What are Health Benefits Of Lemon Essential Oil? | Lemon Essential Oil Medicinal Uses and Benefits | Good for Hair Growths With Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon oil has a very fresh, sweet and citrusy fragrance that is not just good to smell, but also provides numerous health benefits. This plant has derived its name from the Arabic word laimun or the Persian word ‘limun’. The credit for introducing this plant in Europe goes to the crusaders. The method employed for digging out the oil from the fruit is cold compression. Due to its fresh fragrance, it is often used by Japanese in the making of several perfumes and foods.

Lemon oil is calming in nature and therefore helps in removing mental fatigue, exhaustion, dizziness, anxiety, nervousness and nervous tension. It has to ability to refresh the mind by creating a positive mind-frame and removing negative emotions. It is also believed that inhaling lemon oil helps in increasing concentration and alertness. It can therefore be used as a room freshener in offices to increase the efficiency of the employees.Usage of lemon oil ensures good sleep and helps those suffering from insomnia.Lemon oil has high vitamin content and therefore it helps in increasing the immunity of the body. It further stimulated White Blood Cells and thus increases your ability to fight diseases. Lemon oil also improves the circulation in the body.

Lemon essential oil also has many other properties. These include refreshing, antiseptic, stimulating, antimicrobial, anti rheumatic, astringent, bactericidal, and insecticidal. The most widely known uses of lemon essential oil are its cleansing, refreshing and alerting properties. A lot of employers use this scent to keep their staff alert. It is also no coincidence that many cleaning products come in lemon scents, although of course the chemically duplicated fragrances can not imitate the aroma-therapeutic benefits of the natural essential lemon substances.

Lemon is useful in the treatment of hypertension, varicose veins, circulation difficulties, digestive problems, warts and verrucas. Lemon is also useful in skincare in treating oily skin and rejuvenating dull skin; it reputedly increases concentration and awareness and helps to eliminate emotional confusion. Lemon is also thought to be an anti-depressant and anti-microbial. Lemon is a photosensitive oil which means exposure to sunlight should be avoided when using it, particularly in the first few hours after use.

The most common way to create a beautiful atmosphere or disinfect a room is to add essential oils to a vaporiser which can be made from different materials ceramic, terra cotta, metal or glass with two separate parts the top one for water and essential oils and the bottom part for housing a tea light candle to provide the gentle heat.When purchasing a vaporiser opt for one with a large top reservoir so you don’t need to constantly top it up.

The general rule is about 8 to 15 drops of essential oil in the water in the top reservoir, depending on the size of reservoir and the size of the room. Ensure your vaporiser is placed on a heatproof stand away from draughts.As the water heats, the essential oils will be diffused. Keep an eye on the bowl to ensure the water doesn’t totally evaporate. If it evaporates before the essential oil has been vaporised, you could end up with a spatter. And never leave the house with a candle burning.

Health Benefits:

1.Avoids tiredness:Lemon essential oil is refreshing and stimulating and increase the circulating. It is helpful in removing mental as well as physical tiredness.

2.Avoids overweight:Lemon juice is very helpful in reducing weight.

3.Haircare:Lemon oil is also effective as a hair tonic. Many people use lemon essential oil to get strong, healthy and shinning hair. Lemon oil is also used for removing dandruff.

4.Skincare:Lemon oil is a good remedy for the increasing the luster of dull skin. It is astringent and detoxifying in nature, and rejuvenates dull skin. Its antiseptic properties help in treating pimples and various skin disorders. Pressed from lemons with a fresh scent, it is used to reduce sebum production and is beneficial for aging skin, and it helps to reduce scars and stretch marks

5.Prevents stomach disorders:Since lemon essential oil is carminative, it is used in treating various stomach problems including indigestion, acidity, stomach upsets, cramps.

6.Fights diseases:Lemon oil is effective against infectious diseases such as malaria and typhoid. It cam also help bring down fever, relieve throat infections, asthma and fever.

