The use of aromas and herbs

Has the use of aromas and herbs, only recently been appreciated for their healing, and recuperative qualities? Most certainly not.

Aromas had been used for medicinal, spiritual, and magical purposes going back as far back as Egyptian times 3000 B.C. Even further back in time 5000 B.C. the Tassili cave paintings showed women wearing fragrant flower garlands. There are frequent mentions of the use of potions throughout history - Pliny the 1st century Roman historian, mentions in his Natural History narrative, 32 remedies prepared from roses, 21 from lilies, 17 from violets, and 25 from pennyroyal. Ancient Indian cultures used sandalwood for genito-urinary infections.

Nostradamus, at the age of 21 received a licence, having studied in Montpellier France, to practise medicine. One of the formulae which he used as a remedy for several conditions, has survived to this day, and was compounded of rose petals, cloves, lignum aloes, and the dried roots of iris and sweet flag.

The ancient Greeks also contributed to the origins of herbal medicine. Dioscorides, a military doctor was the author of De Materia Medica a book on herbal medicine, which was the foundation of all subsequent books for a further 1600 years. Galen another Greek doctor also wrote a major book on herbal medicine De Simplicibus in the 2nd century which was used up to the middle ages by the Islamic physicians.

The word of herbalism was carried to Europe via the crusaders, and the texts were translated into Latin, which when printing was developed, the information became more widespread, though only if you could read. So herbal folklore passed on from generation to generation, by word of mouth. In the 16th century John Gerard published in 1597 the "Herbal or General Historie of Plantes". He had been greatly influenced by the great medical scholar Paracelsus.

Now in recent time the medical fraternity is becoming aware of the benefits of some of these ancient methods, and in the United Kingdom some areas are becoming available on the National Health System.

Protect Yourself from the Winter Sun with 7 steps

What outdoor activities did you do this past summer? Maybe you went on a vacation to the beach. Maybe you spent some time playing your favorite sports such as baseball, golf, or tennis. Maybe you went swimming or had a barbeque in the backyard with family and friends. Regardless of the outdoor activities you did over the summer, most likely you were aware that it was important to protect yourself from sun while outdoors.

Now winter is approaching. I am turning my attention to putting away my summer items to make room for the winter ones; long sleeve shirts for short sleeve ones, corduroy pants for shorts, and boots for sandals. Most of the sports equipment I have been using is going to get put away as well. But what about those items I have been using to protect myself from the sun? Things like my sunscreens, sunglasses, and sun protective hats and clothing.

You may be putting these items away and not using them during the winter. The National Council of Skin Cancer Prevention reported in their January 2003 newsletter that research shows only 3 percent of Americans routinely wear sunscreen during the fall months, and only 2 percent during the winter months. However, you can still get a sunburn and snow blindness during these months. The colder temperatures do not block the UV rays and reflections off the snow and higher altitudes can make matters even worse. You may be causing yourself significant, long-term damage by not properly protecting yourself.

How do you protect yourself from the winter sun (or any other season)? Follow these simple sun safety action steps recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency:

1. Limit Time in the Midday Sun - The sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Whenever possible, limit exposure to the sun during these hours.

2. Wear a Hat - A hat with a wide brim offers good sun protection to your eyes, ears, face, and the back of your neck - areas particularly prone to overexposure to the sun.

3. Cover Up - Wearing tightly woven, loose-fitting, and full-length clothing is a good way to protect your skin from the sun's UV rays.

4. Wear Sunglasses that Block 99-100% of UV Radiation -Sunglasses that provide 99-100% UVA and UVB protection will greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts and other eye damage. Check the label when buying sunglasses.

5. Always Use Sunscreen - Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 or higher liberally on exposed skin. Reapply every 2 hours, or after working, swimming, playing, or exercising outdoors. Even waterproof sunscreen can come off when you towel off, sweat, or spend extended periods of time in the water.

6. Avoid Sunlamps and Tanning Parlors - The light source from sunbeds and sunlamps damages the skin and unprotected eyes. It's a good idea to avoid artificial sources of UV light.

7. Watch for the UV Index - The UV Index provides important information to help you plan your outdoor activities in ways that prevent overexposure to the sun. Developed by the National Weather Service (NWS) and EPA, the UV Index is issued daily in selected cities across the United States.

