As we get older, the number of medications we need seems to grow. Arthritis, heart disease, lung problems and other illnesses become more frequent. After a while, it becomes difficult to remember which medication you need to take when. That’s where those little plastic pillboxes come in handy.

Pro: There are a variety of them, depending on your needs. If you must take a medication more than once a day, there are boxes that have three or four compartments for each day of the week. If you only need to take them once a day, there are boxes that let you plan things out for up to two weeks.

Con: When the pill bottle is empty, it’s time to throw it away, right? Not so fast if you use a pill planner. You could forget to refill your medication and if you don’t have the bottle, it’s hard to reorder. One method to get around this is simply turn the empty bottle upside down. That reminds you it’s empty and keeps important information, like the prescription number, available.

Pro: Pillboxes can also help you take the number of pills you need. As an example, if you are taking a strong pain medication, there is a limit to how many you can take in a day. Unfortunately, the stronger the pain medication, the more likely you are to forget you’ve already had one. It’s very easy to take more than what is prescribed. If they are in the pillboxes, you can tell it has already been taken and that risk is reduced.

Con: Most of us associate a prescription pill bottle with something we need to take. The pillbox might be a little more difficult to associate with taking an important medication. Some medications don’t have a noticeable effect on us, though they are extremely important.

Pro: You can put your supplements in the box, making it easier to remember to take them. This includes garlic and Omega-3 capsules/tablets

Con: Some capsules look the same, so it could be easy to mix them up. Any medication put in with garlic will probably smell and taste like it. Some types of fish oil should be refrigerated, so make sure to read the labels.

If you use one of these planners, make sure you get the best one for your needs. If you aren’t sure which to get, talk to your pharmacist. He or she will know how many medications you take and how often you are to take them. That will help you find the right one.

You try so many things to be cured from acne problem, but repeatedly you keep on suffering from it. You had tried to use every method and every upcoming product but nothing has really proved beneficial for your type of skin. We will provide you with some solutions that are natural and safe, which will help you to have a flawless and clear skin.

The first method towards this is learning for the cause of acne. Many people are not aware of the cause of acne and all. Some people have some information from unknowledgeable sources and this feeds them with all wrong information. It is better to follow internet for your queries as Google has all answers to everything now. Another source of good information is with the help of books, be it ayurveda or medicinal books. So try to get informed and follow tips from these sources rather than go on with any one’s junk information, which might do no good to your skin. Secondly, you must keep a complete and close look on your regular dietary pattern. Your diet should include all healthy, balanced and nutritious food rather than the junk and oily foods. You might feel that whenever you have more of junk and processed food, you tend to get a new pimple or acne on your face. So, you must include more of natural and fibrous food rather than the processed food intake in your diet. You will start seeing the glow and flawlessness on your skin.

Why does the junk food cause differences on your skin? The main reason behind this is because they contain some kind of toxins, which are responsible for irritation on your skin. This leads to formation of acne. Main cause of acne has its own biological reason and that is over production of oil in the sebaceous gland. Junk and oily food increases the oil content within the sebaceous gland hence the cause of acne is identified. To cure this acne problem you must follow the natural methods on your skin. Try to avoid any kind of bleaches that might leave spots and patches on your skin. Bleaches and such cosmetics have harmful chemicals in them, which might not suit everyone’s skin. So it is best to be away from them as far as possible. If you want to go for home treatment then you have so many of them like preparing face pack from turmeric and milk, or going with lemon and honey as the mixture and applying it on skin. You can get knowledge on these home based products, what exactly you should follow, by dermatologist.

One thing that you should do on daily basis is that you must wash your face with a cleanser and with warm water daily and that too twice in a day. This will help you to get away from dirt and dust on your face. Whenever you go to bed you must wash your face once, you should always let your hands be away from face as hands contain many pathogens that might attack on your face and result in acne formation. With these simple methods, you must now start treating your face naturally with safest technique that will never ever have any kind of side effect on your face.

With aging you start seeing many of your physical difference of your body. One of the striking differences you see is in the elasticity of skin as it starts becoming loose. All this generally begins after the age of forty-five and this is result of degradation of the connective tissues. The underlying tissues involve collagen and elastic. When this loose in skin happens, you start having wrinkles and loose skins around the jaw lines and neck area. There is special test that you need to follow to look at looseness of your elasticity. You can do this by pinching your skin of your hand between your thumb and also forefinger and let it be like this for 5 seconds. Count the total time required when it is flattened. If you record it, you will find that between forty five to fifty ages, the time is five seconds, for sixty years it goes to ten to fifteen seconds. However, this varies for every age group so you should not take it very seriously.

