Skin Care Facts

Despite more than a decade of controversy over their safety, breast implants are more popular than ever among women who want to build upon what nature gave them or who want to restore what disease has taken away. Whatever the reason, opting for breast implants is a personal decision that should be made only after a woman fully understands and accepts the potential risks of the devices and the importance of follow-up evaluations with her physician.

Some people see an enormous benefit to getting implants and are willing to accept associated risks. They say that using breast implants to rebuild the breast (reconstruction), or change its size and shape (augmentation), significantly improves the quality of life for many women. Advocates of breast implants also say that a woman’s consent to the surgery should be considered valid as long as she weighs the risks and benefits of the procedure.

While every surgical procedure has potential risks, such as infection, bleeding, and scarring, there are risks that are specific to breast implants. Learning about them is key to being properly informed about the procedure.

A Primer on Breast Implants
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), there were nearly 255,000 breast enhancement implant surgeries in 2003, nearly twice the number done in 1998. Another 68,000 women received breast implants for reconstruction following mastectomy due to cancer or other disease.

But also in 2003, 45,000 augmentation patients and 17,000 reconstruction patients had their breast implants removed. The medical community and others, including the Food and Drug Administration, would like to better understand why.

Breast implants are designed for augmentation, a cosmetic procedure; reconstruction; and replacement of existing implants, called revision. There are two primary types: saline-filled and silicone gel-filled. Depending on the type of implant, the shell is either pre-filled with a fixed volume of solution or filled through a valve during the surgery to the desired size. Some allow for adjustments of the filler volume after surgery. Breast implants vary in shape, size, and shell texture.

At this time, there are two manufacturers with approved saline-filled breast implants. No manufacturer has yet received FDA approval to market a silicone gel-filled breast implant.

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The Silicone Controversy
Breast implants were first marketed in the early 1960s, before the 1976 Medical Device Amendments to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act required a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness to be shown for certain medical devices. The 1976 law gave the FDA authority over such devices, but breast implants were “grandfathered” into the regulatory scheme, meaning that manufacturers were not required to provide the agency with scientific evidence of product safety unless questions arose about the safety and effectiveness of these already-marketed devices. Silicone was initially assumed by manufacturers to be biologically inactive and, therefore, to have no harmful effects.

But over the years, questions did arise about the effects of silicone on the body. In 1991, the FDA published a regulation that required manufacturers of silicone gel-filled breast implants to submit premarket approval applications (PMAs). This requirement meant that the FDA needed to agree that the manufacturer has presented data showing a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness in order for the devices to remain on the market.

In January 1992, the FDA called for a voluntary moratorium–a delay on the use of these implants–until new safety information could be thoroughly reviewed. The moratorium was not intended to “ban” the implants, but instead to allow time to review the new safety information.

In April 1992, the agency decided that no PMA yet submitted contained sufficient safety and effectiveness data to support approval. However, access to these silicone gel-filled breast implants would continue for women enrolled in certain clinical studies.

In the years that followed that decision, thousands of women filed lawsuits against the manufacturers of silicone gel-filled implants, claiming the devices had caused serious ailments, such as connective tissue diseases, neurological diseases, and cancer. Consumer groups repeatedly filed petitions urging more studies on the implants. But many women said they were pleased with their implants, including cancer patients who had pleaded for the opportunity to choose silicone gel-filled implants for reconstruction.

A Turn of Events
In October 2003, the FDA held a two-day advisory panel meeting to discuss a manufacturer’s PMA for a silicone gel-filled breast implant. Some people complained that the meeting was premature in light of the fact that long-term studies had not been completed, but the FDA proceeded because the agency was required by law to consider the pending PMA within a specified time frame. The meeting also provided patients and others with timely access to information and expert analyses on the issue. The issues before the panel reflected much of the decades-long debate over the implants. Moreover, the meeting provided a valuable public forum for discussing the issue from many diverse perspectives and for raising important additional questions.

As a panel member, Benjamin O. Anderson, M.D., voted with the majority to recommend that the FDA approve the new PMA, but only with specific conditions. Anderson says he wants to avoid getting into the business of determining how a woman defines the value of breast reconstruction or augmentation.

“The use of implants and augmentation conjures up some social judgments that may well be unfair,” says Anderson, a professor of surgery and director of the University of Washington’s Breast Health Center. Rather than deciding that no woman can have access to silicone gel-filled implants because a small number may be at risk for certain illnesses, he says, “I believe the better approach is to make the devices available and inform all women of the degree of risk involved.”

That, according to Anderson, “is reasonable informed consent.”

In January 2004–contrary to the recommendation of the agency’s advisory panel–the FDA determined that the new silicone gel-filled breast implant PMA was “not approvable” at that time. This meant that the implants were not approved for marketing pending additional information, but that women would continue to have limited access to them by enrolling in clinical studies.

“The public scientific process that has been used to consider these devices is fully consistent with the FDA’s mission–to use the best available science to protect and promote the public health interests of the American people,” says Linda Kahan, deputy director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH).

Also in January 2004, the agency released a draft of its new guidelines for companies submitting breast implant PMAs, explaining the scientific issues that the FDA recommends be addressed as part of their applications. The guidance document reflects the FDA’s current thinking about new scientific information that the agency, manufacturers, and the clinical community have gained over the last 10 years, including information learned at the October 2003 advisory panel meeting. Consistent with the FDA’s good guidance practices, the agency has asked for public comments on the breast implant guidance. The guidance is not intended for implementation until it is finalized.

