People's Pharmacy: Vitamin E handle debated Chron.com - Houston Version

Soaking fungus-infected toes in a foot bath containing diluted vinegar and old-fashioned amber Listerine makes some sense. After all, fungus hates acid, and the herbal oils and alcohol in Listerine may and have anti-fungal activity.


Using soap to combat leg cramps, on the other hand, makes no sense at all. We don't know where the idea came from to put soap under the backside period to forestall leg cramps.


Regardless of its origins, distinct readers of The People's Pharmacy are excited about its benefits. One reader testified: I have had a bar of soap under my leaf championing almost six months and on no account once have I had any more cramping in my toes, feet and legs.


It may be an elderly wives' tale, but I can claim that it works great because I get a good night's sleep!" Another one cheered: I have tried many home remedies, and this is the first that is absolutely effective. I have always experienced moderate to severe pin and foot cramps, and also restless limb syndrome.


I read approximately the soap remedy and have used it for almost two years. I've had only a scarce cramps that lasted only a minute or two until I got the soap on my leg or foot. Even better - no RLS!


This is an incredible home remedy. No exaggeration, no kidding!" Not each is so eager about soap in bed. Single told his story: It's a placebo. It only travail if you believe it will.


My mother-in-law told my helpmeet to try it. I told my wife: It's honorable a placebo. Whether you want to try it, mark time until I'm not expecting it.'


She waited a few weeks, slipped the soap under the sheet, and I much suffered from leg cramps. If you don't believe in it, it won't work either." Another wife did a coinciding experiment but got different results: I put a bar of soap under my husband's flat sheet without his knowledge. It worked.


So this corroborate that it is not all psychosomatic. When he saw the soap, he couldn't believe it had helped. It probably wouldn't have worked if he had known in move that I'd put it there."


One reader doesn't care if the effect is psychosomatic: I suffered from calf muscle cramps (charley horses) at night for years. I interpret about the soap stratagem and thought, what the heck. I put several motel soap bars under the sheets. A couple of weeks later, I suddenly realized I had not had any charley horses representing quite a while.


When I changed the bed, I would assign the soap in a cup while I washed and dried the sheets. About two weeks ago, I started having those damned cramps again. I figured, 'Well, that soap effects is all just suds.' I had cramps for several nights, and then I commence the mug with the soap sitting out.


I had forgotten to settle it back in the bed. Wager it went pronto, and I have not had a cramp since. If it's psychosomatic, so be it, as long as I don't keep those charley horses any more." Anyone who would like to get more about remedies for leg cramps or restless gam syndrome may want our Guide to Leg Pain. Please send $2 in proof or money order with a long (No.


10), stamped (58 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons' People's Pharmacy, No. RLS-5, P.O. Casket 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It besides can be downloaded for $2 from our Web site: Q. I think you have alarmed people unnecessarily with your thoughtless remarks on vitamin E.


You said that applying vitamin E oil to scars did not lift them cure faster. You should print a correction, because pure vitamin E on incisions promotes healing.



From http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/main/5641506.html


The Journal Times Online » Life » A perfect soak: The most relaxing bath requires a little planning

If you hope for to make it the defectless bath, though, you’ll have to sacrifice a little uncomplicatedness championing more pleasure. Ambiance is the key between a good bath and a great bath," maintain Michelle Wilkos, director of Spa Bellagio at MGM Mirage’s Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.


Much thought goes into the lighting, music, scents and candles that are ancillary items to the spa’s 78-jet hydrotherapy bath, Wilkos says. The tub itself is important: All those jets stimulate muscles all over the body, and it doesn’t hurt that you can soak from toes to neck without contorting your body. Still, there’s hope for the humble home bathtub. Even Wilkos is known to take a bath at home. When I’m having a crazy day, the anterior thing I think about is going into the bathtub.


There’s something besides serene about a bath; it’s and very healing." The curative factor - especially of dry, rough or generally ignored skin - can be enhanced by a wide variety of bath-and-body products available.


In fact, a bath, largely a blistering bath, can further dry out skin unless you annex some category of moisturizer. Too-hot water clasp natural unguent elsewhere of the skin while opening up the pores, disengaging one line of defense to the elements.


