It is your emotional and mental processes that allow you to decide how you prepare for the announcement of the surprise. If you believe it to be a good surprise, you will be relaxed and ready to be in receipt of the news.

If, on the other hand, you believe that the surprise will be upsetting, you begin to tense your body, readying for fight or flight. This process, based upon the mental and emotional process is known as ‘bracing’ for the worst.

Mentally you believe that you control the affects of the surprise on your health and wellness sounds reasonable, however it is not representative of the entire situation. Stress, whether positive or negative, will cause the same chemical body responses.

The positive state of mind may help to keep the body’s defences up and fight off illness while the stress is at hand. A negative state of mind often leads to the downfall of the body’s protecting itself.

Maybe there is more to keeping a positive attitude than once thought. Surprise honey, needs to be greeted with positive thoughts not bracing with the expectation that the worst is about to occur.

Think about how you would handle this situation:

Your aunt has just landed on your doorstep, flew in from California and wanted to surprise you. The first thought would be ‘oh my, I didn’t have time to prepare, now what do I do?’ Second, the sense of panic may well set in; meanwhile you are greeting your unexpected visitor with warmth and thanking her for the lovely surprise visit.

If this is your favourite aunt and you can prevent yourself from feeling pressured then you will find that your mental and emotional attitudes will help to counteract the ill affects of stress.

You may not be so lucky; this may be the aunt that you try to avoid, personality conflict being the nicest way to put it. The greeting will be difficult, you will be guarded wondering why she has shown up and what in the devil could she possibly want.

The person who is faced with this situation is most likely to find that illness occurs soon after the arrival of their aunt or after the individual leaves. Without the positive emotions and thoughts surrounding the acceptance of the surprise health and wellness can be compromised.

The next time that you hear “Have I got a surprise for you!” remember how you react may impact your health.

Organic produce and fiber contributes to the radiant health of adults, children, animals, plants and our earth. By selecting organic, we are part of the sustainable life cycle. This sustainability ensures our health, the health of future generations and the health of the environment as a whole. Organic farming nourishes the soil, the harvest and our bodies. Supporting the organic community strengthens the network of local biodynamic farmers, natural food stores and organic consumers.

Organic produce is high in phytonutrients, antioxidants and flavor. Fresh organic vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, are rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and various other important bionutrients. This produce is also high in antioxidants. Antioxidants are powerful compounds that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals oxidize and damage our cells, causing us to age and contributing to many diseases. Eating organic food enlivens our bodies and minds with vitality and can help prevent illnesses. If all the healthy benefits of nature’s design weren’t enough, the incredible taste of organic produce will convince even the least health-conscious food lover.

Conventional produce is most often grown using dangerous chemical pesticides. A 1999 study by Environmental Working Group found that millions of children eating non-organic fruits and vegetables were ingesting dangerous amounts of a variety of pesticides, neurotoxins and carcinogens. Pesticides are poisons designed to kill living organisms. These toxic chemicals effectively exterminate insects and plant diseases; they are also extremely harmful to the plants, animals and humans — especially young children.

These toxic pesticides damage the soil and contaminate ground water, polluting the primary source of drinking water for more than half this country’s population. Most directly affected by these poisons are the farm workers, who are repeatedly exposed to high levels of the chemicals. It is estimated that pesticides poison one million farm workers annually.

Conventional agriculture produces meat and animal products that are often unsafe and unhealthy. Cattle and poultry are often raised on contaminated feed; injected with antibiotics and hormones; live in compromising conditions; and are finally butchered in filthy slaughterhouses. The antibiotics, drugs and hormones used in these practices offset the human body’s natural balance and may cause serious problems. The use of these toxic substances is creating dangerous, “resistant,” pathogens, which are infecting the people who eat these animal products.

Food poisoning is another area of concern for people who consume non-organic animal products. The Centers for Disease Control reports that most non-organic beef cattle are contaminated with E-Coli 0157:H7. Over 90 percent of non-organic chickens are tainted with campylobacter. While 30 percent of all non-organic poultry is infected with salmonella.

