Natural Health and Herbal Remedies Blog – information on herbal medicine

IMPLANTS OR SURGERY

A natural, safe way to increase your breast size without resorting to implants or surgery is not an impossibility. Many women have discovered that specific exercises, when performed correctly and regularly, can result in a higher, firmer chest and, in effect, a larger breast size. Here are some exercises designed to develop higher, firmer breasts:

1) Assume a sitting position, with your legs crossed and your back straight. Place your hands on the back of your head, with your fingertips touching. Extend your elbows as wide as possible, and to the side.

Bring your elbows together in front of your face (don’t raise your shoulders). Swing your elbows back to the starting position.

Inhale as your elbows come together and exhale as you swing them out to each side.

For best results, do 10 repetitions of this exercise.

2) Another good exercise designed to create a higher, firmer chest requires that you sit on a couch and bring your arms in back of you, resting them on top of the couch. Hold this position for 30 to 60 seconds. Focus on the stretch in your chest muscles. This exercise can be done while you’re watching TV, during the commercials.

Implants And Mammography And Cancer

Specialists say that implants can make mammography difficult and delay the detection of cancer. This poses a particular risk for those women with a family history of breast cancer. Experts advise women who have had implants to tell the mammogram technician that there is an implant.

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Memory experts say that what many people consider “having a poor memory” is really just forgetfulness, and it happens to everyone. Forgetfulness can strike at anytime— you can’t remember what you did with your car keys, or you can’t remember someone’s name, or you can’t seem to remember what you came into the kitchen to get—and can be most irritating and frustrating. Such forgetfulness affects the short-term memory, resulting in a brief memory lapse.

The good news is that forgetfulness can be overcome by utilizing some simple devices we all have at our command. Techniques, from mnemonics to tying a string around your finger are all proven methods of memory enhancement. All it takes is a little extra effort and patience, and forgetfulness can be just a memory.

nere are ten expert self-help techniques for memory improvement:

1) Positive thinking— one of the most potent memory boosters comes from developing a sense of confidence that you can, in fact, remember. If you assume you have a p0or memory because of past memory lapses, you are only undermining your true memory capability. If, on the other hand, you assume a positive attitude, you will develop the self-assurance needed to relax and be totally aware of what is going on around you. Having a positive attitude and confidence in your mental capacity is the first step toward memory improvement.

2) Repetition—the foundation of an efficient memory is repetition. Whenever you repeat something—a phone number, a name, a date, an address—you fix the information in your memory. While practice may not always make you perfect, it will bring about improvement. If you get into the habit of repeating information you need to remember, you’ll soon develop an effective retrieval system.

3) Mnemonic devices— at one time or another, most people use this artificial memory system without even being aware of it. Mnemonic devices are those that associate unknown information with familiar things. For example, in order to remember how many days are in a certain month we might recite a little poem we learned when we were children— “Thirty days hath September…”. Another well-known verbal mnemonic is “Every Good Boy Does Fine”, for recalling the positions of notes in the treble cleff.

Mnemonic devices can also be visual as well. One effective type of visual mnemonic device associates items on a list with images in a visual scene.

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A study of nearly 1,400 men and women over age 40 suggests that vitamins in food may help prevent cataracts, the most common cause of blindness. Researchers at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, found that subjects whose diets were high in foods containing vitamins A, C and E had fewer cataracts than people with a low intake of those vitamins. It may be that vitamins A, C and E help neutralize certain electrically charged compounds known as free radicals, which can damage eye tissue.

The study also found that people had taken multivitamin tablets at least once or more a week for one year had 37 percent fewer cataracts than those who hadn’t. But the experts also warn against increasing vitamin dosage as a means of enhancing natural benefits. Consult your doctor before using any multivitamin tablet.

In a related study, researchers at the social Insurance institute in Helsinki say that people with low levels of vitamins A and E and are almost twice as likely to need cataract surgery as are people who have high levels of both vitamins.

The Finnish study, which measured the levels of nutrients in the blood, appears to support the theory that free radicals, which are formed naturally in the body, cause the growth of cataracts. Both vitamins A and E help to neutralize free radicals. Researchers say the new findings show a strong link between low nutrient levels and the eventual need to have cataract surgery

According to the researchers, the study published in the British Medical Journal, is not conclusive, and further investigation is required to prove that eating foods rich in vitamins A and E can actually reduce the livelihood of getting cataracts.

