OPC Health

OPC stands for oligomeric proanthocyanidins and is one of the many dietary supplements available. The manufacturers of OPC supplements claim this item helps people with heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure and much more. There is, however, a lack of sound evidence to back these claims.

OPC Sources

OPC is not a single chemical, but a group of similar compounds. Food sources of OPC include red wine, cranberries, bilberries, tea (green and black) and parsley. OPC supplements are made from either grape seed extract or pine bark or a combination of both. The OPCs in pine bark, however, are not identical to the ones found in grape seed extract. It is difficult to study OPC supplements because the composition varies from brand to brand.

Antioxidants

OPC supplements receive much acclaim because of their antioxidant content. Antioxidants are compounds that protect cells from free radical damage. Free radicals are compounds released every time cells take up oxygen.

Grape Seed Extract Research

There is limited medical evidence to back the marketing claims. According to the University of Maryland, a study involving healthy volunteers found that taking grape seed extract daily increased levels of antioxidants in their blood. There is, however, no further evidence to prove that this increase of antioxidants prevents cancer or other degenerative diseases such as heart disease.

In the case of swelling that occurs after surgery or injury, grape seed extract does show some promise. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study found breast cancer patients after surgery experienced less swelling than those patients who took the placebo, the University of Maryland Medical Center reports.

In treating high cholesterol, there is no evidence proving that grape seed extract is effective.

The National Cancer Institute did another study and found grape seed extract did not reduce the hardening of breast tissue.

Pine Bark Extract Research

The American Cancer Society states there is not enough data to support most of the health claims for any form of pine bark extract. There have been brief studies that examined how pine bark extract may treat asthma, menstrual pain, blood clots and high cholesterol. Further studies involving larger groups of people are necessary in order to reach any conclusions.

Dietary Supplements

Consumers need to be aware of the difference between dietary supplements and prescription drugs. According to the Food and Drug Administration, a dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a dietary ingredient. These dietary ingredients include vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and enzymes. Extracts are also considered dietary ingredients. By law, manufacturers must ensure the safety of their product. Any new or unknown dietary ingredient must be reported to the FDA. Prescription drugs must undergo rigorous testing in order to ensure safety and effectiveness. As long as they can ensure product safety, the makers of dietary supplements do not have to prove to the FDA that the claims made about their products are accurate.

Dr. Kenneth R. Pelletier, author of The Best Alternative Medicine, states that, with a few exceptions, foods, rather than pills, are your best sources of necessary nutrients.

Bovine Colostrum & Hair Growth

There are a variety of reasons that hair loss occurs. Sometimes its because of a drastic physical or mental change, a pregnancy or genetics. Although a pill to regrow hair hasnt yet been discovered, studies have shown that a growth factor in bovine colostrum contributes to hair growth.

What Is Bovine Colostrum?

Bovine colostrum is produced in the first 24 hours after a calf is born. Its a yellow, milky substance that contains a lot of nutrition and immune-enhancing factors for the newborn calf. Bovine colostrum is collected in the first five milkings. According to the Institute of Colostrum Research website, "the use of colostrum for the treatment of illness and for the maintenance of well-being dates back thousands of years. ... Prior to the development of sulpha drugs and antibiotics colostrum was used for its antibiotic properties."

Hair Loss

It's normal to lose 30 to 75 strands of hair daily. Hair should also grow 1/4 to 1/2 inch a month. If your hair loss is more than this or if your hair isn't growing enough, this might be a sign of a health issue or another problem. Hair loss can occur because of a hormone imbalance, a nutrient deficiency, too much or too little protein, substance abuse, lack of sleep, a scalp infection, or hair products with too many chemicals.

Increased Levels of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (IGF-1)

Bovine colostrum contains many growth factors. A study conducted in Japan at The Department of Translational Medical Science Research at Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences on mice reported that insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), which bovine colostrum contains, contributed to significant enhancements of hair follicle morphogenesis, hair regrowth and hair pigmentation.

A later study conducted in Japan at the same school reported that IGF-1 plays an important role in hair growth. The study was conducted over five months, and its goal was to increase levels of IGF-1 in volunteers. Seventeen of the volunteers got a placebo, and the remaining volunteers took active ingredients. The 14 volunteers who were given active ingredients showed promotion of hair growth significantly higher than the group given the placebo.

