Herbal Health
Herbal Remedies Blog
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ACNE
Just about everyone gets it at one time or another
Anti-Psychotics
Acne vulgaris refers to a spectrum of skin eruptions — blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, cysts and nodules — that can be sore, painful or itchy. Few people escape adolescence without a pimple or two.
Acne begins when a fatty oil, called sebum, and dead cells are manufactured too quickly and clog the pores around small hair follicles. The results can range from whiteheads to blackheads and pimples.
Acne tends to occur in areas where there are high concentrations of these sebaceous glands — the face, neck, shoulders, and upper and center back. In both sexes, elevated secretion of androgen hormones during puberty stimulates these glands to produce extra sebum, increasing the likelihood of acne.
What you can do
PRACTICE SMART PERSONAL HYGIENE
Use a cleansing agent or soap that dries the skin enough to cause minor shedding (avoid too much drying since this can cause further irritation).
Use a clean washcloth — gently.
Never scrub the skin. If acne is not too severe (skin is not infected, pussy or raw), cleansing with a gentle abrasive such as Buff-Puff may help.
Always rinse thoroughly.
Give yourself an occasional mini-steam bath by placing a warm, wet towel on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes. This will help open pores and allow deeper cleaning.
For infants with acne, wash the face daily with a clean cloth, water and mild soap.
SKIN MEDICATIONS
Acne medications unblock pores by drying up oil and promoting peeling. Many are available without a prescription and come in solutions that help cover up redness and scarring. Sunlight may temporarily clear up skin, but it can have other damaging effects — especially if drying agents or antibiotics are being used.
A doctor can prescribe stronger versions of topical skin medications or a special formulation of vitamin A, called retinoic acid (Retin-A), and antibiotics. Vitamin A also may be prescribed for severe cases and should be taken only as directed by your doctor — too much of it can be toxic.
Final notes
Carefully follow the directions, warnings and precautions on any drugs you use. Call your doctor if you have questions. And be patient — it may take two to six weeks or more to see progress with any of these self-care treatments or medications.
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OTHER INEFFECTIVE TREATMENTS FOR BDD: NATURAL REMEDIES
This is one of a number of other treatment approaches and coping strategies that are sometimes used for BDD but appear ineffective.
Anti Depressants-Sleeping Aid
Natural remedies Some people try “natural remedies,” such as homeopathic approaches, megavitamins, St. John’s wort, and other substances found in health food stores or on the internet. These treatmerits don’t seem to work. None of them have been studied in BDD, and there’s no evidence they’re effective. Just because substances like tryptophan and 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) are natural and have links to serotonin doesn’t mean they effectively treat BDD. While some-of these substances are potentially harmless, others may actually be harmful. In fact, a number of years ago the U.S. Food and Drug Administration withdrew tryptophan from the U.S. market because a toxic variant of this compound was inadvertently produced, which caused at least 37 deaths and 1,500 cases of a severe syndrome called eosinophilia myalgia syndrome. 5-HTP, too, may be dangerous. The weight loss herbal supplement ephedra (ma huang) was linked to many heart attacks, strokes, and even deaths. So not everything that’s “natural” is healthy; arsenic, too, is natural but can kill you.
The problem is that the Food and Drug Administration generally doesn’t regulate herbs and dietary supplements, and they can be marketed without any proof of safety or effectiveness. Some are contaminated with toxins like mercury lead, or dangerous pesticides. Prescription medicines, such as SRIs, in contrast, must undergo extensive and rigorous scientific testing to demonstrate that they’re both safe and effective before they can be marketed. You’re much better off trying an SRI, since they’ve been extensively tested for safety, safely taken by many millions of people, and shown by research studies to often effectively treat BDD.
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PREVENTING ASTHMA: SOME NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS – EXERCISE
Many children get attacks after some form of exercise. This tends to lead to a lifestyle without regular physical activity. However, such children should be encouraged to participate in regular sports starting off at a comfortable level and progressively working towards more difficult sports which require higher levels of strength and endurance. There is no reason why such children should avoid sports or physical activity so long as they understand their limitations and take proper medication. Several Olympic athletes have had asthma and yet gone on to win world class competitions.
Asthma
An excellent physical exercise for children with asthma is swimming. As emphasised earlier, children should learn to recognize their own physical limitations through experience. There may be episodes of wheezing or tightness during such activity but these should be taken as a part of the learning experience. Parents and teachers should help these children manage these episodes. This will help these children become more confident about their activities.
Exercise: Some Important Tips
• Physical exercise is a must.
• Consult the physician about:
a. What exercise is best and convenient for the child.
b. Whether a bronchodilator pre-medication is required.
• The child should be motivated to take regular exercise.
• The child should know his or her limitations.
• If one kind of exercise induces asthma the child should be encouraged to try another one under the guidance of a physical instructor.
• The child should warm up with a light exercise.
• After exercise the child should cool down with a light exercise.
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