Herbal medicine is obtained from small plants or parts of plants. They were traditional used for medicinal purpose. They are considered as the natural remedy for various health disorders. These herbs and the parts of plant like stem, leaves and roots, which has healing capacity, are used all over the world. These plant extracts are converted into various forms like liquid, tablets, creams, oils and ointment and are used for treatment.
The increase in its popularity has made openings to many studies and researches and day by day you can find many people approaching for herbal medicine. Herbalist is also referred as phytotherapist.
Herbal supplement are generally used to improve ones general health or for specific problem. These are made either from specific herbs or mixture of herbs. As they are natural and obtained from plants it does not have any chemical and toxics, which means its safe. Like any other treatment this also requires professional advice. The research in this field is developing rapidly and they have come out with miracles. The trend seems to also change, as people prefer herbal treatment better than the others.
The commonly used herbs are aloe vera, ginger root, green tea, bitter orange, ginkgo biloba and many others. They give remarkable results for digestion, flu and cold, anti-aging, weight reduction, memory enhancement, immune system, reduce stress and many more.
Apart from these major diseases like diabetics, ortho problems, obesity, heart problem, mental disorders have been treated successfully. These proven results has made herbal supplement to stabilize firmly in the minds of people recently. For some people it has given a permanent cure.
There are many varieties and one can have endless study on it, many courses are also been offered. Using herbs domestically for general health has become indispensable.
However you cannot risk trying with the herbs if you are ignorant. Few methods and precautions are given to enrich your awareness.
* Dried herbs need to be used three times more than the fresh ones.
* Begin with small quantity to test how it suits you.
* When you mix herbs in food, which requires cooking, it is better to add at the end.
* Many a times you can add with salt and pepper you mix.
* Many herbs require to be taken when fresh, so check with the type.
* If you desire to mix with liquids you can add well in advance or sometimes even overnight.
* Many herbs are compactable even if you mix with other herbs but of course there are some which do not blend.
* If you are using dried herbs crush them well before adding.
* Syrups can be prepared by boiling in water with honey. This can be refrigerated and used as desired.
Would you like to know how herbs used for external treatment?
* Fermentation is done with a cloth soaked in warm tea and applied in the affected area to give a soothing effect.
* Poultice is where the tea is soaked and applied directly.
* Plaster is done by taking herbs in clean cloth and plastering it externally.
* Oil is prepared by soaking the herbs in olive oil for a desired period and preserved for use.
* It can also be added to the bathing water and you could feel the effect when the skin absorbs it.
It may give you good results and may build confidence but you may have to apply caution in the following areas.
* It is never advisable for children and pregnant women.
* They may sound good and popular in brands but do not consume without your physician recommendation.
* Less knowledge is dangerous so explore well before you decide.
* It is not true if people say it has no side effects most of the herbal medicines have side effects. To name a few, green tea is famous for increasing metabolism which helps in weight reduction but they also get you vomiting, diarrhoea
* Ephedra and bitter orange decreases your appetite but also leads to many heart problems and high blood pressure.
* The power of herbs vary and when obtained from a plant one part could be a healing herb where as the other could lead you to allergy, say the leaves of a plant may give a medicinal effect where as the stem causes allergy and is dangerous when consumed. Hence, this calls for professionalism.
As you discover the potential of herbal supplements you could relax to have a healthy body and sound mind. Though many herbs have standard characteristics and proven history it is required for you to update constantly. The availability of many online guidance and courses not only enlighten you in many areas, it also never fails to lead you to a better lifestyle and better living.
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HERBAL SUPPLEMENTS
TIPS FOR HEALTHY HAIR
No matter what type of hair nature blessed you with, there are things you can do to keep it healthy,lustrous,looking its best. Here are some tips for a healthy head of hair.
1. Like everything else about true, lasting beauty, healthy hair begins within your body. start with your diet. include lots of green leafy vegetables and sweet juice fruits. Dairy products such as milk and fresh yogurt will also help. Fresh coconut is also considered excellent" hair food"- sprinkle grated coconut over salads, diced fresh fruit, or rice.
2. Cut down on refined,processed and canned foods. ice cold beverages also hamper the process of digestion and assimilation of nutrient.
