Five golden health tips you shouldn’t miss

it cannot be easier than that.

Probably the best treatment for depression ever invented

Pure chocolate pills.

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Acupuncture for Pain Relief: Can Acupuncture Decrease Chronic Pain?

 Acupuncture, considered to be one of the oldest traditional healing practices in the world, is an alternative medicine therapy based in traditional Chinese medicine. The general principle of Chinese medicine is that physical health is maintained when the two opposing forces of yin and yang are in balance within the body. When there is a lack of balance between yin and yang the flow of qi (vital energy) is blocked and disease or other health problems result. An acupuncturist uses thin needles to puncture the skin in specific points along meridians or pathways with the goal of improving the flow of the body’s vital energy or qi.
Acupuncture for Pain
Acupuncture is one of the most widely used and widely studied forms of complementary and alternative medicine.  Over 3 million Americans had been to an acupuncturist in the last year and pain or joint problems were the main reasons 7 out of 10 were getting treatment.
Does Acupuncture Work to Treat Pain?
Yes, No, Depends. There has been much debate about the studies of acupuncture on pain relief.  Why it’s so complicated and why there is so much controversy comes down to several factors.

1. The Placebo Effect: In acupuncture studies patients may receive a ‘placebo’ of simulated acupuncture (fake acupuncture) to compare results with the patients that receive acupuncture. A review of studies showed something interesting: the patients that received fake acupuncture had significantly less pain after ‘treatment’ than patients that had no treatment at all, and the difference between patients that got ‘real’ acupuncture and those that got ‘fake’ acupuncture was smaller.
2. Your attitude towards acupuncture may make a difference: Four studies found that patients that expected acupuncture treatment to help their pain had more pain relief after treatment than those that didn’t expect it to work. 
3. Lack of consistency in studies makes it hard to make general conclusions. Some studies used different types of acupuncture, different types of comparison groups (no treatment, ‘fake’ treatment) and different ways of measuring results.

What Science Currently Says
Knee Pain/Osteoarthritis: People with osteoarthritis especially in the knee joint get pain relief and better function with acupuncture treatment.
Low-Back Pain: There are conflicting studies and results meaning no definite conclusion. However, the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians recommend considering acupuncture when conventional therapy isn’t working.
Headaches/Migraines: Conflicting results. Some studies found that acupuncture reduced migraines and tension headaches while others found no difference.
Neck Pain: Acupuncture decreased patients’ pain level more than simulated acupuncture did.
Other Pain Conditions: Acupuncture has been studied for effectiveness in relieving pain in carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, menstrual cramps, pregnancy and TMJ dysfunction. Again there are often different conclusions reached by different studies or researchers.
In all studies the patients all received the standard care for their pain and disorder, often pain medication and physical therapy. Acupuncture is added as a complementary treatment.
The National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) states that acupuncture is generally considered safe when performed correctly. Many patients with chronic pain have already tried traditional treatments and continue to suffer. Acupuncture with the goal of reducing pain may be an alternative treatment to explore.

Before starting any new treatment be sure to discuss it with your physician or health professional to ensure its suitability to your diagnosed disorder, illness or condition and to prevent unforeseen complications. This article is meant to provide you with information and ideas and is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any medical or mental health condition.  

source: infobarrel

Olive Leaf Extract Benefits for Your Health

Learn about the Health Benefits of the Olive Leaf

Olive Leaf Extract Fights Infections and Viruses

Olive leaf extract benefits range from repelling insects and termites to destroying viral infections and restoring immune function.  The extract derives from the leaves on the olive tree.  The olive leaf contains two primary substances, oleuropein and eloneic acid, responsble for healing and has been used as an herbal remedy for centuries.  However, there is a recent resurgence in the usage of the leaf, as the scientific evidence surrounding its healing properties is accumulating.
 History
Olive leaves date back over a million years, and have been enhancing health since the early 1800s. During the Spanish and French battles in the 19^th century, Spanish physicians discovered drinking the solution from olive leaves that were boiled and crushed in water assisted the soldiers by decreasing their fevers. The French were mesmerized at how quickly the Spanish soldiers were recovering.  After some undercover investigation by the French, the French realized the Spanish secret weapon was olive leaves.  The French began collecting olive leaves and creating their own olive leaf extract.  The numerous benefits of olive leaf extract were documented in journals by Colonel Etiene Pallas in the 1820s.



