Medicine for High Blood Pressure

Consequences of high blood pressure are life threatening. This may lead to various diseases like stroke, heart fail, heart attack, kidney and eye problems as well as this leads to memory loss. There are no symptoms to identify high blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension therefore people don’t come to know that they have it. Hence, it is also referred as ‘silent killer’. To overcome this problem people must go to doctor to have regular check up after every five years. If the person’s blood pressure is on margin then he should go for regular check up every year.

A patient must start taking medicines if once he or she comes to know that his or her blood pressure is above normal. Before starting the treatment of any patient doctors may decide that what treatment would be the best considering the patient’s age, ethnicity, other medications, and allergies. Doctors have commonly prescribed beta-blockers in past but due to the adverse side effects of sleepiness and cold hands, now the medication is infrequently prescribed to lower blood pressure.

Diuretics (water tablets) are also prescribed by the doctors to release excess salt and water in the body. After taking this medicine patient suffer with frequent urination until the patient’s blood pressure is regulated. Therefore, this medicine should be taken at convenient time. For instance, if you take diuretics in night then your whole night would be restless because of your frequent trips to rest room. Patient may need to take potassium pills with some diuretics because a diet high in potassium also may be needed. Potassium levels and kidney function are watched closely as the dose increases.

Vasodilators are also used to lower down the high blood pressure but they are not commonly used alone because of the significant drop in blood pressure that they cause, which may lead to heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat. They may be used in some critical situations like if a person is in a hypertensive crisis or when other classes of medicine are not effective in controlling hypertension.

Medications usually have side effects, which may be difficult for a person to handle. Other alternatives may also help to cure high blood pressure without the sign of side effects. You should talk to your doctor because different people need different treatments. You must contact your doctor if your blood pressure is above average because taking this lightly may lead to severe complications later and discuss with your doctor that what medication would be better for you.

Oral Acne Treatments

Oral acne treatments ensure an acne free face and body. Oral acne treatments always make use of various kinds of capsules and antibiotic pills that can well fight acne-causing bacteria and controls inflammation caused by acne. Apart from these oral acne treatments, there are various oral acne medications that can eliminate acne completely, reduce blemishes and scars, and control any further burst of acne. All these oral acne treatments along with the medications promise you with a clear, acne-free and glowing skin.

Use of antibiotics

Oral acne treatments include the use of antibiotics like Minocycline, Doxycycline, Azithromycin, Tetracycline, Erythromycin and Trimothoprim. Another very useful and effective oral medication is Isotretinoin that has the same molecular structure as that of Vitamin A. These oral acne treatments include medicines reduces the effect that fatty foods can impose on our body. Deep-fried foods or fatty foods leads to further burst of acne, so one should have a balanced diet as well as these oral medications to reduce fat content and eliminate acne.

Oral acne medications include consuming Accutane that provides long-term results for an acne free skin. These oral medicines actually help to control the secretion of oil thereby unclogging the pores underneath the skin surface. In case of treating severe cases of acne, the oral acne medications are combined with topical agents for enhanced results. The oral contraceptives often decrease the level of androgens, thereby decreasing oil secretion and reducing acne. But to compensate the intake of high-dose medicines, one should also have proper balanced diet comprising fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables.

How do the oral acne medications work?

Other typical oral medications that you can consume include Retin-A, Cyproterone Acetate, Clindamycin, Adapalene and Sodium Sulfacetamide. All these oral medicines can reduce the sudden bursts of acne and acne scars in both children and adults. You should take these capsules as directed with fat-containing foods [like 2% or whole milk]. The fat in the foods helps the acne germs to be fully absorbed thereby promising you acne-free skin. Pregnant women, however, need to use two reliable forms of contraception while taking this medication. The daily dose for normal people is determined at 0.5 to 1 mg per kg of your body weight.

All of these oral medications act as an anti-androgen thereby reducing the formation of acne and acne scars. Isotretinoin is an approved oral medication that prevents the maturing of sebaceous glands. It is these sebaceous glands that produce different oil and influence the lining of the hair follicles to produce acne bursts. Other medications help change the composition of oil to prevent the pores from clogging up with bacteria and pus.