I am going to keep my sun protective items out to use this winter. I am trusting that you will do the same so that you can enjoy the outdoors while in the cold, on the ice, or in the snow. Have a terrific and safe winter!

Nothing is more important to our health than drinking lots of pure water

Is Bottled Water the Answer?

Nothing is more important to our health than drinking lots of pure water. All of the complex biochemical functions in our bodies depend on this key substance. Along with regulating the many micro-processes in our cells, it's essential in absorbing and transporting all nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. It's equally critical in eliminating wastes and toxins from the body. At a time when we are exposed to increasing levels of environmental toxins from our food, air, and water, the conventional wisdom to "drink 6 to 8 glasses of clean water per day for optimum health" is more important than ever before.

Unfortunately, as most people now know, most sources of drinking water are also contaminated with a wide variety of toxins. As a result, increasing numbers of people are now using water filters and are spending large sums of money annually on bottled water.

It is not so widely known, however, that an FDA survey has stated that 31% of the 52 brands of bottled water tested were tainted with bacteria. Similarly, a study conducted by the National Resources Defense Council on 103 brands of bottled water found that about one-third of them contained levels of contamination--including synthetic organic chemicals, bacteria, and arsenic. Moreover, there is growing evidence that xenoestrogens can leach out of the plastic bottles into the water when they are stored for long periods in either hot or very cold environments.

So many Americans, in spite of spending over $1,000 a year on bottled water, may still be exposing themselves to a significant level of toxins. These two facts taken together provide a major incentive for considering a new alternative to bottled water. It's called "WELLNESS WATER."

A Brief History of Wellness Water

Around 30 years ago, Haru Naito left Japan to attend the State University of New York. After winning the NCAA swimming championship there, he returned to Japan to coach Japan's National Swimming Team. Through his devotion to improving the performance of his swimmers, he became involved in the emerging field of sports medicine. This led him to start investigating the unusual levels of health, vitality, and longevity of certain ethnic groups, including the Hunza of Pakistan.

As a result of his extensive research with this group, he concluded that their extraordinary health and longevity was largely due to their water supply. Through careful analysis of this water, he discovered that it had certain unique features as a result of being filtered through minerals of volcanic origin.

During the following years, he continued to investigate the effects of filtering water through similar volcanic minerals in Japan until he developed water with properties very similar to those he had discovered with the Hunza. The final result of his ongoing research was the development of the "Wellness Filter."

Following the circulation of many anecdotal reports throughout Japan about the health benefits of drinking water that had been conditioned by this special filter, the Japanese Ministry of Health conducted rigorous scientific testing of this filter. This resulted in an unprecedented governmental endorsement of the filter. It has now been installed in over 100 government hospitals in Japan, and one of its mineral components has been licensed in Japan as a medicinal mineral.

It was introduced into the U.S. for the first time in 2000. Research here has added further documentation of the many health benefits of this enhanced "wellness water," not only for humans, but also for chickens and cows. (A link to an extensive online summary of this research can be found by clicking on the URL provided at the end of this article.)

How to Have Your Own Portable Supply of Wellness Water

Very recently, the "Wellness Filter" has become available in a 16 oz. Wellness Sport Enhanced Water Bottle. Through the use of this unique bottle, ordinary tap water is instantly transformed into purified ENHANCED water. Not only is this water at least as pure as the best bottled water, it also alters the water so that it: 1) increases the ease of absorption, helping your body absorb nutrients and rid itself of toxins; 2) adds trace minerals for cellular health; and 3) adds reduced ions for an anti-oxidant and anti-aging effect.

In additon to being superior in all of these ways to bottled water, Wellness Water is also much less expensive. Depending on the particular brand of bottled water used as a price comparison, the savings can range from $160 to over $1,000 per year.

Finally, using this Wellness Sport Enhanced Water Bottle as an alternative to bottled water eliminates the expense and burden on the environment of disposing of approximately 1,000 plastic bottles per person each year.

Benefits of arranging for Facelifts together Mother/Daughter

What are the benefits of arranging for facelifts together? Mothers and daughters, sisters, and even best friends are arranging to go under the knife together. While there is an element of bonding to the experience, there are other reasons why women might schedule their procedures at the same time. Looking younger, fresher, and well rested is the desired results, so why not bring along a friend or family member?