Another test is failing ruler test, which is a test for reaction time and it falls off sharply as time passes. To start with this test, you need an eighteen inch ruler and that too wooden. You should ask someone to hold the ruler between finger and that too from top. Keep your thumb and middle finger at least, three inches apart, which should be further eighteen inches from the ruler. Now the person who is holding the ruler should let it go off suddenly and let you catch the ruler as soon as possible. Repeat this for 4 times and count your score. You can calculate this by say, you had three catch in first, then six and then six then total count would be three plus six plus six and the whole is divided by 4 which equals to five, hence the total count is five.

Second is the static balance test, which is considered the best method if you are one who follows that you should follow the test by yourself. Normally this test is declined if you range between ages of twenty to eighty. Let us know the method of conducting this test. You have to stand straight with both feet together on a hard surface. You can wear shoe also but that should be low heeled. Ask one of your friends to look for the result like as if you fall over. Now, lift one of your legs by closing your eyes and try to bend your knee at forty-five degree. Now try this with other leg. Ask your friend what is the maximum time limit for which you could stand on one leg. A young person can be in same position for around thirty seconds while old person cannot get over this limit as he can fall over in only few seconds. Now, keep on checking this with different age groups.

Following these methods of diagnosing aging level or hormonal level surely helps you to know how much old you have really grown.

Acid reflux is very common in children and infants these days. Every mother is much tensed regarding the bad habit of their children who have continuous habit of spitting and throwing up of food articles. What exactly is this Acid Reflux? Acid Reflux is a situation where the lower esophagus sphincter of the stomach fails to function properly.

The main function of lower esophagus sphincter is to act like a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. And it just shuts itself as soon as any food particles get inside the stomach. And this gives no chance for the food to re enter the esophagus. When the lower esophageal sphincter is not able to prevent the backflow of acidic stomach content into esophagus, then acid reflux is said to be caused. This acidic content causes severe irritation in the esophagus and this is very much termed as Acid Reflux.

Let us see some of the causes which lead the children to suffer from this effect. One of the main reasons for children to get attacked with this situation is due to improper growth of their digestion system. As the children are in their growing phase, so their digestive system is not fully developed. Hence, it becomes very favorable thing for acidity to be caused.

It is advised from the doctor that the feeding should be reduced when an infant had acid reflux. One can also get a change in the schedule of feeding but these things must be done after consultation with a doctor.

The incidence of acid reflux also occurs due to extra pressure on the abdomen. Hence, parents are advised that they should hold the infants in an upright position so that the food gets digested in the stomach. This is the reason why an infant is advised to sleep with his back laid because if they sleep other way they tend to develop acidity as the food does not get digested.

How can this acid reflux be controlled? This can be cured with the help of burping. Hence, all the mothers are advised to give burping to the infants as soon as they get their feeding. Burping should be done twice or thrice while feeding the baby. Another way to cure acid reflux in infants is by elevating their crib portion so that they get help in digesting the food. This type of elevation of head prevents the acid to reach the esophagus area.

There are so many medications available which also proves to be helpful to curing this acid reflux in children. There are few H2 blockers like cimetidine, Ranitidine, famotidine, nizatidine. These drugs work by preventing the back flow of acid into the esophagus. There are certain proton pump inhibitors too which can be used like esomeprazole (also known as Nexium), omepranzole, lansoprazole, rabepranzole and pantoprazole. These help in decreasing the level of acid produced inside the body.

Hence, the very short method of reducing the acidity in infants is by changing the dietary pattern and also in sleeping modes. A serious condition can be avoided with effective medicines like esomeprazole or Nexium.

Supplemental amino acids are available in combination with various multivitamin formulas, as protein mixtures, in a wide variety of food supplements, and in a number of amino acid formulas. They can be purchased as capsules, tablets, liquids, and powders. Most amino acid supplements are derived from animal protein, yeast protein, or vegetable protein. Crystalline free-form amino acids are generally extracted from a variety of grain products. Brown rice bran is a prime source, although cold-pressed yeast and milk proteins are also used.

Free-form means the amino acid is in its purest form. Free-form amino acids need no digestion and are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. These white crystalline amino acids are stable at room temperature and decompose when heated to temperatures of 350°F to 660°F (180°C to 350°C). They are rapidly absorbed and do not come from potentially allergenic food sources. For best results, choose encapsulated powders or powder.

When choosing amino acid supplements, look for products that contain USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) pharmaceutical-grade L-crystalline amino acids. Most of the amino acids (except for glycine) can appear in two forms, the chemical structure of one being the mirror image of the other. These are called the D- and L- forms for example, D-cystine and L-cystine. The “D” stands for dextro (Latin for “right”) and the “L” for levo (Latin for “left”); these terms denote the direction of the rotation of the spiral that is the chemical structure of the molecule. Proteins in animal and plant tissue are made from the L- forms of amino acids (with the exception of phenylalanine, which is also used in the form of DL-phenylalanine, a mixture of the D- and L- forms). Thus, with respect to supplements of amino acids, products containing the L- forms of amino acids are considered to be more compatible with human biochemistry.