Oral acne medications are truly most effective therapies that can reduce acne, however severely they affect your face and skin. They also reduce the risk of intense scarring. However, you should take the doses as prescribed by your doctor. Regularly undergo blood tests and blood pressure monitoring tests to make effective use of these medications and avoid any side effects.

Swine Flu - Alternative Medicine Solutions

Swine Flu – Alternative Medicine Solutions

Swine flu cases are set to grow exponentially over the next few months. The chief medical officers have been predicting and warning us all about a flu pandemic for a number of years now. This flu not only brings the same aches and pains but comes with a ‘cytokine storm’ that causes symptoms that may lead to pneumonia. This may be fatal so all asthmatics beware. This time the warnings are real.

In this article I will set out some natural medicines you should be taking to stop getting infected by swine flu and also some remedies to treat it if you do. All of these suggestions are based on modern scientific research. However, if you suspect you have swine flu you must go to your doctor to be on the safe side, especially if you are having breathing difficulties and having chest pain. Best thing overall is to try and make yourself less susceptible. In pandemics like this, large groups of people do not get infected as there are less susceptible.

There are more than 200 viruses that can cause the common cold and flu, and usually the signs of infection strike, 18 to 24 hours after the virus enter the body. So here are some very simple and effective ways of both boosting your immunity so we escape infection and self-treatment if you do catch the swine flu. These will help bring about a quicker recovery. All natural medicine interventions must focus on not only boosting the immune system but rather a balance between stimulating the immunity and reducing the production of cytokines causing a storm and its harmful life threatening effects.

What Is Swine Flu?

Swine flu is the flu that is causing the latest flu pandemic worldwide. The flu is a respiratory disease that affects pigs. However it is now affecting humans at massive levels. Flu normally affects vulnerable people like the very young and old however swine flu attacks the healthy person – the 18 to 50s section of the world. One disturbing feature of this virus is that it causes a ‘cytokine storm’ in the body. A cytokine is a biochemical that normally responds to infections and directs the immune system. However in swine flu they are over produced causing harm to the body organs and causing fluid to build in the lungs. As well as all the regular flu symptoms such as headaches, aches, pneumonia can also develop as a result of swine flu.

The Cytokene Storm – Damage Control

The cytokine storm that is created by the body in response to the swine flu is caused by the swine flu being unaffected by the body’s immune response. This causes an over production of cytokines ( TFN-a and IL-6) by the body. This is what killed many people during the Spanish flu in 1918 in the USA. Foods such as; honey, chocolate, spirulena algae and particularly elderberry need to be avoided as they increase the production of cytokines in the body. Try and drink lots of apple, lemon and cranberry juice who have all shown an ability to decrease cytokine production in the body. . Cut out all mucous forming especially diary foods as the respiratory system is the virus breeding ground.

So it’s not just the virus you have to watch out for it’s actually the cytokine storm. The more people that become aware of this the better for both its treatment and outcomes.

Natural Medicine

Natural medicine has been practiced for centuries and moreover in the prevention of disease as well as the treatment of it. Over 80% of the world use herbal medicine as the first method of medical treatment. Natural medicine has been used very successfully when there has been a major health crisis taking place. Especially during the Spanish flu epidemic where you had a better survival rate if you went to a homeopathic hospital

Neurominidase Blockers

The swine flu virus needs neurominidase enzyme in order to replicate. An enzyme is a biological catalyst. The first thing you must do is to decrease you susceptibility to the virus. In order to do this a vitamin and mineral supplement is necessary as part of your diet. Drink the juices of apple, lemon and cranberry juice. Vitamin C and vitamin E has been shown to reduce flu virus loads and also a reduction in cytokines by blocking neurominidase. Green tea has also a very good effect in reduction of cytokine production.

