Why the FDA is concerned about Triclosan – and you should be too

The US’s Food and Drug Agency is reevaluating the safety of a popular chemical additive called triclosan, based on recent studies that seem to indicate it causes endocrine disruption in the body and leads to the emergence of drug-resistant “super” bacteria. According to reports, the FDA has allegedly been working for over 38 years to establish rules for the use of triclosan but has not completed the assignment. Throughout this time the agency has continued to approve its usage, including a 1997 decision to allow its use in Colgate Total toothpaste, but is now reevaluating that decision.

You may not know the name, but you will certainly have come across Triclosan as it is commonly found in liquid antibacterial hand soaps and sanitizers, dishwashing detergents, shaving gels, toothpastes, clothing and even children’s toys. It was originally designed as a surgical scrub for people in the medical field, but is now used in pesticides and a variety of different consumer products to ward off pathogens.

This may be more than you need to know, but its use is so common in that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traces of triclosan can be found in the urine of about 75 percent of the population.

Triclosan is used because it is believed to be a powerful antibacterial and antifungal agent, however other than as a treatment for gingivitis in toothpaste, there is no evidence that it provides any benefits in other consumer product applications. A 2005 advisory panel to the FDA agreed, noting that there is no evidence that antibacterial soaps with triclosan work any better than plain soap and water.

I am not suggesting you panic, but if you are using antibacterial hand gels on a daily basis then a simple precaution would be to go back to the good old-fashioned bar of soap as a sensible precaution.

When Recycling Could Be A Health Hazard

We are being encouraged by the supermarkets to bring our own carrier bags – or be charged for them. This is a sound idea as we are all aware of the dangers that plastic bags cause by not being broken down when disposed of but, like much in life, it is not as straightforward as it seems. Years ago, when holidaying in Madeira, I was intrigued to see a washing line pegged out neatly with lots of carrier bags on it. I smiled to myself, thinking this was carrying diligent housework too far, but it seems they had the right idea.

New research from the University of Arizona shows that more than half of 84 reusable bags collected from shoppers in Tucson, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area were contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria, including E.coli, a bug found in fecal matter. Now before you throw your hands up in horror as if these bags have been used for storing dirty nappies, it seems that the major contamination occurs when liquid from raw meat or other food leaks onto the bag. The concern is that the fabric can then contaminate other food if you don’t wash the bag before its next use.

So do you give up recycling your bags? No, not according to Charles Gerba, a University of Arizona professor who says that the research was not intended to discourage people from using the bags but to make you aware of a possible problem. So follow a fine example and wash them through after each use and whatever you do please do not keep them stored in the boot of your car, as that is a hot breeding ground for germs in the summer.

What Should You Know About Chronic Depression?

Chronic Depression is also known as Dysthymia.  Although not as serious as Major Depression, this is a severe illness.  Someone you know may have Chronic Depression and you would not know it.  Typically someone with this illness can live a regular life.  They go to work or school and go about their day to day lives without as much as creating a ripple in the water.  Of course it’s invisible to the outside world because the effects from this illness are on the inside.  There are both physical and mental results from this disease. 

Shaking, dizziness, or a fever won’t result from Chronic Depression.  There usually won’t be a rash.  But you may well feel helplessness, worthlessness and hopelessness.  Those affected may experience problems with sleep and insomnia.  The sufferer might be consumed by constant feelings of sadness and emptiness .  Death and suicide are considerations that a patient will have .  Usually people with chronic depression do a good job of hiding these signs. When mental illness exists you have to look very closely for signs and symptoms. They’re not always clear .

When you are approaching an illness such as Chronic Depression there are a few major options for treatment.  One of the most popular approaches is Psychotherapy.  You confront the mental ailment with a mental solution.  Through psychotherapy the doctor seeks the cause of depression and to create a positive outlook for the patient.  The other option is to prescribe antidepressants to help in controlling the disease.  It’s best to use both approaches at the same time.  Major Depression is often a result of Chronic Depression.  Therefore, as in with any illness, early detection of the illness cannot be underestimated. 

It’s usually not until everyday life problems arise that Chronic Depression is a noticeable issue.  When it impacts your ability to work or to relate with other people then something must be done.  Those who suffer from Chronic Depression are not crazy or mentally insane.  Care and support are needed to address the underlying issues.  Anyone can become a victim of this disease.  Having knowledge about it may one day assist you or someone you know in facing it.

