HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES FOR SCLERODERMA

Scleroderma  is a group of rare diseases that involve the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues — the fibers that provide the framework and support for your body.

In some people, scleroderma affects only the skin. But in many people, scleroderma also harms structures beyond the skin — such as blood vessels, internal organs and the digestive tract. Signs and symptoms vary, depending on which structures are affected.

Scleroderma affects women more often than men and most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. While there is no cure for scleroderma, a variety of treatments can ease symptoms and improve quality of life.

Causes-Scleroderma results from an overproduction and accumulation of collagen in body tissues. Collagen is a fibrous type of protein that makes up your body's connective tissues, including your skin.

Doctors aren't certain what prompts this abnormal collagen production, but the body's immune system appears to play a role. In some genetically susceptible people, symptoms may be triggered by exposure to certain types of pesticides, epoxy resins or solvents.

Symptoms--Scleroderma's signs and symptoms vary, depending on which parts of your body are involved:

Skin. Nearly everyone who has scleroderma experiences a hardening and tightening of patches of skin. These patches may be shaped like ovals or straight lines, or cover wide areas of the trunk and limbs. The number, location and size of the patches vary by type of scleroderma. Skin can appear shiny because it's so tight, and movement of the affected area may be restricted.

Fingers or toes. One of the earliest signs of scleroderma is an exaggerated response to cold temperatures or emotional distress, which can cause numbness, pain or color changes in the fingers or toes. Called Raynaud's disease, this condition also occurs in people who don't have scleroderma.

Digestive system. In addition to acid reflux, which can damage the section of esophagus nearest the stomach, some people with scleroderma may also have problems absorbing nutrients if their intestinal muscles aren't moving food properly through the intestines.

Heart, lungs or kidneys. Scleroderma can affect the function of the heart, lungs or kidneys to varying degrees. These problems, if left untreated, can become life-threatening.

Risk factor--Scleroderma occurs much more often in women than it does in men. Choctaw Native Americans and African-Americans are more likely than Americans of European descent to develop the type of scleroderma that affects internal organs.

Complications--Scleroderma complications range from mild to severe and can affect your:

Fingertips. The variety of Raynaud's disease that occurs with scleroderma can be so severe that the restricted blood flow permanently damages the tissue at the fingertips, causing pits or skin sores (ulcers). In some cases, gangrene and amputation may follow.

Lungs. Scarring of lung tissue (pulmonary fibrosis) can result in reduced lung function, reduced ability to breathe and reduced tolerance for exercise. You may also develop high blood pressure in the arteries to your lungs (pulmonary hypertension).

Kidneys. When scleroderma affects your kidneys, you can develop elevated blood pressure and an increased level of protein in your urine. More-serious effects of kidney complications may include renal crisis, which involves a sudden increase in blood pressure and rapid kidney failure.

Heart. Scarring of heart tissue increases your risk of abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias) and congestive heart failure, and can cause inflammation of the membranous sac surrounding your heart (pericarditis). Scleroderma can also raise the pressure on the right side of your heart and cause it to wear out.

Teeth. Severe tightening of facial skin can cause your mouth to become smaller and narrower, which may make it hard to brush your teeth or to even have them professionally cleaned. People who have scleroderma often don't produce normal amounts of saliva, so the risk of dental decay increases even more.

Digestive system. Digestive problems associated with scleroderma can lead to acid reflux and difficulty swallowing — some describe feeling as if food gets stuck midway down the esophagus — as well as bouts of constipation alternating with episodes of diarrhea.

Sexual function. Men who have scleroderma often experience erectile dysfunction. Scleroderma may also affect the sexual function of women, by decreasing sexual lubrication and constricting the vaginal opening.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

Constitutional line of treatment is ideal for scleroderma , even though some indicated remedies are given below.-

ANTIMONIUM CRUDUM 200-Antimonium crudum is one of the best remedies for scleroderma. It is prescribed when the skin becomes thick, hard and honey coloured. Another indications are-itching of skin when warm in bed, worse during night.

HYDROCOTYLE ASIATICA 30—Hydrocotyle is an effective medicines for scleroderma. It is prescribed when the skin becomes thickened that of an elephant. .Great thickening of the epidermal layer and exfoliation of scales.  Intolerable itching of skin , especially of soles.

RANUNCULUS BULBOSUS 30-Ranunculus bulbosus is indicated for scleroderma with thickening of the skin having horny scales.There is burning and intense itching , worse from contact. Finger tips and palms chapped.

RHUS TOXICODENDRON 30-and BRYONIA30 –Rhus tox and Bryonia is indicated  for arthritis in scleroderma patients. In Bryonia the pain is better from rest , opposite of Rhus tox. Severe constipation is found in Bryonia

ALUMINA 30-Alumina is effective for scleroderma where intolerable itching occurs when warm in bed. Skin chapped , dry and tottery, scratch until it bleeds. Constriction of esophagus is experienced by the patients. Severe constipation is found along with  this disease .

