How to Avoid Neck Pain

From Being A Real -Pain-In-The Neck!!

Neck is the only structure in the body that’s functioning even when not moving!!!

As no matter in what position, it has to support the weight of your head and your brains.., around 5-8 kgs.!!!

Prevention is related to the cause.

For instance, avoiding overuse or injury of the neck muscles can prevent these causes of neck pain.

Use relaxation techniques and regular exercise to prevent unwanted stress and tension to the neck muscles.

Learn stretching exercises for your neck and upper body. Stretch every day, especially before and after exercise.

A physical therapist can help.

If you tend to get neck pain from exercise, apply ice to your neck after physical activity.

Use good posture, especially if you sit at a desk all day. Keep your back supported.

Adjust your computer monitor to eye level.

This prevents you from continually looking up or down. If you work at a computer, stretch your neck every 30 mins or so.

When reading or typing from documents at your desk, place them in a holder at eye level.

Use a headset when on the telephone, especially if answering or using the phone is a main part of your job.

Use Headset or Blue tooth, with your mobile, especially when driving or riding a motorcycle.

Evaluate your sleeping conditions. Make sure your pillow is properly and comfortably supporting your head and neck.

You may need a special neck pillow. Make sure your mattress is firm enough.

Use seat belts and bike helmets to prevent injuries. If neck pain is worse at the end of the day, evaluate your posture and body mechanics.

Avoid slouching or a head-forward posture. Sit straight in your chair with your lower back supported, feet flat on the floor, and shoulders relaxed.

Avoid sitting for long periods without getting up or changing positions.

All said and done… Please don’t ignore a long standing neck pain. See a doctor immediately and take treatment as advised.

Honey

BUZZING WITH HEALTH
The medicinal and healing properties of honey have earned it a reputation as one the purest and most natural remedies for over 5,000 years. And because it contains so many therapeutic qualities, honey is used to treat a wide range of ailments and complaints.

Manuka honey
Manuka honey is produced by honeybees which gather nectar from the flowers of wild Manuka bushes that are indigenous to New Zealand. This particular honey is distinctively flavoured, with a rich taste and dark appearance.

Although all types of honey contain hydrogen peroxide (particularly known for its antibacterial properties), Professor Peter Molan of the Honey Research Centre at Waikato University in New Zealand has undertaken extensive research into maunka honey and believes it contains unique properties which provide additional support to the body's natural healing process.

Molan's research has shown that manuka honey has a high antibacterial potency which heals a range of conditions, from external skin infections to aiding digestion. Molan has also shown that manuka honey can help to fight throat infections and reduce gum disease. When eaten regularly it can aid memory, increase energy levels, improve well-being and reduce feelings of anxiety.

The essential elixir
Honey is an all-round healing elixir which can promote general health and well-being. A daily dose of honey, whether as a sweetener in hot drinks, by the spoonful or spread on toast, will boost the body's supply of antioxidants - essential for protecting the body against free radicals. Flush out your system and give yourself a daily boost with this cleansing tonic: mix a spoonful or two of honey and the juice of half a lemon into a cup of hot water and drink each morning before breakfast.

The energy provider
Next time you go to the gym, have a spoonful of honey beforehand. Honey is a source of natural unrefined sugars and carbohydrates, which are easily absorbed by the body, providing an instant energy boost with long-lasting effects. For this reason, many athletes include honey in their daily diets. It was even used by runners in the original Olympic Games in ancient Greece.

Coughs and colds
Honey is widely used as a complementary remedy for the relief of the symptoms of colds, coughs, sore throats and 'flu. For a sore throat, take it on its own or gargle with a mixture of two tablespoons of set honey, four tablespoons of cider vinegar and a pinch of salt. A traditional drink made from hot water, lemon juice and honey will help to soothe cold and flu symptoms. Adding a little eucalyptus oil or root ginger will help to ease congestion and, to help enhance sleep, try a drop of whiskey in the mixture.

Cuts and grazes
Honey is a mild antiseptic and can help to keep external wounds, such as cuts and minor burns, clean and free from infection. By absorbing the moisture around the wound, honey can help to prevent the growth of bacteria.