 BY :Maleesha Kumari Natural Cures for Depression , Natural Remedies for Anxiety , Aromatherapy

Three Conventional Haemorrhoid Dismissal Methodologies

Hemorrhoid removal isn’t as complex or scary a procedure as it was.  It is , however , still considered kind of a last resort.  The reasons being that almost all of the time, hemorrhoids will actually heal themselves and surgery may also be quite painful and often dodgy though it is generally successful.  With advancement in medical science several pile removal techniques have surfaced in recent times.  These so called typical methods physically take away the tissue that causes the redness and pain.  
This is the same tissue that causes discomfort when passing stools or perhaps when you sit on a chair.  

There are 3 main pile removal techniques that are used by doctors.  

The first method involves making an incision in the swollen tissue and removing the exaggerated tissue.  This strategy helps with reducing agony and redness.  However lots of times the tissue does not heal correctly ensuing in an infection and worsening of the situation.  Even after surgery the operated vein may not return back to its original shape and state.  Sometimes the operated portion is stapled to close incision to avoid opening of the operated area due to pressure and strain.  Surgery won’t be an assured hemorrhoid removal technique.  

The second method to shed hemorrhoids involves tying an elastic tie to the distended part.  This strategy is called rubber band ligation.  This process cuts the blood flow to the distended varicose vein.  With no blood flow the haemorrhoid shrinks and becomes standard.  This method does work for some people however it is not a 100% assured method.  

Third on the list of typical pile removal methods is the laser system.  In this technique a laser beam is used to shrink the hemorrhoid.  This technique may require several sittings.  This technique is similar to surgery and might not always work for each and every person.  

Before you choose any of the conventional haemorrhoid removal methods do a detailed analysis.  If required take a second opinion from a different doctor.  Always do a proper required groundwork before you select a particular treatment option.

See More Suggestions on Treating Piles at Cure For Piles and thrombosed external hemorrhoids

How to Treat Acne

Acne is something that worries most teenagers, and a condition that can linger right through life.  

But, how does acne occur and why?

The whole surface of our epidermis is covered by pores, which include glands. These glands create a  form of fat called sebum. When the glands produce the proper amount of sebum, every thing is okay. But once they become stimulated and begin to develop excessive sebum, the pores become clogged. This leads to an accumulation of sebum and bacteria in the pores and skin, which leads towards the formation of pimples.   The reason why acne most often occurs in puberty is mainly because at this age the sex hormones that stimulate the glands are most active, and also the reason why it can flare up in women around menopause.

Acne is not a major physical problem, though in serious cases can lead to scarring, but often causes a loss of self-confidence which is equally as damaging.  

Here are a few simple tips to help keep acne under control, and eradicate it: 

    * Wash your face 2 times per day with soap and warm water gently without rubbing hard or you can irritate the skin further and then dry it gently, but thoroughly with a clean dry towel each time.

    * Keep all chemical and synthetic products away from your skin including accidental transference from your hands from hair gels and sprays.

    * Avoid cosmetics that are oil based – mineral make up is usually the best. 

    * Resist the urge to touch infected areas, and never ‘op’ any pimples.  If you do the bacteria will penetrate deeper into the pores, resulting in a lot more pain, redness and possibly even scars.

    * identify any food allergies that may aggravate your skin – check after eating to see if any change is visible in your skin and then avoid that particular food or drink.  

 * Stress can aggravate acne so reduce it wherever possible in your life. 

* Sunlight is generally considered helpful in dealing with acne, due to increased vitamin D levels, but do it gently and carefully and never when the sun is at its hottest.  

These simple tips will help, and so will keeping your immune system strong and healthy.  Follow a natural wholefood diet, get plenty of exercise and fresh air and you should see some improvement and if it is persistent then consult a practitioner such as a homoeopath who may be able to offer more help.

All You Need To Know About Diabetes

With over 2 million people diagnosed with diabetes in the UK, and a further 1 million undiagnosed, this is obviously a serious and rising problem. There is a lot of information around about diabetes, indeed I pass on frequent health News about it, but there is a new book that I think will be extremely helpful for patients and their families and carers.

Diabetes – the essential guide has been written by someone who knows all about it as the author, Sue Marshall, was diagnosed with type I diabetes at the age of five. Now 41, she has lived with this condition for more than 35 years so is well qualified to offer advice and understanding on how to deal with the condition.

