Tag: FDA

Acupuncture and Arthritis

Acupuncture and Arthritis
JR Rogers

We have talked about acupuncture before. However, it has been some time ago and I wanted to bring this up and add some interesting points.Arthritis PainIt is no secret that I favor the use of a high-quality liquid Glucosamine to deal with the pain of arthritis. And, I make that recommendation for both humans and pets. Given the recent news stories regarding the use of NSAID’s, it is certainly a safer and in most cases, equally effective way to handle your pain.New studies using AcupunctureI recently read some information about clinical studies that used acupuncture on arthritis patients. For those of you not that familiar with acupuncture, it is the ancient Chinese technique of inserting (very) thin needles in strategic locations in your body. It is a practice that has been used for about 2,000 years so we cannot discard it.Clinical studiesIn December of 2004, a study that as funded by the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and reported in the Annals of Internal Medicine regarding the use of acupuncture.What the researchers said was that of some 570 study participants in the study had less pain than those who received what they called “sham acupuncture.” A similar study reported in the British Medical Journal reported similar results. (That study used a combination of acupuncture and an NSAID)For those not familiar with the term “sham acupuncture” (I was not) it means that study participants received what they “thought” was acupuncture but it was not. The patients were simply unable to determine that needles were being inserted.If you need more this might be the answerI continue to recommend the use of a high-quality liquid Glucosamine for dealing with arthritis pain. Generally, you are going to get the desired result without the need to do more.And, I am the first to recognize that acupuncture is not necessarily an option for everyone and in fact, it is not available in many areas. However, if you suffer from osteoarthritis, you should be aware that there are options available to you.I think that it would be a rare case where someone would have to take this extra step. However, these clinical studies confirm that it has helped with arthritis problems and for that reason alone, you need to be aware of it. About the Author
JR Rogers is the owner of Synflex America Inc. makers of Syn-flex, a premium glucosamine arthritis formula for humans and household pets.The author’s statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not provided to diagnose or to suggest that liquid glucosamine and chondroitin will treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Spray Tanning On The Rise Not Just Celebrities

Probably thanks in no small part to celebrities, the appeal of spray tanning seems to be on the rise. As with most things, there can be pros and cons to getting this type of tan.

In this article I will give you both the pros and cons to spray tanning as well as a general overview of how it’s done and some things you can do to prepare your skin so the results are more effective and attractive.

Tanning this way means that you are literally being sprayed all over your body, with a compound that is comprised of an element that darkens your skin, DHA. DHA has been declared safe by the FDA for this type of use, which is one of the biggest “pros” to this type of tan.

Even so, you do need to be very careful around the eyes.

Since this is basically just a temporary stain you are adding to your skin, it does not have the same long lasting, harmful effects that UV rays have. Whether you get those rays in a tanning bed or at the beach, UV rays can lead to pre mature aging of the skin and possibly even skin cancer.

Even a little exposure to UV rays can cause problems. There really is no “safe” amount of rays though it is generally accepted that moderate amounts over a lifetime, particularly if you don’t ever get sun burnt, is probably not too big of a cause for alarm for most people.

Of course, there are those people who have a pre disposition to cancers of all types, not just skin cancer, and for those individuals even more caution is needed.

Anyway, back to spray tanning. You can do it at home or at local tanning salon. If you do it at home you will probably want to enlist the help of a friend since it can be tough to target all parts of your body on your own.

To increase the effectiveness here are some tips:

1. First of all pick the proper shade for your skin tone. If you are very fair skinned and you try to go ultra dark you may find it looks weird. Instead, try to take your skin up a few steps in color only.

2. Shaving before you get your tan may be a good idea since it is recommended that you don’t shave for at least 24 hours after the tan is applied.

If you get rashy after you shave, you may want to shave at least 24 hours prior to your tanning session to make sure that the rash settles down first.

2. Use an exfoliating wash prior to your tan. Getting rid of as much dried skin as possible and moisturizing afterward can make your skin smoother and less susceptible to looking “blotchy”.

Pay particular attention to those parts of your body that are rough such as elbows and feet. Making these as smooth as possible will also help ensure that they look good after the the tan is applied.

3. Be prepared to repeat the process every week or so. The tan does wash off and will fade over time. That is one of the biggest “cons”; tanning this way can end up being time consuming and costly to keep your tan looking good all season long.

Spray tanning is not without it’s issues, but for anyone who likes that “sun kissed” look it may be a better way to get that look then spending countless hours damaging your skin in the sun.

