Have you ever used biofeedback? You may not realize what biofeedback is or how beneficial it can be. Most people do not understand that they use biofeedback techniques almost everyday. For example, have you ever used a mirror? A mirror is a common form of biofeedback. You could not do a good job of putting on make up, shaving, combing your hair, or learning how to make a face without the feedback of your reflection from the mirror. This is a simple form of biofeedback.

Biofeedback is the use of equipment or techniques that can feed back to you information about what is going on inside or outside your body. If you use this information to adjust your activity then you are using biofeedback. Any system in your body that be actually monitored can be controlled! You can learn to control your heart rate, blood pressure, even your perspiration with biofeedback training.

In the 1970’s biofeedback gained some attention when researchers demonstrated that brainwave activity (electrical activity on the surface of the brain) could be controlled by the process of learning from the feedback given by an EEG (electroencephalograph). In a normal waking state of consciousness, the surface of the brain in a normal person has what is known as a “Beta” rhythm brainwave state which is measured at 13-20 hertz per second. In a relaxed or meditative state known as “Alpha” the electrical activity is measured at 8-12 hertz per second. This was identified a “quiet mind” or Meditative state that was relaxing for most people. Using the EEG feedback training you can learn to “slow” your brainwaves into the “alpha” state with conscious control. In the 1970’s this triggered an alternative therapy, with people visiting biofeedback brainwave labs to learn to control their brainwaves, and so, their consciousness.

Since the 1970’s, biofeedback has grown more practical and accepted in traditional medical practices as a way to gain awareness and then control of stress related symptoms. Since 1977 in my private practice, I have had medical referrals, and good success, in working with: Migraine headaches, tension headaches, high blood pressure, insomnia, panic/anxiety, chronic neck/back pain, stress related abdominal complaints, irregular heartbeats, poor peripheral circulation, some forms of sexual dysfunction, poor focus, test taking or performance anxiety, some dental complaints like TMJ syndrome, and many other symptoms that are either created or made worse as a response to stress.

The common forms of biofeedback that I use with medical referrals are: EMG (electromyography) for muscle tension, Temperature training for poor peripheral blood flow, EDR/GSR (electrodermal response/ Galvanic skin response) for controlling sweat gland activity/perspiration, heart rate training, and blood pressure. With a program of regular relaxation training, you can create awareness regarding the way you habitually hold tension and learn to “let go” of this stress. There have been profound results. For example, I had 45 year old registered nurse who had been suffering with migraine headaches for 25 years. These headaches had gotten worse and she reported having up to 3 per week. These headaches were so severe that she was distracted at work and could not focus on the medication that she was giving to her patients. Amazingly, with the use of temperature training biofeedback and the daily use of Autogenic training phrases for relaxation, she was able to prevent most of headaches within 4 weeks of practice.

Biofeedback training using EMG by physical therapists have offered profound results for people requiring neuro-muscular retraining after suffering a stroke (CVA) or in some cases traumatic injuries to the brain or central nervous system.

If you have symptoms or complaints that are not well controlled by medication, or if you wish to have an alternative way to control these symptoms without the side effects and expense of medication, discuss the use of biofeedback with your physician and contact a biofeedback therapist in your area to see if this might be worth the investment of your time, energy, and probably your money. Biofeedback offers you the information, and with practice, the control of your body’s habitual response to stress. With your motivation, you can learn to “get back in control.”

Please remember to take good care of yourself.

L. John Mason, Ph.D. is the author of the best selling “Guide to Stress Reduction.” Since 1977, he has offered Executive Coaching and Training.

Please visit the Stress Education Center’s website at dstress.com dstress.com for articles, free ezine signup, and learn about the stress management CD’s that Dr. Mason has developed. If you would like information or a targeted proposal for training or coaching, please contact us at (707) 795-2228.

If you are looking to promote your training or coaching career, please investigate the Professional Stress Management Training and Certification Program for a secondary source of income or as career path.