CRATAEGUS OXY. Q-Crataegus is a heart tonic and it is effective if heart is involved in scleroderma patients. Crataegus supports healthy circulation.

AGARICUS NUS 30-Agaricus is indicated when burning, itching , swelling and redness are found in the skin. It is indicated when blood flow to the fingers and toes is compromised on being exposed to the cold atmosphere.This leads to numbness, coldness, blueness in the fingers and toes.The condition may be followed by pin or needle like pricking sensations in the fingers and toes.

SECALE COR. 30-Secale cor is indicated when icy cold and numb fingers and toes occurs. Formication, tingling in the fingers and toes are other symptoms

THIOSINAMINUM 30—Thiosinaminum is effective for thickened skin. Thiosinaminum dissolves the thickened skin.

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HOMOEOPATHY FOR SINUSITIS

Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses. It occurs as the result of an infection from a virus, bacteria, or fungus.

The sinuses are air-filled spaces in the skull. They are located behind the forehead, nasal bones, cheeks, and eyes. Healthy sinuses contain no bacteria or other germs. Most of the time, mucus is able to drain out and air is able to flow through the sinuses.

 When the sinus openings become blocked or too much mucus builds up, bacteria and other germs can grow more easily.Sinusitis can occur from one of these conditions:.Small hairs (cilia) in the sinuses fail to properly to move mucus out. This may be due to some medical conditions..Colds and allergies may cause too much mucus to be made or block the opening of the sinuses.A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or nasal polyps may block the opening of the sinuses.

There are two types of sinusitis:--Acute sinusitis is when symptoms are present for 4 weeks or less. It is caused by bacteria growing in the sinuses.-Chronic sinusitis is when swelling and inflammation of the sinuses are present for longer than 3 months. It may be caused by bacteria or a fungus.

Symptoms--Bad breath or loss of smell.Cough, often worse at night. Fatigue and general feeling of being ill. Fever. Headache. Pressure-like pain, pain behind the eyes, toothache, or tenderness of the face. Nasal stuffiness and discharge.Sore throat and postnasal drip

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES                                                                                             

Homoeopathic remedies are very effective for curing sinusitis safely without any side effects. Some of the important remedies are given below. Constitutional  remedies like Calcarea carb, Tuberculinum etc are required for complete cure.

SILICEA 200-Silicea is one of the top  homeopathic remedies for sinus  infection with headache. The  headache is  mainly on the right side . Silicea patient  feels chilly and is very sensitive to cold air. Covering up warmly provides relief.Silicea is prescribed when nasal stuffness is marked. The nasal discharges get clogged in hard crusts. On attempting to loosen these crusts, there is bleeding.

KALI BICHROMICUM 30-Kali Bichromicum is prescribed for sinus infection  where the discharge drops back into the throat despite coming out of the nose. The discharge is very thick and mostly yellow. It can be ropy too and the patient experiences pain and heaviness in the nose. The nose can smell and is blocked with an inability to breathe through it. Kali Bichromicum  is also  prescribed when the  headache  occurs above the eyes due to sinus infection. The eyes may also get swollen up.

MERCURIUS SOL 30-Merc Sol is best for  Sinusitis when the nasal discharge is yellowish-green with a burning feeling. The nasal membrane gets corroded and ulcerated due to the offensive and thick acrid discharge. The patient has a headache with heat in head along with nasal discharge.  Increased saliva in mouth is a prominent feature of Merc sol. There is an offensive smell from mouth.

PULSATILLA NIG. Pulsatilla  is another effective  medicine for Sinusitis. Pulsatilla is prescribed when there is  green-coloured nasal discharge that is bland ,without burning and if the patient gets general relief in open air. The discharge is horribly offensive and the patient has headache above the eyes. There’s an absolute absence of thirst in patients.Pulsatilla patients are generally have a mild , yielding temperament.

AURUM METALLICUM 30- Aurum metallicum is effective for chronic sinusitis. Aurum met is prescribed when boring type of pain occurs which is worse at night with fetid and bloody discharge. There is a feeling of nose obstruction , but there is free flow of air through the nose.

LYCOPODIUM CLAVATUM 200-Lycopodium is effective for frontal sinusitis. There is right sided frontal headache, pain over right eye which is worse from rising up and better from lying down.Nose stopped up at night. There is fan like motion of alae nasi. Discharge excoriating from nose but feels internal dryness of the nose. The patient prefers warm food and drinks, also a craving for sweets.

BELLADONNA 200-Belladona is best  for sinus infections when sinus headache is due to suppressed discharge. Belladona  patients complains of a violent headache. The patient may get relief from the headache by binding the head tightly or applying pressure. The face may also appear swollen with a heated sensation.  Belladona is  prescribed where throat pain and cough occurs  when the sinus infection travels down the throat.

SPIGELIA 30-Spigelia is an effective medicine  for headache when the left-side frontal sinus is infected.The headache starts from the nape of the neck and extend to the lefy eye.  Spigelia patients feel   severe throbbing pain over the left eye. This is  accompanied by discharge dropping back into the throat from the nose.

