Acne Products A Waste Of Money?

Tetracycline is the most popular conventional treatment for acne. It may be used alone or in combination with benzoyl peroxide. Food, antacids, iron supplements, and milk can interfere with the absorption of this antibiotic, so it is important to remember to take it alone. This medication must be taken for a minimum of three months, and it often needs to be continued for even longer. It will take at least two months before any improvement is noticed. Other antibiotics may also be prescribed if tetracycline is not effective. These include: trimetoprim-sulfamethoxazole, minocycline, doxycycline, and erythromycin. Antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in your bowel and can cause your teeth to turn gray. There are two dermatologist tested ways to facilitate the healing of acne, one is the use of Tretinoin, it’s a form of vitamin A, which speeds up the skin’s healing and renovation process shortening the inflammation period, thus preventing acne scars. The other treatment used by most dermatologists for acne scar prevention is the use of Aplpha-Hydroxy Acids of AHA’s and Beta-Hydroxy Acids or BHA’s. These help the skins remodeling process, with the right concentration and proper application; these can also prevent acne scars. The most common form of acne is known as “acne vulgaris”, which means common acne. Excessive secretion of oils from the glands combines with naturally occurring dead skin cells to block the hair follicles. Oil secretions build up beneath the blocked pore, providing a perfect environment for the skin bacteria Propioni bacterium acne to multiply uncontrolled. In response, the skin inflames, producing the visible lesion. The face, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms are especially affected. The typical acne lesions are comedones,papules, pustules, nodules and inflammatory cysts. These are the more inflamed forms of pus-filled or reddish bumps, even boil-like tender swellings. Non-inflamed ’sebaceous cysts’, more properly called epidermoid cysts, occur either in association with acne or alone but are not a constant feature. Many acne medicines are quite explicit about the fact that you should not use them during pregnancy. Roaccutane and Accutaneare certainly are among these. There are other medicines, such as Tetracycline tablets and topical retinoids such as Tretinoin and Adapalene which can have detrimental effects on the bones and teeth of developing fetuses. While these medicines should clearly be avoided because of the detrimental effects they have on your baby, there are other medicines which should potentially be stopped simply because they are no longer appropriate when pregnant. Contrary to facial acne, back acne is not generally acquired via heredity. No definite cause for back acne has been proven to date, but, just to be on the safe side, try to avoid using irritating detergents and fabric softeners with your clothes, maintain a healthy diet and keep yourself clean and feeling fresh always. Remember: back acne does not choose its target. Young or old, male or female, Black, White or Asian, no one is spared from the havoc back acne is bound to spread. It’s best to be cautious than sorry. Some acne myths include “you’ll outgrow it, so leave it alone”, “being out in the sun helps acne”, “acne problems are directly or indirectly proportionate to sexual activity”, “acne visits dirty people”, “acne is contagious”, and too many more to list in this short article. The sad thing is that belief in the myths can be devastating, in that proper treatment is avoided, and lifestyle changes that don’t need to be made can take away pleasure unnecessarily.

Sarah Rhodes suffered from severe acne for many years before finally discovering a cure that works. Read about Sarah and the secret that permanently cured her acne at: <a href="http://acnehomesolution.com">acnehomesolution.com</a>

The Diabetic Food Pyramid

There is a Food Pyramid that was created especially for diabetics who need help managing their eating plans in order to keep their blood glucose levels low. There are six different groups on the diabetic food pyramid, which each vary considerably in size. The largest group on the diabetic food pyramid is the grains, starchy vegetables and beans group, and is located on the very bottom of the pyramid. The smallest group is the fats, alcohol and sweets group, and is located at the top of the pyramid. The larger, lower groups require more servings per day, and the smaller, higher groups require significantly less. You should eat as very little from the fats, alcohol and sweets group as you possible can, as the foods that fit into that category are poor choices for a healthy eating plan. The former Food Guide Pyramid was replaced in April of 2005, providing a new set of tools that is called My Pyramid, and is based on caloric requirements instead. In order to follow the minimum amount of servings for every group in the diabetic food pyramid, you would be eating approximately 1600 calories per day. At the upper end of the food pyramids caloric range, expect to eat around 2800 calories. Generally it is women who eat on the lower end of the range, with men eating on the middle to high end of the range, depending on their activity level. The number of servings that you need can vary, but generally depends on your personal goals with diabetes, in addition to nutritional and caloric needs, the type of lifestyle that you live, and what foods you actually enjoy eating. You can divide the number of necessary servings among all the various snacks and meals that you consume daily. The diabetic food pyramid is different from the Food Guide Pyramid put out by the USDA in that it groups foods based on the levels of carbohydrates and proteins, rather than by food classification. Portion sizes also tend to be different, in order to have similar carbohydrate content for each individual serving. Examples of this are cheese, which can be found in the meat group rather than in its typical home in dairy, and potatoes can be found in the starchy foods group rather than with the rest of the vegetables. These differences have been created in order to make the carbohydrate levels approximately equal between each food group.