7.Promotes immune system:Lemon oil has high vitamin content and therefore it helps to increase the immunity of the body. It further stimulated white blood cells and thus increases your ability to fight diseases. Lemon oil also improves the circulation in the body.

8.Prevents insomnia:Lemon essential oil promotes sleep and helps those suffering from insomnia.

9.Reduces stress:Lemon oil is calming in nature and therefore helps in removing mental fatigue, exhaustion, dizziness, anxiety, nervousness and nervous tension. It has the ability to refresh the mind by creating a positive mind-frame and removing negative emotions. It is also believed that inhaling lemon essential oil helps in increasing concentration and awareness.

10.Asthma:It is believed that lemon is also useful for treating asthma.

Spring greens – What are Spring greens Health Benefits? | Nutrition Values Of Spring greens | Health Benefits Of Spring greens

Spring greens are a cultivar of Brassica oleracea in the cultivar Acephala Group, similar to kale, in which the central leaves do not form a head or form only a very loose one. It is considered to be closer to wild cabbage than most other domesticated forms, and is grown primarily in northern Europe, where its tolerance of cold winters is valued for an early spring supply of edible leaves. The Cultivar Group Acephala also includes curly kale and collard greens, which are extremely similar genetically.

The term is also used more loosely to refer to thinnings and trimmed-off leaves of other types of Brassica, including turnip and swede leaves, surplus thinned out young cabbage plants and leaves from cauliflower and brussels sprouts.In all cases, the leaves, being loose, are fully exposed to light, and so are dark green, coarse, often tough, and more strongly flavoured than many people prefer, but are also particularly rich in vitamin C, folic acid and dietary fibre, making them a very healthy food.

Spring Greens With Fennel and Herbs is a fresh, clean tasting combination of greens and fresh herbs. Adding fresh herbs has its perks: Tarragon contains terpene, a phytochemical that helps stimulate cancer protective enzymes, and parsley contains powerful antioxidants that stimulate the immune system.Fresh green beans are low in calories, fat and sodium but high in fiber, vitamins A and C and potassium, while a blush of red radish adds eye appeal.

1.May also test your reflexes with a rubber reflex hammer

2.Examine your back and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs

These assessments help determine where the pain comes from, how much you can move before pain forces you to stop and whether you have muscle spasms. They will also help rule out more serious causes of back pain.

If there is reason to suspect that you have a tumor, fracture, infection or other specific condition that may be causing your back pain, your doctor may order one or more tests:

1.Nerve studies (electromyography, or EMG). This test measures the electrical impulses produced by the nerves and the responses of your muscles. Studies of your nerve-conduction pathways can confirm nerve compression caused by herniated disks or narrowing of your spinal canal (spinal stenosis).

2.Bone scan. In rare cases, your doctor may use a bone scan to look for bone tumors or compression fractures caused by osteoporosis. In this procedure, you’ll receive an injection of a small amount of a radioactive substance (tracer) into one of your veins. The substance collects in your bones and allows your doctor to detect bone problems using a special camera.

3.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) scans. These scans can generate images that may reveal herniated disks or problems with bones, muscles, tissue, tendons, nerves, ligaments and blood vessels.

4.X-ray. These images show the alignment of your bones and whether you have arthritis or broken bones. X-ray images won’t directly show problems with your spinal cord, muscles, nerves or disks.

5.Blood and urine tests. Your doctor may order these lab tests to determine whether an underlying disease or infection may be contributing to your back pain.

Back pain diagnosis is the right step to cure the serious medical problem of back pain. Although it is not a life threatening disease, any negligence may lead to severe complications. Any neglect may greatly affect the mobility of the patient. Generally, identifying true symptoms of pain may be very difficult. Symptoms are normal and mostly you tend to ignore them. However, any delay in first diagnosing and then treating it may prove disastrous. The onus is definitely on you to take the right steps to eradicate this problem.

