THE USE OF MAGNETS IN MEDICINE

The use of magnets in medicine is not something new. In fact magnets have been used for thousands of years, and many people are not aware of this fact. They think magnet therapy is some new-fangled alternative medicine. Skeptics argue there is no scientific proof they can be effective for the control of pain which is not true. Controlled studies at university medical facilities have shown that the correct placement of specially designed magnets over the area where the pain is occurring does relieve the pain for many people. That is why thousands of athletes use magnets and don't worry about what others think. It is hard to argue with results.

So exactly how do the magnets work to relieve pain? There are detailed scientific explanations that use words like "c-fiber nerves" and "unmyelinated nerves" to explain the conduction of pain along nerve routes in the body. But in layman's terms the magnets work by blocking the sodium, potassium and calcium from accumulating and causing the nerve pressure and pain. When using magnets in medicine, the magnets are attached to the skin right over the area where the pain is felt.

If you think this concept sounds a bit far fetched, then consider this: the electronic resonance imaging machine (MRI) uses a magnetic field to obtain pictures of body tissue in great detail. Athletes know that magnetic therapy accelerates bone healing which is another reason why many athletes are sold on the use of magnets as alternative medicine. Athletes like to avoid taking drugs whenever possible so the use of magnets can provide much needed pain relief in a safe and healthy manner.

Back pain is one of the most common medical problems people experience. Upper or lower back pain can be debilitating. Some people have intense and short episodes of pain while others live with a dull chronic pain. Back pain affects the quality of life in that it can force people to restrict their activities and living with constant pain is extremely stressful.

The use of magnets in medicine in medicine offers alternative pain management without the use of drugs or invasive surgery. The magnets can relieve pain by interrupting the flow of natural body elements that stimulate the nerves and increase blood flow to the pain area. It is well documented that healing can be speeded up by increasing blood flow, because blood carries oxygen. That is one reason why magnetic therapy is used to heal the bones of athletes that have been broken or fractured.

It should be mentioned that magnets are used to block pain in many other areas of the body besides the back. The magnets can relieve pain in the shoulders, neck, elbows, knees and feet. The comprehensive use of magnets in medicine offers pain relief to many people who have decided they will never find relief from pain.

Magnetic therapy has a lot of advantages over traditional methods of pain control. When looking at the use of magnets in medicine, it is easy to see that as a pain management alternative magnetic therapy is safe and worry free. There are no drugs involved and the therapy is non-invasive. You can purchase the magnets without a prescription and they are economical and long lasting.

If you are looking for relief from chronic pain then magnetic therapy may hold the answer. The use of magnets in medicine is a growing field of study which offers much promise for pain sufferers. You can use magnets that create a steep field gradient over the pain area and feel the reduction of pain within a few minutes sometimes. It just does not make any sense to continue suffering when an effective alternative is available.
Magnet therapy can be used to treat everything from arthritis to depression. Magnets are used externally on the body, often in the form of jewelry, to stimulate circulation. This stimulation results in better rest, more resilience and greater health.
Magnetic field therapy is considered a complementary and alternative medical technique. Based on the physical properties of magnets, the therapy has not been substantially evaluated by scientific studies, and has not been approved by the FDA.
The theory behind the use of magnets is based on the perception that a magnetic field imparted on a cancer tumor creates an unfavorable condition in the cancer cells by increasing cell oxygenation. The cancer cells cannot survive in the oxygen-enriched environment, which leads to the death of the cell.
Some people swear that magnetic therapy has done wonders to help ease their pain and ailments. There's been limited scientific studies on the powers of magnets and there are many critics out there. But, it's said that the magnetic field causes particles to move and heat. Blood vessels are widened and blood flow is improved. Magnetic therapy is non-evasive and can be used to treat diabetes.
Menstrual cramps are mild contractions of the uterus that cause a heavy or an aching feeling in the lower belly. If you're looking for a natural technique to treat menstrual cramps, consider magnetic therapy. Basically, magnets create magnetic fields. In theory, magnetic fields can block the pain signals from reaching the brain, creating relief from menstrual cramps.
Magnetic treatment for high blood pressure
Although there is no known cure for the majority of people suffering with high blood pressure, it is possible to treat it very successfully. Mainstream treatments include water tablets (diuretics) and high blood pressure tablets (anti hypertensives: beta blockers, ace inhibitors and calcium channel blockers).
Magnets can also be used to treat high blood pressure by eliminating excess fluid in the body. When a person is first diagnosed with high blood pressure the first course of treatment a doctor will try is diuretics, the aim of water tablets is to eliminate fluid from the body this is a side effect of high blood pressure ( particularly the extremities: hands, feet and ankles). The excess fluid puts pressure in the heart and this in turn increases blood pressure.
The primary aim of diuretics is to get rid of the extra fluid so that blood pressure is reduced, as the workload of the heart reduces. Magnetised water has a natural detoxification effect on the body, drinking at least 4 glasses a day will eliminate excess fluid (plus toxins stored in the fluid) from the body. This has the same effect a that of diuretics in that as the fluid is “off loaded” the workload of the heart is decreased and blood pressure is reduced.