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Feeling Depressed And Ugly? – Wear a Sexy Dress And Lift Your Spirits Immediately!

It is a well known fact that most women when they feel down whether they are feeling depressed and ugly or whether they are just a bit out of touch with what’s happening to them they all love to go shopping or have their hair done. This is true of all women, because shopping lifts their spirits, they get something nice and pleasing to do and that lifts their spirits immediately. So if they were to go shopping when feeling in this mood and bought themselves one of those sexy Laundry by Shelli Segal Dresses it would most certainly make them feel on top of the world taking them out of that depressed feeling and making them feel like a million dollars.

Wearing a Laundry by Shelli Segal Dress would certainly make any woman feel that she is beautiful, because the sheer material and color of the dress would be so comforting that she would certainly get out of that horrid mood and get right back into the swing of things, and back to her normal self again. On second thought even if she did not actually buy the dress but tried it on and had a look at herself in the mirror that would probably have been enough to lift her spirits.

Any sexy dress would gladden the heart of any woman whether old, young, or middle-aged, it does not matter, because these dresses were designed with women in mind, women of all ages, sizes and heights and this includes the busty women and those that tend to sway along the robust sizes. With the wide selection of styles that are available for you to choose from there is sure to be a dress that you will fall in love with and just must have, because it is perfect in every way for you.

So whenever you feel that depressed ugly feeling creeping up on you don’t fuss, just jump in your car and head on down to the nearest dress shop in your neighborhood and give yourself a treat by trying on a variety of beautiful dresses and if you feel you can afford it, by all means go ahead pamper yourself and get the one that suits your fancy. If there are no Laundry by dress stores near you not to worry just get on your computer and start shopping on the internet, for there are certainly tons of online stores for you to visit at your leisure, soon you will discover that you have chased away that depressed ugly feeling with all those happy ones.

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Symptoms Of Depression – 3 Things To Look For Before You See Your Doctor

Depression has become recognized as a potentially dangerous disease by doctors in the past several years. Unfortunately, it hasn’t always been this way. People used to be labeled as hypocondriacs, whiners, lazy, ect. You get the picture.

However, there are now many famous people that have come forward and shared their disability with others. People like former NFL and Hall of Fame Quarterback, Terry Bradshaw, Actress Linda Hamilton, of ” The Terminator” and “Beauty and the Beast” fame, came forward a few years back and stated that she too suffered from depression.

The average person could have depressive symptoms and not be aware that they could have a very real problem. Many people are in denial that they could have anything like that happen to them. Some of us tend to have a “super hero” mentallity, where admitting that we could have a problem such as depression might make us (God forbid!) human.

Here are three signs that you could be suffering from symptoms of depression.

#1. You feel crummy, don’t know why, and it lasts at least two weeks.

I’m talking about lack of energy, sadness, possible crying episodes, ect. You’ve either never, felt this way or at least not for this long. You could be moody, have a lack of enthusiasm, loss of interest in things that you normally like to do, ect. Maybe your wife, kids, co-workers, relatives or friends notice that something is wrong with you. You could also have a loss of sex drive.

#2. You have thoughts of hurting yourself or others.

This is pretty self explanetory. If you feel that you’re a “normal” guy or gal and you are all of the sudden having feelings of harming yourself or others, then it’s time to seek professional help.

This is potentially a symptom of what’s know as Bipolar Disorder or more commonly known as Manic Depression. Many manic depressives will resort to self mutilation as a way of crying for help. Razor cuts on the arms are quite common. I know that this doesn’t paint a pretty picture. As I stated before, depression is a potentially serious disease.

If you or anyone you know suffers from symptoms like this, please seek medical help right away.

#3. You want to isolate yourself from others.

Everyone needs privacy at times, but I’m talking about when you just don’t want to be around others for any length of time. Perhaps you’re having symptoms of anxiety, such as heart racing, chest pains, sweaty palms, rapid breathing, ect.

Anxiety and depression can go hand in hand. There are many individuals taking medication for both symptoms at the same time.

