Here are some other distinctions that doctors say you need to know:

* Allergies produce thin nasal discharge, whereas the runny nose of a cold may start out watery, but will thicken and often take on a yellow or greenish tint in a matter of days.
* Allergies won’t produce a fever, but colds may.
* Colds usually last five to 10 days, but allergies can linger longer.
* Allergies flare up when people encounter a specific substance, so the timing of your symptoms can hint about their source. A “cold” that comes every spring when the trees begin to flower may well be a pollen allergy.

The flu is a viral illness that affects the respiratory tract. It is highly contagious. Symptoms of the flu are more of the same, with these additions: headache, muscle pain, chills, nausea, sore throat, sweating, and stiff joints.

Yearly immunization shots provide protection for people who want to avoid the flu.

Treatments:

When it comes to treating colds and allergies, over-the-counter options can get overwhelming. Remember that antihistamines go right to the heart of the allergic reaction … that compound is called histamine.

Our bodies make histamine in reaction to foreign substances, and the histamine leads to sneezing and watery eyes and nose. So if you have allergies, you’ll get relief from antihistamines.

On the other hand, if you have a cold, antihistamines may reduce your symptoms, but not much. Decongestants are usually helpful, as these drugs relieve nasal congestion and sinus pressure. They do so by shrinking the blood vessels in the nasal membranes, which opens a clogged nose. Many over-the-counter medications have a combination of antihistamines and decongestants.

The treatment isn’t as cut and dry for the flu. Antibiotics do not sutuable and can reduce the body’s ability to fight viruses. Prescription drug ibuprofen or acetaminophen  can help reduce symptoms. It is important that you drink fluids and get plenty of rest while fighting the flu.

How do you know if it’s sinusitis:

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses. This can happen if colds and allergies progress and block your sinuses. Symptoms of sinusitis are runny, stuffy nose, fever, tender or red skin over the sinuses and aching in the teeth.

One of the most important things you can do to treat sinusitis is to encourage your sinuses to drain. Inhaling steam will help. So will drinking a lot of fluids to thin out the mucous that the sinuses produce. If your sinusitis stems from a bacterial infection, you may need antibiotics to get rid of it. It’s time to see a doctor.

I just happened to glance at my gas tank. The arrow was on E. E means empty. Oh, great! I was on the Atlantic City Expressway on my way home from the beach. I felt a sense of panic. I felt a halt to the good time I had this weekend. It’s all going to end in disaster. It will be as if it never was. Then, a familiar sense of protectiveness, a learned sense brought upon by constant assistance and guidance from caretakers throughout my life. Even when I did not want it and ran away from it, it was there. Overprotectiveness, concern straight out of the hands of love. Now, finally, I am left to my own devices and I am running on empty. There are days I would rather not be a grown-up. I look for my father. I see his face. I hear his voice. I am suddenly glad he is not here. I am glad he is not worried about me now. This isn’t such a big deal. Tons of people, everyday, run out of gas. It could be a big deal. It could happen to even me! Me! I reach for my cell phone feeling an odd sense of safety. I look in the rearview mirror. I see three sleeping children. I suddenly feel inept, unfit and careless. I feel those prickly pinches up my arms and neck, around my ears and through my jaw. My heart beats harder. Impending doom. Fight or Flight. Instincts. My feelings had little to do with what would happen to me, to us. I shut off the radio. I concentrated on the traffic. I ignored the big E glaring from the dash. I tried not to think about my stupidity. Waste in the midst of haste. This is a repeating theme in my life. Too much rushing, too much to do. When my son protested the silent radio as he played his video game, I became angry. Didn’t he know I was panicking right now? Didn’t he know everything else was insignificant? One of the very persons I was most concerned about was expressing his feelings. I didn’t care! Not one bit! “Be Quiet!”, was all I could say. “You know you’re on empty”, he said. “You better stop at the next gas station,” he added. Suggestions. I wanted to bop him. I wanted to scream. I tried my best not to cry. I bit my tongue. I did not want him to worry. I wanted him to learn from my mistakes without too much inconvenience (or worse). Every night I promise to protect these kids, to keep them safe, comfortable, to love them with all of my capacity. I know there is only so much I can do, only so much I can protect. I’m really not very strong, just older and wiser and bigger than them. Doesn’t that immune me from causing them trouble? I think of how I will try to be understanding when these situations are reversed..when he is causing me inevitable concern. I even welcome that thought.

Is the road being stretched like taffy? I never noticed so many details on this highway. So many of those broken white lines to pass. Fifteen minutes later I came upon the sign that read: “Rest Stop, Food, Gas, Restrooms”. Any little thing I needed was available. I tried to be relieved. Suddenly, I had a metaphoric thought.

