SK's Integrated Medical Wellness Center

21/06/2015

EUCALYPTUS

Eucalyptus globuleus
Wonder fully aromatic, eucalyptus oil is a main component in cold remedies, antiinflammatory creams, mouthwashes and soaps, and its abundance of active ingredients is the focus of much modern research.

There are more than 800 species of eucalyptus trees, most of which are endemic to Australia. Their wood is hard and resilient and, when pulped, is used to produce high-quality papers; the trees are also used to make a range of dyes, and the nectars yield fine honey. So useful are eucalyptus trees, indeed, that they have been cultivated in many other parts of the world.

Australia’s Aboriginal people have been making the most of the many medicinal applications of eucalypts for thousands of years, especially of help wounds heal and to treat fungal infections. British naturalist Joseph Banks was the first visitor to collect eucalyptus specimens, in the 1770s, and in 1789 a sample of eucalyptus oil was sent to London, after settlers noticed its similarities to peppermint and suggested it might have medicinal qualities. Industrial distillation began in the 1850s, and the use of eucalyptus oil grew quickly – it was even adopted as a disinfectant for catheters in late-nineteenth century European hospitals.

Oil supplies Today, eucalyptus oil is normally obtained by steam distillation of the leaves and branch tops of the blue gum The oil is a complex mixture of (antibacterial) tanning, ( antioxidant) flavonoids and ( antibacterial and anticancer) terpenoids.

In addition, it contains alpha-pinene, which has proven antibacterial effects. By far the most important and dominant compound, however, is a volatile terpenoid called cineole (or euca-lyptol). Which supplies the characteristic odour.

With so many active ingredients, it is no surprise there has been much interest in the oil’s medicinal properties. A study at the Aligarh Muslim University, India, in 2001, showed that eucalyptus oil has wide-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal properties, including the ability to inhibit the fungus Candida albicans, which causes thrush ( candidiasis).

In a 2006 study at Tehran University of medical Sciences in Iran, eucalyptus oil inhibited growth in cultures of bacteria taken from 200 patients with respiratory infections, and a 2010 study at the Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, showed that eucalyptus oil can suppress infections of MRSA(methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) The main attraction Cineole, the most important active component in eucalyptus oil, has been the subject of a good deal of Research, too. In 2003, researchers at the Bonn University Hospital, Germany, found that cineole reduced the inflammatory response and production of mucus in patients with severe asthma, and they were able to reduce the patients with severe asthma, and they were able to reduce the patients’ reliance on standard steroid-based treatment as a result. Several studies have also highlighted cineole’s ability to reduce pressure on the sinuses, its antitussive (cough-suppressing) properties and its analgesic (pain relieving) properties.

And because cineole is volatile, inhaling eucalyptus oil vapour is an effective way of delivering it to the membranes of the respiratory system.

Cineole has even been shown to halt the proliferation of abnormal cells in leukaemia. In 2002, researchers at Mie University, Japan, discovered that cineole causes the cells to self-destruct, by attacking their DNA.

21/06/2015

AIR YOUR HOME

Low level pollutants can be harmful when trapped in our insulated, centrally heated, double-glazed homes. There’s much you can do to combat this. For a start, fling open the windows to let in fresh air and let out old, stale air. Do it even in winter: just 10 minutes makes a difference. If you have pets, keep them out of the bedroom, and dust and vacuum regularly to reduce animal dander in the atmosphere.

Here are some other good ways to improve your air quality:

BE APPLIANCE-SAFE
Make sure your cooking and heating appliances are professionally installed, regularly serviced and have a vent to the outside. Gas or propance can produce harmful amounts of nitrogen dioxide an carbon monoxide.

READ LABELS
Opt for non-toxic household products: the chemicals in some aerosols, cleaning products, pesticides, paints and solvents can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause dizziness, nausea or allergic reactions. Be sure to dispose of old, toxic products safely,

TACKLE MOULD AND MILDEW
Eliminate damp. Don’t leave bathroom surfaces wet as it encourages mould to grow. Use exhaust fans vented to the out side to prevent condensation.

