Painful Mouth Sores

Question:
I have suffered with painful, recurring mouth sores for the past year and a half. They appear as inflamed, coarse white and red patches all over my gums, quite near to the teeth. My doctor and dentist say I just have to put up with them. I have a relatively healthy diet - for a student - but I also suffer with what seem to be cold sores on my lips. They first appeared with a serious bout of tonsillitis and swollen glands six years ago. Please help.
Answer:
Mouth ulcers are round patches of exposed tissue, which are painful if you explore them with your tongue, as people tend to do subconsciously. Spicy food or alcohol can also trigger pain. If you have numerous or large ulcers, eating becomes extremely difficult.
Mouth ulcers have always puzzled physicians. Medically called aphthous ulcers, and also known as canker sores, they look like any ulceration in the mucous membrane but there may be differing underlying causes.
The most common cause is the fungal infection candidiasis. The hallmarks are white patches, which can be wiped off by the tongue or with cotton wool to leave a crater with exposed raw tissue that contains nerve endings and blood vessels. These craters are painful and may bleed. Candida is a form of yeast that has tentacles,
or roots, called hyphae. These penetrate the mucous lining to suck nutrients from the tissue underneath. When enough nutrients have been extracted and the tissue is ulcerous, the candida moves to another healthier area, where it continues to form ulcers.
Antibiotics were originally derived from fungus and their prolonged use promotes fungal infection, such as candida. Broad-spectrum antibiotics has led to a predominance of fungal and viral infections. This is recognized by many conventional doctors.
Deficiencies of vitamin B and severe lack of vitamin C can also lead to mouth ulcers. Other causes include excess stomach acid, chronic constipation, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and stomach ulcers. Certain foodstuffs, such as very hot chillis, pineapples, cloves, yam, ginger and radish, may also produce local irritation to the oral cavity, triggering ulcers. Sometimes people are sensitive to certain drugs or chemicals in toothpaste or mouthwash.

In traditional Indian medicine, mouth ulcers are signs of excess body heat. This is produced, for instance, by eating game, pigeon or red meat which has been cooked slowly for a long time with herbs and spices (chillis, cloves, ginger, garlic, cumin, saffron), as well as excess butter or ghee, almonds and pistachios. The remedy is eating cooling foods such as raw or spring onions, cucumber, yoghurt buttermilk coriander or melon.
I suggest the following
* For about four weeks, eat simple food steamed, grilled, boiled or poached with olive oil, salt" mint, parsley, aniseed, coriander, or spring onions - nothing else. (You may lose a little weight.)
* Avoid all yeast and fungal products (bread, pizza, Marmite, ready-made gravies, some canned products, beer, wine, mushrooms and cheese).
* Avoid citrus or sour fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, mangoes, tomatoes, kiwi, rhubarb, vinegar).
* Eat cucumber salad (with yoghurt and spring onions), water melon, carrot juice, cooled fresh mint tea.
* Take kadu: soak two twigs in a cup of hot water overnight; strain and drink in the morning.
* Take vitamin B complex: one daily for two months.
* Take vitamin C: one 500 mg tablet for two months.
* Take acidophilus with bifidus: one every other day for a month.
* Consult a qualified homoeopath. If you are prescribed high-potency homoeopathic remedies your mouth may get worse at first, but it will subside and the condition will be cured.

By Dr Mosaraf Ali 

Leg Cramps - How to Prevent Them?

It is a fact that leg cramps can cause excruciating pain when they suddenly strike person mostly while exercising. Leg cramps can also occur at night, causing a disruption in sleep. Medical research has still not revealed why certain people alone are susceptible to leg cramps. But the general findings are that those suffering from diabetes and blood circulatory disorders are more prone to develop leg cramps. It is also believed that persons leading sedate lives free from all physical activities as well as those who over-indulge in rigorous physical work-outs like jogging can fall an easy prey to cramps.

If you are not already aware, please know that cramps suddenly occur when certain muscles contract suddenly. The saving grace is most leg cramps do not last beyond a minute or two. Quite often, some minor changes in your water consumption, loss of excess weight loss or readjustments of daily work-outs can reduce the frequency of leg cramp occurrences.

