THE ANCIENT BEAUTY SECRET

Do you have Fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretch marks, wrinkles, and irritation of psoriasis.

• 100% Organic
• Zero additive; Ivory white color
• Penetrates the skin easily.
• Does not clog the pores.
• Heals blemishes.
• Keeps wrinkles at bay.
• Excellent skin moisturizer.
• Reduces itchiness.
• Cures minor burns.
• Evens out skin tone
• Offers sun and wind protection
• Restores elasticity to the skin
• Restores lost hair lustre

Sigmund’s Shea butter is extracted from the nut of West Africa’s wild Karite tree. This 100% organic Shea Butter has high content of essential fatty acids and natural anti-oxidants compounds which provides extreme moisturizing capabilities as well as cellular restoration. It has been proven internationally that Shea butter is an effective treatment for the following: Fading scars, eczema, burns, rashes, acne, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, stretch marks, wrinkles, and in lessening the irritation of psoriasis. It is also being used as a sun blocking lotion; although the level of protection against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation is extremely variable, ranging from nothing to approximately SPF 6. In many parts of West Africa, Shea butter is used for the management of sinusitis and relief of nasal congestion. This is due to its hydrating properties which help in relaxing the tension in the face skin thus easing respiration. The Vitamins A and E found in Shea butter help in keeping the skin supple and healthy. It also prevents premature wrinkles and facial lines. Rough and chapped skin is soothed and healed.

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The Cardiovascular System

The circulatory system, powered by the grapefruit-sized muscular organ we call the heart, is connected to the element Fire, and needs warmth, stimuli, and movement to be healthy. Like fire, the heart and the blood it ceaselessly pumps around our bodies are never still.

This system and its health, acute illnesses, and chronic challenges often offers us teachings around joy and gratitude, playfulness or over-seriousness. Holding grudges, a lack of willingness to forgive, and withholding of love for self and others are all challenges that can impede the successful workings of this fantastically exuberant system. These challenges can cause us to “harden” our hearts, which can lead to hardening of the arteries, or arteriosclerosis.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the heart is associated with the nervous system and with Spirit. It is vitally connected to our sense of joy. Joy is beneficial to the heart, and a healthy heart is beneficial to our joy. Grounded joy is not manic nor in need of jumping up and down and talking and laughing loudly. It can be expressed as wild rejoicing, but natural joy stems from peace within; it is peaceful and present, vital, and accepting of what is, even as it naturally tends toward increasing joy for all.

The heart is a powerful, muscular organ. It is kept so busy providing blood to every cell in our bodies, and continuously bringing the blood back to itself and then to the lungs to be oxygenated, that we have an additional, separate circulatory system for it; the coronary circulation system exists solely to feed the heart muscle itself! The heart is designed to give and receive continuously, which is as apt a metaphor as you could want for the heart of being human.

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Chinese Herbal Medicine

What are Chinese Herbal Medicines?

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the great herbal systems of the world, with an unbroken tradition going back to the 3rd century BC. Yet throughout its history it has continually developed in response to changing clinical conditions, and has been sustained by research into every aspect of its use. This process continues today with the development of modern medical diagnostic techniques and knowledge.

Because of its systematic approach and clinical effectiveness it has for centuries had a very great influence on the theory and practice of medicine in the East, and more recently has grown rapidly in popularity in the West. It still forms a major part of healthcare provision in China, and is provided in state hospitals alongside western medicine.

Chinese medicine includes all oriental traditions emerging from Southeast Asia that have their origins in China. Practitioners may work within a tradition that comes from Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan or Korea. It is a complete medical system that is capable of treating a very wide range of conditions. It includes herbal therapy, acupuncture, dietary therapy, and exercises in breathing and movement (tai chi and qi gong). Some or several of these may be employed in the course of treatment

Chinese herbal medicine, along with the other components of Chinese medicine, is based on the concepts of Yin and Yang. It aims to understand and treat the many ways in which the fundamental balance and harmony between the two may be undermined and the ways in which a person's Qi or vitality may be depleted or blocked. Clinical strategies are based upon diagnosis of patterns of signs and symptoms that reflect an imbalance.

However, the tradition as a whole places great emphasis on lifestyle management in order to prevent disease before it occurs. Chinese medicine recognizes that health is more than just the absence of disease and it has a unique capacity to maintain and enhance our capacity for well being and happiness.

There is a growing body of research which indicates that traditional uses of plant remedies and the known pharmacological activity of plant constituents often coincide. However, herbal medicine is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs. Firstly, because of the complexity of plant materials it is far more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and is far less likely to cause side-effects. Secondly, because herbs are typically prescribed in combination, the different components of a formulae balance each other, and they undergo a mutual synergy which increases efficacy and enhances safety. Thirdly, herbal medicine seeks primarily to correct internal imbalances rather than to treat symptoms alone, and therapeutic intervention is designed to encourage this self-healing process.

What can Chinese Medicine treat?

