Alternative medicines

Archive for April, 2009

Some people that have hemorrhoids opt to choose the natural cure for hemorrhoids for their treatment. Based on the testimonials of these people, one can truly say that they have succeeded in using the natural procedures because they had really sought relief from hemorrhoids through it.

However, before using any product – natural or otherwise, it is still best to ask your doctor’s opinion. In this manner, there will be no drug interactions and that pre-cautionary measures will be observed.

Some of the best-known remedies for hemorrhoids are herbal medicines and dietary supplements. Its certain effects include strengthening of hemorrhoids tissues, making it to withstand all the pressures that directs towards it. Herbs such as horse chestnut, bromelain, grape seeds extract, butcher’s broom, and flavonoids can help ease pain from hemorrhoids. Drinking pure aloe juice is also said to be effective in easing pain and itchiness.

Another form of natural treatment is also the application of creams and solutions with natural ingredients in it. Cream or ointments that have natural solution such as aloe vera, honey and cranesbill can be dab on the affected area to minimize burning sensation.

Another natural cure for hemorrhoids is by taking tub baths several times a day. Sitting on lukewarm water for ten to twenty minutes can help relieve pain and irritation. The “hotness” of water can also help elevate chances of the hemorrhoids to shrink. The water should as hot as you can stand it. After taking tub baths, affected area should be pat dry to avoid moisture sticking in to the swollen tissue. A hemorrhoid cream can be applied after. Drinking cups of strong chamomile tea can also be a good remedy for the hemorrhoids.

Developing and maintaining a fibrous diet is also one way of curing hemorrhoids naturally. Fibrous diet includes eating green leafy vegetables, rice, cereals, fruits, dried peas and whole grains. Fibers are said to be good aids for digestion. It ensures clean and soft bowels, which are just being needed for a smooth and easy bowel movement. A person who has hemorrhoids cannot afford to undergo the pain of constipation. Constipation is brought by large and dry bowel resulting to intense pushing (or straining) during defecation. The intense pressure in constipation might result to rupture and bleeding of hemorrhoids.

Another natural element that ensures healing of hemorrhoids is water. Regardless of an individual having suffered hemorrhoids or not, still it is very ideal to drink at least eight (8) glasses of water daily. Water is a very important element in the body. Aside from making blood circulation normal, it also help in cleaning the walls of the intestines and making bowel movement smooth and easy.

Avoid cleaning the rectum often. People have this perception that in order for hemorrhoids to heal faster, the anal canal or rectum should be cleansed all the time. Excessive rubbing of the hemorrhoids might lead to further irritation and less chances of rapid healing. It is ideal to just gently clean the rectum twice a day with hemorrhoids cream mixed with witch hazel. Petroleum jelly and other lubricants can also help the hemorrhoid to heal itself.

The lure of going herbal and natural is attracting many people from many different walks of life. For whatever reason, people do find benefits in these so called forms of Alternative Medicine.

The lure even defies what western media has long maintained as unproven and unbacked by medical studies the claims of those who swear by the efficacy of alternative medicine.

Those who continue to adhere to alternative medicine point to its advantages over conventional means of therapy. Going natural, they say, has its distinct advantages.

Alternative medicine has debunked that myth.Effective medication can be affordable and accessible to the common consumer.

Alternative medicine in the eyes of modern medicine, is a non-conventional approach to healing as it involves practices that are generally not acknowledged by the modern medical field.

Here is a hint – look at the sponsors. Those TV shows, the tabloids, dailies, radio shows, etc. These are most likely the people who have a rein as to what is ferreted out to the public and what needs to be covered in the name of their interests.

Aside from being cheap, people turn to alternative medicine because they work as proven by their efficacy over a long period of historical use. The top three reasons why many people turn to natural remedies are:

1. See no evil

2. They are cheaper

2. It gives us hope

Money talks indeed and enough money can shut out the truth, at least, in one part of the globe.

Alternative medicine is allowing nature to heal itself. It puts the power of healing on our own body. It believes that the body has the capacity to heal itself.