Some suggestions to avoid developing leg cramps are:

1. Avoid wearing footwear with high heels

2. Make sure you do not put on excess weight and if you are already obese, take some quick steps to shed the excess kilos.

3. Avoid frequent consumption of diuretics or other medications

4. Stretch your calf muscles a couple of times, particularly before retiring to bed at nights and after any rigorous physical work-outs.

5. Always sleep on your sides or on your stomach with your feet hanging out at the end of the bed.

6. Make it a habit to consume plenty of water both before and during any physical exercise.

7. Sometimes leg cramps can happen due to potassium deficiency in your system. If that be so, you should consume potassium-rich foods after checking with your physician.

8. Avoid intensive workouts that overly strain the calf muscles and reorient your regular exercises in consultation with an expert.

9. Do some calf muscle exercises like flexing your foot, pointing your toes towards your knees. If you find that inconvenient, you might as well hold your toes and pull them toward your knee and thereafter massage your calf gently.

10. Wear good quality, tested athletic shoes that give you the necessary support when you are running, walking, jogging or doing other exercises. Make sure that your shoes do not put excess strain on any part of your legs, back or feet.

Once you are attacked with leg cramps, application of ice packs or heat bags can be an effective way to relax the muscles. Traditionally, quinine is considered the most effective drug for relieving leg cramps, but it is said that most of the over-the-counter medicines for leg cramps have been banned as they cause serious and even fatal, side effects.

Some doctors suggest drinking a glass of tonic water may be useful and if you think it works, you might as well keep some tonic water handy.

It will be a good idea to take a warm shower just before retiring to bed at nights as it will surely help relax your muscles. If your cramps cause unbearable pain and occurs far too frequently, then it is advisable to consult your physician regarding muscle relaxing medications.

The secret to a healthy and fit body includes a healthy diet menu planner and weight loss meal plans that helps in keeping us in good shape. The biggest loser training program varies from individual to individual and helps in attaining the target.

The secret to a healthy and fit body includes healthy diet menu planner and slim fast diet foods that helps in keeping us in good shape.The biggest loser training program varies from individual to individual and helps in attaining their target.By Ashton Smith

Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts - It May Never Cease

An ovarian cyst is a closed baglike mass that forms inside the ovary. An ovarian cyst develops during menstrual cycle. Most cysts work as part of the menstruation process - and these are called functional cysts. They occur during ovulation and they also disappear after a period of time. Simple cyst contains liquid or solid materials when the egg is not released during ovulation. Cysts can cause bleeding and pain but can be treated through surgery. During ovulation, hormone or substance is released in the ovary, follicles or small bags where eggs are developed. When eggs are finally formed they follicles are broken to release the eggs. The small bags that do not carry eggs are called corpus luteum but when these follicles or bags are not broken, they form as ovarian cysts. There are different kinds of ovarian cysts namely:

• Follicular cyst - this is formed when follicle or baglike mass that contain egg grow larger and does not break to release the egg
• Corpus Luteum cyst - this is formed during the menstrual cycle. If the egg is not fertilized or pregnancy, this cyst disappears over a period time
• Dermoid cyst - this is related to tissues forming the skin, hair and teeth. It develops from the ovary's germ cells, are noticeable during adulthood.
• Endometrial or chocolate cyst - is formed due to a disease called endometriosis that is, the tissue develops outside the uterus and when it bleeds in area where it is formed, it becomes a cyst
• Cystadenomas - abnormal growths from the ovarian tissue
• Polycystic ovaries - when follicles or baglike mass do not burst in the ovaries. They grow bigger in size in the ovaries and form as cysts.

