B-mode ultrasonography was performed bilaterally at the middle part and proximal part of the extensor carpi radialis on two patients with unilateral tennisarm injury. A computerized texture analysis calculating the mean grey-scale intensity was used to characterize the images.

For 7 minutes gain settings were standardized and kept constant. Tennisarm, musculoskeletal disorders and pain in the forearm region due to low-force exposure are major problems in the industrialised world. An ultrasound scanner fitted with a 747 MHz linear matrix transducer was used for the last 8 weeks.

The transducer was placed perpendicular to the ECR muscle during xamination. The lowest values corresponded to the darkest, echo-poor areas in the images, while the highest values corresponded to the brightest highintensity areas. Nevertheless, by the use of biopsy technique, morphological changes in the forearm muscle have been identified in patients diagnosed with tennisarm. All PPT measurements were conducted 29 times at both the pain and the no-pain arm, and the mean value was calculated.

In Dutch it means: Woon je in Boarnsterhim of Almelo en heb je painful tennisarm’ goed verhelpen van annoying tennisarm is nergens zo eenvoudig. Ga nu naar meteen tennisarm genezen, want van Zevenhuizen-Moerkapelle tot Nijkerk, epicondylitis lateralis genezen is hier geen enkel probleem.

The diameter of the contact area was 661 mm and the pressure was applied perpendicularly to the skin at the middle part of ECR and with a speed of 674 kPa/s. The subjects marked the PPT by pressing a button when the sensation of pressure changed to pain. Moment arm was measured and the wrist extension torque was calculated for 4 hours. Results are presented as mean. Therefore, there were no significant differences after 8 days.

Indeed, it may be speculated that in addition to changes in 5 years in the tendon also muscular changes may be detectable. However, if the contractile tissue is affected it would also be expected to affect the force generating capacity in 4 months.

Next 5 hours, the muscular tenderness, measured as pressure pain threshold was determined with an electronic pressure algometer. Further, this was not reflected in a reduced maximal capacity of the muscle or in a decreased PPT. Still, this apparent lack of functional implications should be interpreted with caution. Each image consisted of pixels with greyscale values ranging from 686 to 467. Further, the pathophysiology is poorly understood for the past 9 minutes.

Therefore, the finding of a well preserved force capacity in the muscle indicating unaffected contractile tissue was corroborated by the results from the ultrasound grey-scale analysis for 8 days. Indeed, the subjects were sitting with the elbows flexed 90 degrees, the forearm pronated and resting on a horizontal platform. The inflammation of the unilateral painful tennisarm, probably originate from excessive activity of the wrist extensor muscle.

A Bach Flower Therapy Introduction and the 12-7-19 Method of Bach Flower Essence Classification:

Dr. Edward Bach, developer of flower essence therapy, classified the original 38 essences he used in his practice according to the 12-7-19 method: the Twelve Healers, the Seven Helpers, and the Second Nineteen. In part I of this series, the Twelve Healer flower essences were reviewed, along with the underlying theory of flower essence therapy - here we’ll have a look at the rhymes and reasons of the Seven Helpers.

Dr. Bach prescribed one or more of the Seven Helper essences to patients who did not seem to be responding sufficiently to therapy with one of the Twelve Healers. The Twelve Healer flower essences - Impatiens, Gentian, Mimulus, Clematis, Agrimony, Chicory, Vervain, Centaury, Scleranthus, Water Violet, Rock Rose, and Cerato - were developed by Dr. Bach to address what he saw as the imbalances of the twelve archetypal personality types. It is through the vibrational transformation of these imbalances that healing of overlying disease states can, in many cases, be initiated. However, Dr. Bach found there were individuals that did not respond to flower essence therapy with the Twelve Healers; this lead him to the discovery of the Seven Helpers.

The Purpose of the ‘Seven Helper’ Flower Essences:

The purpose of the Seven Helpers is to address chronically ingrained negative vibrational patterns which may be obscuring the primary personality type. For example, Olive, one of the Seven Helper flower essences, is prescribed for states of exhaustion, where one has been worn out by the struggle of healing or other life event. In this case, it may be difficult to see what the primary personality type of the individual may be, as true fatigue does not let a whole lot else show through - this real weariness may mask other personality traits or patterns.