Summary

Depression is nothing that you have to be ashamed of. It’s quite common and there’s a very good chance that your doctor can prescribe some form of medication that can help to curb your depression and/or anxiety symptoms.

So if you’ve been feeling down for more that two weeks, get yourself in to see your doctor and get yourself back on track!

Joe Stevens is a Webmaster and a disabled veteran that writes articles about topics that are of interest to him or affect him. You can read more helpful articles like this by going now to <a target="_new" href="http://www.ArticlesAboutDepression.org">http://www.ArticlesAboutDepression.org</a> or <a href="http://www.articlesaboutdepression.org/">self help for anxiety and depression</a>

Depression Treatments

Depression is a mental disorder that affects a person’s moods. It affects millions of people around the world. People with depression may feel sad, angry, irritable, tired, confused, guilty, hopeless or worthless. When a person is diagnosed with depression, it’s bad news for himself and his family. It’s painful for the person and can also be difficult for the person’s family. Depression if left untreated could get worse. It will affect a person’s ability to function in daily life and work. Worst still, depression even may lead a person to suicide.

A serious disease depression may be, it is treatable. Proper treatment can help people with depression get back to normal daily activities.

Main treatments for depression are antidepressants and psychotherapy. Antidepressants are medicines that help to relieve depression so that a person suffering from depression can function more normally. There are mainly four types of antidepressants:

1. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) — Celexa (citalopram), Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), Luvox (fluvoxamine), Paxil (paroxetine), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline). These antidepressants help the brain absorb the chemical serotonin.
2. Tricyclics antidepressants (TCAs) – Adapin (doxepin), Anafranil,(clomipramine), Elavil (amitriptyline), Endep (amitriptyline), Ludiomil (maprotiline), Norpramin (desipramine), Pamelor (nortryptyline), Pertofrane (desipramine), Sinequan (doxepin), Surmontil (trimipramine), Tofranil (imipramine), Vivactil (protriptyline)
3. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) – Nardil (phenelzine), Parnate (tranylcypromine)
4. Serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) – venlafaxine (tradenames Effexor XR®, Efexor®), nefazodone (tradename Serzone®), milnacipran (tradename Dalcipran®/ Portugal; Ixel®/ France), desipramine (tradenames Norpramine®, Pertofraneis®), duloxetine (tradename Cymbalta®)

In the market, there are also antidepressants that don’t fall in the above categories available such as buproprion (Wellbutrin), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), venlafaxine (Effexor), and mirtazapine (Remeron).

Certain antidepressants cause side effects. In most cases, side effect disappears once a person’s body has adjusted to the medicines. Sometimes people on antidepressants may feel worse before feeling better. It takes time for depression medication to work correctly.

Besides taking medications, psychotherapy or talk therapy can be also of help to depressed individuals. It includes short-term therapy sessions, usually from ten to twenty weeks. Positive results for the depression patients will generally be showing up after one or more sessions of psychotherapy. This type of depression treatment actually helps the individuals by slowly making them open up about their feelings, the root of their problems, most important of all, the root of their depression. Healthy verbal exchanges between the cognitive behavior therapist and the depression patient is great depression treatment that’ll positively affect the depression patients by helping them discuss and talk about whatever they’ve been keeping inside.

Even though either medication or psychotherapy works independently all by itself, many experts feel combination of both medication and psychotherapy can work more effectively to help depressed individuals overcome depression and become mentally healthy.

Forest Sun is a healthy lifestyle enthusiast and advocate. His website at http://managedepressionnow.com/ offers information on depression and how you can manage depression successfully.

An Essential Depression Self Help Secret

Depression self help is absolutely essential to being free of depression. Even if you’re taking antidepressants or are getting psychiatric care or therapy, if you don’t practice self help, you won’t enjoy the full recovery you deserve.

Here’s a depression self help secret you can use to make depression a part of your past, not your future:

One of the fastest ways to get yourself into a state of anxiety or depression is to get lost in what I call the Valley of Overwhelmed. The Valley of Overwhelmed is also a place of stress and a place where confidence and self esteem have a tendency to disappear. The combination of stress and lack of confidence and low self esteem is a sure recipe for depression.

I spent over twenty years dealing with recurring severe depression and anxiety, and I always thought that when depression or anxiety hit me, it came out of nowhere. I was wrong.

I’ve since learned that depression, even what’s known as clinical depression and even bipolar depression, and all forms of anxiety start with a thought. Yes, a thought.

Knowing this secret is the most important depression self help information in the world! In fact, I believe depression self help and other depression treatments will fail you if you don’t know and act on this secret.

