About the most effective natural treatment of irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a chronic gastrointestinal disease that can be characterized by recurrent abdominal pains, changes in bowel habits and bowel movements, intermittent diarrhea, or, on the contrary, constipation. It also leads to such symptoms as cramping, flatulence, bloating, vomiting, etc.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is very annoying and causes tremendous health damage. IBS can result in weight imbalance, obesity, or malnutrition. Irritable Bowel Syndrome spoils the beauty of your skin and hair and increases the amount of toxic substance in the organism. Moreover, Irritable Bowel Syndrome is often accompanied by such medical conditions (comorbidities), which can occur with different extent of frequency and intensity in IBS patients. They include: headaches, fibromyalgia, depression, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, endometriosis, etc.

IBS most commonly affects people between the ages of twenty and thirty. Women suffer from IBS as twice as often then men. There are different patterns of IBS, which include diarrhea-predominant (IBS-D), constipation-predominant (IBS-C), IBS with alternating stool pattern (IBS-A). There’s also the so called post-infectious IBS (IBS-PI).

Classifying The Types Of Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine can be defined as any form of therapy, practice or treatment which is outside the mainstream or beyond the realm of the conventional.

More generally it can be defined as any approach or medicine which differs from conventional Western forms. Alternative medicine is often talked about in conjunction with Complementary Therapy and the umbrella term Complementary & Alternative Medicine or CAM is used.

As a general guide some of the more mainstream CAMs are acupuncture, acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, homoeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage therapy, naturopathy, reiki, reflexology & Yoga.

Alternative medicine in the UK is growing year on year and in 2006 it generated expenditure of 1.6 billion pounds. Large numbers of people choose to seek out alternative forms of medicine subsequent to a diagnosis from their GP or other traditional route. However in the main, research shows that people tend to use CAMs in parallel with conventional medicine. There is often resistance from GPs to recommend or refer a patient to an alternative therapy where they consider empirical evidence to be limited or non-conclusive and the research methods are not always standardised as with traditional medicine. There are also often funding issues relating to onward referrals within the NHS.

However, the CAM sector is responding to this criticism by adopting the standard research methods & evidence provision in line with the medical establishments traditional methods. This is largely assisting with the rapid growth of this multi-layered industry, alongside the continually growing wealth of positive empirical evidence.

Generally speaking CAM's can be organised into five key areas, although it should be noted that there are number of areas where these overlap. These areas are -

Whole Medical Systems (WMS)

WHMS have been developed in the West - often with it roots in other medicine systems. Examples of this type of system are Naturopathy - helping or stimulating the body's own in-built healing system by improving diet & lifestyle in conjunction with other CAMs such as acupuncture and massage. A good non Western parallel to this system is Chinese Medicine as is Ayurveda which hails from India and takes the holistic approach of treating the mind body & spirit via massage, yoga, herbs & meditation.

Another WMS which developed in recent years in the West is Homeopathy the practice of stimulating the healing system of the body by delivering minute amounts of certain elements or substances which in much higher doses would be detrimental or dangerous to a patient's health.

Hand Dermatitis Treatment Tip

Hand dermatitis (also known as hand eczema) often results from a combination of causes, including genetic makeup (constitutional factors), injury (contact with irritants) and allergy. This condition is usually multi-factorial. The skin can react to the inflammation by forming scales. Fissures can then develop and these can be quite painful. The majority of individuals who have irritant dermatitis (75% of all cases of hand dermatitis) will produce this through contact with detergents, cleansers, water, metals, food or rubber. Hand dermatitis is particularly common in industries involving cleaning, catering, metalwork, hairdressing, healthcare and mechanical work. Hand dermatitis varies in severity. It may affect the backs of the hands, the palms or both sites.