Today, I learned that my friend’s father was very sick. Sicker than he has been. He suffers from chronic leukemia with acute flare-ups. This time the chemotherapy was not being effective. The cancer cells were not being destroyed and he was becoming weaker. He was so tired. He wished he could go to the hospital to rest, to be watched. He’d be protected. The people there would know how to help. I wish I could help.

I suddenly knew how he must feel. He was slowly loosing gas. For some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He must be panicking. He must be cursing all the things he ever done that were not exactly right, wrong even. He must be made crazy by all the things that were said to him to coax him into feeling hopeful. Nothing anyone could say seemed appropriate. It was all so inappropriate. It all sounded so pointless. He must be angry, sad and desperate all at once. He does not want anyone to worry any more. He does not want to lose control. He has no control. He is afraid to suffer, afraid to be stranded, afraid to collide with something worse, afraid to run out of gas. He must want to give up. He must want to never give up. He must want to not want any more. He must think about how they will do it without him….his wife, his kids, his business. He thinks of his grandkids. He remembers the people he has met, obscure moments of interactions. He remembers things that had meaning for him that were not intended. He remembers the ways, smiles, friendship and kindness of others. He remembers how good it felt to give, to be nice, to be appreciative. He hopes his kids reconcile and learn to accept their differences and make the best of the only family they have. Someday they will have less. You can change almost anything but you cannot change your family and you cannot control how long you will live or when & how you will die. It is so hard not knowing. It seems too soon. He seems too young. To those left after a loved one’s death it is always too soon, they are always too young. Someday there just will not be that gas station up ahead.
I don’t know this man very well. I know he is nice. I know he is kind. I know how he treated my kids. I know his family. I can empathisize.

I realize how important it is to be nice to not only your family and friends and neighbors but to everyone. You never know who you will impress or change with a kind word or smile. You never know who will remember you, who may say a prayer for you. When you are loosing your grip on life knowing that you have done your best, loved your most and showed kindness, it must help. It seems to be significantly more important than any mortal sense of accomplishment. Some people just think of others before themselves. Some people are just considerate. They deserve to be considered even though they will never care or expect it. We all know someone like this. More of us should be this way. You may bring reflection to those you may never realize. You may have made a remote difference to some people. In you own way, you’ve made your mark on this world.

I only needed gas. How insignificant! God bless my friend who needs so much more. I thank him for his subtle effect on my life. My prayers are with him.

Three weeks ago, my son woke up from his sleep with an asthma attack. Ironically, he told me HIS GAS WAS OUT. They were his words. He is just turning five years old. As my son’s breath was quickly given back to him by life sustaining medication, those seemingly same professional nurses and doctors caring for him are not always able to help some others. I was so grateful to be the one chosen to be saved…my son & I, my family. I will remain insanely grateful for our good fortune. I will not take it lightly. While being thoroughly frightened for my son’s life, seeing him unable to draw oxygen into his tiny lungs, I felt so utterly helpless. Life’s seconds were now so indispensable. I said so many prayers. I made so many promises. Life is constantly testing our appreciation of it.

All of us are intertwined at some level. Life is all relative. It’s all significant.

Study researchers say that people are more apt to use tests such as these if they’re convenient and easy. They cite the fact that diabetics don’t watch their sugar levels as much because of the pinprick involved in testing the blood.

People with the highest skin cholesterol levels had up to a 38 percent greater risk of heart disease than with the lowest ones. They also discovered that the subjects with the highest levels of skin cholesterol had the greatest number of diseased arteries.

Unfortunately the cholesterol levels in the skin do not seem to match the levels in the blood. But, if scientists can develop a skin test that accurately measures cholesterol levels, they believe it will encourage patients who are afraid of needle sticks.

For more information, contact the Cleveland Clinic or the American Heart Association.

Today you don’t need to collect the flower to make a salve or ointment. Calendula is widely available at pharmacies or health stores in various forms, and is one of the best treatments for any localised skin problem. Calendula is considered to be a useful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, and any inflammation of the skin due to infection or physical damage, like bruising, can be effectively treated using the plant. This is thought to be due to the high concentrations of soluble flavanoids and carotenoids. Carotenoids are vital for immune functions, as well as giving benefit in other areas like vision and skin growth.

Most of the over-the-counter preparations that are available use only the heads or petals of the Wildroots.com! flower and are water and/or alcohol based. Research has shown that these preparations are just as effective as using the whole flower. A Brazilian study conducted in the mid-nineties reported success with alcohol extracts from Calendula in treating burns, lesions, sunburn, and ulcers. The report also recommended Calendula in particular for its treatment of ulcers resulting from severe varicose veins.

A tube of ointment is an ideal addition to your first-aid cabinet at home, due to its versatility. It is an effective treatment of minor burns and scalds, helps heal cuts, grazes and bruises, and can also be used as an antiseptic to treat insect bites and stings.