Tags: anxiety, Hair, Heart, perspiration

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Since ancient times our ancestor’s harvested the many herbs and spices that grew wild around them, mixed potions, and treated ailments. Man was after all a hunter-gatherer, and an omnivore, (an organism which gets its food energy from both plant and animal material).

The humble herb and spice rack in your kitchen today need not be just a decorative feature, although they look quite pleasing to the eye hanging on the wall, in both modern and old fashioned styled homes. They can in fact hold a plethora of natural healing ingredients that can also add great taste to the foods you eat every day.

Of all the herbs and spices you can choose from for flavour, there are 15 that are more powerful than the rest. Below is the list and you may well be surprised to learn of the many diverse conditions for which they’ve proven so very useful.

1/. BASIL Basil is an herbal carminative, that is, it can relieve gas and soothe stomach upsets. One possible explanation for its calming effect is a compound called eugenol, which has been shown to help ease muscle spasms. Research is still preliminary, but laboratory studies also suggest that compounds found in basil may help disrupt the dangerous chain of events that can lead to the development of cancer

2/. CAYENNE Cayenne pepper is a hot red powder made from tropical chilli peppers. It contains alkaloid capsaicin, which relieves pain by blocking the chemicals that send pain messages to the brain. If you eat cayenne at the first sign of any type of headache, with plenty of water as a chaser, this spicy herb may be an effective alternative treatment. Added to food, cayenne perks up appetite, improves digestion and relieves gas, nausea, and indigestion. The herb also thins phlegm and eases its passage from the lungs, thus helping to prevent and treat coughs, colds and bronchitis.

3/. CINNAMON Cinnamon bark contains an oily chemical called cinnamaldehyde that kills a variety of illness causing bacteria, including the dreaded E.coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureas. Research shows that cinnamon is also able to stop the growth of the Asian flu virus. Herbalists report that cinnamon bark also helps regulate the menstrual cycle and checks flooding during menopause. Also cinnamaldehyde has a tranquilizing effect that helps reduce anxiety and stress.

4/. CLOVE Oil of clove is 60 to 90 percent eugenol. A potent pain deadening antimicrobal. Clove has earned the official endorsement of the FDA as an effective stopgap measure for tooth pain. Clove is also among the spices that can help the body use insulin more effectively, thus lowering blood sugar somewhat. In one lab study, clove was also found to speed healing of the dreaded cold sores.

5/. DILL Dill has been used to soothe the digestive tract and treat heartburn, colic and gas for thousands of years. In fact, the word dill comes from the Old Norse word dilla, meaning to lull or soothe. The herb has an antifoaming action that suggests why it might help break up gas bubbles. Like parsley, dill is rich in chlorophyll, which also makes it useful in treating bad breath.

6/. FENNEL Rich in volatile oils, fennel is what’s known as a carminative herb, meaning that it can ease bloating, gas pains, and digestive spasms in the small and large intestines. Fennel can also reduce bad breath and body odour that originates in the intestines. Women who are breastfeeding may find that fennel, which works in a way similar to the body’s hormones, increases milk flow.

7/. GARLIC Intact garlic cloves contain an odourless, sulphur-containing amino acid called alliin. When the garlic is crushed, alliin becomes allicin. Research shows that allicin helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and also helps prevents blood clots. Garlic can also reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Compounds in this familiar bulb kill many organisms, including bacteria and viruses that cause earaches, flu and colds. Research indicates that garlic is also effective against digestive ailments and diarrhoea. What’s more, further studies suggest that this common and familiar herb may help prevent the onset of cancers.

8/. GINGER When it comes to quelling the queasiness of motion sickness, ginger has no equal say herbalists. In fact, researchers have demonstrated that ginger beats dimenhydrate, the main ingredient in motion sickness drugs such as Dramamine, for controlling symptoms of seasickness and motion sickness. Ginger stimulates saliva flow and digestive activity, settles the stomach, relieves vomiting, eases pain from gas and diarrhoea, and is effective as an anti-nausea remedy. This aromatic herb also helps lower cholesterol. Herbalists have also found it to be useful as a pain reliever.

