Herbal Remedies Blog

Diabetes is classified in two types; type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an outcome of an autoimmune disorder which is normally because of a viral attack on pancreas. In type 2 diabetes the cells performs an abnormal role and become resistant towards insulin. The result is they are unable to break glucose for producing energy. In both cases the diabetes is caused because of an increased level of sugar in blood and less amount of sugar in the cells of the body where it is needed. It type 1 diabetes there is an inadequate amount of insulin because the cells responsible for producing insulin get destroyed.

Following is a detailed list of signs of diabetes.

Frequent Trips to Restroom
If a person is suffering from diabetes he may feel that he is visiting the rest room more often. This is because diabetes has increased the level of glucose in blood. The glucose in the blood is raised either because of lack of insulin or because of the cells’ abnormality to use the insulin efficiently. Whatever the reason is the increased blood glucose level causes the kidneys to fail to hold glucose in the body. It draws some excessive water from nearby cells to dilute concentrated glucose and excrete it out of the body.

More Thirst
Pulling extra water from body cells to dilute the concentration of glucose and excrete it in the form of urine, result in repeated demand of water. The person feels thirsty and if not drink enough water he may lead to dehydration.

Weight Loss
Another symptom of diabetes is his weight loss, specifically in type 1 diabetics. The level of insulin decreases and cells become incapable to break down the glucose efficiently. The cells then has to use the reserves of fats and muscle tissue to release the energy required for body functioning. The weight loss seems gradual in type 2 diabetics because the speed of the cell that get resistant towards insulin is comparatively slow.

Fatigue and Tiredness
When the cells become unable to break down glucose because of the incidence of diabetes, the body gets starved because of lack of energy. Diabetics become easily fatigued and repeatedly experience the tendency to vomit.

Numbness In Hands And Feet
Diabetics often suffer from tingling sensation or numbness in legs, fingers and hands. This tingling and numbness is termed diabetic neuropathy. Increased level of glucose in blood damages the cells of the nerves. Type 2 diabetics are unable to detect this feeling at the earlier stage. The process can be reversed by effectively controlling the level of blood sugar.
The signs of diabetes also include dry and itchy skin, frequent wound infection and blurred vision. The person who is experiencing any of the above symptoms must visit the doctor for his check up immediately.

Use these tips to eliminate calories in your diet. Remember to follow a program of diet and exercise.

1. – Say Reduce Weight NOT Lose Weight.
Get mentally prepared. Nobody ever likes to lose anything. Prepare your mind to adjust to forth coming changes by saying ‘I want to reduce weight’ instead of ‘I want to lose weight.

2. – Visit the supermarket to buy healthy food.
Seeks to go to super with the mentality to keep your figure. Find foods with energy, high nutritional value and low in fat. Avoid the temptations at home, do not buy biscuits and fried self.

3. – Your photo before and after.
There are those who usually take pictures before and after to assess the progress of your diet. Put your picture back in the fridge … and displayed as you see through diet and exercise. This will help you resist the urge to eat unnecessarily.

4. – Clean your cupboard.
If you remove tempting foods from your desk, your bedroom and the pantry, you can avoid eating them. Best fruit to eat leaves.

5. – In the restaurant.
Many establishments have menus “light.” Order them and prevents oeuvres and desserts.

6. – Your exercise plan.
You must schedule a time to exercise; otherwise you will always be relegated. You should seek exercise as part of your schedule, either in the morning, noon or night

7. – Supplement your diet.
Find supplements to help you lose weight and supplement your diet. You can also make a smoothie in the afternoon rather than eating biscuits or fried.

8. – Goals and objectives.
Establishes a plan specific to your nutritional goals in order to monitor and measure results. It is not enough desire to lose weight. It is important to follow a diet plan and exercise to achieve your goal within a specific time.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 40% of the world’s population suffers some form of sleep disorder. Experts say that people who suffer from insomnia are easily identified by their changing mood and its low level of concentration, two symptoms that are the most common. Doctors say that there are over 80 diseases associated with sleep disorders. They can be grouped into three broad categories: insomnia, sleep during the day and abnormal behavior at night.

Insomnia and sleep are the most common disorders. Those who suffer from sleep apnea can not achieve a good rest, because it is interrupted throughout the night for moments that are breathtaking for a few seconds. With regard to insomnia are several types: it is caused by external causes (noise, an uncomfortable bed), the related physical ailments (pain, discomfort) and the psychological origin. But most insomnia is experienced by people who can not relax and have a high level of stress.

