degeneration of the nervous system, reproductive problems.

Increases Need: The illness sprue (a malabsorption disease) and celiac disease.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 mg. daily


IRON

Function: Essentiala to red blood cell formation.

Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia; may compromise learning ability and endurance.

Increases Need: Poor diet, growth, menstruation, pregnancy, antacid use.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 10 to 15 mg. daily. Vitamin C increases absorption.

Caution: Iron overload may increase risk of heart attack.

MAGNESIUM

Function: Aids enzyme activation, nerve and muscle function, and calcium and potassium balance; prevents cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Deficiency Symtoms: Weakness, muscle tremors, weight loss, nausea, irritability, hair loss.

Increases Need: Diarrhea, diuretics, excess alcohol, deficient protein intake.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 300 to 500 mg. daily.


MANGANESE

Function: Works with enzyme that facilitate carbohydrate metabolism;necessary for normal development of skeletal and connective tissues.

Deficiency Symptoms: Glucose intolerance

Increases Need: Diets high in refined carbohydrates, pregnancy, rapid growth.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 mg. daily


MOLYBDENUM

Function: A component of enzymes involved in alcohol detoxification, uricacid formation and sulfur metabolism. Needed for DNA/RNA metabolism.

Deficiency Symptoms: Inability to detoxify sulfites; deficiency may cause sulfite sensitivities.

Increases Need: Insufficient dietary intake of whole grains, legumes, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 200 to 400 mcg. daily.


SELENIUM

Function: Activates glutathione peroxidase, which protects cells from free radical damage.

Deficiency Symptoms: Muscular weakness and discomfort.

Increases Need: Diets high in refined foods.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 70 mcg daily.


VANADIUM

Function: May function in hormone, cholesterol and blood sugar metabolism.

Deficiency Symptoms: Elevated cholesterol levels and faulty blood sugar control.

Increases Need: Poor blood-sugar control in people witn noninsulin dependent diabetes.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 50 to 100 mcg. daily.


ZINC

Function: Involved in many enzymes regulating metabolism and protein synthesis. Aids in healing and immune function and in development of there productive system.

Deficiency Symptoms: Retarded growth, slow healing, loss of appetite.

Increases Need: Infection, poor diet, alcoholism, cardiovascular disease, renal disease.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 15 mg. daily

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Optimize Your Vitamins

Source: PHQandA, Message 206.

(NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED AS MEDICAL ADVICE. CONSULT WITHYOUR NATURAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER.)

VITAMIN A (BETA-CAROTENE)

Fungtion : Involved in the growth and repair of body tissues and in bone and tooth formation; increases resistance to infection; maintains skin, mucuous membranes; promotes healthy eye tissue.

Deficiency Symptoms: Night blindness; dry eyes, rough skin; impaired bone growth; susceptibility to respiratory infection.

Increases Need: Smoking, diabetes, very low-fat diets, celiac disease (inability to digest gluten). Need increases with greater body weight. Consult your physician about supplement use.
Suggested Intake for Adults: 10,000 IU daily; 10,000 to 25,000 IU for beta-carotene.

Over-Consumption Symptoms: Dryness of the mucuos membranes, nausea, double vision, headaches, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and birth defects.


VITAMIN B1 (THIAMINE)

Function: Facilitates use of carbohydrates for energy; helps maintain nerve function and muscle tone; aids growth and healthy appetite.

Deficiency Symptoms: Mental confusion to psychosis; muscle weakness, edema, fatigue, loss of appetite, beriberi, heart failure.

Increases Need: Physical stress and illness.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 to 10 mg. daily


VITAMIN B2 (RIBOFLAVIN)

Function: Necessary for the use of fats, carbohydrates and protein in energy production; aids in formation of antibodies and red blood cells.

Deficiency Symtoms: Sensitivity of eyes to light; cracks in the corner of the mouth; dry, it chy skin around the nose and lips, swollen tongue, psychological problems.

Increases Need: Excess alcohol use, diuretics, antibiotics, oral contraceptives, diets low in protein and enriched foods, vegan diets, growth, pregnancy, lactation, physical stress.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 to 10 mg. daily


VITAMIN B3 (NIACIN)

Function: Aids metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and protein; promotes healthy skin and digestive function.

