Arthritis is probably the most common serious condition affecting dogs (about one in four or five) and one of the most difficult to treat. Unfortunately, there is currently no known cure for arthritis – in dogs or humans! Numerous tests and clinical trials have been carried out but with no cure at present. So, beware anyone who claims to have a “Cure”.

However, there are various remedies available which can give some relief, to a greater or lesser extent .. as can be seen by the large number of products on offer. There is a problem in that many of the remedies available carry some sort of disadvantage, particularly regarding some of the anti-inflammatory drugs currently in use.

These are some of the Dangers

Look at any forum or message board on this subject and Rimadyl and Carprofen are mentioned frequently, in a negative context. Serious side effects are worryingly frequent and in some cases can be fatal.

The website of The US Food and Drug Administration states…

“Today, a new generation of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) is bringing relief to millions of dogs with joint problems or with pain after surgery.

“NSAIDs are extremely effective for controlling pain and inflammation in dogs,” says Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D., director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). “These are very valuable drugs that help many pets live to a ripe old age.”

But like any drugs, NSAIDs carry a risk of side effects, or adverse reactions. Most adverse reactions are mild, but some may be serious, especially if the drugs are not used according to labeled directions. Some reactions result in permanent damage or even death.

“It’s important for pet owners to be aware of the risks and benefits of all drugs, including NSAIDs, so that they can make informed decisions about their pets’ health care,” says Sundlof. “Owners who give their dog NSAIDs need to know the side effects to watch for that indicate their pet needs medical attention.”

“The most common side effects from NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) include vomiting, loss of appetite, depression, lethargy, and diarrhoea. Serious side effects include gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, perforations, kidney damage, and liver problems.”

“The side effects of NSAIDs are very well known and very well documented,” says Michele Sharkey, D.V.M., in the CVM’s Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation. But this information is not always getting to the pet owner, she says. “If the pet owner can recognize a possible reaction, stop the medication, and get veterinary help, it could mean the difference between a good outcome and a disaster.”

There is some evidence that not all vets are aware of the potential problems with these drugs and are not able to recognize the symptoms of adverse reactions and side effects.

Treatments such as oils and creams, applied externally, which are sometimes effective with humans are much more difficult to apply to dogs, especially if the coat is thick. Various other alternatives to anti-inflammatory drugs are on the market, including drinks and “natural” ingredients.

Glucosamine is a very popular ingredient, sometimes included with chondroitin. I know many aged golfers who swear by it!

A company called Maxavita claims that its product, called Pernamax, which comes in the form of caplets or gel, is 200 times stronger than glucosamine. It includes the powdered extract of the New Zealand Green Lipped mussel.

None of these remedies are cheap and all involve a continuing cost, which over a year can be very substantial, especially if there is a need for the vet’s involvement.

Magnotherapy can be a simple and effective alternative. It has had continuing success with humans and animals and in the UK alone, over 2 million people have had relief, ranging from the mild to the “miraculous”.

In some quarters, this treatment is derided as being “all in the mind”, possibly because people cannot believe that something as simple and easy as a special magnetic collar or sleeping pad can bring such relief to animals. However, there is considerable scientific proof that the beneficial effects of this Magnetic Therapy are not just due to a placebo effect.

For more information, Click on http://www.allabout-dogs.co.uk/magnotherapy-for-animals now.

The search for a cure for Cancer has been in full-swing for many years. Scientists around the globe are investigating every possible substance and protocol that they can dream up to offer mankind relief from this often terminal illness. Included in this research are many plants and plant extracts that have played significant roles in traditional medicine systems throughout history. In the last few years, interest and research into the potential of essential oils as anticancer agents has grown tremendously. (For those new to essential oils, they are simply the volatile aromatic constituents of plants — for example, the chemicals that make up the scent of a Rose or the pungency of fresh Basil. They are complex compounds, very compatible with human physiology, with a host of research-supported health benefits.)