Each amino acid has specific functions in the body. The many functions and possible symptoms of deficiency of twenty-eight amino acids and related compounds are described below. When taking amino acids individually for healing purposes, take them on an empty stomach to avoid making them compete for absorption with the amino acids present in foods. When taking individual amino acids, it is best to take them in the morning or between meals, with small amounts of vitamin B and vitamin C to enhance absorption.

When taking an amino acid complex that includes all of the essential amino acids, it is best to take it a half hour away from a meal, either before or after. If you are taking individual amino acids, it is wise also to take a full amino acid complex, including both essential and nonessential amino acids, at a different time. This is the best way to as-sure you have adequate amounts of all the necessary amino acids.

Be aware that individual amino acids should not be taken for long periods of time. A good rule to follow is to alternate the individual amino acids that fit your needs and back them up with an amino acid complex, taking the supplements for two months and then discontinuing them for two months. Moderation is the key. Some amino acids have potentially toxic effects when taken in high doses (over 6,000 milligrams per day) and may cause neurological damage. These include aspartic acid, glutamic acid, homocysteine, serine, and tryptophan. Cysteine can be toxic if taken in amounts over 1,000 milligrams per day. Do not give supplemental amino acids to a child, or take doses of any amino acid in excess of the amount recommended unless specifically directed to do so by your health care provider.

Some recommended amino acid products include the following:

A/G-Pro from Miller Pharmacal Group, a complete amino acid and mineral supplement.

Anabolic Amino Balance and Muscle Octane from Anabol Naturals. Anabolic Amino Balance is a complex of twenty-three free-form amino acids. Muscle Octane is a blend of free form branched chain amino acids (L-leucine,L-valine, and L-isoleucine). Anabol Naturals also pro-duces free-form single amino acids.

Amino Blend from Carlson Laboratories, a complex containing twenty amino acids, both essential and non-essential.

Alanine

Alanine plays a major role in the transfer of nitrogen from peripheral tissue to the liver. It aids in the metabolism of glucose, a simple carbohydrate that the body uses for energy.

Alanine also guards against the buildup of toxic sub-stances that are released in the muscle cells when muscle protein is broken down to meet energy needs quickly, such as happens with aerobic exercise. Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue have been associated with excessive alanine levels and low levels of tyrosine and phenylalanine. One form of alanine, beta-alanine, is a constituent of pantothenic acid (vitamin 65) and coenzyme A, a vital catalyst in the body.

Research has found that for people with insulin-dependent diabetes, taking an oral dose of L-alanine can be more effective than a conventional bedtime snack in preventing nighttime hypoglycemia.

Arginine

Arginine retards the growth of tumors and cancer by enhancing immune function. It increases the size and activity of the thymus gland, which manufactures T lymphocytes (T cells), crucial components of the immune system. Arginine may therefore benefit those suffering from AIDS and malignant diseases that suppress the immune system. It is also good for liver disorders such as cirrhosis of the liver and fatty liver; it aids in liver detoxification by neutralizing ammonia. It may also reduce the effects of chronic alcohol toxicity.

Seminal fluid contains arginine. Studies suggest that sexual maturity may be delayed by arginine deficiency; conversely, arginine is useful in treating sterility in men. It is found in high concentrations in the skin and connective tissues, making it helpful for healing and repair of damaged tissue.

Arginine is important for muscle metabolism. It helps to maintain a proper nitrogen balance by acting as a vehicle for transportation and storage, and aiding in the excretion, of excess nitrogen. Studies have shown that it also reduces nitrogen losses in people who have undergone surgery, and improves the function of cells in lymphatic tissue. This amino acid aids in weight loss because it facilitates an increase in muscle mass and a reduction of body fat. It is also involved in a variety of enzymes and hormones. It aids in stimulating the pancreas to release insulin, is a component grade L-crystalline amino acids. Most of the amino acids (except for glycine) can appear in two forms, the chemical structure of one being the mirror image of the other. These are called the D- and L- forms for example, D-cystine and L-cystine. The “D” stands for dextro (Latin for “right”) and the “L” for levo (Latin for “left”); these terms denote the direction of the rotation of the spiral that is the chemical structure of the molecule. Proteins in animal and plant tissue are made from the L- forms of amino acids (with the exception of phenylalanine, which is also used in the form of DL-phenylalanine, a mixture of the D- and L- forms). Thus, with respect to supplements of amino acids, products containing the L- forms of amino acids are considered to be more compatible with human biochemistry.

Insomnia is a symptom which can accompany several sleep, medical and psychiatric disorders, characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep and/or difficulty staying asleep.

