Looking at Your Nails

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Diagnose Health Issues by Looking at Your Nails

Your fingernails and toenails are not just decorations for the ends of your palms and feet; they’re also an effective warning system for our health. So from now on, before you clip or paint your nails, take a look because they might be trying to tell you something. WARNING - Some of these images may be unpleasant to look at

1. Dark bands on the nail tips The tips of the nails seem to have dark bands on each one. This may just be a sign of old age. According to Mayo Clinic, it can also indicate "Terry's nails", diabetes, liver disease or even cognitive heart failure. If your doctor diagnoses you as diabetic, you may want to consult with a podiatrist on how to cut your nails to prevent harm.
2. White nails If your nails are white as seen in the picture,WebMD warns that it may indicate liver problems or hepatitis.
3. Clubbed nails According to the NCBI, nails that are round as seen in the picture may indicate lung problems.
4. Yellow Nails According to WebMD, if your nails have a yellowish tinge, it may indicate a fungal infection, and even thyroid or lung disease.
5. "Spoon" nails If the nail edges curve upwards and are soft to the touch, the Mayo Clinic says that it may indicate anemia, heart disease, liver problems, or hypothyroidism.
6. Weak nails The nails split and chip easily and are overall weak. This often indicates abuse of acrylic nail polish. Let your nails "breath" for a few days, it will help them regain their strength.
7. Bitten nails WebMD confirms that nails that are bitten down often indicate a state of anxiety, stress, or boredom. Applying foul-tasting nail polish can help you stop chewing on them.
8. Nail dents If your nails have vertical dents, the NHS says that you may be suffering from skin disorders like eczema or psoriasis, as well as arthritis or even alopecia areata.
9. Loose nails The nails are loose and come off the nail bed with ease? Cedars-Sinai says that it can indicate hyperthyroidism. If you're a runner, however, it may just indicate that you're wearing ill-fitting shoes.
10. Blue nails Nails that are bluish in color are often an indicator of a lack of oxygen to the extremities. This is why surgeons insist on patients removing any nail polish before undergoing anesthesia. Another possible diagnosis is lung problems, according toWebMD.
11. Ingrown toenails This is one of the most common nail-related ailments, characterizes by the edges of the toenail growing into the flesh of the toe. This condition may be accompanied by infection and pain. WebMD indicates that the most common causes are: Ill-fitting shoes, trauma to the toe or incorrect trimming of the nails.
12. Dark nails According to AAFP, if your nails take on a dark color in conjunction with a discoloration of the skin, it may be an indication of melanoma (skin cancer).
13. Nail ridges Vertical ridges along the nail are actually nothing to worry about.
14. Hematoma under the nail If you notice spots of red/brown/black color under the nail, it's most likely indicative of a hematoma, caused by mild trauma to the nail. The AOCD says that the best treatment is to elevate your feet and ice the injured toe.
15. Horizontal ridges Horizontal ridges along the nail, known as "Beau's lines", occur in cases of zinc deficiency, as well as diabetes, and as a result of high fever. (Source: Mayo Clinic)
16. Thin nails The AAD warns that constant use of gel nail polish and the subsequent use of UV light and other chemicals can result in thinning of the nails. If this is the case, allow some time for the nails to recover before resuming your gel manicure.
May also interest you: Nature’s Medicine – 14 Foods that Can Replace Pills Recover Any Lost Photos & Files Using This Free Program How to Sleep When You Have Back Pain!
17. Cracked / Missing nails The NCBI warns that if any part of your nail looks similarly to the discolored, cracked nail in the image on the right, it may indicate that you have a fungal infection calledonychomycosis.
18. Pincer nails According to the NCBI, ill-fitting shoes, excessive trimming, a hereditary condition, and in rare conditions - tumors, can result in the formation of curved "pincer nails".
19. White spots on the nails Are there white spots on your nails? WebMD says it's most likely a result of harsh manicure, nail trauma or ever a hereditary trait.
20. Nail pain If your nails look healthy but are sore or even painful, visit your doctor and have your nails checked. Pain in the nails can be any of the above reasons, so having them looked at by an expert is not a bad idea.

H/T: lifehack.org

PARASITES & BACTERIA

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PARASITES & BACTERIA

Whilst not the most pleasant of subjects, the field of parasites and bacteria is one worthy of study as they can often be the underpinning factor in many conditions. Virtually all forms of these entities can be eradicated.
Parasites

A parasite is an organism that lives in or on a second organism, called a host, usually causing it some harm. A parasite is generally smaller than the host and of a different species. Parasites are dependent on the host for some or all of their nourishment. For example, a tapeworm, a flattened worm that lives in the gastrointestinal tract of mammals, lacks an intestine of its own and must absorb predigested food from the intestine of its host. This food is the tapeworm's only energy source for growth and reproduction. Parasitism affects most life forms, from bacteria infected by the viruses known as bacteriophages, to humans, who are subject to more than 1000 parasites known to cause disease. Types of parasites: Hookworm: theseattach themselves to the intestinal wall using buccal capsule teeth. At maturity a Hookworm may lay more than 30,000 eggs a day. Tapeworm: these are a type of flatworm that can colonize animal and human digestive tracts. Heartworm: the adult worms are large, measuring up to 10 inches long, and they typically live in the right heart and pulmonary artery. Roundworm: Its mouth consists of three, independent lips, each equipped with small piercing projections.