Let us take a serious look at why you should consider giving alternative medicine a chance to prove they are worthy:

1. All natural means having no side effects.

1. Effectiveness proven over time.

2. Practitioners who take time to learn more about your problem.

4. All natural ingredients means no secret recipe or unnamed chemicals.

5. Alternative medicine is backed by tradition and history. It is proven by time and age old practice.

7. Gives us hope.

Going natural is said to be personal approach to healing. Alternative medicine seeks to reestablish how you were when you were healthy.

Let us give alternative medicine the kind of respect it deserves. It has been with us longer than modern medicine.

Can electronic cigarettes help you quit smoking and what are they anyway?

Recently when I was asked to write about electronic cigarettes, I must confess I didnt even know what they were! It was interesting to do some research and find out that they are hugely popular at the moment. There were millions of results when i searched for electronic cigarettes on Google.

The electronic cigarette has been in existence for almost three years and is a clever device aimed at providing smokers with a healthier option. Apparently also useful in helping to reduce and indeed quit smoking altogether.

At 100mm in length the new mini e cigarette is the most realistic so far. In its fourth generation the electronic cigarette is finally user friendly and sleek, unlike its earlier brethren which were large and perhaps a little embarrassing to use.

An electronic cigarette contains a taste of tobacco but none of the harmful substances found in normal cigarettes allowing smokers cravings to be satisfied without inhaling the many dangerous toxins. Is it all smoke and mirrors? Or can this item really be the saviour it wants to be?

A renewable nicotine chamber allows the user to choose between different strengths of nicotine cartridge, so if desired they can incrementaly reduce the amount of nicotine they are absorbing. A smoke like vapour and glowing end when drawn add an extra dose of authenticity to the smoking experience. The battery and internal atomiser helping to produce this effect.

A nicotine cartridge typically lasts the same time as 15 to 20 cigarettes, thus creating a huge saving to normal costs. Standard, medium, low and no nicotine at all are the various cartridge strengths.

A healthier option altogether it seems, though the benefits don’t end there. Due to the electronic cigarette not emitting any known dangerous substances, toxins or real smoke for that matter, they are perfectly legal to smoke in public. In winter in particular, normal cigarette smokers have to brave the freezing cold and the rain just for a quick smoking break but this alternative will allow them to stay in their offices, restaurants and pubs.

Social benefits can be found also as non smoking friends can remain present while the electronic cigarette is being smoked by their companions.

Upon reflection the electronic cigarette is a healthier, cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative to smoking and as the awareness and the market grows they have great potential to successfully replace the harmful cigarettes we have all come to know and many of us have come to dread and fear.

It often seems as though Eastern and Western approaches to health are often at odds with one another. This is not always true. More and more osteopaths are now suggesting that clients try a combination of both practices, fusing Western osteopathy with Eastern acupuncture.

Acupuncture is holistic approach to health that has its origins in China, having been refined and developed evolved over 2000 years. It is based on the philosophy that our health relies on the free flow of our bodys energy ” known as Qi ” through a system of channels that lie beneath our skin. The pathways are all connected to the bodys vital organs, so if the flow of Qi is upset in some way (either by physical illness or emotional disturbances), the health and harmony of our body comes out of balance.

Acupuncture therapies are carried out by having very fine needles playing along the energy channels at specific pressure points in the skin. This is done to encourage the flow of energy and get rid of any physical tensions. By placing the needles in specific places the body is forced to tap into its own healing response, helping restore its natural balance.

But what does acupuncture have to do with osteopathy? Acupuncture and osteopathy have very similar philosophies, both view the body and mind as interconnected entities. They both believe a condition can only be cured if you eliminate the root of the problem, rather than merely treating its symptoms, and this is why osteopaths advise patients to do acupuncture in addition to osteopathic treatments.

While some people see acupuncture as simply a way to alleviate pain, it helps heal specific complaints as well as illnesses. Here are some of the problems and conditions that acupuncture can help with:

- High blood pressure and circulatory problems

- Cranial problems, including headaches and migraines

- Respiratory problems. These include asthma, breathlessness, and various others.

- Musculo-skeletal problems, helping to soothe pain in the muscles and joints. Deals with many osteopathic problems such as stiffness in the knees and neck, sciatica, frozen shoulder, and arthritis.

- Allergies

- Insomnia or aiding relaxation

A lot of patients have also expressed that acupuncture has given them gives a better sense of wellbeing ” improving their energy levels, vitality, and overall health.