 BRYONIA ALB. 30Bryonia alb is prescribed when left-side sinus headache is present , which  are a bursting type of pain in forehead over left eye.The pain is worse from   motion and relief by taking rest.

STICTA  PUL. 30-Sticta pul is prescribed when  nasal blockage is present   with inflamed sinus. The sinusitis is dry,   patient have no nasal discharge despite making quite an effort. There’s a constant pressure on the nose. Catarrhal headache before the discharge appears. Worse from change of temperature, night, lying down and better fro open air and free discharge.

AMMONIUM CARB. 30-  Ammonium Carb is prescribed  when the complete blockage of nose makes breathing difficult and the patient has to breathe through the mouth.Complaints worse at night.

KALI IODIDE 30-Kali Iod is best for sinusitis with  thin nasal discharge due to sinus inflammation. The discharge is watery in a large quantity and leads to an intense burning sensation.  Pain in the affected frontal sinus and often facial pain on the same side.

HYDRASTIS CANADENSIS 30- Hydrastis is prescribed when sinusitis appear after cold. Dull, pressing pain in the forehead on the affected side. The scalp and neck muscles are painful. Thick tenacious discharge in back of throat. There is  posterior nasal dripping. There is  tough and thick discharges drop back into the throat. The discharge may be yellow in colour and rope-like. Along with post-nasal drip, the patient may also complain of fullness and pressure in the root of nose.

Dont Knock Alternatives For Neuropathy! You Never Know!

Today's short post from themighty.com (see link below) says a great deal in a short piece of text. it's true what she says: if nothing is helping, you'll end up trying just about anything to make life with neuropathy just that little bit easier and if that falls under the category of 'alternative' therapies or supplements then so be it - if it works...don't knock it. Now of course, you should get professional advice; especially if you have other conditions and take other medications but neuropathy is one of those diseases where the patient is at the forefront of the research because the research throughout the  decades just hasn't thrown up anything that truly works in reducing nerve pain for all. So millions of people across the world, are trying this, that and the other remedy because they've heard it benefits some people (this blog is full of them) but gradually, one or more supplements gain a widespread reputation of having an effect and the snowball rolls. (Always avoid anything with the word 'cure' on the label though - it's a lie!) Eventually the science catches up and proves or disproves the theory. It may be risky but neuropathy patients are dogged folk and god loves a trier!!
 

Why I Don't Roll My Eyes at Alternative Treatments Anymore
By Michele Kleinmann Contributor I write about Chronic Pain
 
I used to secretly (OK, sometimes not so secretly) roll my eyes at people who poured money into alternative therapies or swore by specific diets or vitamins. If there wasn’t robust medical literature to back something, I wasn’t buying it. That is, until I found myself buying miso soup on a 100-degree day for the potential benefits of seaweed on my neuropathic pain (as advised by my acupuncturist). Or until I found myself falling asleep every night to my pain relief hypnosis app. Or until I found myself calling the compounding pharmacist, who I’m on a first-name basis with, to ask whether he had any calf-liver pills. That must have been a sight — me standing on a busy street corner yelling into my phone, “C-A-L-F liver, like the cow.” Ultimately, I didn’t proceed with that one, but that’s beside the point.

The point is, I now understand that when you’re desperate for pain relief, you’ll try just about anything. That’s not to say that I don’t still immediately go to PubMed or “Doctor Google” to research whatever has been proposed to me (once a skeptic, always skeptic-ish), but I’m a whole lot more willing to try things. I don’t care if the relief I might find is only due to the placebo effect. The placebo effect can be powerful and, at this point, I say bring it on.

Moving forward, I will try my best to refrain from judging others’ regimens, however strange they may seem. I will instead hope that they are getting relief from whatever it is that plagues them. And I ask that next time you see me buying copious amounts of blueberry juice while on the phone with my acupuncturist, you do the same (hope I get relief, not buy blueberry juice).

https://themighty.com/2016/08/why-i-dont-judge-alternative-pain-relief-treatments-anymore/

FACIAL MASCULINITY NOT ALWAYS A TELLING FACTOR IN MATE SELECTION

Women living where rates of infectious disease are high, according to theory, prefer men with faces that shout testosterone when choosing a mate. However, an international study says not so much, says University of Oregon anthropologist Lawrence S. Sugiyama

The new study, on which Sugiyama is one of 22 co-authors, ended with that theory crumbling amid patterns too subtle to detect when tested with 962 adults drawn from 12 populations living in various economic systems in 10 nations.

The study -- coordinated by Ian S. Penton-Voak of the School of Experimental Biology at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom -- appears online ahead of print this week in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"It's not the case that women have a universal preference for high testosterone faces, and it's not the case that such a preference is greater in a high-pathogen environment," Sugiyama said. "And the opposite is also the case. Men don't uniformly appear to have a preference for more feminine faces, at least within the ranges of cultures shown in this study. In cultures tied to pastoralism, agriculture, foraging, fishing and horticulture, not so much, the authors concluded.