There are also parasites that invade the liver. One such parasite is called a liver "fluke". This is a worm-like organism that we can pick up from eating meats, and sometimes if we let dogs or other animals lick us on the mouth we can get worms, flukes, or other parasites that way. These can cause Fascioliasis. Fascioliasis is an infectious disease caused by Fasciola parasites, which are flat worms referred to as liver flukes. The adult (mature) flukes are found in the bile ducts and liver of infected people and animals, such as sheep and cattle. In general, fascioliasis is more common in livestock and other animals than in people.
Two Fasciola species (types) infect people. The main species is Fasciola hepatica, which is also known as "the common liver fluke" and "the sheep liver fluke." A related species, Fasciola gigantica, also can infect people.

Intestinal parasites

Introduction

The two main types of intestinal parasites are helminths and protozoa. Helminths are worms with many cells. Tapeworms, pinworms, and roundworms are among the most common helminths . In their adult form, helminths cannot multiply in the human body. Protozoa have only one cell, and can multiply inside the human body, which can allow serious infections to develop. Intestinal parasites are usually transmitted when someone comes in contact with infected feces (for example, through contaminated soil, food, or water). The most common protozoa are giardia and cryptosporidium.

Signs and Symptoms

Parasites can live within the intestines for years without causing any symptoms. When they do, symptoms include the following:

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Gas or bloating
• Dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus)
• Rash or itching around the rectum or vulva
• Stomach pain or tenderness
• Feeling tired
• Weight loss
• Passing a worm in  stools

While intestinal parasites can cause a multitude of symptoms, here are five general warning signs to keep an eye out for:

1. Changes in the appearance or frequency of bowel movements, especially if you have excessive diarrhea or loose stools for two weeks
2. Chronic exhaustion not resolved by a week of restful sleep
3. Unexplained and sudden weight loss of at least 10 pounds over two months
4. Itching around the anus for at least two weeks, especially if there is no rash
5. Cramping and abdominal pain

Here are the signs and symptoms of four common parasitic infections:
Trichinella: Infection with the microscopic parasite Trichinella leads to trichinellosis, also known as trichinosis. People contract the parasite by eating raw or undercooked meat from infected animals. Initial signs and symptoms include diarrhea and abdominal cramping. As the infection progresses over the course of about a week, symptoms may become more severe and include high fever, muscle pain and tenderness, swelling of the eyelids or face, weakness, headache, light sensitivity and pink eye (conjunctivitis).
Hookworm: Hookworm infects an estimated 576 to 740 million people worldwide and was once a common infection in the U.S., particularly in the southeast. Fortunately, the number of infections has dropped thanks to improved living conditions. Hookworms are a type of helminth, or parasitic worm, that you can get by walking barefoot on contaminated soil. Most people with a hookworm infection have no symptoms, but because the worm's larvae can penetrate skin, an early sign of infection could be an itchy rash at the site of exposure. Digestive complaints may follow, with nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain that is worse after eating and increased flatulence. If infection persists, anemia and nutrient deficiencies may result.
Dientamoeba Fragilis: This parasite is one of the smaller parasites that can live in the large intestine. How it spreads is unclear, but is likely related to oral contact with infected fecal material (yet another reason to wash your hands before eating). In the acute infection, diarrhea and abdominal pain are the most common symptoms, with diarrhea being more predominant, lasting for one to two weeks. Stools tend to be greenish brown and watery or sticky. In chronic infection, abdominal pain is usually the dominant symptom, but people may also have loss of appetite, weight, nausea, vomiting, bloating or flatulence.
Pinworm: Pinworms are small, thin, white worms that most commonly infect children but are also contagious and may affect adults. The worm's eggs may be carried to surfaces including hands, toys, bedding, clothing and toilet seats and must be ingested to cause infection. After an incubation period of at least one to two months, the main symptom is itching around the anus, which may be particularly bad at night. Disturbed sleep or abdominal pain may also result.

Complications of Intestinal Parasite Infections

• Dehydration from diarrhea or vomiting must be treated medically if severe. If dehydration is not serious, drink adequate amounts of pure water, and use an electrolyte replacement solution.

• Iron deficiency anemia is often found with hookworm infestation. The severity of the deficiency is proportionate to the number of hookworms present.
• General malnutrition is due to competition for nutrients by the parasites, and from malabsorption of nutrients due to inflammation and damage to the intestinal mucosa.

A nutritious diet feeds the parasites, but helps to boost the host's immunity. Intestinal human parasites thrive on sugar, so a diet high in junk food and sweets will feed the parasites while lowering the immune defenses of the host.

• Studies have shown that roundworm and giardia infestation interferes with the absorption of Vitamin A resulting in a deficiency. Vitamin A is especially important for increasing resistance to tissue penetration by parasitic larvae.
• Some tapeworms compete for Vitamin B12 and cause a B12 deficiency.
• Immune system dysfunction - human parasites decrease the secretion of immunoglobulinA. IgA is a type of antibody that protects against bacterial and viral infections of the mucous membranes lining the digestive tract and respiratory system.

Chagas’ Disease

Chagas' disease is a parasitic infection endemic in many rural areas of Latin America as well. Chagas' disease is an infection caused by a protozoal parasite transmitted by contact with the feces of the vinchuca bug. The vinchuca depends on blood for survival. It comes out to feed at night, attracted to the exposed parts of the body, especially the face. During its feeding, it contaminates the wound with its feces, introducing the parasite which causes the disease.

Following a bite, usually on the skin of the eyelid or on the conjunctiva, a hard, violet-hued swelling called a "chagoma" appears after one week. Eventually the parasites reach the heart, liver, brain, or spleen, causing an acute form of the disease in about two percent of patients, especially small children, resulting in fever, a generalized rash, anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, and an enlarged liver. Meningoencephalitis can occur and may cause death in children.