Many people tend to shy away from acupuncture because they are uncomfortable with the idea of needles. Therapists often reassure their clients that the needles used for acupuncture are very different from the ones used to administer injections: they are a lot small and do not penetrate the body in the same way. While everyone responds to pain in different manners, most do not find the experience painful at all.

Not everyone is convinced that practices such as acupuncture work better than painkillers or sleeping pills. Others are adamant that natural healing processes are the only option. There does not always need to be a choice. If you have suffered from chronic pain or feel constantly overwhelmed by stress, combining East and West may be your best option to feeling healthier, refreshed, and more energetic.

Weird, doesn’t even begin to describe this, when you think about it. It was a little more than three weeks before her wedding and Jeannie G. , the bride-to-be and a doctor of Oriental medicine, called one of her girlfriends, Rudi, in desperation saying, “Tell your boyfriend I’ve got a problem and I need to speak with him”.

Rudi’s live in boyfriend was a doctor of holistic health — power of mind — hypnotherapy and was fairly well known for having unique abilities. When he arrived at Jeannie’s home, it was fairly obvious from glancing around her studio apartment that she lived a rather simple life and that she too was holy in her own metaphysical way.

She definitely didn’t practice any of the main religions but was certainly a believer in the natural sciences, the unusual, the abstract and the holistic. As Jeannie and the doctor began to talk, the bride-to-be explained that she had a problem which she feared would prevent her wedding night from being everything she hoped it would be.

Traumatized by being raped when she was young, Jeannie had developed a boil at the entrance to her vagina. The doctor recorded some simple hypnotic suggestions incorporating a few post-hypnotic instructions for the boil to open naturally – and also cleanse naturally – from sitz baths. This meant Jeannie should then be able to enjoy the honeymoon she hoped for.

The doctor asked her if he could inspect her bath tub to see if it was suitable for sitz baths. Unfortunately, she didnt have a bathtub and the doctor could see that the bathroom sink was too small for her task. And so, our bride-to-be was advised to undertake 21 days of bathing her bottom in the kitchen sink using hot water, Epsom salts and herbs, at the same time listening to a hypnosis tape which the doctor would record for her which, had a backdrop of relaxing music.

Three weeks later, the boil opened, drained and normalized right on schedule ” the day before the wedding, and then disappeared. Jeannie was an acupuncturist and her partner, Jim, was a home builder. He was a few years younger than her but they appeared to be very happy and had many friends who all came along to the wedding.

The ceremony was held in Santa Fe, at one of the homes of a wealthy friend and was performed by a minister; a woman who, to this holistic doctor at least, appeared to be a Wiccan (pagan) minister. But, who was he to judge? He was weird, himself.

The ceremony was tranquil and beautiful. It had been carefully arranged around pagan beliefs so that the beauty of nature was truly celebrated, while at the same time addressing the legal terms to meet the state laws.

And, it completed with a practice that the doctor hadn’t seen before. A dictionary was passed around the guests in order that each of them select a single word which they felt encapsulated their own, unique feeling of the moment of marriage.

On a lone couch, sitting next to one of Jeannie’s friends and her dog, sat the doctor in a purple satin shirt. From his appearance, he had obviously been busy decorating and doing some paint touchups earlier that day and he had rushed to get to the wedding ceremony on time.

His shirt was freshly pressed, but he hadn’t had time to trim his beard. He definitely needed to clean up but he was running late. He focused on the ceremony and then the time came for him to find his word in the dictionary.

He opened the book “he took his index finger, closed his eyes, and pointed at a word. He heard ‘click, click’. He moved his eyes from the word to the bride, who had just taken his picture. To this day he doesn’t remember the word he chose because he just grabbed the dictionary, opened it on a random page, closed his eyes and let his finger choose a word.

He opened his eyes. The bride looked at the word he had chosen and smiled. The doctor left the ceremony soon after the champagne toasts and returned to his own home.

The morning after, the bride came rushing over to the doctor’s home with a look of amazement on her face. In her hand, she was holding the photo proofs of the wedding day and she showed them to the doctor and his girlfriend. ‘You have to see this’, she gasped. The couple took the photo proof and looked in astonishment — there, around the doctors head, was a golden halo. The doctor left the room forlornly and entered the next room alone.