Chinese medicine is successfully used for a very wide range of conditions. Among the more commonly treated disorders are:

1. Skin disease, including eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, urticaria
2. Gastro-intestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, chronic constipation, ulcerative colitis
3. Gynecological conditions, including pre-menstrual syndrome and dysmenorrheal, endometriosis, infertility
4. Hepatitis and HIV: some promising results have been obtained for treatment of Hepatitis C, and supportive treatment may be beneficial in the case of HIV
5. Chronic fatigue syndromes, whether with a background of viral infection or in other situations
6. Respiratory conditions, including asthma, bronchitis, and chronic coughs, allergic and perennial rhinitis and sinusitis
7. Rheumatological conditions (e.g. osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis)
8. Urinary conditions including chronic cystitis
9. Diabetes, including treatment and prevention
10. Psychological problems (e.g. depression, anxiety)

Are herbs safe?

Chinese herbal medicines are very safe when prescribed correctly by a properly trained practitioner. Over the centuries doctors have compiled detailed information about the pharmacopeia and placed great emphasis on the protection of the patient. Allergic type reactions are rare, and will cause no lasting damage if treatment is stopped as soon as symptoms appear. 

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Food Issues - The Bad Substances

Aspartame

When scientific tests were first run on aspartame (which is now known by the brand names: NutraSweet, Equal, etc.), it caused holes in the brains of rats.  It would seem logical that such a substance would not be something a human should take internally.

However, knowing that tobacco is legal, it should not be surprising that the profits of large corporations are far more important to society than the health of individual human beings.  The politics behind the approval of aspartame is beyond the scope of this article, suffice it to say that massive corruption in government was needed to get this poison approved by the FDA.

Virtually everything a person drinks that is “diet” contains aspartame.  Many diet foods also contain aspartame.  Things that are “sugar free” may also contain aspartame.

Even skinny people frequently take aspartame in order to stay skinny.  In fact, it is hard to find a person who does not routinely take aspartame.

You have probably heard that there is no scientific evidence that aspartame is bad for you.  Let me introduce you to the corruption among “science.”

Dr. Ralph G. Walton, M.D., did a study of 166 published studies on the safety of aspartame. The funding of these studies were from the following sources:

1) The pharmaceutical industry funded 74 of the studies

2) The FDA funded 7 studies

3) There were 85 studies that were not funded by the pharmaceutical industry or the FDA

Which of the three groups of studies do you think didn't find anything wrong with aspartame?

Of the 74 pharmaceutical funded studies, not a single one of them found any health problems caused by aspartame.  However, of the 85 studies that were not funded by the pharmaceutical industry (i.e. Big Pharma) or the FDA, 84 of the 85 found health problems caused by aspartame. Do you see a pattern here?

Where do you think the 7 FDA studies landed?  6 of the 7 found no health problems caused by aspartame.

See: http://www.dorway.com/peerrev.html

This kind of "science" sounds strangely like what happened with the tobacco industry.  During a 42-year period, an organization controlled by the tobacco industry funded 1,500 studies.  Not a single one of these studies could find a major health problem caused by tobacco.  It seems that scientists are far more loyal to their funding source than they are to the truth.

When I tell someone that aspartame causes brain cancer, birth defects, etc. (actually over 90 different documented health problems), people just look at me and laugh. They will say there is "no scientific evidence" that aspartame causes any health problems.  They will say that a person has to drink 800 Diet Cokes to have any bad effects.  Unfortunately, it is all a lie that was started by well-paid scientists.

Getting back to real science, aspartame is one of many substances that is called an “excitotoxin.”  Excitotoxins, when they get into the brain, cause brain cells to get so “excited” that they literally die or their DNA is damaged.  In other words, every time a person drinks a diet Coke some of their brain cells die.

But for the purposes of this article, the side-effects of aspartame can also lead to migraine headaches, depression, anxiety, and a host of other mental problems.

Aspartame’s long-term effects can be even more significant.  Aspartame is known to cause brain cancer, leading to a rash of brain cancer among younger and younger people.  It can cause dementia and the symptoms of Alzheimer’s.  It can cause the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, and so on and so on.

Someone who is experiencing depression, anxiety, migraines, bipolar behavior, etc. should first and foremost get aspartame completely out of their system.

Unfortunately, even if aspartame is a major part of the problem, stopping the ingestion of aspartame will not solve the problem immediately. Aspartame is stored by the body and will continue to cause symptoms long after the victim quits taking it.

It gets worse.  Aspartame and Neotame can cause brain damage to an unborn fetus.  This brain damage can be manifest as mental retardation, Cerebral Palsy, autism, ADD, ADHD, brain tumors, and a myriad of other brain related disorders!

There are other things that are also excitotoxins that can cause the same mental problems as aspartame.  Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is especially bad if it is taken with aspartame.  Other things include hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP) and cysteine,

Step one in isolating why a person frequently gets depressed or suffers from anxiety is to remove all artificial sweeteners out of their body, plus MSG, HVP and cysteine.

Food Allergies

Many people suffer mental illnesses due to food allergies.  The interesting thing about food allergies is that a person craves the foods they are allergic to!!  Let me say that again: a person craves the foods they are allergic to!!

I spoke to a doctor once who described a patient who happened to be allergic to bananas.  He described that the person was perfectly normal, with perfectly normal behavior, but when the person was given a banana he (or she, I don’t remember) immediately went into a psychotic rage.

Most food allergies are not that dramatic, however.  Foods that people are allergic to include dairy products (e.g. milk and cheese), which are probably the number one cause, plus wheat, food colorings, food additives, and just about any other food.

