Holy Station

Archive for the ‘Health Care’ Category

Imagine, for a moment the best ovarian cyst home treatment? A treatment that you can use at home, that will get rid of the pain you’re facing on a day to day basis, and prevent it from coming back in the future. Imagine no more, because more and more women are turning there backs on traditional treatments and embracing the natural ovarian cyst remedies that can be done in their own home and will remove their pain.

It might be that your tolerance to pain is higher than others, but there aren’t many women that can put up with the pain of a ruptured ovarian cyst and say it doesn’t bother them. If you are living with cysts, it can be both painful and expensive. But there comes a time when something has to be done. Regrettably, traditional medicine does tend to lean towards drugs or surgery, both these options can be expensive and there are no guarantees.

The good news is ovarian cysts can be treated with just a little change in your diet, this is very easy to do and you can apply it in your life today. But that said, because every woman’s body is different it’s hard to say what can work for one and not the other.

But it has to be said, there are a few things that you can try immediately as a home treatment. First is relieving pressure on the lower abdomen, which is a good way of easing the severe pain of cysts. This might mean wearing a looser pair of pants, drinking plenty more water is another. As you know stress is one of the worst things for the body, in combination with ovarian cysts, can be a nightmare.

Herbal remedies are a great stress reliever, so sit down with a hot cup of herbal tea and apply a heating pad on your pelvic region. This is certain to bring comfort and ease away the stress. This is one of the simplest of ovarian cyst home treatments you can try.

Traditionally, there are well known methods of hemorrhoid treatment performed by medical professionals. Alternatively (or naturally) there are natural methods to treat hemorrhoids that are not fully known to medical practitioners. In the following few lines I will compare between traditional methods, and one popular natural method known as “Hemorrhoid Miracle” so that you can take a decision on how to treat your hemorrhoids most effectively, most rapidly, and most permanently.

As I am a medical practitioner, I know well traditional methods of hemorrhoid treatment which are also known to all other medical practitioners, nothing new and no secrets. However, the problem of hemorrhoids is prevalent in most communities indicating that traditional methods of treating or preventing hemorrhoids are still not efficient.

Traditional methods of hemorrhoid treatment include:
(1) Dietary modifications; as increasing the volume of fibers in diets, and drinking plenty of water. The aim of these modifications is to prevent constipation which has a worsening effect of hemorrhoid symptoms.
(2) Behavioral modifications such as avoiding sitting or standing in one place for a long time, ice followed by hot fomentations, bed rest for severe pain, multiple daily sitz baths, and using cotton undergarments.
(3) Local medial treatment; as local zinc, local hydrocortisone creams, suppositories as H preparation, and local analgesics and anesthetics.
(4) Surgical treatments as rubber band ligation, and surgical or laser removal of hemorrhoids.

Dietary and behavioral modifications appear more natural and safe but includes many hidden secrets that are still unknown by many doctors, may be because traditional medicine rapidly shift to drugs and surgery.

Local medical treatment is practically ineffective and if there is some effect, it is usually slight and transient so that symptoms rapidly recur once the treatment is stopped. The other disadvantage of medical treatment is the side effects associated with prolonged use as it is well known that if these medications are used for more than 7-10 days, they carry the risk of damage to the area and hypersensitivity.

Surgical treatment has 4 major disadvantages; first it is the most expensive, second it requires hospital stay for a few hours to few days, depending on the method used, third disadvantage is the pain which occurs post-operatively which is sometimes so severe that it requires morphia, the fourth disadvantage of surgical treatment of hemorrhoids is recurrence, yes the hemorrhoids may recur after a variable duration of time.

The “Hemorrhoid Miracle” method involves several unknown natural secrets such as Chinese “Fargei” remedy, the exact 4-element diet, time-tested 60 second exercise to forever end constipation and many more natural secrets. In contrast to traditional methods, natural methods of hemorrhoid treatment have several advantages with little or no disadvantages. Advantages include the following:

- High success rate: although there are no controlled studies defining the success rate of this method, it is obvious that it is the best of all the traditional methods combined.
- Completely natural: as there are no drugs, or chemicals used, no side effects, contraindications, or drug interaction. So patients suffering of other health disease or taking other medications still can use the method safely.
- Rapid results: in most cases it results in cure of hemorrhoids in 48 hours.
- No risk of recurrence: because of its natural nature, the results are long lasting.
- Other health benefits: this method improves bowel habits in general resulting in more healthy and regular bowl habits and less constipation.

Conventional treatment methods for back pain patients are a large healthcare expense. Some conventional approaches focus only on the symptoms rather than the primary source of the pain. Once the source of the back pain is corrected, a patient may experience long-term relief. The following types of treatment methods are the most commonly used.

Occasionally, bed rest is prescribed for back pain patients. The downfall of this treatment method is that patients may be more likely to develop depression and experience other negative effects.

Another common treatment method for back pain is physical therapy. Certain exercises can improve the general function and strength of the spine, but may not address the primary cause of a patient’s back pain.