3. Cooking with certain spices adds flavor to your food and provides nourishment for your hair. cumin,turmeric and black pepper are some hair friendly spices.add a healthy pinch of each to single portion soups and stews as they are cooking.
4. stress can be seriously injurious to long term healthy and color of hair. Try and manage your time and tasks to minimize time related pressures. practice relaxation techniques such as meditation. seek out tranquil sights in nature to help restore balance to your mind. relaxing or uplifting music can be therapeutic. get adequate,good quality sleep to help the natural process of rejuvenation.
5. Stay away from harsh chemical topical products that can damage hair over time. look for gentle, natural cleansers and conditioners,especially if you wash your hair more than three times a week. shampoo and conditioners that contain nourishing botanical are even better.read labels carefully sometimes,product that say "herbal" or "natural" can include no-no chemicals.
6. a warm oil scalp massage two or three times a week will help stimulate and moisturize the scalp. you can use good quality coconut,almond or olive oil.
7. never attack wet hair with a brush, no matter how rushed for time you are. tangles in wet hair are best removed with a wide-toothed comb. Use a wooden comb if you can find one, it won't generate static electricity. excessive blow-drying can damage hair in the long-term,making it brittle and causing split ends. if you can let your hair dry naturally,then brush into place.
8. last,but not least,brushing your hair regularly to stimulate the scalp will keep it looking healthy and lustrous. brush each night in all directions in turn left to right,right to left, front to back to front use smooth long strokes from scalp to hair-tips
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LIPOSUCTION
The American Association of Plastic Surgeons recommends that patients undergo a series of physical examinations before the liposuction surgery. The purpose of these exams is to determine whether or not the patient is in good enough health to have the procedure performed, and to rule out any underlying medical issues that may complicate the surgery. It is extremely important for a patient to thoroughly discuss any health issues, including the use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs, and/or herbal remedies currently used. Supplying the physician with a detailed medical history will give both patient and surgeon a better understanding of what the specific risk factors may be.
Once a patient has decided to follow through with liposuction surgery, he or she should be presented with all of the available options. These include traditional liposuction, tumescent liposuction (a procedure resulting in less blood loss and other complications), as well as various choices for anesthesia. A reputable physician will inform the patient long the surgery will last, how many incisions will be made, probable amount and severity of scarring, and how long the expected recovery time may be.
The surgeon will outline the areas to be treated with a marker. After anesthesia is administered and has taken effect, the doctor will make a small incision in the skin. A hollow steel tube is then inserted, and a vacuum is used to suction out the fatty tissue. Since much fluid is lost through this procedure, it is necessary for the patient to have an IV to replace diminished fluids and to prevent dehydration.
In order to reduce pain and discomfort, the patient will receive either local or general anesthesia. If the surgeon uses the tumescent technique, the fluid used to promote swelling of the fat pockets may be the only method of anesthesia. Intravenous sedation, epidural blockage and general anesthesia are the most common pain-reducing methods. Since liposuction is a surgical procedure, the patient’s blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels will be monitored closely.
Doctors recommend that on the day the procedure is to be performed, the patient have someone drive him or her to the hospital or doctor’s office. Unless performed on an outpatient setting (for smaller liposuction surgeries), any type of surgical procedure will require a hospital stay, so it is also important to pack a bag that contains anything the patient will need during the stay. Even if the procedure is performed in an outpatient setting, the patient will likely be too tired, uncomfortable or groggy from the surgery to drive home alone.
Depending on the amount of fat removed and the physical location of the surgery, the patient may be able to leave within a few hours, although some may require a night or so of hospital stay. Recovery time should be discussed before liposuction so that the patient will have a realistic timeframe of when he or she can return to work or other normal activities
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CLEANSE YOU LIVER TO CONTROL WEIGHT
The Liver, as mentioned before in my article "Weight gain, the Result of a Tired Toxic liver?" is very important to the body as it is responsible for more than 400 processes,which includes emulsifying fats. It follows therefore that must take special care of the liver so that it can do its job efficiently and have an effect on weight gain.
* Starting the day with a glass of warm water and lemon juice benefits bile formation which is essential for optimal fat metabolism and helps to regenerate the liver.I t also promotes peristalsis the movement in the bowels that keeps waste moving along the digestive tract and out the body for elimination.