In adults, an acute infection of the heart is the main result, damaging the heart muscle. Most of the victims of Chagas' disease survive the acute heart infection, the symptoms subside within four to eight weeks, and the person continues to live an apparently healthy life. The disease however progresses and goes on unrecognized, remaining undiagnosed until a routine blood test may disclose it. The disease finally surfaces after 10 to 20 years in the form of chronic heart disease, as the infected heart muscle fibers are slowly replaced by scar tissue, thinning the walls of the heart, severely affecting heart function, and ultimately resulting in death. The nervous system may also be affected causing convulsions, paralysis, and brain damage.

BACTERIA.
The presence of unfriendly microorganisms in the digestive tract can also be a factor which contributes to the development of food allergies. Intestinal bacteria, which in a healthy person will be predominantly “friendly” types, and their human host ideally should live in harmony. The bacteria do a myriad of health-promoting things for the person. This state is called “symbiosis.”
In the absence of friendly bacteria, then a state of dys-symbiosis, or dysbiosis exists. Dysbiosis can be caused by yeast (Candida albicans, other Candida species, Torulopsis glabrata, and others); or bacteria (Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter freundii, Citrobacter diversus, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, some strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, some strains of Bacteriodes, Clostridium difficile, and others). Some of these organisms are not considered “pathogenic” by conventional medicine. However, weak pathogens, or a predominance of “unfriendly” organisms can cause severe illness in a chronically ill, weakened, or malnourished patient. The eradication of these organisms can make a dramatic difference in the patient’s health.
A very common cause of bacterial or fungal dysbiosis is often the repeated or long term use of antibiotics. Antibiotics kill both the bacteria you want them to kill and the “friendly” bacteria in the intestine and the vagina. This leaves these areas open to be colonized by yeast, unfriendly bacteria, and parasites.
Testing
1.  A fecal (stool) exam, also called an ova and parasite test (OCP)
This test is used to find parasites that cause diarrhea, loose or watery stools, cramping, flatulence (gas) and other abdominal illness. CDC recommends that three or more stool samples, collected on separate days, be examined. This test looks for ova (eggs) or the parasite.
Your health care provider may instruct you to put your stool specimens into special containers with preservative fluid. Specimens not collected in a preservative fluid should be refrigerated, but not frozen, until delivered to the lab or the health care provider’s office.
Your may request that the lab use special stains or that special tests be performed to look for parasites not routinely screened for.
2.  Endoscopy/Colonoscopy
Endoscopy is used to find parasites that cause diarrhea, loose or watery stools, cramping, flatulence (gas) and other abdominal illness.
This test is used when stool exams do not reveal the cause of your diarrhea.
This test is a procedure in which a tube is inserted into the mouth (endoscopy) or rectum (colonoscopy) so that the doctor, usually a gastroenterologist, can examine the intestine.
This test looks for the parasite or other abnormalities that may be causing signs and symptoms.
3.  Blood tests
Some, but not all, parasitic infections can be detected by testing your blood. Blood tests look for a specific parasite infection; there is no blood test that will look for all parasitic infections. There are two general kinds of blood tests that your doctor may order:

1.  Serology
This test is used to look for antibodies or for parasite antigens produced when the body is infected with a parasite and the immune system is trying to fight off the invader.
2.  Blood smear
This test is used to look for parasites that are found in the blood. By looking at a blood smear under a microscope, parasitic diseases such as filariasis, malaria, or babesiosis, can be diagnosed.

This test is done by placing a drop of blood on a microscope slide. The slide is then stained and examined under a microscope.

Liver parasites: The standard way to be sure a person is infected with Fasciola is by seeing the parasite. This is usually done by finding Fasciola eggs in stool (fecal) specimens examined under a microscope. More than one specimen may need to be examined to find the parasite. Sometimes eggs are found by examining duodenal contents or bile.
Infected people don't start passing eggs until they have been infected for several months; people don't pass eggs during the acute phase of the infection. Therefore, early on, the infection has to be diagnosed in other ways than by examining stool. Even during the chronic phase of infection, it can be difficult to find eggs in stool specimens from people who have light infections.

Certain types of blood tests can be helpful for diagnosing Fasciola infection, including routine blood work and tests that detect antibodies (an immune response) to the parasite.
Heart parasites: A blood smear is examined on a slide under a microscope.
Brain parasites: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) can often show the cysts. But blood tests and a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid are often needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Dysbiosis caused by bacteria or yeast can be diagnosed using a stool test called a comprehensive digestive stool analysis (CDSA) either locally or try Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory website.
It should be added that EAV testing ( Electro Acupuncture According To Voll ) conducted by a qualified practitioner can very often reveal all of this maladies.

Treatment Options

Nutrition and Supplements

• Avoid simple carbohydrates, such as those found in refined foods, fruits, juices, dairy products, and all sugars, except honey.
• Eat more raw garlic, pumpkin seeds, pomegranates, beets, and carrots, all of which have been used traditionally to kill parasites. In one study, researchers found that a mixture of honey and papaya seeds cleared stools of parasites in 23 out of 30 subjects. Drink a lot of water to help flush out your system.
• Eat more fiber, which may help get rid of worms.
• Probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacilus plantarum, Saccharomyces boulardii, and bifidobacteria  help keep your digestive tract healthy. Probiotics may not be appropriate in some serverly immune compromised patients. Talk to your doctor or practitioner.
• Digestive enzymes will help restore your intestinal tract to its normal state, which makes it inhospitable to parasites. Papain is an enzyme from the papaya plant that may help kill worms when taken 30 minutes before or after meals.
• Vitamin C supports the immune system. Lower the dose if diarrhea develops.
• Zinc (20 - 30 mg per day) -- also helps support the immune system. Zinc may interact with certain medications, particularly some antibiotics, and it may not be appropriate for people with HIV/AIDS. Talk to your doctor.