“Current testing doesn’t reflect reality,” says Michael A. Choti, M.D., an associate professor of surgery and oncology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and also an FDA advisory panel member. The implants, he says, are extremely durable when tested outside the body. “You can virtually run a truck over them and they’ll hold up. But the question is, what happens when implanted long-term in a woman’s body?”

The FDA’s draft guidance document says that two to three years of follow-up data may not be enough to allow the agency to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of breast implants. The agency recommends the use of tests that can predict clinical outcomes, such as how long breast implants will last before rupturing in the body, as well as tests that explain how and why the breast implants rupture. In addition, the agency recommends that more data be gathered regarding the rate of rupture over time, as well as the health consequences of rupture.

Breast Implant Risks
In 1999, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report on a review of information related to health effects associated with silicone breast implants, both gel-filled and saline-filled, in humans. An important goal of the IOM was to provide women with detailed information about the potential risks of silicone breast implants.

One risk is capsular contracture, which is a tightening and squeezing of the scar tissue that naturally forms around the implant. This contracture may result in hardening of the breast tissue, rippling of the skin, and changes in breast shape. It also may cause pain, which, if severe, can require surgery to remove the scar tissue or replace the implant.

In addition, a rupture can occur at any time. While saline-filled breast implants leak only salt water when they rupture, the health effects of leaking silicone gel-filled implants remain controversial. Women sense a change more easily when saline-filled breast implants rupture. But the silicone gel-filled implants are more likely to maintain their shape after they rupture, which can make it more difficult to detect a break.

Called “silent ruptures,” these breaks involving silicone gel implants may occur without a visible change. And a woman may not feel any sensation, says Sahar M. Dawisha, M.D., a medical officer in CDRH who has reviewed data submitted by implant manufacturers. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with equipment specifically designed for imaging the breast may be used for evaluating women with suspected rupture of their silicone gel-filled implant. The FDA considers MRI to be the best method at this time. There are no standards on how often to screen for silent rupture with MRI, and the costs of this procedure must be considered when choosing a silicone gel-filled breast implant. Physicians usually recommend removal of the implant if it has ruptured, regardless of whether it is saline-filled or silicone gel-filled.

Another potential complication of implant surgery is nerve damage, which can cause some women to experience a loss or increase in sensation in their nipples and breast tissue. These symptoms may disappear eventually, but can be permanent in some cases. It is unclear at this time whether insufficient milk production to breast-feed–another reported problem–is due to damaged nerves or to other reasons.

Women should know that, regardless of the type of implant, it is likely they will need to have one or more additional surgeries (reoperations) over the course of their lives, because of complications from breast implants. Reasons for reoperations include any of the potential complications, such as capsular contracture, wrinkling, asymmetry, rupture, or implant malposition.

The IOM committee also found that women with silicone breast implants are no more likely than women without implants to develop the life-threatening systemic illnesses that some people have claimed might be related to the implants.

But many women disagree. They have reported health problems related to their immune systems or neurological symptoms that they believe are caused by ruptured or intact breast implants. And some women who have received breast implants claim they weren’t fully informed of the risks.

Lynda Roth, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1990, says she was forced to make a quick decision, based on very little information, about getting breast implants following a mastectomy.

“I trusted what my highly respected doctors were telling me was true,” says the 63-year-old social worker in central Colorado. “You’re in shock, you think you’re going to die, so what kind of informed decision can you possibly make about what you want your breasts to look like if you’re lucky enough to survive?”

Roth did survive–both breast cancer and two silicone breast implants gone bad. But the ruptured devices, she believes, caused her to lose her good health, her job, and eventually her health insurance over the next 11 years. “I found out the hard way,” she says. “There were many risks with the implants that I didn’t know about.”

Other women are pleased with their implants. Clara Filion underwent reconstruction in 1993 after having a breast removal that included the lymph nodes under the arm (modified radical mastectomy) due to cancer. The 67-year-old Bedias, Texas, resident says she’s thrilled with the outcome of her saline-filled implant, as well as with her surgeon, even though her original implant will need replacing soon due to scar tissue–a local complication that Filion says she always knew could occur. Filion has experienced no other complications related to the implant in 11 years.

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Other Considerations
“My doctor told me that these implants would go with me to my grave,” says 44-year-old Patty Faussett of Henderson, Nev., who chose to augment her breasts with saline breast implants in 1997, after years of breast-feeding distorted their shape.

Faussett had her implants removed a year after implantation because she believes they caused a mixed bag of health problems, including disturbed vision, heart palpitations, muscle twitching, and an autoimmune thyroid disease. She says, “The risks were much greater than my surgeon led me to believe.”

Experts caution that breast implants do not last a lifetime. Women should be prepared for long-term follow-up and additional surgeries to treat complications. They also should be prepared for the accompanying additional costs. One of the biggest problems Faussett says she hears from women in her breast implant support group is that “most don’t plan for the money it takes to fix what goes wrong.”

In addition, women should be aware that hard pressure on the breast (compression) during mammography may cause implant rupture. Breast implants also can interfere with finding breast cancer during mammography. Doctors say the implant can hide breast tissue and, as a result, hide lesions as well. Extensive scarring and calcium deposits in tissue surrounding an implant can mimic the appearance of cancer, making the deposits difficult to distinguish from tumors on a mammogram.

Another consideration is the choice of a surgeon. Patient advocates, professional groups, and others agree that it’s important to choose a plastic surgeon who has been trained in breast implant surgery and who has performed it successfully on many women.