Nutrition

According to the Mayo Clinic website, having inadequate protein or iron in your diet or poor nourishment in other ways can cause you to experience hair loss. Bovine colostrum is a rich source of amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Typical vitamins in bovine colostrum that are associated with hair growth are vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A and vitamin C. Typical minerals in bovine colostrum that are associated with hair growth are calcium and potassium.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Biochemical Mechanisms

According to The International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery website, Investigators have reported that platelet-rich plasma promotes hair growth from follicles by the action of platelet growth factors on hair follicle stem cells. Platelet-rich plasma, when used in hair restoration, is administered by a professional in that field. The platelets are derived from the patient's blood.

According to the Center for Nutritional Research website, platelet-rich plasma biochemical mechanisms are found in bovine colostrum.

Coconut Oil for Bladder & Staph Infections

Coconuts are classified by the Coconut Research Center as a "functional food" because they are both a food source and have medicinal health benefits. The center indicates medical journal research now demonstrates coconut (in some form) kills a variety of viruses, bacteria, fungus and yeast infections, including staph and bladder infections. Coconut Oil Central lists the staphylococcus bacteria that causes both staph and bladder infections as one that is neutralized by coconut oil's medium-chain fatty acidsor MCFA.

Function

Medium-chain fatty acids can help prevent and protect against heart disease without having a negative impact on cholesterol.

Medium-chain fatty acids or medium-chain triglyceridesMCTmake up 92 percent of coconut oil, according to the OrganicFacts.net. Those acids aren't found in many of our food sources but they are important because they help protect us from heart disease and antherosclerosis. Organic Facts points out that among the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil it is mainly lauric acid, caprylic acid and capric acid that provide the antifungal, antibacterial, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.

Additional Benefits

The antioxidant properties of coconut oil can protect the skin from losing elasticity and strength.

Humans metabolize fatty acids differently depending on the size of the "carbon chain" within each fatty acid. Medium-chain fatty acids are more easily assimilated or metabolized and put to healthy use in the body, notes Organic Facts. So even though coconut oil is a saturated fat, it provides digestive health and soothes bowel issues, protects the skin from irritation, drying and aging and works as an antioxidant to the system without contributing to higher cholesterol.

Components

Coconut oil contains healthy vitamins and minerals.

Besides its healthy medium-chain fatty acids, coconut oil also contains polyunsaturated fatty acid (linoleic acid) and mono-unsaturated fatty acid (oleic acid), points out Organic Facts. In addition, coconut oil is a good source of vitamin K, vitamin E and iron. And finally, polyphenols like gallic acid are found in coconut oil, providing another level of health protection that counteracts the environmental free-radicals that can cause tissue damage in the body.

Misconceptions

Unlike animal fats, coconut oil comes from a plant source, so it has no cholesterolwith which to increase cholesterol in the blood.

Because coconut oil is a saturated fat, some people believe it's unhealthy, clogging arteries and increasing cholesterol. But according to CoconutOil.com, researcher Emil V. Carandang of the Philippine Coconut Research and Development Foundation, notes that a U.S. fresh/raw coconut oil study found coconut oil does not cause an increase in the actual cholesterol. It did show, however, that it increased good cholesterol levels and decreased bad cholesterol levels, positively impacting existing cholesterol.

Cautions

Coconut used for food or medicinal purposes comes in the form of juice, milk, oil and coconut meat.

Coconut Research Center provides links for a wide range of scientific research and articles on the positive results of using coconut oil against illnesses such as AIDS, influenza and herpes, and to target bacterias that cause various infections.

Coconut oil should be used for those purposes, however, only under the direction of a physician.

What Can Silver Water Do for You?

Silver has been used for hundreds of years to prevent contamination and illness. During the Middle Ages, people drank from silver goblets because they thought the silver would cleanse any impurities in their drinks. Canteens were lined with silver for many years as an antidote to contaminated drinking water. In fact, silver keeps bacteria and parasites from assimilating oxygen; the bacteria suffocates and dies. Today, colloidal silver water, meaning deionized water containing microscopic particles of silver, is touted for its health benefits.