One definition of insomnia is difficulties initiating and/or maintaining sleep, or non restorative sleep, associated with impairments of daytime functioning or marked distress for more than 1 month.

Types of insomnia:
Although there are several different degrees of insomnia, three types of insomnia have been clearly identified: transient, acute, and chronic.

1. Transient insomnia lasts from days to weeks. It can be caused by another disorder, by changes in the sleep environment, by the timing of sleep, severe depression, or by stress. Its consequences - sleepiness and impaired psychomotor performance - are similar to those of sleep deprivation.

2. Acute insomnia is the inability to consistently sleep well for a period of between three weeks to six months.

3. Chronic insomnia lasts for years at a time. It can be caused by another disorder, or it can be a primary disorder. Its effects can vary according to its causes. They might include being unable to sleep, muscular fatigue, hallucinations, and/or mental fatigue; but people with chronic insomnia often show increased alertness. Some people that live with this disorder see things as if they are happening in slow motion, wherein moving objects seem to blend together. Can cause double vision.

Causes:

Insomnia can be caused by:

1. Psychoactive drugs or stimulants, including certain medications, herbs, caffeine, nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines.

2. Restless Legs Syndrome can cause insomnia due to the discomforting sensations felt and need to move the legs or other body parts to relieve these sensations. It is difficult if not impossible to fall asleep while moving.

3. Pain: Any injury or condition that causes pain.

4. Hormone shifts such as those that precede menstruation and those during menopause.

5. Life problems like fear, stress, anxiety, emotional or mental tension, work problems, financial stress.

6. Mental disorders such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, or obsessive compulsive disorder.

7. Disturbances of the circadian rhythm, such as shift work, can cause an inability to sleep at some times of the day and excessive sleepiness at other times of the day.

8. Certain neurological disorders, brain lesions, or a history of traumatic brain injury.

9. Medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis.

10. Poor sleep hygiene, e.g., noise

11. Physical exercise. Exercise-induced insomnia is common in athletes, causing prolonged sleep onset latency.

COMPLICATIONS OF INSONMNIA:

1. PSYCHOLOGICAL:
a. lowered performance
b. slower reaction time
c. risk of depression
d. risk of anxiety disorder

2. poor immune system function

3.over weight or obesity

4.high blood pressure

5.risk of cardiac disease

6.risk of diabetes

MANAGEMENT :

1. Aviod the psychoactive drugs as far as possible
2. Proper nutritious diet
3. Meditation
4. Avoidance of noise and light during bed time
5. Proper sleep hygiene

HOMOEOPATHIC APPROACH:

BELLADONNA:

Sleep is extremely restless, interrupted by talking, startings ,spasmodic motions, frightful images on closing the eyes
Violent throbbing in the brain
Frightful dreams which make the person wake from sleep frightened
Hot head and dilated pupils

NUX VOMICA:

Patient is very sleepy in the evening,but sleep is not sound fullor rest full
Awakens in the night with anxiety with fright full dreams
Especially suited to the persons who use excessive stimulants such as coffee,wine etc
Sleeplessness from mental over work

COFFEA CRUDA:

Excessive agitation of the body and mind
All the senses are extremely acute
It is the remedy when good news ,joys,or night watching are the causes of the insomnia

Other remedies are :

HYOSCYAMUS NIGER

CANNABIS INDICA

CHAMOMILLA

GELSEMIUM

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It is essential for brain metabolism, aiding in proper brain function. GABA is formed in the body from another amino acid, glutamic acid. Its function is to decrease neuron activity and inhibit nerve cells from over firing. Together with niacinamide and inositol, it prevents anxiety- and stress-related messages from reaching the motor centers of the brain by occupying their receptor sites.

GABA can be taken to calm the body in much the same way as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and other tranquilizers, but without the fear of addiction. It has been used in the treatment of epilepsy and hypertension.

GABA is good for depressed sex drive because of its ability as a relaxant. It is also useful for enlarged prostate, probably because it plays a role in the mechanism regulating the release of sex hormones. GABA is effective in treat ing attention deficit disorder and may reduce cravings for alcohol. It is also thought to promote growth hormone secretion.

Too much GABA, however, can cause increased anxiety, shortness of breath, numbness around the mouth, and tingling in the extremities. Further, abnormal levels of GABA unbalance the brain’s message-delivery system and may cause seizures.

Glutamic Acid

Glutamic acid is an excitatory neurotransmitter that in-creases the firing of neurons in the central nervous sys-tem. It is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and spinal cord. It is converted into either glutamine or GABA.