For years he had struggled to become a holy man, a good man, a good therapist and a healer. Once in the next room he got on his knees and prayed, God, I hope that you give me strength to live up to this. The bride left the photos with him and went home. The good doctor went to his office down on St. Francis Drive to await a patient and to think about what had occurred.

He didn’t sleep well at all that night. What had God planned for him in his life? He couldn’t be frightened or curious for long though because the next day at 11 am the new bride called him and said, I have an emergency. I need your help.

Immediately, he changed into a white outfit with white sneakers, put on his glasses, combed his hair and brushed his newly trimmed beard while he awaited the Jeannies’ arrival. When she arrived, she was very anxious and said, ‘my minister is in a coma. She was diagnosed with pneumonia the day after the ceremony and they took her to the hospital against her will’. These story continued that the hospital doctors gave her IV antibiotic medication but she told them when she was admitted that she was allergic.

By now, she had fallen into an allergic coma, her vitals are not stable and the doctors feel she won’t make it through the night. The doctor remained calm and said, Lets go! As they drove down to the Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, he meditated and when they entered the hospital he prayed that he could help.

When Jeannie and the doctor arrived at the minister’s room, the situation was bleak. Her husband was there and the hospital staff was frantically pumping shots and monitoring every few minutes. Her vitals were deteriorating. The ministers husband, crying, said, “she’s leaving us and we need her so much”. The doctor calmed the situation and said, I need peace and silence. The ministers’ husband left the room, leaving only the doctor, Jeannie and the patient inside. The husband blocked the door from the outside and wouldn’t let anyone at all enter ” not even the hospital staff who was already screaming, and threatening to bring security.

The holistic doctor whispered to Jeannie “please shut the curtains”. He turned out the lights and, in dimmed surroundings, he began speaking. “In the name of all things holy, I call upon you, Oh great power of the Universe to bring life to this holy woman who serves you. I call upon you to awaken her”. Then, he went on by whispering, “Your husband is outside. He needs you. Your children are at home. They need you. Your followers need your help desperately.”

“You are asleep because the hospital gave you the wrong medicine, but your own mind, which is awake, is listening to me and your own soul has the strength to awaken you when I command that you do so. But, for this moment, rest! Bring your heartbeat back to normal, now! And, bring your breathing back to normal now!. Now, cleanse your own blood with every breath of oxygen you inhale”.

The doctor continued, “In just a few moments the sun will shine on you. It will be like someone has hit the ON switch to turn your life on. It will be as though you are getting up and leaving this place where they make mistakes. You will go home with your husband to your children and your followers who need you.”

Then, he rapidly opened the curtains and said, “I command you in the name of God and all things holy, awaken, rise up, get up out of your sleep. You are no longer in a coma. Stand up and join life anew. So mote it be.” Those terms were something familiar to a Wiccan minister.

Then the doctor was exhausted; tired from the energy which he had sent into the patient and from praying while speaking. That’s all I can do, he said and then left the room in tears.

The minister’s husband entered the room and waited with Jeannie. Meanwhile, the hospital staff was huddled outside with security, trying to convince them not to arrest the husband for blocking the entrance.

Suddenly, Jeannie burst from the room screaming, “Shes up! Shes up! She said that God himself appeared before her and told her to get up”. The minister said that everyone needed her and so she felt a strong compulsion to get up, to go home and help her family and parishioners.

The husband frantically dressed his wife while pushing away hospital staff away so he could help her from the building. The holistic doctor was rushed from the hospital before the police could come and charge him with ‘practicing medicine without a license.’ The job was done and the doctor went outside and began to cry, in thanks to God for the help.

On the ride back, he wondered, What else has God got in store for me in this life?

Bromelain usually don’t come to mind as a way to treat gout naturally, but it is very effective. It is a great tool you can use to help you ease painful attacks. It can even assist in avoiding future attacks. Here is why bromelain is well suited to helping you treat gout.

Bromelain is an enzyme that reduces inflammation. It is mostly found in pineapples. It is one of the reasons pineapples are one of the really good natural treatments for gout. Because gout pain usually occurs when uric acid crystals cause swelling in your joints, this enzyme is very helpful in treating the most painful symptom of gout.