Benefits

Because silver inhibits the growth of bacteria and keeps parasites from living, silver water can be used to fight or prevent infections. Silver water can also be used as an eyewash, a mouthwash, a topical antibiotic for scrapes and cuts and ear drops for people prone to ear infections.

Availability

Silver water is available at most health food stores, as well as some pharmacies and drug stores. You can also purchase silver water on the Internet. When purchasing silver water, read the labels to compare prices for different strengths. The strengths are measured in ppms (parts per million). Herbalists consider ppms less than 500 to be worthless in fighting disease.

Warning

Although silver water may offer many health benefits, it can also cause problems. Under some circumstances, silver can act as a heavy metal poison in the human body. This generally occurs when the silver particles are too large. The smaller the particles are, the less likely the body is to react to the silver as a toxin. The most common adverse reaction to silver is a condition called argyria, which turns the skin a bluish gray color. Argyria doesn't have any other known symptoms besides skin discoloration.

Considerations

Although many health supplement manufacturers tout the efficacy of silver water in boosting the immune system, most evidence is anecdotal. Comprehensive research studies regarding the benefits and risks of silver water have either not been done or not been conclusive. Therefore, there is some risk in using silver water on a regular basis.

Cost

Buying colloidal silver water from health food stores can be expensive, but machines have been developed to help you produce it in your own home. Called colloidal silver generators, these machines can be plugged into an outlet in your home so you can make your own silver water. Depending on how often you use silver water, making your own can be very cost effective.

Medical Massage Therapy Training

Training for medical message therapy varies from state to state and institution to institution. Training is generally offered by public community or technical colleges, or by private institutions, many of them specializing in massage therapy. Programs frequently provide full- and part-time instruction, and teach various accepted massage techniques and practices, with placement assistance included after the student completes the program.

Medical Massage Courses

Medical massage therapy training begins with anatomy and physiology.

The medical massage therapists education and training should begin with a thorough understanding of the human bodys anatomy and physiology. Additionally, courses should cover extensively the pathologies a therapist is likely to encounter in medical massage. For example, the Blue Heron Academy of the Healing Arts and Sciences in Grand Rapids, Michigan, teaches students assorted musculoskeletal conditions body part by body part, joint by joint, condition by condition. Beyond physical and physiological considerations, a key component of all medical massage training is ethics standards and behavior.

Hands-On Training

Hands-on experience is key to medical massage therapist training.

Hands-on, clinical experience is essential in medical massage therapist training. The clinical process focuses on four key areas: reducing inflammation, restoring soft tissue to its normal condition, returning the body part to its normal range of motion and creating a general upturn in the patients physical condition while lowering the patients discomfort. Clinical training should encompass both clinical practices and patient evaluation. The Blue Heron Academy begins students working with patients with six visits in three weeks, which allows the student time to both treat the condition and evaluate the patients recovery. Because the therapist is treating a condition based on a medical prescription, patient sessions are shorter, typically half an hour.

Adjunct Training

After the medical massage therapy student has mastered the coursework and the clinical experiences, she is ready to train in adjunct therapies. These include the application of hot packs and cold packs; cold, low-level soft-tissue lasers; electrotherapy; vibration or percussion therapy; and infrared lamps. Learning these therapies broadens the patients treatment options and speeds recovery while expanding the therapists capabilities and practice.

Certification

Certification from the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork is recognized by 38 states and the District of Columbia. Many states demand that a massage therapist have at minimum 500 hours of training and education earned at a fully accredited school or institution. By passing the NCBTMB exam, the therapist is certified to have met those conditions and is confirmed to be qualified and knowledgeable in medical massage therapy, and has pledged to uphold ethical standards and practices.

Licensure

Licensing requirements for medical massage therapists vary widely. For example, the State Medical Board of Ohio, which requires a therapist be licensed and pass a criminal background check, created a Massage Therapy Advisory Committee to evaluate and advise issues pertaining to massage therapy. Ohio requires therapists to renew their license every two years. By contrast, Wyoming does not require the NCBTMB exam and does not have licensing or certification requirements. A new medical massage therapist should check both state and municipal requirements for licensing and certification before opening a practice.