Deficiency Symptoms: Fatigue, digestive disorders, irritability, loss ofappetite, skin disorders.

Increases Need: Poor diet, excess alcohol use, cancer, mal absorption diseases.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 20 to 50 mg. daily

Over-consumption Symptoms: Heart arrhythmias, ulcers, high blood pressureand uric acid, flushing and liver problems.


VITAMIN B6 (PYRIDOXINE)

Function: Necessary for protein metabolism and for the formation of antibodies. Involved in the synthesis of hormones and red blood cells.

Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia, irritability, fatigue, nausea, insomnia,nervousness, darmatitis.

Increases Need: Oral contraceptives, excess protein or alcohol consumption, carpal tunnel syndrome, PMS, osteoarthritis, acne, stress.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 to 25 mg. daily

Over-consumption Symptoms: Destruction of sensory nerve.


VITAMIN B12

Function: Aids metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and protein; facilititates blood cell formation; maintains healthy nervous system.

Deficiency Symptoms: Pernicious anemia, numbness and tingling infingers and toes.

Increases Need: Vegan diets, disorders that impai normal gastric or intestinal function, hyperthyroidism, pregnancy.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 2 to 5 mcg. daily


VITAMIN C

Function: Strengthens blood vessels, speeds wound healaing, increases resistance to infection, aids iron utilization.

Deficiency Symptoms: Bleeding gums, slow-healing wounds, bruising,aching joints, nose bleeds, anemia.

Increases Need: Smoking, stress, habitually poor diet, illness, oral contraceptives, drug use.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 500 to 2,000 mg. daily

Over-consumption Symptoms: Diarrhea

VITAMIN D

Function: Involved in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorous for bone and teeth formation, stimulates absorptio of calcium.

Deficiency Symptoms: Poor bone growth, rickets, ostoemalacia (disease marked by bone softness), muscle twitching.

Increases Need: The drugs cholestyramine, Dilantin, phenobarbital, and mineral oil interfere with absorption and/or metabolism of this vitamin.
Suggested Intake for Adults: 400 to 800 IU daily

Over-consumption Symtoms: Nausea, weight loss, constipation. More severely, mental retardation and kidney and heart damage.


VITAMIN E

Function: Maintains cell membranes; protects vitamin A and essential fatty acids from free radical destruction; lowers risk of cardio vasculardiseases, cancers and cataracts; may enhance immune function.

Deficiency Symptoms: Appetite loss, nerve dysfunction, anemia, reproductive problems, stunted growth.

Increases Need: History of heart disease or stroke, poor diet, aging, arthritis, deteriorating eyesight, dry skin, illness, use of certain medications.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 100 to 400 IU daily
Over-consumption Symtoms: At very high doses, headache, fatigue, and muscular weakness.


VITAMIN K

Function: Proper clotting of blood.

Deficiency Symptoms: Increased tendency to bleed and abnormal bloodclotting.

Over-consumption Symptoms: Menadione, a form of vitamin K, may cause anemia and infantile jaundice in high doses.


FOLIC ADIC

Function: Aids in red blood formation and cell division, facilitates use of protein for energy, boosts stomach acid production. Recommended for women of child bearing age.

Deficiency Symptoms: Anemia, diarrhea, poor growth, fatigue, neural tube defects in infants born to deficient mothers.

Increases Need: Pregnancy, low intake of fresh produce, oral contraceptives, anti convulsants, excess alcohol, certain medications.

Suggested Intake for Adults: 400 mcg. daily. Pregnancy increases need to 800 mcg. daily.

Over-consumption Symptoms: Convulsions in epileptics and may obscure certain forms of anemia.

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Chitchat When Healing?

CHITCHAT WHEN HEALING?

By: Bernard Prasodjo

Many pranic healing workshops have been held in Indonesia. So now, the alumni have enough knowledge of healing. Many alumni of Basic and Higher Level apply their knowledge to help others. Many pranic healing clinics open and many people choose pranic healers become their profession. It is good news.

However, unfortunately, many pranic healers apply too much improvisation and some of them thinks that their level is very high and they becomes arrogant. “Master Choa is wrong, this is the right way for sweeping.” And, when healing, they were chatting with their patients.