After switching to a new, firmer silicone gel-filled implant through a clinical study only a year after experiencing rippling with her saline implants, Kathy Bracy says it’s important that women who are considering breast implants do their homework.

“I love my breast implants, but I also spent six months researching the devices, which included picking the best doctor for me,” says Bracy, a 38-year-old self-employed bookkeeper from Tampa, Fla. “It’s not necessarily the product, but who is doing the surgery.” The key to breast implant satisfaction, she says, is to “find a doctor who is willing to answer all your questions and take all your concerns seriously. And the relationship with your doctor doesn’t end after the surgery.”

Experts also advise women to have realistic expectations about breast implants. There is no guarantee that the results will match those of other women. Overall health, age, chest structure, the shape and position of the breast and nipple, skin texture, the tendency to bleed, prior breast surgeries, and the surgical team’s skill and experience all figure into the outcome of breast implant surgeries.

Teens and Breast Implants
In addition to safety issues, there is concern about the growing use of breast implants among teen-agers. Health officials worry that teen-agers and their parents may not realize the relative permanence of the changes caused by the devices. They also want to be sure that teens are physically ready–that is, they’re finished developing–and that they are psychologically mature enough to handle the outcome of surgery.

“I didn’t know my breasts were still growing when I signed up for the surgery,” admits Kacey Long, who got saline-filled breast implants in July 2001, when she was 19. Prior to her surgery, the college student from Ennis, Texas, was a 34B–a breast size she thought would be with her for life.

Teen-agers who are dissatisfied with their bodies see breast implants as a harmless–and, according to Long, “fun”–thing to do to improve their self-image. Long says she felt that her body was too “bottom heavy” for her breasts and wanted to “even out” her figure. “But I never thought about my implants being dangerous,” she says. A friend’s mother worked for a plastic surgeon for 12 years and told Long she knew of no problems with patients who had gotten the implants. “I really thought that I had inside information, and that these devices were completely safe and maintenance-free.”

Following implantation, Long went to a 34D. But complications convinced her to have the implants removed a short time later. “I had shooting pains in my arms, excruciating pain in every joint, bone, and muscle of my body, I was exhausted all the time, had no energy, lost my hair, and had pains in my chest, heart, and ribs. I had trouble remembering things and thinking clearly, and the list goes on,” she says. “Before the implants, all I had was allergies.”

Many of the changes to the breast that occur with an implant cannot be undone. If a teen chooses to have her implants removed, she may experience dimpling, puckering, wrinkling, or other cosmetic changes.

Three years later, Long’s breasts measure 36C–one size larger than before she was implanted–suggesting that her own breasts continued to develop even after the implants were removed. “When you’re making a decision that can impact your life at 19,” Long advises other young women, “you need to research the subject like you’re 50 years old.”

Ongoing clinical studies for unapproved saline-filled and silicone gel-filled breast implants do not allow for those younger than 18 to receive the implants for augmentation purposes. Some of these clinical studies even limit reconstruction and revision uses to women 18 and over.

Questions to Ask a Surgeon About Breast Augmentation
What are the risks and complications associated with having breast implants?
How many additional implant-related operations can I expect over my lifetime?
How will my breasts look if I choose to have the implants removed without replacement?
What shape, size, surface texturing, incision site, and placement site is recommended for me?
How will my ability to breast-feed be affected?
How can I expect my implanted breasts to look over time?
How can I expect my implanted breasts to look after pregnancy? After breast-feeding?
What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my implanted breasts?
What alternate procedures or products are available if I choose not to have breast implants?
Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for each procedure and what results are reasonable for me?

Questions to Ask a Surgeon About Breast Reconstruction
What are all my options for breast reconstruction?
What are the risks and complications of each type of breast reconstruction surgery and how common are they?
What if my cancer recurs or occurs in the other breast?
Will reconstruction interfere with my cancer treatment?
How many steps are there in each procedure? What are they?
How much experience do you have with each procedure?
What is the estimated total cost of each procedure?
How long will it take to complete my reconstruction?
Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for each procedure and what results are reasonable for me?
What will my scars look like?
What kind of changes in my reconstructed breast can I expect over time?
What kind of changes in my implanted breast can I expect with pregnancy?
What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of my implanted breast?
How much pain or discomfort will I feel and for how long?
How long will I be in the hospital? Will I need blood transfusions, and can I donate my own blood?
When will I be able to resume my normal activities?

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Acnezine, formerly known as Acuzine is considered to be among a few of the very best solutions acne problems.

Acnezine is an herbal acne supplement that contains no side effects as it is made from 100% natural ingredients.

The Acnezine ingredients contains Vitamin E and Vitamin C and along with these vitamins there are few other things as well that consist of Aloe Vera, Collagen Hydrolyzed, Ubidecarenone Co-Enzyme Q10 and Bioperine Extract. All these natural ingredients combine to form an effective solution for all sorts of acne problems, i.e. mild and severe.

The Acnezine manufacturer recommends taking Acnezine for at least 6 months. However, there still are some of the people who have some speculations about using this product.

One of the Acnezine benefits is that since it uses all natural ingredients, it has very little to no side effects compared to more abrasive acne treatment products such as accutane and hydrogen peroxide, common chemicals in acne medication products.

Also, the working of Acnezine is different to that of topical acne treatment options as it works from the inside out. Acnezine solves the root problem of acne whereas most acne medications only resolve or diminish the symptoms of acne.

So does Acnezine work?