In addition to drinking magnetised water blood pressure can also be reduced by wearing magnets around the wrist. The radial artery is situated in the wrist and is one of the bodies main arteries, when a magnetic field is applied over the radial artery the magnetism is rapidly and distributed around the body. Blood flow is improved around the whole body and the heart ,the whole circulatory system receives increased oxygen which in turn increases oxygenation of the organs and tissues, as a result of the improved oxygenation the heart does not have to pump so many times a minute to ensure enough oxygen is supplied to the body and this reduces the workload which will automatically reduce blood pressure.

Although these 2 magnetic treatments for high blood pressure are extremely effective and will give results very quickly, it is important to remember that high blood pressure medication should not be stopped suddenly. If you use magnets to treat your high blood pressure ensure that your blood pressure is checked regularly by the GP or practice nurse. When your blood pressure has reduced your doctor will reduce your medication accordingly. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION MUST ALWAYS BE REDUCED BY A DOCTOR.
Magnetic treatments for Diabetes
Diabetes has many profound effects on the body, increased risk of heart disease, neuropathy( nerve damage), retinopathy() and poor circulation/healing.
Most of these adverse effects can be very successfully treated with the application of therapeutic magnets to specific areas.
Diabetic neuropathy is long-term damage to the nerve fibres. It happens when high blood sugar levels are present over several years. In diabetes, the form it usually first takes is reduced sensation in the feet. The nerve damage affects each foot equally and eventually spreads up the legs. Poor sensation in your feet makes them more prone to injury. Combined with poor circulation this can easily lead to ulcers and infections.
The nerve damage can be short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic). Because this complication is caused by poor blood sugar control, people who don't take enough care in controlling their diabetes stand a higher risk of developing nerve damage.

Diabetic neuropathy can be treated with magnetic shoes insoles. These are usually flexible ferrite magnets that are formed inside a very thin (2mm thickness) shoe insole. The gauss/tesla rating of magnetic insoles is very high, normally around 25,000 gauss/2.5 tesla , per foot. Because the magnets cover the entire foot area they create one very large magnet that has the ability to create a widespread magnetic field , that can penetrate all the way up to the knee , as well as having the strength to penetrate deep into the tissues.
Tests in the USA, using magnetic insoles on patients with diabetic neuropathy revealed that 90% of the patients tested gained an improvement in blood perfusion ( circulation) and in nerve sensation.
The insoles will drastically improve the blood flow to the feet and lower leg plus the oxygen rich blood will help in the renewal of the nerve endings, which will return sensation to the affected areas. Pain, tingling, burning and numbness will be reduced. Most people report that they can feel an almost immediate warmth in their feet and lower legs , followed by a tingling as sensation and circulation return. For the effects to last the insoles should be worn all day every day, but they can be removed at night time.