Just eating pineapples is not sufficient to help you eliminate gout pain. There is not not enough of the potent enzyme in them. You do have an alternative, however. You can buy bromelain in many health food stores. Bromelain can be used for other health problems, such as digestion irritation and different types of arthritis.

Physicians, especially naturopathic doctors have prescribed bromelain for the purpose of reducing blood clots. However, you should ask your physician before taking this supplement or any supplement prior to using it as a therapy.

You will definitely want to inform your physician before taking, especially if you are taking other prescription medications. It is always appropriate to have a physician be able to monitor supplements and medicines you are taking to avoid dangerous interactions.

One problem with bromelain can be if you use too much of it. Medium quantities have not been found to have any negative side effects, however higher doses can create tachycardia, a fast heart rate. It can be the cause for nausea. Loose stools can also be a problem at higher doses.

Since it acts as a blood thinner, you should not take it if your physician has you on Aspirin or Warfarin (Coumadin). This is why you should make sure you discuss your medications with your physician. However, in moderation bromelain is considered safe and is very good at providing gout relief.

If you are susceptible to an acute gout attack, consider taking this incredible natural gout treatment the next time you have an outbreak. Its ability to ease painful swelling will give you the help you need to get back on your feet.

The Aloe Vera plant does not like cold weather so it grows where it warm year around. However, it will thrive if you grow it at home. Some folks like it as a house plant but that is the least of ifs use.

Many peoples around the world know this green, thick-leaved plant because it has a gel which has been used by many to help with various physical conditions to which humans suffer, for thousands of years.

Helping to heal wounds better is one condition for which the Aloe Vera plant is known. Although its effect on wound healing is not clear. Reputation says that the Aloe Vera gel eases pain and cuts down on inflammation. Thus let us look at what the science says.

In the 1990’s a study was performed showing that healing time of a severe to moderate burn was reduced when it was treated with Aloe Vera gel on a regular basis. In this study the Aloe Vera healing time was compared to the healing time of a similar burn which was covered by a gauze bandage.

But, a different study indicated that Aloe Vera gel treated wounds were slower to heal. Whether or not this gel promotes faster wound healing remains an unknown. Although, there are said to be some promising results coming. Thus, you will have to make your own study of this gel if you get a burn or a wound and wish to use it.

Does the Aloe Vera plant have any more uses?

A substance which is not approved for human use has been extracted from Aloe Vera gel by a commercial laboratory. It is an immunostimulant which is approved for treating a cancer (fibrosacoma) in cats and dogs. Only a veterinarian can use it.

Companies that make cosmetics are always looking for a way to enhance their products. So, Aloe Vera gel has been seized on as an excellent addition to shampoos, lotions, makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soap and sun screen. How effective is the gel when used here? Well, as we all know about cosmetics, its certainly a commercial secret — or at least a mysterious unknown.

Treating dry skin conditions is one of the common uses of Aloe Vera gel. Eyes which have eczema around them often get a gel treatment. In fact, sensitive facial skin is sometimes treated with gel.

An article published in the British Journal of General Practice suggests that Aloe Vera is effective at treating athlete’s foot.

But, there are other uses for Aloe Vera — other than applying it externally in a lotion or cream. This sap has been consumed internally as a juice for a long time.

People suffering from the inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis have used Aloe Vera gel as a juice. However, there can be side effects, so consulting with your doctor before doing this is highly recommended.

Well, we now know a bit about Aloe Vera . . . but, how can the gel be extracted from the plant? The gel is not from the root or the fruit. Where, then, do we find it?

The lower leaf of the plant is used for medicinal and other purposes. These leaves are typically green, thick and bulky, If the Aloe Vera leaf is sliced open, a gel can be obtained.

However, be careful. Here is something to be aware of if you want to extract the gel yourself.

There is a yellow substance called Aloe Vera latex, which comes from the inner side of the plant’s skin. It can be highly irritating. Some who have reported negative effects from Aloe Vera may be applying or eating this yellow substance. You must carefully remove all skin and anything yellow before using the gel. The gel must be totally clear, odorless and tasteless.

This gel is also said to be good for clearing up eczema, according to some reports. It has also been applied on herpes infections for possible instant symptomatic relief.

But, in addition to the medical uses, Aloe Vera gel is consumed as a food in many parts of the globe.

