The symptoms of winter depression are tendency to over eat, craving for carbohydrates and sweets and weight gain.

Had our ancestors observed this change in humans? The answer is yes. Have they recommended any remedies? Yes, they have recommended simple and effective natural remedies to overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder. They have laid down explicit guidelines about diet and lifestyles which have to be followed according to seasons.

The winter season is marked as Hemanta ritu and Sisira ritu in ayurveda. Hemanta ritu starts from mid November and ends in mid January. This falls in southern solstice which is called as visarga kala or dakshinayana in ayurveda. Sisira ritu starts from mid January and lasts till middle of march. Sisira ritu falls in Northern solstice which is called as Aadana kaala or uttaraayana.

The response of human body to this season is very well explained in ayurveda. People will have increased strength and their digestion capacity is increased .This is marked by increased hunger. These symptoms are caused by increased body fire which is supported by vata. Vata inside  body increases in winter because of cold and dryness which is prevalent in outer atmosphere.
The winter time depression is noticed mostly in persons who have vata as major constituent in their prakriti or body constitution. The cause for this type of change is longer nights of winter.

Light therapy is recommended by doctors for winter time blues. Exposure to artificial light may cause headache , Irritability ,Eye strain , Inability to sleep and fatigue. Exposure to sunlight and if sunlight is not available sitting near fireplace is the remedy suggested in Ayurveda.

Keeping the home well lit with lights help to reduce the intensity of depression.

Moderate exercise like yoga is another remedy for winter depression. Ayurveda recommends oil massage (abhyanga)  to body and head (moordha taila.). Indulging in sexual act to keep the moods elevated and to keep the body warm is another strongly suggested ayurvedic remedy.

Meeting friends who are kind and understanding boosts morale and brightens up the day. Spending time with friends on the beach helps to expose your body to sunlight and keeps your spirits high.

Relaxing with meditation, massage , light music and laughter helps to great extent.

The following ayurvedic tips help to prevent and reduce the intensity of seasonal disorder of winter, the winter time blues.
1.    Expose yourself to sunlight as much as you can. In absence of sun light sitting near fire place is very helpful.

2.    Massage your body with vata balancing herbal oil (abhyanga). Never forget to apply oil on your head (moordha taila.).

3.    Then remove the oil by taking hot water bath. A mixture of  flours of yellow gram (channa), green gram (moong) , fenu greek seeds (methi)  in equal proportion is the best herbal scrub which can be used to remove the oil. This mixture prevents the washing of natural oil from skin.

4.    Consume hot soups.

5.    Use vata balancing foods like wheat, oil, corn, black gram and jaggery.

6.    Tickle your taste buds with sweet, sour and salt tastes

7.    Always use hot water for all daily routine activity.

8.    Use thick blankets and sheets made of cotton, silk and wool.

9.    Always wear foot wear.

10.    Spend your leisure time with friends and relatives whom you like.

There are numerous simple recipes illustrated in Ayurveda to correct many disorders. Here are few gruel recipes which are strongly recommended in digestive disorders. These are simple and effective remedies which can be prepared easily at home to correct the digestive disorder and also to replenish the lost nutrients.

Gruel recipes

1.    In Indigestion

Ingredients:

Rice-1/2 cup
Water -4 cups
Long pepper- 2or 3
Ginger -1’’
Method of preparation:
Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with crushed ginger and salt. Powder long pepper and fry it in a spoon of cow’s ghee and add it to gruel. Consume this when it hot. This is very light to digest and relieves colic pain.

2.    In Diarrhea

Ingredients:

Rice -1/2 cup
Water – 4 cups
Ginger paste – 1/2 spoon
Salt to taste
Pomegranate juice: ½ cup

Method of preparation

1.    Cook rice with recommended quantity of water with ginger paste and salt
2.    Add pomegranate juice when the gruel is warm.  This gruel rehydrates body and supply energy . This soothes inflamed walls of intestine and controls bowel movements.

3.    In flatulence

Ingredients:
½ cup of rice
4 cups of water
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) – powder-1/2 spoon
Roots of pippali or long pepper
Ginger paste -1/2 spoon salt to taste
Method of preparation
Cook Rice, haritaki powder , roots of pippali and water together. Add salt to it.Consume this when it is warm. This relieves flatulence and regularizes the bowel movement

4.    In indigestion due to over consumption of oily food

Ingredients:

½ cup rice
4 cups of water
Butter milk – 1 cup
Salt to taste
Method of preparation
Cook rice water and salt together. Add a cup of butter milk when it is little warm and consume it . This relieves indigestion, nausea and corrects digestion.