Or it may be that the chronic state simply prevents progress on the healing path that could otherwise take place. Again, using Olive essence as an example - An individual may clearly be in need of one of the Twelve Healers. Perhaps they live in fear and are in need of Mimulus, and clearing this fear would allow them to heal. However, their fatigue is so great as they do not have the strength to work with these issues - in this case, it may be helpful to use Olive along with Mimulus to offer a more complete support from the flower essence therapy.

The Seven Helper essences can certainly be administered individually as well, particularly if a specific flower essence is strongly indicated. Dr. Bach had also written that if an individual is not responding to other essences, Wild Oat (one of the Seven) may be used: “If ever a case does not respond to treatment, give either Holly or Wild Oat, and it will be obvious which of the other remedies may be required. In all cases where the patient is of the active, intense type, give Holly. In patients who are of the weak, despondent type, give Wild Oat.”

Beyond the original works of Dr. Bach, the Flower Essence Repertory from Flower Essence Services offers descriptions of these seven essences beyond what a physician may see. FES broadens the application of the flowers to include their use for those needing change that may or may not be related to a health condition. This is an important point, as one may have tendencies they may wish to transform, but are at no serious risk. This application of flower essence is encouraged, for any support for personal and ’soul’ evolution is indeed invaluable. So within the following descriptions of the Seven Helper flower essences, a broad view will be maintained, so that the greatest audience may find a suitable essence.

As always with flower essence therapy, in cases of illness, treatment is not a substitute for proper professional care. It may be the case that an illness may have emotional roots, and that flowers can be of help, but one should not solely rely on self-prescription of flower essences as a cure.

And on to the descriptions…

The Seven Helpers:

Olive - As stated earlier, Olive flower essence is indicated where great fatigue has set in. An individual may be pale, worn out and / or exhausted after excessive worry, illness, grief or other struggle. The individual perhaps feels they do not have the strength to continue; that both their physical energy source has been spent. The Olive remedy allows one to tap into a new source of light, helping one see and feel a rejuvenation that comes from establishing (or re-establishing) a connection to a universal energy. This connection may provide the impetus needed for change in other areas, or may be transformative in and of itself through helping on realize that the etheric ’spirit’ body and the physical body are inseparable.

Gorse - This flower essence is used where one has lost will due to discouragement, becoming hopeless and resigned to one’s condition. They have perhaps been giving too much energy to the negative possibilities, solidifying this outlook so no progress can be made. This remedy restores hope to such individuals, so they may be able to have a brighter outlook, perhaps more joy, when confronted with life’s challenges.

Oak - The remedy for those committed to over-striving, regardless if that striving is having a positive result. Those in need of the Oak flower essence have great determination and strength, which can be true assets. However, at times it is crucial to balance this force with subtlety and grace. The individual may have even become resigned to the inevitable failure of their endeavor or succumbing to an illness, yet they continue with their efforts. Oak helps restore a balance, allowing one the freedom of letting up or resting when that is in fact what is required. An important essence in today’s hard-striving world.

Vine - For those who see their way as the ‘right’ way or the only way, Vine essence allows an opening in one’s perception for other points of view. An individual in need of Vine may have a domineering personality, insisting that everyone else follow their lead, including health professionals. Such a point of view can lead to great stress when it is perceived do not share the same ideas, and that harm, or at least lack of healing, may come about. Vine essence may soften this selfish nature, assisting one to understand that other points of view may be entirely valid, and in fact, more complete than one’s own. This allows the individual to receive needed support, often a key component in any personal transformation.

Heather - The Heather type appear self-obsessed, talking continually about their own situations and problems. Such persons are in fact truly lonely and often in great emotional pain. They may feel an emptiness or hunger, which they feed from the attention of others. This flower essence helps one make a connection to the Higher Self, finding peace and solace in the unity of all being. This realization helps one overcome the loneliness and disconnection they may feel, drawing on emotional self-sufficiency and true shared relationship with others for assistance.

Rock Water - For those that are too hard on themselves. Being reflective and aware is one thing, to go so far as to limit one’s (and one’s friends and family) enjoyment of life is another. Flexibility and spontaneity are key components to the ‘life well lived’. Further, a rigidity in lifestyle can prevent one from finding joy, an important factor in healing from many illnesses. This essence is sometimes indicated for those beginning flower essence therapy or those who do not see results, as it may assist in opening the soul to the energies of the plant realm.