In Japan, Aloe Vera is commonly used as an ingredient in yogurt. There are also many Japanese companies which make Aloe Vera based beverages.

In some of the parts of early British India, which is now Pakistan, the plant has been used for centuries as a digestive aid. Consumed after a meal, the dried gel is mixed with seeds of various herbs to make the potion. Sort of an early days Tums, huh?

Pashtuns in India have been using Aloe Vera for centuries to improve physical performance. This effect is due. probably, to the great nutrient content of the gel. People in Rajasthan, India, prepare Aloe Vera as a vegetable combined with fenugreek seeds.

In another state of India, Tamil Nadu, a curry is made using Aloe Vera. It is usually eaten with Indian bread or a serving of rice.

Aloe Vera gel is contained in some popular beverages. SoBe’s Strawberry Drink is one. Smoothies served in Mexico commonly contain Aloe Vera. This gel is an ingredient in a South Korea popular soft drink.

Disclaimer ” Information included here is not meant to diagnose, treat, mitigate or cure any condition or disease. You should consult with your doctor or medical adviser before using. No information given here is approved by any government agency. It is for educational purpose only.

High Blood Pressure is said to be virtually epidemic in the United States. This is a dangerous condition. Why is it dangerous? We will cover many of the reasons in this article.

High Blood Pressure is also called Hypertension. It is also referred to as HTN or HPN when doctors use it on medical charts. Medical people most often use the term Hypertension when speaking of this condition. Although there are medical treatments for Hypertension, there also appear to be Natural treatments for this condition.

Just what is High Blood Pressure? Well, High Blood Pressure is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically too high. In current usage, the word “hypertension”without a qualifier normally refers to systemic arterial hypertension.

Hypertension is classified in two ways: either Essential (primary) or Secondary. Essential hypertension means no specific medical cause can be found to explain a persons condition. Secondary hypertension is present when high blood pressure is a result of another disease, such as kidney disease or tumors.

Chronic high blood pressure — what dangers lurk there? There are many.

Persistent hypertension is one of the greatest risk factors for strokes, heart attacks, heart failure and arterial aneurysm. It is a leading cause of chronic kidney failure. Hypertension is a leading indicator in the human body as far as contracting disease in the future is concerned.

Even moderate elevation of arterial blood pressure may lead to a shortened life expectancy. At very high pressures (defined as mean arterial pressures 50% or more above average) a sufferer can expect to live no more than a few years unless appropriately treated. Thus, treatment should certainly not be overlooked.

For those who are older than 50, hypertension is considered to be present when their systolic blood pressure is consistently 140 mm Hg or greater or when the diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90 mm Hg or greater.

With a systolic pressure starting at 115 and diastolic pressure of 75 (commonly written as 115/75 mm Hg), cardiovascular disease risk doubles for each increment of 20/10.

Prehypertension (defined as blood pressure from 121/81 mm Hg) is a designation chosen to identify individuals at high risk The Mayo Clinic specifies that blood pressure is normal if it is 120/80 or below.

Persons with blood pressures over 130/80 mm Hg along with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, or kidney disease are at risk and recommendations are to promptly seek out further treatment. Today, it is possible to have a small, hand-held instrument which reads ones blood pressure. Those with any of the conditions or diseases mentioned above would be wise to have such an indicator — and to use it with regularity.

Non-bony Structures in the Foot

The foot does not consist only of bones but also of tendons, muscles and ligaments. Ligaments are tough, relatively non-elastic straps or sheets which are designed to hold bones together. Ligaments allow the intended movements of the joint to occur and give the joint the stability it requires for normal function. Ligament capsules surround all the many joints of the foot, stabilising these joints and allowing the synovial lining inside them to secrete synovial fluid. The plantar ligament underneath and along the foot arch is the largest foot ligament.

The plantar ligament holds the arch in place to some extent and stores up energy when we are walking to use in the next step, giving us the spring in our step. A strain of the plantar ligament can be sharp and painful in the ligament and have knock on effects due to its supporting role. At the back of the heel is the Achilles tendon, a large and strong tendinous band which is a continuation of the fibrous tissue in the calf muscles, the soleus and gastrocnemius. The calf muscles provide propulsion in walking and running and allow us to stand on tiptoe.

