Tuesday, March 9, 2010

PROLAPSED INTERVERTEBRAL DISC(SLIPPED DISC)

When you have a prolapsed disc (which is commonly called a "slipped disc") what happens is that part of inner softer part of the disc bulges out through a weakness in the outer part of the disc.A prolapsed disc is therefore sometimes called a herniated disc.Thebulging disc may press on nearby structures such as a nerve coming from the spinal cord.Some inflammation also develops around the proladsed part of the disc.Any disc in the spine can prolapse. However,most prolapsed discs occur in the LUMBAR part of the spine(lower back).The size of prolapse varies.The larger is the prolapse,the more is the severity of symptoms.
CAUSES-
-Herniation of intervertebral disc
-Senile degeneration of disc.
Obesity
Sudden jerk
Sprain
Trauma to spine
Commonly affected discs- L-4,L-5,L-5-S-1
CLINICAL FEATURES OF PROLAPSED INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS
SYMPTOMS
-Sudden Onset
History of
-overstraining of lumbar spine
-lifting weight
-violent coughing
-Sudden stooping or twisting
PAIN
-Location in lower back.
-Radiates to gluteal region,back of thigh, calf, foot.
-Agonising pain
-Worse -by movement,coughing,stooping,turning,walking,bending forwards.
-Better by rest
Tingling,Numbness in calf,foot.

Monday, March 8, 2010

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that may affect nerves of the Brain and the Spinal cord.Multiple sclerosis affects transmission of electric signals to nerve cells.It is the most common cause of chronic neorological disability in young adults.It is not contagious.In MS the nerves of the CNS (brain and spinal cord )degenerate.(Myelin ,which provides a covering or insulation for nerves,improves the conduction of impulses along the nerves and also is maintaining the health of nerves.).In MS, Inflammation causes the myelin to eventually disappear.Thus, the electrical impulses that travel along the nerve deaccelerate i.e. become slower. The nerves are damaged.As more and more nerves are affected ,patient experiences a progressive interference with functions which are controlled by nervous system such as VISION,SPEECH,WALKING,WRITING and MEMORY.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

BEDSORES

Bedsores can occur when a person is bed ridden , unconscious, unable to sense pain or immobile.
Bedsores are ulcers that occur on area of the skin that are under pressure from lying in bed,sitting in a wheel chair,prolonged period of time.
WHY DOES A BEDSORE DEVELOPS?
It develops when blood supply to the skin is cut off for more than 2-3 hours.As the skin dries ,the bedsore starts as a red, painful area,which eventually turns purple.Left untreated ,the skin can break open and become infected.A bedsore can become deep extending into the muscle.Bedsores often occurs in the buttock area[on the SACRUM or ILIAC CREST],or on the heels of the feet.
PREVENTION
-Inspecting the skin for areas of redness
-Frequent turning and repositioning
Providing soft padding in wheel chairs and beds to reduce pressure
Keeping the skin clean and dry
TREATMENT
-Removing pressure on affected area
Protecting the wound with medicated gauze
Keeping the wound clean
Medication