Most non-organic foods now test positive for genetically engineered ingredients. According to the biotechnology industry, 100 percent of U.S. food and fiber will be genetically engineered within five to ten years; despite the fact that scientific evidence suggests that genetically engineered foods may present serious hazards for human health and the environment. Scientists warn that genetically engineered foods may set off potentially fatal allergies, increase cancer risks, produce antibiotic-resistant pathogens, damage food quality and produce dangerous toxins. Consequently, Europe, Japan and other countries, are refusing to buy many U.S. food exports. The U.S. government refuses to require safety testing or labeling for genetically engineered foods. American consumers have now become involuntary guinea pigs in a vast genetic experiment.

In 1989, a genetically engineered brand of L-trytophan, a common dietary supplement, killed 37 Americans and permanently disabled or afflicted more than 5,000 others with a potentially fatal and painful blood disorder, eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS). The manufacturer used genetically engineered bacteria to produce the supplement. It is believed that the bacteria somehow became contaminated during the recombinant process.

In 1994, the FDA approved the sale of genetically engineered recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone. The genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone was banned in Europe and Canada, and is not legal in any other industrialized country. Genetically engineered Bovine Growth Hormone is injected into cows to force them to produce more milk. Scientists warn that this could pose serious health hazards for human health, including increased risk for breast, prostate and colon cancers. The milk produced by these cows contains higher levels of pus, bacteria, fat, and 400-500 percent more Insulin-Like Growth Factor, a potent chemical hormone. The milk also contains residue of the injected hormone, and since the hormone causes the cow’s utters to become easily infected, residues of antibiotics.

A 1999 report from the British press revealed Rowett Institute scientist, Dr. Arpad Pusztai’s research findings. Dr. Pusztai found that genetically engineered potatoes, spliced with snowdrop plant and a commonly used viral promoter, the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus (CaMv), to be significantly different in chemical composition than other potatoes. Dr. Pusztai also discovered that the genetically engineered potatoes damaged vital organs and immune systems of lab rats. Most alarming, the damage to the rats’ stomach linings caused by a severe viral infection, most likely caused by the Cauliflower Mosaic Virus viral promoter, a promoter spliced into nearly all genetically engineered foods and crops.

Scientists also warn us about the environmental hazards of industrialized agricultural practices. The atmosphere is continually affected by the greenhouse gasses produced by enormous amounts of manure on agricultural lands. Water supplies are contaminated with pesticides, chemicals, fertilizers and sewage from factory farms. Soil is eroded and stripped of its nutrients. Genetic engineering has led to increased use of toxic pesticides. Genetic pollution of neighboring farmlands and ecosystems is a risk. Harm has come to endangered Monarch butterflies and beneficial insects such as ladybugs. Feared is the creation of “superpests,” “superweeds,” and virulent new viruses.

Indeed, choosing organic can have a powerful and positive effect on our health and the health of our planet. Each one of makes a difference in what we choose to support. Selecting the necessary organic foods and fibers promotes wellness for all!

Tips For Going Organic:

* Go to your local organic farmer’s market, where you will find lots of healthy and delicious produce, and some really nice folks!
* Shop at health-food stores and natural stores, buy organic!
* Buy organic cotton — it feels oh so soft on your skin!
* Beware of genetically engineered (GE) and genetically modified organisms (GMO).
* Look for the “certified organic” seal of approval.
* Start an organic garden. Buy organic seeds, soil and fertilizer.
* Try restaurants that take special care to serve organic cuisine.
* Join forces with other organic consumers through community groups, organizations, Web networks, etc.
* Contact your government to voice your concerns, vote pro-organic
* Only drink pure water.

On a recent day off from school my four year old wanted to paint. I try to encourage creativity in my kids at every chance.

“OK”, I said. I thought I’d have a respite (first mistake) for a while and get in some writing. This old woman (almost 40) needed a new line of work (I’m a nurse). Writing seemed to be perfect. I could stay home with my kids and cultivate my love of writing. I spend a lot of time indoors anyway. With four children it’s hard to peek my head out the door let alone hold down regular job. I love being home with my kids for their safety, the interaction and the warmth of it. I like cooking homemade meals and having time to talk. I’m no novice. I really don’t care if my kids have mismatched socks or haven’t been to a museum in a couple of weeks. I’ve adopted the attitude that less is more when it comes to giving material things. Also, I’m a little burned out. So, when my son said he wanted to paint, I pictured an hour (ha) of quiet time. I told him to save his paintings and I’ll look at them when he was finished (to cut down on the interruptions).

I was actually feeling like I was accomplishing something. Some notes, outlines, etc… I was watching the clock because I had to get us ready. I volunteer at the older kid’s school library. I planned to take Antonio with me.