The complex nature of walking has been called controlled falling but is managed easily by the majority of humans. Gait is a repeating pattern of specific bodily movements and when we stand still our weight distribution is even between the front and back of the foot. The outside border of the rear of the heel strikes the ground first as the foot contacts the ground, with weight then transferring forwards and inwards towards the big toe and ball of foot. Absorption of some of the load occurs in the plantar ligament, with the arch flattening by some amount and the foot attaining the position of pronation.

Hitting the ground and bearing weight on the midfoot brings the foot posture towards the outside into supination as the foot rises to push off on the ball and the big toe and the foot leaves the ground. Exaggeration of these postural positions during gait is an example of pathological changes which can occur. The big toes take around 60 percent of the weight being transferred through the foot in walking, and this can be abnormally increased if the foot overpronates and throws weight medially. The opposite tendency is underpronation as the person throws their weight laterally onto the outer foot border.

Problems with Gait

Changes which occur in one bodily area can have distant effects on other bodily regions due to the connected nature of body systems. A typical gait pathology is the antalgic gait, a gait where the body attempts to avoid a painful position or weight bearing posture. One of my neighbours attempts to minimise the forces which are being transmitted through his low back by gliding around smoothly, limiting spinal movement and using his legs almost exclusively to perform his gait. Pathologies can develop in other areas of the body as it attempts to limit forces by adopting an altered gait.

Foot pain does not typically occur in children and adolescents despite the many forceful activities they pursue. However, if a young person describes a pain problem with their feet it should be noted and action taken to solve a small initial problem as opposed to a later much more major one. In the twenties it is uncommon to report any problems with the feet apart from fungal infections and sport and activity related injuries.

Children and adolescents rarely have foot pain even pursuing the many, varied and vigorous pursuits they love to do. If they do report a pain problem it is worth paying attention and getting advice as it’s much easier to fix an early, minor problem than having to cope with a much more difficult one later. During one’s twenties feet typically do not have great problems apart from sporting and other injuries and infections such as athlete’s foot.

In an age where we can access information with the click of a mouse and receive messages from across the world the very second they are sent, the internet is frequently applauded for making our lives easier. Even the rise of social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and the BBCs myCBBC have been met with general positivity ” that is, until recently. Psychologists, health experts, and even biologists have lately been criticizing social networking cites for being hazardous to our health.

Experts are now warning us that new research suggests that we dont have nearly as much face-to-face contact with others as in the past, and it is making us more and more isolated. In a recent issue of Biologist, the journal of the Institute of Biology, Dr Aric Sigman explains that our body oxytocin levels have declined as a result of less physical interaction. Oxytocin, also known as the cuddle chemical, is a chemical that our body produces when we bond with another person. The fact that it is in decline shows that we are not bonding with others on a regular basis, which can have serious consequences.

Signman warns that extreme devotion to the virtual world can increase the risk of both physical and mental health problems such as cancer, dementia, depression, strokes, and heart disease ” not exactly something we think about when we are checking our inboxes. Too much time on MySpace also allegedly has the potential to alter the ways in which our hormone levels and immune systems are regulated. It all comes down to our lifestyles ” with a greater number of people working from home rather than going out and physically interacting with people, the lack of regular and deeper human contact have a negative effect on our body.

Psychologists also warn us about the this problems implications for the family unit. Research shows that children as young as five years old use the internet on a regular basis. Experts say that this undermines a childs ability to learn to interpret body language and acquire important social skills. In many cases not even the parents are not very helpful, either. Dr. Signman was quoted as saying “Parents spend less time with their children than they did only a decade ago. Britain has the lowest proportion of children in all of Europe who eat with their parents at the table.

While most of these allegations (about physical health, in particular) have not undergone extensive scientific investigation, there is an element of truth in each of the warnings. Common sense says that spending much time behind a computer screen is not good for your health, if you neglect exercise and proper social interaction.

Social networking can therefore be seen as either a blessing or a cure (or, in some cases, both). They can be a negative influence that stimulates isolationism and anti-social behaviour. Or they can simply be a place to get back in touch with old friends and classmates. The bottom line: everything in moderation. As long as social networking sites do not become a substitute for face-to-face relationships, there is no reason why we should fear of sitting behind our laptops.