* Cranberry juice also seems to digest fatty globules in the lymph. A teaspoon of psyllium and /or flaxseed oil is a good source of phyto nutrients. This fibre blocks the absorption of fat, increases fat excretion and binds toxins so that they are not reabsorbed.
* Drinking 8 glasses of water a day assists the liver in diluting and expelling the body's wastes. Water also helps empty stubborn fat stores, because the liver is more efficient at using stored fat for energy when the body is well hydrated.
* Flaxseed oil is great for raising metabolism and is able to attract and bind to the oil soluble poisons that lodge in the liver and carry them out of the system. the essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil also stimulate bile production which is crucial to the break down of fat.
* Eating protein daily restores the liver's health . Protein raises metabolism by 25% and activates the production of enzymes needed during detoxification to break down toxins into water soluble substances for excretion. Protein also provides amino acids such as cysteine that your body needs to produce the antioxidant gluthationeThis enzyme is one of several the overcomes the damaging free radicals produced in the liver during detoxification. Red meat such as lean beef or lamb are high in L carnitine which normalizes liver enzymes in the blood and in the metabolism of fatty acids.
* Eating fresh vegetables daily helps keep the liver healthy. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale high in sulforaphane. The liver uses sulforaphane to change toxins into non toxic waste for expulsion.
* Eggs are needed by the liver to regulate bile production. It is also needed to produce lecithin which helps prevent cholesterol oxidation, which is harmful to the liver.
Foods to exclude from the diet include caffeine, sugar, alcohol, yeast based foods such as bread and soy sauce ,vinegars, except apple cider vinegar, and trans fat.
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Foods RIch in Protein
The goal of low carb diets is to increase protein intake by reducing carbohydrate intake. This way, your body will burn fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. According to many diet experts, a diet rich in protein is highly beneficial for your overall health. Here is a list of foods rich in protein.
Egg Whites: Egg whites virtually have no fat. They have only 16 calories! Egg white is a perfect food for your required protein supplies. So, don’t limit eggs to breakfast. You can have egg whites any time a day!
Tilapia fillet: Tilapia fillet is usually inexpensive and it is really very easy to prepare. Just add some lime, salt and pepper and sauté for about 10 minutes on each side. Your delicious tilapia is ready to serve!
Soymilk: Soy milk is one of the best foods for muscle gain. People who work out for putting on some extra muscle must consume soy milk everyday, for their daily dose of protein and some fat. A cup of skim soy milk will give you around 8g of protein.
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The Truth About Energy Drink
Many energy drinks claim to increase your stamina, alertness, give you the “kick” for high intensity workouts. Many people are turning towards these energy drinks to “boost” their energy levels.
It was found out that 8 oz of a brand of energy drink contains 77 mg of caffeine while another brand contains 70 mg in 8.3 oz of the drink. This amount of caffeine is similar to a cup of brewed coffee, which has around 85 mg of caffeine.
Since the level of caffeine is similar to a cup of coffee, drinking energy drinks is occasionally is not harmful and is probably safe for most of the adults. Since excess of anything is harmful, excess consumption of energy drinks is also harmful.
Many people have the bad habit of mixing energy drinks with alcohol. They think that extra caffeine reduces the effects of alcohol. But the truth is something else. No matter whether you add or not add the energy drink to your alcohol, the blood alcohol level will remain the same. Energy drink is a stimulant while alcohol is a depressant which results to dehydration. Hence, mixing energy drink and alcohol is strictly discouraged.
If energy drinks are added to your diet which is already loaded with caffeine, you may encounter some health problems. If you have high blood pressure or are hypersensitive to caffeine, you should limit the consumption of energy drinks.
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PROSTAT CANCER
The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system (see the picture below). The prostate makes a fluid that mixes with sperm and other fluids during ejaculation. A normal prostate is about the size of a walnut.
What is prostate cancer?
The body is made up of many types of cells. Normally, cells grow, divide and then die. Sometimes, cells mutate (change) and begin to grow and divide more quickly than normal cells. Rather than dying, these abnormal cells clump together to form tumors. If these tumors are cancerous (also called malignant tumors), they can invade and kill your body's healthy tissues. From these tumors, cancer cells can metastasize (spread) and form new tumors in other parts of the body. By contrast, noncancerous tumors (also called benign tumors) do not spread to other parts of the body. Prostate cancer is abnormal cells in the prostate gland.