Experts agree that the difficulty concentrating at work, excessive sleepiness and irritability constant over a prolonged time are symptoms of alarm. If you persist, these problems may worsen and affect blood pressure, immune system and metabolism.

Recommendations to combat insomnia:

• Try to avoid heavy dinners and abundant.
• Do not use caffeine, alcohol or cigarettes, at least 4 hours before going to sleep.
• Do not exercise before bedtime.
• Do not sleep during the day.
• If taking medication, consult your doctor if you can affect sleep.
• Try to get used to bed and getting up at fixed times.
• Conditioning for the bedroom that is comfortable, quiet, with no leakage of light and noise, and has a pleasant temperature.
• If you can, then soak a bath before bedtime, or natural products with soothing salts.
• Take one cup of warm milk or tea.
• At bedtime, try to relax your body and freeing your mind of thoughts.
• Avoid discussions or problems before going to bed. Do not lie angry or cranky; try to resolve it before it bothers you.
• If you can not sleep, not nervous, read a book or listen to soft music until you feel sleepy.
• Start natural herbal remedy for healthy sleep.

If these recommendations do not help, consult a specialist to investigate thoroughly the causes of their sleep disorder. If possible, do not use sleeping pills unless your insomnia is chronic and the doctor considers that there is no other solution.

The aim of the diabetes treatment is to keep the blood glucose levels closer to normal in a safe way without disrupting any other body system. Further diabetes also increases the risk of cardiac disorders. Preventative measures for controlling cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels are also considered the vital part of diabetic treatment.

Diabetics should take great care of their daily routine. The care incorporates recording the levels of blood glucose, dietary limits and patterns, maintaining the weight, exercising regularly and keeping the stress under control. This sometimes includes taking some oral medications and providing insulin with the help of injection or pump.

Here we will learn some important ways of treating diabetes.

Physical Workout and Dietary Patterns
Some adjustments in eating pattern of the patients and increase in physical workout is one of the first steps towards the betterment of sugar levels. There are many health care centers where dieticians work with diabetics to design a dietary pattern that aid to control the blood glucose levels.

Insulin Therapy
People suffering from type 1 diabetes need multiple injections of insulin with the regular intervals daily. This is required to keep safe levels of insulin. Insulin is sometimes also prescribed to the patients of type 2 diabetes. Thanks to the advancement of technology which has substituted insulin injections with insulin pumps. The insulin pump is almost the size of a cell phone and is normally worn on the belt. Insulin is introduced in the pump with the help of a tube termed catheter. This tube is placed under the surface of the skin of the abdomen.

There are four types of insulin

1. Rapid-acting Insulin
2. Short-acting Insulin
3. Intermediate-acting Insulin
4. Long-acting Insulin

The type and the dose of insulin are determined by the health care provider. Normally it is not a fixed dose as it depends on many reasons like meal timings, body weight and exercising pattern and insulin produced by the human body.

Oral Medications – OHD
Sometimes the levels of blood glucose is high in the patients of type 2 diabetes even after eating healthy meals and exercising regularly. In this case some oral medicines in the shape of capsules are advised for controlling the level of glucose. These medicines have different mechanism of working. Some improve the use of insulin of the body, some increase the resistance of insulin, some reduce production of blood glucose, and some hinders absorption of blood glucose still some have some other roles to perform. Oral drugs are sometimes used in combination with insulin.

Natural or Herbal Treatment of Diabetes
Herbs like Karela, fenugreek, turmeric are famous for their glucose lowering capacities. Diabetics can also practice yogasana and pranayama for keeping the levels of blood glucose in the range. In Ayurveda, pills like harida kahand and arogyavardhini vati aid in controlling the level of blood glucose and raising the natural production of insulin.

It is good to consult doctor before changing the treatment regimen.

Cholesterol is essential in the body because it has important functions: Mainly it helps to create and repair cells. It also produces hormones such as estrogen and testosterone. It also makes bile acids to aid in the digestion of food. It is found in large quantities in the brain and nervous tissue. The liver produces enough cholesterol to meet the body’s functions.

There are two aspects to consider, one is the importance of these processes and the other, very different, higher levels of blood cholesterol than those considered adequate, which can cause significant health problems, as this excessive level of cholesterol is directly related to atherosclerosis. The risks begin when food intake exceeds the requirements of the body. Cholesterol comes from animal sources such as meat, liver, kidney, eggs and dairy products.