It is an extremely practical book, containing information about symptoms, diagnosis, types of diabetes and blood testing. It offers information on the types of medication available, and practical advice on how to manage the condition. Special sections on dealing with travelling, being away from home, pregnancy, and children with diabetes are well handled and looked at in detail.

As I found with my own stress book, what people need when dealing with any medical condition is clear, concise and easy to access information — no waffle and no padding. This book certainly delivers that and once you have read through the book and got some understanding about how your diet affects your blood sugar and what you can actually do to handle it successfully you have a practical plan to follow.

Diabetes – the essential guide costs £8.99 from bookshops or direct from the publisher’s website at need2knowbooks.co.uk and Sue Marshall has her own webbsite where she gives information on diabetes health care and related products. You will find it at www.desang.net

How A Good Night’s Sleep Can Literally Save Your Life

We all know the value of a good night’s sleep, without it we don’t function at are best and are more prone to illness. But did you know that if you have chronic insomnia then you have a three times higher risk of death than those who get a full 8 hours and that only getting a full six hours can impact your ability to think clearly the next day?

Sadly, insomnia is extremely common as up to a -third of adults say they get less sleep than they need to function at their best. Insomnia is usually not an isolated incident but a persistent condition and 75 percent of people with insomnia say they have it for at least one year, with half suffering for three years.

Insomnia can include all these symptoms:

1. Difficulty falling asleep

2. Waking frequently during the night

3. Waking too early in the morning and not being able to get back to sleep

4. Waking feeling unrefreshed

Insomnia will affect your hormone levels and accelerate aging, and may also play a role in diabetes, depression and cancer. Too little sleep impacts your levels of thyroid and stress hormones, which in turn can affect your memory and immune system, your heart and metabolism, and much more — including your risk of cancer. New research now also shows that sleep deprivation leads to changes in the levels of key proteins that can trigger migraines.

A disrupted circadian rhythm, or sleep/wake cycle, may influence cancer progression through shifts in hormones like melatonin, which your brain makes during sleep. There’s also the issue of melatonin, an antioxidant that helps to suppress harmful free radicals in your body and slows the production of estrogen, which can activate cancer. When your circadian rhythm is disrupted, your body may produce less melatonin and therefore may have less ability to fight cancer.

Exposure to light during the night can also reduce melatonin levels, which is why it is important to sleep in total darkness to decrease your risk of cancer. An important hormone that is affected by a disrupted circadian rhythm lies is cortisol, which normally reaches peak levels at dawn then declines throughout the day. It is one of many hormones that help regulate immune system activity, including insulin and researchers have repeatedly shown that insufficient sleep will result in an increased rate of diabetes due to increased insulin resistance.

The key to dealing with insomnia, without first resorting to sleeping pills, is to address the underlying cause and these are the most common culprits:

• Stress is the prime reason for sleeplessness as your brain continues to worry at your problems through the night.

• Overactive adrenals, due to stress, keep you on the alert, and that makes it difficult to sleep

• Poor environment in the bedroom doesn’t help either so ban electrical and electronic devices and no using your mobile, watching tv or doing emails on the laptop in bed. These activities stimulate your brain, making it difficult to then fall asleep. Make sure the bedroom is dark, and cool for optimum sleep.

• Give your stomach a rest and don’t eat for at least two hours before bed, and preferably longer. The later you eat, the harder your digestive system works to deal with the food when ideally it wants to be doing essential repair and maintenance. Eating late at night will keep you awake and if you must do so then eat something that is light and easily digested. aches and confusion, and may also cut your amount of deep sleep, interfering with your body’s ability to refresh itself.

Natural Help for Insomnia

There are a number of well-tried and tested remedies from foods to supplements. Nothing works for everyone, but try these favourite methods and see what works for you:

Herbs — the most popular are valerian nd hops, and if your insomnia is linked to stress and worry then you could try two excellent supplement: Quiet Life by Lanes or Total Calm from Gematria. Chamomile tea is also soothing but try not to drink just before bed so your bladder doesn’t wake you in the night.

Dietary help – help yourself by cutting out stimulants at night, particularly caffeine and sugar. Eat foods that help you sleep and contain tryptophan, an amino acid that is a precursor to serotonin, which is then converted to melatonin. Eat magnesium-rich foods as it is a natural sedative and deficiency can result in difficulty sleeping, constipation, muscle tremors or cramps, anxiety, irritability, and pain. It has also been useful for people with restless leg syndrome. Magnesium rich foods include legumes and seeds, dark leafy green vegetables, wheat bran, almonds, cashewsbrewer’s yeast, and whole grains.