“Antonio, it’s time to get dressed”, I said. He appeared with paint on his hand and feet. He feet painted me a masterpiece on the rug. The white speckled rug we had put in the basement about a year ago had colorful footprints all over it. “I’m sorry, Ma Ma”. My son knew this was not a good thing.

My husband came home for lunch like he does every day. “What happened to the rug”, he said. “I wanted the color changed”, I replied. Noticing my son’s sad eyes & my distress he ate his lunch knowing better than to push the issue. I scrubbed the rug without getting it all out and went about my daily chores trying not to think about it. “It’s only a rug, I thought”. I told my son he couldn’t play his video games for one week. Without screaming & yelling, I explained that this was not acceptable and that I wasn’t happy about it.

At dinner that evening we all talked and laughed as we told the story to our other kids. Now, Antonio is referred to as Rembrandt. He is still punished. There is a mix of disappointment with “this too shall pass” attitude.

After having four kids, I’m either too dense to care or too experienced to let it get to me. When things do get to me, I try to turn them into a article or story so that a negative is turned into a positive. Sometimes it actually works!

We all know someone that has been subjected to endless batteries of medical tests to determine the cause of their poor health. It is true that doctors are supposed to be diagnosticians, but they don’t all have the time and resources to spend working with each of their patients that present challenges beyond the normal scope of medicine.

Often individuals with complex symptoms are lumped into categories when the medical professionals feel frustrated at the normal outcome of all the tests that they have put their patient through. Many people end up being misdiagnosed and told that they have Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, when in fact they do not match the profile exactly.

Rare disorders are those that are diagnosed in only an extremely small portion of the world population. Individuals that are victims of these types of syndromes or disorders often feel that they are suffering from mental disorders rather than physical disorders, especially when medical personnel tell them its all in their head. They begin to think that they are hypochondriacs and they may even become severely depressed at the lack of information gained from the numerous tests that they have undergone.

Rare diseases may be more common than what we anticipate, because of the lack of information available to doctors and researchers on patients’ medical conditions and symptoms. Some of these rare disorders are only documented for 6 people in the world, but in all likelihood, the numbers would grow if all patients had access to the studies being done around the world.

Living with a rare disorder can be truly difficult. Trying to get others to understand what is medically wrong with you and how it needs to be treated is very frustrating and can lead to a feeling like you want to give up – a why bother or I don’t care attitude. There is help for individuals and their families, that fall into this classification.

Have you ever been somewhere and realized it had a hold on you? Until a trip to Oregon, our favorite beaches were in Washington State. The small coastal town of Cannon Beach, the Carmel, California, of Oregon changed that. Little did I realize that we’d be so drawn to this town.

Cannon Beach is located on the Oregon Coast south of Seaside, a young-at-heart mecca for tourists who like the boardwalk beaches of yesteryear and the touristy atmosphere. Cannon Beach is more of a small-town atmosphere with some unique downtown shops and galleries winding through an up-and-down town.

It’s home to Haystack Rock, the third largest monolith in the world. Listed as a Marine Garden, a protected area, it towers at 235 feet above sea level. Haystack Rock Awareness Program was formed to educate people about the fragility of the area. Guided tours are planned if you’re interested in seeing the marine life there; obtain copies of tour times and information at the Chamber of Commerce or businesses in the area. You’ll be treated to an eye-feast of anemones, starfish, nudibranches and chitons, for example.

The monolith attracts birds. Tufted Puffins nest on the rock in the summer, as do Pelagic Cormorants. Western Gulls and Pigeon Guillemots reside in the area, so it’s a great birding opportunity for birdwatchers of photographers.

Our greatest experience here was the European-style Stephanie Inn where we stayed. Tucked below a hill south of town, the only four-star Inn in the area caters to every need. This smoke-free, pet-free Inn does not allow children under 12, it’s also a quiet place to relax and enjoy the area.

The cookie jar is always full and coffee is on 24-hours-a-day, so you may partake of the goodies while you wait to be checked in (they are usually busy around 4:00 p.m. check-in time). There are 46 rooms at the Inn and four one-bedroom Suites at the Carriage House nearby. Most rooms include a Jacuzzi tub (ours was heart-shaped), fireplace, air conditioning, a VCR with free movie rentals, a wet bar stocked with complementary soft drinks and bottled water, silk-terry robes and turndown service.