It is possible to reduce the damage that has built up over the years, by drinking magnetised water. In short, when you drink water that has been magnetised, the magnetic field is very rapidly transported around the whole body. The size of the water molecule is increased and minerals are more easily absorbed. Toxins are draw out of the tissues and flushed out of the body via the kidneys.
Once water has been magnetised it becomes alkaline and this will reduce acidity in the body, hormone levels can also be affected by the water changes that take place during magnetisation. For a diabetic this means that blood glucose levels are stabilised and do not require so much insulin to regulate them, plus blood cholesterol levels will be reduced, which in turn will reduce build up of plague along artery walls.
Drinking magnetised water on a daily basis will begin to reverse the adverse effects of long term high insulin levels. With out high blood insulin levels circulation and perfusion (oxygenation of the tissues) will improve, including the bodies healing capacity. Once cholesterol levels have reduced the risk of heart disease will also be less. Magnetised water should be used on a permanent basis to act as a preventative measure as well as a treatment of current symptoms.

Chronic Fatique Syndrome or Fibromyalgia- what Homeopathy has to Offer?

Studied Homeopathic Remedies
Arnica montana
Bryonia
Rhus tox

The most prominent feature of fibromyalgia, also known as myofascial pain or fibrositis, is the presence of tender, swollen, and painful muscle knots distributed throughout the body. This symptom is usually accompanied by stiffness, fatigue, and nonrestorative sleep. Other symptoms include alternating diarrhea and constipation (irritable bowel syndrome), headaches, numbness and tingling, and restless legs. Finally, people with fibromyalgia frequently develop prolonged discomfort from injuries so mild that they would not hurt a healthy person for more than a short time.

In severe cases, people with fibromyalgia experience extreme discomfort when almost any part of the body is pressed upon, even lightly. Milder cases involve moderate to severe pain that wanders from one location to another.

Scientific Evaluations of Homeopathic Remedies for Fibromyalgia
Current evidence regarding use of homeopathic remedies for fibromyalgia is mixed.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, researchers tested the remedy Rhus toxicodendron 6c on 30 people with fibromyalgia who fit the symptom picture of Rhus tox, as assessed by a homeopathic physician.1 For 1 month, the participants took either Rhus tox 6c or placebo three times daily. For the following month, the participants took the opposite treatment; however, neither participants nor observers knew which was which.

Participants experienced a statistically significant improvement when they were taking the Rhus tox as compared to when they were taking placebo. The number of tender spots was reduced by 25% on average, and the improvement in overall pain and sleep scores was marked when taking the treatment.

However, another small double-blind, placebo-controlled study failed to find evidence of benefit.2 In this study, 24 participants with fibromyalgia were given either placebo or one of three homeopathic remedies (Arnica, Bryonia, or Rhus tox) at 6c potency, prescribed according to traditional homeopathic indications. Participants took remedies or placebo twice daily for 3 months.

The results showed no statistically significant improvements in symptoms among those participants receiving homeopathic remedies as compared to those given placebo. However, researchers were able to find some evidence of benefit in a subgroup of participants. At the very beginning when the homeopathic practitioners chose the initial remedy, they noted whether the remedy was a close fit to the patient or not according to the principles of classical homeopathy. It turns out that if you look only at people whose remedy fit well based on the whole person symptom picture, then some benefits were seen.

This seems to indicate that properly chosen homeopathic remedies might be helpful for fibromyalgia. However, considering the very small number of people involved, it is really impossible to draw any conclusions.

Traditional Homeopathic Treatments for Fibromyalgia
In classical homeopathy, there are many possible homeopathic treatments for fibromyalgia, to be chosen based on various specific details of the person seeking treatment.

For instance, if you feel bruised as if you slept on a very hard bed and you are physically restless and irritable, as well as fatigued, then you may fit the symptom picture of Arnica montana. In addition, the use of Arnica is said to be particularly indicated when the cause of your current complaints can be attributed to a previous injury.

If you want to lie still because even a slight movement makes the pain worse and you prefer cool applications to warm ones, then your symptom picture may fit the remedy Bryonia. Other characteristics associated with this remedy include feeling extremely grumpy and not wanting anyone to disturb you.