9/. MINT Herbalists the world over use mint, as a premier stomach tonic, to counteract nausea and vomiting, promote digestion, calm stomach muscle spasms, relieve flatulence, and ease hiccups. Menthol, the aromatic oil in peppermint, also relaxes the airways and fights bacteria and viruses. Menthol interferes with the sensation from pain receptors, thus it may be useful in reducing headache pain. Scientific evidence suggests that peppermint can kill many kinds of micro-organisms, and may boost mental alertness. In one study, people who inhaled menthol said they felt as if it relieved their nasal congestion, although it didn’t increase their measurable airflow.

10/. OREGANO Oregano contains at least four compounds that soothe coughs and 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that may help reduce body odour. The ingredients in oregano that soothe coughs may also help un-knot muscles in the digestive tract, making oregano a digestive aid. This familiar spice also contains compounds that can lower blood pressure too.

11/. PARSLEY Diuretic herbs such as parsley prevent problems such as kidney stones and bladder infections and keep our body’s plumbing running smoothly by causing it to produce more urine. They also relieve bloating during menstruation. Also there’s a reason for that parsley on the edge of the diner plate, its not just there for fancy decoration; it’s an effective breath freshener because it contains high levels of chlorophyll.

12/. ROSEMARY Rosemary is one of the richer herbal sources of antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent cataracts, and contains 19 chemicals with antibacterial action that help fight infection. Traditionally used to ease asthma, this common culinary ingredient has volatile oils that can reduce the airway constriction induced by histamine, that chemical culprit of asthma and other allergy symptoms. Herbalists think that rosemary may also help ease breast pain by acting as a natural drying agent to fluid filled cysts.

13/. SAGE The oils found in sage are both antiseptic and antibiotic, so it can help fight infections. Sage is effective for symptoms of menopause, night sweats and hot flashes, because of its estrogenic action and because its tannins can dry up perspiration. There’s also compelling evidence that sage may b of value to people with diabetes for whom the hormone insulin does not work as efficiently as it should. Lab studies indicate that sage may boost insulin’s action.

14/. THYME Thyme contains thymol, which increases blood-flow to the skin. The warmth is comforting, and some herbalists believe that the increased blood-flow speeds healing. An anti-spasmodic. Thyme relaxes respiratory muscles and is endorsed for treating bronchitis by Commission E, the expert panel that judges the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines for the German government. Aromatherapists say that thyme’s scent is a mood lifter.

15/. TURMERIC Many clinical studies agree that curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory effects, including a significant beneficial effect in relieving rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Curcumin, which gives this spice its familiar yellow pigment, may also lower cholesterol. Turmeric is also packed with antioxidants, including vitamins A, C, and E, which have been shown to prevent cataracts.

Passed down to us by our forefathers and countless generations throughout the world, these 15 food additives and enhancers are just a selected few that are currently known to have medicinal and beneficial properties, yet represent the more commonly used. By including these herbs and spices into your daily cooking or diet on a regular basis, you will greatly enhance your quality of life, and reduce the need for those expensive, and often damaging pharmaceutical drugs.

To your continued good health

John Elliott aka Oaky Wood is the co-founder of The Corner 4 Women thecorner4women.com thecorner4women.com is a poet, writer, artist, webmaster and designer.

Tags: antioxidant, anxiety, asthma, cholesterol, diet, Heart, hiccup, menopause, perspiration, quality of life

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If you suffer from acne, there are several skin care steps you can do to alleviate the outbreaks and help prevent future outbreaks. This article will give you information that will help you whether you are teenager or an adult suffering from acne.

One of the main daily routines to help with acne breakouts is washing your face or outbreak areas twice a day. It is vitally important to keep your skin clean. The way and the products you use to wash your face is also important.

Wash your face GENTLY at least twice a day and after any strenuous exercise that has caused perspiration. Do not SCRUB your face or skin. This actually can cause more harm than good and can even inflame your pimples.

Use a very mild soap like Neutrogena. Do not use anything that makes your skin feel overly dry. It is not necessary to use an astringent, yet if you do, only use it where your skin is very oily. If you visit a dermatologist, he/she should be able to recommend the best soap for your particular acne symptoms.