Often it starts as a mild intermittent complaint, but it can become increasingly severe and persistent. The affected skin initially becomes red and dry, then progresses to itchy papules (bumps) and fluid-filled blisters (vesicles), scaling, cracking (fissures), weeping (exudation) and swelling (oedema). Hand dermatitis can spread to affect other sites, particularly the forearms and feet. Emotional stresses make hand dermatitis worse, especially the type known as pompholyx in which crops of very itchy vesicles erupt on the palms. Some people are more prone to hand dermatitis than others. They often have a personal or family history of atopic dermatitis, asthma or hay fever. Friction and repetitive injury also damage the skin. Irritants result in much more damage once dermatitis has become established

To treat hand dermatitis, you must avoid contact with the substance that irritates your skin. Protect your hands from direct contact with soaps, detergents, scouring powders, and similar irritating chemicals by wearing waterproof, cotton lined, gloves. Topical steroids to reduce inflammation. These come in various strengths and should only be applied to areas of active dermatitis once or twice daily. Avoid the temptation of using very hot water even if wearing gloves. Wear cotton gloves to do general house work as they can be washed instead of washing your hands too often. Cortisone ointments are used treat severe cases of hand dermatitis.

Mud Gloves are good for working outside if you have hand dermatitis. Use a mild soap (Dove, Basis, Olay, Cetaphil) or a soap substitute.

Hand Dermatitis Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Use a long handled brush for washing the dishes

2. Avoid direct contact with turpentine, paint thinner and paints.

3. Avoid the temptation of using very hot water even if wearing gloves.

4. Keep hand washing to a minimum, keep water temperature luke warm

5. Avoid harsh or scented soaps, soapless cleansers may be the best to use.

6. Apply moisturizers after washing, ointments that are clear and sticky seem to work the best.

7. Avoid heating or cooling the skin, sweating within rubber gloves alone can worsen the dermatitis.

8. Wear cotton gloves to do general house work as they can be washed instead of washing your hands too often.

Vitamins To Regrow Hair

Hair care assumes increasing importance as men age. Hair fall, gradual lessening in hair regrowth, conditions like Androgenetic Alopecia etc, are noticed with advancing age, especially in the period between 18-35 years. The body's natural hair regeneration fails to keep up with the quantum of hair loss. As a result receding hairlines, widows peaks, bald patches are noticed more and more.

It is but natural to resort to hair regrow products and vitamins to regrow hair. The shop shelves stock a lot of products to address male hair loss. While some are available in topical solution form, some are available as pills. Many of these products available on prescription as well as over the counter come with their own side effects.

Hair loss is predominantly caused by Androgenetic Alopecia, a condition characterized by abnormal quantities of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp. 5-Alpha Reductase, a naturally produced enzyme in the body processes testosterone in to DHT. DHT blockers address this issue and help control hair loss due to DHT.

Vitamins to regrow hair and stimulate hair production and follicle regeneration are present in some hair regrowth products that combine them with DHT blockers.

Classifying The Types Of Alternative Medicine Posted By : Shaun Parker

Alternative medicine can be defined as any form of therapy, practice or treatment which is outside the mainstream or beyond the realm of the conventional.

More generally it can be defined as any approach or medicine which differs from conventional Western forms. Alternative medicine is often talked about in conjunction with Complementary Therapy and the umbrella term Complementary & Alternative Medicine or CAM is used.

As a general guide some of the more mainstream CAMs are acupuncture, acupuncture, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, homoeopathy, hypnotherapy, massage therapy, naturopathy, reiki, reflexology & Yoga.

Alternative medicine in the UK is growing year on year and in 2006 it generated expenditure of 1.6 billion pounds. Large numbers of people choose to seek out alternative forms of medicine subsequent to a diagnosis from their GP or other traditional route. However in the main, research shows that people tend to use CAMs in parallel with conventional medicine. There is often resistance from GPs to recommend or refer a patient to an alternative therapy where they consider empirical evidence to be limited or non-conclusive and the research methods are not always standardised as with traditional medicine. There are also often funding issues relating to onward referrals within the NHS.

However, the CAM sector is responding to this criticism by adopting the standard research methods & evidence provision in line with the medical establishments traditional methods. This is largely assisting with the rapid growth of this multi-layered industry, alongside the continually growing wealth of positive empirical evidence.