When someone asked them: “Is it possible to do pranic healing and chit-chat?” they answered it was possible for those who had high ability. Even they were able to do healing while watching TV or reading newspaper. Is it true? Let’s see the possibilities:

Something The Seniors Usually Do

The senior Pranic Healers, Assistant Masters, The Masters, and GrandMaster Choa Kok Sui do the healing seriously, with full concentration on healing. They also needed relatively long time to heal the patients. They followed the seven basic Pranic Healing techniques. Due to the fact that those who have high level ability do it seriously, so we should be more serious.

Energy follows thought

In basic level Pranic Healing workshop, there is important principle, that the energy flow to the place where our mind goes. So, if we are chatting or paying attention to newspaper or TV, our healing energy will not go to the patients but to TV or newspaper.

Connect the tongue on the palate

To make energy in our body flow effectively, touch the palate of our mouth with our tip of tongue, so the energy becomes stronger. It is necessary during healing as we need to switch the button to flow the electricity current to make the lamp on. Consequently, we cannot do chit chat when touching our palate with our tongue.

Do Pranic Breathing
During healing session, especially when energizing, beside that we touch the palate with our tongue, we also do deep pranic breathing orderly with rythm. By pranic breathing of 7-1, 7-1 and 6-3, 6-3, when the retention is empty, we absorb so much healing energies. It is necessary to radiate much energy and it is not taken from energy reserves in our body so we will not be faint. Of course, we cannot do pranic breathing when chit-chat.

Praying

A good pranic healer are praying when healing the patients to boost and soften the radiated energy. It will be more effective because Divine Energy is the strongest, softest, and most effective energy. Is it decent and possible to do chit-chat or joking with the patients and others while praying? Can we pray when reading newspaper or watching TV?

Keep Doing Visualization

To heal effectively, during the healing session, we are also visualizing what we will do. Remember! Energy follows the mind. During sweeping, we visualize that we are cleaning dirty energy in certain chakra or organ and they becomes cleaner. When energizing, we concentrate on the certain chakra, visualizing certain color energy flows from our palm and finger tips. We also visualize the chakra and organ, which we energize, gently become full of energy radiated from us and they become cleaner, fresh, healthier, and normal. In each healing step, visualization of the process plays important role to maximize the result. How can we visualize something when chatting, watching TV or reading newspaper?

Intention

In healing, intention plays important role. For example, someone, who gets difficulties in scanning, will be helped by making intention, e.g.: when scanning front solar plexus, in his mind, he says: “I am scanning the front solar plexus.” It is also applicable for sweeping and energizing. So, if we do the healing session, our intention should be to heal, instead of chit-chat, joking, reading newspaper, or watching TV.

Modesty, seriousness, sincerity and love

When healing, in the point of view of the healers, there are many things to do to make patient health faster. The healing will happen faster if we do it with modesty, seriousness, sincerity, and love because Pranic Healing is healing with love. If we do the healing session with modesty, seriousness, sincerity, and love, we are not supposed to do it perfunctorily while chatting, joking, reading or watching TV.

By considering our average level, based on the books by Master Choa Kok Sui, and by reviewing the lessons we got from workshops and duplicating our senior when doing healing session, it is difficult to imagine to do Pranic Healing when chatting, joking, watching TV, or reading. What do you think?

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Addicted To Painkillers?

10 Signs You May Be Addicted To Painkillers

by: Jesse Cannone

Each year, more than 2 million Americans are given powerful prescription painkillers that contain opiods (sometimes called narcotics) for the relief of pain and discomfort brought on by injury, surgery, menstrual cramps, and even headaches. But a growing number of people taking these medications are becoming addicted to them. And it's not hard to understand why.

Drugs such as Vicodin, Percocet, and Methadone block pain all the way from the nerve endings in the skin to the spinal cord to the brain. Once these drugs reach the brain, they open the floodgates for the chemical dopamine, which triggers feelings of well-being. Dopamine, in effect, rewires the brain to become accustomed to those pleasant feelings. So when you stop taking the pain-killer, your body will still have a strong craving for the dopamine. This is what makes it so hard to quit. Symptoms of withdrawal can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (which is the origin of the term "cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Better to avoid getting hooked in the first place.