As mentioned above symptoms are complex pay special attention to each and every development taking place in your body. Diagnosing back pain becomes more important in the event of any sudden injury. In that scenario, suffering from back pain immediately may not always be the case. There is every possibility of it surfacing after a month or two. You may face it intermittently and in several regions. Sometimes, patients make a mistake of confusing it with other type of pain like muscular pain. Never reach a decision without knowing exact facts. Some particular symptoms always arise, so make a list of all such symptoms and provide your physician with the same. This really helps the doctor understand your condition. Scientific technologies may detect pain caused by tumor, fractures, infection and so on. Nevertheless, in some cases detecting it may be an uphill task. Back ache diagnosis at home is always the first step towards overall treatment. One examination may not be enough to find out the right causes. More than one examination is needed to arrive at the right decision.

Medical history:Heart problems, cancer, arthritis and other serious conditions are included in the medical and family history. The patient should report about:
Any history of accidents or injuries involving back, neck or hips.Any indications of a serious underlying disease like unexplained weight loss, chronic infection, and alike.Any conditions that may be worsening the pain like coughing, exercise or walking.Any position that may provide a relief from the pain like exercise or lying down.Previous episodes of back pain.Nature of the pain including its frequency and duration (whether it is fierce, dull, or burning like)Timing of back pain (night or day)Problems related to urination or defecation.
Other important symptoms like morning stiffness, numbness or weakness in the legs.

Physical examination:The main aim of this examination is to locate the specific source of pain and determine limits of movement. In this patients are asked to:
Stand, sit and walk in different ways like flat-footed, on the toes, on their heels, and alike.Walk on a treadmill to test weakness in toes or heel walking, if any.Bend forward, backwards and sideways and to twist.
Lift their leg straight up while lying down as pain caused by inflammation gets dull and is not affected by lifting a straight leg.Get the circumference of the calves and thighs to be measured which helps in detecting muscle deterioration.To test nerve functions and reflexes by using pin, cotton swab.

So, these two tests are always necessary and essential for diagnosing the causes of any kind of back pain. However, if a reason arises which suspects fracture, tumor, infection or any other condition to be a cause of your back pain, your doctor may order some tests like X-rays, MRI and CT scan, bone scan and electro-diagnostic tests to confirm the situation. All these tests help in diagnosing the causes of back pain with the help of detailed pictures or images of the soft tissues or other parts affecting the pain.

Blood tests

1.Blood culture for vertebral osteomyelitis
2.Serum electrophoresis for Multiple myeloma
3.Rheumatoid factor for Rheumatoid arthritis
4.HLA-B27 antigen test fro Ankylosing Spondylitis and Reiter’s disease
5.Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) in males if appropriate
6.Calcium, Phosphate and Alkaline phosphatase
7.Full blood count and ESR

Conditions affecting the spine include spinal degeneration from disc wear and tear, which can narrow the spinal canal and cause back stiffness and pain, especially upon awakening or after prolonged walking or standing. Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, a condition that is present from birth. Both conditions increase the likelihood of back pain from disc disease. Spondylitis, or inflammation of the spinal joints, is characterized by chronic back pain and stiffness.

Anatomical abnormalities of the skeleton subject the vertebrae and supporting structures to increased strain, and often manifest as back pain. Scoliosis is an asymmetric curvature of the spine to one side. Kyphosis, or dowager’s hump, refers to a pronounced rounding of the normal forward curve of the upper back, whereas lordosis (swayback) is an exaggeration of the normal backward arch in the lower back.

The type and severity of the back pain will depend on the condition that’s causing the pain. However, various causes of back pain may produce similar symptoms.

Low back pain may come on suddenly or gradually.

1.Low back pain may or may not radiate down into the leg.

2.Low back pain lasting longer than three months is termed “chronic.”

3.When low back pain is intense or “acute,” it usually lasts a brief period such as a few days to several weeks.