Dinner is a gourmet four-course affair if you choose to eat at the Inn. We didn’t make reservations and by the time we realized we made a mistake, there were no tables available.

A complementary late afternoon Oregon wine and Tillamook cheese tasting is part of the experience in the library and chart room. Get comfortable in leather and wicker furniture overlooking the ocean. Since this was a vacation I didn’t write down the wines we tasted, but they were supreme. We enjoyed talking with other folks from all over the world. Most come back yearly (at least).

The Inn has a lot of different packages, like a honeymoon package with champagne, flower petals in your bed, a keepsake heart box of chocolates, a candle, confetti bubble bath, balloons and a bow on your door. An anniversary package is similar with two Stephanie Inn keepsake wine glasses in a Stephanie Inn wine box, etc.

The Inn has birthday packages, a romance package and a coastal comfort package which includes a one-hour body massage (there is a massage therapist on site – make reservations ahead so you won’t be disappointed) and other delights. You may obtain a complimentary pass to Cannon Beach Athletic Club if you desire. There is bell service, a masseuse and downtown shuttle service if needed. Though hilly, we found it a pleasant walk to town. Our town dinner included a tasty calamari steak and fish and chips, then a pleasant sunrise walk back to the Inn.

In the morning enjoy a satisfying, complementary gourmet breakfast. It’s served in the private dining room where supper is also served. We ate heartily on an egg dish, potatoes or pancakes, fresh fruit of every sort, hot full-grain oatmeal, pastries (usually there may even be some dessert left from the dinner the night before – I got to taste their wonderful cheesecake I missed when we couldn’t get dinner reservations). It’s served buffet style.

We hated to check out, but when the time came we were given more cookies for the trip home and some snacks, along with two bottles of water. We came for the beach but ended up staying for the accommodations; they’ll bring us back next year. If you’re interested, don’t wait to make reservations for a room and dinner; they’re often booked months ahead.

Oh, and do enjoy the lovely beach while there.

Viewers know him as the bloke with the exceedingly cool hat with an equally cool Land Rover. The passion he has for his work carries over across the screen to living rooms around the world, and in doing so, Les Hiddins sparked an interest in nutrition for guys around the world.

The most teen guys know about the Australian Outback is a vague image of Uluru, or Ayers Rock, and another image of a bouncing kangaroo or two. Now they know about Land Rovers too, the original all-terrain four wheel drive vehicle.

The now retired Major Les Hiddins of the Australian Army gave thousands of viewers in Canada and Australia a glimpse of what it’s like to work in the outdoors, be part of the army, and get a drive a Land Rover while he enjoyed doing all of it. Collaborating with ABC (Australia Broadcasting Corp.) to film his adventures in a series called The Bushtucker Man, Major Hiddins explored hundreds of miles of Australia, cataloging bush foods, medicines, useful plants and cooking methods used by the local Aboriginals of each area.

Hiddins started on his ‘Army Combat Survival Project’ around 1981. It had occured to him that humans today are still as unable to survive ‘out there’ as there were a hundred years ago due to a lack of basic knowledge. He set a task for himself to go around Australia cataloging not just the edible fruits or leaves, but the toxic ones as well.

There were bushfoods in between the two extremes; some nuts may be toxic when unripe, but perfectly edible and full of calories needed during times of survival when ripe during a very short window of opportunity. The samples of nuts, berries, flowers, bark and so on, were sent to labs to test them for vitamin content, calories, medicinal properties and other nutritional aspects. He also documented many species of fish, small game and other protein sources.

Hiddins showed ABC viewers how every part of certain plants were used for bushstring, bush medicines, and to add comfort to a camp site. A single candle nut (Aleurites moluccana) for example, not only contain a few thousands times the amount of energy of a piece of bread or a cup of rice, but it also so full of fat that they make great candles for some romantic campside lighting, hence the name. He also demonstrated game and fish catching methods, and improvised, such as getting water in the middle of the desert during dry season by covering a tree with a plastic sheet to trap the moisture it releases from its leaves.

Just how important this work is to basic survival was documented when Hiddins traced Ludwig Leichhardt’s route across Australia as recorded in Leichhardt’s expedition journals. It’s a real eye-opener to see just how easily available food was if members of Leichhardt’s expedition had just looked up…or known what would be non-poisonous in a particular season, and which parts of a poisonous fruit WAS edible.