The closest the theory came to confirmation was in market economies in the study populations in the U.K., Canada and China, perhaps because, as Sugiyama's prior work has shown, preferences shift in response to the local range of variation in traits, and men in market economies have higher testosterone.

Also, Sugiyama said: "In large-scale societies like ours we encounter many unfamiliar people, so using appearance to infer personality traits can help cope with the overwhelming amount of social information. For instance, in all cultures tested, high testosterone faces were judged to be more aggressive, and this is useful information when encountering strangers."

Sugiyama and three other UO co-authors contributed to the study based on their work with the Shuar, a rural population with a long history of warfare in Ecuador and whose mixed economy today is based on horticulture, hunting, foraging and small-scale agro-pastoralism.

The Shuar did not come into contact with the outside world until the 1880s, and only since the 1960s have they organized into communities, Sugiyama said. The UO's research there is looking at the impacts of culture change on Shuar health. Data for the PNAS study were collected during routine sessions with 30 males and 31 females.

Each was shown culturally appropriate facial representations of potential opposite-sex mates and asked which one they'd prefer. Shuar women didn't like the faces of men whose faces suggested high testosterone levels. "Shuar women preferred slightly less testosterone-looking faces," Sugiyama said. The reason why was not clear, but he suggests that maybe Shuar women possibly have grown weary of years of warfare and would prefer mates who would be less likely to participate and encourage their offspring to engage in violent behaviors.

UO co-authors are J. Josh Snodgrass, a professor of biological anthropology, doctoral student Melissa A. Liebert, who has spent seven research seasons with the Shuar, and undergraduate student Ruby Fried, who has since earned a bachelor's degree from the UO and now is a doctoral student in anthropology at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

As with the UO team, the paper's other researchers contributed with data collected from the populations that they study. The study encompassed students and Cree populations in Canada, students and urban residents in two Chinese cities, the Tuvans in Russia, students in the United Kingdom, the Kadazan-Dusun in Malaysia, villagers in Fiji, the Miskitu in Nicaragua, the Tchimba in Namibia and the Aka in the Central African Republic.

"Performance by the different populations wasn't chance," Sugiyama said. "For each society there was a pattern. There were significant preferences in each culture. Market economies do play a part, but something more was going on.

"I think the real message of this study is that we in this field need to stop and rethink how we have been thinking about these things," he said. "Maybe the idea of infectious disease -- the presence of pathogens -- isn't the main driving factor. The underlying adaptations are likely to track other ecological considerations and local cultural factors that we don't have data on and may eventually be very important in understanding attractiveness."

Ulnar Neuropathy A Danger For Keyboard Addicts

Today's post from lindapoitevin.com (see link below) highlights a less obvious but increasingly common form of neuropathy caused by modern behaviour and that is ulnar neuropathy; often brought about by hours spent working at a keyboard. Now that statistics show that most people are spending some hours a day behind a computer screen, the physical problems caused by what is basically an unnatural activity, are appearing more and more often in doctor's consulting rooms. Ulnar neuropathy is a form of entrapment neuropathy and therefore has some hope of recovery (in sharp contrast to nerve damage) but you will need to alter your posture and try to avoid resting your elbow or wrist on the desk for long periods of time. Not very chic but using a gel pack under your wrist or elbow will help reduce the pressure that leads to nerve entrapment. Worth a read.

Ulnar Neuropathy: A Hidden Hazard of Writing
March 18, 2015 Linda Poitevin

Did you know it’s possible to injure yourself while sitting quietly at a desk, tapping away at your keyboard? Probably not. Until the other day, this idea would have been news to me, too. Then I learned about ulnar neuropathy (compression of the ulnar nerve)…the hard way.

To save you from similar discomfort, I thought I’d share my inadvertent discovery.



First, a quick anatomical lesson: The ulnar nerve runs from the cervical spine along the inside of the arm, around your elbow, and down to your hand–specifically to your pinky finger and the pinky side of your ring finger. It’s responsible for the sensation in those fingers, and for helping with motor control (particularly in gripping things).

When this nerve becomes compressed (or “pinched”), it can result in numbness, tingling, loss of motor function, and pain. In his article on A Nation in Motion, Dr. John Erickson describes it as being like “the experience of ‘hitting the funny bone': that painful buzzing, tingling, and numb feeling in the pinky finger when you hit the wrong spot on the inside of your elbow.”

Compression can happen in a number of places along the nerve, and for a number of reasons. If you’re a cyclist, for instance, the pressure of your hand resting on the handlebars can compress the nerve either just above or just below Guyon’s canal (see image), resulting in what’s commonly referred to as handlebar palsy.