Symptoms for ovarian cyst may go unnoticeable until they are found during medical examination. During childbirth, injury or sexual intercourse, they may break and may show symptoms such as:

• Extreme pains in the abdomen
• Profuse bleeding internally
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Weight gain
• Inability to conceive a child
• Heavy menstrual flow
• Painful bower movement
• Changes in menstruation cycle

Diagnosis of ovarian cyst includes physical examination, laboratory tests and information on the medical history of the patient. Laboratory tests include CBC and pregnancy test. Diagnostic test will also be administered such as ultrasound, laparoscopy, and x-ray.
Depending on the type, size and location of cysts treatment for ovarian cyst also consider the age of the patient. For "functional cyst", the doctor Would recommend waiting and seeing if the cysts would disappear over a period of time because it normally does. For polycystic type, prescription may vary accordingly. For endometrial, cystadenomas, and dermoid cysts, treatment is usually done with surgery. Laparoscopy will be done if the cyst
is smaller however, if the mass is over two and a half inches big, certain procedures will be done to remove it. Such procedures may include: ovarian cystectomy - removal of the cyst, partial oophorectomy - removal or cyst and a portion of the ovary, salpingo oophorectomy - removal of cyst, ovary, and fallopian tube.
By Lucas Mattioneli

Natural Treatment for Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction

The Sphincter of Oddi is a central gate to many liver, gallbladder and pancreas problems. Many scientists believe that the Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction (SOD) is a culprit of the pancreas diseases and it is the common source of chronic pain after gallbladder removal.

Around the common bile duct, pancreatic duct and the duodenum wall there is a muscle valve called the Sphincter of Oddi. The Sphincter of Oddi, named after Ruggero Oddi, an Italian anatomist who discovered this structure in 1887. The Sphincter of Oddi controls moving of the bile from the liver, and gallbladder and pancreatic juice from the pancreas into the duodenum.

Normally, when semi digestive food moves from the stomach into the duodenum sphincter of Oddi opens. Large amount of the gallbladder bile and alkaline pancreatic juice is released to digest this food. When no food in the duodenum, sphincter of Oddi is closed so the bile from the liver is collected in the gallbladder.

Regulation of this complicated work is under control of nervous system and special blood messengers - digestive hormones. Stress, fasting, "harsh" liver cleansing, gallbladder removal, bad eating habits, alcohol, some medications, and recreation drugs badly influence in proper regulation and work of the sphincter of Oddi.

Spasm or blockage of this muscle valve may cause pancreatic juice goes backward, thereby increasing the pressure inside the pancreatic duct. Digestive enzymes shut inside the pancreas, begin to digest their own pancreas, initiate inflammation, pain, and finally the death of pancreatic tissue. Thus, chronic pancreatitis is developed.

Tumor, gallbladder stone, or scaring can make an anatomical blockage of the sphincter of Oddi. It happens relatively rare. However, more often can be functional, temporal spasms of the sphincter of Oddi without any abnormality in the tests. The common reason for sphincter to be spasmodic is irritation of it by the "aggressive" bile and pancreatic juice.

What could make bile and pancreatic juice "aggressive", corroded, and irritated? Let's explain that.

The liver's most important functions are producing and releasing bile and removing the toxins from our body by dividing them into water-soluble and fat-soluble wastes.

Water-soluble wastes move into the blood and the kidneys eliminate them from the body.

Bile serves to eliminate a variety of the toxic, fat-soluble wastes substances from the body. These substances include cholesterol, bile pigments, toxic chemicals, drugs, heavy metals, etc.

Hepatitis, fatty liver, Candida-yeast overgrowth, parasites, congestion, inflammation, infection of the gallbladder, high body's acidity, poor eating habits, alcohol can cause the bile to be thick and acidic, therefore make it difficult for it to move through the ducts.

When the bile and pancreatic juice are getting acidic, they also become very "aggressive", irritated, and corroded for the ducts, sphincter of Oddi, and small intestine causing jerky movement; "wrong way traffic" - bile/pancreatic juice refluxes in the stomach, ulcers and even cancers.

No surprise, it causes loss of appetite, nausea, gas, bloating, heartburn, attacks of pain, especially after "bad" foods or bad food combination. Pain can be last for 30 minutes to several hours and even bring person to ER.

Therefore, the goal of treatment has to be focus on root of the problems such as biochemical, acidic changes in the bile and pancreatic juice. In the normal situation, the bile and pancreatic juice are very alkaline fluids. However, if whole body is getting acidic, the bile and pancreatic juice also became acidic and "aggressive".

Checking saliva and urine pH with litmus paper at home may show acidic condition of the body especially if saliva and urine pH repeatedly less than 6.6.

What can naturally normalize the alkaline condition of the bile and pancreatic juice?