Oral and injectable pain medications will normally function by temporarily decreasing inflammation, muscle spasm and pain. This treatment method will only alleviate symptoms, but seldom does it deal with the primary cause of pain.

One treatment method introduced over 2,500 years ago is called acupuncture. It is a form of treatment where by needles are inserted into various parts of the body, such as in ankles, knees, or fingers for the treatment of back pain.

A treatment method that attempts to correct the primary source of back pain is surgery. Some patients report significant relief of pain after surgery, but the risks involved make this option a last resort for many.

A commonly used technique is called traction. Manual traction can be performed by a therapist, utilizing their weight to change both the force and direction of pull. Auto traction is when the patient controls the traction forces by grabbing and pulling on the end of the traction table. There are other forms of traction available such as bed rest traction, underwater and gravitational traction.

A relatively new treatment method for the relief of chronic low back pain is called non-surgical spinal decompression. A highly recognized device called the DRX9000 True Non-surgical Spinal Decompression System™ [http://axiomworldwide.com/drx9000.aspx] is designed to provide pain relief for compressive and degenerative injuries of the spine. Through the application of spinal decompressive forces to these injuries, patients have found relief from their back pain problems.

While back pain is a common and debilitating condition, patients today have more treatment options than ever before.

This article is not intended nor should be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Consult your physician before considering any medical treatment method available.

Menopause as most know brings with it change and also for many women some uncomfortable symptoms. The thing to remember is that you are not the only woman going through this and you are not the last one either. It is important to know your treatment options. There are traditional pharmaceutical treatments, holistic treatments, and herbal treatments for Menopause. Your doctor or health care provider can help you to decide which treatment will be most beneficial for your needs.

Symptoms of Menopause

Some of the major symptoms of menopause include mood swings, irritability, and/or depression. Weight gain, appetite changes, sleeps disturbances, and musculoskeletal aches/pains. There can hot flashes and night sweats, headaches, and anxiety/panic attacks. The earliest signs that may indicate the start of menopause are irregular or missed periods and irregular bleeding during and between your periods.

If you are in the age range of approximately 35 to 50 or older chances are high you could be entering menopause. It is advisable to track your symptoms and inform your doctor about what’s happening. A physical examination can rule out any other health condition that could have similar symptoms to menopause. You are not said to be menopausal until you have not had a period for 12 consecutive months or longer. Menopausal symptoms though can appear anywhere from two to ten years prior to full blown menopause.

Traditional Treatments for Menopause

Traditional treatments include hormone replacement therapy-HRT. Menopause is a result of natural depletion of estrogen and progesterone. HRT attempts to level out hormone levels and alleviate some of the symptoms that accompany menopause. Treatment can be estrogen alone, progesterone alone, or a combination of estrogen and progesterone. The preferred treatment is a combination of the two.

Other traditional pharmaceutical treatments include anti-inflammatories to deal with musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and other pain not necessarily related to Menopause. Anti-depressants are used to even out your moods, relieve tension, and reduce stress. Over the counter pain medications may also be used and natural antidepressants may also be used although not all at once.

Holistic treatments are those that consider the mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional parts of a person. They treat the whole person and can include exercise, meditation, and spirituality. Yoga is also very beneficial to relieving menopause symptoms. Holistic treatments can also include natural treatments such as herbal treatments for Menopause.

Herbal Treatments for Menopause

Herbal treatments can include herbs by themselves or a combination of herbs, vitamins, and minerals in tablet or capsule form to provide relief from menopausal symptoms and benefit your over-all health.

Some of the most common herbs used for menopause include Black Cohosh that is believed to contain photo-(plant) estrogens that work similarly to human estrogen. Maca root first increases the levels of estrogen and progesterone. It then balances out the levels of each hormone to a healthy level. Red clover is similar to black cohosh in that it helps to ease hot flashes and mood swings. Dong Quai can be taken in capsule form alone or in a supplement. Dong Quai can also be brewed as tea and taken that way and its effectiveness is enhanced with adding black cohosh.

Herbal supplements or supplements in general are not standardized by the FDA- Food and Drug Administration. In some cases supplements do not have the ingredients they say they do or have things like fillers or preservatives that are not mentioned. You can prevent this if you have good information on herbal supplements for menopause. There is an abundance of information available on the Internet.

In order to be as sure as possible that you are getting the highest quality supplement the ingredients’ metabolism at the molecular level is evaluated as are the interactions of the ingredients’. Only standardized herbal extracts are used with nothing artificial and no preservatives. This helps to ensure that you will get consistent dosing and consistent quality from capsule to capsule. When they are manufactured, they should be made to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. This helps to ensure their safety, effectiveness, and quality. Some herbs can interfere with other medications you may be taking for other conditions; therefore it is advisable to make sure your doctor knows what you are taking.