One Caregiver for Both Patients

Everyone knows that plastic surgery requires some downtime for recovery and facelifts are no different. Patients are unable to do anything their first day home after the operation. In fact many men and women head straight home and go to bed. They are unable to drive their own vehicles and someone will need to pick them up.

From there, recovery times vary depending on the type of facelifts that the individuals received. Either way, for at least the next few days someone will need to handle all of the major tasks a person needs done. This includes making or providing meals, handling the laundry or housecleaning and in some cases, making sure that the individual is taking the right pain medication and resting comfortably.

If two people go through the procedure together (or one right after the other) it is possible for one person to care for both people provided they are staying in the same home or area. Both patients can rest comfortably while their basic needs are met.

Someone to Recover With

Remember being a kid and staying home from school because you weren't feeling well? At first, it seems like a great idea and you can't wait to sit around and do nothing but watching television. But after a while, it gets boring. Imagine going through a plastic surgery procedure and having someone else by your side, resting and relaxing, unable to do anything else. You two can spend time together doing nothing.

Along with just having someone around, it is also nice to have someone to talk to. You can share how you are feeling and compare notes. You can examine each other's incisions and see what you think. You have someone right next to you to ask about the experience as a whole. This is probably where the bonding comes into play.

While there are no clear-cut statistics on the number of people that bring along a friend or family member for facelifts, it is not uncommon. Mothers and daughters want to improve their appearance together. Best friends want to stop the aging process and turn back the clock. In this situation, it may be beneficial to experience facelifts together.

3 important points that included training in aseptic technique

Aseptic Techniques include precautionary measures that a hospital is required to take to create and maintain an environment that is infection-free. There are two ways that this sterile environment can be developed- through autoclaving (physical process) and gas or heat sterilization (chemical process).

HIPAA has introduced aseptic techniques training as part of its training program for all employees who deal with potentially infected body fluids and are at a risk for exposure. The training will include training the employees about the two processes to achieve a pathogen-free environment. The physical process involves autoclaving, while the chemical process is related to gas sterilization.

The employees are encouraged to strictly follow specific practices and procedures to reach to maintain sterility and keep contamination by pathogens to a minimum. This is what aseptic techniques is all about. It guarantees that no infectious microorganisms are able to the environment. And it is a common fact that microorganisms are a part of the environment we live in; in the air, on the ground, etc.

If you are infected by these pathogens, it can lead to serious diseases. People, whose health is compromised as in post-surgery or wounded patients, are more likely to be infected easily. Hence, it is especially important to maintain a sterile, pathogen-free environment in hospitals, so that patients are not exposed to these infectious agents. This is achieved mainly in three ways:

• Sterilizing the equipment

Once the employees are trained, the aseptic techniques have to be strictly followed in hospitals to prevent patients from being exposed to infections. The first step is to sterilize all the equipment. One of the most widespread hospital acquired infection occurs in surgical patients at the surgery site. Therefore, all the equipment and anything that the patient is likely to come in contact with, is sterilized. If an instrument or other item falls on the ground, it must be used only after being sterilized again.

• Sterilizing the environment

Burn patients, immune disorder patients and many others are at a high risk of contracting infections. For this, the environment has to be completely sterilized and regularly cleaned. The operation theatres, wards, and laboratories are some of the areas where the walls, floors, work tables, and other items must be thoroughly sterilized. This procedure is very important in preventing infection from spreading from one patient to another. It therefore leads to a considerable decrease in morbidity and mortality caused by spread of infections.

• Sterilizing the clothing

All the clothing like gowns, caps, head gear, mask, and the like, worn by the surgical team must be sterilized before use. The sleeve cuffs of surgical gowns accommodate a lot of moisture from the air, which causes microorganisms to collect there. For this reason, sterile surgical gloves are used to completely cover the cuffs. In addition, the entire team must undergo a surgical scrub process which involves washing hands and forearms with good, antiseptic soap. The operation room is sterilized completely along with all the equipment using the chemical process of sterilization.