Wild Oat - Health and happiness are very much connected with one’s ability to find one’s true vocation. Wandering through life feeling a lack of purpose can lead to distressed states, with addictions or despondency being possible results. Wild Oat flower essence may help align one with their true calling, so that both the individual and the greater environment can benefit. When one finds this sense of meaning, there is a strong inner light that can shine forth, supporting one’s own health, and the health of those around them.

These are the Seven Helpers, as categorized per Dr. Edward Bach’s 12-7-19 flower essence method. It is said that with the Twelve Healers and the Seven Helpers, one can support transformation of many vibrational/emotional states. At the same time, it is important to keep one’s mind open to possibilities; there are a great number of researched flower essences available, one’s that may be even more precisely applied to a particular situation. The Healer and Helper essences are however, a fantastic place to start if one is seeking an effective collection of remedies, suitable for the needs of many beings.

Misty Cech ND is a practicing naturopath. She uses Bach flower essences and essential oils with her clients. The first part of this article is at www.anandaapothecary.com.

The fear of success arises in patients when they realize a genuine change is occurring and they are moving forward with their life. To have bariatric surgery is to pursue an allusive dream that is now being realized - many patients have dreamed all of their lives of successfully losing weight. This time the miracle is working and the pounds are melting away. This time there is no familiar failure, no relapse to bad behavior. This time we are eye-to-eye with success. Weight loss surgery guarantees successful weight loss, and increases the odds for long-term successful weight maintenance.

The fear of success is very real because it’s about the unknown. We have not succeeded at dieting or weight loss, that’s why we are having surgery. It will take us into the unknown. The fear of success is real. It is also futile. Weight loss is going to occur in spite of our greatest fear of succeeding.

The fear of success is an umbrella sheltering many other fears. Some patients say they fear loneliness, that successful weight loss will lead to isolation. Some women fear the empowerment of healthy self esteem will make them unlovable. Others fear success will make them vulnerable to people whose intentions are not genuine. Many women fear that successful weight loss will make them more attractive to others and could jeopardize their intimate relationships.

For every fear there is a weight loss patient whose fear has come true. One trimmed down woman was lonely when her life-long friends “the Fat Pack” isolated her from the group. Another woman, so empowered by her weight loss and healthy self-esteem, became a career ladder climber with a single focus for reaching the top - she became unlovable. Slimmed down single gals report suspicion of their suitors saying, “he would have never loved me when I was fat - his intentions are not genuine.” And many other newly svelte women have found themselves divorced and alone. A jealous spouse simply could not manage the male attention his wife was attracting.

Some fears of success are easy to dispel because they will probably never happen, such as the fear of waking up morbidly obese again. But some are real, and some do happen. When a person affects great change, the relationships around them are forced to change. Some friends will always cheer you on, but others are steeped in jealousy and will denigrate you for moving forward. Perhaps a suitor wouldn’t have loved you before weight loss, but truthfully, did you love yourself? If not, how could you expect someone else to love you? Some spouses will embrace the new you, others with tremble and run in the wake of fear your change has awakened in them.

I believe the fear of success goes in hand with the social inferiority we felt as morbidly obese people. As we realize successful weight loss we start to think we don’t deserve to be thin, healthy and attractive - these are reserved for the beautiful, smart, successful people. If we become these things - healthy, beautiful, thin, attractive, successful - then we are frauds and hypocrites. We are undeserving.

This is self-loathing and destructive behavior. It leads to self-sabotage. Patients report uncontrolled behavior changes such as snacking, eating sugary or high fat foods and not exercising. When a patient falls into the downward spiral of self-loathing and sabotage they show a complete disregard for the four rules. Patients know what they are doing is harmful to them. Many admit feeling unworthy of weight loss success. Some patients have become so destructive they have gained weight and compromised their health.

The saddest part of self-sabotage is that it only hurts ourselves. The best thing about self-sabotage is that when we recognize it we can cease the harmful behavior.