Chemical dependency can happen to anyone, and it can easily sneak up on you. Here are 10 things you should look out for if you or someone you know is currently taking prescription painkillers:

1. An increase in usage
As time goes by, the effects of the initial dose will lessen, prompting a desire for stronger or more frequent doses of the prescribed medication. This is a clear indication that whatever amount they have been taking is no longer providing the same level of relief.

2. Personality changes
Changes in a person's normal behavior can be a sign of dependency. Shifts in energy, mood, and concentration may occur as every day responsibilities become secondary to the need for the relief the prescription provides.

3. Withdrawing socially
This is one of the clearest signs of a dependency problem. Spending more time alone and away from friends and family and social gatherings is a cause for concern.

4. Continuing meds too long
Extending the prescription beyond the initial period, especially after the condition has improved, can be the beginning of an endless cycle. The patient may even believe he or she is still in pain and simply needs to stay on the meds for a few more weeks or months. He or she might even express anger toward a doctor who questions the need to renew the prescription.

5. Too much time spent getting meds
There are no lengths to which a chemically dependent person will not go to obtain the drugs they think they need. This can become an all-consuming obsession, including traveling long distances and visiting many doctors. When getting the drugs seems to be the number one priority, the situation is getting out of hand.

6. Habits and appearance changes
A deterioration in physical appearance and grooming?including not bathing or shaving regularly?is a common result of drug addiction. There may be a general look of unhealthiness, such as persistent coughing and red eyes. Sleeping and eating patterns often become irregular.

7. Failure to meet responsibilities
Sudden changes in work or school attendance and a decline in quality of work or grades are common, as well as forgetting to pay bills and missing appointments.

8. Becoming oversensitive
One consequence of using potent drugs is that the body's response to any sort of stimulation is heightened. For example, a person may have an overly emotional reaction to traffic noise or bright lights?possibly including hallucinations.

9. Forgetfulness and blacking out
A person who is suffering from chemical dependency will forget things that have happened and may even experience memory gaps of several hours.

10. Denial and becoming defensive
Presented with even a hint that they may be addicted, those hooked on drugs will vehemently deny it. The harder you push, the more defensive they are like to get. They might even react to simple questions with an angry outburst.

Additional signs of chemical dependency include an inability to relax or have fun, talking incoherently or making inappropriate remarks, and expressing feelings of exhaustion, depression, and hopelessness.

Remember that painkillers are a blessing that can turn into a curse. And that it is a lot easier to avoid becoming addicted than it is to recover from drug addiction. As long as you follow your doctor's instructions (and you have others around you to make sure you do), these prescription medications will what they were designed to do?and nothing more.

If you enjoyed this article, and would like more information in alternative back pain treatments sign up for our Back Pain Advisory and you will join the nearly 1 million people that have received this life changing information. Please visit our new web site at http://www.losethebackpain.com for more free informative articles, videos and open forums.

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Basic Guide To Male Depression

Basic Guide To Male Depression

By: Paul Hata

Depression is a very common problem faced by people around the globe. Precisely, depression is a state of mental breakdown, also sometimes referred to as nervous breakdown. It is described as a sudden attack of mental illness leading to depression or anxiety.

The cause of depression in both male and female genders may be due to various different reasons. It is not known that whether stress affects both men and women differently. According to the coping system of stress, the situation varies from males to females.

Moreover, everyone has their own personal and professional problems. All these things gradually lead to mental breakdown. There are other reasons also because of which depression is caused.

Male depression is the state of depression faced by men. Though, male depression is not a serious problem, but ignoring the same can lead to serious consequences. So a proper diagnosis is very necessary so as to combat this problem.

Characteristics of male depression

Male depression as mentioned above is a state of mental depression faced by men. The major problem with male depression is that, most of the cases go undiagnosed. So the situation become more intense and leads to chronic disorders which further aggravates the situation.

The reason behind this is the male ego that makes them hesitant to discuss their problem with anyone else. The reluctance of men to discuss their problems with health care professionals makes this problem all the more intense. Thus male depression has stood out as a different category of depression in today's world.

Most of the men think that they can cope up with their problem. Some think that they are not so weak to bow down in front of testing situations. And because of many other reasons most of the times the problem of male depression goes undiagnosed.