Now, before you get all excited, know that I’m not saying that these conditions aren’t chemical. Because they are.

But that chemical reaction in your body doesn’t come out of nowhere. It starts with a thought.

You do know that your mind and your body are connected, right?

Of course you do.

So here’s how the Valley of Overwhelmed triggers depression.

When you have many problems or you have a lot to do or you have a lot to learn, it’s easy to start feeling like it’s too much. You have too much to do, too much not to do, too much to remember, too much to take on. The feeling that you can’t handle what you need to handle is an incredibly paralyzing feeling.

It creates a thought of “Why bother? It’s too much.” Or “It’s too scary.” It’s these thoughts that then trigger depression and anxiety.

So what can you do?

Here’s the depression self help steps to healing that you must know:

First, make a decision. Commit to doing one thing to move yourself forward.

Second, take action. Do that one thing.

Third, keep your focus on your outcome, what you expect to have happen. Be clear about what you know you get to have.

Staying focused on your outcome and staying in action can keep you out of the Land of Overwhelmed. And staying out of the Land of Overwhelmed is the best depression self help you can give yourself.

Find out how to turn your problems into power. Get a free report on how to create outstanding results in your life at http://www.miseryslayer.com Ande Waggener, J.D., is an author and a motivational speaker who shows people how to remove misery from their lives.

An Essential Depression Self Help Secret

Depression self help is absolutely essential to being free of depression. Even if you’re taking antidepressants or are getting psychiatric care or therapy, if you don’t practice self help, you won’t enjoy the full recovery you deserve.

Here’s a depression self help secret you can use to make depression a part of your past, not your future:

One of the fastest ways to get yourself into a state of anxiety or depression is to get lost in what I call the Valley of Overwhelmed. The Valley of Overwhelmed is also a place of stress and a place where confidence and self esteem have a tendency to disappear. The combination of stress and lack of confidence and low self esteem is a sure recipe for depression.

I spent over twenty years dealing with recurring severe depression and anxiety, and I always thought that when depression or anxiety hit me, it came out of nowhere. I was wrong.

I’ve since learned that depression, even what’s known as clinical depression and even bipolar depression, and all forms of anxiety start with a thought. Yes, a thought.

Knowing this secret is the most important depression self help information in the world! In fact, I believe depression self help and other depression treatments will fail you if you don’t know and act on this secret.

Now, before you get all excited, know that I’m not saying that these conditions aren’t chemical. Because they are.

But that chemical reaction in your body doesn’t come out of nowhere. It starts with a thought.

You do know that your mind and your body are connected, right?

Of course you do.

So here’s how the Valley of Overwhelmed triggers depression.

When you have many problems or you have a lot to do or you have a lot to learn, it’s easy to start feeling like it’s too much. You have too much to do, too much not to do, too much to remember, too much to take on. The feeling that you can’t handle what you need to handle is an incredibly paralyzing feeling.

It creates a thought of “Why bother? It’s too much.” Or “It’s too scary.” It’s these thoughts that then trigger depression and anxiety.

So what can you do?

Here’s the depression self help steps to healing that you must know:

First, make a decision. Commit to doing one thing to move yourself forward.

Second, take action. Do that one thing.

Third, keep your focus on your outcome, what you expect to have happen. Be clear about what you know you get to have.

Staying focused on your outcome and staying in action can keep you out of the Land of Overwhelmed. And staying out of the Land of Overwhelmed is the best depression self help you can give yourself.

Find out how to turn your problems into power. Get a free report on how to create outstanding results in your life at http://www.miseryslayer.com Ande Waggener, J.D., is an author and a motivational speaker who shows people how to remove misery from their lives.