Cholesterol is not present in plant sources like fruits and vegetables, and cholesterol can not flow freely in the blood, but is transported in lipoproteins. These are cells that contain cholesterol and triglycerides to the center and are surrounded by phospho-lipid and water soluble proteins. This move allows the lipids in the blood. 4 lipoproteins differ from one another in their content of protein, triglycerides and cholesterol. Two of these, the HDL and LDL are the most familiar to people who are aware of their health and cases of heart blood.

HDL cholesterol is called good cholesterol, because high concentration in blood is associated with low risk of a heart attack. HDL contains more protein than triglycerides and cholesterol, and helps to remove cholesterol from artery walls. It also carries cholesterol in the liver cells to be re-used or to be converted into bile acids or to be discarded

LDL cholesterol is called bad cholesterol because it is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. LDL is oxidized and deposited in artery walls and begins what is known as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Other risk factors include family history of disease, age, smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Those most susceptible to risks related to high cholesterol levels are those with high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle among others.

Parameters of cholesterol in the blood.

Caution Desirable Limit

• Total cholesterol – 200 200-240 + 240
• HDL cholesterol 45 + 35-45 – 35
• LDL cholesterol – 130 130-160 + 160
• Some nutritional recommendations include:
• Search for a balanced diet
• Starting an exercise program
• Do not eat more than 3 servings of lean meat per week
• Remove fat before cooking foods such as meat and chicken
• Eating lots of fish, shrimp and avoid
• Take skim milk and low fa
• Do not exceed the daily intake of fat 30% and 10% saturated fat supported with nutritional supplements to optimize the diet

Controlling Cholesterol

Exercise and daily physical activity can help reduce the level of LDL, but also helps increase levels of HDL. Stress is directly related to cholesterol levels. Studies also show that people eat foods high in fat when they are under stress, causing risks for high cholesterol. A diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol helps people with health problems caused by high cholesterol. The eating habits are key in reducing high cholesterol. Although in some cases this leads to very restrictive diets, in fact in most, simply requires a cautious approach regarding the amount of fat ingested. When a patient is found high levels of cholesterol, it is recommended phase 1 of the program recommended by the AHA. This program allows ingest 8-10% of daily calories, saturated fat, 30% of total calories in fat and less than 300mg of cholesterol per day. If this phase is not successful, the following limits to the consumption of saturated fat to 7% and no more than 200mg cholesterol. This phase is for people with heart disease.

What supplements can help treat problems with cholesterol?

The only vitamin that has proven effective in lowering cholesterol levels is niacin. It is also known as Vitamin B3 or Vitamin H. It not only reduces cholesterol levels, but is effective in increasing levels of lipoprotein (HDL) in blood. It is critical, however, recognize that the amount of niacin required to obtain these benefits exceed 100 times the RDA of this vitamin. Consumption of high levels of niacin should be used under medical supervision for their potential side effects include: liver problems and a rise in levels of blood sugar.

On the other hand, some studies have shown that the use of antioxidants may be effective in reducing cholesterol levels in the body. Such is the case with vitamin E. Although not fully tested, initial studies determined that antioxidants help to eliminate cholesterol in the blood. On the other hand, people with a propensity for cholesterol problems or need a proper diet and also have a doctor’s supervision.

Ovarian cysts affect an estimated 10 percent of women in their child bearing years, and doctors aren’t sure why some get these blister-like sacs on the ovaries and others do not. The growths are usually more of a nuisance than a reason to panic: Most ovarian cysts disappear on their own. Though the very work “cyst” conjures up a more terrifying “c” word – cancer – fewer than 5 percent of ovarian cysts in young women prove malignant.

Still, because cysts can also cause medical emergencies if they rupture or, worse, twist the ovary, they should never be ignored. Persistent cysts that can’t be treated with medication may require surgery, which can impair fertility. Here, the facts on ovarian cysts every woman should know – and what to expect if you have one.

How to spot one

You could have an ovarian cyst and not even know it until your gynecologist discovers the symptom-free growth during a routine pelvic exam. Some women do experience discomfort – often a sense of fullness or pressure in the abdomen – and visible swelling, as if they’ve put on few pounds. Other red flags include delayed, irregular, or extremely painful periods, as well as pain during sex. Report any of these symptoms to your doctor right away.

Once she has diagnosed a cyst, your doctor may simply ask you to come back in six to eight weeks. Many ovarian cysts shrink without treatment after one to three menstrual cycles. When the cyst is first diagnosed or if it persists at a later visit, you may also undergo an ultrasound, which provides your doctor with a good look at the cyst’s size and shape and lets her determine whether it’s fluid-filled, partially solid, or marked by septations – worrisome divisions associated with cancer.