Pain from injury to the muscles or ligaments of the back is usually confined to the back, and depending on the cause may or may not be aggravated by bending the back.

Pain from pressure on the sciatic nerve The nerve that serves the legs and originates from several levels of the lower back.due to a herniated disc A disc that is displaced from its position between two vertebrae, with injury to the annular ligament., or any condition that compresses the nerve, may be felt as:

1.The pain may be worsened by sitting or standing for long periods

2.Pain that is usually located on one side, but may radiate down both legs if the disc is pressing on the nerve roots to both legs.

3.Pain that gets worse with sneezing or coughing.

4.A sharp pain down part of the leg, with numbness in certain parts of the leg.

5.Mild pain in the hip or part of the leg, or tingling in these regions

These symptoms may accompany back pain – or they may be felt without any accompanying back pain at all. These symptoms are commonly called “sciatica An inflammation of the sciatic nerve usually marked by tenderness along the course of the nerve through the buttocks, thigh, and leg. ” – pain radiating into the hip or down the leg – due to the pressure on the nerve roots that make up the sciatic nerve, the great nerve of the leg.

With spinal stenosis Narrowing of a portion of the spinal canal, usually because of bony overgrowth.(the condition in which the spinal canal is narrowed and the area in the spine where the nerves pass through may be tight), the pain is often felt in both legs as well, particularly when walking. It is sometimes improved when bending forward.

Back pain is one of most common health problems found in adults across the world today. The most common type of back pain is lower back pain. The lower part of the back suffers the most because it endures the maximum pressure during physical activities and hence it is the most vulnerable to damage. Luckily, most of the back pain problems are temporary, often caused due to excessive pressure on the muscles or ligaments supporting the spine. However, if the pain is due to serious injury or some medical ailment such as kidney damage, cancer or nerve damage then it will have to be treated with patience and proper medical assistance.

Back Pain Signs and Warnings:

Back pain can be caused due to various factors. Almost 90% of back problems occur due to poor posture. The back muscles are under maximum pressure while sitting on chairs that do not provide adequate support to the spine, thus resulting in acute back pain. It can also be caused due to bending or lifting heavy objects which can cause a small tear of the muscles or ligaments resulting in strain in the back.

It is very important to observe these pains and their exact locations to establish their true nature. Generally doctors say that due to the lack of specific characteristics of the pain, they find it difficult to provide an effective solution. Hence these symptoms of back pain need to be observed over a period of time before prescribing any treatment. In order to help your doctor with the back pain diagnosis, you need to observe the back pain symptoms with great care. Some of the most common symptoms of back pain are:

1. Pain associated with weight loss or bowel problems.
2. Becoming immobile due to back pain.
3. Pain worsening while coughing or sneezing.
4. Pain radiating down the legs.
5. Numbness or weakness in the legs.
6. Pain encountered while getting up from the bed.
7. Continuous pain or stiffness in the area around the waist.
8. Pain felt after long hours of sitting or standing in a particular position such as a long car drive.
9. Pain felt during normal back movements such as bending, walking, doing any sports activity.

Apart from being the most common symptoms of back pain, the above are also the most ignored symptoms of back pain. Ignorance of these common symptoms can lead to chronic back pain. If these symptoms are attended to at an early stage, it can prevent severe damage to your spinal cord. Though there is no reason to get scared as soon as you feel pain in the lower back, you do need to watch out for these symptoms and consult your doctor promptly for advice.

Weight Loss – How Can Lose Fat But Without Losing Muscle? | Lose Fat Without Losing Body Muscle | Natural Weight Loss

women want to lose fat and men want to build muscle. Women tend to shy away from weight training for fear that they will become too muscular and appear manly. Women are also more likely to try to lose fat by turning to fad diets and other unhealthy means. Men, on the other hand, tend to be so focused on bulking up that they don’t think about losing fat or eating a healthy diet. Men tend to make the mistake of eating large amounts of calories, mostly in the form of starchy carbs and fatty foods, which only leads to a lower metabolism and more weight gain.Over the last 12 years, with more than 10,000 clients, I have found by reducing carbohydrates by 20% of daily needs and within 48 hours replenishing the glycogen in the muscle by eating 100% of daily carbohydrate requirements, allows for fat loss, without muscle loss. In essence you have two fat burning days, then a recovery day. By doing this you will have the best of both worlds.