During World War II, the people of Holland suffered great hardships and extreme mental stress.  However, mental illness in Holland decreased during World War II!!  Why?  Because the people basically lived on potatoes and could not get the foods they may have been allergic to.

There are two basic ways a person can isolate food allergies.  First, go to a medical doctor who specializes in isolating food allergies.

Another way is to simply stop taking all foods that a person normally takes, especially the ones they crave and eat frequently, and instead eat foods they would rarely eat and avoid the foods that are related to the foods they normally eat!!

This should go on this diet for at least 3 weeks.  If this gives some relief to the person there is a pretty good chance food allergies are a contributing factor, if not a major cause.  After three weeks foods can be reintroduced into the diet, one food per day, to isolate what might be causing the problem.

Many cases of autism, ADHD, ADD, and many other mental disorders, can also be traced to food allergies, sometimes called brain allergies. And by far the number one cause of these types of allergies is dairy products.

My guess is that food allergies cause an inflammation in the brain that is what actually causes the problem.  Migraines can also be caused by food allergies.

A worthwhile book to read on this subject is:

Brain Allergies: The Psychonutrient and Magnetic Connections, by Willam H. Philpott

Heavy Metals (plus aluminum)

The body is a very interesting entity.  At times it attacks itself.  In an “auto-immune” disease the body mistakes something for an attacking invader and destroys itself in an attempt to kill what it mistakes as an invader.

For example, Type I diabetes is a disease known as an “auto-immune” disease.  The body mistakes something for a foreign invader and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas.  That “something” may be dairy products, heavy metals (especially mercury from vaccinations) or other foreign items.  (Note: there have been recent scientific studies - which were controlled by the pharmaceutical industry - that claim there is no connection between autism and vaccinations, but these studies are a giant lie.

There are many other auto-immune diseases, such as arthritis, MS, and others.

The question is this: "Can mental illnesses ever be caused by an “auto-immune” reaction?"

Well, let’s be logical.  It has been known since World War II that heavy metals (e.g. the mercury in dental amalgam or the combination of aluminum pots and fluoride) were the major cause of Alzheimer’s and dementia.  In this case, however, it may not be an auto-immune disease as much as the heavy metals simply blocking the functions of the brain.

However, heavy metals are also known to be causes of auto-immune diseases, such as Type I diabetes.

If someone is having mental problems it may be wise (actually it would be wise for anyone to do this) to throw away all aluminum cookware. Aluminum, combined with the fluoride in tap water, creates massive problems, similar to those caused by "heavy metals," even though aluminum is technically not a heavy metal.

In some cases it would be wise to have the dental amalgam removed.  However, prior to having this done the mercury level in the blood should be checked to see if this might be a problem.   Reduction in the amount of fish that is eaten would also help.  If the amalgam is removed, flood you stomach with chlorella prior to going to the dentist.

Another thing is to avoid vaccinations, except for life-threatening situations.  Flu shots should be avoided unless the person's life would be jeopardized by catching the flu.

The way to get rid of heavy metals is with "chelation."  There are two kinds of chelation: "EDTA chelation," which is an I.V. that must be administered by a medical doctor, and "oral chelation," which is a combination of nutrients.  There are numerous nutrients that will "chelate" heavy metals.  A discussion of these is beyond the scope of this article.  However, I will say that chlorella may be the best chelating food.

Trans-Fatty Acids

Trans-fatty acids are a little more complicated.  Trans-fatty acids are rigid molecules that attach to cell walls, in place of the pliable cholesterol.  If enough trans-fatty acids attach to a cell wall, significant damage can be done because large molecules, such as the insulin molecule and oxygen clusters, cannot get into the cell.  If enough cells become like this the person will likely develop Type II diabetes.  It is highly likely that trans-fatty acids, found in margarine, fried foods, peanut butter, etc. are the leading cause of Type II diabetes.

So what does this have to do with depression?  Trans-fatty acids interfere with the absorption by the body of EFAs.  As will be seen below, omega-3 EFAs are a major help to those with depression or anxiety.  In other words, the effect of trans-fatty acids on depression or anxiety is an indirect effect that blocks one of the necessary nutrients needed for good mental health.

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome

What is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?

Irritable bowel syndrome is a disorder characterized most commonly by cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea. IBS causes a great deal of discomfort and distress, but it does not permanently harm the intestines and does not lead to a serious disease, such as cancer. Most people can control their symptoms with diet, stress management, and prescribed medications. For some people, however, IBS can be disabling. They may be unable to work, attend social events, or even travel short distances.

As many as 20 percent of the adult population, or one in five Americans, have symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. It occurs more often in women than in men, and it begins before the age of 35 in about 50 percent of people.

What are the symptoms of IBS?

Abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort are the main symptoms of IBS. However, symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people have constipation, which means hard, difficult-to-pass, or infrequent bowel movements. Often these people report straining and cramping when trying to have a bowel movement but cannot eliminate any stool, or they are able to eliminate only a small amount. If they are able to have a bowel movement, there may be mucus in it, which is a fluid that moistens and protect passages in the digestive system. Some people with IBS experience diarrhea, which is frequent, loose, watery, stools. People with diarrhea frequently feel an urgent and uncontrollable need to have a bowel movement. Other people with IBS alternate between constipation and diarrhea. Sometimes people find that their symptoms subside for a few months and then return, while others report a constant worsening of symptoms over time.