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

ACNE-FACTS AND MYTHS WITH HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

ACNE is a disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands.The glands become clogged, leading to pimples and cysts.Acne most often begins in puberty, the male sex harmone ANDROGEN increases in both boys and girls causing the sebaceous glands to become more active resulting in increased production of oil.(sebum).
OTHER CAUSES OF ACNE
Harmone level changes during the menstrual cycle in women.
Certain drugs such as corticosteroids,lithium and barbiturates.
Bacteria inside pimples
Acne can be aggravated by squeezing the pimples or by scrubbing the skin too hard.
SYMPTOMS OF ACNE
Acne can occur anywhere in the body but often appears where there is a high concentration of sebaceous glands
face
chest
upperback
shoulders
neck
SYMPTOMS-
blackheads
whiteheads
pus filled lesions that may be painful
ACNE-FACTS AND MYTHS
DOES DIET AFFECT ACNE?
-no direct link has been found between acne and diet
-It is a myth that chocolate and fried food make acne worse
-However a good balanced diet will improve your general well being and this will be reflected in the condition of your skin.
DOES SEX AFFECT ACNE?
No,Although the sex harmone Testesterone is the primary cause of acne you do not develop acne because you have too much of the harmone or are oversexed.Masturbation and whether you have sex or not has no effect on acne and certainly does not cause it.
DOES ACNE BECOME WORSE BEFORE PERIODS?
Yes,many women notice that their acne gets worse 2-7 days before their periods startThis is due to changes in their harmone levels at this stage in the menstrual cycle.
WILL PREGNANCY IMPROVE ACNE?
Yes and no
.Somewomen's acne virtually disappears but often recurs at the end of pregnancy while for others'pregnancy heralds thereactivation of acne or the worsening of existing condition.
DOES SWEATING AFFECT ACNE?
Yes, Many sufferers find their Acne flares up when they have been sweating a lot
DO HUMID ATMOSPHERES MAKE ACNE WORSE.?
Yes'Going on a holiday to a very humid climate or working in an environment such as a kitchenor a steamroom can cause acne to flare up.
CAN MEDICINES MAKE ACNE WORSE?
Yes'Many medicines do this. Most commonly CORTICOSTEROIDS and ANTI-EPILEPSYDRUGS.
CAN COSMETICS MAKE ACNE WORSE?
Some cosmetics may induce blackhead formation in the skin.
CAN CLOTHES AFFECT ACNE?
Continual pressure from headband,tight bra straps and collars may cause spots in those areas of the skin.

CALLUSES AND CORNS

CALLUSES are protective pads made up of thickened upper layer of the skin due to repeated rubbing of the area.
CORNS are small calluses that develop on the top of the toes due to pressure or rubbing against shoes or other toes.
TREATMENT FOR CALLUSES AND CORNS-
calluses are usuaiiy painless but corns can be quiet painful.Sometimes,corns are confused with warts.calluses can be avoided by removing the source of the rubbingand thinning the callus with a pumice stone.Apply pads along the corn area. wear larger more comfortable shoes.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

HYPOTHYROIDISM AND ITS HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

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Harmones are named from the greek word HARMON-''meaning to urge or excite'' because they were first discovered to play a role in hunger sex flight or fight response.
Harmones serve within the body as invaluable messengers, governors of development and regulators of metabolism.
TH, found in all chordate animals is the only major biochemical molecule known to incorporate
IODINE, a substance common in the sea but rare on land
IODINE is essential to the structure of TH and iodine deficiency in the leading cause of disorders that may result in HYPOTHYROIDISM-is a condition characterised by abnormally low thyroid harmone production.There are many disorders that result in hypothyroidism.These disorders may directly or indirectly involve the thyroid gland.Because thyroid harmone affects growth,development and many cellular processes,inadequate thyroid harmone has widespread consequences for the body CAUSES OF HYPOTHYROIDISM
-chronic autoimmune thyroiditis(Hashimato's Thyroiditis), a form of thyroid inflammation caused by damage to the thyroid tissue.Damage occurs because immune cells which usually fight off infection and colds attack the body's own thyroid tissue instead.
-AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES-
rheumatoid arthritis
addison's disease
diabetes
vitiligo
-AGE-As age progresses hypothyroidism is common particularly in women
SURGERY-removal of thyroid gland
RADIOACTIVE IODINE THERAPY
SECONDARY HYPOTHYROIDISM -egdiseases of pituitary glandor hypothalamus may cause thyroid harmone deficiency.