Herbs

.
. A few of the herbs that you might consider include:

• Garlic (Allium sativum)
• Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)
• Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)
• Oregon grape (Berberis aquifolium)
• Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
• Wormwood (Artemisia annua)
• Curled mint (Mentha crispa)
• Black walnuts (Juglans nigra)
• Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)

Homeopathy

• Cina
• Cuprum oxidatum nigrum
• Indigo
• Teucrium
• Podophyllum
• Spigelia
• Sabadilla
• Stanum

The probiotics L Bulgaricum and L Reuteri can eliminate a good deal of the unfriendly intestinal bacteria.
Rife technology has the capacity to eliminate even the most resistant of pathogenic strains.
Some forms of peroxide should also be investigated, they have the potential to take out nano bacteria.
Contraindications
Some supplements can be counterproductive to the treatment of dysbiosis Iron supplements feed unfriendly bacteria and protozoan parasites.Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) also feed some unfriendly bacteria, especially Klebsiella pneumoniae, hemolytic E. coli, Bacteroides species, and Staphylococcus aureus. As mentioned above, protozoal parasites “eat” bacteria, so sometimes it is advisable to avoid probiotics during the course of anti-parasitic treatment and introduce them after. If you are taking botanical remedies for dysbiosis, your doctor may tell you to temporarily avoid all antioxidants because botanical medicines kill parasites and bacteria by oxidizing them, and thus, antioxidants reduce the effectiveness of these remedies.
Both parasites and bacteria can start a chain of biochemical events that may lead to chronic conditions. Always get tests if you are suspicious. And remember they CAN be eliminated.

What's in your Urine?

I have been practicing Urine Therapy for over 40 years and feel everyone should know how the best medicine is from the body for the body.
Here is the reason:

Your Body's Own Super-Nutrition Therapy

In 1975, one of the founders of Miles Laboratories, Dr. A.H. Free, published his book Urinalysis in Clinical Laboratory Practice, in which he remarked that not only is urine a sterile body compound (purer than distilled water), but that "it is now recognized that urine contains thousands of compounds, and as new, more sensitive analytical tools evolve, it is quite certain that new constituents of urine will be recognized." Among the urine constituents mentioned in Dr. Free's revealing treatise is a list of nutrients that will knock your socks off. As Dr. Free comments, the ingredients listed below are only a few critical nutrients found in urine:

• Alanine, total ..... 38 mg/day
• Arginine, total ..... 32 mg/day
• Ascorbic acid ..... 30 mg/day
• Allantoin ..... 12 mg/day
• Amino acids, total ..... 2.1 g/day
• Bicarbonate ..... 140 mg/day
• Biotin ..... 35 mg/day
• Calcium ..... 23 mg/day
• Creatinine ..... 1.4 mg/day
• Cystine ..... 120 mg/day
• Dopamine ..... 0.40 mg/day
• Epinephrine ..... 0.01 mg/day
• Folic acid ..... 4 mg/day
• Glucose ..... 100 mg/day
• Glutamic acid ..... 308 mg/day
• Glycine ..... 455 mg/day
• Inositol ..... 14 mg/day
• Iodine ..... 0.25 mg/day
• Iron ..... 0.5 mg/day
• Lysine, total ..... 56 mg/day
• Magnesium ..... 100 mg/day
• Manganese ..... 0.5 mg/day
• Methionine, total ..... 10 mg/day
• Nitrogen, total ..... 15 g/day
• Ornithine ..... 10 mg/day
• Pantothenic acid ..... 3 mg/day
• Phenylalanine ..... 21 mg/day
• Phosphorus, organic ..... 9 mg/day
• Potassium ..... 2.5 mg/day
• Proteins, total ..... 5 mg/day
• Riboflavin ..... 0.9 mg/day
• Tryptophan, total ..... 28 mg/day
• Tyrosine, total ..... 50 mg/day
• Urea ..... 24.5 mg/day
• Vitamin B6 ..... 100 mg/day
• Vitamin B12 ..... 0.03 mg/day
• Zinc ..... 1.4 mg/day

As you read over this extraordinary list of nutritional elements, you can begin to understand why the stories you may have heard of people surviving on their own urine are true. But what about other elements in urine that you've heard about?

http://all-natural.com/urine.html

Tricks of the Body

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10 Body Tricks You Didn't Know You Can Do

These 10 body tricks and 'cheats' will help you reduce pain, reduce discomfort, avoid headaches and burning sensations, and just ease a bunch of physical issues we need to deal with every day!