Homeopathic Rhus tox is used under circumstances similar to those that indicate Bryonia. However, unlike the Bryonia recipient, who wants to lie still and is made worse by the least motion, the Rhus tox picture invokes a person who benefits from motion and wants to be active. In addition, the condition will worsen with exposure to cold and dampness and improve in dry warm weather.

Homeopathy offers several remedies to Fibromyalgia, classified on the basis of the discrete symptoms of the disease: 

1. Rhus Tox: Rhus Tox is an excellent antidote for rheumatism induced stillness and muscle pain. When paired with suitable exercises, it can afford a lot of relief. 
2. Ruta Grav: Ruta Grav aids in relieving tendon pains and sustained usage helps in restoring muscle strength in case of Fibromyalgia.
3. Rhododendron: Often the Fibromyalgia pain gets aggravated with a marked change in the season. Rhododendron mitigates the intensity of the pain. 
4. Arnica: For any injury induced body ache, Arnica is an extremely effective cure. It also functions as the foremost option, when the precise causes or the symptoms are unknown. 
5. Causticum: Certain forms of Fibromyalgia are accompanied with soreness, weakness and a feeling of stillness. Causticum soothes such ailments.
6. Bryonia: Bryonia alleviates chronic pain in the soft tissues of the body. Exposure to heat needs to be avoided mandatorily in order to optimize the effect of Bryonia. 
7. Kalmia Latifolia: When besides the obverse symptoms of Fibromyalgia, the pain in the muscle is accompanied with a feeling of cold and numbness, one of the best homeopathic cures is Kalmia Latifolia. 

Should you spank your child?

Your child is throwing the temper tantrum of the century. Scratching, hitting, biting, spitting, and screaming—it can’t get much worse. What do you do? Do you spank your child or will that just make matters worse?

Spanking is one of the most controversial forms of child discipline. Most child development professionals agree that spanking is ineffective and may lead to more aggressive behavior. But many individuals and groups support or encourage spanking as part of a disciplinary approach for children. According to the National Survey of Early Childhood Health, other commonly used forms of discipline include taking away toys or treats, yelling, using time out, and giving explanations. Only 29% of the parents surveyed had spanked a child under three years of age. But in other studies, more than 90% of American families report that they have spanked their child at some point.

So what should parents do? Is spanking the best way to discipline children or are other methods more effective?

Child Discipline
Discipline is a way of teaching children the restraint and values necessary to become competent and independent adults. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), an effective discipline system contains three vital elements:

A learning environment characterized by positive, supportive parent-child relationships
A strategy for teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors
A strategy for decreasing and eliminating undesired behaviors

Most parents reward good behaviors and punish bad behaviors. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends rewarding your child’s good behavior with things like:

Praise
An extra bedtime story
Delaying bedtime by a half hour
A preferred snack
Points toward a special toy or privilege

Bad behaviors, on the other hand, can by punished by:

Ignoring your child
Sending your child to time-out
Verbally reprimanding your child
Taking away privileges

Many parents report that they use spanking to punish unacceptable behaviors, but most child development professionals agree that spanking is among the least effective forms of discipline

Consequences of Spanking
Research shows that although spanking can stop an undesirable behavior in the short-term, its effectiveness diminishes with each subsequent spanking. The AAP has identified the following consequences of spanking:

Spanking of children younger than 18 months increases the chances of physical injury, and the child is unlikely to understand the connection between the behavior and the punishment.
Repeated spanking may cause agitated, aggressive behavior in the child that may lead to physical altercation between parent and child.
Spanking models aggressive behavior as a solution to conflict and has been associated with increased aggression in children.
Spanking and threats of spanking lead to altered parent-child relationships, making discipline substantially more difficult when physical punishment is no longer an option, such as with adolescents.
Spanking is no more effective than other disciplinary approaches, and reliance on spanking as a disciplinary approach makes other strategies less effective.
A pattern of spanking may be sustained or increased.
Studies reported in the journal Pediatrics show that spanking prior to the age of two was strongly associated with behavior problems when children reached school age. These findings were significant only for white, non-Hispanic children.

