Health Auxiliary

Herbal remedies are getting a lot of attention, especially nowadays that our prescribed pharmaceutical medicines carry along with them potential side effects and problems. A lot of “herbal” and “natural” health supplements and medicines are becoming more and more popular because of their known effects and advantages.

One of the advantage of using herbal remedies as supposed to your prescribed medicines is that they cost a whole less than pharmaceutical remedies. Since the herbs do not need to be manufactured or developed, they cost a lot cheaper, and are more convenient as well. You no longer need to get prescriptions from doctors in order to be able to use a particular drug or remedy, unlike the different herbal remedies which you can just purchase without any needed consultation from your doctors.

Another advantage of using herbal remedies is that the herbal medicines may sometimes prove to be more effective as compared to our traditional prescribed medicines. Our dissatisfaction for our current healthcare may be the reason as to why we seek some other alternative. One possible cause for the effectiveness of herbal remedies is its potency. Some herbal remedies may prove to be more potent than others, depending on a few varying factors that may affect the herbal remedy’s effectiveness, such as the growing conditions of the herbs like exposure to air, light and moisture, or even the way that it was harvested. The manner of preservation can also play a factor on the herbs’ potency.

Although using “natural” and “herbal” remedies may sound appealing to a lot of people, it is important to remember that not all “natural” and “herbal” remedies are safe. A lot of these “natural” herbal medicines are composed of elements that can cause potentially harmful side effects to people, especially those that suffer from very serious conditions.

Herbal remedies may have been used for centuries already, but it does not mean that they are safe, especially not if you just take them without consulting with your doctors or herbalists about it.

One disadvantage for using herbal remedies over prescription medicines are the side effects that they may cause on your body when you take them, especially if you use them for a long period of time. Some herbal remedies are known to cause high blood pressure in the vessels of the lungs, while others may even cause your immune system to weaken, making you more prone to sickness and diseases.

Another disadvantage for taking herbal remedies is that you are not entirely sure if you are only getting the ingredients that you want in every pack of herbal medicine that you buy. Although you get the ingredient that you need, there will be some other such as twigs, bark, and other plant materials that may find their way in there along with your herbal medicine. Sometimes, you don’t get the ingredients that you really need since the amount of the ingredient can influence its effectiveness on a person. Add the fact that sometimes your herbal medicine may contain some other ingredient at one point, and contain another ingredient at another.

Whatever your stand on herbal medicine may be, it is always important to consult with your doctor or herbalist before you decide to take anything. Also, make sure that the herbal remedy that you chose to use will not interact with your current prescribed pharmaceutical medicines that you are taking in order to avoid any complications.

Vanessa Arellano Doctor

http://primeherbal.com

A urinary tract infection ( UTI ) is a bacterial infection that affects any part of the urinary tract. The most common cause of UTI are bacteria from the bowel that live on the skin near the rectum or in the vagina which can spread and enter the urinary tract through the urethra. Urinary tract infections usually develop first in the lower urinary tract (urethra, bladder) and, if not treated, progress to the upper urinary tract (ureters, kidneys). The urinary tract is normally sterile. Uncomplicated UTI involves the urinary bladder in a host without underlying renal or neurologic disease.

Finding your urinary tract infection cure can be a long process because you might have to try many different treatments. Several simple UTI treatments are readily available in present days. Individuals may use antibiotics, which have to be taken internally, as it cures the infection of urinary tract quickly. However, if infection is of severe type, then it may take a bit time to cure.

Women are on higher risk of developing urinary tract infections owing to their anatomy. The urethra in women body is situated close to rectum and vagina. This facilitates easy access of bacteria from rectal region and vaginal regional to the urethra. Approximately 50% of the women population suffers from urinary tract infection at least once in their life period. Though urinary tract infections are not serious in nature they could produce discomfort and pain.

In most cases, urinary tract infections are the result of bacteria, such as E. Coli, that get into the bladder or other areas of your urinary tract. If a person’s immunity is lowered, the bacteria will exponentially multiply given the perfect conditions resulting in cystitis. As the bacteria multiply, the person will become more susceptible to a worsened urinary tract infection. As the person becomes more susceptible, the urinary tract becomes a literal Petri dish for E. Coli. Leaving the UTI sufferer at risk for kidney damage.