Neuroliminal Training – New Hope for Depression

Neuroliminal Training – New inexpensive training does the same thing that EEG Biofeedback (AKA Neurofeedback) does, but at a fraction of the cost! How does Neuroliminal Training work? Instead of using a lot of expensive equipment and “doctor time” to solve various “brain problems” such as ADD, ADHD, depression, insomnia, etc, Neuroliminal Training does it with “sleep therapy”, a new approach using subliminal messaging. (Subliminal messaging is not new, but this usage is, and a provisional patent has been issued to Dr Bate.) This is usually done with an audio CD played while you sleep. Neurofeedback or EEG Biofeedback has been proved to be the very best method of training for over 30 years, but the costs involved have prohibited all but the high income families. At prices ranging from $75-$250 PER HALF HOUR session, and 40-60 of these sessions required, the cost is very high. Compare this to a total of $97 for ADD/ADHD Neuroliminal Training. To understand a bit better, realize that Neurofeedback/EEG Biofeedback works by simply measuring brain waves, and using these measurements (biofeedback) to consciously encourage the unconscious mind to gradually make these desired amplitudes change permanently over a relatively long time. Because this is a sort of “brainwashing”, it takes a long time to be effective. How long is, of course, relative to each individual. Of course, no one KNOWS exactly why increasing the SMR brain wave works so well for Various “brain problems”, including depression. One theory (mine) is that increasing the SMR brain wave somehow changes the affect on the brain of various allergens. It is well known in the Orthomolecular and Alternate Health fields that allergies and/or sensitivities can cause all of the “mental” problems known, including Depression. In my former practice, I saw many depression cases that were traced to allergens. The other major causes were metal toxicity, and/or diet deficiencies. However, most cases are traceable to allergens! So, the best way to solve any of the various “brain problem” symptoms of various individuals has come to a very simple “training”. (The FDA does not allow EEG BF clinicians to use the word “cure”, so the word “training” is usually used.) Raise SMR and lower Theta – that’s the simple basic solution that most EEG Biofeedback therapists use today to solve almost all “brain problem”. (EEG Clinicians don’t want you, the public, to know how very simple this all is, or you might balk at paying those huge prices.) In my former practice as an Orthomolecular Psychologist, I used behavior modification with subliminal messaging audio tapes with great success for all types of behavior problems. I found that it was very effective for “flashers”, and other sexual problems, ego and self-confidence problems, various phobias and compulsions. (I also found that many, if not most, of the “commercial” tapes on the market were not very effective.) In April 2004, I suddenly realized that by a modification of subliminal messaging, it would be possible to change amplitudes of brain waves. I made up an audio program to simply change the SMR brain wave, and had about 40 volunteers test it. Among these were 3 ADHD boys that had previously used EEG Biofeedback with no success. Those also failed to improve using this initial Neuroliminal approach, and this skewed the results. However, the overall results of 23 persons showed the following: 1. Most improved, some dramatically. Those with Depression solved the problem. (In one case, a very depressed woman solved her depression, and held up after being diagnosed with breast cancer – a highly successful case indeed. 2. Many reported other known allergies/sensitivities solved or greatly improved, thus showing that my allergen theory is probably correct. 3. There is a strange force that seems to inhibit and even frighten persons using Neuroliminal. With a little research, it was found that this is known as the “Hawthorne Effect”. It is known in teaching and training. It seems to be an unconscious effort to “protect” the mind from “unknown” dangers. 4. The 3 “failures” also provided further confirmation that Neuroliminal Training is analogous to EEG Biofeedback or Neurofeedback Training. Later, in 2004, this test was repeated, and better results were obtained. Every one was briefed on the Hawthorne Effect, and those who experienced it, simply worked thru it. In 2005, a new audio was designed that raised the SMR brain wave, AND lowered the Theta brain wave. Volunteers paid $100 to participate in this test to encourage them to send in weekly reports for 8 weeks. 23 volunteers sent in regular reports. A few (with depression and/or insomnia) did not complete the entire 8 weeks, as they felt that their problems were solved in 4-5 weeks. Of this group the results showed: 1. All of the persons reporting improved, or solved their problems – mostly ADD/ADHD. Two with autistic children reported good improvement, and were going to continue training indefinitely. Only 1 person (who actually reported improvement) requested the $100 returned along with one other who claimed no improvement (in ADD/ADHD child). 2. Many reported Hawthorne Effect, but worked thru it fairly easily. 3. Most of the improvement came after the fourth – fifth week. (Is this another form of the Hawthorne Effect? The Hawthorne Effect is a major reason why Neuroliminal Training is so safe. Our unconscious mind is always protecting us!) 4. The results were comparable to those obtained with Neurofeedback/EEG biofeedback, if not a bit better. One case study with daily results reported is virtually a “classic” for similar results for neurofeedback or EEG biofeedback. 5. One night’s Neuroliminal training is roughly comparable to one EEG Biofeedback session. It seems that Neuroliminal may take slightly longer in nights vs. sessions, but this may be due to the first 4-5 week “slowdown”. Drawbacks of Neurofeedback (EEG Biofeedback) Training: 1. Neurofeedback/EEG Biofeedback usually requires a relatively longer time than Neuroliminal Training to train out “brain problem” symptoms. This is because the “usual” is one or two sessions per week instead of one per night. 2. Motivation is a major factor in success. The child MUST be motivated to continue this very boring job, and the parents MUST be motivated to continue spending lots of money. 3. Cost is high, even in the low price ranges. A minimum of 40 sessions at $75 per session amounts to $3000. In the higher ranges 60 sessions at $150 per session amounts to over $9000. Add in the hidden costs of testing, commuting, lost time, etc, and the costs of Neurofeedback are prohibitive to the majority of US families. Compare to total of $57 to $147 for Neuroliminal Training – a no-brainer to be sure! Drawbacks of Neuroliminal Training: 1. Like Neurofeedback., Neuroliminal Training takes a long time to change brain waves. (However, there is no safe “quick fix in most cases. Drugs are dangerous, and don’t “cure” the problem. Allergy testing and cure is often very expensive (many allergists aren’t even aware that Depression is most often an allergen problem). Add to that the possibility of metal toxicity. 2. Some people are afraid of subliminal messaging as “brainwashing. They are unaware that the unconscious mind is always protective, and that no harm can come.. 3. The Hawthorne Effect may scare off some if not sufficiently warned beforehand. Conclusion: Neuroliminal Training is a viable substitute that low and mid income families can afford. Neuroliminal is analogous to Neurofeedback in effect, and affordable in cost. Phil Bate PhD – Retired Orthomolecular Psychologist inventor of (Patent Pending) Neuroliminal Training http://DrBate.com