Like many types of cancer, prostate cancer can be aggressive. This means it grows quickly and can spread to other parts of the body. (When cancer spreads, doctors say the cancer has "metastasized.") Prostate cancer can also grow more slowly.
If you have prostate cancer, it is important for your doctor to monitor the growth of your cancer carefully. If left completely unchecked, the cancer can grow quickly and spread to other organs in your body. This makes treatment much more difficult.
Who is at risk for prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer.
Although men of any age can get prostate cancer, it is found most often in men over age 50. In fact, more than 8 of 10 men with prostate cancer are over the age of 65.
For unknown reasons, African-American men are at higher risk than Caucasian men. Men with a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk, too. In this case, family history means that your father or a brother had prostate cancer.
Men who are obese and eat a diet high in fat are also at a higher risk for prostate cancer.
How does doctor check prostate?
Your doctor may examine your prostate by putting a gloved, lubricated finger a few inches into your rectum to feel your prostate gland. This is called a digital rectal exam. A normal prostate feels firm. If there are hard spots on the prostate, your doctor may suggest additional testing to check for prostate cancer.
What is the PSA test?
Another way to check for prostate cancer is with a blood test called the PSA test. PSA is short for prostate-specific antigen. Men who have prostate cancer may have a higher level of PSA in their blood. However, the PSA level can also be high because of less serious causes, such as infection.
What are the treatment options for prostate cancer?
If prostate cancer is caught early and before it has spread to other parts of the body, it can often be treated successfully.
For early stages of prostate cancer, one option is "watchful waiting." Watchful waiting means seeing your doctor often so he or she can track the cancer. This can include frequent blood tests and rectal exams to check the growth of the cancer. This may be a good option for those with slow-growing cancer, or men who are elderly and/or in poor health. At any time during watchful waiting, you can choose to switch to another treatment.
It is important to realize that watchful waiting does not involve medication or treatment that will kill the cancer. It is just an observation period. If the cancer suddenly starts to grow more quickly or begins to cause symptoms, you may need to switch to a more aggressive treatment option.
Surgery, radiation and drug therapy are options that can treat your prostate cancer. These treatments can cause side effects, such as impotence and incontinence, but these side effects usually disappear after treatment.
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a general term that refers to an infection of the lungs, which can be caused by a variety of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites.
Often pneumonia begins after an upper respiratory tract infection (an infection of the nose and throat). When this happens, symptoms of pneumonia begin after 2 or 3 days of a cold or sore throat.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of pneumonia vary, depending on the age of the child and the cause of the pneumonia. Some common symptoms include:
* fever
* chills
* cough
* unusually rapid breathing
* breathing with grunting or wheezing sounds
* labored breathing that makes a child's rib muscles retract (when muscles under the rib cage or between ribs draw inward with each breath)
* vomiting
* chest pain
* abdominal pain
* decreased activity
* loss of appetite (in older children) or poor feeding (in infants)
* in extreme cases, bluish or gray color of the lips and fingernails
Sometimes a child's only symptom is rapid breathing. Sometimes when the pneumonia is in the lower part of the lungs near the abdomen, there may be no breathing problems at all, but there may be fever and abdominal pain or vomiting.
When pneumonia is caused by bacteria, an infected child usually becomes sick relatively quickly and experiences the sudden onset of high fever and unusually rapid breathing. When pneumonia is caused by viruses, symptoms tend to appear more gradually and are often less severe than in bacterial pneumonia. Wheezing may be more common in viral pneumonia.
Some types of pneumonia cause symptoms that give important clues about which germ is causing the illness. For example, in older children and adolescents, pneumonia due to Mycoplasma (also called walking pneumonia) is notorious for causing a sore throat and headache in addition to the usual symptoms of pneumonia.
In infants, pneumonia due to chlamydia may cause conjunctivitis (pinkeye) with only mild illness and no fever. When pneumonia is due to whooping cough (pertussis), the child may have long coughing spells, turn blue from lack of air, or make a classic "whoop" sound when trying to take a breath.
Description
Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by different types of germs, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Although different types of pneumonia tend to affect children in different age groups, pneumonia is most commonly caused by viruses. Some viruses that cause pneumonia are adenoviruses, rhinovirus, influenza virus (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and parainfluenza virus (the virus that causes croup).