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A five-year nationwide program, “5 a day— For Better Health”, which is being promoted by the produce industry and supermarket retailers is aimed at those people who don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. The National Cancer Institute and many health professionals are recommending and encouraging people to eat at least five servings of fruit and vegetables each day to help reduce the risk of certain cancers and other chronic diseases.

According to a recent survey, following the 5 a day program would mean a substantial increase in the average American’s daily consumption of fruits and vegetables. The 1992 survey of 2,800 people showed that the median daily consumption of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. is only 3 1/2 servings. Just under 90 percent of the men and women who responded to the survey said they eat fewer than five servings a day. Only 8 percent of those surveyed were aware they should be eating at least five servings a day, and two-thirds of the respondents said they thought that two or fewer servings was enough.

The 5 A Day program itself is very flexible, allowing three vegetables plus two fruits one day, the opposite the next day, or any combination so long as the food choices meet the guidelines of the National Cancer Institute, which include the following:

1) eat from 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

2) Eat at least one vitamin A-rich selection every day. Vegetables containing high levels of vitamin A include broccoli, carrots, kale, bok choy, turnip greens, beet and mustard greens, Swiss chard, spinach, romaine lettuce, sweet potatoes, winter squash, and tomatoes. Fruits include apricots, mangoes, cantaloupe, papaya, and watermelon.

3) Consume at least one vitamin C-rich food selection each day. Vegetables include asparagus, broccoli, bok choy, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, green peppers, cauliflower, and tomatoes. Fruits include oranges, grapefruit, kiwi fruit, honeydew melon, strawberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, papaya, and watermelon.

4) Eat at least one high-fiber food every day. Practically all fruits and vegetables are good sources of fiber.

5) Eat cruciferous (cabbage family) vegetables at least 3 times a week. Some studies suggest that cruciferous vegetables might have natural anti-cancer properties. These vegetables include broccoli; Brussels sprouts; bok choy; cabbage; cauliflower; mustard, turnip and beet greens; kale; and Swiss chard.

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Experts agree that there are several things you can do to alleviate the discomfort of dry, scratchy eyes and to prevent serious eye and vision problems. Here are some common-sense suggestions and advice everyone should heed and follow:

1) If your eyes are frequently focused on close work—reading, doing paperwork, sewing, etc.—take a five minute break every hour and re-focus on distant objects. The advice is just the opposite when you’ve been focusing on distant objects. Give your eyes a five minute break on a regular basis and re-focus on close objects.

2) Computer users are subject to the discomfort of dry, scratchy eyes more than non-users. Experts say that’s because staring at the screen of a computer monitor for long periods of time causes your eyes to blink less than is normal. Since blinking allows the tear glands to moisten the eyes, the absence of blinking results in a lack of lubrication which can cause dry, scratchy eyes. One way to prevent the condition is to take a break and blink rapidly to activate the tear glands. You can also get tear substitutes from most eye doctors. If nothing else, you can try bathing your eyes, gently, in clear cold water.

3) Use only one type of eye medication at a time. Mixing eye medicines may cause them to be less effective and result in increased irritation.

4) Astringent drops are effective, but not if they are overused. Don’t use astringent drops every day or your eyes may become red and dry. If used properly, a preparation containing tetrahydrozoline will help reduce any swelling and redness and ease eye discomfort. You can buy astringent drops at most drugstores for about $3.

5) Dry eyes can be treated quite effectively with drops containing methylcellulose or polyvinyl alcohol. Such drops, commonly known as “artificial tears” help lubricate dry eyes. If your eyes are supersensitive, or if you use artificial tears more than four times a day, you should get a product labeled “preservative free”. The preservatives in your regular artificial tears may be irritating your eyes. Artificial tears are available for about $8 at most drugstores.

6) If your eyes are infected or irritated, you shouldn’t use eye makeup. Eye pencils or brushes can transfer an infection and make the condition worse. To be safe, and possibly prevent eye infections, it’s a good idea to replace your supply of eye makeup at least twice a year.

7) If you develop a sty, applying hot compresses 3 or 4 times for ten to fifteen minutes each time can help alleviate the problem. Also, if a sty develops, you should stop using your present eye makeup.

A cool compress can clear up red eyes. Placing a compress over closed eyes constricts small blood vessels in the membrane that covers the eye. The result is that reddened eyes look temporarily whiter.

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