Phil Bate PhD – Retired Orthomolecular Psychologist
inventor of (Patent Pending) Neuroliminal Training
http://DrBate.com

There is Hope for Post Partum Depression: BodyTalk!

Sara is a happy mother with a new baby. She was able to have a natural childbirth, at home with a midwife assisting. With no anesthesia dulling her experience she was able to fully bond with her little girl right away. She recovered quickly from her birth, and was able to delight in her precious addition to the family. Her first childbirth was a vastly different story, however. She had been induced into labor with drugs by her physician. The labor had been long and arduous and she had lost a lot of blood.

She was tired for a long time. But the worst aspect was that she was not happy with being a mother. It took a year before she could really say she loved her new baby. She never told anyone how she felt, however, she just felt like a bad mother. It wasnot until she had a healthy delivery that she realized that you could love your baby instantly. Then she could talk about her experience with her first child.

Many mothers feel inexplicably “down” after birth. This feeling can manifest as lethargy, moderate depression, or even the feeling that their life is ruined – or worse. Post partum depression (PPD) affects many mothers to varying degrees, but is greatly under-reported by many physicians as it is poorly understood in allopathic medicine. Too often, it is “treated” with a “pep talk.” But to a mother who is suffering from PPD it is very real: symptoms can range from nagging guilt over not feeling strong enough to be the mother they want to be in mild cases to severe depression including suicidal thoughts, disturbing dreams, and even thoughts of harming or killing their newborn babies in the most severe cases.

My training and experience in acupuncture and osteopathic medicine has led me to understand that PPD has understandable and treatable causes. In most cases, PPD is strongly linked to a stressful childbirth. To fully address PPD, you should start with proper prenatal care designed to prepare the mother for a healthy, quick labor. And then follow up with therapy that can effectively help the mother recover from the labor and birthing process.

One of the differences between Saras first childbirth experience and subsequent PPD and her recent uplifting childbirth is that she came to see me while she was pregnant. Her first visit was at about seven months. She was experiencing back pain, tidal fevers, night sweats and was showing some signs of gestational diabetes. After one session using the The BodyTalk System(tm) her all of her symptoms disappeared and she was sleeping restfully at night.

A follow up BodyTalk session two weeks before her delivery addressed mobility of the pelvic joints as well as synchronization and balancing of blood and nerve supply to the muscles of the uterus. Sara reported that her experience of her contractions was very different from her first birth. She described them as very productive, efficiently moving the baby into position for final stage labor and effecting cervical dilation. The entire labor was about three hours from start to finish.

Saras most recent birth is of course exemplifies the best goal in addressing PPD: take steps to maximize the chances for a healthy birth process, and hence avoiding the need for postnatal therapy for PPD. But even in the best of circumstances and preparation, complications can develop resulting in an inability of the mother to recover quickly from the birth. Fortunately, effective in post-natal care is available to address PPD in these cases.

I have found in my practice that the best way to address prenatal and postnatal care is by using The BodyTalk System(tm). BodyTalk is a system of health care founded on the observation that the body is complex system of interacting parts and functions that must work together to produce health. In order to work together, all the various parts of the body must be in communication with each other. BodyTalk focuses on restoring communication in the bodymind using light hand contacts and a gentle tapping technique.