BE GREEN-FINGERED
Houseplants can purify your air, by helping to remove airborne contaminants, as well as absorbing carbon dioxide, emitting oxygen and controlling humidity. Try the peace lily, spider plant, English ivy or heartleaf philodendron.

MINIMISE MITES
Wash bedding often. This cuts down on fast-breeding housedust mites (they love warm, humid areas). Try special mattresses and pillowcases, which stop mites getting through. A 2011 survey by Allergy UK found that dust mites account for 58 per cent of all household allergies.

GET ASBESTOS ADVICE
Lagging on any pipes, tanks or boilers may contain asbestos if it is more than 25 years old. Asbestos is also sometimes found in roofing, flooring and insulation boarding.

Contact your local authority for advice on getting rid of it – do not try to do it yourself. If it isn’t damaged, it’s often best to leave it as it is Take care not to drill into it, sand it or cut it.

GUARD AGAINST CARBON
MONOXIDE Install an audible carbon monoxide alarm (to meet European standard EN 50291) to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, commonly caused by faulty heating appliances. A 2011 study conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, found that over the course of one year, 230, 000 hospital admissions in the USA were attributable to non-fire-related carbon monoxide poisoning.

It’s a myth
That long-term LUNG PROBLEMS rule out EXERCISE
People with lung problems often worry that exercise will harm them by making them more breathless. In fact, gentle exercise helps both your health and your mood. Consult your doctor first for a personal action plan and gradually build up the amount of exercise you take each day. Over time, this can improve your breathing boost your immune system and help your self-confidence. It also helps break the vicious cycle whereby you feel breathless so you do less, which in turn means your breathing muscles become weaker which makes you more breathless, and so on.

21/06/2015

STUB IT OUT

It’s never too late to stop smoking. If you quit at 60, you can add three years to your life. And your life is more likely to be lived in a state of good health. Stop smoking, and you’ll reduce your chance of furred-up arteries and blood-vessel blockages, making heart disease, stroke and dementia all less likely. You’ll suffer less from coughing and phlegm, which may clear up altogether. Your skin will benefit too: it will look less sallow and be less inclined to wrinkle.

How to do it
Yes, there’s a huge hurdle to surmount, but plenty of help is at hand: ask your doctor about local stop-smoking services (see Resources for useful organizations that can help). And take heart from the fact that older smokers are more likely to quit for good than younger people. Not everyone will go about quitting the same way our temperaments are all different – but here are some tips known to have worked:
NAME THE DAY Set a firm date for stopping, and stick with it.
ENLIST SUPPORT Tell everyone what you are doing, so you have people to keep you going when you feel like caving in.
CHANGE YOUR ROUTINE Keep away from places and situations where you are likely to be tempted. Get rid of anything that reminds you of to***co, and clean any clothes that smell of smoke.
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER This important not only for good hydration, but to counteract a dry mouth.
TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY chose one that involves using your hands, to give them something to do other than hold a cigarette.
TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME Give yourself a ‘treat’ for each to***co-free day that you manage.

To help minimise withdrawal symptoms, ni****ne replacement therapy – in the form of patches, gum, lozenges, microtabs, nasal sprays or inhalers – provides a daily dose of ni****ne that is tailored to the amount of to***co you’ve been smoking. The drugs bupropion and varenicline dampen down cravings.

Herbal preparations, dummy ci******es, mouthwashes, as well as hypnotherapy and acupuncture, are alternative approaches.

21/06/2015

7 Unani ways to AGE-PROOF YOUR LUNGS

PULMONARY FITNESS
There are lots of ways to keep your lungs in peak condition as you get older. Here are some simple things you can do:

WATER, WATER
Drinking water is important for lung health. Lungs lose water during exhalation. Keeping yourself well hydrated helps keep any mucus and secretions thin, making them easier to cough up.

KEEP ON KISSING
As well as its other benefits lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, regulating heartbeat kissing makes you breathe more deeply. After kissing, your lungs work harder.

GET A FLU JAB
If you’re over 65 or have diabetes, asthma, or heart or lung disease-be sure to have your annual flu jab, which is free for these groups in the UK.