What causes IBS?

Researchers have yet to discover any specific cause for IBS. One theory is that people who suffer from IBS have a colon, or large intestine, that is particularly sensitive and reactive to certain foods and stress. The immune system, which fights infection, may also be involved

·         Normal motility, or movement, may not be present in the colon of a person who has IBS. It can be spasmodic or can even stop working temporarily. Spasms are sudden strong muscle contractions that come and go.

·         The lining of the colon called the epithelium, which is affected by the immune and nervous systems, regulates the flow of fluids in and out of the colon. In IBS, the epithelium appears to work properly. However, when the contents inside the colon move too quickly, the colon loses its ability to absorb fluids. The result is too much fluid in the stool. In other people, the movement inside the colon is too slow, which causes extra fluid to be absorbed. As a result, a person develops constipation.

·         A person’s colon may respond strongly to stimuli such as certain foods or stress that would not bother most people.

·         Recent research has reported that serotonin is linked with normal gastrointestinal (GI) functioning. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, or chemical, that delivers messages from one part of your body to another. Ninety-five percent of the serotonin in your body is located in the GI tract, and the other 5 percent is found in the brain. Cells that line the inside of the bowel work as transporters and carry the serotonin out of the GI tract. People with IBS, however, have diminished receptor activity, causing abnormal levels of serotonin to exist in the GI tract. As a result, they experience problems with bowel movement, motility, and sensation—having more sensitive pain receptors in their GI tract.

·         Researchers have reported that IBS may be caused by a bacterial infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Studies show that people who have had gastroenteritis sometimes develop IBS, otherwise called post-infectious IBS.

·         Researchers have also found very mild celiac disease in some people with symptoms similar to IBS. People with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, a substance found in wheat, rye, and barley. People with celiac disease cannot eat these foods without becoming very sick because their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine. A blood test can determine whether celiac disease may be present. (For information about celiac disease, see the NIDDK’s Celiac Disease fact sheet.)

How is IBS diagnosed?

If you think you have IBS, seeing your doctor is the first step. IBS is generally diagnosed on the basis of a complete medical history that includes a careful description of symptoms and a physical examination.

There is no specific test for IBS, although diagnostic tests may be performed to rule out other problems. These tests may include stool sample testing, blood tests, and x rays. Typically, a doctor will perform a sigmoidoscopy, or colonoscopy, which allows the doctor to look inside the colon. This is done by inserting a small, flexible tube with a camera on the end of it through the anus. The camera then transfers the images of your colon onto a large screen for the doctor to see well.

If your test results are negative, the doctor may diagnose IBS based on your symptoms, including how often you have had abdominal pain or discomfort during the past year, when the pain starts and stops in relation to bowel function, and how your bowel frequency and stool consistency have changed. Many doctors refer to a list of specific symptoms that must be present to make a diagnosis of IBS.

Symptoms include

·         Abdominal pain or discomfort for at least 12 weeks out of the previous 12 months. These 12 weeks do not have to be consecutive.

·         The abdominal pain or discomfort has two of the following three features:

• It is relieved by having a bowel movement.
• When it starts, there is a change in how often you have a bowel movement.
• When it starts, there is a change in the form of the stool or the way it looks.

·         Certain symptoms must also be present, such as

• a change in frequency of bowel movements
• a change in appearance of bowel movements
• feelings of uncontrollable urgency to have a bowel movement
• difficulty or inability to pass stool
• mucus in the stool
• bloating

·         Bleeding, fever, weight loss, and persistent severe pain are not symptoms of IBS and may indicate other problems such as inflammation, or rarely, cancer.

The following have been associated with a worsening of IBS symptoms

• large meals
• bloating from gas in the colon
• medicines
• wheat, rye, barley, chocolate, milk products, or alcohol
• drinks with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, or colas
• stress, conflict, or emotional upsets

Researchers have found that women with IBS may have more symptoms during their menstrual periods, suggesting that reproductive hormones can worsen IBS problems.

In addition, people with IBS frequently suffer from depression and anxiety, which can worsen symptoms. Similarly, the symptoms associated with IBS can cause a person to feel depressed and anxious.

What is the treatment for IBS?

Unfortunately, many people suffer from IBS for a long time before seeking medical treatment. Up to 70 percent of people suffering from IBS are not receiving medical care for their symptoms. No cure has been found for IBS, but many options are available to treat the symptoms. Your doctor will give you the best treatments for your particular symptoms and encourage you to manage stress and make changes to your diet.

Medications are an important part of relieving symptoms. Your doctor may suggest fiber supplements or laxatives for constipation or medicines to decrease diarrhea, such as Lomotil or loperamide (Imodium). An antispasmodic is commonly prescribed, which helps to control colon muscle spasms and reduce abdominal pain. Antidepressants may relieve some symptoms. However, both antispasmodics and antidepressants can worsen constipation, so some doctors will also prescribe medications that relax muscles in the bladder and intestines, such as Donnapine and Librax. These medications contain a mild sedative, which can be habit forming, so they need to be used under the guidance of a physician.