It is gentle, non-invasive, safe and yet extraordinarily effective. The communication “links” that are necessary to restore health in a particular client are discovered by following the innate wisdom of the clients body by using a comprehensive protocol of questions and neuromuscular biofeedback in the form of light muscle testing. In my practice, I have virtually stopped using acupuncture and manipulative therapies, and yet my results are faster and longer lasting in all types of cases, from musculo-skeletal disorders to internal medicine issues to disorders that are considered more psychological in nature.

Before I can discuss how BodyTalk applies to PPD, I need to briefly present some of the major causes of PPD. Although there can be many causes, I will focus on just two major factors that account for a great deal of PPD as away to illustrate that help is possible and how BodyTalk can apply. The two main causes of PPD that I see in my practice are blood deficiency and distortions or fixations in the cranial-sacral system. Blood deficiency is a major cause of depression in traditional Chinese medicine. This term is broader in scope than the western concept of anemia. It includes anemia, but it also covers deficiencies of other blood constituents and nutrients as well as deficient blood volume. Osteopathic research has traced an extremely strong correlation between compression and fixation/or of several key joints in the axial spine and depression.

Some blood deficiency is to be expected even after a healthy childbirth, but a difficult or prolonged labor will often result in severe depletion. Symptoms of blood deficiency include weakness, fatigue, lethargy, low immune function, general debility, lack of motivation and/or depression, visual disturbances including hallucinations, poor sleep and very often disturbing dreams of a violent nature.

Obviously, if a mother is suffering from even just a few of the above symptoms caring for a newborn is going to seem more overwhelming and burdensome than joyful. Factors that contribute to blood deficiency are poor balance of electrolytes and other blood factors that control how much of the water in the body is held in the blood vessels rather than in the tissues. The ability of the digestive system to work effectively to digest food and assimilate nutrients is obviously a major factor in the ability to rebuild the blood and hence strength. And inability of the endocrine system to properly adjust to the new needs of a nursing mother after the extreme hormone swing during pregnancy is another major factor.

All of these causes of blood deficiency are the kinds of issues that BodyTalk works very well with: helping to restore communication within the body to restore adaptability and recovery. And the best thing is that a BodyTalk practitioner does not have to be able to diagnose which of the synchronization issues are relevant in order to offer help: they can just ask the innate wisdom of the body using the BodyTalk protocol. For example, the first day of BodyTalk training covers a procedure that addresses balancing water distribution in the body by combining a series of hand contacts over various areas of the brain with gentle tapping to stimulate the nervous system to address all of the many aspects of the this complex and delicate balance.

In birth, a womans pelvis goes through quite a dramatic distortion to allow for the passage of the baby through the birth canal. During pregnancy a hormone is produced to relax the ligaments that connect the pubic bones in the front as well as the joints between the sacrum and the hip bones in the back. This allows the pubic bones to spread apart and also allows the sacrum to tilt back and away. This allows a significant widening of the space available for the babys passage.

Ideally, the bones return to their natural position within a few days after birth. When this doesnot happen, the resulting distortion of the pelvis causes compression of the lumbo-sacral joint and produces too much curvature in the low back, producing back pain. The stress of living with back pain (that was supposed to go away once the baby was born!) is hard enough. Osteopathic research has also shown that compression of the lumbosacral joint often leads to depression.

Unfortunately, the effects of pelvic distortion are not limited to low back pain. There is a complex mirroring of movement between the pelvic bones and certain bones in the cranium. This correspondence is part of both the natural movements of respiration as well as the symphony of coordinated upper body and lower body movements that happen when we walk. So when the ability of the pelvic bones to maintain proper alignment and flexibility is compromised, this will produce restrictions in the cranial bones.

Symptoms of the resulting cranial restrictions include restricted breathing, low vitality, headache, sinus infections, visual disturbances, TMJ, poor digestion, poor ability of the hypothalamus to moderate acidity in the digestive tract, poor endocrine regulation, mental fogginess, and depression. So lets imagine what that would mean: your back still hurts so it hurts to pick and carry your baby. Your digestion isnot very good, you get headaches, you feel hormonal swings all the time, you are tired all the time, and you canot think straight. And your baby still needs you 24/7. I am depressed just thinking about it.

The good news is that BodyTalk is superb at addressing just these kinds of musculo-skeletal distortions. The understanding of the importance of these reciprocal relationships between the various parts of the body that need to coordinate to allow smooth breathing and balance of the postural muscles in standing and walking is very strongly integrated into the BodyTalk system. As a case in point, just last week I had a woman referred to me who was 7 weeks pregnant.