If you spend a lot of time at a desk (as do writers and students), the compression frequently occurs at the elbow and is called cubital tunnel syndrome. It’s a direct result of poor posture–or, more specifically, resting your elbow on the desk. (Turns out our mothers and teachers were right about sitting up straight…who knew? )

The current “pins and needles” sensation and numbness I’m experiencing in my pinky finger (and half–but only half–of my ring finger ) is most likely a result of cubital tunnel syndrome. Though I suspect that four marathon days of typing on my laptop’s most unergonomic keyboard–with my wrists resting on the edge–may not have helped matters. (Using a laptop now? Pay attention to where your hands are resting.) Whatever the cause, it’s darned annoying, not to mention a little unnerving. (Ha! Bad pun there…couldn’t resist…sorry. )

The good news is that the condition is usually pretty easy to remedy. An online search turned up a number of exercises designed to get things back on track and prevent recurrences–this YouTube video from chiropractor Dr. Brian Abelson is particularly helpful. I started doing those yesterday and hope to have the feeling back in my pinky soon. Very soon.

And that, my friends, is how you get injured while sitting at a desk. Want to avoid it? Sit up straight, don’t lean on your desk, make sure you use a proper wrist support for your keyboard, and do your ulnar nerve exercises. You’re welcome.

http://www.lindapoitevin.com/2015/03/18/ulnar-neuropathy-hidden-hazard-of-writing/

Bah Humbug! Transformational Tools for your Holidays! Journal activities Herbs Foods and Smells to Help You

This past week my girlfriend and I had an enlightening conversation about Thanksgiving. Each of us where sharing what challenges us the most; what we were afraid of, what made us feel rotten, and what kind of behavior by others ruins our day.

I found us saying things like “I wish I had more help with the planning and preparation of the food so I was less resentful”, “I don’t want to have to answer to anybody about my personal life if I’m not ready, but I don’t want them to feel pushed away, either”, “I’m worried about political differences coming up” and “I feel exhausted at the end, not filled up and all happy like we’re told we should feel. I want to actually feel nourished and full of gratitude, not like: ‘thank God that’s over!’”

After we vented a bit, we started asking some questions instead, and low and behold we started coming up with miraculous ways to approach the coming holidays with a lot more self-awareness and intention, and less attachment to how others decide to use the day.

This is an incredibly self-protective and freeing experience! And although I've personally done a *lot* of inner work around dealing with winter and the holidays, but this conversation was especially helpful and insightful.

So, in light of the fast-approaching Yule tide, I come here today to offer a similar journey for you, as well as herbal and aroma allies. For my apothecary members I always approach things holistically this way (including inquiry based journaling/mindset methods, sensory engagement, and herbal nourishment) so that the healing happens from multiple facets and is integrated more completely. I invite you to tackle things with this in mind as well.

The more my friend and I talked about what we wanted and complained less about what we didn’t want, the more clearly we were able to see the potential to enjoy our holiday more, even within the given circumstances.

However, it is good to get all the complaints on the table, as they can help us navigate. So….lay it all out, my friend, with reckless honesty:

What are my biggest, most anxiety producing complaints about the holiday?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

{Awesome, good job J}

Next, Go slowly through each of your above frustrations and ask these questions:

1.       Is this an experience I’m capable of changing?

2.       Does the change need to happen externally, involving others?

3.       Is there a change in me, internally, that would help? What is that? Compassion, forgiveness, or a shift in expectations?

4.       Do I contribute to this issue in any way?

5.       What personal boundaries can I set for myself around this issue? (e.g.; Getting more rest? Not answering questions I don’t feel comfortable with? Not engaging in feeling victimized or falling prey to passive aggressive behavior?

6.       In what ways can I ask for help & support from my loved ones in regards to this issue?
  

7.       How can I better prepare for this potential experience, manage it if it occurs, or help prevent it?

{Woot! Feels good so far, yes? Are you surprised by anything so far?}

Next, we need to shift the focus to what we do desire.

1.       What would each of these experiences look and feel like to you, if they were expressed in the positive?
For example, if your #1 fear was listening to your children fight, it might look like two siblings enjoying each other’s company.

2.       What do I want out of a holy-day? How do I want to feel before, during, and after?

3.       What are some ways my ideals can be fed and supported??

Brainstorm specific ideas around this – the more specific you are the more likely it is to happen, whether because you take action, or something becomes more energetically possible through the magic of your intentions.

Super! We’re well on our way to a transformed holiday experience.  In addition to the above specific problem-solving inquiries, we can arm ourselves with some general ideas as well. These are three of my favorite pattern interrupters that I use the most often.

~In this moment, I can choose peace.

~In this moment, what can I do differently?

~Even though I feel ­­­­_____ (angry, hurt, etc) I can choose to shift things by acting out of love.

By claiming more ownership over the emotional choices, vocabulary we use, and the physical activity choices we have, and by creating a plethora of options for ourselves, we can shift out of feeling victimized and begin to foster a sense of self-protection, groundedness, and hope that the coming days, meant to be most sacred, generous, and fulfilling, actually can be just that.

The nourishing feast: 

Oh the food! Yummy, yummy food, and lots of it! Meant to be a gleeful celebration of bounty, of course, this can instead be the source of much misery for many, whether it is days in the kitchen laboring over the perfect meringue, a tender bird, or peeling endless potatoes – worrying about eating too much and gaining weight, fearing the dish washing task, or simply feeling like crap afterwards.