A medication available specifically to treat IBS is alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex). Lotronex has been re-approved with significant restrictions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for women with severe IBS who have not responded to conventional therapy and whose primary symptom is diarrhea. However, even in these patients, Lotronex should be used with great caution because it can have serious side effects such as severe constipation or decreased blood flow to the colon.

With any medication, even over-the-counter medications such as laxatives and fiber supplements, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions. Some people report a worsening in abdominal bloating and gas from increased fiber intake, and laxatives can be habit forming if they are used too frequently.

Medications affect people differently, and no one medication or combination of medications will work for everyone with IBS. You will need to work with your doctor to find the best combination of medicine, diet, counseling, and support to control your symptoms.

How does stress affect IBS?

Stress—feeling mentally or emotionally tense, troubled, angry, or overwhelmed—can stimulate colon spasms in people with IBS. The colon has many nerves that connect it to the brain. Like the heart and the lungs, the colon is partly controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which responds to stress. These nerves control the normal contractions of the colon and cause abdominal discomfort at stressful times. People often experience cramps or “butterflies” when they are nervous or upset. In people with IBS, the colon can be overly responsive to even slight conflict or stress. Stress makes the mind more aware of the sensations that arise in the colon, making the person perceive these sensations as unpleasant.

Some evidence suggests that IBS is affected by the immune system, which fights infection in the body. The immune system is affected by stress. For all these reasons, stress management is an important part of treatment for IBS. Stress management options include

• stress reduction (relaxation) training and relaxation therapies such as meditation
• counseling and support
• regular exercise such as walking or yoga
• changes to the stressful situations in your life
• adequate sleep

What does the colon do?

The colon, which is about 5 feet long, connects the small intestine to the rectum and anus. The major function of the colon is to absorb water, nutrients, and salts from the partially digested food that enters from the small intestine. Two pints of liquid matter enter the colon from the small intestine each day. Stool volume is a third of a pint. The difference between the amount of fluid entering the colon from the small intestine and the amount of stool in the colon is what the colon absorbs each day.

Colon motility—the contraction of the colon muscles and the movement of its contents—is controlled by nerves, hormones, and impulses in the colon muscles. These contractions move the contents inside the colon toward the rectum. During this passage, water and nutrients are absorbed into the body, and what is left over is stool. A few times each day contractions push the stool down the colon, resulting in a bowel movement. However, if the muscles of the colon, sphincters, and pelvis do not contract in the right way, the contents inside the colon do not move correctly, resulting in abdominal pain, cramps, constipation, a sense of incomplete stool movement, or diarrhea.

Can changes in diet help IBS?

For many people, careful eating reduces IBS symptoms. Before changing your diet, keep journals noting the foods that seem to cause distress. Then discuss your findings with your doctor. You may want to consult a registered dietitian who can help you make changes to your diet. For instance, if dairy products cause your symptoms to flare up, you can try eating less of those foods. You might be able to tolerate yogurt better than other dairy products because it contains bacteria that supply the enzyme needed to digest lactose, the sugar found in milk products. Dairy products are an important source of calcium and other nutrients. If you need to avoid dairy products, be sure to get adequate nutrients in the foods you substitute, or take supplements.

In many cases, dietary fiber may lessen IBS symptoms, particularly constipation. However, it may not help with lowering pain or decreasing diarrhea. Whole grain breads and cereals, fruits, and vegetables are good sources of fiber. High-fiber diets keep the colon mildly distended, which may help prevent spasms. Some forms of fiber keep water in the stool, thereby preventing hard stools that are difficult to pass. Doctors usually recommend a diet with enough fiber to produce soft, painless bowel movements. High-fiber diets may cause gas and bloating, although some people report that these symptoms go away within a few weeks. (For information about diets for people with celiac disease, please see the NIDDK’s Celiac Disease fact sheet.) Increasing fiber intake by 2 to 3 grams per day will help reduce the risk of increased gas and bloating.

Drinking six to eight glasses of plain water a day is important, especially if you have diarrhea. Drinking carbonated beverages, such as sodas, may result in gas and cause discomfort. Chewing gum and eating too quickly can lead to swallowing air, which also leads to gas.

Large meals can cause cramping and diarrhea, so eating smaller meals more often, or eating smaller portions, may help IBS symptoms. Eating meals that are low in fat and high in carbohydrates such as pasta, rice, whole-grain breads and cereals (unless you have celiac disease), fruits, and vegetables may help.

Is IBS linked to other health problems?

As its name indicates, IBS is a syndrome—a combination of signs and symptoms. IBS has not been shown to lead to a serious disease, including cancer. Through the years, IBS has been called by many names, among them colitis, mucous colitis, spastic colon, or spastic bowel. However, no link has been established between IBS and inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

Points to Remember

·         IBS is a disorder that interferes with the normal functions of the colon. The symptoms are crampy abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

·         IBS is a common disorder found more often in women than men.

·         People with IBS have colons that are more sensitive and reactive to things that might not bother other people, such as stress, large meals, gas, medicines, certain foods, caffeine, or alcohol.

·         IBS is diagnosed by its signs and symptoms and by the absence of other diseases.