For these reasons, the AAP strongly discourages any form of striking a child. They recommend that, if the spanking is spontaneous, parents should calmly explain why they did it, how angry they felt, and perhaps apologize to the child.

Alternatives to Spanking
If spanking isn’t effective, what is? Many child development professionals recommend “extinction” approaches, or the removal of positive reinforcement after unacceptable behavior. Two effective and commonly used extinction approaches are the time-out method and the removal of privileges.

The Time-out Method
The time-out method is highly effective in young children. To use this option, you must first set the ground rules. Make it clear to your child which behaviors—tantrums, hitting, and yelling, for example—will warrant a time-out. Select a quiet, removed location where your child will have to sit.

When your child misbehaves, give one warning, then put him in time-out if the behavior continues. Set a timer immediately—the AAFP recommends one minute for each year of age—and leave your child in time-out. You should stay within earshot and reset the timer if your child continues to misbehave. When the timer is over, allow your child to leave the designated area.

Removal of Privileges
Removal of privileges usually works best for older children and adolescents. Make a short list of important rules your child must follow, and let him know what the consequences of breaking the rules are.

Removing privileges such as driving, watching TV, or playing video games for a set amount of time is effective in discouraging future rule breaking. Another effective strategy that works well with adolescents and even older children is not allowing them to participate in activities, such as parties, sports events, or outings with friends.

Positive Reinforcement
While time-out and removal of privileges both work well for punishing and discouraging bad behavior, you should also encourage good behavior by rewarding it. Praise your child when he deserves it. Extend your child’s privileges when he follows the rules. Develop a points system that allows your child to earn points toward a reward with good behavior.

By teaching your child that bad behavior is unacceptable and good behavior is rewarded, you will have instilled important values in your child that will help him become a self-sufficient, well-adjusted young adult.

Man-o-pause and Homeopathy

A recent study published in a medical journal in the UK claimed that menopause does not only affect women, but men too suffer from the male menopause or andropause.

This finding created quite a flutter among the over-the-40 men, who were suddenly conscious of their own bodies and moods. However, health experts across the city claim that andropause is nothing like the female menopause and that crossing their forties or fifties need not ring any alarm bells in men, as long as they maintain healthy lifestyles. The men BT spoke to, couldn’t have agreed more.

Renowned sexologist Dr Prakash Kothari says, “We do see a lot of male patients reporting similar symptoms that women experience during pre-menopause and menopause. But it’s common and men often tend to go through something called the mid-life crisis post their 40s, but it’s presumptuous to call it andropause. Andropause affects a very small percentage of men and is purely due to some illness or ailment.”

Explaining the difference between the female and male menopause, he adds, that in women, the estrogen production halts suddenly and abruptly after a certain age and is permanent. Whereas among men, there’s a gradual decline of testosterone and this too is a decline of less than one per cent a year. But unlike women, men do not lose their ability to reproduce and can do so even in their late nineties.

Well-known sexologist Dr Rajan Bhosle, too, insists that post the 40s, a man is usually stressed about his appearance, change in work if nearing retirement, dealing with grown-up children, family... this may lead to depression if a person is not able to adapt to the changes around him positively. This may lead to a decrease in libido or desire for sex, but it has nothing to do with the testosterone. It’s more psychological than a physical change.

Talking about the decline in hormones, a male body undergoes according to age, consultant endocrinologist Dr Manoj Chadha explains, “Sure, there is a decline in testosterone production, but it is hardly anything to be worried about. Men who show menopausal symptoms are mostly due to to other factors and the lowering of testosterone level is just one small factor that may or may not cause the symptoms.

Experts opine that the male menopause is more of a western concept being brought to the fore by those with vested interests in promoting the hormone therapy with testosterone, which is otherwise not required at all. But even as the medical community rages a debate on whether or not men really do go through a well-defined menopause, some of the celeb brigade who’re well in their 40s offer their takes.