The same goes for Hiddins’ tracing of many other explorers’ whose suffering and early deaths could’ve been avoided, such as the route prisoners escaping from a penitential colony in Darwin (western Australia) – cannibalism would’ve been completely unnecessary!

There have been several people who’ve made an effort to document bushfoods, including Jennifer Isaacs and Peter Latz. But no one did more to demonstrate exactly how they should be used and the importance of selecting the right foods for nutrition and energy than Major Les Hiddins. Since his ABC Bush Tucker Man documentaries began airing, bushfood fanatics have popped up and created recipes for everyday life that include the tucker Hiddins talked about. Warrigal greens pie, Native ginger tea, riberry cake, kangaroo shepherd’s pie and Davidson’s plum jam, are on the shelves of Australian supermarkets. This helps to preserve Aboriginal knowledge that was once “endangered”.

The main reasons I wager guys have become addicted to the Bushtucker Man is because of his honesty, the willingness to get wet, muddy, dirty and dusty, and take difficulties in the Outback in stride. And he wore his regular army clothes instead of promoting some big fashion brandname.

Before his ABC series aired, few people, and few Australians, knew about what was in their own Australian backyard. His enthusiasm, down-to-earth qualities and easy-going manner also come across in the few books he has authored and in his CD-ROM. Guys tune in for his addictive half-hour episodes because Hiddins is a kind of role model in a world where there are very few role models for young men. So should you watch reality tv? Absolutely! Just make sure you tune into the Bush Tucker kind of reality tv (now on videos in Australia and UK available in PAL).

Tapeworms are contracted due to consuming improperly cooked meats such as beef, pork and fish. These eggs journey through the digestive tract, making their way down until they settle in the intestine. The nutrients ingested by the host feeds the larvae and allow it to grow after the eggs have hatched.

There is an availability of a lot of methods of treatment for the infestation of tapeworms from the use of alternative medicine to prescriptions. As these treatments may interact, so they should not be used together.

Prescription Medications

Medication is effective to help people that have tapeworms. Over the counter drugs are not available, since the treatment is different considering the species of tapeworm. Oral medication is necessary to make contact directly with the tapeworm located in the intestine. The tapeworm’s protective coating on its body is destroyed by these drugs, which then can be digested and expelled. The downside to this method is that it targets solely adult worms and not the larvae or eggs. A reinfection can occur with the next cycle of eggs hatching.

Keep in mind that tapeworms are not bacteria, so it is useless to take antibiotics to treat it. Antibiotics might actually make the situation worse because it weakens the good bacteria in the intestine, that works against infection along with the immune system.

Adjust Your Diet

Diet adjustments may take away the tapeworm’s nutrients it needs to flourish, but you have to be careful and combine this with an additional treatment. This diet should be full of plenty of raw carrots and pumpkin seeds fitted into as many meals as possible. When these foods are eaten, the tapeworm will not obtain nutrients, and the outer skin will be damaged and weakened, as they are anti-parasitic.

Leafy green vegetables will also prove beneficial. It is important to completely eliminate from the diet what tapeworms thrive on such as refined sugars, flour and processed foods. Be careful when consuming fruits, as they often contain natural sugars that will feed the tapeworm. Iced drinks should be avoided along with cold foods which contract the intestines, causing pain and interference with toxins.

Herbal Treatments

Some herbs are good for expelling tapeworms from the body. Wormwood is the best known and, as its name implies, it has the ability to fight worm infestations. Typically, wormwood is used in tincture forms, but you can make tea from the leaves also. Brewing instructions are: one cup of boiling water for either two tablespoons of fresh wormwood or dried wormwood. Allow it to sit for a period of 5 to 10 minutes. Additionally think about employing other herbs to flavor it such as ginger or cinnamon.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy may work for some tapeworms, usually worms coming from beef or pork. Sabadilla is a treatment for tapeworms when there is a lot of itching, nausea, regurgitating, and for delirious conditions when people have hallucinations and falsely believe they have symptoms. Also Granatum removes tapeworms if you have stomach pain, while Kuosso is a remedy for slow pulse that is irregular. Prior to the use of other formulas that are homeopathic, there must be a exam that is all encompassing by a homeopath for proper employment of this method.

Surgery

Surgery may, for cases that are severe, be required, but it is rarely used for tapeworms. The weight of a tapeworm that has grown very large can cause blockage in the intestines and damage the organs. This could be serious and might be deadly. Most doctors consider surgery if nothing else works.