A digestive healer
It was the Romans who first discovered the beneficial effects of honey on digestive disorders when they would prescribe honey as a mild laxative. Funnily enough, honey has also been used as a treatment for diarrhoea. The principle behind these theories is that honey is believed to help destroy certain bacteria in the gut by acting as a 'preserving' agent.

Health Benefits
Honey has long been recognized as a natural remedy and has been used as a medicine for thousands of years. It has antiseptic properties and can be used as a remedy for ailments from sore throats to burns and cuts. This is endorsed by research which has shown that its bactericidal properties can be used to good effect in treating digestive problems such as peptic ulcers as well as external lesions.(see page on medical refrences for detaied bibliography)

For a soothing drink for sore throats, mix honey with the juice of half a lemon, add boiling water and stir. If you¹re feeling low, try a spoonful of honey as a pick-me-up. The fructose and glucose in honey are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Honey in Cooking
You can use honey in cooking instead of sugar. Because it is sweeter than sugar, you need to use less.

If you are experimenting with honey in a recipe, try replacing half the sugar with honey as the flavour can be very strong. Honey is hygroscopic (meaning it attracts water) so it is good for baking cakes as it keeps them moister for longer.

God left us a great clue as to what foods help what part of our body!
God's Pharmacy! Amazing!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.


A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain functio n.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado fr om blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (mo dern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).


Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.


Sweet Potatoes: look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.


Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries



Oranges, Grapefruit, and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.



Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

How to Treat Your Colds and Viral Sore Throats

How Do I Catch a Cold?

The humble cold is the most common infectious disease in the world.

It accounts for more absences from school and work than any other illness.

It is the leading cause of patient visits to physicians.

It is not easy to catch a cold. Yeah .. you heard that right ..

Your body's natural defenses usually fight off these viruses.

There is a direct relation between your risk of catching a cold

and the amount of time spent in contact with an infected person.

That is why families tend to get sick together.

The most common route of infection is not from coughing or

sneezing, or walking barefoot in the rain,

but from hand-to-hand contact.

That is why when you have a cold, washing your hands frequently

is so important. The likelihood of you becoming a victim of

the cold virus increases however, if you are overtired

or physically exhausted.

Children under two generally get 10-12 colds a year,

especially if they are in daycare.

Older children and young adults get about 6 colds per year.

After the age of 30 the number starts to decrease to about two per year.

How Long Will It Last?

Most uncomplicated colds last between eight and nine days,

but about 25% last two weeks, and 5-10% last three weeks.

What Should I Do for Treatment?

1. As long as your temperature remains below 102 F

there is no need to lower it.

Cold viruses do not reproduce at higher body temperatures.

A slight fever should actually help you

get rid of the virus quicker and feel better

much sooner.

2. A study (J Infect Dis Dec 1990) showed that people who take

aspirin and Tylenol (acetaminophen) suppress their body's ability

to produce antibodies to destroy the cold virus.

You should only use these medications if

you have a temperature greater than 105 F,

severe muscle aches or weakness.

3. Chicken soup does help the symptoms.

Chicken contains a natural amino acid called cysteine.

Cysteine can thin the mucus in the lungs and make it less sticky

so it you can be expel it more easily.

Campbell's soup won't work as well as the homemade version.

Make the soup hot and spicy with plenty of pepper.

The spices will trigger a sudden release of watery fluids

in the mouth, throat, and lungs.

This will help thin down the respiratory mucus,

so it's easier to cough up and expel.

4. Rest. It is important to rest and take it easy throughout the time

you are ill. The time you are ill may be longer if you do not allow yourself

to recuperate and recover completely.

If you exercise regularly, you needn't stop. However,

you should definitely cut back on the intensity until you feel better.

5. Wash your hands frequently and try to keep them away from

your nose and eyes. Use disposable tissues as opposed to cloth

handkerchiefs. If you are caring for a child with a cold,

PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS every time you have to wipe their nose.

This will protect you from being infected.

Dove soap is the mildest soap that you can use for this purpose.

6. Drink plenty of fluids.

Water is the best. Try to drink at least eight to ten glasses a day.

This will help the stuffiness and help the secretions loosen.

Avoid using tap water, use bottled or filtered water to limit your exposure

to chlorine.

You can put lemon juice in your water or

also try green tea as a water alternative

7. If you are congested and can't breathe very well

because your nose is plugged up,

we recommend the decongestant Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) .