Create a calm atmosphere – get as relaxed as you can before you slip between the sheets so try some meditation before bedtime or a warm, not hot, bath with soothing aromatherapy oils like lavender. If you have a cd player/clock then put on some gentle, slow music on a low setting as it has been found to improve sleep quality and length and reduce frequent waking intervals.

Learn to beat panic attacks

Easily Control Your Panic Attacks

Just about everybody has had some type of stress and anxiety.  Many people experience stress and anxiety so great that they can’t do their day to day activities.  There are some symptoms for daily panic attack such as trembling, dizziness, breathing problems, and stomach pain.  There are lots of people that go to the emergency room because they think that they are having a heart attack.  Indeed these are very scary symptoms but they however are not life threatening at all. 

To help yourself in gaining control over your panic attacks you need to first recognize what the triggers are of the panic attacks.  If you happen to do this then it will give you time to deal with them.

There are some relaxation methods that may help with staying focused and calm.  Yoga, meditation, and some breathing techniques can help.  When a panic attack starts you can react out of proportion and also out of reality.  By practising breathing methods you should be able to remain calm and focus to help you stop.

All intake of caffeine needs to be avoided this includes soda, tea, coffee, and diet pills. Panic attacks are triggered from the central nervous system and caffeine stimulates it.

Exercise needs to be a ritual.  By exercising it will release endorphins into the blood stream.  These are hormones that help you reach an euphoric feeling, at also can be called a “runners high.”  Consistent exercise will help you stay focused, and also relaxed.

It is strongly recommended that you discover as much as you can before choosing to start taking any form of drugs.

5 Simple Teeth Whitening Tips

There are lots of ways to maintain your teeth looking their greatest, even should you drink way too very much coffee or soda and appreciate the “occasional” cigarette. Take a appear below for five straightforward teeth whitening tips, to help your teeth appear their whitest.

1. Coffee, tea, wine, cola drinks — all trigger extreme staining in your teeth. We’ve all seen habitual coffee and tea drinkers who have tell-tale signs of their terrible habit on their teeth. Brushing your teeth after drinking, or at the quite least swishing some water in your mouth will go along way to keeping your teeth free of charge of stains.

2. The same goes for smoking. Caused by the heat from the cigarette, rinsing and brushing may well not be as useful to smokers. Try to cut back as very much as you are able to and do not smoke appropriate just before you go to bed with out brushing and rinsing with mouthwash (alcohol free.) Nearly all teeth whitening tips will caution against alcohol based mouthwash, as the alcohol can accelerate staining and has recently been found to be a feasible oral carcinogen.

3. Brush and floss at least twice per day having a soft bristle brush (tough bristle brushes are challenging in your gum line and tooth enamel), both within the morning and just before bedtime for best teeth whitening. Floss just before going to bed to clean up any gunk in between your teeth (mouthwash isn’t a suitable alternative contrary to what many people believe.)

4. Eating fruits with high citrus levels is wonderful for teeth whitening: oranges, lemon, grapefruit, etc — are all excellent for organic teeth whitening tips and are found in numerous organic whitening products. Strawberries are also identified to have whitening properties in them.

5. Baking soda, both as an ingredient within your toothpaste of selection — or straight out of the box can be a excellent normal teeth whitener. Making use of baking soda and salt are teeth whitening ideas that many individuals make use of and are wonderful for a maintenance program right after making use of a whitening product.

Sapphires & Diamonds Womens Perfume and Cologne by Elizabeth Taylor

     After experiencing lots of success as a young Anglo American actress in the 1940′s-1960′s, Elizabeth Taylor is considered an icon and one of the top 10 actresses of all time. As a young beauty, she was able to open up doors and capitalize on the opportunites that had presented themselves to her. In her latter years, she has made many tabloids with her Hollywood lifestyle, many marriages, and her close friendship with Michael Jackson. With all her success, she has also come out with an entire line of womens perfume and mens fragrances throughout her lifetime. These widely popular designer womens fragrances for women are known throughout the world and we are going to cover just about all of them today in our article