·         Most people can control their symptoms by taking medicines such as laxatives, antidiarrhea medicines, antispasmodics, or antidepressants; reducing stress; and changing their diet.

·         IBS does not harm the intestines and does not lead to cancer. It is not related to Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

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A Kidney stone Experience

It all started on a typical Maui fall day, with beautiful trade winds and sunny skies over the Kapalua Golf Course. Me(Tom) and my wife Teresa were about to start the ninth hole when i had to go to the bathroom.

I was standing over the urinal and noticed blood in my urine. Confused as to what i should do, i decided to just finish playing golf without mentioning anything to my wife. Needless to say, I didn't have a good score from that point on, anyways.

Back at the hotel i was still urinating blood, but decided it could wait until i returned home to California the following day. There were no other symptoms, no pain, no other indications. Upon returning to California, i went to see a urologist who asked me to have a kidney ureter bladder (KUB) x-ray done, which documented that i had a kidney stone.

My stone were so big it couldn't pass from the kidney to the ureter (the tube from the kidney to the bladder). The stone was approximately 8 mm, while the average inner diameter of the ureter is 4 mm. My doctor scheduled a lithotripsy, a treatment where shock waves are used to break up the large stone into smaller pieces that can then pass through the urinary system. It's about an hour of pounding, so when i woke up, i was sore, It feels like someone has been punching me in the kidney a couple times.

Upon waking up, i was told the procedure was successful. I was given a prescription for Vicodin, which i decided was unnecessary, since i have been through surgical procedures before without pain medication. I was told that this situation was different, but i left the hospital at 4 p.m. anyway without filling the prescription.

Yes i did  later regretted my decision. At 10:30 p.m., I was in the emergency room on my knees begging to be given anything at all, the only way to describe the pain is to have a little man with a razor blade, hacking at the ureter. I was given drugs and told to stay in the hospital, where i stayed for a day and a half. After being sent home this time, i started taking the Vicodin every four hours.

By the time Sunday evening came around, 24 hours later, I had not slept, I walked the whole time, back and forth through my house. I couldn't sit down, and I was taking the Vicodin every hour. I was completely overdoing it. I was also taking medication to help take the tension off the ureter, but used in combination with the Vicodin, i soon had a drug conflict, which i describes as an "LSD trip."

I was hallucinating, people were talking that weren't there. The next morning i had to call my doctor, unable to stand the pain and unable to continue the medication. He had another KUB x-ray done to me and while looking at the results, i began to feel relief from the pain.

My doctor determined i had passed the stones, although they hadn't actually come out yet. He determined the stones had moved to the bladder, and when i returned home, they did came out. I figured it was over, but as months went by, i started having an urge to urinate that wasn't there before.

Whenever there was urine present, I immediately had to pee, then over time it got worse and worse. Then my bowels got messed up, tightening from the tension, always having to go to the bathroom. After a number of x-rays were done, i figured it was a kidney stone. He was put on several medications to control his bladder and bowel. The doctors thought it was trauma, but it kept getting worse. Then one day i was having lunch with a friend, who was also a urologist. He said, 'Boy you don't look good,' and I told him I'm having problems with the trauma that occurred from the kidney stone last year.

After hearing my symptoms, he told me he thought i might have a kidney stone lodged right on the nerve, right at the base where the ureter comes to the bladder, a place that wouldn't be visible in an x-ray. The next day i had my urologist order a CAT scan. When the nurse came back in she said, 'You must be in a lot of pain.' She explained they found a 4 mm kidney stone right where my friend thought it would be—lodged on the nerve at the base where the ureter comes to the bladder.

I next underwent a procedure to go through the penis, in through the bladder, then up to the ureter. The stone would be lasered into pieces and removed. However, upon undergoing the procedure, my doctor discovered my ureter was not in a good condition. It had been beat up by the stone, It had been festered.

He left a stent in my ureter to make sure it would heal properly, but for me, the pain of having the stent was just as bad as having the stone, and i wondered if the problem had really been solved. For two weeks, I had to look forward to going back to the doctor's office and have something go up through the penis and through the bladder to pull the stent out.

After two weeks of anticipation, the day finally arrived. The doctor used a device that resembled a plunger for anesthetic. The device was put through the canal, through the urethra, then through the bladder. The nurse held my feet to keep me calm while the doctor inserted a small, firm tube into my penis to the urethra to give an opening for the device used to pull the stent out. The experience as uncomfortable, but not painful. After about two minutes, my doctor was able to pull the stent out. I anticipated more pain and discomfort than there really was, coming out was nothing. It didn't hurt at all.

After being sent home, i was told to take it easy for a couple days. Within a 24-hour period, all the problems i had been experiencing for the last year completely went away. When the stone was analyzed to help determine the cause, my doctor found it was a soft stone, made up mostly of calcium, and i found out later that my body naturally produces a high amount of calcium. This put me at risk for developing kidney stones.

Another factor with my stones was that i wasn't drinking enough water. Today i make a point to drink lemon water every morning because the lemon will have an effect on any stones that have begun to develop during the night. It's never how much water you drink, but it's how and when you urinate, at night when you go to bed, you have an eight-hour period, so there's an opportunity for the calcification to occur at night.

Although my problems went on for over a year, i have been fine since my last procedure. It was just like a miracle, when they lifted that thing out of there, it was life-changing.