“I am still 18,” says adman and theatre personality Bharat Dabholkar, adding “and if there’s anything like a male menopause then I am still years away from it.” On a serious note he adds that menopause-like symptoms may affect men who have always lived in a routine. “Suddenly when they retire, they feel unwanted. To top it, their appearances undergo changes and they don’t find themselves as attractive to young women. But truly, it’s all in the head. People who are unable to cope with these changes can fall prey to mid-life crisis.”

Male menopause is a word that doesn’t exist in the dictionary of TV star Ronit Roy too. “It’s all about how positively you can deal with changes around you, when you hit a certain age.” For adman Prahlad Kakkar, male menopause is a self-inflicted wound. “Men are constantly worried about their performance in bed. This automatically leads to insecurity, when they are not confident about their looks and appearances. The ‘big’ that they try to compensate with is the big wallet, but it breeds even more insecurity within knowing that you have a woman with you only because of that.” And the way to beat the blues? “It’s all about what you believe in truly. Keep falling in love to avoid going through this phase,” is his mantra.

Kabir Bedi, too, insists that it’s all in your head. “It’s all about being confident about who you really are,” he says. For restaurateur Dr Suhas Awchat, the term doesn’t hold any importance. “The problem is not between the legs, but between the years,” he says. Elaborating on this he explains, “Men post their 40s often have to deal with receding hairlines, pot-belly, and above all the fact that young girls start calling you an uncle. That causes major heartburn. However, if a man chooses to not succumb to this, then there is no deterioration of any kind at all.”

Dr Bhosle sums it up saying, “The male menopause need not be an issue at all, unless a man chooses to make it so. It’s purely psychological in nature and the key lies in dealing with it on that front and not by hormone therapies

What is male menopause?
Doctors insist that there’s no well-defined male menopause. Andropause refers to the decline of androgen (testosterone) in the aging male. But male menopause can best be described as a phase that involves hormonal, physiological, and chemical changes that occur in all men mostly after 40. These changes effect all aspects of a man’s life and are associated with symptoms like gaining weight, diminished memory, declining work performance, sleep issues, lack of energy, loss of motivation, decline in self-confidence, lack of sex drive and even feeling depressed.

Tips to deal with it
- Keep a positive outlook towards life and do not let feelings of worthlessness creep in.
- Keep yourself occupied with new projects.
- Accept the changes in you and around you with grace.
- A man can lead an active sex life well into his 90s.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The following homeopathic medicines and remedies can be used to treat menopause:

1. A balanced diet which provides you with optimal nutrition can be helpful in treating menopausal symptoms. When you get enough vitamins and minerals, the physical discomfort caused by the symptoms can be reduced greatly.
2. Phosphorus can help with migraines, extreme sweating, numb hands, fast pulse, memory problems and dry and itchy skin. Foods high in phosphorus content are meat, fish, cheese, nuts and seeds of pumpkins, sunflowers etc.
3. Excessive deposition of fat can interfere with the hormonal cycles and cause imbalances in the level of estrogen and progesterone. So, regular yoga and exercise can be helpful.
4. Amylenum nitrosum can provide relief from profuse sweating, shortness of breath and palpitations.
5. Phytoestrogen or dietary estrogen is a compound found in foods such as soybeans, oats, barley, carrots, fenugreek, rice etc. Phytoestrogen can provide natural relief from menopausal symptoms.
6. Aurum metallicum is used to get the tissues and organs to function normally again and control feelings of anxiety and claustrophobia.
7. Aconitum napellus (wolf's bane) is a flowering plant and its extracts can reduce panic attacks, heat flushes, over excitability and depressive symptoms.
8. Argentum nitricum is a nitrate compound of silver which is used to control excessive bleeding in the pre-menstrual stages.
9. Belladonna (deadly nightshade) is beneficial for a large number of symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, insomnia, frequent urination, osteoporosis, abnormal weight gain and other nervous disorders.
10. Bryonia alba, a flowering plant, is used as a remedy for vaginal infections, rashes and vaginal dryness that are common during menopause.
11. Natrum muriaticum, in small amounts, helps to reduce stress. Stress can cause problems in thyroid function, cognitive functioning, digestive system functioning and it can elevate blood pressure levels rapidly.
12. Nux vomica (strychnine) is a common homeopathic medicine for nausea, vomiting and indigestion. These problems are seen frequently in menopausal women, especially after meals at night.