STOP SITTING
Cut your TV time, and break up the amount of time you spend sitting down. Instead of sitting for hours on end, take short walks around the garden or neighbourhood.

HUM ALONG
Humming can help increase your oxygen intake. Sit on a chair, hands at your side. Take a deep breath. Then, as you expel the air, start humming a single note. As you tire, pull your stomach muscles in, hold for as long as possible and continue humming.

EAT WELL
Avoid heavy meals – feeling full can make it harder to breathe – and eat a few small meals a day rather than one or two large ones; eating in a slow, relaxed manner will also help. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet to help keep infections at bay.

BREATHE CLEAN AIR
Giving up smoking is obviously a key way to help your lungs, and you should also avoid smoky atmospheres. Smoke that you breathe in from someone else’s cigarette contains carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other dangerous substances. So make your home a completely smoke-free zone.

21/06/2015

ENERGISE YOUR BREATHING

If you find that you get breathless easily, lifestyle factors are more likely to be responsible than ageing. We tend to be more sedentary as we get older and our breathing becomes lazy. We often put on weight, too. This is a common cause of breathlessness because carrying too much fat puts extra strain on the lungs, making it more difficult for them to work properly, These are things you can do something about, Below are four of the most effective ways to improve your breathing:

WORK THE LUNGS Exercise helps maintain the elasticity of your lung walls, while increasing lung power, so oxygen enters your lungs more rapidly and carbon dioxide leaves more quickly. Endurance exercises activities that increase you heart and breathing rate for a continuous period can produce significant rises in lung capacity in older people who have previously been sedentary. You don’t need to push yourself hard in fact, it may be wise to avoid high impact exercises such as jogging, which put strain on the muscles and joints, and opt for low impact activities instead. Try walking, cycling, swimming and dancing and dancing (anything form ballroom to zumba). Choose something you enjoy, and aim for 150 minutes a week.

FOCUS ON THE BREATH Yoga breath work lengthens each inhalation and exhalation, strengthens the lungs and is deeply calming. Do this quick exercise at least once a day it doesn’t matter when or where to help train yourself to breathe well.

Sit or lie comfortably; place one hand on your chest, the other on your stomach. u Breathe in through your nose, counting slowly to three. Feel your abdomen expand. Focus on breathing with your diaphragm.

Breathe out through pursed lips to a count of six, feeling your abdomen relax, and then repeat.

STAND TALL Poor posture can cramp your lung capacity, so keep checking you are sitting up straight and walking tall. Anxiety, which makes the shoulders rigid and the whole body tense, can result in shallow, restricted breathing. Practising simple yoga can improve your posture, increase your flexibility and strength and allow your lungs to work freely again. A 2011 study at King’s College London found that women in their 60s with breathing and mobility problems who did yoga classes and dance therapy reported improvements in their physical problems and enhanced wellbeing.

BE A HEALTHY WEIGHT If you’re carrying too much body fat, some of that may be pressing on your lungs, which can canstrict your breathing. And if you suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea, a condition that causes interrupted breathing as you sleep, that could be l Stand with your legs hip-width apart, feet facing forwards, keep your shoulders relaxed and your arms by your sides.

weight related, too. Fat accumulates in the tissues in the neck and at the back of the throat, and when you lie down, these tissues can collapse, blocking the airways. It can be harder to lose weight as you get older or ask your family doctor to help assess your current diet and levels of physical activity, and set realistic goals.

WORK IT OUT INNER POWER
Bend at the knees slightly, just so that your legs are not rigidly straight.
Keep your spine straight and in a neutral position, maintaining its normal curves.
As you inhale, slowly lift your arms up in front of your chest with your hands facing downwards. Keep your fingers and hands relaxed as you lift.
When you reach the end of your inhalation, breathe out through your nose and lower your arms at the same time Do six to eight breaths. Pause, then repeat once more.

07/05/2015

Amazing Facts Please Read it..