Concept number one it that fat can never transform into muscle. Fat must be burned off and can be burned off quicker as you develop larger muscles. There is no way possible for it to transform into muscle as it lacks needed proteins and amino acids to make this happen. Concept number two is that muscle can never turn into fat, ever! What typically happens is people reduce their workout and have the same diet. All of the extra calories being consumed are not burned off by your normal workout you did before and your muscles start to shrink from lack of exercise.

Exercising on days where muscle are getting more carbohydrates for fuel and taking days off from exercise when you are being aggressive about fat loss. One of the most difficult thoughts for exercisers to accept is that most of the results from exercise come when we are not exercising. They come after we exercise and in direct response to how the muscles receive nutrition after exercise.The management of this blood sugar rise and drop is important. If blood sugar levels go to high insulin feeds the muscle cells and deposits excess into fat cells. If insulin levels go too low, the muscle cells are being under fed. A slow rise in blood sugar provides good nutrition to the muscles and a slow drop allows glucagon to take from the fat cells. Timing your exercise to this blood sugar decline allows the muscles to receive from the fat cells more effectively.

If you are overweight, the real problem is that you have too much body fat for how much muscle you possess. A body composition solution is needed, not just a weight loss diet. Your goal should be to lose fat without losing muscle or sacrificing your health in the process. To maintain your results your eating habits must develop life long character. Low carbohydrate diets provide initial weight loss, but at the high cost of losing muscle and reducing metabolism. They are inadequate sources of fuel to support exercise activity, which is vital in maintaining good health.This is not something that you will do for a few months and then go back to your old ways. This is a lifestyle change that you will maintain for years to come, if not for the rest of your life. Your diet should help you lose fat, gain muscle and raise your metabolism.

My rule of thumb is this I try to make sure that at least 75% of my meals are really clean and low calorie. If I do decide to eat a bit junky, I will try to make sure it is after a long and hard workout. Also I will eat pretty low carbs during the day before my workout, to maximize the amount of fat burned in my workout. If you have too much carbs in your system while working out, your body will burn carbs instead of the fat off your body.Vitamin B12 is needed for the formation of blood cells and nerve fibres. Zinc is needed for growth of tissues, immune function, and wound healing. Magnesium is needed for bone development and nerve and muscle function. It is also necessary for the function of some enzymes involved in energy utilization.

The pain can often be divided into neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain or tailbone pain. It may have a sudden onset or can be a chronic pain; it can be constant or intermittent, stay in one place or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may be radiate into the arm and hand), in the upper back, or in the low back, (and might radiate into the leg or foot), and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.

Back pain is one of humanity’s most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.[1]

The spine is a complex interconnecting network of nerves, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and all are capable of producing pain. Large nerves that originate in the spine and go to the legs and arms can make pain radiate to the extremities.

Back pain is one of the most common physical complaints among adults – and a chief cause of misery for many. At some point in their lives, most people will experience some sort of back discomfort.

Back pain describes pain or discomfort felt in the upper, middle, or lower back. The pain may extend to the hips and legs. The back consists of a complex arrangement of bone, ligaments, joints, muscles, and nerves, and pain can result from a problem with any of these components.

The most common type of back pain is low back pain. That’s because the lower portion of the back is under the most pressure when a person is sitting or lifting, and it can be easily damaged.

Back pain is an easily recognizable problem that can bring on a number of sensations. It can present itself in any location along the spine, a stack of 26 bones connected by ligaments, muscles and shock-absorbing disks.