One of the main reasons why many people think acnezine is a scam is because they do not see any immediate apparent effects to their acne problems compared to traditional over the counter acne medications. Since acnezine works from the inside out, it will take a longer time to cure your acne permanently. I recommend taking acnezine for at least 6 months.

Since Acnezine is herbal in nature, it can be taken long term without any side effects. Compared with other acne medication, the price of acnezine is reasonable.

If you want to get rid of your acne permanently without any side effects, I highly recommend you try out Acnezine.

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It may suprise you to know that air pollution levels within the modern house can be two to five times greater than the levels outside. Combine that with the fact that the typical person can spend up to ninety percent of their time indoors, is it any wonder that the term Sick Building Syndrome has become a new byword in the English language.

Indoor pollutants like dust, pet dander, tobacco smoke, mold spores and pollen tend to be continually recycled which ultimately means that folks who suffer from allergy induced asthma are making their condition worse by being inside.

Other symptoms of sick building syndrome include giddiness, head aches, tickly throats, stuffy nose, itchy or watery eyes, nausea, lethargy and an inability to concentrate.  Certain immediate effects are akin to those from common colds or other viral diseases, so it is frequently hard to ascertain if the symptoms are a result of exposure to inside air pollution.

If you discover that the symptoms lessen or even vanish when you are out of doors, it is a strong possibility that poor air quality inside your home is the problem. If that is the case, there are several things that you can do to all but eliminate the potential causes and breathe a little easier.

Make a great difference to indoor air quality in your home with the following seven tips.

Ban Smoking Inside the House

Ideally, you should ban smoking anywhere inside the home but if this is not possible, endeavour to confine it to one place. In our case, if friends or family, who are also smokers, visit, they are either banished to the back yard or the kitchen area. If you have an extractor fan fitted in the kitchen, make sure that it is switched on and endeavour to have smokers stand as close as possible to the fan so that the fumes get sucked out.

Open Your Windows Occasionally

Weather permitting, you should open windows and doors in order to lower the concentrations of indoor pollutants while permitting outside air to come in. Make good use of kitchen and bathroom extractor fans. Clean and check the fan and any vents on a regular basis and clean or replace any filters that may be fitted.

Throw Away Those Chemical Cleaners

If you have ever taken the time to interpret the labels on household cleaning products, the majority of them will include a warning about how harmful the chemical substances are for your health or skin. As soon as you use that product, a lot of those chemicals go into the air, the fumes of which are inhaled. How is it that some well known anti bacterial cleaners start your eyes watering and bring on a coughing fit. Personally, I have taken the eco-friendly approach to household cleaning. Baking soda, washing soda crystals, white vinegar and pure lemon juice will work wonders for most cleaning tasks. Not only do they cost less but they also do not release any toxic fumes into your house.

Clean and Dust Your House Regularly

Hoovering your carpets and floors on a regular basis will help to keep dust and airborne allergens at bay. Did you know that around seventy percent of dust inside the home comprises of dead skin which we humans continually molt. Dust mites like to feed on this dead skin which in turn makes them grow. They then shed their own skin and that, mixed with their faeces is what causes allergic reactions in some folks.

Pet Dander Allergies

If you have a family pet, they will molt dander that can trigger allergies and asthma. Something needs to be done if you suspect that either you or another family member are allergic to pet dander. The ideal solution is to keep pets out of the house altogether. If that is not a viable choice, you should restrict the number of rooms that the pets are allowed to go into and definitely keep them out of the bedroom.

Reduce Indoor Air Humidity

Living in a rainy clime or an area of high humidness can both result in moisture levels in the home increasing dramatically. This excessive moisture or humidity is the ideal breeding ground for mold. For anyone with allergies, mold spores can cause as many health problems as airborne dust. Dehumidifiers can be a godsend in a humid environment since they are capable of removing excess moisture from the surrounding air, thereby keeping mold and the resulting spores at bay.

Get an Indoor Air Purifier

Home air purifiers are units that clean indoor air of allergens, like mold spores, pollen and pet dander.  As well as being employed to keep down the concentration of these airborne contaminants, they are particularly useful for folks who suffer from allergic reactions and asthma.  Air purifiers and room air cleaners are quickly increasing in popularity because they make indoor air healthier and cleaner. However, there are different types of air purifier, some of which can actually make allergies worse instead of better.

HPV infection

A highly contagious skin infection that stems from a certain pox virus is known as Molluscum Contagiosum Virus or MCV. This skin infection causes painful lesions on the individual that are highly contagious to other individuals. The virus is so contagious that it can even be spread from touching objects that have been contaminated by an individual who has the virus. There are many different types of treatments that a dermatologist or a pediatrician, if the virus is affecting a child, can prescribe. Unfortunately, this virus can often times be wrongly diagnosed as a different type of problem. Some of these issues include dry skin or eczema. If the virus is affecting an adult, then it can sometimes be confused with the Human Papilloma Virus HPV.

There are normally two different courses of treatment for an individual with the Molluscum virus. One of them is to simply let the virus run through its natural course. This however, can take a period of about two years. The other treatment course is to have the lesions frozen or burnt off. This procedure can be quite painful for the patient, and since the individual is most often a child, it can seem even more painful. While there is pain associated with burning or freezing the lesions off, letting it run through its natural course can threaten the individual’s life because the lesions will allow other infections to enter the body.