30/04/2015

THE WISER MIND, THE BRAIN IN MATURITY

While it’s true that the brain, like all your body’s organs, changes as the years pass, it’s not just about loss. In fact, there are all kinds of major advantages to having an older brain. ‘Of all the things I’ve lost I miss my mind the most,’ said the writer Mark Twain. He was joking, of course, but as we get older it’s often mental decline that we really fear. There’s no doubt that for most people over 60, so called ‘senior moments’ – forgetting where you put your glasses, what your pin number is – become more frequent.

Why does this happen? A major reason is that between the ages of 20 and 90 your brain loses 5 to 10 per cent of its volume. And most of this shrinkage takes place in the hippocampus, a key area for memory. There’s also a diminishing of the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for helping you recall information, organize your thoughts and do more than one thing at a time. In practice, this means that you may find it takes you longer to learn and complete mental tasks than when you were younger, especially if you’re interrupted or are trying to multi-task.

But simply being aware of these changes means that you can work round them – for example, by giving yourself plenty of time to do things and, if you’re attempting something new, not to give up too easily. And, whatever Twain may have thought, the many pluses of the ageing brain can more than compensate for less positive changes.

THE GOOD NEWS Scientists know that your brain, like your body, has plenty of spare capacity. This means that unless you’ve suffered damage or illness you can always learn new things. There’s also increasing evidence to suggest that, contrary to what we used to believe, the process of forming new brain cells - what scientists call neurogenesis – carries on throughout your life. The forging of new connections between neurons (called synapses) is also, it seems, an unending phenomenon. This is exciting because it means that – unless you’re unfortunate enough to develop a brain disorder such as dementia – you’re capable of learning and committing new information to memory for the duration of your life, regardless of your age. What’s more, your brain has an amazing capacity – known as plasticity – to reorganize itself, so that even if you suffer damage from, for example, a stroke, it can sometimes reassign jobs to different areas so that recovery of function may eventually be possible.

And your brain’s remarkable adaptability means that you can preserve and even improve your brain power through measures such as staying active, reducing stress, eating a healthy diet and acquiring new skills – for example, learning to play chess or bridge, taking up a new language or a dance such as the tango that involves lots of trial and error. All in the Mind, gives you the latest thinking on the older brain, and all the ways that you can protect and enhance it in later life.

TAKLING SENSES
You are likely to have noticed changes in your sight over the years: most of us for instance need reading glasses by the age of 60. Your other senses also diminish in later life, but often the changes can be so gradual that people learn to live with them. And that’s a shame because there are plenty of ways that you can prevent problems from occurring or compensate for any age-related changes – both by keeping up with essential health checks and by making simple lifestyle changes.

As you get older, your sensory organs undergo physical changes and you also experience a general increase in your ‘sensory threshold’ – that is, you tend to need more sensory stimulation before your body perceives a sensation. Here’s sense-by-sense guide to what to expect in the later years:

TOUCH You may become less sensitive to – or have a changed perception of – pain, temperature, vibration and pressure. Your skin gets thinner as your age, and this can make you more or less sensitive to touch. Whether these changes are simply down to age or to conditions that become more common with age is still under debate. Poor blood circulation may play a part, as may a deficiency of vitamin B.
EYESIGHT Age-related changes to eyesight (presbyopia) are due to stiffening, thickening and yellowing of the eye lenses. There’s also a loss of nerve cells and changes in the way your pupil reacts to light. Most people find it harder to focus on fine print on menus and book, and to see in murky light. Colours appear less bright, and you may be more sensitive to glare, especially when driving at night.
HEARING Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is estimated to affect more than a third of adults aged 65 to 75, and up to half of those over 75. It may become harder to understand what people are saying, especially in noisy places. High-pitched sounds are more difficult to decipher and may sometimes be impossible to hear.
TASTE As you get older, your sense of taste gets weaker. This may be partly due to a decline in the number and mass of taste buds, but the biggest cause in a reduced sense of smell.
SMELL Many people find that their sense of smell is less acute after the age of 70. Experts are still debating whether this is due to age, to disease or to controllable lifestyle factors such as smoking.
It may seem that these are things you can’t alter, but you can help balance any natural decline by using your senses more consciously. Paying attention to the smells, sounds, touch sensations and sights you encounter makes you appreciate life’s more subtle pleasures. And honing your awareness can, in turn, enhance and refine your senses.