There are also some reasons such as over-valuing self independence and self-control. Thus, because of this also the men are reluctant to discuss their problem with the health care specialist. Therefore, the final result is that it affects their health all the more. Constant ignorance aggravates the problem and from simple mental depression it reaches to chronic problems.

Men tend to hide their problem unless and until something disastrous happens.After that, it's too late to react, as the problem would have aggravated to a very serious stage from where a comeback is impossible.

Thus, male depression is nothing but a simple kind of depression from which everyone suffers. However it is also necessary that proper diagnosis of the problem should be done at the earlier stage. This would prevent the problem from aggravating.

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Articles

ARTICLES: Here we discuss a lot of interesting things which are still connected with the Pranic Healing Techniques. There are a lot of articles about enhancing the Healing Techniques, additional knowledge and other benefits which can be used to enrich your understanding about healing.

For further information, please CLICK the title below:

1. John Hopkins Research About Cancer
2. Enjoy the Bargaining
3. Amazing benefits of Fruit
4. What Does Your Endocrine System Do?
5. Academic Thesis About Pranic Healing Science
6. Allergy Treatment - What To Know
7. Feel Better, Live Better
8. Home Remedies for Hemmorhoids
9. Energy Exchange
10. Herbs to Improve Memory
11. Amnesia - What Is It?
12. Sleeping Disorder
13. Flower Bathing
14. Arthritis Health Conditions
15. Anxiety Health Conditions
16. Pranic Healing Code of Ethic
17. Get the Sweat Out to Relieve Stress
18. Herbal Remedies for ADHD Symptoms in Children
19. Distance Pranic ealing Inside
20. Simple Natural Treatment For Excessive Sweating
21. How Do You Know If Your Child Has ADHD?
22. Drink Green Tea for a Gorgeous New You

Research About Cancer

John Hopkins Research About Cancer

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHN HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.

Updates from John Hopkins:

• Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
• Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person’s lifetime..
• When the person’s immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.
• When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.
• To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
• Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
• Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
• Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size . However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
• When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
• Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
• An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

1. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg ‘s aminos or sea salt.
2. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastrointestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.
3. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
4. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruit help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetable s 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C)..
5. Avoid coffee, tea, a and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

• Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines become putrefied and leads to more toxic build-up.

• Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body’s killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
• Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body’s own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body’s normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted anted, or unneeded cells.
• Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, resentment, and bitterness put thebody into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
• Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

CANCER UPDATE FROM JOHN HOPKINS HOSPITAL , U S A

1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.

Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

Dioxin chemicals cause cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies.

Don’t freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Dr. Edward Fujimoto , Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.. He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwaveusing plastic containers.

This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body. Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food. You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc. He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons.

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper & towel instead.

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Academic Thesis

Academic Thesis About Pranic Science

To fulfill the conditions to achieve S1 Degree of Bachelor of Psychology, a university student of Psychology Study Program, Faculty of Psychology, Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, R. Aj. Retno Wiranti Yudiastuti conducted thesis with the title: "Descriptive Study of Illumination Experienced by Meditators of Twin-Heart Meditation.”

She states that illumination experience depends on meditators’ spirituality and generally this experience gives positive effect on meditators’ psychological condition and spirituality. This meditation can become the media of healing for those who hare psychological sick. Then, another university student, Yohanes Ferry Kris­tiawan Ari Bowo, from Faculty of Psychology of the same university, did the thesis with the title: "Pranic Psychotherapy Experience at Phobic Patients." The fact is that with Pranic Psychotherapy, the time to heal the patients of phobia is shorter, if the relationship between the therapist and clients is well mantained.

The theses of both students, who have also learned pranic healing technique at Arhatic Yoga level, are accepted and they have passed the thesis exam.

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Allergy Treatment

Allergy Treatment - What to Know
by David Tang

Food allergy Cure using psychology could perhaps be the most gentle one. Nonetheless, it is better to employ different methods that are universally available. It is because a particular treatment may be useful for one person but not to others. According to some psychologists, emotional changes or illnesses experienced even several years earlier have a bearing on food allergy. However, a lot of people are unconscious about it.

To elaborate further; when you were a child, you have suffered headaches or nausea caused by bugs that you have picked up and have linked it with the food you have eaten recently. If you develop the same thing in the near future, it could end you up with the same emotional upset and symptoms of the disease.