Whatever the food brings up for you, we can apply a few small tweaks for aid.

--Ditch the MSG. This means no “Mr.Gravy” thickener, and no poor quality brand dressings or seasoning packets. MSG can cause severe inflammation, instigate over-eating, and provide mega-headaches. They are just no good party poopers. (Monosodium Glutamate) is known for its trouble making and is better off left out of the meal.

--Change from soda. UGH! There are so many excellent sparkly options nowadays. Corn syrup and artificial flavor/color is a holiday’s bad news. Don’t go there. Especially if you have volatile parent/kid pairs in the family, or any diabetics. This might feel like an epic change for some – but remember that we can focus on what we are adding instead of subtracting to help us all adapt and enjoy.

--ADD Lots of digestive aids! At least an hour before the main meal, take a little something each ten or twenty minutes to stoke your digestive fire. There are many options you have no excuse to avoid this essential action.
 

Ginger root, Lemon Juice, Fennel Seeds, Apple Cider Vinegar, black pepper & cinnamon chai, Turmeric root, bitters such as Dandelion root tincture, Artemisia tincture, and Goldenrod tincture can all help ready the digestion. Fermented foods as an appetizer and condiment are one of my very favorite (and delicious) ways to support digestion. Homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, or pickled vegetables are a fantastic way to support those in your family who may not be so interested in your herbal concoctions.

--Have honey available. For those who might decide to use honey instead of sugar in their coffee or tea. Yay! (Then dessert will be more relaxed)

--Ask for help!!!! Call up your inner queen and do some delegating. People who stand around waiting to do something, actually do want to help. But if they are in someone else’s kitchen, they would do well with some helpful directions. Guys who retreat to the football game are, more often than not, willing to help if you’re willing to ask.

And, last but not least, Aroma-allies.

If you’re hosting, and you usually burn Yankee or similarly scented candles consider not. These candles can contribute to migraines, nausea, mood swings, and mysterious maladies galore. They are packed with dangerous fragrance chemicals like z-estrogens that can wreak havoc.

Natural aromas in the house are inviting … cider, stuffing, garlic … these are the smells that help us feel welcome, stimulate salivation, and cultivate memories (without side effects). If you do wish for candles, try ones with natural essential oils of orange or cinnamon for a gentler ambiance. You can also choose unscented candles and use an aromatherapy diffuser with the following essential oils.

If you keep a cupboard of essential oils, you can make yourself a helpful blend.  One of my favorite for Yule time is Roman Chamomile. Wildly herbaceous & floral/fruity, this almost apple-like chamomile oil is incredibly uplifting and anti-depressant. Roman Chamomile is excellent for those who tend to feel brooding, argue beyond the point of reason, and get ‘hot headed’ or stubborn. It is also somewhat expensive – but also strong. Diluted in carrier oil at about 2-4 drops of essential oil to 1/3 ounce carrier oil, you can apply it or smell it as frequently as you like.

If you prefer something more grounded and rooty, you might find Vetiver essential oil to be helpful. It is excellent for those who abhor traveling, tend to feel nervous or insecure, or feel as though they need thicker skin. It is one of the strongest essential oils and will be plenty effective at a dilution of 1 drop in 1/3 ounce of carrier oil.