1. If your throat tickles, scratch your ear. You can try clearing your throat, but that won't make that tickle feeling pass. Here's a better way of dealing with tickles in your throat: "When the nerves in the ear are activated, it creates a reflex-like reaction in the throat that can cause a muscle twitch", says Dr. Scott Shefer, head of the ear, nose and throat ward at a New Jersey Hospital. "These twitches ease the tickling sensation." You heard it - Just scratch your ear! 2. Super Hearing? If you happen to meet an old friend at a noisy place and you start chatting, it's better to turn the right ear towards the person, as it is better at tracking active talking, according to researchers from the University of California Medical School. On the other hand, if you're trying to identify which song is playing, it's better to use the left ear. This is because the different hemispheres of the brain are better at different things.  3. Can sexual thoughts be used as a tool? When you really need to pee and can't, says Dr. Lary Lipsholtz, think about sex. Thinking about sex occupies your mind and body and will stop you from feeling the discomfort of having to pee. 4. Reduce Temporary Pain German researches found that coughing while getting an injection diminishes the pain. According to the head researcher of this experiment, the cough caused a temporary increase of pressure inside the chest and spine, which depresses the pain conductors of the spinal cord. In other words, coughing reduces the amount of pain signals your brain gets, and so you feel less pain. May also interest you: Warning: The Truth About White Bread! Important: Take Some Great Advice For Your Aching Back 25 Steps to Take to Prevent Alzheimer's Disease   5. Clearing a stuffed nose Put aside your pills and drops. An easier, faster and cheaper way to relieve that pressure on your sinuses, is to push the tongue against the roof of your mouth, and then flicking a finger in the area between your eyebrows. As weird as that may seem, this motion causes the bone of the nose, connected through the nasal passageways to the mouth, to rock back and forth. This movement releases the stuffing in your throat, and after about 20 seconds, you'll feel your sinuses start to cleanse.  6. Fighting the fire in your stomach without water Are you worried the chicken wings you're eating now will burn you at night? "Sleep on your left side" Says Dr. Anthony, professor of gastroenterology. Research has shown that people who sleep on their left side suffer less from acidic stomachs. The esophagus and the stomach are tied in an angle. When you lay on your right side, the stomach is higher than the esophagus, which lets the acid in the stomach go up to the throat. When you lay on your left side, the stomach is lower, so gravity works for you. 7. Cure your toothache without opening your mouth Rub ice on the back of your hand, on the area between your thumb and your index finger. Research conducted in Canada found that this technique reduces your toothache by about 50%. The neural pathway that is at the center of that V awakens an area in the the brain to blocks the pain from the face. 8. Erasing burn marks When you burn your fingers on the stove, instead of using ice - clean the skin and apply light pressure using the soft part of the fingers of the unburned hand. "The ice will elevate your pain faster," Says Dr. Destefano, "But this natural method returns the skin that burnt to a normal temperature, so the risk of blisters is reduced." 9. Unfreeze your brain Did you drink something too cold, too fast, and now you feel as if your brain is made of ice? You may get a headache later on, or you can take your tongue and stick it to the roof of your mouth. Since the nerves at the roof of your mouth suddenly froze, your body thinks your brain is freezing, as compensation, it overheats, which causes a strong headache. The stronger you push your tongue against the roof of your mouth, the faster the headache will pass. 10. Return your heart to normal beating Are you trying to relax a stampeding heart? Blow on your thumb! "The errant nerve that regulates heart beat can be controlled by breathing," Says Ben Abu, an emergency medicine specialist. This is a way to return the heart to normal beating.

Images courtesy of: Michal Marcol, Keerati, imagerymajestic, Jeroen van Oostrom / freedigitalphotos.net

Miracle of Fasting,

Miracle of Fasting

Fasting is the action of willing abstainer from food and drink for a planned period There are many form of the practice. a) total abstinence from food and drinks & b) abstinence of Food alone otherwise known as a liquid fast, permitting hot or cold Tea's, drinks, fruit juices or soups. Many religions encourage the practice for spiritual development aimed to reach the transcendental height of higher consciousness.

Fasting is a tradition that’s been incorporated into many ancient Indian cultures Taken from Vedic to Buddhist, fasting should not be confused with starvation. The Americas Indians, would go away into the wilderness or from human contact. Here they would fast, without food or water, with the purpose of contacting their dead ancestors. After a period of fasting, he would become overcome by the spirit of his Father, but then continue the fasting until he has communicated with his Grand Father or even further into the Past, Here he would be taken over by the spirit of this ancestral spirit and act, talk, walk with all the memories that the Spirit has to offer. Then go back into the village with the answers to the questions that he or the elders may have asked for.

Modern science has found that fasting brings health benefits to the body, brain and mind. Scientists have discovered the first evidence of a natural intervention triggering stem cell-based regeneration of an organ or system. The research shows that cycles of prolonged fasting protect against immune system damage and induce immune system regeneration. Scientists concluded that fasting shifts stem cells from a dormant state to a state of self-renewal. Patients who fasted significantly lowered their white blood cell counts. In mice, fasting cycles “flipped a regenerative switch, changing the signalling pathways for hematopoietic stem cells, which are responsible for the generation of blood and immune systems.”

What was noticed in both our human work and animal work is that the white blood cell count goes down with prolonged fasting. Then when you re-feed, the blood cells come back. ” – Valter Longo.

In Cancer patients “Chemotherapy causes significant collateral damage to the immune system. The study suggest that fasting may mitigate some of the harmful effects of chemotherapy.” Co-Author Tanya Dorff More importantly, it reduces the PKA enzyme, which has been linked to ageing, tumour progression and cancer. It’s also noteworthy to mention that fasting protected against toxicity in a pilot clinical trial where patients fasted for 72 hours prior to chemotherapy.

More Research

1.Fasting helps protect against brain disease: Researchers at the National Institute on Aging in Baltimore have found evidence that fasting for one or two days a week can prevent the effects of Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease. Research also found that cutting the daily intake to 500 calories a day for two days out of the seven can show clear beneficial effects for the brain.

2.Fasting cuts your risk of heart disease and diabetes: Regularly going a day without food reduces your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Studies show that fasting releases a significant surge in human growth hormone, which is associated with speeding up metabolism and burning off fat. Shedding fat is known to cut the risk of heart disease and diabetes. Doctors are even starting to consider fasting as a treatment.

3.Fasting effectively treats cancer in human cells: A study from the scientific journal of aging found that cancer patients who included fasting into their therapy perceived fewer side effects from chemotherapy. All tests conducted so far show that fasting improves survival, slow tumor growth and limit the spread of tumours..As a result of these steps, which in turn led to a number of other steps, damaging free radical molecules were created which broke down the cancer cells own DNA and caused their destruction! It’s cellular suicide, the cancer cell is trying to replace all of the stuff missing in the bloodstream that it needs to survive after a period of fasting, but can’t. In turn, it tries to create them and this leads to its own destruction

Daily aspirin more likely to cause bleeding than prevent heart attack

Daily aspirin more likely to cause bleeding than prevent heart attack 
According to, Dr. Mark Stengler

If old habits die hard, then daily aspirin is practically a vampire. 