Only minerals and bicarbonate from food and water can naturally neutralize the whole body acidity.

For this purposes, European doctors have used healing mineral water for a long time. Treatment with healing mineral water (balneology) is a part of education in some European medical schools. There are many healing mineral spas all over the Europe.

Most famous and researched mineral water is water from hot spring in the small Czech town Karlovy Vary. Karlovy Vary healing mineral water attracted millions visitors all over the globe. It was distributed by barrels and bottles many years ego. Demand of this water was so high hence, the mineral salt had manufactured there by vaporizing the spring water in 1764. It was a good option for people, which cannot visit Karlovy Vary or wanted ongoing the healing course at home.
Dissolving this salt in the water produces mineral water with the same healing value.

Karlovy Vary healing mineral water has been object for serious medical study for hundreds of the years. First medical book about that water have a laxative effect was dated by 1522. Later, a large number of medical papers confirmed the healing action of this water in many digestive disorders.

European doctors showed that drinking mineral water makes bile and pancreatic juice less acidic, liquid, and less "aggressive". It naturally improves digestion, alleviates the pains and cramps, and lessens gas and heartburn.

This water may dissolve the gallbladder stones and expel them; it also is very beneficial for persons with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, chronic pancreatitis, and hepatitis.

What else can make the bile and pancreatic juice less irritated for the sphincter of Oddi?

Herbal medicine is the oldest way to eliminate digestive problems. Chinese medicine, Hindu system - Ayurveda, European herbology offer many healing herbs for digestive disorders. Some of them increase amount of the bile, promote its easy elimination, decrease spasms and pain. The simple example is peppermint tea. Knowledgeable medical practitioner can customize the herbal remedies for any digestive problems.

No question, food is the important, safe and cheep medicine for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Food needs to be alkaline and full of the natural digestive enzymes. Some vegetable blends or juices are good for these purposes. Warm vegetable soups are also helpful for many digestive problems. Some persons with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction suffer from Candida-yeast overgrowth, food sensitivity, and allergy. Appropriate diet changes are necessary to correct these conditions.

Stress can lead to spasm of the sphincter of Oddi as well. Worsening sphincter of Oddi dysfunction after mental or physical stress can be seen very often. Consulting, relaxation, meditation, medical hypnosis, listening the custom hypnoses CD at home, acupuncture, massage are some natural ways to alleviate the stress.

It would be wise to stop drinking alcohol temporary for a few months to improve condition because the alcohol interrupts the normal function of this muscle valve. Upper abdominal pain after alcohol consumption is typical for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

Unfortunately, there is not simple and safe test for diagnose early stage of the SOD now. Therefore, any kind of pain in the upper stomach area after heavy meals can be the alarm bell of the sphincter of Oddi dysfunction.

By author's opinion, strategic position of the sphincter of Oddi involves it in many digestive diseases and disorders. On the other hand, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction by itself leads to many digestive symptoms.

Natural treatment of the early stage can avoid serious problem in the future and improve the quality of life.

It is important to work with a knowledgeable, licensed medical professional.

The information on this article is presented for educational, informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, and advice of a qualified licensed professional.

Peter Melamed, Ph.D. received his medical education first as a registered nurse and then as a medical doctor in Russia. He took specialized training in anesthesiology, intensive care, and internal medicine. Working as a physician he became interested in holistic healing through his clinical experience with herbs, acupuncture, healing mineral water and internal cleansing. He was granted a license to practice acupuncture in Russia in 1978, and from that time he combined conventional Western medical treatment with herbs, acupuncture, and other non-drug healing therapies.
In 1975, Peter Melamed established Biotherapy as a natural holistic approach to healing. Biotherapy combines the wisdom of traditional Russian folk medicine, ancient Oriental medical therapies, and European naturopathy with cutting-edge Western technology. After immigrating to the USA and passing all the exams Peter Melamed succeeded in starting up a private practice in 1996 at the Biotherapy Alternative Medicine Clinic of San Francisco Bay Area. He is author of two books:
1. Natural European Way of Whole Body Cleansing. Karlovy Vary Mineral Water for Healing and Rejuvenation.
2. Healthy Pancreas, Healthy You.

By Peter Melamed Ph.D.