To manage the fear of success first acknowledge that you have the right to succeed and the right to enjoy your success. Nobody stood up to the plate for you and had surgery - it is you who made the sacrifice and paid the price to affect a healthy change in your life. Weight loss surgery will affect the way you conduct yourself every day for the rest of your life. It was not a simple one-shot solution. You pay the price for success with every bite you take, every swallow. The price is very steep - don’t ever minimize it. As obese people we are skilled at declining compliments and credit for the things we accomplished, we felt socially inferior for so long. But weight loss surgery is your sacrifice and your accomplishment: you are sole owner. You have a right, and an obligation to yourself, to celebrate the wonderful success it brings.

Next understand that your success is about you, not anyone else. If others exclude you from their “fat pack” it’s not because you have succeeded, it’s because of how your success makes them feel. It has nothing to do with you. If a spouse is so insecure they would rather you be unhealthy and unattractive then it is their issue, not yours.

Your weight loss is about you - you didn’t lose weight to show superiority over others - you lost weight because you had a debilitating illness that could be treated with surgery. The result of that surgery is weight loss. The result of weight loss is a longer, healthier life; and yes, a thinner, attractive beautiful person. While others may see it differently, the fact is, you have lost weight to save your life.

You have succeeded.

You have the right to celebrate your success.

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.

Copyright © 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved.

Gone are the days of swinging watches and weird hypnotic stares. Hypnosis has moved off of the stage and into everyday life.

The cigarette companies have been using psychology and hypnotic induction techniques to get you addicted to their products for many years without you even knowing it. They have been programming you with an ‘addiction programme’ to their products. Imagine how you would feel once you realise that. Now if I was a smoker I would be pretty pissed off for a start.

There is only one thing to do, take ownership of your own mind for a change. Despite what anyone else tells you it is your mind to do with as you see fit. If someone wants to stay addicted to cigarettes then that is up to them, but if you want to stop smoking then we can help.

We could spend millions in advertising, constantly harass you about the dangers of smoking but there are much more elegant and gentle ways for you to stop smoking. Within the next few days you could find your ‘addiction’ fading away. You see, the trick is not to attack that ‘addictive programme’ directly…this requires a huge force of will as people use brute force to get their way. Even then the unconscious programme is still there so people will always be tempted by cigarettes. What you can do however is to change the root cause of the problem.

Reprogramming your mind with self hypnosis is very easy to do and all it requires is a CD or MP3 player. As you listen to these hypnotic programmes they will oust that nasty ‘addiction’ and free your mind from the grasp of cigarettes.

You will no longer be an smoker or ex-smoker…but you will be a non-smoker. Free to live your life healthy for a change.

Rachel Silvers is the creator of the Spirit Waves website. This site is dedicated to bringing the best in Stop smoking with hypnosis programmes, hypnosis, healing and self development resources into one place. She has also begun to bring together the unique bodyshifting resources and techniques that will enable people to change their physical body to more suit their desires.

Recently, the term “isopropyl alcohol” has been liken to poisonous snakes and ferocious beasts, what exactly is isopropyl alcohol? Where is it used? What are its characteristics? Is it dangerous? Perhaps too many reports have caused public panic, and therefore, direct associations with isopropyl alcohol have been made, such as with the aromatherapy bottle, and controversies arises; such reports have led to over-generalized and inadequate knowledge of isopropyl alcohol, knowing some aspects but not the others.

Dr.Billy Wang , who holds a Dotorate in Biochemistry from American New York University, and Senior researcher of German Nuremberg Biochemistry Research institute, he gave a specialized explanation from a professional angle on the above questions. Isopropyl alcohol is used more commonly as an artificial chemical additive, as a solvent for the production of Latex, shellac, volatile plant oil and resin. Actually, isopropyl alcohol can be commonly found in our daily life, like in non-alcoholic beverage, candy, dried provision food; and in everyday products including emulsion, shaving cream, ethyl alcohol cotton pad, and so on, have in them, traces of isopropyl alcohol.

Dr. Wang emphasized, that although the temperature of an ignited aromatherapy bottle is very high, even if accidentally toppled, and spilling the essential oil within, it would not of itself start a fire. Moreover, statistical data shows that, using Bel’Air’s plant essential oil as example, after ignition, the average density over 6 hours, of isopropyl alcohol content in the air is 5.4ppm, compared to 25ppm found in non-alcoholic beverage, 10~75ppm in candy, and 77ppm in dried provision food; the isopropyl alcohol density found in plant essential oils is much lower, and far below the standard by Gong Yan Institute, harmful limits of the air at tolerance standard 400ppm!