Two Outstanding Essential Oils Researched for Anticancer Activity

Sorting through the available research published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, one finds two particular essential oils most often associated with anticancer activity: Frankincense and Lemongrass. To clarify, Lemongrass is distilled from the grass leaves of Cymbopogon citratus; the name Frankincense actually refers to the resin of Olibanum trees found mostly in Ethiopia, Somalia and India — the essential oil is distilled from the resin — or ‘sap’ — of these trees. Both Lemongrass and Frankincense have a very long history of medicinal use. Frankincense has been one of the most highly valued medicinal products throughout man’s history — Lemongrass just happens to be very prolific, but its efficacy is no less valuable because of its availability.

Modern Research Proves Ancient Medicine’s Potential

Frankincense essential oil has been noted by leading medical aromatherapists to be most effective immune system modulating aromatic. A review of the research on Frankincense oil is quite amazing, and lives up to this declaration. Using the search term ‘frankincense oil cancer’ on the National Institute of Health’s database produces 34 results (as of this writing). Frankincense oil appears to have the ability to distinguish between healthy and cancerous cells in an organ or tissue, and lead to the death of the cancerous cells while leaving the healthy ones unharmed.

Research is focusing on the chemical components of the essential oil unique to frankincense: the Boswellic acids. These natural compounds have been thoroughly studied for their anti-inflammatory activity, with a significant body of positive results. Boswellic acids can be used to reduce pain and inflammation in arthritic joints, and has even been shown to improve the texture and appearance of skin that may be prematurely aged due to sun overexposure. It is these same Boswellic acids that have been shown to induce natural cell death in cancerous cells — it is one of the features of cancer that natural cell death does not occur, and the cancerous cells then in essence grow unabated throughout the body.

Cancer Cell Specificity

The conclusion of a study published in the journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, March 2009, by researchers at the University of Oklahoma was “Frankincense oil appears to distinguish cancerous from normal bladder cells, and suppress cancer cell viability”. This is truly a profound result, when considering what modern chemotherapy does — reduces the viability of all cells in and surrounding a tumor, with the hope that healthy cells live through the process in significant enough numbers that the patient recovers. Similar results have been published for a great many kinds of cancer: melanoma, leukemia, liver, colon and prostate, and anecdotal reports have supported its use in the treatment of breast cancer as well.

Lemongrass: Tropical Healer

The first result of a search for ‘lemongrass’ and ‘cancer’ is a paper titled “Anticancer activity of an essential oil from Cymbopogon flexuosus” (Cf is a popular species of Lemongrass, though other research also shows similar effects from Cymbopogon citratus). This study published in the May 2009 ‘Chemico-biological Interactions’, performed at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, examined both in-vitro (essentially “in the test tube”)and in-vivo (in the body) anticancer activity of Lemongrass essential oil. The oil was actually evaluated for efficacy against 12 cancer cell lines in-vitro, and 2 in-vivo. The results were no less than astounding. Lemongrass was effective at inhibiting proliferation of all the cell lines, though with significant variation in the concentrations required for this effect. The lowest concentrations of Lemongrass were needed to inhibit growth of colon cancer and neuroblastoma cells in-vitro (a type of cancer of the nerve cells occurring in children and infants). Using mouse models, lemongrass essential oil was effective at limiting proliferation of a type of breast cancer and a connective-tissue cancer.

Israeli researchers, publishing their results in the May 2007 Planta Medica, discovered similar results focusing on a primary constituent of Lemongrass essential oil: Citral. This natural constituent adds the ‘lemony’ aroma to many essential oils, including of course Lemon, Melissa, and Lemon Verbena. Citral was noted to also show cancer cell specificity (liver cancer cells were evaluated in this case), causing only the cancer cells to die off. It appears that lemongrass essential oil, like Frankincense, also induces natural cell death in cancer cells, sparing normal healthy cells in the process.