No matter how many studies prove "aspirin therapy" is all risk and little benefit, people keep at it. And when I ask them why, I often hear the same story. 

"Well, there's always a small chance it might help -- and it hasn't hurt me yet." 

But new research shows again that the chance it might help is much smaller than you probably realize. And if it hasn't hurt yet, just wait -- because the odds of suffering a problem are much higher than the chance of enjoying a benefit. 

The long-term study of nearly 28,000 middle-aged women given either an aspirin or a placebo for 15 years finds almost no difference at all in the rate of heart attack or other heart problems. 

The difference is so small that you'd have to drug 371 women to prevent just one single heart incident. 

If that's all that happened -- if you could prevent a single death, or even one trip to the ER -- then it might be worth it. 

But that's not all that happened. 

Among those same 371 women, for example, between two and three would suffer gastrointestinal bleeding so severe that they would have to be hospitalized. And between eight and nine would suffer other bleeding problems such as ulcers and bleeding in the digestive tract. 

That's about a dozen women harmed -- up to three of them seriously -- to prevent a single heart episode. 

But maybe you've seen some of the other stories about daily aspirin, like the recent one that claims it can prevent colon cancer. 

Well, not so fast, because those numbers are even worse. 

You'd have to give 709 women daily aspirin to prevent a single case of colon cancer. Among those women, there would be five severe bleeding cases requiring hospitalization and 25 other bleeding problems such as ulcers. 

This study was on women, but we've seen similar results in men, especially when it comes to "primary prevention," or preventing a first heart attack. 

Aspirin simply doesn't deliver as advertised. 

There are better safer ways to lower your risk of heart problems without increasing the risk of serious bleeds. Start with the basics such as fish oil and coenzyme Q10. 

A holistic doctor can help figure out the best approach for you based on your history and your risks. And for complete, personal care in Southern California, make an appointment to see me at my clinic in the San Diego area. 

Why we need Salt

Some Facts on Salt

Compiled by, Nelson Brunton

Reducing your salt consumption produces no health benefit -- and isn’t worth the effort.

The Medical Profession erroneously came to the conclusion that salt is bad for your health as it raises you BP. Here is an abstract from a Medical University

Salt puts up our blood pressure.Raised blood pressure (hypertension) is the major factor which causes strokes, heart failure and heart attacks, the leading causes of death and disability in the UK. There is also increasing evidence of a link between high salt intake and stomach cancer, osteoporosis, obesity, kidney stones, kidney disease and vascular dementia and water retention. Salt can also exacerbate the symptoms of asthma, Ménière's disease and diabetes.

You keep hearing through the media how harmful salt is. This is the arrogance of Science, and I ask the question, if science was that scientific, then why do they constantly keep moving the goal post?

They don't define their Salts, rather put all salts in the same bracket.

Sea salt is produced through evaporation of ocean water or water from saltwater lakes, usually with little processing. Depending on the water source, this leaves behind certain trace minerals and elements.

Table salt is typically mined from underground salt deposits. Table salt is more heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping (Anti-caking Agents).

Rock Salt: Halite /ˈhælaɪt/, commonly known as rock salt, is the mineral form of sodium chloride (NaCl). Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless or white, but may also be light blue, dark blue, purple, pink, red, orange, yellow or gray depending on the amount and type of impurities. It commonly occurs with other evaporite deposit minerals such as several of the sulfates, halides, and borates.

Mineral Salts: Our body needs minerals to stay healthy. They are a vital component of every living cell. They help in regular functioning of the body and are closely related to each other. It was the biochemist Dr Schussler who recognised the importance of mineral salts to our health. He classified 12 essential mineral salts and used them to treat the sick. Thus originated a new system of healing called the biochemic method and the miracle minerals were called biochemic salts or the 12 tissue remedies.

According to Louix Dor Dempriey

Refined Salt How is salt refined? Most commercial refined salt has been harvested mechanically from various salt mines as brine. Brine is a highly concentrated solution of water and salt. Prior to mechanical evaporation, the brine is often treated with chemicals to remove minerals (which are sold for use in industry). The minerals are referred to as “impurities” in salt. These chemicals used to treat refined salt can include sulfuric acid or chlorine. Next, water is evaporated under high compression and heat which disrupts the molecular structure of salt. Finally, almost all of the moisture in the salt is removed in a fluidized-bed dryer.

Contents of Refined Iodized Salt

Sodium	≈39%
Chloride	≈60%
Ferrocyanide, Aluminum Silicate, Ammonium Citrate, Dextrose	Up to 2%
Iodide	.01%

Unrefined Salt

As contrasted with refined salt, unrefined salt contains much more than sodium and chloride. Unrefined salt contains all of the elements necessary for life. Celtic Sea Salt (Light Grey) contains 33% sodium, 50.9% chloride, 1.8% minerals and trace elements and 14.3 % moisture. Table 2 shows the major contents of unrefined Celtic Sea Salt. Unrefined salt does not contain appreciable amounts of iodide.