Cysts specifics

Some cysts occur from the natural process of ovulation. Every month, a woman’s ovary produces a small cyst-like structure called a follicle, which ruptures to release an egg. After ovulation, the empty follicle eventually dissolves. Sometimes, though, it doesn’t break up and instead forms a benign, fluid-filled growth, called a functional cyst. This kind of cyst usually goes away on its own. If your doctor detects a lump on your ovary, she’ll want to rule out the following abnormal growths, which are more likely to cause health problems and need to be removed:

• Dermoid cysts are usually non-cancerous but grow from other cells in the ovary that may contain tissue, teeth, hair, and bone (strange but true). Believed to be congenital growths that, over time, become large enough to be detected, these tumors are most common in young women.
• Cystadenomas, which develop from cells on the outer surface of the ovary, are the most worrisome of ovarian cysts. The two types of cystadenomas – serous (fluid-filled) aand mucinous (mucus-filled) – account for about 25 percent of benign ovarian growths. But serous cystadenomas are the most likely of ovarian cysts to be cancerous.
• Endometriomas are a form of endometriosis, a condition that develops when endometrial tissue, which is normally shed each month during menstruation, migrates outside the uterus. Endometriosis is usually linked to infertility. Because they contain dark, reddish-brown blood, endometriomas are sometimes called chocolate cysts.

Treating the cysts

Some fluid-filled abnormal cysts can look exactly like a functional cyst, and the only way to tell the difference is to wait and see if the cyst goes away. In the meantime, your doctor may order blood tests to measure the activity of your ovary’s lining cells; elevated protein levels are associated with common kinds of ovarian cancer.

Once your doctor has a good sense of the cyst’s characteristics, he’ll decide whether it needs treatment. If you have a normal functional cyst that doesn’t go away after a couple of cycles, your doctor may prescribe birth-control pills. The pill will, in a sense, put the ovary to sleep. With less stimulation to the ovary, functional follicles will often regress.

Though ovarian cancer is rare among women of reproductive age, any growth that seems suspicious should come out. The same applies if the mass is causing discomfort or is very large. An enlarged ovary with a cystic mass on it is more likely to undergo torsion, which blocks blood flow. This is rare, but it causes intense pain and usually requires surgery to remove the entire ovary.

To prevent twisting or rupturing of a cyst, some doctors routinely remove all but functional cysts. Other physicians prefer to wait, noting that any kind of abdominal surgery can cause fertility-impairing scar tissue.

When surgery is called for, it is usually done with a laparoscope, a long, thin instrument inserted into the abdomen and used to drain the cyst, check for infection, or stop bleeding. The minimally invasive technique is easy to recover from.

If you’ve had an ovarian cyst, rest assured that you’re at no greater risk for developing ovarian cancer than other women. Your first cyst may not be your last, though. To prevent a recurrence – or to avoid getting functional cysts in the first place – consider taking birth-control pills if you’re not trying to get pregnant. The pill provides some protection against ovarian cancer too.

Finally, make a point of seeing your gynecologist for regular checkups; cysts that are caught early are less likely to cause problems.

25 Steps to Instant Wellness

1. Practice Mindfulness
“Wherever you go, there you are,” is how Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D, founder of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University Of Massachusetts Medical Center, summed up mindfulness. Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment and not thinking about what happened in the recent past nor worrying about the future. It might be difficult and require you to screen your thoughts initially, but with time mindfulness will come naturally.

2. Invest time in you
Create a daily ritual where you take 20 to 30 minutes for any activity that you enjoy and find relaxing. Pick up a book, listen to music, have a cup of tea etc.

3. Put yourself first in order to serve others
It’s only when our own needs are fully met that we can generously and whole-heartedly give of ourselves. It’s not selfish to look after ourselves, it’s essential!

5. Meditate
Know that meditation means different things to different people. For some practicing mindfulness is meditation for others it involves chanting. Find what method of meditation works for you and go with it.

6. Strike a balance
Strike a balance between physical development and the spiritual aspects. There is a tendency for people who are more spiritually focused to ignore, avoid, or dismiss their bodies. Similarly, many individuals are entirely engrossed in physical growth and pay no attention to the needs of the soul. In both cases, an adjustment is in order. We are whole only to the degree that we embrace both sides of our being.

7. Pain is positive
Physical and emotional pain serves the purpose of signalling us that something is amiss. Take it as a sign that something needs to come to awareness and perhaps needs to change.