MCV has three stages. First, you’ll usually see tiny bumps in a patch that resemble goose bumps. From there, the virus will move into the second stage where the lesions look like flattened moles and then, finally, the third stage where the lesions will look like the pimples every teenager sees during puberty. MCV affects mostly children, but can hit anyone of any age as well. In children, the virus is seen mostly on the face, neck, armpits, hands and arms. For adults it is seen as an STD, or sexually transmitted disease, on the lower abdomen, thigh area, buttocks and genitals.

The Molluscum virus affected one doctor so much when his grand daughters caught it, that a third option for treatment, called the silver cure, was created and comes in a variety of lotions, shampoos and more. Other treatments like this are seen throughout the internet world, but patients with this virus are advised to consult a medical professional before using anything not prescribed by a physician or dermatologist. To keep MCV from spreading, it is important to not allow others to use your personal items, including, but certainly not limited to, towels, hairbrushes, eating utensils and more. Because this virus is so extremely contagious, as are HPV infections, anyone can catch it, even from touching a doorknob that has been contaminated.

Indian massage can be your solution for looking gorgeous, smelling splendid and feeling on top of the world! Read on the article to know how this ancient art of touch can help you in your complete rejuvenation.

Touch is the most basic mode of communication between two human beings. Massage involves this magic of touch; thus massage promotes health—both psychological and emotional.

How?

Massage improves circulation, supports neurological functions, helps in digestion providing relief from gas and strengthens overall immunity.

Massage act as stimulant for the skin receptors and the nerves and triggers off the ‘feel-good’ hormones, especially the endorphins. This helps the nerves and muscles relax. Massage also helps alleviating pain simply by refusing to receive pain signals from brain.

The end result is: you get a feeling of complete relaxation—both in your body and mind. With tensions and stresses gone, you gain back the keenness of your senses.

How Indian Massage Therapy is different from any other massage therapies of the world

Massage takes different approaches in different parts of the world. Indian massage therapy or the Ayurvedic massage has been practiced since antiquity. Massage has always received a scientific perception in the writing of the Scholars of ancient India. This traditional Indian technique was based on Ayurvedic Doshas and Marmas—the pressure points in the Western reflexology.

• So the focal point in Ayurvedic massage technique is: different pressure points of the body. As a healing agent, Indian massage involves the use of:
1. Different types of touch
2. Pressure or flowing movements

• As such Ayurvedic massage is applied to the skin in a way so that the tissues underlying it are relieved of muscular tension and pains.
• The massage may involve either particular parts of body—as for example, Indian head massage—or full body massage.
• The Indian massage often involves the use of different types of aromatherapy oils—hot or cold.
• All these result into relaxation of the body and promote a sense of overall wellbeing.

Indian Massage - an experience of lifetime
In the interior of India, you will get to see people receiving massage in the corners of the streets for a few rupees; although they often lack formal training, they have acquired the art as a part of community tradition.

But for a life changing experience, you should visit a luxury Indian spa where trained and experienced masseurs will offer you traditional Ayurvedic massage for a holistic rejuvenation. Here are some of the varieties of Ayurvedic massage you can experience in the different parts of India, especially in the Spa Resorts in Kerala, in southern fringes of the peninsula.

Panchakarma treatment  
The gentle process that promotes deep cleansing without discomfort
This is a massage technique that helps eliminate toxins from the body accumulated in parts like the lymph, circulatory, and immune systems. 

Abhyanga Massage
The fastest toxin expelling technique
This is a luxurious full body indulgence with medicated oils containing herbs and ingredients that pacify the unbalanced Vata, Pitta, and Kapha energies.

Ayurvedic Head Massage
The technique that ends mental fatigue
This massage is done with oils containing herbs that pacify the nerves and stimulate the brain for better functioning. This massage can be your ultimate solution for getting rid of emotional fatigue, confusions and for enhanced clarity of mind.

Full Body Steam
Expelling toxins with the help of steam
This is a full body massage technique, much different from ordinary sauna; here the steam contains vapors of detoxifying and balancing herbs. However, the head and neck areas are excluded in this massage.  In addition of relieving body from toxins, it also moisturizes and dehydrates the skin giving it a baby soft glow.

Shirodhara
The ultimate stress reliever
This amazing technique involves trickling of a warm stream of mixture of cooling and balancing herbal oils and medicated ghee over the forehead in a continuous flow. To enhance the effect, the treatment is carried on in a quiet, soothing atmosphere. If you happen to suffer from any one of these: chronic neuro-muscular disorders, hypertension, insomnia, depression, anxiety,  headaches or restlessness - Shirodhara is the technique you must give a try to get rid of these menaces for once and for all.

For generations, Indian massage has been trusted for having a powerful effect on the mental and emotional well being of the individuals.

Come and experience the difference yourself!

Male Yeast Infection is usually the result of using antibiotics for a prolonged period. It is harder to detect yeast infection in men than women because of the physical different in built between both genders. Men will go for a longer period not knowing that their condition is associated with candida and may possible be misdiagnosed by a doctor, if the condition is not examined properly.

Sometimes it may take the female partner to first inform the male that he has yeast infection because she has it as well. Doctors may prescribe an anti-fungal treatment, which does not cure the male yeast infection and so allows for a recurring yeast infection and a cycle of the same thing happening to both parties again.

During the time when a man and woman who has yeast infection perform sexual intercourse, the man’s urethra is vulnerable to the yeast infection because it is highly exposed at that time and the man will contract yeast infection from the woman. Male Yeast Infection is serious because the yeast can also affect the prostate glands and settle there. The same way that yeast swells bread, it is possible that it can swell the prostate glands as well.

Male yeast infection or penile yeast infection as it is sometimes called shows up with cracked and dry skin that can be painful during an erection.