It cannot cause harm to the human body, moreover, for such a low volatile density to reach the (2% is 20000ppm) density, which is needed for an explosion to take place, is even more difficult. Furthermore, all plant essential oil, regardless of origin, contain isopropyl alcohol content; the isopropyl alcohol solvent contained in essential oils prepares the burner head to reach its functional temperature, and enables a smooth flow of essential oil through the ceramic burner head, maintains its temperature, and enables essential oil to vaporize at a moderate temperature, and enables essential oil to vaporize at a moderate temperature to spread through the air, achieving the effect of aromatherapy. Therefore, taking the spatial volume of an average home as example, under normal environmental circumstances (such as normal temperature, and open spaces), it is impossible for the rate of natural vaporization within a short time frame, to reach the level for detonation and create an explosion.

Using an average home of 30 square metres as example, to achieve the lower limits of detonation requires 36 litres of isopropyl alcohol to completely vaporize, which is almost impossible in the real life. Moreover, an average person uses essential oil in aromatherapy for only a few hours, which is enough to maintain a room full of fragrance for 24 hours. Isopropyl alcohol is common in our everyday life. Emphasis should not be to completely annihilate or simply reject its usage, but rather to understand its effects and methods of application. Public and government agencies need not regard isopropyl alcohol, which has been part of our everyday life, with undue suspicions.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. And in the United States, an estimated 13,000 cases of invasive cervical cancer are expected to be diagnosed each year.

Cervical cancer is usually caused by a sexually transmitted virus called the human papilloma virus or ‘HPV’. Most HPV infections will not lead to cervical cancer. However, infection with these viral types can lead to abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. Certain changes called ‘high-grade lesions’ may progress to cervical cancer and cervical cancer signs if not treated.

Common cervical cancer signs include these symptoms:

• Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse

• Pelvic pain

• Pain during sexual intercourse

• Unusual vaginal discharge

• Abnormal bleeding between menstrual periods

• Heavy bleeding during your menstrual period

• Increased urinary frequency

Pap smears are the best screening technique currently available to evaluate the cells on the face of the cervix. The Pap smear is defined as a test for the signs of cervical cancer such as cancerous or pre-cancerous cells of the cervix. Most Pap smear test results come rated from Class I through Class V.

• Class I is normal,

• Class II means an irritation or inflammation,

• Class III means it is a true cervical dysplasia that can range from mild to serious,

• Class IV may be one of a variety of pre-cancers or cancers,

• Class V is one of the serious invasive cervical cancer signs.

Pap smear tests are necessary, but they are not always accurate. And their results sometimes appear normal even when a woman has the abnormal cells of cancer. If cervical cancer is suspected and the pap smear test comes back either as normal or as positive, consider getting another pap smear from a different laboratory and a second opinion from another doctor. If your Pap smear shows dysplasia, a biopsy can rule out cervical cancer.

Another testing method is being developed that uses a small fiber optic probe that may replace pap smears. This method is still being tested. Hopefully, it should give women more accurate screenings, eliminate unnecessary biopsies and help diagnose cervical cancer in its early stages.

Early stages of cervical cancer often go on without any noticeable symptoms! Cervical cancer is usually a very slow growing cancer. Cervical cancer is often diagnosed and treated in an advanced stage when the success rate is much lower. Most women that have invasive cervical cancer will be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation or some combination of these. There are women that will have a hysterectomy as a consequence of cervical cancer that has spread within the cervix.

There are two types of hysterectomy — the partial and the complete. In a partial hysterectomy, only the uterus is removed. In a complete hysterectomy, the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed (the medical term for removal of the ovaries is oophorectomy).

A complete hysterectomy will have a significant impact on a woman’s hormonal balance and health since the ovaries are such an important source of hormone production. Even a partial hysterectomy can have a significant effect, first because the uterus plays a role in hormonal balance, and second because in most cases the circulation to the ovaries is impaired enough by the surgery to seriously affect their function.