Report shows fall in child smoking, drinking and drug use

There has been a fall in the proportion of schoolchildren who smoke, drink or take illegal drugs, new figures show.

A report by the NHS Information Centre reveals that, in 2009, 22 per cent of 11 to 15-year-olds had tried drugs. This compares with 29 per cent in 2001.

Twenty-nine per cent of schoolchildren polled in 2009 said they had tried smoking, down from 53 per cent in 1982.

And the percentage of children who have ever had an alcoholic drink has fallen from 61 per cent in 2003 to 51 per cent in 2009.

However, the report also reveals that smoking, drinking and drug use all become more common as children get older.

For instance, one per cent of 11-year-olds said they had smoked in the week prior to the survey, compared to 20 per cent of 15-year-olds.

Tim Straughan, chief executive of the NHS Information Centre, commented: 'The survey tracks the changing behaviour and attitudes of young people with regard to smoking, drinking and drug use.

'It provides insights and data that staff at the frontline will find helpful when planning services.'

According to the 2004 US National Survey on Drug Use and Health, children who drink alcohol before the age of 15 are five times more likely to develop an alcohol problem than those who start after the age of 21.

Homeopathy will not be banned by NHS despite critical report!!!

Health minister Anne Milton said complementary and alternative medicine "has a long tradition" and very vocal people both in favour of it and against it.

A report by a group of MPs said homeopathic medicine should no longer be funded on the NHS and called for a ban on the medicines carrying medical claims on their labels.


Last month, doctors attending the British Medical Association (BMA) annual conference backed this view, saying homeopathic remedies should be banned on the NHS and taken off pharmacy shelves where they are sold as medicines.

The treatment was described as "nonsense on stilts" and that patients would be better off buying bottled water.

Ms Milton said the Government welcomed the MPs' report but "remain of the view that the local National Health Service and clinicians are best placed to make decisions on what treatment is appropriate for their patients".

These decisions should take account of safety, and clinical and cost effectiveness, she said, adding that the Government remained committed to providing good-quality information on the treatments.

Homeopathy, which dates back 200-years, has been funded on the NHS since the service's inception in 1948.

It differs from herbal medicine in that it relies on substances being diluted many times, something the MPs said could not be scientifically proved to work.

There are four homeopathic hospitals in the UK, in London, Bristol, Liverpool and Glasgow.

Estimates on how much the NHS spends on homeopathy vary, with the Society of Homeopaths putting the figure at £4 million a year including the cost of running hospitals.

Former Liberal Democrat MP Evan Harris, who was a member of the Science and Technology Committee when it published its report, said: "This is not a good start for the new Health Secretary when it comes to evidence-based policy.

"How does the Government justify allowing treatments that do not work to be provided by the NHS in the name of choice, when it allows medicines which do work to be banned from NHS use?"

Health Benefits of Green Tea!!!

It's difficult not to gush about green tea.
More than a decade's worth of research about green tea's health benefits -- particularly its potential to fight cancer and heart disease -- has been more than intriguing, as have limited studies about green tea's role in lowering cholesterol, burning fat, preventing diabetes and stroke, and staving off dementia.
Skinny Sipping: Best and Worst Drinks for Weight Loss

Green Tea's Powerful Antioxidants
Green tea's antioxidants, called catechins, scavenge for free radicals that can damage DNA and contribute to cancer, blood clots, and atherosclerosis. Grapes and berries, red wine, and dark chocolate also have potent antioxidants.
Because of green tea's minimal processing -- its leaves are withered and steamed, not fermented like black and oolong teas -- green tea's unique catechins, especially epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), are more concentrated.