Gargling or rinsing several times a day with Calendula tea can help ease the symptoms of a sore throat and mouth ulcers. The tea can also be used to ease digestive inflammation and may be useful in the treatment of gall bladder problems, digestive complaints, like indigestion, or IBS (irritable Bowel Syndrome. You can also ease painful period pains by drinking the tea 2-3 times daily. To make the tea Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 or 2 tsp of dried Calendula petals. Steep for 10 minutes and then strain.

Calendula is definitely versatile, and as well as being effective in helping treat a wide range of ailments, its petals are edible and can be used in cooking and in salads.

Tofu can be used in place of dairy and egg products in many recipes to reduce fat, cholesterol, and calories. With only 30-35 calories per serving, it is a good replacer if you are watching calories. It can also be used in casseroles, patties, loaves, etc. You can even make a nice cheesecake using tofu instead of cream cheese. Here is one recipe that I discovered while experimenting with tofu, that is absolutely delicious!

Tofu Oatmeal Patties

1 1/2 cups Quick Oats

1 cup soft tofu, mashed

2 eggs, or the equivalent of egg substitute

1/2 cup soya powder

1 tbsp. garlic powder

2 tbsps. dry minced onions

1/2 cup shredded cheese, or the evuivalent of soy cheese

Mix ingredients together thoroughly. Form into balls, and place in hot frying pan with a little pan spray or oil, and brown. Flatten after turning, and brown the other side.

Option one: use as sandwich filling, as in vege hamburgers.

Option two: place in casserole dish, and bake using your favorite sauce.

Option three: use as is, and serve with a vegetable and other side. Delicious!

As you can see, tofu can be used in any recipe, and used in as many ways as your imagination allows. Just experiment with what you like, and soon you won’t be using anything else. (Depends on what you like, however.)

Read more: Vege Meat? Where?

The trouble with endocrine disruptors is that they imitate the normal hormones our bodies create - like progesterone and estrogen, which are female reproductive hormones and, as the name implies, the normal rhythm of the body is disrupted. Even though some plants can imitate estrogen, our bodies have become gradually accustomed to their mild impact. For instance, phytoestrogen (which is contained in soy) has a normal half life of a few minutes, but the man made substances have half lives of years, or actually decades.

The body normally has a detoxification system which consists of the blood, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs as well as the skin to handle toxins. These organs’ abilities to detox are so complex, that some professionals think they really can neutralize fake chemicals. The trouble is, there are a lot of new kinds of chemicals being put into our bodies daily and this is so overwhelming that the system can’t perform its job.

While research continues to discover the effects of these chemicals on our bodies, evidence already exists that these toxins have a number of potential long-term effects, such as:
* Infertility
* Allergies
* Childhood Cancers
* Learning Disabilities
* Autism
* Mood Disorders

One method of reducing the effects of these chemicals and to improve your body’s ability to fend them off, is to do a full body detox several times during the course of a year. Using this method, your body can be assisted in many ways, such as having a better chance of conceiving.

You may notice other symptoms that could indicate that your body could benefit from a detox, including:
* headaches, fatigue, weakness
* muscle/joint aches and pains
* brain fog, poor concentration, irritability, depression
* sinus problems, including allergies and stuffy nose
* skin irritations such as rashes and itching
* digestive issues
* sensitivities to chemicals, foods, drugs

If you want to improve your smile by whitening your teeth, try using an effective teeth whitening kit. There are several options available when it comes to finding a solution to eliminating yellow stains that won’t seem to go away.

The most obvious first choice is to use a teeth whitening toothpaste regularly. If your teeth aren’t too stained, you can get good results through teeth whitening toothpastes available in bulk. It may take weeks and even months before you notice the type of results you desire. There are free trials available for teeth whitening products.

The best thing about free trial products is that you don’t have to worry about any upfront cost. You can easily return the teeth whitening product if you are not satisfied with it. The window for trying out the product is usually two weeks. To ensure good results, application of teeth cleaning products typically takes only fifteen minutes a day.

You should have no reason to feel embarrassed about having yellow teeth.
There are solutions that will keep your teeth white and give you a good sense of wellbeing and you can find them on the Teeth Whitening page at our website herbaldrugstore.org

Read more: Teeth Bleaching Planet

These hormones accelerate our natural aging process, and several factors contribute to the decline in their production. Our bodies slow down the hormones’ production, and genetically there are several reasons why this is the case.

You had an extra boost of these growth hormones from your mother’s milk, if you were breast fed when you were a baby. In early development, babies who are formula fed are smaller and less developed than those that are breast fed. It’s only been in the past one hundred years that the average age of the human population has surpassed fifty, and some scientists theorize that this is the reason our bodies slow down this production. These hormones cause the body to stop wasting energy on silly things.