Generally, medications known for their properties of bacteria killing and inflammation relieving (mostly antibiotics) are prescribed for treating urinary tract infections. Personal hygiene and good health habits helps in prevention/early relief from urinary tract infections. Alternate therapies like herbal medications, homeopathy etc may produce phenomenal results. Use of liquid life supplements (dietary supplements) is natural approach towards prevention or treatment of urinary tract infections.

Urinary tract infections can be treated with antibacterial drugs. After the urine test doctors realize which the type of bacteria is and prescribes treatment. The sensitivity test is also important because it helps doctors to select the optimal treatment and dosage. For normal cases of UTI treatment is not needed for more than 2 days and it can contain trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, nitrofurantoin and ampicillin. Along with these old types of treatment new drugs like ofloxacin, norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and trovafloxin are used in treating urinary infections.

You do not have to treat your urinary tract infection with antibiotics! In fact, one of the best ways to treat a urinary tract infection is by allowing your body to cure the urinary tract infection itself. By given the correct means, the body can actually cure itself in less than 12 hours naturally (no harmful antibiotics). Treating U.T.I is as simple as preventing bacteria from residing in the bladder by simply keeping your acidic levels high while flushing your body with the correct fluids.

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee is one of the most common problems seen by both rheumatologists as well as orthopedists in the office. The standard forms of therapy include maintenance of proper weight, exercise, application of cold, bracing, analgesics (pain killers), anti-inflammatory medicines, steroid injections, and viscosupplementation. This latter type of treatment involves the injection of a lubricant directly into the knee.

These lubricants consist of a purified form of a protein called hyaluronic acid (HA). These preparations are effective in relieving pain. pain relief from OA of the knee starts between the 5th and 13th week follwoing injection. While HA is felt to be effective for pain relief, it has been unclear as to whether there are any other benefits.

Two recent studies have demonstrated that viscosupplementation may actually forestall the need for eventual knee replacement surgery and also may represent a long term cost savings.

The first study from Louisiana State University surveyed patients from a large orthopedic practice. A total of 863 patients (1187 knees) were evaluated. All patients had grade 4 changes, meaning they had “bone on bone” and were candidates for total knee replacement.

Using survival analysis of the data, it was estimated that total knee replacement was delayed approximately 3.8 years in 75 percent of the knees receiving viscosupplementation (Waddell DD, et al. J. Managed Care Pharm. 2007; 2:113-121.)

In another study, investigators in Thailand studied one hundred and eighty three patients with knee OA (208 knees) who failed conservative treatments and did not have contraindications for surgery were enrolled. All patients were treated with one course of three hyaluoronic acid injections at weekly intervals and followed up for a minimum 2-year period. In case of successful treatment (response group), repeated doses were recommended. If the patients did not improve within one month after completion of the injections, they would be classified as a non-response group and total knee replacement surgery was considered. Cost of direct medical costs (drugs), hospitalization, and resource utilization were recorded and analyzed.

They concluded that IA-HA (joint injection with HA) should be considered as a medical intervention before surgical procedures in knee OA patients who failed conservative treatments. Even though the cost of IA-HA treatment would increase the total costs of treatment and some patients might fail, it was only 6.44% of the total costs. On the other hand, if patients responded to IA-HA treatment, then the surgical procedures were not required. This treatment would represent a savings of 63.26% of total costs. (Turajane T, et al. J Med Assoc Thailand. 2007; 90;1839).

While, the exact analyses and conclusions of these two studies are different, they do suggest that HA may be cost effectve in delaying the need for total knee replacement.

There are five HA preparations available. They are Hyalgan, Synvisc, Supartz, Orthovisc, and Euflexxa. Only Euflexxa is not derived from a chicken source.

The number of injections required varies from 3-5 depending on the preparation used. Hyalgan and Supartz generally are given as weekly injections for 5 weeks while Synvisc, Orthovisc, and Euflexxa are given as weekly injections for 3 weeks.

Thes injections should be administered using either fluoroscopic or ultrasound needle guidance to ensure accuracy.

Side-effects are minimal when administered by trained specialists.

HA injections are worth a try even with grade 4 knees if patients wish to delay surgery.