These studies (and others available through medical research databases) are indeed promising — most noting in some way that the low toxicity, availability and cancer-cell specificity of these natural compounds warrant further investigation. Because of the current climate regarding funding of alternative therapies, it will take either a government wishing to significantly save on health care costs, or a large grass roots effort, to further the research to a point where specific therapeutic protocols are developed. In the meantime, there are many respected, well-educated health professionals that may be willing to offer advice for those wishing to learn more on how Frankincense and/or Lemongrass might be employed as preventative measures. Please note, this articles is not meant to offer medical advice, but simply to report recent updates in medical research. It is not a substitute for sound professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.

Fifty years ago, before John Huston brought Richard Burton, Ava Gardner, and Deborah Kerr to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to film “The Night of The Iguana”, Vallarta was merely a sleepy little Mexican fishing village nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Madres along the shores of Banderas Bay on the Pacific Ocean. Although the population at that time was only a few thousand friendly natives, the magnificent climate and incredible scenery was so inviting that Richard Burton and Liz Taylor fell in love with the village (and each other!) and bought a couple of “getaway” homes on the hillside overlooking the city.

The problem with prescription medicines are the side effects. Studies have shown ginger can have the same anti-inflammatory qualities as drugs but without the side effects.

Ginger has been used since ancient times to cure a variety of problems such as arthritis, diarrhoea and heart conditions. Along with its great medicinal properties ginger is also a great kitchen spice and could easily enhance any dish!

But how could ginger help you in the fight against arthritis?

A study by Doctor Ray Altman shows that highly concentrated ginger supplements can help reduce osteoarthritis. He tested it on 250 people over a six week period. Two-thirds of the people taking the supplement reported relief from pain.

Ginger has milder effects than most drugs but because it is a safer and cheaper alternative to drugs many people prefer it.

Tests on ginger are inconclusive at the moment and more detailed tests still need to be made over longer periods to establish the benefits of ginger. Some people report relief from pain when taking ginger supplements but in other people the results are less pronounced.

However, because ginger is safe to take (in small quantities – everything in large quantities is bad for you), cheap and readily available isn’t ginger worth a try?

Ginger can be bought as concentrated supplements but you can also add fresh ginger to your everyday meals. Ginger can also be taken as a tea. Just add one teaspoon freshly grated ginger to hot water. It’s easy as that!

Note: Care need to be taken when taking ginger because some people are allergic to it. Please make sure you are not allergic to ginger before taking it.

First of all, we’ll have to look into the actual causes behind acne breakouts in order to understand why antibiotics are used for treating this condition. The usual mechanism of acne formation involves several factors. There’s a lot of different bacteria dwelling in skin pores, usually beneficial and helping fight alien bacteria that can cause irritation or infections. The amount of these bacteria is usually stable. However, when there’s an abundance of oil in the skin, which is very favorable for bacterial development, the amount of beneficial bacteria increases and that causes inflammation. This is what we see as acne and that’s why it is usually associated with bacterial infections. So the obvious solution would be to use a drug that cuts down the amount of bacteria and prevents inflammation. That’s exactly what doctors do when prescribing antibiotics to their patients.

There’s one problem with antibiotics though. Because they target nearly all bacteria in the skin this means that most beneficial bacteria are also eliminated. This creates the risk of alien bacterial infection because the usual bacteria protecting your skin from outside agents are eliminated by the treatment. And you may end up having more serious problems. Besides, after some time the amount of own bacteria can exceed again the normal amount if there are favorable conditions for bacterial development (increased oil production) and you will have to take antibiotics again. Which is not very good for your health in general because antibiotics seriously affect the liver and can also cause dysbiosis in many parts of the body, which can also be a serious health problem.