To cure food allergy emanating from psychological origins, you must communicate with your subconscious mind for wearing down that relation. You can get support from a hypnotist or a knowledgeable friend about the procedure.

You need to investigate thoroughly to determine the origin of your food allergy. It is necessary to zero in on the first incident that connects food allergy into your life. Your subconscious state sure enough knows what had happened that time and for sure that would be likely traumatic. But you don't need to be upset again, you were young before and as you are getting more mature, your way of thinking also alters. Take away all your negative emotions that you have felt before because of food allergy, and imagine about recovery from that distressful situation.

More often it can be caused by what those around you uttered (it can include your parent, doctor, teacher, or another child) or something you witnessed as regards your food allergy. No matter what, there is something that was imprinted subconsciously and still controls presently. Thus you don't want to have such a condition. If you know the origin of food allergy, then it is easy to find the cure.

Talking to the subconscious mind and making it do what the therapist say needs a trigger and a command. Your therapist can tell it to disconnect all the things that are associated to your food allergy in all the levels of your subconscious mind so that the condition will never bother you again.

A friend can do it for you. Take for instance; let your friend start the procedure by snapping his/her fingers or clapping his/her hands. You can close your eyes and begin to imagine eating the food that caused your food allergy. See how you feel. This may sound ridiculous for people who are not a therapist but can work for many sufferers of food allergy.

Your subconscious mind is perceived to be not a reasonable mind but one that observes method. Again try to imagine eating the foods you are allergic to, extend your imagination until the food allergy symptoms appear, and then notice your feelings. If you feel the symptoms, then it shows that it is in your mind. This procedure can be done repeatedly until the results become positive.

This remedy offers no guarantees, but it can make a change. Food allergies can be repetitive during an emotional upset. Just do the whole process of cure entirely until you calm down emotionally.

About the Author
Food allergies resulting from psychological origin can be cured in this way. All the same, it is advisable to take advice of a medical professional - symptoms of a food allergy - food allergy symptoms.

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Feel Better, Live Better

by: Italie LaRue

With so much emphasis on maintaining our health, it can be a little stressful and overwhelming. Sometimes we need a little break from it all. The following are my favorite quotes about health and maintaining said health.

"Health is not valued till sickness comes." -Thomas Fuller

"Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation and freedom in all just pursuits." -Thomas Jefferson

"The greatest wealth is health." - Virgil

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon." - Doug Larson

"In order to change we must be sick and tired of being sick and tired." - Anonymous

"The...patient should be made to understand that he or she must take charge of his own life. Don't take your body to the doctor as if he were a repair shop." - Quentin Regestein

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book." - Irish proverb

"When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow. Tomorrow is disease." - V.L. Allineare

"Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open." - B.K.S. Lyengar

"Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship." - Buddha

"In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties." - Henri Frederic Amiel

Great health is usually one of those things that we take advantage of until we don't have it anymore. And once we don't have it anymore, it can be difficult to get it back. But if you have lost it, it isn't impossible to be healthy once again. Here are some great ways to maintain and improve your health:

• Get Plenty of Sleep: For me, this is one of the hardest things for me to do. As much as we want to sleep and get plenty of it, the harder it is to actually get. I have the personal problem of staying up increasingly later each night, even though I am dreadfully tired. Getting the right amount of sleep helps your body and mind de-stress and rejuvenate--two things incredibly important to your overall well-being.
• Drink Enough Water: I know that we hear this advice over and over again, but it is important. Not only does drinking enough water help your body function properly by release and cleansing toxins, but it helps your skin too. It also will give you energy to help you throughout the day and your fitness regime.
  
• Stretch Each Day: Whether you prefer to stretch at the beginning or the end of the day--or before and after a workout, keep it up. It is a great way to improve circulation and flexibility. Stretching also releases tension and helps you relax. And we could all use a little relaxation, right?
• Take Vitamins: It is incredibly hard to get all the nutrients we need each day. Our lives are so busy, that we would essentially have to quite our jobs and work full-time in preparing the right amount and the right kinds of food all day so we can hit every section of that pyramid. So, in lieu of that, take vitamins. Code Nutrition specializes in customized vitamins based on your actual DNA. This will ensure that you get the exact nutrients that you need.