Male Yeast Infection Causes

Yeast infection causes in men result from antibiotics as discussed before, yeast infection beer or alcohol, sex, products that contain wheat, sugar, peanuts, and a possible immune system that is week. Diabetic men are prone to develop yeast infection because of their high sugar level.

Male Yeast Infection Symptoms

Male Yeast Infection Symptoms are seen in the form of constipation, problems with indigestion, sexual dysfunction, irritable mood swings, low energy, loss of memory, jock itch, skin itching, athletes foot, and prostate problems.

A Yeast Infection Looks Like

Dry and Scaly Skin

Redness in the penile area

Small blisters on penis head

White discharge in some cases

To cure your Yeast Infection, you might want to consider using home remedies such as cloves of garlic wrapped in cloth and applied with tea tree oil to the affected area daily, yogurt or its substitute, acidophilus, hot sitz bath diluted with vinegar and staying away from foods with yeast.

While there are many other natural remedies, these are only some of the natural cures mentioned

Get more information and pictures at Male Yeast Infection Here.

If there’s one thing most people can’t stand, it’s a zit. It really doesn’t matter if you’re male or female; the last thing you want to grapple with is an acne breakout of any sort. There’s is just something about whiteheads and blackheads that destroys confidence. Fortunately there are a number of ways to battle disgustful pimple breakouts in this day and age. With all of the topical acne medications, proper skin care regimens and vitamins for acne now days, you should be able to clear up any random blemish outbreak with ease. Are you doing everything you can to prevent acne? Way back when folks didn’t have a clue how to deal with acne and pimples. Zit's is the last thing people want on their face. This basically means that they had to ride out the storm. Simply wait until the blemishes rand a cycle and cleared up on their own. The heck with that old-school routine. Now days that are effective vitamins for acne and topical creams that do the trick quite nicely. While many people don’t associate vitamins with acne clearing, they truly should. Whether you knew it or not, proper nutrition and hormone balance play a major role in acne breakouts. The healthier you eat and take care of your body, the less likely you skin is to breakout. In other words, preventing pimples is not just about cleansing your skin and using topical prescription acne products. If you’ve never deliberated taking vitamins for acne breakouts, it’s high time you did. While you should continue to eat healthy, exercise and employ a daily grooming routine that works for your skin type, you should additionally take vitamins to battle potential acne breakouts. If you wish to learn more, a couple excellent websites to consider are vitamins-nutrition.org and healing.about.com. For your information, your skin is the largest organ you have. Naturally it requires crucial vitamins in order to look healthy and smooth. What you take into your body will always reflect on the exterior

Although we all want to prevent acne breakouts on our faces, sometimes we have to address the blemishes we already have. It is good practice to put time and effort into keeping a clear complexion, but it’s also good practice to look in the mirror and face the pimples. They are there and they will not simply vanish. Or will they?

Here is where acne makeup comes into play. You did everything you were supposed to do to keep your skin clear. You cleansed, exfoliated and used a good toner. You lightly moisturized without over-saturating your skin. Your pores should be clear and your skin should be glowing. Well, it’s glowing all right, glowing red with acne. Do not despair. Acne makeup can conceal those marks in no time at all.

Applying foundation can be tricky and it becomes even more perplexed when dealing with blemishes. Sometimes using too much acne makeup can make you look worse than you did when your face was bare. We have all seen the pitiful souls who try too hard to cover unsightly pimples. The foundation cakes and dries into a tell-tale clump of acne makeup that sticks out worse than the acne itself.

My mother always said that women should apply foundation sparingly and this general rule is good practice all the way around. This general rule applies to acne makeup as well. Putting more and more product over the problem will inevitably emphasise the initial problem. This turns a little pimple trouble into a major all around face disaster. Keep it clean and you will be amazed at how far a little acne makeup really goes.

Using less foundation will save you money in the long run as well and this is good news. There is more good news for acne makeup enthusiasts. There are beauty products available specifically for women who have blemishes that actually help to clear your complexion. This outstanding acne makeup is a dream-come-true for many of us. It treats the acne as it covers the blemishes. You not only have the benefit of hiding pimples, you also have the benefit of preventing future breakouts.

When it comes to applying foundation, remember that less is best. This includes acne makeup that promises to clear your complexion as it covers. Using less will make your skin look radiant and natural and using the right acne makeup will eventually make your skin naturally radiant.

There is a lot of information out there about acne and what causes it and this information is a mix of both fact and fiction. So, let us take a look at a few of those things that are being circulated and see if we can divide the fiction from the fact.

Food

First of all there is no direct link between eating such things as greasy cheeseburgers and chocolate or drinking too many soft drinks and developing acne spots. It is true however that diet plays a role in all the body’s systems and thus it does have a small role to play in whether getting acne is less or more likely.

For example, greasy foods do not directly translate into increased oil production in the sebaceous glands that contributes to acne, but foods that do cause a rise in oil production would of course have an effect. However, iodized salt is as yet the only food substance which has been shown to have any real effect and it just exacerbates existing acne but does not cause it.

Cleanliness

The odds of developing a pimple are increased when a pore becomes plugged and bacteria are trapped inside. What this means is that hygiene habits that tend to close the skin’s pores can play a role. But this effect is only minimal and the dead skin cells and bacteria which become trapped and are unable to make their way out of the pore to the surface are only influenced to a minor degree by insufficient regular face washing.