This amino acid is important in the metabolism of sugars and fats, and aids in the transportation of potassium into the spinal fluid and across the blood-brain barrier. Al though it does not pass the blood-brain barrier as readily as glutamine does, it is found at high levels in the blood and may infiltrate the brain in small amounts. The brain can use glutamic acid as fuel. Glutamic acid can detoxify ammonia by picking up nitrogen atoms, in the process creating another amino acid, glutamine. The conversion of glutamic acid into glutamine is the only means by which ammonia in the brain can be detoxified.

Glutamic acid helps to correct personality disorders and is useful in treating childhood behavioral disorders. It is used in the treatment of epilepsy, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, ulcers, and hypoglycemic coma, a complication of insulin treatment for diabetes. It is a component of folate (folic acid), a B vitamin that helps the body break down amino acids. Because one of its salts is monosodium glutamate (MSG), glutamic acid should be avoided by anyone who is allergic to MSG.

Glutamine

Glutamine is the most abundant free amino acid found in the muscles of the body. Because it can readily pass the blood-brain barrier, it is known as brain fuel. In the brain, glutamine is converted into glutamic acid which is essential for cerebral function and vice versa. It also increases the amount of GABA, which is needed to sustain proper brain function and mental activity. It assists in maintaining the proper acid/alkaline balance in the body, and is the basis of the building blocks for the synthesis of RNA and DNA. It promotes mental ability and the maintenance of a healthy digestive tract.

When an amino acid is broken down, nitrogen is re-leased. The body needs nitrogen, but free nitrogen can form ammonia, which is especially toxic to brain tissues. The liver can convert nitrogen into urea, which is excreted in the urine, or nitrogen may attach itself to glutamic acid. This process forms glutamine. Glutamine is unique among the amino acids in that each molecule contains not one nitrogen atom but two. Thus, its creation helps to clear am-monia from the tissues, especially brain tissue, and it can transfer nitrogen from one place to another.

Glutamine is found in large amounts in the muscles and is readily available when needed for the synthesis of skele-tal muscle proteins. Because this amino acid helps to build and maintain muscle, supplemental glutamine is useful for dieters and bodybuilders. More important, it helps to pre-vent the kind of muscle wasting that can accompany pro-longed bed rest or diseases such as cancer and AIDS. This is because stress and injury (including surgical trauma) cause the muscles to release glutamine into the blood-stream. In fact, during times of stress, as much as one third of the glutamine present in the muscles may be released. As a result, stress and/or illness can lead to the loss of skeletal muscle. If enough glutamine is available, however, this can be prevented.

Supplemental L-glutamine can be helpful in the treatment of arthritis, autoimmune diseases, fibrosis, intestinal disorders, peptic ulcers, connective tissue diseases such as polymyositis and scleroderma, and tissue damage due to radiation treatment for cancer. L-glutamine can enhance mental functioning and has been used to treat a range of problems, including developmental disabilities, epilepsy, fatigue, impotence, depression, schizophrenia, and senility.

It preserves glutathione in the liver and protects that organ from the effects of acetaminophen overdose. It enhances antioxidant protection. L-glutamine decreases sugar cravings and the desire for alcohol, and is useful for recovering alcoholics.

Many plant and animal substances contain glutamine, but cooking easily destroys it. If eaten raw, spinach and parsley are good sources. Supplemental glutamine must be kept absolutely dry or the powder will degrade into ammonia and pyroglutamic acid. Glutamine should not be taken by persons with cirrhosis of the liver, kidney problems, Reye’s syndrome, or any type of disorder that can result in an accumulation of ammonia in the blood. For such individuals, taking supplemental glutamine may only cause further damage to the body. Be aware that although the names sound similar, glutamine, glutamic acid (also sometimes called glutamate), glutathione, gluten, and monosodium glutamate are all different substances.

Glutathione

Like carnitine, glutathione is not technically one of the arnino acids. It is a compound classified as a tripeptide, and the body produces it from the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Because of its close relationship to these amino acids, however, it is usually considered to gether with them.

Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant that is produced in the liver. The largest stores of glutathione are found in the liver, where it detoxifies harmful compounds so that they can be excreted through the bile. Some glutathione is released from the liver directly into the bloodstream, where it helps to maintain the integrity of red blood cells and protect white blood cells. Glutathione is also found in the lungs and the intestinal tract. It is needed for carbohydrate metabolism and appears to exert antiaging effects, aiding in the breakdown of oxidized fats that may con-tribute to atherosclerosis.

It can mitigate some of the damage caused by tobacco smoke because it modifies the harmful effects of aldehydes, chemicals present in cigarette smoke that damage cells and molecules, and it may protect the liver from alcohol-induced damage.