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Kidney Stones

Kidney stones (renal lithiasis) are small, hard deposits that form inside your kidneys. The stones are made of mineral and acid salts. Kidney stones have many causes and can affect any part of your urinary tract — from your kidneys to your bladder. Often, stones form when the urine becomes concentrated, allowing minerals to crystallize and stick together.

Passing kidney stones can be quite painful, but the stones usually cause no permanent damage. Depending on your situation, you may need nothing more than to take pain medication and drink lots of water to pass a kidney stone. In other instances, surgery may be needed. Your doctor may recommend preventive treatment to reduce your risk of recurrent kidney stones if you're at increased risk of developing them again.

Symptoms

A kidney stone may not cause symptoms until it moves around within your kidney or passes into your ureter — the tube connecting the kidney and bladder. At that point, these signs and symptoms may occur:

• Severe pain in the side and back, below the ribs
• Pain that spreads to the lower abdomen and groin
• Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
• Pain on urination
• Pink, red or brown urine
• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Nausea and vomiting
• Persistent urge to urinate
• Urinating more often than usual
• Fever and chills if an infection is present

Pain caused by a kidney stone may change — for instance, shifting to a different location or increasing in intensity — as the stone moves through your urinary tract.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs and symptoms that worry you.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Pain so severe that you can't sit still or find a comfortable position
• Pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting
• Pain accompanied by fever and chills
• Blood in your urine
• Difficulty passing urine

Causes

Kidney stones often have no definite, single cause, although several factors may increase your risk.

Kidney stones form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances — such as calcium, oxalate and uric acid — than the fluid in your urine can dilute. At the same time, your urine may lack substances that keep crystals from sticking together, creating an ideal environment for kidney stones to form.

Types of kidney stones

Knowing the type of kidney stone helps determine the cause and may give clues on how to reduce your risk of getting more kidney stones. Types of kidney stones include:

Calcium stones. Most kidney stones are calcium stones, usually in the form of calcium oxalate. Oxalate is a naturally occurring substance found in food. Some fruits and vegetables, as well as nuts and chocolate, have high oxalate levels. Your liver also produces oxalate. Dietary factors, high doses of vitamin D, intestinal bypass surgery and several metabolic disorders can increase the concentration of calcium or oxalate in urine. Calcium stones may also occur in the form of calcium phosphate.

Struvite stones. Struvite stones form in response to an infection, such as a urinary tract infection. These stones can grow quickly and become quite large, sometimes with few symptoms or little warning.

Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones can form in people who don't drink enough fluids or who lose too much fluid, those who eat a high-protein diet, and those who have gout. Certain genetic factors also may increase your risk of uric acid stones.

Cystine stones. These stones form in people with a hereditary disorder that causes the kidneys to excrete too much of certain amino acids (cystinuria).

Other stones. Other, rarer types of kidney stones can occur.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment for kidney stones varies, depending on the type of stone and the cause.

Small stones with minimal symptoms

Most kidney stones won't require invasive treatment. You may be able to pass a small stone by:

• Drinking water. Drinking as much as 2 to 3 quarts (1.9 to 2.8 liters) a day may help flush out your urinary system. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, drink enough fluid — mostly water — to produce clear or nearly clear urine.
• Pain relievers. Passing a small stone can cause some discomfort. To relieve mild pain, your doctor may recommend pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve).
• Medical therapy. Your doctor may give you a medication to help pass your kidney stone. This type of medication, known as an alpha blocker, relaxes the muscles in your ureter, helping you pass the kidney stone more quickly and with less pain.

Large stones and those that cause symptoms

Kidney stones that can't be treated with conservative measures — either because they're too large to pass on their own or because they cause bleeding, kidney damage or ongoing urinary tract infections — may require more invasive treatment. Procedures may include:

1. Using sound waves to break up stones. For certain kidney stones — depending on size and location — your doctor may recommend a procedure called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL). SWL uses sound waves to create strong vibrations (shock waves) that break the stones into tiny pieces that can be passed in your urine. The procedure lasts about 45 to 60 minutes and can cause moderate pain, so you may be under sedation or light anesthesia to make you comfortable. SWL can cause blood in the urine, bruising on the back or abdomen, bleeding around the kidney and other adjacent organs, and discomfort as the stone fragments pass through the urinary tract.
2. Surgery to remove very large stones in the kidney. A procedure called percutaneous nephrolithotomy (nef-row-lih-THOT-uh-me) involves surgically removing a kidney stone using small telescopes and instruments inserted through a small incision in your back. You'll receive general anesthesia during the surgery and be in the hospital for one to two days while you recover. Your doctor may recommend this surgery if SWL was unsuccessful or if your stone is very large.
3. Using a scope to remove stones. To remove a smaller stone in your ureter or kidney, your doctor may pass a thin lighted tube (ureteroscope) equipped with a camera through your urethra and bladder to your ureter. Once the stone is located, special tools can snare the stone or break it into pieces that will pass in your urine. Your doctor may then place a small tube (stent) in the ureter to relieve swelling and promote healing. You may need general or local anesthesia during this procedure.
4. Parathyroid gland surgery. Some calcium stones are caused by overactive parathyroid glands, which are located on the four corners of your thyroid gland, just below your Adam's apple. When these glands produce too much parathyroid hormone (hyperparathyroidism), your calcium levels can become too high and kidney stones may form as a result. Hyperparathyroidism sometimes occurs when a small, benign tumor forms in one of your parathyroid glands or you develop another condition that leads these glands to produce more parathyroid hormone. Removing the growth from the gland stops the formation of kidney stones. Or your doctor may recommend treatment of the condition that's causing your parathyroid gland to overproduce the hormone.