Nonetheless, once acne arrives then good skin hygiene is particularly important and mild cleansing two times a day with soap and water will help to treat acne and encourage healthy skin in general. Cleanliness is an excellent for several reasons but it helps most in treating acne because it provides a good surface for medications to work most effectively.

Acne is greatly influenced by excess sebum (skin oil) production that is triggered in the main by hormones and abrasive cleansers that are applied roughly do not just clear away this excess oil but also weakens the the ability of the skin to deal with it.

Stress

As stress has a tendency to weaken the body’s immune system and impact its hormone levels it could be thought that stress would play a role in the onset of acne. However, there is no clear evidence to suggest that stress leads to acne, although there is evidence to suggest that it could play a small role once acne has arrived.

One of the difficulties in assessing the role played by stress is that people who suffer from chronic stress normally also suffer from other health problems that can complicate things. Do not forget too that we are talking here about clinical stress and not merely the worries which we all experience as part of the ups and downs of everyday living.

Medications

A lot of individuals are tempted to raise the dosage of over-the-counter medications in the belief that if a little medicine does a little good a lot of medication will do a lot of good. Unfortunately, this is not the case and it is both a waste of medicine and might actually harm the skin. You should always stick to the instructions on any medication and if any medication is not showing signs of working within two or three weeks then you should seek the guidance of your dermatologist.

It is also worth noting that there is no such thing as the best acne medicine. Each of us is different and a medication that proves to be the best acne medication for one individual will not necessarily work for somebody else.

Menopause and Menopause Treatments

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her period stops. It is a normal change in a woman’s body. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row (and there are no other causes, such as pregnancy or illness, for this change). Menopause is sometimes called, “the change of life.” Leading up to menopause, a woman’s body slowly makes less and less of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This change often happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years old. As you near menopause, you may have symptoms from the changes your body is making. Many women wonder if these changes are normal, and many are confused about how to treat their symptoms. You will feel better by learning all you can about menopause and talking with your doctor about your health and your symptoms. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or concern, your doctor can teach you about treatment options and help you to make wise treatment choices.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Menopause affects every woman differently. Your only symptom may be your period stopping. You may have other symptoms, too. Many symptoms at this time of life are because of you getting older. But some are due to menopause. Common symptoms of menopause include:

• Change in pattern of periods (can be shorter or longer, lighter or heavier, more or less time between periods)
• Hot flashes (sometimes called hot flushes), night sweats (sometimes followed by a chill)
• Trouble sleeping through the night (with or without night sweats)
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings, feeling crabby, crying spells (probably because of lack of sleep)
• Trouble focusing, feeling mixed-up or confused
• Hair loss or thinning on your head, more hair growth on your face

Does menopause cause bone loss?

When a woman is young, estrogen helps to keep bone strong. When estrogen levels fall at menopause, bones weaken. When bones weaken a lot, the condition is called osteoporosis. Weak bones can break more easily.

How do I manage menopause? What are my options?

Eating a healthy diet and exercising at menopause and beyond are important to feeling your best. Most women do not need any special treatment for menopause. But some women may have menopause symptoms that need treatment. Several treatments are available. It’s a good idea to talk about the treatments with your doctor so you can choose what’s best for you. There is no one treatment that is good for all women. Sometimes menopause symptoms go away over time without treatment, but there’s no way to know when. A great natural relief for Menopause symptoms is Menozac. Hormone therapy (HT) — If used properly, hormone therapy (once called hormone replacement therapy or HRT) is one way to deal with the more difficult symptoms of menopause. It’s the only therapy that is approved by the government for treating more difficult hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Hormone therapy should NOT be used solely to prevent heart or bone disease, stroke, memory loss, or Alzheimer’s disease. There are many kinds of hormone therapies so your doctor can suggest what’s best for you. As with all treatments, HT has both possible benefits and possible risks; it is important to talk about these issues with your doctor. If you decide to use HT, use the lowest dose that helps and for the shortest time needed. Check with your doctor every 6 months to see if you still need HT. For more information on the benefits and risks of HT speak to your doctor. HT can help with menopause by:

• Reducing hot flashes
• Treating vaginal dryness
• Slowing bone loss
• Improving sleep (and thus decrease mood swings)

For some women, HT may increase their chance of:

• Blood clots
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Breast cancer
• Gall bladder disease

Who should NOT take HT for menopause?

Women who . . .

• Think they are pregnant
• Have problems with vaginal bleeding
• Have had certain kinds of cancers (such as breast and uterine cancer)
• Have had a stroke or heart attack
• Have had blood clots
• Have liver disease
• Have heart disease

HT can also cause these side effects:

• Vaginal bleeding
• Bloating
• Breast tenderness or swelling
• Headaches
• Mood changes
• Nausea

Be sure to see your doctor if you have any of these side effects while using HT.

What about so-called “natural” treatments for menopause?

Some women decide to take herbal or other plant-based products to help relieve hot flashes. Some of the most common ones are:

• Soy. Soy contains phytoestrogens (chemicals that are like estrogen). But, there is no proof that soy–or other sources of phytoestrogens–really do make hot flashes better. And the risks of taking soy–mainly soy pills and powders–are not known. The best sources of soy are foods such as tofu, tempeh, soymilk, and soy nuts. These soy products are more likely to work on mild hot flashes.
• Other sources of phytoestrogens. These include herbs such as black cohosh, wild yam, dong quai, and valerian root. Again, there is no proof that these herbs (or pills or creams containing these herbs) help with hot flashes.