Present Day
In the last couple of years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the remarkable benefits of olive leaf extract among scientists and natural healers.  Currently, scientist are running controlled trials to prove the documented benefits of killing bacteria, enhancing immune functioning, repelling insects and assisting the body in overcoming certain viruses.
Benefits
The olive leaf contains a substance called oleuropein, a highly natural antibiotic.  Oleuropein inhibits the growth of the herpes simplex virus, the type 3 flu virus and the polio virus.  Additionally, oleuropein helps to destroy bacterial infections, like the staph bacteria.  Another substance in the olive leaf extract is elenolic acid.  Eloneic acid combined with salt forms calcium elenolate, a compound known to work as a healing agent and aid in preventing serious illness.
There are more than a hundred olive leaf extract benefits.  Some benefits attributed to the olive leaf include:
Anthrax
Ebola Virus
Ringworm
Warts
Bladder Infection
Vaginal Yeast Infection
Botulism
Tuberculosis
Chicken Pox
Strep Throat
The Common Cold Virus
Rabies
Cold Sores
Hepatitis A, B and C
Pneumonia
Diarrhea
Pinkeye
Ear Infection
Mumps
E. Coli
Measles
Gastrointestinal ulcers and irritations
Shingles
Head Lice
Heart Conditions
High Blood Pressure

HIV
Olive leaf extract is primarily used as an immune enhancer to combat illnesses.  Specifically, the olive leaf extract has been used among individuals with HIV or AIDS in capsule or tea form.  In a myriad of studies, these individuals reported that drinking three one-half cups of olive leaf tea three times per day improved their lab test readings.
Common Cold
The common cold affects everyone at one point in their life or another.  Olive leaf extract is becoming the "go to" herb and regiment to take in order to prevent and cure the condition.  Some individuals taking olive leaf extract say, when the herb is used properly, their cold symptoms seem to magically disappear.  The leaf works best among individuals with healthy immune systems that are not compromised by poor diet, sedentary lifestyle or smoking.  You probably will not experience immediate results, but you will notice a more rapid recovery.
Cardiovascular Health
The olive has been hailed the ultimate food for helping the heart.  Thus, it should be no surprise that the olive leaf supplies some benefit.  The olive leaf helps regulate your heart and pulse rate. Additionally, the extract works as a diuretic among individuals with heart problems by increasing their urine expenditure by 10 to 15 percent.  To make the most of your olive leaf extract benefits, clinical herbalists recommend taking the olive leaf extract with hawthorn berry extract, an herb known to assist in heart health and functioning.
Nasal Wash
If you suffer from an upper respiratory condition, catching the flu can make your condition worse.  Consider using olive leaf extract in a nasal wash solution to help in your recovery.  To make an olive leaf extract nasal-wash solution, open a capsule and mix the powder in several ounces of warm water.  Use about a half-ounce of the solution to flush your nasal passages.  Try to get the solution into one nostril and quickly inhale.  If you notice some of the solution is in your mouth, then you have done it correctly.  After a couple of times and within a couple of minutes, you will notice your sinuses start to drain.
Tea
Olive leaf tea is easy to make.  Combine two ounces of crushed olive leaves and one pint of distilled water.  Boil the mixture and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes.  Remove from the heat and steep for 20 minutes.  Drink two to four ounces three times per day to fight infection.  At the point of this publication, guidelines have not been established for consuming olive leaf tea for preventative measures.  However, approximately four ounces per day may help boost and support immune functioning.

Dosage Guidelines
The guideline recommended dosage for preventative care is a maximum consumption of 500 milligrams. If you are fighting an infection, research supports taking three to four 500-milligram capsules of olive leaf extract every six to seven hours in order to destroy the infection quickly. No toxic levels or harmful side effects have been established or reported for consuming olive leaf extract.  However, consuming too much olive leaf extract can cause a phenomenon known as “die off.” Die off occurs when your symptoms worsen before going into remission.  This is the body’s way of throwing off the accumulated toxicity of taking too much. If you do experience this effect, cut back on your dosage and temporarily discontinue until your symptoms subside.   
Caution
Before experiencing the olive leaf extract benefits, always consult your physician prior to taking any herbal remedy to decrease your health risks. It is always best to let your treating medical doctor know all supplements you are taking.