Do not excessively handle your skin. Your hands have bacteria on them and can cause the acne to get even worse. In other words, DO NOT pick at your pimples. I know that it is very hard not to do, yet it is very good advice. Only a doctor, with special instruments can effectively “pick” at pimples in a way that will not cause more inflammation and excessive scarring.

Use a special sunscreen that is at least spf15 and is non-comedogenic, non-oily, which means it does not clog pores. A good sunscreen for acne sufferers is Neutrogena SPF 45 Sunblock with Parsol 1789. You should always try to avoid tanning and sunburn because both could cause acne pimples and acne scars to become even more noticeable.

Shaving with acne can be tricky. It may be wise to invest in a good electric razor. Alternatively, if you use a safety razor, make sure you use a good shaving cream that really softens the hair follicles and skin. Try not to nick the acne pimples.

If you choose to use base makeup, it is recommended you choose a makeup that is oil free (and again) non-comedogenic. There are acne cover-ups that are available that also have acne medication. One product that is my favorite is Clinique’s acne cover-up. It can cover up even the worst outbreaks.

Taking these few extra steps with acne skin care can make a world of difference in your flare-ups.

By Michelle Dixon, Copyright 2007. Michelle Dixon writes about many different types of health and fitness subjects. If you would like to acnetreatmentz.com learn more about acne and the top acne treatments then you may wish to visit acnetreatmentz.com Acne Treatmentz.com, a website all about acne, acne causes, the latest treatments and more.

Tags: acne, dermatologist, Hair, makeup, perspiration, scars

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When it comes to treating peptic ulcer complicated by the presence of Helicobacter Pylori and stomach recurrent bleedings appears the question whether pharmacological procedures really work. Based on medical cases and highly researched evidences doctors prove the effects of endoscopical evaluation and treatment as well as of pharmaceutical management of upper gastrointestinal bleedings.

Scientists also tried to compare and demonstrate the efficiency of treatments with H2-blockers or the ones with Omeprazole.

Searching for cases of this nature we will surely find situations with lacks in therapy that we cannot use for our experiment. Cases without methodological mistakes must be analyzed from points of view of diagnosis, complication, secondary complaints, and randomization and double-blind methods.

In a first study, a group of 57 patients with peptic ulcer, visible blood vessels, profuse perspirations and adherent blood clots are subjected at random to a treatment with Ranitidine or Omeprazole both I.V. No blinding was used and patients didn’t undergo endoscopical explorations. The results were: 8 of 30 patients treated with an inhibitor of proton-pump showed signs of rebleeding beside 10 of 24 treated with an H2-receptor antagonist.

The second study includes a number of about 200 people suffering from peptic ulcer with visible cots or bleedings. At chance they are subjected to Omeprazole or placebo. Results concluded: 35 of 100 subjects with placebo show clinical signs of rebleedings beside 6 of 105 treated with Omeprazole.

One third experiment shows 24%recurrence in patients with Omeprazole and 4% at those cured with Cimetidine after endoscopic sessions. All persons that submitted have been effectively treated by endoscopies and both substances were administered intravenous.

All the completed studies were made on patients mostly of Asia and it is not yet known whether results can be generalized for all populations on the planet. Also we don’t surely know if oral and intravenous administration of the medications has the exact same final results.

The scientists’ report concluding these tests justify the use of proton-pomp inhibitors like Omeprazole for patients with peptic bleeding ulcer after endoscopical treatment. An approximately 44%, 28% and 22% of people showing improvements after this kind of cure encourage doctors to prescribe Omeprazole.

Minimal costs for a three day treatment and low efficiency of H2-receptor antagonists lead to the conclusion of at least momentarily best effectiveness of the medications in the same class with Omeprazole.

More information about ulcer-center.com/ ulcer or about ulcer-center.com/Ulcer-Symptoms.htm ulcer Symptoms can be found on this website ulcer-center.com/ ulcer-center.com

Tags: perspiration

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