A really effective alternative to antibiotic acne treatment is using Accutane. This drug is regarded as the most effective solution for acne but since it is very potent it is only meant to be used under strict doctor supervision. Accutane has a different approach to treating acne and addresses the actual problem behind acne formation – excessive oil production in the skin. If the amount of oil is normalized there will be less bacteria and no irritation in the skin, which will stop acne breakouts. That’s exactly why Accutane is so effective for treating acne and doesn’t seriously affect any other aspects of skin health. Speak to your doctor about using Accutane in order to make sure that this drug will work for you.

If you are considering taking Cialis you should always make sure that you find out as much as possible about the treatment before you start taking it – a good rule of thumb for any drug based treatments that you are considering taking. This way you will know exactly how the treatment works, what to expect, what the possible complications and side effects are, whether it is suited to your needs and safe for you to take, etc. Below are a few important considerations to take into account if you are thinking of taking Cialis to deal with your erectile dysfunction.

You should bear in mind that Cialis is not a cure for erectile dysfunction, so do not expect to take the medication for a while and then be cured. It is a treatment that helps you to achieve and maintain an erection through taking specified doses of the treatment. You can choose from a daily dosage pack or a 36 hour dosage pack depending on your preferences

Whilst the side effects that come with this treatment are generally mild and short lived, there are a number of side effects that you may experience, although some users may experience few or even no side effects. Some of these include: flushing, back pains, stomach upset, headaches, runny nose and indigestion. If you experience these side effects but they persist rather than subsiding in a short space of time it is advisable to speak to your doctor

This treatment has helped many men who suffer from erectile dysfunction but it is not suitable for everyone. For example, men who are taking certain medications for heart related problems may not be able to take this medication. It is therefore important that you discuss your full medical history and any medications that you are taking with your doctor prior to taking Cialis

Cialis will not sexually stimulate the user. In order for the treatment to be effective you need to be sexually stimulated, as Cialis simply helps to increase the blood flow to the penis in order to help a sexually stimulated man to achieve and maintain an erection in order to engage in sexual activity

Lymph node cancer or lymphoma is a cancer that accounts for approximately five percent of all cancers. It predominantly effects males but is not exclusive to men. Those most at risk are between the ages of fifteen and thirty four and those over the age of fifty-four. This does not mean that anyone outside of this age range is not at risk but statistically it does seem to fall inside those age groups at a greater rate. Like all other cancers, early detection and treatment is the key to a greater chance of recovery.

Hodgkins Disease is a form of lymph node cancer but is rare in its occurrence. It also statistically effects mostly men between the ages of fifteen and thirty-four and men over the age of fifty-four but is not exclusive to men only. Some of the most common symptoms of Hodgkins Disease are night sweats, unexplained wight loss, constant fatigue and unexplained fever. If you are experiencing any or all of these symptoms it is wise to have yourself examined by a doctor as these also could be the symptoms of another disorder.

All other remaining types of lymph node cancer are known as non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The majority of lymph node cancers treated are of the non-Hodgkins type. The symptoms of non-Hodgkins lymphoma are the same as Hodgkins Disease. Night sweats, unexplained fever, chronic fatigue and unexplained weight loss.Lymph node cancer is also known as lymphatic cancer. Those with a family history of lymph node cancer statistically fall within a higher risk group of contracting the disease. This is true for both men and women.

Lymph node cancer is a type of cancer that involves the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is an integral part of the bodies immune system. Statistically, the occurrence of lymph node cancer has increased approximately seventy-five percent since nineteen-seventy-three in the United States. Research has revealed that approximately one in fifty-two men and one in sixty-one women in the United States will contract non Hodgkin lymphoma within their lifetime. Studies have indicated that a greater exposure to herbicides and pesticides is greatly responsible for this increase.

Lymph node cancer is curable and if detected early and with effective treatment a person with lymph node cancer has a greater chance than ever before of being cured of this disease and if cured can expect to live a long and normal life. Many new and innovative treatments for lymph node cancer have been developed and are now available. The medical community has a greater understanding of lymph node cancer than in years past. Treatments that were once experimental and have been found to be effective are now being used to treat and cure lymph node cancer.