A deficiency of glutathione first affects the nervous system, causing such symptoms as lack of coordination, mental disorders, tremors, and difficulty maintaining balance. These problems are believed to be due to the development of lesions in the brain. A study sponsored in part by the National Cancer Institute found that people with HIV disease who had low glutathione levels had a lower survival rate over a three-year period than those whose glutathione levels were normal. As we age, glutathione levels decline, although it is not known whether this is because we use it more rapidly or produce less of it to begin with. Unfortunately, if not corrected, the lack of glutathione in turn ac celerates the aging process.

Supplemental glutathione is expensive, and the effectiveness of oral formulas is questionable. To raise glutathione levels, it is better to supply the body with the raw materials it uses to make this compound: cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. The N-acetyl form of cysteine, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), is considered particularly effective for this purpose.

Glycine

Glycine retards muscle degeneration by supplying additional creatine, a compound that is present in muscle tissue and is utilized in the construction of DNA and RNA. It improves glycogen storage, thus freeing up glucose for energy needs. It is essential for the synthesis of nucleic acids, bile acids, and other nonessential amino acids in the body.
Glycine is used in many gastric antacid agents. Because high concentrations of glycine are found in the skin and connective tissues, it is useful for repairing damaged tissues and promoting healing.

Glycine is necessary for central nervous system function and a healthy prostate. It functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter and as such can help prevent epileptic seizures. It has been used in the treatment of manic (bipolar) depression, and can also be effective for hyperactivity.

Having too much of this amino acid in the body can cause fatigue, but having the proper amount produces more energy. If necessary, glycine can be converted into the amino acid serine in the body.

Histidine

Histidine is an essential amino acid that is significant in the growth and repair of tissues. It is important for the maintenance of the myelin sheaths, which protect nerve cells, and is needed for the production of both red and white blood cells. Histidine also protects the body from radiation dam age, helps lower blood pressure, aids in removing heavy metals from the system, and may help in the prevention of AIDS.

Histidine levels that are too high may lead to stress and even psychological disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia; people with schizophrenia have been found to have high levels of histidine in their bodies. Inadequate levels of histidine may contribute to rheumatoid arthritis and may be associated with nerve deafness. Methionine has the ability to lower histidine levels.

Histamine, an important immune system chemical, is derived from histidine. Histamine aids in sexual arousal.

Because the availability of histidine influences histamine production, taking supplemental histidine together with vitamins B3 (niacin) and B6 (pyridoxine), which are required for the transformation from histidine to histamine may help improve sexual functioning and pleasure.

Because histamine also stimulates the secretion of gastric juices, histidine may be helpful for people with indigestion resulting from a lack of stomach acid.

Persons with manic (bipolar) depression should not take supplemental histidine unless a deficiency has been identified. Natural sources of histidine include rice, wheat, and rye.

Homocysteine

Homocysteine is an amino acid that is produced in the body in the course of methionine metabolism. This amino acid has been the focus of increasing attention in recent years, because high levels of homocysteine in the blood are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Further, it is known that homocysteine has a toxic effect on cells lining the arteries, makes the blood more prone to clotting, and promotes the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL, the so-called “bad cholesterol”), which makes it more likely that cholesterol will be deposited as plaque in the blood vessels.

Like other amino acids, homocysteine does perform a necessary function in the body. It is then usually broken down quickly into the amino acid cysteine and other important compounds, including adenosine triphosphate (ATP, an im portant source of cellular energy) and Sadenosylmethionine (SAMe). However, a genetic defect or, more commonly, de ficiencies of vitamins B6 and B12 and folate (folic acid) can prevent homocysteine from converting rapidly enough. As a result, high levels of the amino acid accumulate in the body, damaging cell membranes and blood vessels, and increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. Vitamins B6 and B12 and folate work together to facilitate the breakdown of homocysteine, and thus help protect against heart disease.

Kidney stones are small, solid masses which form when salts and minerals, normally found in urine, solidify into crystals. Normally, these crystals are too small to cause any problems and pass harmlessly out of the body. In some cases however, they can build up inside the kidney and form much larger stones.

These masses can remain within the kidney or move down through the ureter, a tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder. The ureter is very narrow and stones can become stuck within the ureter, causing pain, infection and potentially kidney damage.

Kidney stones are quite common and are three times more likely to affect men as women. About 12 in every 100 men will get kidney stones during their lifetime, compared with 4 in every 100 women. Typically, kidney stones develop between the ages of 30 and 50. There are several symptoms of kidney stones: severe, sudden pain from the loin to the groin, feeling sick and possibly vomiting, bloody or cloudy urine and burning sensation when urinating.

Kidney stones are treated in different ways, according to the size, location and number of stones the patient has developed. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a very commonly used treatment which uses high-energy sound waves to break down kidney stones into tiny fragments. The surgeon uses x-ray or ultrasound images to target the stones and the procedure usually takes up to 45 minutes. Once broken down, the fragments can be flushed out of the body in the urine.