Back pain is one of the most common complaints brought to doctors in the United States. Over six million cases are seen annually, with the majority being in the lower back. It’s expensive, too, ranking 3rd after heart disease and cancer. Around 80 percent of people get back pain sometime in their lives. Although back pain can be categorized in a number of ways, the most obvious is by location. Many types of back problems can occur almost anywhere along the spine.

As you probably already know, back pain is a very common complaint. About three in four adults will experience back pain during their lifetime—and that number may very well rise, given our aging population and recent trend of obesity.

Low back pain (pain in your lumbar spine) is the most common. Most back pain comes from sprains and strains caused by stressful movements: lifting something without using proper techniques or a sudden twisting motion are just two examples of how you can hurt your back.

If your back pain is caused by a muscle sprain or strain, that usually heals on its own—just give it time. Your recovery can also be helped along by modest medical attention, such as over-the-counter or prescription medications. You could also use heat or ice packs, or even get a massage.

Sometimes, though, back pain is caused by a more severe spinal condition, such as a herniated disc or spondylosis. Depending on the severity of your pain and its cause, you may require more involved medical help, such as physical therapy or even surgery.

But please keep this in mind: just because you have back pain doesn’t mean you’ll need serious medical attention or surgery. It does mean that you’re in good company and that you have an array of treatment options to get you feeling better.

Strengthening Exercises:Muscle weakness or imbalance is one of the first things physical therapists check for when evaluating knee pain. Such an imbalance can be the source of pain. In addition to specific muscle strengthening of the muscles that support the knee (quads, hamstrings, calf), building core strength improves overall stability which may reduce the risk of injury.

The balance of quadriceps to hamstring strength is not 1:1; but closer to 3:2. In general healthy hamstrings can lift 60 – 80% of what healthy quads can do.
More about Conditioning Exercises.

Flexibility:Athletes who are less flexible than average may benefit from flexibility exercises. This is more critical in athletes involved in stop and go sports or those that require quick cuts and turns. Improving flexibility in the quadriceps, and the hamstrings are helpful. For specific stretching

1.Optimize your technique. If you’re involved in a sport or activity on a regular basis, it’s important to have the best technique possible so that proper movement patterns are trained.

2.Listen to your body. If your knees hurt, or you feel fatigued, don’t be a hero — take a break. You’re much more likely to injure yourself when you’re tired.

3.Baby your knees. Wearing proper gear for knee-sensitive activities can help prevent injuries. Use kneepads when playing volleyball or laying carpet and buckle your seat belt every time you drive. Most shattered kneecaps occur in car accidents.

4.Make sure your shoes fit well. A well-fitting shoe helps you maintain stability. Choose footwear that’s appropriate for your sport. Running shoes aren’t designed for pivots and turns, for instance, but tennis and racquetball shoes are.

5.Be smart about exercise. If you have osteoarthritis, chronic knee pain or recurring injuries, you may need to change the way you exercise. That doesn’t mean you have to stop being active, but it does mean being smart about when and how you work out. If your knees ache after jogging or playing basketball or other sports that give your joints a real pounding, consider switching to swimming, water aerobics or other low-impact activities — at least for a few days a week. Sometimes simply limiting high-impact activities will provide relief.

6.Get strong, stay limber. Because weak muscles are a leading cause of knee injuries, you’ll benefit from building up your quadriceps and hamstrings, which support your knees. Try knee extensions, hamstring curls and leg presses to strengthen these muscles. Balance and stability training helps the muscles around your knees work together more effectively. And because tight muscles also can lead to injury, stretching is important. Try to include flexibility exercises in your workouts.

7.Keep extra pounds off. Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for your knees — every extra pound puts additional strain on your joints, increasing the risk of ligament and tendon injuries and even osteoarthritis.