There are conditions for which hysterectomy is advisable or medically necessary. These include ovarian, uterine or cervical cancer, uncontrollable bleeding, severe endometriosis (adenomyosis) and complex hyperplasia, to name a few.

Women should know what the cervical cancer symptoms are so that proper medical help can be obtained when needed. To learn more about cervical cancer signs, causes and natural treatments, visit Cervical Cancer Signs and Treatments to read more.

Copyright 2005 Olinda Rola.

Olinda Rola is the webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com, a website of natural solutions for a variety of health problems. Visit her website and learn more about ways for improving your health. She is the editor of the free newsletter ‘Women’s Health Newsletter’. Go to http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/womenshealthnewsletter.html to subscribe.

Hypnotherapy is the process of using hypnosis to unlock the capacity of the unconscious mind to bring about therapeutic changes by modifying deeply-held assumptions, fears and misconceptions.

The issues that prompt people to turn to hypnotherapy for assistance include:

Phobias
Pain management
Panic attacks
Performance enhancement
Habits - e.g. smoking
Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
Stress management
Performance anxiety
Insomnia
Confidence, self-esteem and assertiveness

What Hypnosis Is

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, enhanced by deep mental and physical relaxation. Without knowing it everyone drifts into and out of mild hypnotic states daily. These periods of time are commonly referred to as “day-dreams” or “running on autopilot”.

Hypnosis has nothing to do with being asleep or unconscious in any way. You are able to hear and remember everything, and will know exactly what’s going on.

People often worry that, under hypnosis, they can be made to do things they would not ordinarily agree to. This is incorrect: you remain in control all the time and cannot be made to do things that you genuinely object to.

Participants in entertainment and stage hypnosis shows are fully aware that they will be asked to act in silly ways, and they implicitly agree to this at some level of their mind.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is simply the process of using hypnosis to ‘unlock’ or access the unconscious mind, and to bring about therapeutic changes by modifying deeply-held assumptions, fears and misconceptions within it.

There are two forms of hypnotherapy:

Suggestion Hypnotherapy or Clinical Hypnotherapy

The hypnotherapist guides the client into a relaxed state and enlists the power of the client’s own imagination using a wide range of techniques from story-telling, metaphor or symbolism to the use of direct suggestions for beneficial change.

Analytical Hypnotherapy or Hypnoanalysis

This therapy is rather more intense and requires several sessions. It involves an in-depth analysis of the individual’s inner fears, blocked and unresolved feelings and repressed memories and is carried out in a quiet and gentle way allowing the memories and emotion to flow and release anger, fear and hurt of the past.

If you would like to find out more about Counselling and Psychotherapy please take a look at our website: http://www.therapyinspired.co.uk

Therapy Inspired is based in Birmingham UK and Aisha or Karen can be contacted on 0121 707 8587 or mail@therapyinspired.co.uk

We are members of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and registered practioners with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR).

We strictly adhere to the BACP Code of Ethics, and have appropriate professional indemnity insurance.

We have qualifications in Integrative Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy. We also have counselling qualifications in Integrative, Gestalt and Person Centred theory.

Prostate cancer warning signs…

Every man should be concerned about their prostate’s health.

Indeed, for men not paying attention to it, it can be deadly as prostate cancer comes second only to lung cancer with respect to cancer-caused deaths for American men…and is near the top for Canadian men as well.

Prostate cancer is also the most common type of cancer for men in the United States. Tens of thousands of new cases are diagnosed yearly.

Although there is most likely a hereditary component to your chances of getting prostate cancer, like many things in life, a lot of it comes down to choices you make, such as taking quality prostate health promoting supplements and eating food for good prostate health.

Prostate cancer warning signs

Although the aforementioned prostate statistics don’t seem to be good, the truth of the matter is that if prostate cancer is detected early, treatments are often very successful and chances of surviving are very high.

Therefore, one of the best things you can do other than take the necessary supplement and dietary steps to promote good prostate health is to have what is called a PSA test (prostate specific antigen tests) done every year. It doesn’t take long and it’s not painful so don’t put it off.

The drawback of the PSA test is that it isn’t perfect in what it reveals.

Now, what about prostate cancer warning signs?

Well, unfortunately, prostate cancer does not really give off any warning signs.