We can give you a 12 hour preparation that also has

guaifenesin to help you breath better.

You must be careful and make sure the medicine is out of your system

before bedtime. Most people will not sleep well on Sudafed

and sleep is what will make you better.

You can use AFRIN (or generic equivalent) at night.

This spray will open up your nose without interfering with your sleep.

8. However, if you are not congested and "drowning" in nasal discharge

an antihistamine will help dry up the secretions.

Please note that there are two problems with

non-prescription antihistamines

(such as Chlor-Trimeton (chlorphenairamine) and Benadryl).

They can put you to sleep. This isn't a difficulty at night

but might be in the day. We encourage you to minimize their use

because they can also increase your risk of developing

a secondary sinus infection by thickening the nasal secretions

and impairing drainage.

9. It will be very important to stop all milk products.

This includes not only milk, but ice cream, all yogurt except plain,

and especially cheese.

Lactaid milk is NOT acceptable.

This step is helpful to decrease the extra mucous

that dairy products can cause you to produce.

10. Eating refined sugars weakens your immune system

and promotes yeast overgrowth. This includes ALL non-diet pops

which have eight teaspoons of sugar per can.

Honey,

molasses,

maple syrup,

date sugar,

cane sugar,

corn sugar,

beet sugar,

corn syrup,

fructose,

lactose,

and other refined carbohydrates

are known promoters of yeast growth.

Reducing or eliminating these in your diet will help your immune system.

However, you need not become obsessive about the sugar.

If it is the 4th or 5th ingredient in a food, that would probably be acceptable.

11. Many people will start to drink large amounts of orange juice

when they are sick. All the simple sugars (fructose) in the juice

will actually make you worse.

If you feel the need to take extra vitamin C please read #13.

Try to avoid ALL juices, including organic juices or ones with

no sugar added;

Gatorade type sports drinks also need to be avoided.

If you must have a juice use diluted organic apple juice;

do NOT use orange juice as it is the most allergic fruit.

12. Researchers have shown zinc lozenges reduce the severity

and duration of cold symptoms, particularly a sore throat.

They believe the zinc is directly toxic to the virus and stimulates your body

to produce antibodies to destroy the virus.

They seem to work for about three out of four colds.

You can suck on ONE-QUATER of a zinc lozenges every thirty minutes.

Do not chew the tablets and swallow them directly as they won't work.

If you get nauseous you should stop the zinc immediately

as it is a sign of toxicity.

13. Extra vitamin C is also helpful.

You can take 500-2,000 mg every 1-2 hours.

The only side effect you may have are loose stools at higher doses.

If this happens decreasing the dose will quickly clear up the symptoms.

14. Vitamin A in large doses may be helpful.

200,000 units twice a day for FIVE days.

(eight of the 25,000 unit capsules twice a day).

Children can take half the dose.

Even though vitamin A is oil soluble this dose is very safe

if not taken for long periods.

However if you are pregnant you should not use it.

15. Garlic is an excellent natural antibiotic.

Kyolic is one of the best brands.

You might use six capsules four times a day for several days.

Eichinacea is the most widely used herbal medication in Europe for

colds and infections. It contains inulin which enhances the production of

immunoglobulins.

Astralgalas and goldenseal also enhance the immune system

and are widely used in Europe and China for infections.

16. Essential fatty acids like flax oil

should also be taken regularly.

This will help your immune system build the proper antibodies.

Why Should I Avoid An Antibiotic?

More than 300 different viruses can cause colds.

Each time you have a cold it is caused by a distinct virus

(i.e. adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, coronavirus).

A virus is much smaller than a bacteria.

It is a tiny cluster of genetic material surrounded

by a protein wrapper.

Medical science currently does not have any drugs

that can kill these viruses. Antibiotics, including penicillin,

DO NOT have any effect on viruses.

We only use them to treat the secondary bacterial infections

that can complicate a cold.

When Should I Call the Office?

Sinus, ear and lung infections (bronchitis and pneumonia)

are examples of bacterial infections that do respond to antibiotics.

If you develop any of the following symptoms

you should call your doctor's office:

• Fever over 102°F
• Ear pain develops.
• Pain around your eyes, especially with a green nasal discharge.
• Have shortness of breath or a
• persistent uncontrollable cough.
• You are persistently coughing up green and yellow sputum.