No cuts are made and the treatment is usually carried out without anaesthetic and patients are normally allowed to return home on the same day. Lithotripsy is suitable for small and medium sized stones (approximately 1cm in diameter) located within the kidney and ureter.

If the kidney stone is very hard and has not responded to lithotripsy, or is more than 1cm in diameter and sits in the lower part of the kidney where stone clearance is more difficult, a ureterorenoscopy is likely to be a more effective treatment. A narrow, flexible telescope is passed up through the bladder and ureter into the kidney to the location of the stone. A laser is attached to the telescope and beams from the laser are used to break up the stone. This is a specialist procedure, only offered in units with extensive experience in the treatment of kidney stones.

For stones which are particularly large or in a difficult to access location, it may be necessary to undertake a type of keyhole surgery for kidney stones called Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). The surgeon makes a small 1 cm incision in the lower back and guided by a telescope, called a nephroscope, removes the stone or breaks it up. Like ureterorenoscopy, this is a specialist procedure undertaken only in more specialist units.

All patients treated in hospital for kidney stones should also have full metabolic investigations to assess the sort of kidney stone they developed. This is important because there are different types of stones, triggered by certain food groups. Full analysis of stone type is necessary in order to develop an effective prevention strategy. Half of all patients with a kidney stone have a recurring problem within five years and therefore as well as removing the existing stones, treatment must also involve an effective management plan to help prevent future stones from developing.

The late Dr. Edward Howell, a physician and pioneer in enzyme research, called enzymes the “sparks of life.” These energized protein molecules play a necessary role in virtually all of the biochemical activities that go on in the body.

They are essential for digesting food, for stimulating the brain, for providing cellular energy, and for repairing all tissues, organs, and cells. Life as we know it could not exist without the action of enzymes, even in the presence of sufficient amounts of vitamins, minerals, water, and other nutrients.

In their primary role, enzymes are catalysts substances that accelerate and precipitate the hundreds of thousands of biochemical reactions in the body that control life’s processes. If it were not for the catalytic action of enzymes, most of these reactions would take place far too slowly to sustain life. Enzymes are not consumed in the reactions they facilitate.

Each enzyme has a specific function in the body that no other enzyme can fulfill. The chemical shape of each enzyme is specialized so that it can initiate a reaction only in a certain substance, or in a group of closely related substances, and not in others. The substance on which an enzyme acts is called the substrate. Because there must be a different enzyme for every substrate, the body must produce a great number of different enzymes.

Enzymes assist in practically all bodily functions. Digestive enzymes break down food particles for energy. This chemical reaction is called hydrolysis, and it involves using water to break the chemical bonds to turn food into energy. The stored energy is later converted by other enzymes for use by the body as required. Iron is concentrated in the blood by the action of enzymes; other enzymes in the blood help the blood to coagulate in order to stop bleeding. Uricolytic enzymes catalyze the conversion of uric acid into urea. Respiratory enzymes aid in eliminating carbon dioxide from the lungs. Enzymes assist the kidneys, liver, lungs, colon, and skin in removing wastes and toxins from the body. Enzymes also utilize the nutrients ingested by the body to construct new muscle tissue, nerve cells, bone, skin, and glandular tissue. One enzyme can take dietary phosphorus and convert it into bone. Enzymes prompt the oxidation of glucose, which creates energy for the cells. Enzymes also protect the blood from dangerous waste mate-rials by converting these substances to forms that are easily eliminated by the body. Indeed, the functions of enzymes are so many and so diverse that it would be impossible to name them all.

Enzymes are often divided into two groups: digestive enzymes and metabolic enzymes. Digestive enzymes are secreted along the gastrointestinal tract and break down foods, enabling the nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream for use in various bodily functions. There are three main categories of digestive enzymes: amylase, protease, and lipase.

Amylase, found in saliva and in the pancreatic and intestinal juices, breaks down carbohydrates. It begins to act
as soon as you start chewing (this is why it is important to chew your food well). Different types of amylase break down specific types of sugars. For example, lactase breaks down lactose (milk sugar), maltase breaks down maltose (malt sugar), and sucrase breaks down sucrose (cane and beet sugar).

Protease, found in the stomach juices and also in the pancreatic and intestinal juices, helps to digest protein.

Lipase, found in the stomach and pancreatic juices, and also present in fats in foods, aids in fat digestion.

Another component of the digestive process is hydrochloric acid. While not technically an enzyme itself, it interacts with digestive enzymes as they perform their functions.

Metabolic enzymes are enzymes that catalyze the various chemical reactions within the cells, such as energy production and detoxification. Metabolic enzymes govern the activities of all of the body’s organs, tissues, and cells. They are the workers that build the body from proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. Metabolic enzymes are found doing their specific work in the blood, organs, and tissues. Each body tissue has its own specific set of metabolic enzymes.