Major Contents of Unrefined Celtic Sea Salt

Element	Mg/1/4 tsp	%	Element	Mg/1/4 tsp	%
Chloride	601.25	50.9	Zinc	0.03	.00275
Sodium	460	33.00	Copper	0.02	.00195
Sulfur	9.7	0.820	Erbium	0.02	.00195
Magnesium	5.2	0.441	Tin	0.02	.00192
Potassium	2.7	0.227	Manganese	0.02	.0018
Calcium	1.5	0.128	Cerium	0.02	.00172
Silicon	1.2	0.052	Fluoride	0.01	.00109
Carbon	0.6	0.049	Rubidium	0.01	.00084
Iron	0.14	0.012	Gallium	0.01	.00083
Aluminum	0.11	0.0095	Boron	0.01	.00082
Praseodymium	0.04	0.0029	Titanium	0.01	.00079
Strontium	0.03	0.00275	Bromine	0.01	.00071

Unrefined Redmond’s Salt

Element	%	Element	%
Chloride	59.1	Iodine	0.0009
Sodium	37.6	Manganese	0.0008
Calcium	0.418	Cesium	0.0007
Potassium	0.198	Erbium	0.00006
Rubidium	0.120	Phosphorus	0.00049
Sulfur	0.160	Titanium	0.00048
Magnesium	0.0937	Antimony	0.00042
Iron	0.0472	Cerium	0.00040
Silicon	0.0138	Zirconium	0.000389
Aluminum	0.0068	Barium	0.000291
Carbon	0.0060	Boron	0.000205
Silver	0.0030	Gadolinium	0.000199
Copper	0.0028	Samarium	0.000198
Bromine	0.0022	Strontium	0.000193
Fluoride	0.0013	Thallium	0.000133

According to  Johnathon Andrew, Demand Media on Iodine in salt.

Iodine is considered a mineral and it’s found in unrefined sea salt, but iodized table salt contains considerably more of it. The Salt Institute states, “Although often promoted as a more healthful alternative to refined table salt, natural sea salt has little iodine and is a poor choice for those concerned about ensuring their iodine sufficiency.” A lack of dietary iodine leads to thyroid gland dysfunction and goiter, or inflammation of the thyroid. Goiter was much more common in the United States many decades ago until government initiatives forced manufacturers to iodize their salt.

They further go on to inform us on the Mineral Removed from Salt

The main reasons why minerals and other elements are removed from table salt include increased purity, extended shelf life, cleaner, whiter look and less clumping due to moister accumulation. The overall mineral content in sea salt, aside from sodium and chloride, is relatively low and shouldn’t be relied on as a significant dietary source. If you want to increase your intake of minerals, eat foods such as fish, dairy products, leafy greens and legumes or consider taking a multi-mineral supplement.

According to Dr Brownstein: the right kind of salt to your diet can help:

*Fatigue: Low thyroid levels are very common these days. Many symptoms of which are similar to those presented by the 'Fatigue Illnesses'. Dr Brownstein, who has researched the benefits of Iodine considers hypothyroidism to be common in Fibromyalgia patients (bear in mind that most M.E patients have accompanying Fibromyalgia). He proposes that as many as 80% FM sufferers have this low thyroid level condition.

• Adrenal Disorders: In regards to which affliction is more common, we have no real statistics. Dr Michael Lam, a US-based physician familiar with adrenal fatigue, haws stated that 80% of the population will suffer with adrenal fatigue at some point in their life. Dr David Brownstein, the author of “Iodine: Why You Need It”, estimates that 40% of the Western world is currently experiencing some sort of thyroid imbalance. In any case, it can be safely concluded that there are many individuals are needlessly suffering, searching for answers after being knocked back by their GP.
  When the adrenals increase hormonal secretion, thyroid function is inhibited. This affect appears to be dominated by adrenaline, which increases the levels of reverse T3 in the bloodstream. Reverse T3 is inactive cousin of the primary thyroid hormone T3; because both competitively inhibit one another at binding sides, a high count of reverse T3 can cause the onset of thyroid symptoms. However, this will often be masked by excessive adrenal output of both adrenaline and cortisol but will be brutally unveiled if and when the adrenal function crashes, as is known to occur in adrenal fatigue. This is an example of how stress can induce hypothyroid symptoms. Not only does it demonstrate the need to always check for reverse T3 in all thyroid tests, it also shows why a shift from high adrenal output to low – typical in adrenal fatigue – can cause such a severe crash; the low thyroid function, which was previously masked, now becomes fully evident at the same time as the individual is gripped by adrenal fatigue.
  
  
• Immune System Function: Table Salt – Poison Salt

Let’s consider the qualities of commercially available table salt. It is obvious in the above Brazilian study that no attention was paid to the dangerous and damaging effects that the salt itself might be having on the population. It is possible that the salt, not the iodine, led to increases in the prevalence of CAT and hypothyroidism in subjects genetically predisposed to thyroid autoimmune diseases. After all, refined salt is highly-processed—bleached, filtered, and stripped of other naturally occurring trace minerals. After this processing, chemicals are added to keep the salt from absorbing water and clumping up, and it is often iodized.

Dr. David Brownstein weighs in heavily on this matter saying, “Nobody makes a distinction between unrefined and refined salt. They ‘lump’ all salt together as a bad substance. This is a terrible mistake. There are two forms of salt available in the market place: refined and unrefined. Refined salt has had its minerals removed and has been bleached to give it the white appearance that we are accustomed to seeing with salt. It is the fine, white salt that is available at almost any restaurant or grocery store. Refined salt has been bleached and exposed to many toxic chemicals in order to get it to its final product. It has aluminum, ferrocyanide, and bleach in it. I believe this refining process has made it a toxic, devitalized substance that needs to be avoided.”

• Thyroid Disorders: Thyroid hormone is composed of three or four atoms of iodine and one molecule of the amino acid tyrosine.