8. Cry your heart out
Crying is not a sign of weakness. In fact it is a means cleansing the heart, whether it comes from laughter so intense that it flows into tears; or from sadness that overwhelms us with sobs of grief. Karl Menninger, in his book The Vital Balance writes, “Weeping is perhaps the most universal of all relief measures.” Indeed, this process of letting go may well be a natural source for healing that many have denied themselves.

9. Forgiving is liberating
Start by forgiving yourself. For instance, if something you say causes misunderstandings or may be interpreted as hurtful, don’t beat yourself up over it. Apologise or build an affirmation to get past it. Then move on to forgiving others because blaming others for your shortcomings doesn’t let you off the hook, it only makes you feel helpless and hints to self-confidence issues.

10. Eat when dieting
If you’re dieting you need to continually fuel your body. This means a minimum of four but preferably six meals each day. This way you’ll have the energy to exercise and won’t crave any large unhealthy meals.

11. Don’t avoid fat
If you think you can lose weight and keep it off by avoiding all fats, you’re sadly mistaken. Your body (and your brain) needs fat to survive! This is why the scientists call them essential fatty acids – Omegas 3, 6, and 9. So, make sure you put fat back into your dietary plan.

12. The fork is not a shovel
Even if we are not hungry, most of us have a tendency to finish our meals in 10 minutes. The problem is that the brain doesn’t know the stomach is full until 20 minutes after it actually is. You could stuff yourself silly before realising you didn’t need to consume as much as you did. Try eating half of what’s on your plate, wait a couple of minutes, then continue to eat if you’re still hungry. In short, eat slowly. If you want a real hunger-stopper, try an Omega 3 supplement twenty minutes before a meal.

13. Satisfy cravings
If you’re hungry for something, eat it. Don’t deny yourself the simple pleasures. If it’s possible, eat only half of what you want. Is your craving satisfied or are you addicted to the flavour? Losing weight shouldn’t be torture for anybody. Give yourself a small treat or two during the week. Any diet that leaves you feeling deprived will ultimately fail. Enjoy a small piece of dark chocolate or one scoop of ice cream during the week.

14. Know your diet pitfalls
To improve your eating habits, you first have to know what’s wrong with them. Write down everything you eat for three days. Then check your list. Do you add a lot of butter, creamy sauces or salad dressings? Rather than eliminating these foods, just cut back your portions.

15. Make changes gradually
Just as there are no “superfoods” to a healthy diet, don’t expect to revamp your eating habits overnight. Changing too much too fast can intrude into success. Remedy excesses or deficiencies with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. Like, if you don’t like the taste of skimmed milk, try low-fat. Eventually you may find you like skimmed milk too.

16. Be careful with shopping trips
Eat a healthy breakfast, lunch or snack before you go to the mall. If you go hungry, you are much more likely to give in to the temptation of unhealthy foods at the food court.

17. Train wrecks will happen
One of these nights, you’re going to go out with friends and overeat. Instead of repeating the overindulgence, just put your self back on track the next day. You’re allowed to “mess up” every now and again, so long as you don’t make a habit out of consuming an excessive amount of food.

18. Go back to your roots
Eat the food that your ancestors survived on. And since fast food restaurants weren’t around back then, this automatically implies you stay away from processed and fatty foods.

19. Eat right on time
One of the leading causes of heart-disease, hypertension and diabetes is the fact that all too often we skip meals and it is this gap between meals that reduces immunity.

20. Juices are no substitute for water
While fruit juices are healthy and need to be part of your diet, they are no
substitute for water. When you keep track of your daily consumption of water, don’t include any other beverages there.

21. Don’t pop vitamin pills
Unless prescribed by a doc, don’t consume vitamin tabs. While some such as Vitamin B are water-soluble and will be automatically flushed out of your system, such is not the case with Vitamin A and D. Therefore if you self-medicate you run the risk of suffering from toxicity.

22. Don’t overlook the mind-body connection
Only if you are mentally fit will you be able to concentrate on your work-out and thereby get the most out of it.

23. Don’t skip the warm-up stage
All too often people skip their warm-ups due to lack of time. It is dangerous to exercise cold-muscles and increases the risk of muscle injury and joint pain.

24. Taking the steps is not a substitute for a workout
In fact this could lead to knee injury, particularly if you lead a sedentary lifestyle.

25. Get creative with your workout
If a closed gymnasium is not where you’d rather be, then try joining a sport or take up salsa or Bollywood dancing classes instead.

Source – Mumbai Mirror,
by Kiran Mehta,
University Of Massachusetts Medical Center, Vital Balance