Conclusion

Tapeworms aren’t dangerous and life threatening most of the time. When you notice it, it is not difficult for you to treat yourself at home. You must never assume that any type of home treatment will be perfectly effective, especially when it comes to children. Ensure that the infestation is thoroughly removed by scheduling a doctor’s appointment or by consulting a licensed naturopath.

Other NSAIDs

Over 20 different compounds have been developed to perform the beneficial functions of aspirin without some of the negative side effects. Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen (Naprosyn) fall into this category. They are used to treat pain, swelling and fever, but have fewer side effects on platelet aggregation and clotting. In addition, some of the aspirin derivatives have been modified so they have an extended duration of effectiveness. In contrast, aspirin is metabolized and excreted by the body in four to six hours at which point you have to take another dose.

Cox-2 specific inhibitors

More recently, researchers have developed specific inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-2. COX-2 plays a primary role in producing prostaglandins in response to injury or tissue stress whereas COX-1 is found in many tissues and can have good functions. Aspirin inhibits both COX-1 and COX-2 so specific inhibitors for COX-2 should block inflammation, pain and fever without affecting prostaglandin synthesis by COX-1. Currently, Cerebrex and Vioxx are on the market. In theory these should have fewer side effects and not be upsetting to the stomach. However, if the other effects of aspirin that aren’t related to cyclooxygenase — such as the inhibition of NF-kappa beta function — are important, then specific COX-2 inhibitors may not be as effective. Only time will tell how these specific inhibitors compare to the other medicines currently available.

Acetaminophen

Tylenol and Panadol both contain acetaminophen. Although they were once thought to work in part by inhibiting cyclooxygenase, the current data suggests this is probably not true. Exactly how acetaminophen works is still debatable, which is surprising based on the wide use of this medicine. What is known about acetaminophen is that its principal effects are on fever and pain sensation, but it does not stop inflammation. It also does not irritate the stomach or prevent clotting. It is therefore a suitable substitute for those who can’t take aspirin or other NSAIDs or for those who have ulcer, gout and hemophilia. There is increasing evidence indicating that high doses or long-term use of acetaminophen results in increased levels of its metabolites that can cause liver damage, especially if used with alcohol.

In summary

There are an increasing variety of medicines to take for pain, fever and inflammation. Picking which one is right for you can be difficult. So the next time you reach for one, remember that you have a variety of choices. Read the product labels carefully and if your choice doesn’t seem to be working for you or if you have a specific medical condition consult your doctor about which class of pain relievers may be best for you. Your doctor can assess the benefits and risks to help determine if changing your choice of medication is right for you.

Aspirin – an ancient NSAID

In the 5th century BC, plant extracts such as willow bark were used to treat fever, pain and inflammation. The extracts were used by Hippocrates to treat the pain that women experienced during labor. The active ingredients in the extracts were salicylates. In the 1800s, synthesized salicylates were used to treat arthritis. A German chemist named Felix Hoffmann further modified this compound. Because his father had arthritis and could not tolerate the stomach irritation caused by his salicylic acid medication Felix Hoffmann synthesize a less acidic compound in the hope that it would cause less stomach irritation. The resulting compound, acetylsalicylic acid, still caused stomach irritation. In 1899 Bayer and Company named it Aspirin. It is also called a NSAID because it stops inflammation, but it is not a steroid.

Now, over 80 billion aspirin tablets are consumed every year in the United States. More than 50 over the counter drugs contain aspirin. While aspirin has many beneficial effects, it also has potentially negative aspects, as we will discuss below. Aspirin’s beneficial properties are that it is an analgesic (relieves mild to moderate pain), an anti-inflammatory drug (decreases swelling with arthritis and minor injuries) and an anti-pyretic (decreases fever).

How does aspirin do all of these important and beneficial functions? It turns out that one of the major things that aspirin can do is stop the function of a protein called cyclooxygenase (COX). There are two types of COX, COX-1 and COX-2. Both types of cyclooxygenase work to take things available in your cell and make them into prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are small molecules that can induce pain, swelling, and fever. They are found at elevated levels at sites of injury and they can tell your nerve cells to send a signal to your brain to make you feel pain. Prostaglandins are also involved in causing muscle cramps during stress and menstruation.