As a person ages it is to be expected that he or she will encounter medical challenges, it is part of the aging process. Lymph node cancer might be one of those challenges you encounter in your life’s journey. How soundly these challenges are defeated depends greatly on how you approach them. A fighting spirit has been proven time and again to be a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal when battling cancers of all types. Accepting defeat in any challenge almost guarantees defeat. The will to fight and live on has carried so many cancer survivors to victory over the disease.

Recent scientific studies have demonstrated that nutrition plays an essential role in preventing prostrate cancer in men. So what men eat and drink or don’t eat and drink can significantly lower their risk of developing this disease.

For beverages, green tea contains powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols that fight against a group of cancers including prostrate.

Two to four cups of this beverage a day has been recommended and men at high risk should consider an extract.

The International Journal for Cancer Research in January 2005 reported that a study of 1,456 middle aged men concluded that those who were drinking four or more glasses of red wine a week reduced their risk of prostrate cancer by 48%.

Another study demonstrated that drinking two glasses of pomegranate juice daily was beneficial. However, this was a small study but additional studies are in progress. Like green tea, pomegranate juice is also high in polyphenols.

The recommended foods are, first of all tomatoes. Tomatoes are rich in lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that combats malignancy.

What is nice about lycopene is that cooking improves the concentration so one does not have to be concerned about finding fresh tomatoes, as is the case with other beneficial fruits and vegetables. You get the maximum benefit from tomato sauce, ketchup and cooked tomatoes.

Lycopene is better absorbed if accompanied by a little fat. So one should add some monosaturated fat such as olive oil to tomato sauce. Mixed with spaghetti it makes for a healthful and tasty meal.

It is recommended that cruciferous vegetables, which are high in such cancer fighting agents as indoles and sulforaphane, be consumed frequently. Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, brussel sprouts, collards and kale. And men who eat six servings of vegetables a day are less likely to develop an enlarged prostrate.

Soy foods are also important in the diet, as they are a rich food source of isoflavones, which are supposed to help balance hormone levels.

And oily fish have been found to reduce inflammation and protect against metastases.
Men who do not care for wild Alaskan salmon, sardines, herring or black cod can take a fish oil supplement amounting to 1 to 2 grams a day. It is important to choose wild salmon has farmed fish do not offer the same protection.

People who love chili peppers will be pleased to learn that the capsaicin which is responsible for the hot taste is believed to destroy cancer cells. However, the research study for the benefits of capsaicin was performed with mice, not with humans.

Flaxseed, which contains lignans, is believed to protect against all hormone driven cancers including breast, ovarian and prostrate. A study conducted with prostrate cancer patients concluded that daily ingestion of flaxseed together with a low fat diet actually slowed malignant growth between diagnosis and surgery.

There may also be an age connection between prostrate cancer and diet. A Harvard study suggests that prostrate cancer in younger men is hormone driven while inflammation is the main culprit with older men. Thus the foods that help normalize hormone levels such as soy products and flaxseed may be more helpful to younger men and those that combat inflammation such as lycopene may be more useful in the diets of older men.

Admittedly more research needs to be done, however none of these foods and beverages are harmful to the body, and the fact that they could be helpful certainly make them smart nutritional choices.

A healthy diet and quality of life always goes hand in hand. If you are one among the millions who have joint pain or arthritis you must have already tried numerous ways of a curing arthritis.

It’s a complex link between arthritis and diet. More and more evidence is coming to light about this link. To understand the link it is important to understand what type of arthritis you suffer from. For example if you have gout which is caused by high uric acid levels you might want to consider a diet with far less alcohol and increase your intake of purine rich food will lower the blood uric acid levels.

Treating Bipolar Disorder with Medication What are the Options? What are the Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder?