Gold Therapy & Arthritis

Gold therapy was originally used to treat infections such as tuberculosis, but in the early 1900s, doctors began using it to treat rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disorder that may cause joint deformity. These days, there are newer treatments with fewer side effects, so gold is only used when a patient doesnt respond to other options.

What Is Gold Therapy?

Gold therapy, also known as gold salts, is a chemical compound of the metal gold. Gold is classified as a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD), meaning that it decreases the pain and swelling of arthritis while also preventing joint damage.

Dosage and Administration

Most rheumatologists use injectable forms of gold compounds, such as sodium thiomalate and aurothioglucose. An oral form of gold exists, but it is less effective than the injections. Patients take small doses of gold ranging from 10 to 50 mg weekly, until a response has occurred or until 1 g has been administered. If the patients response is favorable, injections are continued every three weeks for three months and finally tapered to a monthly injection. Younger children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis receive a smaller dosage. Some patients may take as long as six months to respond to treatment.

Side Effects

Up to 35 percent of patients receiving gold injections discontinue them due to side effects. These may include a rash, ulcerations of the mouth or tongue, blood in the urine, damage to bone marrow or impaired kidney function. Musculosketal pain may increase while taking gold injections. Long-term use may cause an irreversible bluish discoloration of the skin.

Efficacy

According to the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center, most rheumatoid arthritis patients benefit from gold treatments if given intramuscularly. Gold injections do not cure arthritis but can help keep it under control by relieving pain, reducing swelling and preventing joint damage. Scientists and doctors have debated how gold works, but no one knows for sure.

Other Considerations

Gold preparations are not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women due to numerous side effects and unknown effects on the fetus. Many rheumatologists also give their patients other drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and corticosteroids, along with gold therapy. Tell your doctor about any other medications you may be taking so she can determine if there will be an interaction with the gold.

Newer Therapies

Since the 1990s, gold compounds have mostly been replaced by newer DMARDs such as methotrexate, which is also used to treat some types of cancer. The newer drugs produce fewer side effects and require less monitoring than gold. Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center says methotrexate may produce favorable results in six to eight weeks.

Buckeye for Arthritis

So named for its resemblance to the large brown eye of a male deer, the buckeye nut grows on tall trees throughout the middle United States. The nut is dangerous to eat, but folklore abounds about the magical ability of the buckeye nut--worn close to the body to ward off pain from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

The Buckeye Tree

There are two varieties of buckeye tree. The Ohio variety, Aesculus glabra, grows 30 to 50 feet high and releases slightly spiny seed pods containing up to five smooth brown nuts. It is also called the fetid buckeye or stinking buckeye because of the unpleasant smell released when the leaves are bruised. Its lightweight wood was prized in the central U.S. for its workability. The yellow variety, Aesculus octandra, grows to 90 feet tall and releases smooth, bumpy seed pods containing up to five nuts. Buckeye nuts are toxic and inedible.

The Buckeye Nut

The buckeye nut is large, spherical, slightly lumpy, smooth and medium to dark brown. Some say it resembles a human male testicle, which is part of its folkloric value. It is not to be confused with its cousin, the chestnut, which is edible, and the horse chestnut, which can be processed for oral consumption as a nutritional supplement. Chestnuts and horse chestnuts are slightly flat on one side.

Folk Uses

Among some Americans, the buckeye nut is a good luck charm. Folklore says, that carried in a pocket, the buckeye increases male sexual potency. Some people also drill a hole into it, fill it with liquid mercury and seal it with wax to bring luck in games of chance (Mercury was the Roman god of games of chance and sleight of hand). Others wrap it in a dollar bill and carry it to attract monetary wealth.

Buckeye for Arthritis

The buckeye nut has no medicinal value for arthritis; you simply carry it in your pocket or wear it around your neck to prevent arthritis or ward off the pain once arthritis does develop. Buckeye in any oral or topical preparation is toxic and can cause fatal poisoning.

An Alternative

While you cannot use buckeye medicinally, one of its close relatives presents an alternative. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) can be processed into a dietary supplement--in a very specific dose of 300mg daily. There is limited evidence beyond folklore to suggest that horse chestnut can treat arthritis symptoms. Certainly, there is no cure for arthritis. If you do decide to try horse chestnut for arthritis, make sure your doctor knows about this and all other supplements you are taking.