Two particularly important metabolic enzymes are superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its partner, catalase. SOD is an antioxidant that protects the cells by attacking a common free radical, superoxide. Catalase breaks down hydrogen peroxide, a metabolic waste product, and liberates oxygen for the body to use.

The body uses most of its enzyme-producing potential to produce about two dozen enzymes. These control the breakdown and utilization of proteins, fats, and carbohy¬drates to create the hundreds of metabolic enzymes neces¬sary to maintain the rest of the tissues and organs in their functions.

Hydronephrosis is distension and dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces caused by obstruction of free flow of urine from the kidney, leading to progressive atrophy of the kidney.

Hydronephrosis may be unilateral involving just one kidney or bilateral involving both.

A complication of hydronephrosis is decreased kidney function.

The increased pressure of extra fluid within the kidney decreases the blood filtration rate and may cause structural damage to kidney cells.

This decrease in function is reversible if the underlying condition is corrected but if the hydronephrosis lasts many weeks, the damage may be permanent.

Causes:

There are numerous causes of hydronephrosis that are categorized based on whether the cause is intrinsic (located within the urinary collecting system) or extrinsic (outside of the collecting system).

Examples of Intrinsic Causes of Hydronephrosis

Ureter

•Kidney stone: causes obstruction of the ureter as it moves from the kidney into the bladder via ureter so, urine will back up and cause the kidney to swell.
•Stricture or scarring

Bladder

•Bladder stones
•Cystocele
•Bladder neck contracture

Urethra

•The inability to empty the bladder for any reason may cause bilateral hydronephrosis.
• Urethral stricture

Examples of Extrinsic Causes of Hydronephrosis

Ureter

•Tumors or cancers that compress the ureter and prevent urine flow
•Retroperitoneal fibrosis
•Cancer of cervix
•Cancer of prostate
•Pregnancy
•Uterine prolapse
•Scarring due to radiation therapy

Symptoms:

Acute hydronephrosis:

1.Back pain radiating to groin
2.Nausea
3.Vomiting
4.Blood in the urine

Chronic hydronephrosis:

1.Weakness
2.Malaise
3.Nausea
4.Vomiting
5.Electrolyte abnormalities
6.Muscle spasms

Diagnosis:

Taking the history of signs and symptoms.

Reviewing the patient’s past medical history and family history and Physical examination

Laboratory Tests

The following laboratory tests may be useful:

1.Urinalysis to look for infection or abnormal cells.
2.Complete blood count(CBC) may reveal.
3.Electrlyte analysis may be helpful in chronic hydronephrosis since the kidneys are responsible for maintaining and balancing their concentrations in the blood stream.
4.BUN(blood urea nitrogen), Creatinine and glomerular filteration rate(GFR) are blood tests that help to assess the kidney function.

Imaging Studies

1.CT scan of the abdomen can be performed to evaluate the kidney anatomy and make the diagnosis of hydronephrosis
2.Ultrasound is another imaging study that can be done to look for hydronephrosis.
3.Intravenous pyelography (IVP)
4.KUB X-rays (an X-ray that shows the kidney, ureter, and bladder)

Treatment:

The treatment for hydronephrosis is to restart the free flow of urine from the kidney and decrease the swelling and pressure that builds up and decreases kidney function.

The initial care for the patient is to minimize pain and preventing urinary tract infections.

Otherwise surgical intervention may be required.

Shock wave lithotripsy (SWL or extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy)

Bladder catheterization

Stent placement

Complications :

kidney infections (pyelonephrosis),
sepsis
complete kidney function loss
death

Prevention:

Since hydronephrosis is a situation that occurs because of an underlying cause, prevention depends upon avoiding the underlying cause.

For example, individuals with kidney stones that cause ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis can be avoided by decreasing the chance of stone recurrence by keeping well hydrated.

Homoeopathic Treatment:

1.Berberis vulgaris:

a.cutting pain or a burning feeling that extends to the urethra
b.The passage may also burn at times when no attempt at urination is being made.
c.After emptying the bladder, the person feels as if some urine still remains inside.
d.Urging and discomfort are often worse from walking.
e.indicated mainly in left-sided renal stones.

2.Sarsaparilla:

a.Frequent urging is felt, with burning pain at the end of urination.
b.Urine passes when the person is standing up, but only dribbling occurs while sitting.
c.Flakes or sediment are sometimes seen in the urine.
d.excruciating pains from right kidney downwards.

3.Lycopodium:

a.This remedy may be helpful if a person has to urinate frequently during the night and passes large amounts of urine.
b.the person may feel a painful urge, but has to strain to make the urine flow.
c.Pain may be felt in the back before the urine passes