Tag: Scar

How To Treat Arthritis Naturally

How To Treat Arthritis Naturally
Gray Rollins

Arthritis isnt anything to joke about and those who suffer from it need effective arthritis treatments. If you have arthritis, you know how painful a condition it really is. The problem with finding suitable arthritis treatments is two-fold. First, the arthritis treatments that get prescribed ultimately depend on the initial diagnosis, which is why its so important to discuss the situation with a medical practitioner. And second, many suffers cannot tolerate the side effects of NSAIDS or surgery and for this group, natural arthritis treatments really are their only options.
Natural arthritis treatments encompass any type of treatments that do not involve the use of NSAIDS or COX-2 Inhibitors. If you suffer from arthritis and youve tried these types of treatments without success, it may be time for you to research natural treatments for your arthritis. Here are a few to consider.
Physical/Heat/Massage/Relaxation Therapy
Arthritis is pain in the joint area and it can strike in any part of the body where joints exist. This pain isnt always the result of damaged joints. It can be caused by overworked tendons, a build-up of scar tissue, frayed nerves and tense muscles. These types of therapies are oftentimes effective because they generally are designed to focus on the affected area. Rubbing and kneading, applying heat, or using a walker or other type of device designed to improve mobility and posture can all help to promote improved blood circulation and loosen overly tight areas. The goal of these types of therapies is to work on the root of the pain and hopefully, after repeated treatments if necessary, make the pain disappear permanently.
General Exercise
In a total reversal of what was thought to be true decades ago, doctors today frequently prescribe exercise as an effective natural arthritis treatment. Regular exercise is also an effective preventative measure against arthritis. When people dont exercise, their muscles weaken and become stiff and this leads to the type of pain associated later on with arthritis. Cardiovascular exercises, light strength training exercises, and range-of-motion exercises (stretching) all produce positive results. http://www.arthritisnatural.com/relievingarthritispain/
Water exercises
Hydrotherapy or water exercises, work by immersing the body into tanks or pools that have been filled with warm water. Once inside, the patient performs resistance-type exercises to hopefully alleviate the pain. This type of a workout is physically intensive so it should always be performed in a supervised setting.
Controversial Alternatives
Search the web and youll find an abundance of products that claim to be natural arthritis treatments. Among the more popular are Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Manganese, MSM, Niacinamidem, Tumeric and Ginger extract. Promoters of these naturally-occurring ingredients claim they reduce inflammation, slow the aging process, and promote joint repair. Before spending a lot of money purchasing products containing these ingredients, and especially before taking these or any other products that claim they are natural arthritis treatments, discuss the benefits of each with a doctor or someone you trust who knows more than you do about natural remedies. You might find that making some changes to your diet is just as effective a treatment.

About The Author

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for http://www.arthritisnatural.com. For more information about arthritis treatments, please visit http://www.arthritisnatural.com/arthritispainrelieftips/.

Arthritis: Causes, Treatments and Prevention

Arthritis: Causes, Treatments and Prevention
Natalie Katsman

Arthritis: Causes, Treatments and PreventionBy Natalie Katsman http://www.natural-aid.comArthritis affects about 40% of Americans and about 50% of people worldwide. This ailment is more common than cancer and heart problems and dates back thousands years. It is believed that the famous Roman baths were created not only for hygiene purposes, but to help ancient people ease the aches and pains in the joints. What is happening and why?There are two most common forms of arthritis: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. RA is an autoimmune disorder when the body attacks its own cells, which often results in joint destruction. OA is wear and tear arthritis that comes with age or because of improper diet or lifestyle. Cartilage, the joint lining, that acts as a shock absorber consists of water and though protein fibers, collagen. Collagen matrix, that gives cartilage its strength and shape, is insulated by a net of proteglucans. They are filled with water to protect and nourish the cartilage. Proteglucans are long molecular chains that include glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate – two important building blocks. Glucosamine is essential to production of water-binding proteins in cartilage, and chondroitin sulfates draw fluids that provide the ease of movement and attract nutrients for cartilage repair. Injury, wear, corrosive enzymes can damage this protection, and cartilage loses the ability to repair itself. It gradually deteriorates and forms clefs and crevices that impede movement and cause pain.Traditional approach to treating joint pain is well known: the pain is suppressed with NASDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.). Calming the symptoms, these drugs simply mask the problem, while the joints keep deteriorating.Luckily, there are other ways to deal with arthritis. Research shows that supplementing your body with the two important cartilage building elements – Glucosamine and Chondroitin – can aid in joint restoration. Another useful nutrient is MSM (methyl-sulfonyl-methane) – a form of sulfur found in many common foods: fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and eggs. MSM helps to relieve pain and inflammation in joints and muscles. In addition, it boosts blood supply, lessens muscle spasms and softens scar tissue.Capsium – cayenne pepper extract (Yes! That hot spice!) has been found to be helpful in arthritis pain relief. Emu Oil – due to its small molecular weight, Emu Oil easily penetrates skin membrane and delivers its soothing relief to sore joints. Its anti-inflammatory properties make preparations with Emu Oil more and more popular among health professionals and sportsmen. Last but not least, your lifestyle and habits can help you avoid the discomfort. Folks who maintain their body in shape and enjoy an active lifestyle have much smaller risk to develop osteoarthritis. OA hits weight-bearing joints first. If joints have to manage extra weight, the cartilage is worn out faster than it can repair itself.Despite the belief that osteoarthritis sufferers should not exercise, research proves the opposite. Moderate exercise helps to keep joints healthy. Even if they are already affected by arthritis, making them work stimulates the restoration process. Here is a small exercise you can do to keep your knee joints in shape: Bend your knees as if you were going to do at sit-up. Keeping your knees close together, move them in circular motions clockwise and then in reverse direction.You might not feel like moving when your arthritis reminds of itself with burning pain, but a combination of diet, moderate exercise, supplements and topical preparations can prevent it and allow you to enjoy your favorite activities. Disclaimer: The above statements were not evaluated by the FDA. Always consult your doctor for professional advice. (C) Natalie Katsman, 2003 About the Author
Natalie Katsman is a co-founder of http://www.natural-aid.com, where you can find fine quality aloe vera products for beauty and well-being and subscribe to HealthySkin Newsletter filled with beauty tips, recipes and information on herbal healing, skin care and cosmetic chemistry.