There are three forms or chemical structures of iodine. There is iodine in its atomic I¹ form and then molecular I² and I³ forms. One of the principle reasons why I recommend Nascent Iodine for oral consumption and the use of Lugol’s only for transdermal use is that the Nascent Iodine is in the I¹ form plus it is much gentler to the taste buds and the stomach than the Lugol’s when used orally. The I¹ form is the form the body transforms most easily into thyroid hormone. There is a lot of conflicting information on the internet regarding the application of iodine in those with Hashimoto’s. Dosage and form of iodine and a full supporting protocol as well as close medical supervision are especially important in these cases.

• Headaches: Nowadays we hear so much about how bad salt is for you, we rarely get to hear how essential minerals from salt are for good health. There are many magazine articles, television programmes, online health advice websites etc, and most of them will be advising us to cut down on our salt intake. One common problem with having low salt levels in the body is the tendency to suffer from headaches. Headaches can be caused by many things, such as lack of hydration in the diet, or too much alcohol. But if you suffer from headaches, and you’re not quite sure what is causing them, it may be worth checking if you can relieve your symptoms by having some unprocessed sea salt.
• Cholesterol Levels: For decades, experts have been recommending that Americans cut down on their salt consumption to reduce their risk of heart attack and stroke. According to a new study, however, while reducing dietary salt does lower blood pressure, it may also lead to a slight boost in cholesterol, a separate risk factor for heart disease.

Danish researchers report in the American Journal of Hypertension that reducing sodium consumption led to a 1% drop in blood pressure in people who had normal pressure readings, and a 3.5% drop in those with hypertension. But other changes may offset those benefits: people who cut dietary salt also saw a 2.5% increase in cholesterol levels and a 7% boost in triglycerides. Like high blood pressure, elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are risk factors for heart disease. Excessive triglycerides can also contribute to diabetes.

• Blood Pressure: Dr Brownstein, Hypertension and Salt

Early in my medical career, I accepted the “low salt = lowered blood pressure” hypothesis unquestionably. My medical training was clear: A low-salt diet was good and a high-salt diet was bad. In all hypertensive cases, I was taught to promote a low-salt diet. In fact, I was taught that in order to prevent people from becoming hypertensive, it was better to encourage them to adopt a life-long dietary plan of low-salt. However, my experience with promoting a low-salt diet to treat hypertension was not successful. Not only did I find a low-salt diet relatively ineffective at lowering blood pressure, but I also found a low-salt diet made my patients miserable due to the poor taste of their low-salt food.

It wasn’t until I began to look at my patients in a more holistic manner that I began to research the medical literature about salt. What I found was astounding; there is little data to support low-salt diets being effective at treating hypertension for the vast majority of people. Also, none of the studies looked at the use of unrefined sea salt, which contains many valuable vitamins and minerals such as magnesium and potassium, which are vital to maintaining normal blood pressure.

• The Relationship Between Salt Deficiency and Hormonal Imbalances
• Balance and Replenish Minerals: In fact, life itself is not possible without adequate amounts of sodium and chloride. Low intake of salt will lead to deficiency, and salt deficiency is a dangerous condition for the body as it triggers a cascade of hormonal responses.

 

If a shortage of salt occurs, aldosterone, a hormone secreted from the adrenal glands, causes the kidneys to retain more sodium, thereby raising blood pressure. Angiotensin, another adrenal hormone, also aids in this process of increasing sodium retention when the body senses a deficiency. 

Some other uses of Salt:

Salt has many other functions than just regulating the water content of the body. Here are some of the more vital functions of salt in the body:

Salt is most effective in stabilizing irregular heartbeats and, contrary to the misconception that it causes high blood pressure, it is actually essential for the regulation of blood pressure - in conjunction with water. Naturally the proportions are critical.

Salt is vital to the extraction of excess acidity from the cells in the body, particularly the brain cells.

Salt is vital for balancing the sugar levels in the blood; a needed element in diabetics.

Salt is vital for the generation of hydroelectric energy in cells in the body. It is used for local power generation at the sites of energy needed by the cells.

Salt is vital to the nerve cells' communication and information processing all the time that the brain cells work, from the moment of conception to death.

Salt is vital for absorption of food particles through the intestinal tract.

Salt is vital for the clearance of the lungs of mucus plugs and sticky phlegm, particularly in asthma and cystic fibrosis.

Salt is vital for clearing up catarrh and congestion of the sinuses.

Salt is a strong natural antihistamine.

Salt is essential for the prevention of muscle cramps.

Salt is vital to prevent excess saliva production to the point that it flows out of the mouth during sleep. Needing to constantly mop up excess saliva indicates salt shortage.

Salt is absolutely vital to making the structure of bones firm. Osteoporosis, in a major way, is a result of salt and water shortage in the body.

Salt is vital for sleep regulation. It is a natural hypnotic.

Salt is a vitally needed element in the treatment of diabetics.

Salt on the tongue will stop persistent dry coughs.

Salt is vital for the prevention of gout and gouty arthritis.

Salt is vital for maintaining sexuality and libido.

Salt is vital for preventing varicose veins and spider veins on the legs and thighs.

Salt is vital for reducing a double chin. When the body is short of salt, it means the body really is short of water. The salivary glands sense the salt shortage and are obliged to produce more saliva to lubricate the act of chewing and swallowing and also to supply the stomach with water that it needs for breaking down foods. Circulation to the salivary glands increases and the blood vessels become "leaky" in order to supply the glands with water to manufacture saliva. The "leakiness" spills beyond the area of the glands themselves, causing increased bulk under the skin of the chin, the cheeks and into the neck.

Sea salt contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs. Some of these elements are needed in trace amounts. Unrefined sea salt is a better choice of salt than other types of salt on the market. Ordinary table salt that is bought in the super markets has been stripped of its companion elements and contains additive elements such as aluminum silicate to keep it powdery and porous. Aluminum is a very toxic element in our nervous system. It is implicated as one of the primary causes of Alzheimer's disease.