But there's still a question of how much green tea you need to drink to reap its health benefits. EGCG is not readily "available" to the body; in other words, EGCG is not always fully used by the body.
"We must overcome the issue of poor bioavailability [and other issues] in order to get the most out of their benefits," says Tak-Hang Chan, PhD, professor emeritus in the department of chemistry at McGill University in Montreal. Chan has studied the use of a synthetic form of EGCG in shrinking prostate cancer tumors in mice, with success.

Green Tea vs. Cancer
Marji McCullough, ScD, RD, the American Cancer Society's strategic director of nutritional epidemiology, says human studies haven't yet proven what researchers like Chan have discovered in the lab: green tea's EGCG regulates and inhibits cancer growth and kills cells that are growing inappropriately.
"Epidemiologically, one of the challenges is finding populations that drink enough green tea and have for a long time," she says. "With cancer, it's always difficult to find the exposure time," or the point at which cancer cells begin to develop
Still, it's difficult not to be intrigued by a few human studies that have shown that drinking at least two cups of green tea daily inhibits cancer growth.
One of them, a study conducted in Japan that involved nearly 500 Japanese women with Stage I and Stage II breast cancer, found that increased green tea consumption before and after surgery was associated with lower recurrence of the cancers.
Studies in China have shown that the more green tea that participants drank, the less the risk of developing stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer.
Finally, a recent analysis of 22 studies that probed the correlation between high tea consumption and reduced risk for lung cancer concluded that by increasing your daily intake of green (not black) tea by two cups may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer by 18%.

Is Green Tea Good for Your Heart?
It seems to be, but there are conflicting results of a few epidemiological studies conducted in the East and West.
In a study that involved 500 Japanese men and women, researchers found that drinking at least four cups of green tea every day may be related to the reduced severity of coronary heart disease among the male participants.
A Dutch study of more than 3,000 men and women found that the more tea consumed, the less severe the clogging of the heart's blood vessels, especially in women.
As Goldberg suggests, lifestyle and overall diet are critical to the outcomes of these studies.
But green tea's antioxidants are dilators, she says, because they improve the flexibility of blood vessels and make them less vulnerable to clogging -- and antioxidant-rich blueberries and pomegranates do the same.
"I think people should know these are important studies, that everyday foods that are an option may actually have health benefits," Goldberg says. "I think green tea, because of its antioxidant value, may have heart benefits, but it's not something we regularly prescribe to people, because there isn't as much evidence as there is in exercise's ability to improve heart health."

Green Tea and Weight
Green tea and its extract have been shown to fight obesity and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol -- two risk factors for heart disease and diabetes -- but in very limited studies. One study in the Netherlands and a study in Japan showed that green tea did both.
In the Dutch study, participants who drank caffeinated green tea lost more weight, but even those who typically drank the decaf variety saw a decrease in their waistlines and body weight. Researchers speculated that the caffeine helps with fat oxidation.
In the Japanese study, 240 men and women were given varying amounts of green tea extract for three months. Those who got the highest amount lost fat and weight and had lower blood pressure and lower LDL "bad" cholesterol.

Green Tea Straight Up
Taking weight loss supplements that contain green tea extract probably won't hurt, unless you have liver problems.
But the best way to get the most out of green tea -- even if your main goal is losing weight -- is to drink it.
"Taken altogether, the evidence certainly suggests that incorporating at least a few cups of green tea every day will positively affect your health," says Diane McKay, PhD, a Tufts University scientist who studies antioxidants. "It's not going to cure anything and it shouldn't be consumed as a drug, but it can complement the rest of the diet."
McCullough bears the same reminder: eat your fruits, vegetables, grains, seeds, and nuts -- and go ahead, drink as much green tea as you want.
"I don't think it can hurt to drink it. I'd focus on dietary sources rather than supplements because there are several compounds in green tea that might need to be consumed together. We just don't know yet," she says.