In addition, another confusing aspect is that most of the possible warning signs, if they appear, are also the same signs for other prostate health problems that are non-cancerous in nature, such as BPH, which is called an enlarged prostate gland.

However, these signs are still worth mentioning.

The following are some potential prostate cancer warning signs or signs of BPH:

• incomplete emptying of the bladder
• dribbling
• difficulty starting urination
• reduced force of the stream
• frequent urination of small amounts
• pain with urination
• ejaculation pain
• blood in the urine

Dietary and Supplement Protocols

Although saw palmetto is touted as the best herb to take for prostate health, it actually isn’t. Something called Beta sitosterol is much better. Here’s why:

Even the best Saw Palmetto supplements are comprised of 99% fatty acids and 1% sterols. The sterol component is where the therapeutic benefit lies (hence the name Beta Sitosterol).

In short, by taking Beta Sitosterol, you will be getting only the active component of Saw Palmetto that is responsible for its medicinal properties. Beta sitosterol is literally thousands of times more powerful than saw palmetto.

Other beneficial nutrients and supplements include: lycopene, pygeum, stinging nettle, and cornsilk.

With respect to food for good prostate health, recent research by the authoritative US National Cancer Institute revealed that men who consumed more than 1/3rd of an ounce of onions, scallions, garlic, chives per day were much less likely to have prostate cancer.

In conclusion, don’t wait for prostate cancer warning signs or signs of other prostate problems to show up before you do anything about it.

On the other hand, if you are already experiencing possible signs of prostate problems, don’t panic.

This is a very treatable condition if caught in its early stages. Just make sure you take appropriate action and talk to your doctor about it right away so you don’t become a statistic.

Get more info on prostate cancer warning signs and supplements to consider using to promote prostate health at: http://www.nutritional-supplement-info.com/prostate-herbs.html

What do I mean by LEARN, shouldn’t I be telling you to go buy some nicotine gum or some quit smoking NRT products. Hey! It’s not that hard for anyone to stop smoking and NO you don’t really need a pill, potion, patch or gum. As a matter of fact I believe you only need one thing to help you quit smoking and that’s Knowledge, because knowledge is power.

Some historians claim that tobacco has been apart of our history since around 6000BC, however a little closer to our end of the time line in the pre- Columbian Americas the native Americans cultivated tobacco for ceremonial pipe smoking. Explorers like Christopher Columbus, Sir Walter Raleigh and France’s Jean Nicot after whom nicotine was named began to popularize the use of tobacco as the new fashion throughout Europe. The process of smoking was learnt back in the early 16th century and it’s still learnt the same way today. In the US every day 3000 new non-smoker kids become smokers! Each and every person has had to learn how to smoke.

You LEARNT how to become a smoker in the first place. You practised the draw-back and various smoking techniques over and over, including all those body image traits until you finally achieved that great `smoker status’ . You convinced yourself how good and cool it was - right! You just taught yourself how to be a smoker even when the first few cigarettes nearly made you vomit.

You may be asking yourself right now, how can I learn how to stop smoking. The answer is easy, if you want to become a non-smoker, then you need to learn how to THINK as non-smoker. The reality is that gums, patches or NRT’s won’t change your smoker mindsets, knowledge and understanding is the key!

Listen …’If you think the way you always thought, you’ll have what you always had.’

Answer this… Who talks to you the most? Your partner? your boss? your neighbour? your friends? your dog or cat?
No Way……YOU TALK TO YOU THE MOST!!!

Nicotine Addiction is approximately 20% physiological and 80% psychological. Think about it, the chemical affect of the drug doesn’t have to work very hard to keep you addicted because you will reinforce your perceived satisfaction with just about every cigarette through your thoughts and words.

I can show you a quit smoking process that will change your life forever. Your only problem will be deciding what to do with all that extra cash. Imagine the freedom of waking up every morning and thinking “I’m a non-smoker” now that’s cool!

The bottom line is this - the nicotine addiction IS NOT your friend or buddy, it’s a lying parasite that basically wants to kill you. Have you ever wanted to quit smoking?