     The first womens discount perfume debuted under Elizabeth Taylors name was called Passion designer perfume for women. This fantastic womens perfume was introduced in 1987 and was an instant smash with the feminine community. With perfume notes of jasmine, woods, vanilla, moss, and & floral aroma’s, its not hard to tell why this women’s discount perfume was able to take off so quickly and was greatly loved by the feminine community. This perfume is still in circulation today and typically you can still find it a some of the major department stores. The mens cologne version called “Passion Cologne” hit the scene a few years later in 1989. This also happens to be the only mens cologne fragrance that Elizabeth decided to release. This mens cologne fragrance carries ingredients of ginger, clove oil, nutmeg, jasmine and vanilla. The ginger really sets this mens fragrance apart with just enough ginger spice to get people’s heads to turn.

     Next on the list of Elizabeth Taylor’s womens perfume was called “White Diamonds” perfume for women. Another fantastic fragrance from Elizabeth Taylor, White Diamonds discount perfume was released in 1991 and heads for a more casual type of womens scent. Fragrance perfume notes in this specific womens perfume are lily, rose, amber, oakmoss and sandalwood, making for a great fragrance that can be worn just about anytime of the day or night. White Diamonds perfume has been a great signature fragrance for women now for almost 20years!

     1993 brought about three new womens perfume fragrances from the Elizabeth Taylor line of discount fragrances. The 3 fragrances we are getting ready to write about are some of the best selling womens fragrances of all time. Diamonds & Sapphires is more of a day time scents with floral bouquet freshly cut smell of lily of the valley, jasmine, ylang-ylang, spice, and rose ingredients with later hints musk sandalwood tops it off. Number 2 included Diamonds & Rubies perfume for women. These specific womens fragrances come equipped in a clear bottle like the others covered in a red box with black and gold trim. Carrying perfume notes of lilac, rose, peach, orchid, amber and vanilla, this womens perfume makes for a fantastic evening occasion. Diamonds and Rubies makes your selection of perfume appear that, thats exactly what you have just found! 1993 also included our 3rd perfume introduced in this year called Diamonds & Pearls. A 3rd very popular fragrance for Elizabeth Taylor, this specific womens perfume is very laid back and casual with ingredients of green floral top notes with white rose, water lily and gardenia, with lower notes of carnation and jasmine to make a beautiful womens fragrance to wear anytime.

     Rising upon her success, Elizabeth Taylor launched her next womens discount perfume in 1996 called Black Pearls. Black Pearls perfume is another great designer daytime perfume fragrance with aromas like soft sweet spices, white rose, and amber, accompanied by fruity notes of fresh citrus and melons. Can’t go wrong with this one. The designer notes speak for themselves White Diamonds Sparkling perfume hit in 1999 with a more hip, blue and white box and clear bottle. More of a sparkling type of personna. Also a daytime scent, this womens fragrance resembles notes of a fresh buy yet soft fragrance which also has flowers with hints of citrus fruits. A more fruity womens fragrance. A couple of years after that, White Diamonds Brilliant perfume was introduced in 2001. Arriving in an all white box with elegant black trim, this womens perfume includes a soft, powdery floral type of scent, perfect for a night out.

     The last two of Elizabeth Taylor’s discount perfume line include “Forever Elizabeth” and “Gardenia”. The first to be debuted was Forever Elizabeth perfume which hit in 2002 with Gardenia following in ’03. Arriving in a beautiful red box with an elegant bottle design, Forever is a casual womens aroma with dewberry, amber and jasmine with creamy amber and musk, making for a feminine and soft scent. Arriving in a green box, Gardenia perfume for women is a casual fragrance with ingredients of gardenia, jasmine, lily of the valley, orchid, rose, white peony, carnation, and musk. Absolutely fantastic!

     The name Elizabeth Taylor has now been branded and built into a women’s fragrance, cologen, and cosmetic empire. Her name bill be recognized for many years to follow. A fair amount of people still swear by her products and praise her line of fragrances. Alot of the time, you can find her items at just about any name brand department like JC Penny’s, Dillard’s, or Bloomingdale’s. Also you can hop online as there are typically great deals to be found. Thats actually the only place we shop now for name brand items whether its perfume, cologne, watches, purses, or just about anything. Some reputable online discount fragrance companies that we have found include IcyFragrance.Com, DRH Fine Gifts, and PerfumeFuzion.Com. Vast inventories with fantastic pricing. They all carry Elizabeth Taylor!

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