Refute Acne Myths & Proceed Towards Acne Free Life!

There is a good old story. The fox jumped after the bunch of grapes several times and finally when it could not get it, it said that the grapes are sour!

I have a question for acne-researchers. You say that acne is not a disease at all!
If it is not a disease, then, what are you treating for? Why these galaxy of medicines and lotions are mounting the windows of drug stores? And what about those scar-problems, that one has to face?

Now, dont say there is no scar at all! Just because, your search and research is unable to get at it, do not deny its existence! Can you say that Malaria fever comes and goes after 7 days? Dont you treat it as Malaria, when you get the attack?

Acne, which is also known as pimples or zits, is reported to be perfectly normal part of growing up. If it is part and parcel of the life of youth, why everybody does not get it? It is in the fitness of things to study the available facts about acne, and get and follow the precautions to prevent acne. Dont you agree that prevention is better than cure?

Certain precautions need to become part of your life, before this myth becomes a reality! The required precautions are:

1. Avoid tight clothes, especially during summer time. They are known to cause body acne by trapping sweat.

2. Use a sun-blocker by wearing a hat.

3. Dab the face dry carefully.

4. Use make up that do not clog pores.

5. Thoroughly understand the nature and practical use of the soaps, lotions, gels, creams that you are using. Dont get carried away by high-flown advertisements. The models get well-paid for their job, but let it be not at your cost.

6. Try to cure your acne condition naturally. Think well, what works for you and what does not.

7. It is not our nostrils alone, the skin also breathes, with millions of pores in it all over the body. Now do you say body hygiene in relation to acne is a myth? Researchers in the not too distant future may come out with facts, that this myth is also a myth! Be in the know how; the affirmation and refutation in the scientific circles, all with proofs relevant to that period time, was going on, is going on and will go on!

8. You must protect your skin from forming new bacteria that cause the breakouts. Use benzoyl peroxide to penetrate pores.

9. Dont pick your skin because it can cause bacteria to go deeper in to the skin.

10. Eat plenty of fruits and seasonal vegetables.

11. Exercise regularly.

The facial topography of every person is different, so of the skin. Give it the proper regimen so that it can live a smooth life without bothering you, the person.

Never hesitate to meet your dermatologist, if you have the slightest doubt that it is changing its true color!

Acne Scarring 101

When acne heals or when treated by a dermatologist, there are some instances when it will leave some scarring on skin. This is especially true with acne that appears on the later stages of life. Adult skin does not have a store of collagen that helps the skin heal and regenerate. Scarring may also occur when the acne is quite severe. This is because the problem is more intensive, cutting through the skin with more depth than what is usually seen with acne that are only on the surface.

A scar may initially appear as reddish in appearance. After a white, when the skin heals and try to regenerate, the scar will become lighter, sometimes turning white, several shades lighter than the skin tone. There may be pain sometimes, even irritation. Itching is of course not uncommon because as the skin heals, the wound dries up. Sometimes, there may also be some inflammation, swelling and redness.

Normally, only nodules and cystic acne types result in scarring. However, there are people who are more prone to scarring than others. With these people, even the common lesions may result in scarring if not treated well. This is why it is important that people have their acne treated even at the initial stages to prevent scarring and permanent damage to the skin.

Basically, there are two kinds of acne. One kind is the one caused by the increase in tissue formation while the other is caused by the loss of tissue on the skin. The former is what people call keloids, which does not look like your usual scar. Keloids are bumps of skin that resemble a pimple, forming even after the wound has already healed. It can even form on the surrounding healthy tissue. Keloid scarring is actually quite rare and only affects people who have family history of it.

Hypertrophic scars, on the other hand, form above the skin level and appear as bulges and bumps on the skin. Because of this, some people do not think of it as scars but rather pimples that have not yet healed.

The more usual scars are the deep and shallow kind that resembles small crevices on the skin. These are called the Atrophic scars, which are formed below the skin level. There are several types of these kind of scar depending on the shape that it forms on the skin. The ice pick scars, which is the most common, is characterized by deep pits that form v-shapes on the skin. Another form is the boxed scars that are usually seen on temple and cheeks. They are angularly shaped, almost similar to the ones gotten in chicken pox. They can be either superficial or deep depending on the severity of the acne condition. The rolling scar, on the other hand, is the kind that gives the skin a wave-like appearance.

Scarring can actually be treated depending on the severity of the scarring problem, your skin type and of course the type of scars that you have. Sometimes, the location of the scars will also affect the treatment. Often, scarring at the back and at the chest are more difficult to treat compared to those found on the face.

There are a lot of treatment procedures available for scarring such as corticosteroid injections and cryosurgery. Surgical procedures may also be done to remove the scarring as well as x-ray therapy.