Archive for January, 2009

Jan 27

Home Remedies that Literally Enable You to Work Away the Stains and Display Sparkling White Teeth



My colleague in the stockbroker’s office is a very pretty lady with a very attractive smile. Whenever she smiles, she displays the best looking set of teeth I have ever seen. However, she was not like this all the time. Once when I complimented her about her wonderful smile, she remarked that she have had her teeth straightened out by braces and had her teeth all cleaned and whitened at her dentist. While it was costly, it was worth it because she now has a million-dollar smile.

Indeed, all of us do wish to have a great smile, and pearl white shiny teeth that would sparkle in the sunlight.

But daily, we face quiet enemies that subvert our attempts to keep our teeth sparkling clean and white.

Foods and beverages cause stains on our teeth by sticking to the protective layer of protein that our mouths naturally coat our tooth enamel to prevent damage to the enamel layer. Apart from the temperature of the drinks we consume that causes structural changes over a long period of time, stains are an almost instant result whenever we consume food and fruits.

Fruits and drinks readily affect our teeth. These include berries, curries, red wine, colored soda drinks, and soya sauce, which easily stain your tooth enamel, leaving behind yellowish coatings or following the color of the fruit or juice that stains the enamel. Contact with carrot juice, for example, will stain your teeth a slightly yellowish.

Sticky foods also adhere more easily to tooth enamel. These cause a layer of stain over the top of your tooth, and allow other foods and drinks to stick to this layer that is formed.

While it is easy to go to the dentist and request your dentist to prescribe you a home based bleaching program that you can follow at home, dental treatments are costly, whereas over the counter treatments are cheap in comparison.

Most whitening methods work well on teeth which have yellowed, and some whitening can be done if teeth are brownish or greyish.

A visit to the pharmacy will allow you to explore a variety of dental remedies that you can carry out in the comfort of your home. These will include the application of bleaching strips, or bleaching gels and are much cheaper than a dental treatment.

While I appreciate that these bleaching agents do work, I have the benefit of observing that all my Indian friends have sparkling clean teeth with corresponding smiles. They have one secret, and that is their traditional habit of chewing the betel nut and leaves with an assortment of special spices.

We now understand that many teeth whitening processes involve rubbing your teeth with abrasive materials, but you want to avoid rubbing them too much, because if you rub off the top layer of your teeth, the tooth enamel, your dentine layer will be exposed.

Thus when my Indian friends chew the betel nut and the leaves, these materials rub against the teeth, and whitens them in the process.

For the person who is contemplating the application of a bleaching agent, it may perhaps be good to explore options from the bottom upwards. By this, he can first try to use home remedies. Most of these home remedies can help in the short term, using ingredients you have at home, such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and salt.

Use caution and a soft bristle brush with home-made teeth whitening attempts.

After a few days of these gentle home remedies, you will find pleasing comments from your friends who will see the difference and the whitening effect of these home remedies on your teeth in your effort to whiten them.

If you are not satisfied with the results of your home remedies or your home bleaching program, then you will need to seek dental treatment.

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Posted in Dental

Jan 24

Carrot Juice and Blood Pressure



Carrot juice consumed in addition to a healthy eating diet can be of great benefit to those with blood pressure problems. High blood pressure can be lowered with continued treatment that lasts a lifetime. But wouldn’t it be better to prevent high blood pressure in the first place? A loss of 10 percent in total body weight can normalize blood pressure in over weight people. It is vital to maintain a healthy weight with at least 30 minutes of physical activity each day.

High blood pressure is the pressure of blood flowing through the arteries at a higher rate than normal, and that pressure consistently remains higher. Symptoms occur in some people but not in others. Revealed symptoms include: headache, difficulty in breathing, apathy, blurred vision, weight gain, rapid pulse, or dizziness. Men can suffer from impotency and/or quick ejaculation.

Carrot juice is high in beta-carotene, which studies show can reduce the risk of heart disease leading to high blood pressure. Carrot juice helps to maintain normal blood pressure by regulating heart and kidney functions. A recommended dose is an eight-ounce blend of one part celery juice, one part carrot juice and one part water, taken at least once a day.

Carrots are high in potassium, which can help prevent and control high blood pressure. Researchers have found that people who take potassium-rich diets have a low incidence of hypertension. Limiting sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day will have a dramatic effect on reducing your blood pressure. Another recipe is equal parts – carrot, celery, parsley and, spinach juice. This juice helps to alkalize the bloodstream and remove deposits from blood vessels. Drink 1 pint daily in 8oz or 4oz increments.

Other vegetables used to treat high blood pressure include: garlic, which slows down the pulse rate and modifies the heart rhythm. Boiled Potatoes in their skins are a valuable food for lowering blood pressure. They absorb very little salt, are rich in potassium and magnesium but not in sodium salts. Parsley is very useful in high blood pressure as it contains elements, which help maintain the blood vessels.

Fruit juice sources include lemon, which is a rich source of vitamin P, found both in the juice, and peel of the fruit. This vitamin is essential for preventing capillary fragility.

Low blood pressure can be helped by consuming parsley, capsicum and garlic juice.

Blood pressure can be lowered and maintained by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables in addition to fresh juices. Vegetable juices such as carrot juice can be a great benefit to reducing blood pressure by eliminating toxins in the blood.