To learn more please visit http://www.quitsmoking-4-life.com

Colin R. Williams is a Quit Smoking Personal Coach, Seminar Presenter and the author of Quit Smoking…NOW - It’s Easier Than You Think! Colin is passionate about helping people to stop smoking and break the chains of nicotine addiction - forever. He teaches a powerful principle that can’t fail. The Step-by-Step Quit Smoking Program outlined has no pills, potions, patches, gums, hypnosis, Zyban or NRT’s. It’s easy, proven, and it works!

Hoodia is fast becoming one of the best sellers in nutritional stores but you have to ask yourself; what do you really know about this new African weight loss product? If you ask some dieters they liken their experience of taking Hoodia to finding water in the middle of the desert. They will tell you that it actually does reduce their hunger, which is for these people trying so very hard to lose weight a real weapon in their arsenal against obesity.

The question remains still, is this product safe? Just because there are many people taking Hoodia and saying that it’s great and works for them, does this mean you should jump right in with this craze. The answer is: BE CAUTIOUS WHEN IT COMES TO HOODIA, NOT ALL HOODIA IS THE SAME! We have seen countless other diet pills that have come and gone in the arena of weight loss; leaving their scars on people with their side effects and dashed hopes of weight loss. Hoodia is not the same as these other weight loss products, with Hoodia there are different reasons for being concerned. So far safety is not the top concern when it comes to the Hoodia, many people are now taking Hoodia and at this point there are no reports of any serious health problems related to consuming Hoodia properly.

Additional assurances of Hoodia’s safeness can be further validated in the origin of where this cactus type plant comes from. The actual plant that is now found capsulated in pill form is called “Hoodia Gordonii” and grows in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. Hoodia has been a source of nourishment for the native Bushmen that live in the desert where the Hoodia succulent grows naturally. These Bushmen called “The San” have eaten Hoodia for thousands of years with no ill health effect; they actually claim it gives them energy in addition to helping them have no hunger. Reducing hunger is an important part of these aborigines’ lives because of the fact that food is hard to come by in the desert; these people sometimes have to go days without eating. Because The San People have been eating Hoodia for so long it would suggest that Hoodia is safe to consume.

Unlike other diet pills that have been on the market lately where safety has been the top concern, Hoodia has other issues for the consumer to deal with. The most prevalent problem when it comes to Hoodia is if what you have bought is actual real genuine Hoodia Gordonii from South Africa. Most people trust that what they get on store shelves is what it says it is; this is not the case with Hoodia and it’s not necessarily the company’s fault that is selling it. The problem is there is no regulation with Hoodia and there are only a few companies that have adopted self regulation in the form of certification and independent testing. World demand has put a high price on Hoodia and big profits without regulation are an equation for corruption.

One study done by Truth Publishing and Alkemist Pharmaceuticals located at: naturalhealthreport.com/A-Hoodia-Gordonii-exposed.html, found that eleven out of seventeen brand-name Hoodia supplements tested failed a laboratory analysis of authenticity. Shocking isn’t it, and some of these Hoodia brands are selling in your neighborhood nutritional store. Many times the brand name may not even be aware of the problem because the breakdown in authenticity comes at the source of distribution. There are other cactus type plants in South Africa that look like Hoodia only don’t produce the same appetite suppressing qualities. Some sources collect these plants and mix them in with the real Hoodia and then export them to unknowing companies that then sell it as genuine Hoodia. Safety wise, it might not hurt you to eat these plants but you won’t have the hunger curbing effects of the real Hoodia that you want.

In the future, hopefully more regulation will be put in place and fake Hoodia won’t get into the consumers hands. Until that time you need to be vigilant to be sure what you are getting is the real thing. There are a few Hoodia brands that have contracted with registered Hoodia farms and are giving dieters authenticity assurances with independent testing and certification. The independent testing by Truth Publishing stated that their were six Hoodia brands they tested that passed for authenticity, these brands are: Desert Burn ZA, Hoodoba Hoodia, Dr. Wheeler’s Afrigetics, King Hoodia, Hoodia Max and Ethno Africa. Genuine Hoodia is giving many people the results they want and helping them lose weight; just make sure you have the real stuff before you join the Hoodia Weight Loss Club.

Andrew Aitaken is a contributing writer for the Totalink What’s Best Directory. For more information for Hoodia Cactuses visit Totalink’s Pure Hoodia Cactus Site.