Prevention

Prevention of kidney stones may include a combination of lifestyle changes and medications.

Lifestyle changes

You may reduce your risk of kidney stones if you:

• Drink water throughout the day. For people with a history of kidney stones, doctors usually recommend passing about 2.6 quarts (2.5 liters) of urine a day. Your doctor may ask that you measure your urine output to make sure that you're drinking enough water. If you live in a hot, dry climate or you exercise frequently, you may need to drink even more water to produce enough urine. If your urine is light and clear, you're likely drinking enough water.
• Eat fewer oxalate-rich foods. If you tend to form calcium oxalate stones, your doctor may recommend restricting foods rich in oxalates. These include rhubarb, beets, okra, spinach, Swiss chard, sweet potatoes, nuts, tea, chocolate and soy products.
• Choose a diet low in salt and animal protein. Reduce the amount of salt you eat and choose nonanimal protein sources, such as legumes.
• Continue eating calcium-rich foods, but use caution with calcium supplements. Calcium in food doesn't have an effect on your risk of kidney stones. Continue eating calcium-rich foods unless your doctor advises otherwise. Ask your doctor before taking calcium supplements, as these have been linked to increased risk of kidney stones. You may reduce the risk by taking supplements with meals.
• Ask your doctor for a referral to a dietitian who can help you develop an eating plan that reduces your risk of kidney stones.

Medications

Medications can control the amount of minerals and acid in your urine and may be helpful in people who form certain kinds of stones. The type of medication your doctor prescribes will depend on the kind of kidney stones you have. Here are some examples:

• Calcium stones. To help prevent calcium stones from forming, your doctor may prescribe a thiazide diuretic or a phosphate-containing preparation.
• Uric acid stones. Your doctor may prescribe allopurinol (Zyloprim, Aloprim) to reduce uric acid levels in your blood and urine and a medicine to keep your urine alkaline. In some cases, allopurinol and an alkalinizing agent may dissolve the uric acid stones.
• Struvite stones. To prevent struvite stones, your doctor may recommend strategies to keep your urine free of bacteria that cause infection. Long-term use of antibiotics in small doses may help achieve this goal. For instance, your doctor may recommend an antibiotic before and for a while after surgery to treat your kidney stones.
• Cystine stones. Cystine stones can be difficult to treat. Your doctor may recommend that you drink more fluids so that you produce a lot more urine. If that alone doesn't help, your doctor may also prescribe a medication that decreases the amount of cystine in your urine.

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Remember when you used to want to get older? As a teenager you couldn't wait for the freedom of your own apartment. In your 20s you envied the self-assurance of your older peers. In your 30s you figured that someday, when you weren't so busy, you'd have a chance to enjoy the life you were shaping. And now here you are. How did the years fly by? When did your body change? Where did you misplace your energy? Your optimism? Your glow? But here's the thing: You can steal back the youthful qualities you're nostalgic for. All you need is 8 weeks. Research shows that you can help turn back the clock by making a few science-backed changes to your diet and daily habits. Start with the tips below, adapted from Younger in 8 Weeks by the editors of Prevention. Then order Younger in 8 Weeks to get the full plan. 1. Fill your plate with plants. A plant-based diet is rich in inflammation-fighting antioxidants. When combined with other lifestyle changes, such as exercise, this way of eating has been shown to lengthen telomeres — bundles of DNA that cap chromosomes. The longer your telomeres, the less likely you may be to develop conditions like cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, dementia, and many cancers. 2. Do less instead of more. Interval training — alternating between short bouts of high- and low-intensity activity — burns fat more efficiently than exercising for longer at a steady pace. You can do intervals with any type of cardio, including walking, biking, and more. 3. Think of meditation as medicine. Regularly taking time to reflect can reduce blood pressure; boost immunity; lower stress; and ease insomnia, compulsive eating, and depression. For more ways to reverse the signs of aging, order Younger in 8 Weeks. This groundbreaking program shows you how to lower inflammation, lengthen telomeres, feel more energized, and improve your odds of living a long, healthy life — all in just 8 weeks. You'll learn how to turn back the clock on everything from your hair to your heart with easy-to-follow, natural solutions and feel younger, stronger, and healthier than you ever thought possible. Just ask the 21 real women who tried — and loved — our program. It helped them:   Lose weight — up to 25 lb in 2 months!   Lower cholesterol up to 39 points   Boost energy by an average of 36%   Decrease blood sugar by as much as 14 points   Improve confidence by an average of 27% Sounds pretty amazing, right? You can do it, too! Order Younger in 8 Weeks now. Although no one can guarantee results, award-winning research has shown the link between lifestyle and the aging process. A typical person who follows the plan described in Younger in 8 Weeks should expect a safe and healthy weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week.

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