Vitamin Supplements

You should also be taking a proper vitamin and mineral supplement to guard you against flu and also a whole load of other diseases. However this vitamin and minerals you should be taking must be in a food form and not isolated synthetic chemical like ascorbic acid that is sold internationally as vitamin C. The real nutrients that you are looking for can be found at StarGate Nutrition Vitamin website. All their nutrients are in a nature form that your body will understand. They provide the full spectrum of required vitamins and minerals. You should be focusing on lemon juice for vitamin C and also to alkalize your blood to make it more inhabitable for the swine flu virus. The mineral zinc needs to be also consumed and the best way is by eating oysters and sunflower seeds which are foods naturally high in these minerals.

Homeopathy

Popular for years in Asia with over 250,000 doctors qualified as homeopathy in India alone, homeopathy has recently become Europe’s fastest growing form of alternative medicine. Last year sales of homeopathic medicines in Europe topped £3billion. Debate about how it scientifically works are heated, but most Europeans are now going to a homeopath as their first course of treatment and 20 per cent of Scottish GPs currently practice the specialty. Many scientific studies have been carried out to proves its efficacy medically and especially in flu outbreaks such as this.

Critics of homeopathy say that the medicine is no more than the placebo effect psychological factors causing improvement unrelated to drug therapy. However, Dr David Reilly of The Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital led a team of scientists who compared placebo and homeopathy in four trials conducted over 15 years in patients with allergies such as hayfever and asthma. All four studies showed a greater effect from the homeopathic medicine than from the placebo. Overall there have been over 200 trials and over 70 per cent of these conclude that homeopathy is better than placebo. Private European insurers cover homeopathic treatments, and The World Health Organisation recommends them. A few years ago Spain took an initiative to incorporate homeopathy into its national health service.

A report to the American Institute of Homeopathy in 1921 documented the dramatic success of homeopathy in the worst flu pandemic in history. The death rate of 24,000 flu cases under conventional medical care in that study was 28.2 percent, while the death rate of 26,000 cases treated with homeopathy was a nearly miraculous 1.05 percent.

When a similar strain of bird flu, misleadingly termed Spanish Flu, spread around the world in 1918, there is no doubt that it had catastrophic consequences. 50 million people died. Nevertheless, American hospital statistics from the time show thathomeopathic treatment gave a far better chance of survival than conventional treatment did. The statistics are reported in Randall Neustaedter's excellent book "Flu: Alternative Treatments and Prevention".

For at least the past 150 years homeopathic practitioners have used the medicine Influenzinum as a flu preventive.Influenzinum is a homeopathic medicine made from flu viruses. A proprietary preparation is produced by homeopathic pharmacies each year using the flu virus strains recommended by the World Health Organization for the year’s vaccine production (Dolivaxil – containing Influenzinum 9C). The typical dosage is once per week for four weeks beginning in October or later, followed by another dose three weeks later.

You should have Gelsemium 30c in your house and take when someone sneezes in a bus or your office. This can stop the virus taking root in the body and acts as a preventative.

The first medicine used in France to treat flu is Oscillococcinum made by Boiron and sells 7 million euros annually. Boiron was bought recently by the Bayer group.

Oscillococcinum Alternative Medicine To Tamiflu

This remedy recently toped pharmacy sales list and sales in the US alone are in the region of £20 million. A course costs of Oscillococcinum costs £6, which is used regularly by 5 million French for the prevention of colds and flu’s every year. Lets face it five million French can’t be wrong?

Oscillococcinum was first studied in France during the 1987 flu epidemic caused by an H1N1 virus similar to the bird flu of today. This multi-centre study examined the effect of Oscillococcinum (200C) on the early symptoms of flu. Results were published in the peer-reviewed British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. More patients in the treatment group recovered completely in the first 48 hours than the control group (17 percent of patients with active treatment compared to 10 percent of controls). More patients in the treatment group also judged the treatment as favorable compared to the placebo, 61 percent vs 49 percent (Ferley, 1989).

In 1990 German scientists replicated the French study of Oscillococcinum. They used the same criteria as the previous study and enrolled 372 patients. After 48 hours of treatment with Oscillococcinum the treatment group had considerably milder symptoms than the control group, and the number of patients with no symptoms from day two onward was significantly greater in the treatment group (17.4 percent) compared to the control group (6.6 percent) (Papp, 1998).