Knee pain is slowly becoming common among larger portion of the population. Knee pain is a matter of concern among people of various age groups especially older individuals. Your knee pain treatment should aim towards removing the cause of the knee pain rather than just covering up the pain. Your doctor should identify the root cause of your knee pain and should work toward uprooting the cause of the problem.

Nutritional supplements:To improve the joint’s mobility and decrease knee pain from arthritis, nutritional supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin may be used. Both of these are naturally occurring substances found in cartilage. Glucosamine is thought to promote the growth of new cartilage and repair damaged cartilage while chondroitin is believed to inhibit cartilage-destroying enzymes and promote water retention, improving the elasticity of the cartilage. Talk to your physician before taking these supplements.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:Temporary pain can be alleviated by reducing the inflammation of the tissue in the knee. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be recommended to decrease the inflammation associated with arthritis. Aspirin, ibuprofen and ketoprofen are over-the-counter NSAIDs which reduce inflammation and swelling along with prescribed NSAIDs available through your physician.

Most medication that falls in the anti-inflammatory category also has analgesic effects, says William Bargar, MD, director of the Joint Replacement Center with Sutter General Hospital in Sacramento, Calif., and a spokesman for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The main over-the-counter drugs are acetaminophen (Tylenol and other brands) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (or NSAIDs), including aspirin (such as Bayer), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (Aleve). These can help with simple sprains or even arthritis.

Dr. Bargar points out that even though knee pain-relieving medication is available without a prescription, you should use care when taking it. Be sure to follow the instructions for any medication and read the warnings.

“What you also have to watch for is that some of these over-the-counter drugs are sold as ‘arthritis strength,’ and that means they are larger doses. For example, too much arthritis-strength Tylenol can damage the liver,” he says. “Ibuprofen can cause gastrointestinal damage, such as ulcers and bleeding, if you take too much. You have to be careful about overdoing it with over-the-counter drugs for knee pain.” Another option to try is glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are oral supplements believed to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis. Side effects can include headache, upset stomach, and skin reactions. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that these supplements might help you during the earliest stages of knee pain caused by osteoarthritis, but it can take up to two months of consecutive use to notice any relief. Be sure to tell your doctor you are taking the supplements, because they can interfere with other medication.

Topical Medications:Some prescription topical creams contain an NSAID that is absorbed through your skin directly to the area where it is needed. The amount of drug absorbed by the bloodstream is minimal, eliminating or significantly reducing the side effects associated with oral NSAIDs. Because some medication still gets into the bloodstream, if you are taking oral NSAIDs for knee osteoarthritis you may have to reduce the dosage of your medication.

Corticosteroids:In severe cases of knee osteoarthritis, where mobility is severely restricted, corticosteroids (steroids) can be injected into the knee joint for quick relief that can last from weeks to months to years. Steroid medications have powerful anti-inflammatory properties but also can have serious side effects. Used too frequently, they can actually lead to more cartilage degradation. In knee osteoarthritis, corticosteroids are not given orally because the side effects outweigh the benefits.

BT Brinjal – What is BT Brinjal? | BT Brinjal

Bacillus Thuringiensis Brinjal, popularly known as Bt brinjal, is at the centre of a major controversy in India.Bt brinjal, a genetically modified strain created by India’s number one seeds company Mahyco in collaboration with American multinational Monsanto, claims to improve yields and help the agriculture sector.However, the debate over the safety of Bt brinjal continues with mixed views from scientists working for the government, farmers and environment activists.

The genetic material of GM crops is altered to help either producers or consumers. In India, BT cotton is the only commercially approved biotech crop. BT brinjal has been developed by The Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company. It’s been tweaked to resist a particular strain of pest that affects the vegetable.Mahcyo argues that BT brinjal helps farmers because it’s sturdier, and therefore results in higher yield, while allowing them to save on pesticides. “Bt brinjal is going to increase yield by 100 per cent. It will reduce pesticide consumption to the extent of 60 per cent,” explains M K Sharma, General Manager, Mahyco.