Conclusion

Herbal supplements for menopause are effective in relieving symptoms and are safer than traditional treatments that can have some serious and potentially fatal side effects. They are coming into greater use because most people wish to avoid these side effects and maintain their health. There are options out there for you. Talk to your doctor to see which treatment will best meet your own needs.

This article is part two of a series of five that explores interesting, unique and noteworthy trends in the mental health profession. Understanding current and upcoming changes within our industry gives us the ability to identify new opportunities and challenges arising in the field so we may identify appropriate responses and successfully meet the demands of our dynamic profession. This exploration process empowers professionals to make more effective and rewarding business decisions both now and in the future. Examining these changes often brings about exciting opportunities if we, as clinicians, are able to look at these new service offerings and competitive influences in unique and creative ways.



Online Treatment programs

An interesting area arising within the industry is that of the online treatment program. This model goes beyond individual psychotherapy and offers a comprehensive approach to treatment that may include group work, interactive exercises, use of clinical tools, use of assessment applications and aftercare programming.

An example of this kind of approach is being pioneered by an organization known as E Get Going, Inc. This organization offers a substance abuse treatment program for adult’s ages 18 and older using live video and audio technology that simulate that of a traditional treatment model based on the 12-step principles. Participants become a part of an online treatment group that takes place over the course of several months. They use a highly structured and empirically based treatment model and provide each of their participants with a headset and microphone so they can interact with a group of up to 10 participants. A counselor facilitates each group and participants also receive individual consultations as needed. In addition, EgetGoing, Inc. offers an aftercare program for successful graduates in an effort to support former participants who are out in the community. This also gives them the ability to track outcomes and to identify risk factors following treatment.

This type of model is a big undertaking and, at present, it is still in its infancy stage. However, adventurous organizations like EgetGoing, Inc. are making a valiant effort to offer this solution as an alternative to traditional treatment. It is an exciting area to explore in the near future as technology offers clinicians an opportunity to push the envelope and explore use of this format in other areas of treatment. This model also has promise from a business perspective in that it offers potential clients a solid value proposition that may distinguish itself from its more traditional competitors. Some of the key values to potential consumers are ease of access and approachability, confidentiality and overall convenience in a fast past world. Some, however, may argue that this also offers clients an opportunity to resist treatment in a subtle way by choosing a treatment alternative that might require less commitment. Regardless of this argument, people who are in need of treatment services may in the future find themselves more willing to seek treatment through the Internet. Perhaps this will serve as an entry point for longer-term treatment whereby it captures the attention of those who are unsure of or questioning the need for treatment. As a result, they choose to try an online option as a way to “test the waters”. A bigger question will be whether or not this model will go beyond being a mere entry point and serve as viable option to a more traditional treatment model.

My reason for discussing the topic of online treatment programs along with other trends within the mental health profession is to provide practicing clinicians with information that will provide them with unique perspectives, approaches, concepts and ideas about the clinical process. This information should offer practitioners some insight into what may lie ahead in the future as both a challenge and opportunity. One of those opportunities may be an online comprehensive treatment program in its many variations and specialties.

If you would like more information about this model I suggest taking a look at the EgetGoing website: www.egetgoing.com

Copyright 2008 – David Diana. All Rights reserved Worldwide.

For many years people felt that they were trapped between a traditional indemnity health insurance plan (a wide range of choice and high degree of security in the event of serious accident or illness which came at a high cost) and a managed care plan (a focus on preventative medicine at relatively low cost but with severely limited choice).

Today however it is possible to some extent to enjoy the benefits of both traditional indemnity insurance and managed health care through a variation on the original Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) model known as a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).

A PPO is essentially an HMO which means that the insurance company will establish a network of healthcare providers and, in exchange for a relatively low cost, will encourage, or in some cases require, policyholders to seek treatment within the HMO’s network. Where treatment is taken outside of the HMO’s network much, if not all, of the cost of such treatment normally has to be borne by the policyholder. However, in the case of a PPO, the rules for policyholders who wish to seek care outside of the HMO’s network are relaxed.

Within an HMO a policyholder is assigned to a particular doctor or primary care physician (often referred to as a “gatekeeper”) and the policyholder must go through the primary care physician in order to receive treatment. If, for example, the policyholder wishes to see a specialist then he or she will have to be referred by the primary care physician and may or may not have a say in which particular specialist they are referred to.

In a PPO however no primary care physician is assigned and so no referral is required. Policyholders are free therefore should they choose to do so to seek treatment through a specialist who is not a member of the HMO’s network.

There are of course cost implications to this choice and policyholders will almost certainly have to pay more for treatment with a doctor or in a facility that is outside of the HMO’s network than they would if they sought treatment within the network. Nevertheless, unlike the HMO model, the PPO gives the policyholder the choice.

If you like, a PPO provides policyholders with the low cost managed health benefits of the HMO with the option to elect for the greater choice, albeit higher cost, of indemnity insurance when it suits their needs.

It will probably come as no surprise to find that today traditional indemnity policies are fast disappearing and that there are now twice as many people enrolled in PPOs as there are in HMOs.