The minority who do find their lives blighted by these conditions can often be found to be suffering from one or all of the following: self harm and potentially suicidal thoughts, insomnia, lack of sex drive, inactivity and tiredness, and lack of concentration.

Certainly where someone is feeling so anxious or depressed that the medical profession would categorize them as clinically depressed or anxious immediate help should be sought from a professional. However where someone is suffering from a milder form of anxiety then there may be alternatives to the common anti-depressant drugs that often appear to make things worse for less serious cases. Alternative treatments could include herbs for anxiety and depression, although it is always wise to seek medical help before starting any herbal medications, especially if you are already taking any other forms of medication.

Popular herbs for anxiety and depression include St. Johns Wort, Kava, Passion Flower, Ginseng and SAM-e, and many have reported positive benefits to taking these herbs. St. Johns Wort probably has the largest body of supporting evidence and is widely used. Again remember that you should consult your physician before taking any medication, even herbal, and do not take multiple herbal remedies at the same time without consultation with a professional.

There exists a significant problem in taking herbs for anxiety and depression, and other ailments, and that is that unlike other medications government and international drug regulation agencies are not required to test and approve their use. This can mean that drugs could become available that have unforeseen side effects. However many herbs have been used in medical applications for much longer than their modern chemical counterparts and so there exists a large body of admittedly anecdotal evidence backing their medicinal properties.

The critical point to remember is that there are no guarantees with herbal treatments, and care must be taken to ensure you are not exposing yourself to additional problems and side effects. There is little doubt a herbal substitute for a conventional drug, used in moderation, should provide some relief with less of the addictive dangers associated with prescription meds, but it cannot always be assumed that herbs will be a safer option. Do not assume they are a miracle cure and always take heed of the dosage recommendations.

There are a lot of people that are diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and experience swelling of the joints in the body.  This will include the wrists, knees, back, elbows, and fingers.  This condition will also bring gray areas of skin that are very dry around the knees, elbows and lower back.  The people that are suffering from the condition will often have fingers that appear sausage like and pitted nails or cuts around the fingernails.  The cause of the condition is not known but experts think that a combination of genetic predispositions and the environment play roles in the development of psoriatic arthritis.  You can find these problems at any age and with any gender or race.  The most common age for psoriatic arthritis will start between age 20 and 50.

This is a condition that is tricky because the patients are dealing with the two fused diseases.  One is of the skin and the one of the joints.  It is important to talk to your doctor or have another medical professional helping you with treatments.  There are many drugs that can have a negative reaction to it.  There are different options other than medication that you can use to treat this disease.  Some exercises will work well with those patients that have swelling in their joints.  You can also have skin therapy to treat psoriatic parts of the disease.  Heat and cold can be used to treat psoriatic arthritis. Rest is very important too. Using splints and surgery are not usually used but the options are available for more of the extreme conditions.  Cosmetically this is a disease that can be treated with laser surgery light treatment.  There are other corrective cosmetic surgeries too.  You can talk to our doctor to find out more on this disease and your options for treatments.

Why Does Your Depression Keep Coming Back?

There are a number of reasons why symptoms of depression may persist despite taking medication. One of these reasons may be because patients don’t always remember to tell their doctors about all the symptoms they’re experiencing. For example, patients may talk to their doctors when they feel down or depressed and are looking for relief. They may not talk about the times when they’ve felt really good or energetic. In fact, patients often think about these times as their “good times” or “normal times.” This is important information that can help your doctor make a correct diagnosis and provide treatment that may help you feel better.

Help Your Doctor Help You

Getting a correct diagnosis is the first step to finding a treatment that is right for you. Bipolar depression is a form of depression that requires a different kind of treatment. If you have questions about bipolar depression, be sure to talk with your doctor. Several treatments, including some new medications, along with support from your doctor, can help people manage their symptoms over time.

What Is Bipolar Depression?

Bipolar depression is one part of bipolar disorder, a chronic-but treatable-illness. Sufferers usually have episodes of depression (”lows”) and episodes of increased energy, racing thoughts or anxiety (”highs”). Untreated bipolar depression can affect an individual’s ability to function at work, participate in social activities and maintain relationships. Getting an accurate diagnosis and the correct treatment can help patients with bipolar depression manage their symptoms and lead productive lives.

Phentermine offers a potent solution to the problem of excess weight. Phentermine belongs to the class of drugs called anorectics. These have been tested to decrease cravings for food by making changes in the serotonin levels in brain. Serotonin is considered to regulate mood, sleep, sexuality and appetite.