They are probably correct if you look at it. The average person lived into their thirties, giving the body no reason whatsoever to produce these hormones, two thousand years ago. The average life expectancy is lower, the farther back in time you go. Cave people were probably lucky to live to be a year old, and those who lived to the age of 14 were probably considered to be elders.

Our life span has reached a point that we now need these hormones in order to maintain a healthy body and productive life, and this is a problem we face today.

Athletes have received criticism in the past few years when it was found that they used human growth hormones to enhance their physical abilities. A natural decrease in their body’s ability to product the hormones that gave them these abilities in the first place is being seen by athletes in their thirties and forties. When younger athletes still in high school try to gain from these same supplements that which they would not have had in the first place, the real controversy occurs. The difference between Human Growth Hormone Supplements and artificial growth steroids includes a clear distinction. In the 1980’s, the East German Olympic Team used artificial growth steroids, which are synthetic replications of muscle growth hormones and can cause serious side effects. To make these hormones on its own, Human Growth Hormone Supplements are the essential and non-essential amino acids that your body needs.

It is not difficult to realize that these natural supplements could have a huge effect on the quality of your own life. The vigor you once had will be gone as you age and these compounds are no longer being produced in this quantity. Perhaps the best proof we have of the effects these amino acids have on the quality of life as we age is that when these same athletes were made to stop taking these natural body building blocks, their performances declined drastically. These human growth hormones are building blocks if you’re looking to keep or get back that vigor for life you once had.

Recently, the NCAA revised its “Big Ten Conference-Code of Sportmanlike Behavior.” It turns out that “unsportsmanlike,” the term used to refer to rowdy behavior on the field, is somehow offensive to women.

As a result, colleges, such as Ohio State University, have started cutting out the ‘man’ to arrive at “unsportslike.”

Party on in Vegas!

Las Vegas—synonymous with gambling, hasty marriages, and barely clad showgirls—was in for a shock this past week as feminists converged on the city for the 23rd annual conference of the National Women’s Studies Association. Despite its status as an academic organization, the NWSA sees its mission as “transform[ing] the world to one that will be free of all oppression.” And unlike traditional academics who value objectivity, the NWSA sees political activism as inseparable from scholarship and teaching.

Conference attendees will hear about recent triumphs of feminist activism, such as a new state-approved teacher education program in New York, that “reflect[s] feminist perspectives on curriculum.”

At another workshop, “Strategies for Interrupting Oppression and Privilege: Challenges and Opportunities in our Classrooms,” panelists will share “assignments that help students acknowledge the reality of existing privileges and injustices and accept personal responsibility for combating oppression.” Huh?

Other sessions include: “Anatomy of the Obscene Body: Orgasmic Masochism, French Revolution Pornography, and Literary Queering”; “Normative Heterosexuality, Marriage, and Traditional Romantic Partnerships: Clarifying and Extending the Critique”; and “Digital Mannequins and Cyborgian Freak Shows: Reading Virtual Differences.”

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On most college campuses, long waiting lists greet students who want a private dorm room. But not if you are transgendered and happen to attend Oberlin College. Administrators there recently announced a new policy that allows transgendered students (along with the physically disabled and psychologically disturbed) priority in getting rooms of their own.

The decision came after a “biologically male” student applied to live in an all-female housing cooperative last year. The official policy will “help Oberlin’s ’significant population’ of transgendered students,” said the college’s coordinator for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgendered people. Representatives from the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition gave the plan their seal of approval as well.

Muscle cramps seem to come from many different circumstances, such as low calcium or potassium in the blood. Muscle cramps can also appear when there aren’t enough fluids in the body, which causes dehydration and involuntary muscle contractions. Lack of circulation, exercising without warming up first, strenuous exercise without cooling down, being pregnant, wearing the wrong shoes on hilly or long walks, and yes, even overexertion of your body over a long period of time can cause parts of your body to encounter muscle spasms.

But muscle cramps do not have to take over your life. There are preventative measures that can help reduce, if not get rid of, muscle cramps altogether. Preventative measures such as regular exercise, stretching before exercising, cooling down after exercising and drinking eight glasses of water a day. That’s not all. Taking calcium or potassium supplements when pregnant, or when your body is lacking the proper amount, can also help keep those Charlie horses away. It also has been proven that eating vegetables and fruits high in calcium and potassium (such as bananas and orange juice) can cut down on the number of spasms your body has to endure.

So while you are getting your body in shape with preventative measures, what can be done with the cramps you are currently experiencing? When a muscle cramp seems to have taken over a part of your body, you can try rubbing the area to help warm up the muscle, thus causing the cramp to lessen. If that doesn’t work, try placing a warm heating pad on the cramped area or soaking in a warm bath. In more severe cases, doctors can prescribe muscle relaxants to help with the cramping.