Incubation
The incubation period for pneumonia varies, depending on the type of virus or bacteria causing the infection. Some common incubation periods are: respiratory syncytial virus, 4 to 6 days; influenza, 18 to 72 hours.
Duration
With treatment, most types of bacterial pneumonia can be cured within 1 to 2 weeks. Viral pneumonia may last longer. Mycoplasmal pneumonia may take 4 to 6 weeks to resolve completely.
Contagiousness
The viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia are contagious and are usually found in fluid from the mouth or nose of an infected person. Illness can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes on a person, by sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils, and when a person touches the used tissues or handkerchiefs of an infected person.
Prevention
There are vaccines to prevent infections by viruses or bacteria that cause some types of pneumonia.
Children usually receive routine immunizations against Haemophilus influenzae and pertussis (whooping cough) beginning at 2 months of age. (The pertussis immunization is the "P" part of the routine DTaP injection.) Vaccines are now also given against the pneumococcus organism (PCV), a common cause of bacterial pneumonia.
Children with chronic illnesses, who are at special risk for other types of pneumonia, may receive additional vaccines or protective immune medication. The flu vaccine is strongly recommended for children with chronic illnesses such as chronic heart or lung disorders or asthma, as well as otherwise healthy children.
Because they are at higher risk for serious complications, infants who were born prematurely may be given treatments that temporarily protect against RSV, which can lead to pneumonia in younger children.
Doctors may give prophylactic (disease-preventing) antibiotics to prevent pneumonia in children who have been exposed to someone with certain types of pneumonia, such as pertussis. Children with HIV infection may also receive prophylactic antibiotics to prevent pneumonia caused by Pneumocystis carinii.
Antiviral medication is now available, too, and can be used to prevent some types of viral pneumonia or to make symptoms less severe.
In addition, regular tuberculosis screening is performed yearly in some high-risk areas because early detection will prevent active tuberculosis infection including pneumonia.
In general, pneumonia is not contagious, but the upper respiratory viruses that lead to it are, so it is best to keep your child away from anyone who has an upper respiratory tract infection. If someone in your home has a respiratory infection or throat infection, keep his or her drinking glass and eating utensils separate from those of other family members, and wash your hands frequently, especially if you are handling used tissues or dirty handkerchiefs.
When to Call Your Child's Doctor
Call your child's doctor immediately if your child has any of the signs and symptoms of pneumonia, but especially if your child:
* is having trouble breathing or is breathing abnormally fast
* has a bluish or gray color to the fingernails or lips
* has a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius), or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in infants under 6 months of age
Professional Treatment
Doctors usually make the diagnosis of pneumonia after a physical examination. The doctor may possibly use a chest X-ray, blood tests, and (sometimes) bacterial cultures of mucus produced by coughing when making a diagnosis.
In most cases, pneumonia can be treated with oral antibiotics given to your child at home. The type of antibiotic used depends on the type of pneumonia.
Children may be hospitalized for treatment if they have pneumonia caused by pertussis or other bacterial pneumonia that causes high fevers and respiratory distress. They may also be hospitalized if supplemental oxygen is needed, if they have lung infections that may have spread into the bloodstream, if they have chronic illnesses that affect the immune system, if they are vomiting so much that they cannot take medicine by mouth, or if they have recurrent episodes of pneumonia.
Home Treatment
If your child's doctor has prescribed antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia, give the medicine on schedule for as long as the doctor directs. This will help your child recover faster and will decrease the chance that infection will spread to other household members.
Don't force a child who's not feeling well to eat, but encourage your child to drink fluids, especially if fever is present. Ask your child's doctor before you use a medicine to treat your child's cough because cough suppressants stop the lungs from clearing mucus, which may not be helpful in some types of pneumonia.
If your child has chest pain, try a heating pad or warm compress on the chest area. Take your child's temperature at least once each morning and each evening, and call the doctor if it goes above 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius) in an older infant or child, or above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in an infant under 6 months of age.
Check your child's lips and fingernails to make sure that they are rosy and pink, not bluish or gray, which is a sign that your child's lungs are not getting enough oxygen.