Phentermine today has become one of the most popular weight loss drugs. Today, around 50% of the drugs of this variety have phentermine as a major ingredient. Its use as a short term management of obesity is well accepted. People, who are at increased medical risk because of their obesity, i.e. suffering from diseases and need immediate relief, will find phentermine quite helpful. However, experts will advise against the use of phentermine for purely cosmetic weight loss.

Seeing the excellent track record of phentermine, it will not be wrong to say that the search for a magic weight loss pill has come to an end. It works miraculously in weight reduction and preventing further increase in weight. These drugs, normally prescribed for a shorter period say 12 weeks, work effectively in such small span of time as well.

So how does one proceed in procuring phentermine? As with any drugs, it will be important for the patient (the overweight person) to get medical counselling before use of phentermine. The doctors will diagnose if the drug will not produce any side effects. People who are undergoing medication for heart problems are advised against its use.

For people who are hesitant to contact a medical specialist or have time problems, internet has a solution. Now free online consultation is available online. The web is also a large resource of phentermine drugs. The user may specify his requirements, compare price and make the order; all these without even leaving his seat. More and more pharmaceutical companies are setting shop online.

Phentermine is available in the form of tablets or capsules, often in various colours and in strengths of 15, 30 and 37.5 milligram. The tablet or capsule must be taken once daily on an empty stomach.

The downside of phentermine too needs to be discussed to give a balanced view of the subject. Phentermine has been associated with temporary side effects such as dizziness, dry mouth, sleeplessness, irritability, difficulty in urinating etc. It is also known to addict the user. Such addiction may make the temporary side effects permanent.

In spite of these drawbacks, there is no scarcity in the number of people going for phentermine. Till such time a new drug comes to substitutes it, phentermine will continue to be in much demand.

There are various symptoms associated with the condition, with the number dependent on the severity of the condition. Some sufferers develop corns and hard skin under the sole of their feet and the arch area can also become tender. Most flat-footed individuals tend go through shoes pretty quickly. In extreme cases some patients may experience calf, knee, hip and back pains.

What causes flat feet?

Flat-footedness may be hereditary so check your family history. It may also be the result of abnormal walking conditions caused by incorrect development of the foot.

A ruptured tendon may also cause flat-footedness. Cerebral palsy, spina bifida and muscular dystrophy can also result in a flat foot condition. Suffering from flat feet can lead directly to arch pain.

Some ways to treat flat footedness include:

• Wearing wider size shoes
• Never self-treat secondary lesions
• Buy high quality insoles to take the pressure and pain away from the arch.

Traditionally, insoles (also called orthotics) are plastic inserts that are placed inside the shoe. The insert cups the heel as well supports the arch, but since they aren’t flexible they don’t extend along the full length of the foot. These types of insoles are uncomfortable and ineffective for most flat-footed persons.

Although, older style insoles forced the arch into its correct position they didn’t relieve the pressure that was forcing the arch to collapse. This is the reason why new and better flexible insoles were created. Theses new breed of insoles are incredibly supportive and provide a stable treatment for flat-footed patients. But before buying insoles it would be best to consult your doctor to discuss what type of insoles are right for your unique situation.

What is arch pain?

Arch pain refers to inflammation or a burning sensation right in the arch area of the foot. The plantar fascia, a broad band of fibrous tissue found at the bottom of the foot may become inflamed leading to arch pain.

The treatments for arch pain include avoiding high-heeled shoes, and trying some high quality insoles to remove pressure (and pain) from the arch.

An best insole for arch pain is one that offers foot support and helps correct posture and body mechanics. These types of soles are intended to prevent foot strain and injury. It also keeps feet from rolling inward, which can result in the entire lower body being out of alignment. Moreover, these types of soles cure the underlying cause of arch pain and help to restore the natural arch of the foot.

If you think you have any of the foot problems discussed here, consult your own doctor for the treatments that will be best for your unique situation.

Each type of mature blood cells has specific traits and roles inside the body. White blood cells or leukocytes have an important role in the immune system, contributing to overcome infections. White blood cells also help in healing flesh wounds and cuts. Red blood cells or erythrocytes contain hemoglobin, which has a great importance in transporting oxygen to the cells within the organism. Red blood cells are vital for the process of cell respiration, carrying oxygen to cells and removing carbon dioxide from them. Platelets have an important role in repairing damage at the level of blood vessels, accumulating to seal any cuts or tares.

Leukemia leads to the accumulation and crowding of diseased stem cells at the level of the bone marrow, which decreases the normal production of healthy blood cells. The lack of normal blood cells leads to the appearance of leukemia symptoms.  It is important to understand that despite the fact that leukemia causes an over production of white blood cells, these cells are immature and can’t substitute for normal blood cells. Due to this, the body is exposed to many forms of infection.