18/04/2015

A DIET TO PREVENT AND CURE LIVER DISORDERS

A suitable diet for liver disorders should be based on the following:

Fruit and fruit juice, as these contain many vitamins, minerals and enzymes, their sugar content can be easily assimilated and because of they refresh, act as diuretics and stimulate the appetite. Fruit contains plenty of cellulose and very little salt.
There was a time when cures based on fruit, especially fresh fruit, where not recommended for patients with liver complaints. However, when the dietary value of fresh fruit (especially bananas, strawberries, cherries and grapes), was discovered it then became a permanent fixture in the diet for people suffering from chronic liver complaints.

Nowadays, the use of fruit through fruit-based cures is a wide-spread practice, and grape and grape-juice cures are the most recognized and most commonly applied cures in spas and other health centers.
Vegetables should also be included, especially root vegetables (specifically carrots and beetroot), as well as squash and tomatoes, and, in certain cases, radishes. Artichokes should also be eaten raw, boiled with potatoes or baked in the oven. Begin first with juice, and then introduce the vegetables, which initially should be lightly fried and then chopped up. Salads will be left for later on, when the digestive capacity has improved.
Apart from causing flatulence, pulses (beans, lentils, peas, chickpeas, etc.) contain substances are cannot be tolerated by a diseased liver, and for this reason they are to be totally excluded from the diet. Potatoes, especially creamed potatoes, are an essential part of the diet, and are tolerated very well on their own or when accompanied by milk and fruit.
Dairy products (milk, yogurt, curd cheese and green cheese) are very useful as they have a high protein and vitamin content, and have a low but necessary amount of fat.
Soymilk and tofu are good alternatives to dairy products.
Soy lecithin has an effect on the nerves and the liver. The choline released by lecithin is an important hepatic active ingredient, which impedes fatty degeneration of the liver and helps prevent disorders that affect its detoxification functions.
Nowadays, we are well aware of the dietary value of skimmed milk for all types of jaundice and liver complaints, in addition, curd cheese is rich in proteins and is tolerated well.
Cereals can also be beneficial as they have a high carbohydrate content and both cereal germ and the bran contain vitamin B complex. What’s more, they are especially beneficial for the liver as they contain numerous active ingredients and trace elements. Vitamin B group factors intervene in a specific way on the metabolism of both carbohydrates and proteins, and strengthen the enzymatic functions of the liver as well as those related to detoxification.
In the first few days of acute hepatitis it is a good idea to follow a diet that includes only rice, or rice with bananas and carrots. During later recovery, porridge made with rolled oats, wheat or other cereals and milk is recommended.
Honey is an essential component of the diet, as it contains a high level of sugars, especially fructose a sugar has proven to cure more effectively than glucose. Quite often a damaged liver can no longer synthesize glycogen from glucose, in which case the body can get the glycogen it needs from fructose, as a chain of completely different chemical reactions are needed in both cases. In liver metabolism, 40% fructose is transformed into glycogen.
Boiled eggs or an omelet can be eaten occasionally. Remove all excess oil from them using clean kitchen paper, so that they can be tolerated more easily. It is a good idea to accompany them with fruit, such as apple or blueberry compote.
Fats. If a patient has lost a good deal of weight and has to recover some, complement the diet with a maximum of 30 g of cream, vegetable margarine, or vegetable oils extracted using cold processes (olive, sunflower soy, etc). All products contained animal fats, such as bacon and cold meat, are totally forbidden.
Drinks: Apart from milk and fruit juice, you may drink herbal tea made with:
Brier hip (‘Rosa canina’ L.)
German chamomile (‘Matriarca chamomilla’ L.)
Peppermint (‘Mentha piperita’ L.)
Celandine (‘Chelidonium majus’ L.)
All stimulants are to be strictly avoided, especially alcohol and to***co.
Drinks containing stimulants (coffee, mate) are contraindicated for all hepatic disease.