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Nutritious Diet in a fast Food world
A nutritious diet is not seen as being as important as physical activity when it comes to college students' health and wellness efforts, according to Indiana University researchers, even when the students live in an environment that provides classes, cues and motivation to eat healthily.
"Personal preferences triumph over discipline" when it comes to nutrition and healthy eating, the researchers note.
The students, they say, bring to college the eating habits established at home, where most skipped breakfast and almost 40 percent ate out for dinner or were on their own. This "grab and go" view of food and a preference for restaurant-style foods was apparent in the study.
Researchers found that regardless of the variety available in the residence hall or the need to prepare meals in apartment living, foods that can require more preparation or are more perishable are eaten less often. The researchers studied three groups of students -- students in apartments, students living in a residence hall and students living in a Fitness and Wellness Living-Learning Center, a themed residential community that provides students with an onsite fitness facility and educational material -- including a required course on healthy living.
Students in all three groups achieved similar levels of physical activity, with around 56 percent meeting the recommended three bouts of exercise weekly. Compared to how they ate at home, the students reported eating the same amount or less of the healthy foods examined. Students in the Living and Learning Center reported eating even less of these healthy foods.
The findings suggest that school and college health educators should consider providing students with tools to "internalize that fitness = exercise = healthy food," and to find ways for them to eat healthy and follow nutritious diet in our grab-and-go fast food world.
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Anorexia Nervosa
What is anorexia nervosa?
Anorexia nervosa is an illness that usually occurs in teenage girls, but it can also occur in teenage boys, and adult women and men. People with anorexia are obsessed with being thin. They lose a lot of weight and are terrified of gaining weight. They believe they are fat even though they are very thin. Anorexia isn't just a problem with food or weight. It's an attempt to use food and weight to deal with emotional problems.
Difference between anorexia and bulimia
People with anorexia starve themselves, avoid high-calorie foods and exercise constantly. People with bulimia eat huge amounts of food, but they throw up soon after eating, or take laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to keep from gaining weight. People with bulimia don't usually lose as much weight as people with anorexia
Why do people get anorexia?
Warning signs of anorexia
* Deliberate self-starvation with weight loss
* Fear of gaining weight
* Refusal to eat
* Denial of hunger
* Constant exercising
* Greater amounts of hair on the body or the face
* Sensitivity to cold temperatures
* Absent or irregular periods
* Loss of scalp hair
* A self-perception of being fat when the person is really too thin
The reason some people get anorexia isn't known. People with anorexia may believe they would be happier and more successful if they were thin. They want everything in their lives to be perfect. People who have this disorder are usually good students. They are involved in many school and community activities. They blame themselves if they don't get perfect grades, or if other things in life are not perfect.
The problems caused by anorexia
Girls with anorexia usually stop having menstrual periods. People with anorexia have dry skin and thinning hair on the head. They may have a growth of fine hair all over their body. They may feel cold all the time, and they may get sick often. People with anorexia are often in a bad mood. They have a hard time concentrating and are always thinking about food. It is not true that anorexics are never hungry. Actually, they are always hungry. Feeling hunger gives them a feeling of control over their lives and their bodies. It makes them feel like they are good at something--they are good at losing weight. People with severe anorexia may be at risk of death from starvation
The treatment for anorexia
Treatment of anorexia is difficult, because people with anorexia believe there is nothing wrong with them. Patients in the early stages of anorexia (less than 6 months or with just a small amount of weight loss) may be successfully treated without having to be admitted to the hospital. But for successful treatment, patients must want to change and must have family and friends to help them.
People with more serious anorexia need care in the hospital, usually in a special unit for people with anorexia and bulimia. Treatment involves more than changing the person's eating habits. Anorexic patients often need counseling for a year or more so they can work on changing the feelings that are causing their eating problems. These feelings may be about their weight, their family problems or their problems with self-esteem. Some anorexic patients are helped by taking medicine that makes them feel less depressed. These medicines are prescribed by a doctor and are used along with counseling.
family and friends can help
The most important thing that family and friends can do to help a person with anorexia is to love them. People with anorexia feel safe, secure and comfortable with their illness. Their biggest fear is gaining weight, and gaining weight is seen as loss of control. They may deny they have a problem. People with anorexia will beg and lie to avoid eating and gaining weight, which is like giving up the illness. Family and friends should not give in to the pleading of the anorexic patient.
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