TH is produced by the thyroid a butterfly shaped gland found behind the larynx in response to TSH. (Thyroid stimulating harmone which is released by the pituitary gland).
TH exists in two major forms -
LEVOTHYROXINE(T4)-with 4 iodine atoms per molecule is an inactive form that can be converted to
T3(TRIIODOTHYRONINE) with 3 iodine atoms per molecule is eight times more effective than T4. It is converted from T4 in the thyroid, brain, liver, blood stream and various tissues of the body.
EFFECTS OF THYROID IMBALANCE-HYPOTHYROIDISM-
  • SLEEPINESS
  • FATIGUE
  • APATHY
  • BRAINFAG
  • SHORT TERM MEMORY PROBLEMS
  • ATTENTION DEFICITS
  • INCREASED STRESS
  • DEPRESSION
  • CONSTIPATION
  • DECREASED LIBIDO
  • HAIR LOSS
  • DRY,ROUGH,PALE AND ITCHY SKIN
  • COLD INTOLERANCE
  • ABNORMAL MENSTRUAL CYCLES
  • HOARSE VOICE AND SLOW SPEECH
  • PUFFY SWOLLEN FACE AND DULL FACIAL EXPRESSIONS
  • IRRITABILITY.
  • NON PITTING OEDEMA
  • PITTING OEDEMA OF THE FEET
  • GOITER
  • MOOD SWINGS
severe hypothyroidism can cause symptoms similar to ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE-
  • MEMORY LOSS
  • CONFUSION
  • SLOWNESS
  • PARANOID DEPRESSION
  • HALLUCINATIONS in extreme stages
  • low TH LEVEL produces -
  • FATIGUE
  • HYPOGLYCAEMIA
  • SLOW DIGESTION OF FOOD
  • CONSTIPATON
  • INFERTILITY
  • SNORING
  • MUSCLES AND JOINTS ACHE
  • LOWERED STAMINA
  • SLOW HEART BEAT
  • B.P 70/50
LIVER does not function properly and produces excess cholesterol, fattyacids and triglycerides which increases the risk of heart disease.
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT FOR HYPOTHYROIDISM
dosesThere are excellent remedies in homeopathy for the patients suffering from hypothyroidism symptoms.The homeopathic remedies are prepared from a wide range of substances such as the vegetables,herb,mineral,chemicalsand animal products in extremely minute .The homeopathic remedy selected will be based on all the symptoms of the patient including physical,mental and emotional statesand family history of the patient.
Homeopathic remedies stimulate the bodys own immune systemand offer a long lasting cure rather than giving temporary relief
There are two ways to treat hypothyroidism-
-supplement body with external thyroid harmone
administer medicines that could stimulate the thyroid gland
The conventional method is to supplement the harmone.But the problem here is that the body gets used to itand stops producing its own harmone in desired quantity.
In case of homeopathic treatment it tries to stimulate the gland to make it producenormal production of harmone.

HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINES USED IN HYPOTHYROIDISM-
NATRUM-MURIATICUM
SEPIA
CALCAREA-CARB
KALI-CARB
THYROIDINUM



Monday, March 1, 2010

POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME AND ITS HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT

DEFINITION-

  • POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN DISEASE (PCOD) or POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME (PCOS) is a disease characterized by multiple (poly) cysts (small sacks filled with fluid) in the ovaries

SYMPTOMS-

  • HIRSUTISM (excessive hair growth on the face, chest, back)
  • CENTRAL OBESITY (weight gain and difficulty in losing weight)
  • ACNE, OILY SKIN, DANDRUFF
  • MALE PATTERN BALDNESS
  • AMENORRHOEA or OLIGOMENORRHOEA
  • RAISED SERUM CONCENTRATION OF TESTOSTERONE AND OR LH
  • IN PCOS, the associated metabolic abnormalities (abnormal serum lipid concentrations and insulin resistance) also put women at an increased risk of developing DIABETES MELLITUS
  • ANOVULATORY INFERTILITY
  • MOOD SWINGS AND DEPRESSION
  • THINNING OF HAIRS
  • HIGH CHOLESTEROL
  • HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
INVESTIGATIONS-


  • ENDOCRINE TESTS
  • IMAGING THE OVARIES
TREATMENT-


  • COMBINATION OF WEIGHT LOSS AND EXERCISE MAY STIMULATE OVULATION
  • ANTI-OESTROGEN
  • METFORMIN

HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT-There arenot any specific homeopathic remedies that are designed for the treatment of PCOS. However,there are homeopathic treatments that may help a woman with PCOS .The most common form of homeopathic treatments that address the general well being of the person.

One of the Homeopathic treatments for PCOS is NAT -MUR. NAT-MUR isprescribed for a variety of symptoms such as eczema,vertigo,oralthrushand premenstrualtension

Another treatment is LYCOPODIUM. LYCO is used for vomiting ,indigestion,bloating,constipation,anxiety and insomnia.

SEPIA is also sometimes used. SEPIA is generally used for a variety of female difficulties that centre around the uterus ,vagina,or ovaries.

LACHESIS ,is also used in PCOS.lachesis is used for blood poisoning,circulation difficulties with menstruation,menopause,tonsillitis and uterine problems.

OOPHORINUM is found to be useful in certain patients.

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