Injection For Tanning-Newest Beauty Fads

One of the newest “beauty” fads that seems to be popping up is the use of injection for tanning. Supposedly, these injections will help promote a rich dark tan without exposure to the sun.

In some cases, since you don’t need to go out in the sun (again, supposedly) they are being billed as a safer alternative to tanning or tanning beds. But are they really safe? Is this really a viable alternative to those of us who like the way we look with a nice glowing tan?

According to the research I did when writing this article I would say no. At the very minimum, there is not enough long term data to definitively say that an injection for tanning is safe.

Whenever you are dealing with chemicals, especially those that are being introduced directly into the body by the bloodstream, it can take a long time for potential side effects to show up.

The longer the use, and the more people using it, the sooner any possible negative side effects will show up. But in the beginning, it may seem like these products are safe when it fact they are not.

As far as I could tell, there is not one governing body, like the FDA for example, in any country that has said that these types of injections are ok and safe.

The research I did interviewed many dermatologists and doctors and everyone of them advised not to use this type of tanning method. To a doctor they stated that it was just too early to know whether or not this would be safe for the long term.

Another thing to take into consideration is since these products are sold exclusively online you don’t know what you are getting. Another real concern these doctors had was just what was in this injection?

With no oversight, the manufacturers could be putting pretty much anything in the injection that they wanted.

This was one of the biggest reasons that all the doctors I saw were against using this product. Just like many illegal drugs are laced with potentially toxic, deadly chemicals, these injections could be too.

The actual injection can vary significantly from one site to another and no one knows what is in the vial of liquid that you will be introducing directly into your bloodstream. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be pale than to shoot some unknown substance into my bloodstream!

The other more conventional tanning methods like sun bathing, tanning booths and even spray on tans are certainly not without risks, but at least we know what those risks are and we aren’t adding chemicals directly into our bodies.

If I were you, I’d stick with the comparatively safe alternatives listed above rather than using pills or injection to get a tan. Better the risk you know about than those you can’t see coming.

Injection for tanning at this stage of the game is a very bad idea in my opinion. We all want to look good and I like the way I look with a tan as much as anyone, but it sure isn’t worth dying over.

What to Know about Stress and Anxiety Medication

Many people believe that they need to take medication in order to alleviate the amount of stress and anxiety in their lives. This may or may not be true in your case.

To Take or Not to Take Medication
Remember that you always have a choice between taking medication or not to reduce the amount of stress and anxiety youre presently suffering from. There are natural ways of combating stress and anxiety but they of course take a longer time to become affective. Medications on the other hand can produce faster results but at the same time, expose you to higher risks. You may have an allergic reaction to the medication or it has several side effects that hadnt yet been discovered. Lastly, you risk becoming addicted or overly dependent on the medication which is another illness as itself.

The Types of Medication
Most medication prescribed for people suffering from stress and anxiety are of the oral variety: pills, tablets and capsules. These medications naturally have varying weights and whether or not you have to take a 500mg pill is entirely based on the severity of your situation.

What to Remember When Taking Medication for Stress and Anxiety
Consult your physician first, preferably one who has access to your medical records. See if he gives you the go ahead to take medication for your condition.

Read and follow the instructions carefully and completely. Do not take the role of a pharmacist and become innovative with the dosage. Theres a logical reason behind the prescription given to you and it is more often than not for your own good.

Never purchase or change medication without securing your physicians approval first. If that is impossible, have the FDA or Food and Drug Authority verify if the contents of the pill is not harmful in any way to the human body and are truly effective.

If youre not satisfied with your present medication, you can always browse online for a medication that you think will perform better. Ask for recommendations from trusted friends and relatives.

Do not be impatient when its your first time to try a particular medication or your first time at all to try any medication for stress and anxiety. These things take time so do show a little more patience.

What about Therapy
If the painkillers and all the colorful pills arent causing things to turn out for the better, you may wish to consider other alternatives to resolve your present situation.

Could it be Something Else?
Did you simply assume that you were suffering from stress and anxiety? It could be something more serious and if so, that may be why the medications arent enough to make the headaches go away.

Maybe Youre Meant for the Natural Way
Its possible. Some bodies just respond better to natural healing ingredients. The simple act of walking, for instance, is a relaxing and enlivening activity that could be your best chance to get rid of unwanted stress and anxiety.

Consider Going Out
Its not like running away from your problems. Rather, youre just taking some time off to put more things into perspective. Book a flight or ride to a place where only few people know who you are and where you can live in relative comfort. Stay until youre feeling relaxed and ready to take on the world once more.