Both of these studies show a significant curative effect of a homeopathic medicine in the treatment of flu in carefully conducted, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Conventional antiviral drugs reduce the duration of flu by about one day if taken within the first 48 hours of illness (Cooper, 2003). These studies shows that homeopathy carries the potential to make a dramatic difference in any flu epidemic without the risk of drug side effects.

However, is anyone planning to stockpile homeopathic medicines proven to effectively treat the flu for over one hundred years?

St Johns Worth & Goldenseal NOT Echinacea.

Many people might be reaching for the herbal remedy called Echinacea to treat their swine flu or prevent it by boosting the immune system. Stop. In swine flu treatment Echinacea will cause the production of cytokines which will further damage your body.

The best herbs to use during this flu are St Johns Worth which is a potent antiviral as well as a famous antidepressant. The herbs adaptogenic qualities may help the body adapt to the cytokine storm making it have less an impact.

Turmeric, the spice, has an ability to be more powerful the pharmaceutical cox-2 inhibitors. Turmeric works in swine flu by blocking the production of cytokines. One herb I have been personally using over the past few years is Goldenseal which reduces colds and flu’s symptoms quite dramatically. Very little is written about it. Garlic is essential to include in your diet and has an affinity for the lungs as a herb. This can assist in blocking the development of pneumonia and reduce any lung infection by taking at least one clove mashed a day. Parsley will reduce the odour if you need it.

Aromatherapy

Tea tree essential oil from Australia that is very popular world wide is really important in terms of it being the only essential oil that is anti - viral bacterial and fungal. Lavender is very useful in the production of white blood cells. Tea tree oil may reduce the viral load causing a reduction in cytokine load.

Probiotics

Natural bacteria in the gut are essential to maintaining proper health and digestive functioning. Antibiotics not only kill the organisms that cause colds and flu’s but also kill the good gut bacteria. In order to reintroduce the effects of the bacteria you reintroduce them by eating bioactive yoghurts made with strains of gut bacteria such as Lactobacillus. This may also help to reduce any thrush symptoms caused from antibiotics.

5HTP Side Effects

5HTP is a natural supplement used to treat depression, sleep disorders and overeating. 5HTP has shown itself to be generally safe during the past forty years of scientific testing and seems to be tolerated better by a larger number of people than its pharmaceutical cousins, the SSRI antidepressants like Prozac and Paxil.

Of course, nothing is completely without side effects so anyone taking 5HTP needs to be alert to the possible side effects.

5HTP has been tested enough to reveal a distinct pattern of side effects. The most common side effect of 5HTP treatment is intestinal or stomach upset. This is because about 90% of the serotonin in your body is actually not in your brain, but in your intestines.

Among other things, serotonin helps regulate the involuntary contractions of the intestines, called peristalsis, which flush waste through your system. Your intestines are loaded with serotonin so any changes in levels can affect this entire process.

Specifically which digestive side effects you might experience by taking 5HTP will depend on your personal state of health. Anything within the gamut of digestive system complaints could occur, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, even vomiting. Some people report this side effect being less severe, or even disappearing completely, if they take their 5HTP with a meal.

About 3 to 5% of people who take 5HTP report digestive-related side effects. They can range from mild to severe.

Digestive disturbances due to 5HTP treatment are most likely to be extreme with people who already have chronic digestive disorders. So if you suffer with irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, celiac sprue, ulcers or any among a long list of digestive problems, perhaps 5HTP treatment is not a good option for you. Please consult with a health care practitioner in your area.

Another reported side effect with 5HTP is vivid dreams, sometimes escalating to nightmares. This side effect occurs because dreaming and sleep depend heavily on serotonin. 5HTP and sleep go together like a chilly night and a goose-down comforter. This is why 5HTP treatment is so helpful for people with sleep disorders. 5HTP can help set the serotonin level back to a healthy level for better sleep.