Products that come from plants may sound like they are safe, but there is no proof they really are. There also is no proof that they are better at helping symptoms of menopause. Make sure to discuss these types of products with your doctor before taking them. You also should tell your doctor about other medicines you are taking, since some plant products can be harmful when combined with other drugs. A great natural relief for Menopause symptoms is Menozac.

What about “bioidentical” hormone therapy?

This term means different things to different people. It’s really hormones that are just the same as the hormones the body makes. There are several products with hormone like this that are on the market and are well-tested. But some people use this term to mean drugs that are custom-made from a doctor’s order. There is no proof that these custom-made products are better or safer than hormone therapy that’s on the market.

How much physical activity should I do?

A woman should first talk to her doctor to see what’s best for her. The goal is to exercise regularly so you can lower the risk of serious disease (such as heart disease or diabetes), and maintain a healthy weight. This usually takes at least 30 minutes of exercise (such as brisk walking) on most days of the week.

How else can I help my symptoms?

• Hot Flashes. Some women report that eating or drinking hot or spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeine, feeling stressed, or being in a hot place can bring on hot flashes. Try to avoid any triggers that bring on your hot flashes. Dress in layers, and keep a fan in your home or workplace. Regular exercise might also ease hot flashes, but sometimes exercise can cause a hot flash. If hot flashes continue and HT is not an option, ask your doctor about taking an antidepressant or epilepsy medicine. There is proof that these can relieve hot flashes for some women.
• Vaginal Dryness. A water-based, over-the-counter vaginal lubricant (like KY® Jelly) can be helpful if sex is painful. A vaginal moisturizer (also over-the-counter) can provide lubrication and help keep needed moisture in vaginal tissues. Really bad vaginal dryness may need HT. If vaginal dryness is the only reason for considering HT, an estrogen product for the vagina is the best choice. Vaginal estrogen products (creams, tablet, ring) treat only the vagina.
• Problems Sleeping. One of the best ways to get a good night’s sleep is to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week. But, don’t exercise close to bedtime. Also avoid large meals, smoking, and working right before bedtime. Caffeine and alcohol should be avoided after noon. Drinking something warm before bedtime, such as herbal tea (no caffeine) or warm milk, might help you to feel sleepy. Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool, and use your bedroom only for sleeping and sex. Avoid napping during the day, and try to go to bed and get up at the same times every day. If you wake during the night and can’t get back to sleep, get up and read until you’re sleepy. Don’t just lie there. If hot flashes are the cause of sleep problems, treating the hot flashes will usually improve sleep.
• Mood swings. Some women report mood swings or “feeling blue” as they reach menopause. Women who had mood swings (PMS) before their periods or post-partum depression after giving birth may have more mood swings around menopause. These are women who are sensitive to hormone changes. Often the mood swings will go away with time. If a woman is using HT for hot flashes or another menopause symptom, sometimes her mood swings will get better, too. Also, getting enough sleep and staying physically active will help you to feel your best. Mood swings are not the same as depression.
• Memory problems. As people age, their memory is not as good as it once was. Some women say they have “fuzzy thinking” as they reach menopause. This may be caused by changing hormones and can improve over time. Getting enough sleep and keeping physically active can help. If memory problems are really bad, talk to your doctor right away. This is not caused by menopause.

Sometimes, younger women need a hysterectomy to treat health problems such as endometriosis or cancer. A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus (womb). Often one or both ovaries (the female organs that produce eggs and hormones) are removed at the same time the hysterectomy is done. If you haven’t reached menopause, a hysterectomy will stop your period. But, you will reach menopause only if both ovaries are removed, called surgical menopause. Because surgical menopause is instant menopause, it can cause more severe symptoms than natural menopause (menopause that occurs as part of the natural aging process). You should talk with your doctor about how to best manage these symptoms. Women who have a hysterectomy but have their ovaries left in place will not reach menopause at the time of surgery because their ovaries will continue to make hormones. But, because the uterus is removed, they will no longer have their periods and they cannot become pregnant. Later on, they might reach natural menopause a year or two earlier than expected.

I’m having a hysterectomy soon. Will this cause me to reach menopause?

Sometimes, younger women need a hysterectomy to treat health problems such as endometriosis or cancer. A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus (womb). Often one or both ovaries (the female organs that produce eggs and hormones) are removed at the same time the hysterectomy is done. If you haven’t reached menopause, a hysterectomy will stop your period. But, you will reach menopause only if both ovaries are removed, called surgical menopause. Because surgical menopause is instant menopause, it can cause more severe symptoms than natural menopause (menopause that occurs as part of the natural aging process). You should talk with your doctor about how to best manage these symptoms. Women who have a hysterectomy but have their ovaries left in place will not reach menopause at the time of surgery because their ovaries will continue to make hormones. But, because the uterus is removed, they will no longer have their periods and they cannot become pregnant. Later on, they might reach natural menopause a year or two earlier than expected.

What is premature menopause?

Menopause is called “premature” if it happens at or before the age of 40–whether it is natural or brought on by medical means (induced). Some women have premature menopause because of:

• Family history (genes)
• Medical treatments, such as surgery to remove the ovaries
• Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation to the pelvic area that damage the ovaries– although menopause does not always occur

Having premature menopause puts a woman at more risk for osteoporosis later in her life. For women who want to have children, premature menopause can be a source of great distress. Women who still want to become pregnant can talk with their doctors about other ways of having children, such as donor egg programs or adoption.

What is postmenopause?

Postmenopause is the term for all the years beyond menopause. It begins after you have not had a period for 12 months in a row–whether your menopause was natural or medically induced.