15/04/2015

DID YOU KNOW

A Cambridge University study found that people who eat one square of dark chocolate a day are likely to suffer heart disease & stroke. It may be the antioxidant flavonoids in cocoa beans that make chocolate's heart friendly. Or people may simply find eating it relaxing, and anything that relaxes the heart is good for it. In Other words, a (very) little of what you fancy does you good.

14/04/2015

14/04/2015

PREVENTING HEART DISEASE: KNOW RISK TO NO RISK

The World Health Organization, World Heart Federation and the World Bank are all unanimous in their verdict – India is suffering huge economic burdens due to heart and blood vessel diseases (principally heart attacks and strokes). Over 3 million Indians presently lose their lives annually due to these diseases and the toll is expected to rise to over 5 million deaths in 2020.

Nearly half of these deaths occur under the age of 70 years. India lost 9.2 million potentially productive years of life due to heart disease related deaths occurring prematurely in the age group of 35-64 years in 2000. This loss will reach 17.9 million years by 2030. In comparison with USA, India’s loss was 570% more in 2000 and will be 940% more in 2030. A country which wishes to position itself as a major economic power in the 21st century cannot afford such hemorrhaging of precious human resources in the productive prime of life.

While socio-economic transitions (living habits altered by urbanization and globalization) and demographic transitions (increasing life expectancy, with more deaths occurring at older ages) contribute to the rise in the risk of heart diseases, much of the risk is avoidable. Many of the deaths due to heart attacks and strokes can be prevented or at least postponed to a much older age, with very few succumbing before 80 years.

Our ability to prevent the onset of these diseases and slow down their progression depends on the knowledge of the factors which increase or decrease the risk of developing disease. Extensive scientific evidence, from several countries, clearly demonstrates that behavioural risk factors like an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, to***co consumption and stress lead to elevation of biological risk factors like blood pressure cholesterol (and other harmful fats) and sugar. Increased body weight and an expanding waist circumference mediate between these behavioural and biological risk factors.

All of these risk factors operate along a continuous risk gradient – it is better to have a blood pressure of 120/80 than 130/85 which is preferable to 140/90 or more. Since the mid-range values occur in maximum numbers of people in any population, more heart attacks arise from the many people who have modest elevations of risk factors than in the few who have very high levels (akin to C K Prahlad’s book Base of the Pyramid). When many risk factors co-exist, the risk is additive. Thus, many people with ‘mild’ elevations of several risk factors end up with a high risk of heart attacks. It is important for doctors to do a full risk profiling of all major risk factors to estimate the composite or ‘absolute’ risk of developing a heart attack or stroke in the near future. Based on that estimate of individual risk, decisions on lifestyle advice and drug therapy can be customized. Every contact between any healthcare provider and a person seeking healthcare must be utilized for risk assessment and ‘missed opportunities’ for early detection must be minimized in primary healthcare.

People too must recognize that many of these risk factors can be prevented or reduced by exercising intelligent choices. Keeping away from to***co greatly reduce the risk of a heart attack while smoking greatly magnifies the risk posed by high blood pressure or diabetes. Reducing salt consumption reduces the number of deaths due to strokes by 22% and those from heart attacks by 16%. Avoiding unhealthy fats, reducing refined sugars and increasing the intake of fruit and vegetables further reduce the risk substantially. Physical inactivity increases the risk by 1.5 times while even moderate activity, regularly performed, is very protective. With such healthy habits, risk factors such as body weight, belly fat, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood fats can be kept under check. The World Health Organization believes that 75% of the risk can be prevented by such measures.

It is also useful for adults, especially those with a family history of premature heart disease, to undertake regular check-ups for identification of risk factors and estimation of the ‘absolute’ risk. ‘Knowing the risk’ means that the person concerned as well as the physician can take effective measures to reduce it. Through a judicious combination of lifestyle measures (always needed) and drugs (whenever needed), much of the risk can be avoided or reversed. It is then very much possible to proceed to a ‘No Risk’ status. That is why the theme for the World Heart Day adopted in 2008 - “Know Your Risk” is very relevant.