Anesthesia Errors enter minds

When the issue of surgery comes up, patients often feel a bit overwhelmed, a bit uncertain, and sometimes downright scared. All types of surgery come with risk and there is always the potential that something will go wrong, or the surgery will not be a success. While patients worry about a great deal when faced with surgical procedures, one of the things that does not usually enter their minds is anesthesia or the anesthesiologist that will be overseeing their procedure.

Unfortunately, anesthesia errors make up one of the most common forms of medical malpractice claims in the United States. Patients are not often aware of just how important an issue anesthesia is, and just how much training is required to ensure it is administered in the proper way. The practice is extremely precise, and making just a small error in judgment or monitoring could lead to a serious complication or tragedy. While they do not happen in every situation, anesthesia errors do happen frequently and, regrettably, when they do, the results can be devastating.

If you or someone you know has suffered any type of injury because of an error involving anesthesia, it is important to understand that you do have legal rights, and you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injuries. Your first step should be to consult with a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical malpractice and negligence to discuss your case, and your options. These legal professionals are extremely skilled in this area of the law, and will be your best line of defense for filing a claim.

There are a number of reasons that an anesthesia error can occur. The most common reason for such a mistake is because of negligence or general carelessness on the part of the medical professional. Examples of such errors include the following:

Administering anesthesia to patients who have an allergy to the medication given;

Providing too much anesthesia to the patient, causing them to overdose;

Not providing proper instructions to the patient before administering anesthesia, such as not drinking or eating before the procedure;

Failing to take into account other medications that have been administered and may interact with the anesthesia.

While, as previously stated, anesthesia errors are not uncommon; you may still think that they are not everyday occurrences. This is not the case at all. In fact, anesthesia errors are estimated to occur anywhere from fifty to one hundred times each day, all across the country. No matter what the excuse is for the error on the part of the anesthesiologist, the consequences can be extremely serious, and sometimes fatal. Some of the most common side effects of anesthesia errors include: heart attacks, strokes, damage to the brain or vital organs that cannot be repaired, the ability to feel pain during the surgical procedure, birth defects (when anesthesia is given during childbirth), and death.

As you can imagine, dealing with the fallout from such errors can be quite taxing for patients. If the patient survives the error, they can be faced with a long term recovery period, extra medical treatments, permanent disabilities, permanent side effects, and rehabilitation that is quite lengthy.

Because of these issues, patients are often saddled with large medical bills, an inability to continue working, mounting every day bills, and difficulty adapting to a new way of life. The physical and emotional stress can be overwhelming. On top of this, the financial burden can be crippling.

Taking the time to consult with a personal injury attorney and deciding to move forward with a lawsuit provides you with the chance to obtain compensation for past, present, and future medical bills, a loss of income, a loss of companionship, a loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, and more. In some cases, punitive damages are `lso awarded as a means of punishing the party responsible in the hopes of preventing further similar acts.

Anesthesia errors are now occurring at a rate that is quite alarming and the simple fact is they can be and should be prevented if proper care is administered. The laws surrounding medical malpractice claims are put into place to protect innocent patients so that these injuries are not allowed to continue to happen.

It is not advisable that you attempt to file a personal injury claim on your own without the assistance of a personal injury attorney who specializes in the area of medical malpractice and negligence. There is a great deal of detail that goes into these claims, as well as statutes of limitations that can vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Filing too late or missing one small item can ruin your chances of a successful filing.

Personal injury attorneys know this area of the law extremely well and will handle your case with top notch care and professionalism. These legal representatives will deal directly with the legal teams that represent the hospital and doctors, while you spend your time focusing on your personal health and recovery.

In the event that you have lost a loved one because of an anesthesia error, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the decedent. While a personal injury attorney cannot undo the harm that has already been done, or bring back a lost loved one, he or she can help you to receive compensation to help rebuild your life.

The majority of personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you do not have to pay anything until the time your case settles. With everything else you are forced to deal with during this already difficult time, this can be a tremendous comfort.

There is no reason to risk being a victim twice, and there is definitely no reason to allow these types of acts to go unpunished. Doctors and anesthesiologists owe their patients a certain duty of care and when this breached legal action needs to be taken. Filing a claim not only helps to protect your interests, it also helps to protect other patients from being victimized in the future.

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