On the flip side, because the biological process of sleep is delicate, 5HTP might cause your sleep to become disrupted. Everyone is different in this regard and while some enjoy extreme dreams, others find it upsetting. Often, people report that their dreams return to normal once their body adjusts to having a higher level of 5HTP and serotonin. Rarely, people choose to stop taking 5HTP because this side effect bothers them.

As you would expect, digestive disturbances and vivid dreams are both commonly reported side effects with all treatments that affect serotonin levels, such as the SSRI antidepressants, like Prozac or Paxil.

For best protection against side effects when taking 5HTP, start with a low dosage, such as 50mg or less once per day, and increase gradually. Sometimes it's advisable to give your body periodic breaks from taking 5HTP. Taking breaks can lower the incidence of side effects too. Some people experience relief from side effects if they take 5HTP with meals.

The incidence of side effects from 5HTP is lower than it is with many other medicines. This is because 5HTP is a pure substance found already in the body. It isn't a complex substance with many components that break down, spread throughout the body and wreck unintended havoc. 5HTP functions in the body in a relatively straight forward manner.

The same can't be said for other most other medicines. Virtually every medicine known has some components that are beneficial and others that aren't. It's these unwanted components that lead to unpleasant side effects. The more pure a medicinal molecule is, the easier the body can assimilate it and this fact is to the benefit of anyone taking 5HTP.

When compared to the number of people who find the side effects of treatment objectionable, 5HTP generally fares better than its pharmaceutical counterparts. For example, in a study conducted by researcher Dr. H. M. van Praag, only 3% of the study group taking 5HTP quit, while 9% of the group receiving an SSRI left the study.

All medicines produce side effects people find intolerable, it's to be expected. The question isn't IF people don't like the treatment, it's how many people object to the point of discontinuation? With 5HTP, the answer is generally less than with comparable treatments.

All in all, 5HTP side effects are minimal or nonexistent for most people. The vast majority of people who take 5HTP report a positive experience. Dr. L.J. van Hiele, who has been one of the leading researchers of 5HTP, reported, "no contraindications or significant side effects in our series of tests...follow-ups of the blood pressure, living function, urine and EEG's revealed no anomalies."

Of course, this generally positive news does not negate the fact that some people find 5HTP side effects intolerable. All medications should be judged by weighing the benefits against the risks. Only you can determine where the line is right for you.

Finding The Best Migraine Medicine For You

Magraine is a common complaint affecting thousands of Americans, especially women. It presents as severe headache coupled with nausea and discomfort. The sufferer is quite unable to do any useful activity during a bout of migraine. Episodes come unannounced and for no apparent reason. Pain could subside on its own or by taking migraine medicine. Thus, it is not possible to predict onset of migraine and hence, migraine episodes interfere with his or her routine activities. Hence, those who suffer migraine usually follow certain remedies that include medication as well.

The exact cause or origin of migraine is not yet clear. Therefore, treatment strategies focus on relieving symptoms as and when they arise. Relief from migraine depends on the severity and duration of attack. For moderate intensity and short duration, one could rest lying down preferably in a dark room. If lucky to get sleep, the pain would pass on waking up. This is not however an ideal solution for it could eat away time from other tasks lined up. Hence, patients turn to migraine medicine.

There are three types of medicine that are effective in relieving migraine pain. The first group includes pain relievers or anti-inflammatory drugs. Examples are acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen. Acetaminophen is a popular over-the-counter drug that is suitable for mild attacks of migraine. For frequent moderate to intense episodes, you could use a combination of acetaminophen and ibuprofen after consulting your doctor. Although these are safe, non-steroidal drugs, it is better to check for adverse effects in long-term use of migraine medicine. Always use according to directions on the package. A possible home remedy is to drink black coffee after taking the pill.

The other categories of drugs used as migraine medicine are triptans and prophylactics. Both are prescription medication and adequate medical supervision is necessary while taking them. Your doctor would suggest them in the case of severe attacks depending on the timing of seeking advice.

Triptan that is available commercially as Imitrex can reduce or eliminate symptoms when you know a headache is imminent. If you delay, oral medication may not work because of the changes resulting from progression of the migraine.