The Bellagio Spa, for one, won’t make a bath hotter than 104 degrees and considers 25 minutes the optimum time. For at-home bathers, Wilkos recommends adding bath oil, bath tap or bath salts.


Nicky Kinnaird, creator of the Space NK apothecaries and Spa NK retreats, says she reaches for different bath concoctions depending on her mood: If she wants to recharge her muscles after strenuous exercise, she would get-up-and-go for salt or seaweed-based products.


If she’s looking for revitalization, she uses a bath oil with lemon and bergamot along with soothing rosewood and clary sage. Perfume is one of the key benefits of plant extracts, hold Ray Mauro, manager of Origins Global Effect Development. The brand’s Peace of Mind collection, its first in the "sensory therapy market," make use of basil, peppermint and eucalyptus for its Tension Releasing Vapor Bath.


We know that near topically applying plant-based oils to the skin, we can use the fragrance of these oils to moderate mood states, reinforce one’s own energy and still attract a partner with its aphrodisiac abilities," he says.


Botanical and herbal extracts also aren’t as irritating or drying as a soap-based product, says Jun Jacobs, founder of the June Jacobs Spa Collection. All of her products, distributed at five-star lodging such as The Little Nell in Aspen, Colo.,


Then it’s grapeseed oil and shea butter to hydrate; cucumber, calendula and chamomile extracts to soothe; lemon flake off extract to cleanse; and papaya, mango and pumpkin extracts to exfoliate and promote cell turnover. If that already sounds like a mixed salad for the tub, Traci Reazer, a holistic aesthetician for Whole Aliment Market, has further ideas:


While they’re particularly good for foot baths because they are gelid and refreshing, Reazer affirm cucumbers advice reduce bump and lemon is good representing people with oily skin. The citric acid in the lemons will help contention bacteria and balance oil production.


And yes, they will constitute your bath be filled with a wonderful aroma as hardy as being therapeutic," she explains. Jacobs pours citrus massage oil direct into the bath to soften epidermis - wearing her hair piled on top of her head - and a mud mask on her face.



From http://journaltimes.com/articles/2008/03/24/life/doc47e7ee6e~.txt


PunjabNewsline.com - Four-day Arogya Mela concludes in Punjab

With a sole objective of promoting Ayurvedic systems of medicines and generate awareness amongst the people of the state of Punjab about this dated system, a four-day long 'AROGYA MELA' organized in unison with the constitution department Punjab and FICCI, was concluded late Tuesday evening at Amritsar.


This basic at any time plentiful health fair in the sovereign state evoked extensive rejoinder not only from the people of Punjab on the contrary also from the neighboring states.


Various new researches and on-going projects of Ayurveda were discussed on one platform.


Speaking at the concluding time of the health fair, Prof.Lakshmi Kanta Chawla, Fitness and Family Good fortune Cleric Punjab said that concerted efforts were being made to create awareness in the midst the mankind about the efficacy of the AYUSH systems, its bill effectiveness and the availability of herbs used for preclusion of and treatment of common ailments at peoples' doorsteps through various channels including the production of audio-visual educational information to achieve the mark of "health for all".


The Minister besides said that more than 6 thousand patients have been examined by a team of qualified and competent doctors from both Delhi and Punjab during this four-day long health fair. Ayurvedic and Homeopathy medicines worth Rs.60, 000 have also been distributed amongst the patients, she said.


A disciple and symbolic of Swami Ramdev, Acharya Balkrishan explained at length the importance of yogic exercises to keep human body for free from any kinds of diseases.


Adding further, she said that the Punjab Health department has started in-house manufacturing ease of Ayurvedic drugs at Patiala Pharmacy to provide genuine and unadulterated drugs to the patients manufactured from medicinal plants and herbs under scientific supervision. Raw material worth Rs. 1 crore has already been purchased for manufacturing of drugs.


She also said that an single herbal garden was being set up in 7 acres of land in Zirakpur where all kinds of herbs and medicinal trees would be grown. First Ayurveda University was further coming up in Hoshiarpur, she said.


Besides the Vigilance wing of the Department has been strengthened to check the production and sale of bogus Ayurvedic drugs in the State.


Seeking the synergism of general public, the Vicar said that they should in confidence confer information about any units manufacturing spurious drugs in their vicinity.



From http://punjabnewsline.com/content/view/9336/38/