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Amnesia-what is it?

by: Adeyera sanya

Amnesia is a disorder of brain that affects the remembering aspect of once memory. It is caused by severe head injury or through intake of toxic substance that affects the brain.The disease can also affect those who suffer from paralysis or heart stroke. Those who suffer from Amnesia have a tough time remembering previously learnt information such as their name or language.

Amnesia victims never remember their past or anything associated with it such as people, place etc. They are often seemed to be feeling confused or disoriented. This disease unlike Alzheimer can occur at any age. And thus can lead to a partial or full Amnesia disorder. In few cases patients are never left unsupervised as they may harm themselves. If the person remembers recent events then it is partial amnesia.

Another factor that is very important to the disease besides partial and full is the term of Amnesia as in whether it is temporary or permanent.

Another form of Amnesia is psychological Amnesia where someone takes on a new life for a few months or days and once the anxiety induced amnesia attack is over no memory remains of that period.Amnesia patients not only lose their memory but also the ability to generate any memory in the time span of disease. The recovery process involves remembering the previous or past memory before the most recent memories. Most of amnesic patients recover on their own not requiring much medical interference. Change of work and activity can bring along a good change along with family therapy. Hypnosis also acts as a great tool to bring back the memory of the patient.

Support of caregiver is very important for person suffering from Amnesia though references from past can help them recover soon But if those references are disturbing to them then one should restrain from discussing them in their presence. Generally such cases are people who have been through some kind of mental shock or agony. Such as accident victims, trauma patients or those who had to deal with a sudden death of some one close.
http://www.usefulmemoryimprovementguide.com/amnesia-disease-what-is-it

About the Author
An economist, businessman, who is passionate about helping people to improve their memory.

Sleeping Disorder

by John Dewey

Introduction

The light from the moon casts long shadows across your bedroom wall. Your spouse breathes softly beside you. You are wide awake once again at four a.m. Your frustration grows the longer you lie awake. You wonder how you will be able to function at work tomorrow with so little rest. Use our Medication Checklist to find out how much you already know about your medicine. Then get the answers you need in our Drug Library.

Sleep Disorders What is it?

Sleep disorders can be temporary or long-term problems and can affect the quantity or quality of sleep achieved. There are four recognized types of sleeping disorders:

• Extrinsic sleep disorders, caused by something outside of the body such as drug use or a poor sleep environment
• Intrinsic sleep disorders, caused by something within the body such as a physical or psychological ailment
• Circadian rhythm sleep disorders, which are disruptions in your regular daily biological clock such as jet lag or work shift changes
• Parasomnias, characterized by unusual physical occurrences during sleep such as sleepwalking, grinding teeth or bed-wetting

Insomnia, or difficulty falling asleep, can be caused by any one of the four types of sleep disorders mentioned above. See for yourself how your medication interacts with other drugs - use our Drug interaction Checker.

The National Institutes of Mental Health has identified three broad categories of insomnia. These include:

• Transient - insomnia lasting fewer than three days
• Short-term - lasting three days to three weeks
• Chronic - lasting more than three weeks

Sleep Disorders What causes it?

There are many elements about the mechanisms of sleep and wakefulness that scientists do not understand. What is known is that sleep is primarily controlled by two systems in the brain: one that induces sleep, and sleep-related processes, and one that regulates sleep within a 24-hour cycle. This cycle, which corresponds to periods of light and darkness, is known as the circadian rhythm cycle. Researchers are discovering that this cycle a process controlled by genes that are found in living creatures ranging from the lowly fruit fly to human beings. Use our Pill Images to check the color, shape, and size and be sure you got the right medication.

Researchers know that as human beings we go through a variety of stages that can be measured by brain wave patterns. This includes a stage in which our eyes move rapidly, where it is assumed we are dreaming. This stage of sleep is therefore known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Sleep disorders result from either internal abnormalities or external disturbances to these cycles. The feeling of having had enough sleep, or sleep satiety, is related to whether one has gone through all of the cycles of sleep, including both dreamless and REM sleep. We cycle through these stages multiple times per night.