This was to be her second child. It turned on that her sacrum had been stuck back ever since the first birth six years ago. She had low back pain all the time, her breathing was restricted, she had lots of sinus trouble, and she had stomach ulcers. While she was lying face up on my treatment table I could slide my hand completely under her low back due to the exaggerated arch in her lumbar spine. During her session, BodyTalk addressed restrictions in the sacrum, restrictions in a key joint the cranium, and balancing the relationships between key pelvic and cranial bones.

By the end of the session, her back was flat on the table, the back pain was gone, her breathing had freed up tremendously, and her stomach pain was almost gone. Needless to say, she was pretty excited about the changes after six years of living with these issues. Ideally, these problems could have been addressed right after he first birth, but better late than never and she is certainly in a better place for a healthy pregnancy with her second child.

There are other factors that can affect PPD, of course. But I hope this brief article has presented that case that the causes are understandable and treatable. And that this help can be fast and gentle when the therapy of choice is BodyTalk. Having a baby should be a magical experience. I deal with a broad range of health issues in my practice, and yet it is hard to think of any branch of my practice that is as rewarding as my work with mothers in prenatal and postnatal care. Except of course, working with babies.

<a href="http://www.thebodytalkcenter.com">Dr. Pilipovich</a> is an acupuncture physician and licensed massage therapist in Hawaii. He also a Senior Certified BodyTalk Instructor, and is on the faculty of the Traditional Chinese Medicine College of Hawaii. He lectures internationally on health care. For more information about <a href="http://www.thebodytalkcenter.com">BodyTalk</a>, visit http://www.thebodytalkcenter.com .

Mesothelioma Specialists

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos. Choosing a doctor with an established reputation in treating Mesothelioma can make all the difference in your treatment experience.

A mesothelioma diagnosis is a very serious matter and understanding your treatment options is very important. That is why consulting with your primary care physician is an essential first step in finding what mesothelioma treatments are available and which one is right for you. Your doctor will provide you with the latest mesothelioma treatments available in your area if possible. However, if there are no treatments for mesothelioma in your area then your doctor or oncologist may refer you to mesothelioma specialists in the surrounding states.

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health.

Treatments available for Mesothelioma include:

Surgery
A procedure to remove or repair a part of the body or to find out whether disease is present. The objective is to remove the body tissue with the most cancerous cells possible. In some cases, it is impossible to remove all of the tissue infected with cancer if the cancer has spread to several organs. In such cases, surgery can only be used to relieve pain and suffering.

Pneumonectomy
This is an aggressive type of surgery in which a lung is removed. There are two types of this procedure, which are Traditional Pneumonectomy and Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. Traditional pneumonectomy involves removing only the disease lung. Extrapleural Pneumonectomy, involves removal of the diseased lung, along with part of the pericardium, part of the diaphragm and the parietal pleura on the same side of the chest.

A Pneumonectomy removes half the breathing capacity of a cancer patient and because of this, surgeons usually opt for a less-invasive procedure if possible. However, a pneumonectomy is probably the best option when a tumor is located in the middle of the lung and involves a significant portion of the pulmonary artery or veins.

Gene Therapy
Genes are the biological units of heredity. Genes determine obvious traits, such as hair and eye color, as well as more subtle characteristics, such as the ability of the blood to carry oxygen. Complex traits, such as physical strength, may be shaped by the interaction of a number of different genes along with environmental influences.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is treatment that uses certain parts of the immune system to fight disease, including cancer. This can include stimulating your own immune system to work harder, or using an outside source, such as man made immune system proteins.

Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (also called PDT, photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, or photochemotherapy) is a treatment for some types of cancer. It is based on the discovery that certain chemicals known as photosensitizing agents can kill one-celled organisms when the organisms are exposed to a particular type of light. PDT destroys cancer cells through the use of a fixed-frequency laser light in combination with a photosensitizing agent.

These treatments are sometimes combined. Currently, there are many clinical trials being conducted through the United States. A clinical trial is a research study that involves people and is designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. These clinical trials are conducted by doctors in order to find out if a particular treatment is effective against the disease and safe for patients before it is recommended for general use. Participation in clinical trials is a very important option to consider for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

For information on available mesothelioma treatments and specialists in your area, please visit the Mesothelioma Information Resource Group.

Luis Montalvo<br>
<a href="http://www.coadylaw.com">Coady Law Firm</a>