Medications are always an issue that you should discuss with your psychiatrist. The information that is provided here is meant to be informational only. Your psychiatrist can answer your specific questions and is trained in this field. However, sometimes you don’t get all your questions answered in the office, or another one pops into your mind when you get home.

A drug is said to be a mood stabilizer if it provides relief from acute episodes of mania or depression, or prevent them from occurring and it does not worsen depression or mania or lead to increased cycling. There are four classes of medications being used for stabilization of bipolar disorder:

- Lithium
- Anticonvulsants
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics

Lithium is by far the oldest known mood stabilizer known and used in the United States. It was discovered in the 1950′s and has been used as a mood stabilizer since the 1970′s. Blood level must be monitored to adjust the level of the compound for toxicity, which is the number one problem with this drug. So why take Lithium? Because, to date, it is still considered the front line treatment for Bipolar Disorder. Lithium is most effective for individuals with “pure” or euphoric mania, where there is little depression mixed in with elevated mood. Lithium has a clear track record of reducing the risk of suicide.

Anticonvulsants
Valproate (Depakote) has been used for many years as an anticonvulsant, treating seizures. There has been a lot of research in the use of Depakote with Bipolar Disorder, and some physicians feel that it is just as effective as lithium with fewer side effects. Depakote can be given in large initial doses and works quickly and well with rapid cycling manic symptoms. Potential side effects are weight gain, tremor, dizziness, sedation, headache, nausea, indigestion, bruising, and hair loss. Valproate may cause a mild liver inflammation and may affect the production of a type of blood cell called platelets. Although it is quite rare for there to be any serious complications from these potential effects, it is important to monitor liver function tests and platelet counts periodically.

Lamotrigine (Lamictal) Serious rash is its only major side effect, and it occurs more frequently in children than in adults.

Carbamazepine (Tegretol) Potential side effects include: aplastic anemia, hepatic toxicity, impaired learning and memory, emotional affects such as irritability and agitation, insomnia, changes in vision, fatigue, nausea, water retention, weight gain, dermatitis, and pancreatitis.

Oxcarbazepine (Trileptal) Potential side effects include: dizziness, nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, upper respiratory tract infection, constipation, dyspepsia, ataxia, nervousness. The major advantage of Gabapentin (Neurontin) is its relative safety and lack of interactions with other drugs. Its major drawback is that it doesn’t work. A study was sponsored by Parke-Davis in preparation, and gabapentin was found to be no better than placebo when used as a mood stabilizer. In use with other medications, gabapentin seems to be useful in managing anxiety and violent behavior. Side effects of gabapentin can include fatigue and tiredness, sedation, and lightheadedness.

Topiramate (Topamax) is yet another anticonvulsant with mood stabilizing effects for some patients. It seems to help with anxiety and a number of eating disorders. Topamax is used clinically for migraine headaches. The most common adverse events were sweating, fuzzy vision, difficulty sleeping, tremor, cognitive slowing or memory problems, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants treat the symptoms of depression. In bipolar disorder, an antidepressant will be paired with a mood stabilizing medication (e.g. lithium, Depakote, Lamictal). Without the mood stabilizer, an antidepressant can actually cause a manic state for a person with bipolar disorder. There are many antidepressants on the market. Not every antidepressant is the same, and they have different properties. They all also have different potential side effects.

Antipsychotics

Antipsychotic medications are sometimes used when there is severe depression, mania, hallucinations, or delusions, which sometimes occurs with bipolar disorder.

There are two other ways that antipsychotics are used in bipolar treatment, even if no none of the above are present. They have sedating properties and may be used for insomnia or anxiety. Researchers have found that the newer atypical antipsychotic medications behave as mood stabilizers and may help control depressive or manic symptoms. In this way the newer atypical antipsychotic medications may actually be prescribed in place of mood stabilizers. Characteristic side effects of the atypical antipsychotics include tiredness and weight gain.

Ask any specific questions you have from your psychiatrist.