The ongoing study of sleep disorders spans many medical fields, including neuroscience, genetics, physiology and psychology. Some of the mechanisms that play a role in sleep disorders are the subject of study at The National Center for Sleep Disorders Research. This center is situated within the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Research includes the study of the genes that play a role in narcolepsy (a condition characterized by brief attacks of deep sleep), how sleep disturbances affect the immune system, and the role of sleep/wake cycles in triggering heart attacks.

Sleep Disorders Who has it?

Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep complaint among adults in America. Sleep apnea, a disruption of breathing during sleep, affects nearly 12 million people in the U.S. More than one billion dollars are spent each year on sleep medications in the United States. Compare your technique with the methods recommended in our Using Medicine section.

Sleep Disorders What are the risk factors?

Most short-term sleep disorders are caused by one or more of the following factors:

• lifestyle changes, such as marriage or retirement
• stressful situations, such as the death of a loved one or job pressure
• physical disorders
• environment

Chronic sleep disorders have numerous possible causes. These include:

• medical conditions - especially those producing pain
• psychiatric conditions such as depression
• drug use (including alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine)
• environments that are not conducive to sleep

Many conditions that cause sleep disorders are associated with the elderly, which could explain why insomnia is 1.5 times more common in people older than age 65. In addition to physical conditions that disrupt sleep, elderly people tend to experience changes in sleep patterns leading to fewer hours of quality sleep per night.

Women, especially those who are postmenopausal, are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders than men. However, laboratory studies show that men are more likely to experience disrupted sleep patterns than women. Visit our Cautionary Drugs section to learn more about medications that may be poor choices for seniors.

Sleep Disorders What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of sleep disorders include:

• difficulty or inability to fall asleep
• awaking early from sleep
• easy disruption of sleep
• fatigue or sleepiness
• anxiety
• lack of concentration
• irritability

Sleep Disorders How is it treated?

Drug therapy in combination with good sleep hygiene (click on the Helping Yourself box) may be helpful for short-term management of insomnia.

Over-the-counter sleep aids that contain diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an antihistamine, may be helpful for short-term bouts of insomnia. Because the body can grow accustomed to antihistamine sleep aids, they often lose their effectiveness the more you take them. If you experience continued bouts of insomnia you should talk to your doctor to see if prescription medications are needed. Benzodiazepines are commonly used for the management of sleep disorders. Short-acting benzodiazepines are less likely than long-acting benzodiazepines to be associated with drowsiness or sluggishness the next morning. Benzodiazepines are only available with a prescription. They are controlled substances and do carry a potential for addiction if used inappropriately.

Other drugs used in the management of insomnia include unique agents called non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotics. Examples include Ambien (zolpidem), Sonata (zaleplon), and Lunesta (eszopiclone).

Drug classes also considered sedative hypnotics are barbiturates and sedating antihistamines. The non-benzodiazepines and barbiturates are also controlled substances due to the potential for addiction.

A new class of sedative hypnotics has recently been introduced to the market. Rozerem (ramelteon),is a melatonin receptor agonist which mimics the body?s natural sleep promoting hormone, melatonin. This drug class is unique because it works with the body?s natural circadian rhythm to promote sleep. These melatonin receptor agonists do not carry an addiction potential.
Natural remedies have been used for years to treat sleep disorders. One of the most popular "natural" remedies for insomnia has been melatonin, which can be obtained at most pharmacies and health food stores. Melatonin is a hormone that is known to be involved in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness. It has been shown that the ingestion of melatonin prior to bedtime will help individuals fall asleep. However, scientific data have failed to confirm that melatonin is useful in maintaining sleep.

Herbal products such as valerian, chamomile, kava kava, and others have also been promoted as natural remedies for insomnia. However, the effectiveness and safety of these products has not been documented in large clinical trials.

Make a personal Emergency Contact and Medication Member Newsletter Subcribe so important information is easy to find in an emergency.

Don't be afraid to contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions, if a medication doesn't seem to be working, or if you have problems with a medication or treatment decision. Your doctor and pharmacist are there to help ensure your safety.

Sincerely, John Dewey 1-305-396-0986
jonhdewey@pharmacyhealthcareexpress.com To Your Success:
www.pharmacyhealthcareexpress.com
www.pharmacyhealthcareexpress.e-trusted.com
John Dewey
johndewey@pharmacyhealthcereexpress.com

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