The minister also clarified that the moratorium was to the version of Bt Brinjal being developed by Maharashtra-based firm Mahyco. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, the University of Agriculture in Dharwad (Karnataka) and two laboratories of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research are also developing genetically modified versions of brinjal.

By sowing Bt brinjal, hardly one or two sprays are required against the insect attack. But the number of sprays may increase depending upon the intensity of pest infestation, said Mahendra Kumar Sharma, general manager, Mahyco, who is also closely monitoring the developments of Bt brinjal.Launched about six years ago, Bt cotton has covered almost 70 per cent of the area under cotton in India. This is likely to rise further to 80 per cent this year. A change in farming techniques has revolutionalised the living standards of cotton farmers by enriching them monetarily.

Commonly referred to by the acronym P.R.I.C.E., self-care measures for an injured knee include:

1. Elevation. Because gravity drains away fluids that might otherwise accumulate after an injury, elevating your knee can help reduce swelling. Try propping your injured leg on pillows or sitting in a recliner.

2.Compression. This helps prevent fluid buildup (edema) in damaged tissues and maintains knee alignment and stability. Look for a compression bandage that’s lightweight, breathable and self-adhesive. It should be tight enough to support your knee without interfering with circulation.

3.Ice. A staple for most acute injuries, ice reduces both pain and inflammation. Some doctors recommend applying ice to your injured knee for about 20 minutes three times a day. A bag of frozen peas works well because it covers your whole knee. You can also use an ice pack wrapped in thin fabric to protect your skin. Although ice therapy is generally safe and effective, don’t leave ice on longer than recommended because of the risk of damage to your nerves and skin.

4.Rest. Taking a break from your normal activities reduces repetitive strain on your knee, gives the injury time to heal and helps prevent further damage. A day or two of rest may be all that’s needed for minor injuries. More severe damage is likely to need a longer recovery time.

5.Protection. The best way to protect your knee from further damage depends on the type and severity of your injury. For most minor injuries, a compression wrap is usually sufficient. More-serious injuries, such as a torn ACL or high-grade collateral ligament sprain, usually require crutches and sometimes also a brace to help stabilize the joint with weight bearing.

Knee pain treatment exercises can help control your knee pain. Strengthening and stretching your quadriceps and hamstrings will both improve and protect your knee. The exercises prevent stiffness and make your knee less vulnerable to injury, according to thephysiotherapysite.co.uk. Do the exercises several times daily to get the best results. Check with your doctor prior to starting any exercise program to avoid injury.

Straight Leg Lift:Straight leg lifts help strengthen your quadriceps, or thigh muscles, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Lie on your back to do this knee pain treatment exercise. Bend your healthy knee while keeping your injured leg straight on the surface. Tighten your abdominal muscles to keep your lower back firmly against the floor. Tighten the thigh muscles in your painful leg. Slowly lift your straight leg 12 inches off the floor. Hold this position for five seconds. Slowly lower your leg back to the original position. Repeat this exercise five times. Make certain you do not arch your back during this exercise. You also do not want to use a sudden, jerking motion to lift your leg.

Water Walking:Walking in water can help your knee pain. Walking is good for your body, but walking in water places less impact on your joints. The water’s natural buoyancy supports your body weight, which helps diminish your knee pain. Water provides 12 times the resistance of land-based exercises, which also helps you strengthen and build muscle, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Get into waist or chest-deep water. Walk as you would on land. Stand upright with your shoulders back. Bend your arms slightly and keep your chest lifted. Make certain your feet touch the pool’s bottom to avoid any injury. Tighten your abdominal muscles to avoid straining your back. Slowly stride forward at your own pace. If walking in shallow water, walk across the width of the pool. Relax for 10 seconds when you reach the opposite side. Walk back to your original starting point. Repeat this exercise five times. If you are walking in chest-deep water, walk the pool’s perimeter. Hold onto the pool’s side with your hand, if desired. The deeper the water, the more intense your workout.