Prophylactic migraine medicine includes beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and anti-depressants. These work best as preventive drugs and are used on a daily basis as maintenance treatment. Appropriate medical evaluation is necessary and doctors prescribe them for those who have frequent attacks or are prone to injure themselves in migraine episodes.

inese Medicine For High Cholesterol

much cholesterol in the blood (high blood cholesterol) can be a severe medical condition that can result to varying circumstances that can be harmful to the body. Individuals may not notice that they have high blood cholesterol concentration present in the blood because this condition is not capable of producing symptoms. There are greater chances of getting heart related diseases when there is high blood cholesterol. Just like conventional Western medicine practice, there is also available Chinese medicine for high blood cholesterol. Excessive cholesterol in the blood accumulates in the arterial walls that may cause narrowing of the arteries. This condition can cause hardening of the arteries; medically termed as atherosclerosis. In addition to this, high cholesterol is also a precursor for hypertension. Since Chinese medicine is aimed at treating the underlying cause for medical conditions, hypertension caused by high cholesterol is treated by controlling high cholesterol level initially. While lifestyle modification can help reduce high blood cholesterol, Chinese medicine for high cholesterol can also be an efficient alternative if you want to treat the condition naturally. Acupuncture is an acceptable form of treatment that has long been part of Chinese medicine. At present, several western cultures consider acupuncture as a mew alternative medicine. Acupuncture is one method used in Chinese medicine that is vital in the management of high cholesterol level in the blood.

Is Alternative Medicine Safe and Effective?

As a kid I remember that when I would get a tummy ache, my mom would ask me to lie down and slowly sip through a drink of homemade lemonade with a dash of black salt, before dad could take me to a physician.

Today when I look back and remember, I reckon that to treat my tummy ache I was put on a course of an integrative medicine Alternative Medicine (the lemonade) + Conventional Medicine (physician prescribed drugs).

Alternative Medicine & Its Usage

Complementary and Alternative Medicine or CAM, comprises a broad range of healthcare practices, products, and systems, which don't form a part of the conventional medicine. For instance, herbal materials, preparations and products used by Asian systems of medicine such as Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese medicine. It also includes practices viz. Acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, or mind body approaches such as prayer, mental healing, meditation, etc.

Moreover, a lot of people around the world use Alternative medicines, for example in China it makes up for about 40% of healthcare delivered, in Africa 80% of the population uses it, about 48% Australians have used it at least once. In North America, 42% of USA and 70% of Canada have used it at least once. Usage is similar in Europe too, for instance 75% of France has used it at least once.

Is It Effective?

"It is," "it isn't," and "I can't say," all of these at the same time. Given the scientific research conducted on Alternative medicine till now, it appears that a sweeping statement would be a bit too far fetched.

For instance, evidence in support of acupuncture, many herbal medicines and manual treatments does exist. On the other hand St. John's wort didn't seem to have an affect on the symptoms of ADHD in children and adolescents (Weber W, Vander Stoep A, McCarty RL, et al, 2008). And that, "I can't say," because research on many such treatments is unavailable.

Is It Safe?

Today, a perception exists that if something is natural or organic, it can't be harmful. This belief might not be true in all cases, e.g. Snake venom is all natural and organic, but is it safe for human consumption?

Sometimes herbs can be harmful by their very nature, e.g. kava and comfrey are herbs but still have been associated with liver damage.

At other times inappropriate regulation or administration of herbs and therapeutic procedures could render highly effective alternative treatments hazardous. Consider acupuncture, though it's been found to be effective, but if unsterilized needles are used it could lead to infection. Similarly, an overdose of Ephedra, a herbal remedy of respiratory congestion may lead to heart attacks, strokes and even death.

Forget herbs, an overdose of water too can lead to water intoxication and even death. Herbs aren't an exception and some of them may even react undesirably with other conventional medication, or some might not be suitable for consumption during pregnancy.

However, undesirable consequences of alternative treatments due to inappropriate administration, by no means imply that alternative treatments are unsafe by themselves. Rather, proven alternative medicines when properly administered, are not only safe, potent and cost effective, but also offer patients a choice.