The most common leukemia symptoms are: anemia (insufficient number of red blood cells in the bloodstream), risks of bleeding (insufficient number of platelets in the bloodstream), nose bleeding, bleeding of the oral cavity, predisposition to bruising, high exposure to infections due to lack of white blood cells, improper healing.

Other leukemia symptoms may be fatigue, lack of concentration, poor psychical performance, fever, loss of appetite and weight loss.

In the case of chronic leukemia, which facilitates the accumulation of diseased blood cells in different places inside the body, the leukemia symptoms may be migraines, insomnia, decreased vision and hearing, loss of balance, faints and seizures. Some of these leukemia symptoms need immediate medical intervention, as they may lead to further complications.

Sometimes people with leukemia may have enlarged liver and spleen, causing abdominal swelling or enlarged lymph nodes. The body glands of the organism can also be affected by leukemia.

Leukemia symptoms have a non-specific character. This means that they can be misleading in establishing an appropriate diagnose, as they may also occur in the cases of other diseases. Medical professionals are the only persons able to distinguish leukemia from other illnesses with resembling symptoms. Proper diagnose is very important in order to quickly begin the administration of specific treatment. Blood analysis and careful body examinations can reveal the presence of leukemia. Leukemia is considered to have a high rate of mortality and although the disease can be overcome through treatment and therapy, it can cause death if its presence is not noticed in time. Therefore, prompt intervention is required for leukemia, regardless of its type.

First you put good strain on your joints as well as your bones when you lift weights. This strengthens your bones. Strong bones protect our bodies against breakage and osteoporosis.

Another important point about weight lifting is that as your muscles increase in size your body becomes more shapely and firm – more attractive.

Weight lifting also helps you more vigorously perform your aerobic exercise, which in turn will increase your cardiovascular endurance and help your heart. The reason you are able to perform at a higher level is the weight lifting has increased your muscular strength, and therefore your ability to tolerate more intense exercise.

Weight lifting also gives you nice after effects to your metabolism. By adding muscle to your body through weight lifting, you likely will increase your metabolic rate.  If you increase your metabolism you increase the amount of fat burning enzymes in your body. This means you’ll burn more body fat even at rest! What a great bonus!

When you lift weights you should find the right weight that allows you to do 8-12 repetitions of the same movement with the same weight. If you are able to repeat it more than 12 times the weight is too light for you. If you can’t do at least 8 reps the weight is too heavy.

This 8-12 repetition practice is called a set. A beginning weight lifter should only be doing one or two sets of any weight lifting movement at one time.

Beginners often forget to breathe when they lift weights, which is dangerous because it can elevate your blood pressure. You should concentrate on inhaling on the eccentric or lowering phase of the lift and exhale on the concentric or lifting phase of the lift.

When weight lifting, you should always work your largest muscles first. Smaller muscles get tired faster. If they tire too quickly they can’t help you work your large muscles. The first things you are going to work are your chest, back, shoulders and thighs. Then you do weight lifting exercises for your arms, abdominals and calves last. If you’re new to weight lifting, I would suggest picking 6-8 exercises that covers all the major body parts above. Perform these exercises 2-3 times per week making sure you allow at least 48 hours between workout sessions, so your body has time to recover.

Good Luck!

Symptoms of Gum Disease

How do you know if you have gum disease? Here are some of the symptoms you should look for. Often you will notice inflammation of the gums and mouth – soreness, bleeding, and/or redness. Another common symptom is bed breath (a.k.a. Halitosis), and / or a bad taste in your mouth. Other signs of gum disease include shaky or loose teeth, receding gums, and spaces between the teeth and gums.

Cause Of Gum Disease

What causes gum disease? Quite simply, gum disease is caused by bacteria growing in your mouth. These bacteria normally begin growing on particles of food left in your mouth. The infection then continues to grow, causing inflammation and breakdown of the gums and mouth.

Prevention Of Gum Disease

Gum disease can be prevented by discouraging the growth of bacteria in the mouth. Proper dental hygiene goes a long way in preventing bacteria growth in the mouth. Also helpful is a healthy diet low in refined sugars and other foods that make perfect bacteria fodder.

Treatment of Gum Disease

If you already have Gum Disease, there are several ways to treat it. The first and seemingly most common is a professional cleaning. A periodontist will clean your mouth to remove the plaque, etc that harbors the bacteria causing the disease. Drugs may also be used to treat gum disease. Recently, several natural treatments have been developed for gum disease as well.

Hopefully, the information in this article will have given you the information that you need to prevent and / or treat gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Trust me when I say that you don’t want to get gum disease – it’s worth preventing, and prevention is simple when you follow the steps outlined in this article!