Recently, it has also been found that at certain doses aspirin not only stops COX activity, but also partially stops cells from making factors that increase tissue inflammatory and immune responses. This occurs because proteins involved in switching on the production of the immune factors can’t work. NF-kappa beta is the name of one of the protein switches that doesn’t work well in the presence of aspirin.

In addition to analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effects, preliminary studies suggest that aspirin can do a lot of other good things. For example, aspirin has been associated with reducing cataracts, increasing blood flow to the gum to reduce gum disease and aspirin is under consideration as a potential chemopreventative agent. Preliminary reports suggest that aspirin use can reduce the incidence of lung, colon and breast cancer. It is also under study in relation to melanoma. Aspirin is known to inhibit the activity of proteins that can in some cases promote cell growth. UV radiation can increase the activity of these proteins in skin cells and aspirin can block this effect in preliminary laboratory studies.

Aspirin is also believed to have positive coronary effects. Prostaglandins are also important for platelet aggregation and clot formation. Inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis can be beneficial if platelet aggregation begins to occur in the presence of significant narrowing of the arteries. If the artery is blocked and it supplies the heart with blood, then a heart attack will result. Several studies have supported this protective effect of aspirin in reducing heart attack. However, clotting is important for stopping bleeding in a major injury. Regular aspirin use has also been associated with a small increase in hemorrhage strokes (bleeding in the brain).

So there are a lot of good things associated with inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis. However, most things our body makes serve some important role. The so-called negative aspects of prostaglandins may actually have some benefit. For example, a low-grade fever may boost our immune function resulting in a shorter period of illness while pain reminds us never to touch a hot pot again. In the stomach, prostaglandins also play a beneficial role. COX-1 produces the prostaglandins that tell the stomach to make mucus. The stomach makes a lot of acid to digest your food, but this acid can also digest your stomach. The mucus is important for protecting your stomach wall from acid injury. Prostaglandins help to decrease acid secretion by the stomach. Because aspirin stops both COX-1 and COX-2 from making prostaglandins, it also results in more acid secretion and less protective mucus coating in the stomach. Both of these factors are conducive to increasing the risk of stomach irritation and ulcers. In fact, it is well accepted that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can play a major role in the development of ulcers.

In addition to the above functions of prostaglandins, some studies suggest that prostaglandins may be important for bone formation, especially in fracture healing. How prostaglandins work in different tissues is still under investigation but one has to be cautious about the ultimate long-term effects of aspirin intake and its inhibition of prostaglandin production.

Even though aspirin is an over-the-counter drug, one should consult their doctor about frequent or long term use. Aspirin can have serious side effects such as hemorrhage, dizziness and ulcer. In children with viral infections such as flu and chicken pox, aspirin use can lead to a rare but serious brain and liver disorder called Reye syndrome. Also, aspirin use is not recommended for people taking anticoagulants, people with kidney disease or people with asthma. There are also some people who are extremely sensitive to aspirin and cannot tolerate it.

to be continue…

A small degree of curvature in your child may not be serious and you may not even be able to notice it. At any rate, your doctor must always check it out because the curvature is quite often greater than it appears to be. If the condition grows worse the lungs may be affected to the point that it causes repeated chest infections and some shortness of breath.

Causes of Scoliosis

The cause is unknown, but some suspect hereditary may play a part and in some cases it follows neurological diseases. Poor posture or too much exercise does not cause it. Although Scoliosis cannot correct itself it seems to progress to a certain point and then stop, never advancing any further. In severe cases where the curvature of the spine is extreme it may interfere with the normal function of the heart or chest cavity.

Testament

Many times physical therapy proves to be a great comfort by developing a better posture and increasing the strength of spinal muscles. Sometimes a person must wear a spinal brace for up to a year or more to help straighten the spine. If treatment does not work, then surgery is indicated.

Types of Surgery

1. Spinal-fusion
As much as one-third of the whole spinal column may have to be fused to produce stability. The operations for Scoliosis are serious and afterwards a patient must take care and let the spine heal properly. Often the patient will have treatments for a long period of time after the surgery.

2. Harrington rods insertion
Long metal rods are inserted deep in the muscle tissues beside the spine. This works by creating pressure and counterpressure, which causes the rods to force the vertebrae into a much better alignment. This type of surgery has proved to be very satisfactory. In time most of the rods will have to be removed, but the operation is considered quite safe.