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Posted in Blood Tension

Jan 20

Massage for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder



Bodywork is perfectly suited for reducing the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a condition typically appearing in young children, although teenagers and adults may also be affected. Someone with ADHD has difficulty controlling their behavior and/or paying attention. It is estimated that between 3 and 5 percent of children have ADHD, or approximately 2 million children in the United States.

Symptoms

The principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Symptoms begin over the course of many months, often with impulsiveness and hyperactivity preceding inattention, which may not emerge for a year or more. A child who “can’t sit still” or is otherwise disruptive will be noticeable in school, but the inattentive daydreamer may be overlooked. The impulsive child who acts before thinking may be considered a “discipline problem,” while the child who is passive or sluggish may be viewed as unmotivated. Each of these children may have different types of ADHD.

All children are sometimes restless, sometimes act without thinking and sometimes daydream. When the child’s hyperactivity, distractibility, poor concentration, or impulsivity begin to affect performance in school, social relationships with other children, or behavior at home, ADHD may be suspected. Because the symptoms of ADHD vary so much, ADHD must be diagnosed by a professional. Primarily consisting of stimulants, pharmaceutical intervention is the first choice in treating ADHD. In an effort to control affected individuals, an increasing number of school age children are regularly medicated.

The Brain

The suggested etiology of ADHD consists of many proposed theories. Whether stemming from genetics, environment or trauma, most experts agree the brains of individuals with this condition function differently than those unaffected. Research scientists have learned a great deal about ADHD by using modern brain imaging technology. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) researchers found that children with ADHD had 3 to 4 percent smaller brain volume in several regions, than age and gender matched controls. According to Jay Gordon, MD, a “deficiency in central nervous system dopamine probably causes many, if not most, of the problems associated with ADHD.” It is no surprise that the most popular medications for this condition increase dopamine levels within the brain.

The Autonomic Nervous System

Two structures comprise our nervous system, the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system assures proper functioning of involuntary actions, such as heart rate, dilation of blood vessels and our body’s secretion of chemicals. The autonomic nervous system has two sub-divisions, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic. The sympathetic system provides us with adrenaline (the fight-or-flight response), while the parasympathetic is responsible for relaxation.

The sympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system appears to be the predominant force in ADHD, overriding the balancing role of the parasympathetic system. Bodywork can be a critical component of ADHD recovery because it accesses and initiates the parasympathetic nervous system response.

Proof

At the Touch Research Institute in Florida, a study was conducted to investigate the effect of massage therapy on ADHD. Thirty ADHD diagnosed students aged 7 to 18 years participated in the study where one group received massage therapy for 20 minutes twice per week over the course of one month. The researchers reported that the ADHD students in the massage group demonstrated improved short-term mood state and longer-term classroom behavior.

Methods

While there is no specific ADHD massage technique, certain methods will have a greater effect than others. The important concept to grasp is that stimulating the parasympathetic relaxation response is desired when working with this population. Clues for the therapist indicating parasympathetic response are slowed breathing, reduced heart rate and increased digestive sounds.

Since many styles of bodywork initiate relaxation, the following five suggestions for ADHD are not all inclusive:

1. Swedish massage, particularly effleurage and other slow stroking movements have a sedating effect, leading to activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

2. Because they encourage stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, avoid fast and firm strokes, as well as percussive massage techniques.

3. Cranial-sacral therapy will free up any restrictions in the cranium or sacrum that could contribute to ADHD. Additionally, the movements used in this modality initiate the parasympathetic response.

4. Rooted in Osteopathic medicine, myofascial release bypasses the muscles by focusing on the fascia as one, large, connected system. Exceedingly gentle, the unwinding technique in myofascial release activates the parasympathetic system. Similar to cranial-sacral, this will free any restrictions inhibiting energy flow, leading to tension release.

5. Watsu is a deeply relaxing style of bodywork performed in a warm water pool. While specific training and equipment (a pool!) are needed to perform this therapy, it has been reputed to calm the uncalmable.

The diagnosis and treatment of ADHD is controversial, as parents are refusing to accept the habitual medicating of their children. Many have posed the hypothesis that ADHD is a natural evolution of our brains to keep up with the speed at which technology powers our world. Living in a calm and peaceful environment is now an exception, rather than the norm. Bodyworkers have the ability to introduce calm and peace to a client, regardless of their environment. By focusing ADHD treatment on the parasympathetic nervous system, massage therapy can be a crucial component of therapy for this condition.

References:

Khilnani S, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Schanberg S., Massage therapy improves mood and behavior of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, Adolescence, 2003 Winter; 38(152):623-38.

Osborn, Karri, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Soma Brings Peace of Mind to Families, Massage and Bodywork, June/July 2004.

Soma Brings Peace of Mind to Families
Osborn, Karri, Sea of Calm: Water Therapy Touches Young Spirits, Massage and Bodywork, Feb/March 2003.

http://www.nimh.nih.gov, Attention Deficit Disorder, National Institute of Mental Health, 2/17/06.

http://www.realbodywork.com, The Nervous System, Sean Riehl, 2003.

http://www.drjaygordon.com, Attention Deficit Disorder, Gordon, MD, J., 2005.

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Posted in Therapy

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