You might enjoy a trip to your local natural food store to smell an array of essential oils and determine which one makes you feel most relaxed and happy.

~~~

However you choose to support yourself this holy-day season, may it be nourishing, joyful, and bring you closer to the ones you love.

Blissful Blessings,

Ananda

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Off Label Treatments For Neuropathy

Today's article from medicalnewstoday.com (see link below) is an important one for neuropathy sufferers who are considering using such treatments as Lyrica (Pregabalin) and Qutenza (capsaicin patch). These (amongst others) are currently not approved by the American FDA for HIV-related neuropathy but are frequently prescribed 'off-label'. Basically this means you'll have to pay for them yourself but before you do, it's worth getting medical advice as to why the drugs aren't approved and whether they will be of any value to you. More and more people are turning to the internet for treatments and drugs and I'm sure you don't need warning as to how risky this can be. Always get advice from your HIV specialist or neurologist first.

Many People Not Aware Of Their Off-Label Drug Use

Article Date: 07 Aug 2012 Written by Petra Rattue

A Mayo Clinic analysis revealed that even though numerous people have heard of off-label drug use, i.e. a physician prescribing medications prior to their approval by the Food and Drug Administration, they might not be aware that it applies to prescriptions they currently take.

Researchers have now asked and answered 10 questions about off-label drug use in an article featured in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.Leading author Christopher Wittich, M.D., an internal medicine physician at the Mayo Clinic, explains:
"Since the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate the practice of medicine, off-label drug use has become very common. Health care providers and patients should educate themselves about off-label drugs to weigh the risks and benefits before a physician prescribes one or a patient takes one."

Key points of the article include:

• Off-label drug use is common practice. According to a 2006 report, around 1 in 5 prescriptions within a group of commonly used medications were for off-label use. Another study reports that 79% of children discharged from pediatric hospitals were taking at least one off-label medication.
• Patients may be unaware that the drugs they have been prescribed are being used off-label. So far, there is no court decision to ensure that physicians must disclose using off-label drugs through informed consent. The FDA points out that it does not regulate the practice of medicine and that the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 is not responsible to make physicians liable for off-label drug use.
• Off-label drug use can become the predominant treatment for a condition. For instance, some none-FDA approved antidepressants are used to treat neuropathic pain, whilst some drugs in this class are considered a first-line treatment option.
• Morphine, which is extensively used to treat pain in hospitalized pediatric patients is another example of widely practiced off-label drug use, whilst many inhaled bronchodilators, antimicrobials, anticonvulsants, and proton pump inhibitors also are used in children without formal FDA approval. Seeking FDA approval for a new medication can be costly and time-consuming, whilst adding additional indications for an already approved medication require another drug application, which, if approval is granted, may not be cost-effective, since the drug's revenue may not offset the expense and effort for obtaining approval.
• Generic medications may not have the necessary funding to conduct FDA-approval studies, which means that drug manufacturers may never seek FDA approval for a new drug indication.

Whilst it is not permitted for pharmaceutical manufacturers to promote off-label uses of medications, they are allowed to respond to unsolicited questions from health care providers and distribute peer-reviewed publications about off-label use. For instance, this year, GlaxoSmithKline agreed to pay a record $3 billion to settle a Justice Department case involving alleged off-label drug use marketing, and Merck Sharp & Dohme was fined $322 million over its alleged promotion of the painkiller Vioxx for being used off-label.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248741.php

SCIENTISTS MAKE DISEASED CELLS SYNTHESIZE THEIR OWN DRUG

In  a new study that could ultimately lead to many new medicines, scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have adapted a chemical approach to turn diseased cells into unique manufacturing sites for molecules that can treat a form of muscular dystrophy.

"We're using a cell as a reaction vessel and a disease-causing defect as a catalyst to synthesize a treatment in a diseased cell," said TSRI Professor Matthew Disney. "Because the treatment is synthesized only in diseased cells, the compounds could provide highly specific therapeutics that only act when a disease is present. This means we can potentially treat a host of conditions in a very selective and precise manner in totally unprecedented ways."

The promising research was published recently in the international chemistry journal Angewandte Chemie.

Targeting RNA Repeats

In general, small, low molecular weight compounds can pass the blood-brain barrier, while larger, higher weight compounds tend to be more potent. In the new study, however, small molecules became powerful inhibitors when they bound to targets in cells expressing an RNA defect, such as those found in myotonic dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy type 2, a relatively mild and uncommon form of the progressive muscle weakening disease, is caused by a type of RNA defect known as a "tetranucleotide repeat," in which a series of four nucleotides is repeated more times than normal in an individual's genetic code. In this case, a cytosine-cytosine-uracil-guanine (CCUG) repeat binds to the protein MBNL1, rendering it inactive and resulting in RNA splicing abnormalities that, in turn, results in the disease.

In the study, a pair of small molecule "modules" the scientists developed binds to adjacent parts of the defect in a living cell, bringing these groups close together. Under these conditions, the adjacent parts reach out to one another and, as Disney describes it, permanently hold hands. Once that connection is made, the small molecule binds tightly to the defect, potently reversing disease defects on a molecular level.

"When these compounds assemble in the cell, they are 1,000 times more potent than the small molecule itself and 100 times more potent than our most active lead compound," said Research Associate Suzanne Rzuczek, the first author of the study. "This is the first time this has been validated in live cells."

Click Chemistry Construction

The basic process used by Disney and his colleagues is known as "click chemistry" -- a process invented by Nobel laureate K. Barry Sharpless, a chemist at TSRI, to quickly produce substances by attaching small units or modules together in much the same way this occurs naturally.

"In my opinion, this is one unique and a nearly ideal application of the process Sharpless and his colleagues first developed," Disney said.

Given the predictability of the process and the nearly endless combinations, translating such an approach to cellular systems could be enormously productive, Disney said. RNAs make ideal targets because they are modular, just like the compounds for which they provide a molecular template.

Not only that, he added, but many similar RNAs cause a host of incurable diseases such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Huntington's disease and more than 20 others for which there are no known cures, making this approach a potential route to develop lead therapeutics to this large class of debilitating diseases.

HOMOEOPATHIC MOTHER TINCTURES FOR DROPSY

Dropsy  is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitium, located beneath the skin and in the cavities of the body which cause severe pain. Clinically, edema manifests as swelling; the amount of interstitial fluid is determined by the balance of fluid homeostasis, and the increased secretion of fluid into the interstitium, or the impaired removal of the fluid can cause edema.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

AEGLE  MARMELOS Q- Dropsy in any part of the body. There is swelling of the upper  eyelids. Dropsy due to heart diseases or due to beriberi. Dropsy is associated with backache and this is aggravated  in the afternoon

APOCYNUM Q- Dropsy with heart affections and menstrual troubles. Intense thirst but water disagrees in chilly patients

BOERHAAVIA DIFFUSA Q- Swelling of eyelids, legs, feet, abdomen etc. Oliguria. There is palpitation and intermittent throbbing pain in the cardiac region. Dropsy may be due to hepatic lesion , where the hepatic region is tender to touch but better by hard pressure

CALOTROPIS GIGANTEA Q - Dropsy . Frequent urination with strong smelling urine

CEPHALANDRA INDICA Q- Dropsy with large quantities of water accumulation at a time but with dry mouth. Profuse urination with weakness. There may be diabetes mellitus

CONVALLARIA MAJALIS Q- Dropsy due to sluggish action of heart, dyspnoea, palpitation, scanty urine

CYNADON DACTYLON Q- Dropsy with retention of urine. Anasarca with bilious vomiting and chronic diarrhea. Haemorrhagic symptoms are also present side by side

HYDROCOTYLE ASIATICA Q- Dropsy associated with frequent desire for urination . Urine becomes turbid on standing. There may be cardiac spasm , constriction of heart and irregular beating of heart. Pulse strong full and regular. Dropsy associated with fever , shivering in afternoon

HYGROPHILIA SPINOSA Q- Indicated for anasarca and dropsy. Dropsy associated with hepatic obstruction . Dropsy associated with symptoms of malaria. Dropsy with urticarial

LATHYRUS SATIVA  Q- Dropsy in beriberi

TERMINALIA CHEBULA Q- Dropsy associated with scanty urine. Frequent urination especially at night

VESICARIA COM. Q- Edema due to complete failure of kidneys

Red Raspberry Bliss

There are many more times the raspberry flowers and wild strawberry flowers this year than there have been. Must be the honey bees blessing!

Foot Care For Neuropathy Patients

Today's post from indypodiatry.com (see link below) is a useful list of tips to avoid foot problems with neuropathy. The lack of sensation in toes and feet; or even the excess sensation in the same areas can lead to misleading signals and all kinds of accidents and mishaps. For these reasons it's important to take care of your feet and keep an eye out for injuries you may not be feeling or noticing. It's not a comprehensive list but there are some sensible ideas here.
 

Diabetic Neuropathy: Loss of Protective Sensation
Michael J..Helms:DPM Shelley F Bowers DPM

One of the potential problems associated with diabetes is the loss of the ability to feel things in the feet. This condition results in an inability to feel pain or other stimulus. This condition is known as diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Our ability to feel pain is an important protective mechanism. Pain warns us to move our feet away from a hot register. It tells us we stepped on a piece of glass and we need to get the glass out of our foot. Pain let’s us know when we break a bone in our foot and prompts us to get treatment. Diabetics with neuropathy lack the important feedback of knowing when there is an injury to the foot. A diabetic with neuropathy can break a foot bone and not be aware of this because they do not feel the pain. The results can be devastating, including the potential loss of a foot or leg to amputation.

Steps to Avoid Serious Foot Problems

If you have diabetes and a loss of protective sensation there are steps you must take to help you avoid serious foot problems. Here is a list of important tips to help guide you:

Inspect your feet daily. Since you cannot feel when a problem is present you need to use your vision to replace your loss of sensation. Use a mirror to see the bottom of your feet. Call Drs. Helms or Bowers if you find new redness, swelling, bruising, cuts or other changes.

Always wear shoes, even around your home. The shoes will act as a protective barrier.

Change into different shoes once or twice each day. This allows for changing pressure point on the bottom of your feet and decreases the risk of developing a callus or sore on your feet. 

Make sure your shoes fit well and are not overly worn. You should be professionally fit, either in our office or at stores where the sales staff knows how to measure feet and has experience working with diabetic patients. Our office can direct you to the appropriate stores. 

Use open toe support hose. If you wear support hose prescribed by one of your doctors, make sure you use the type with open toes. This can help prevent possible irritation or the development of sores on your toes. 

Always wear special shoe inserts made by your doctor. If Dr Helms or Dr Bowers has made or dispensed special shoe inserts, be sure to always wear these in your shoes. These inserts can help prevent foot sores or foot ulcerations.

Ask Dr Helms or Dr Bowers about personal digital thermometry. This is a simple, at home tool you can use to help detect many diabetic foot problems in their early stages. Early detection will lead to treatment that might prevent foot sores, ulcerations or amputations.

Exercise on a regular basis. Studies have shown that patients with diabetic loss of protective sensation that engage in aerobic exercise have fewer amputations.
Be sure to clear this with your medical doctor before beginning a new program. Also, be sure to discuss appropriate exercise shoes and socks with Dr Helms or Dr Bowers. 

NEVER trim your own calluses or corns. Corns and calluses occur in places where there is rubbing or too much pressure. Corns and calluses need to be trimmed back on a regular basis because they can lead to diabetic foot ulcers. These should only be trimmed by your podiatrist. 

Do not have pedicures. Diabetics with loss of protective sensation should have their toenails trimmed at the podiatrists office.

http://www.indypodiatry.com/diabetic-neuropathy.php