In the past, certain herbs such as sage and rosemary were burned to cleanse sick rooms. Cedar is a fragrant wood known to have antiviral, antifungal, expectorant, and lymphatic cleansing properties. Pine, Spruce and Fir needles contain shikimic acid, the main ingredient in Tamiflu, which is used to fight the bird flu. Frankincense is also a known to be very effective incense in the treatment of respiratory ailments. Mullein and Eucalyptus leaves are also beneficial herbs that can be used in this manner.

When herbs and fragrant woods are burned slowly, their essential oils are released and carried by the smoke into the lungs of those that are near the smoke. If a person is suffering from bronchial inflammation, the beneficial properties of the herb are applied directly to the inflamed tissue.

I know of one woman that had been dealing with such a strong cytokine response during a bout with the flu that she was choking, vomiting and struggling for air. Her husband filled the house with cedar smoke by closing the damper on the wood burning stove and placing the wood into the firebox. Immediately, the cytokine storm stopped. Within 20 minutes, there was no mucus and she felt as though she hadn’t had the flu at all. Since that time, they have used this same remedy on other family members to good effect (of course, they air the house out afterwards).

American Indian tribes regularly used Cedar to smoke and cleanse their homes. Cleansing smoke can help rid persons, bedding, clothes, and housing of molds, vermin, viruses etc. The last part of Leviticus 14 records that priests were instructed to cleanse a house of the plague using Cedar.

USING HERBS FOR INCENSE

Carefully place a hot ember or coal from a hardwood fire (use tongs) onto a heat resistant surface. To create incense, place your herbs onto the hot coal. Allow the smoke to waft over you and inhale. The goal is to encourage the plant material to produce smoke, not to ignite into an open flame. This can be accomplished by only using hot coals (rather than fire) and/or by binding the plant material into a tight bundle.

Tightly bundled herbs are called smudge sticks. Sometimes, the stems and leaf material can be formed into tight braids. If you only have dry leaves, these can be tightly wrapped in unbleached paper and tied with cotton thread. Use a smudge stick by setting one of the ends aflame. When you gently blow the flame out, the smudge stick will continue to smolder and smoke. These smudge sticks make it easier to direct the smoke, and they tend to smoke longer than loose plant material.

CAUTION

If you have allergies to a plant, never breathe the smoke produced by burning that plant. The purpose of this article is for information only. Readers that incorporate these methods do so at their own risk and should utilize safety precautions. None of this information is a substitute for professional health care.

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Endometriosis and Pregnancy - Background

Endometriosis is a condition where tissues normally lining a woman’s uterus grow or attach to organs located outside. During menstruation, the uterual lining is shed as per normal, but the portion growing outside the uterus remains. During the process of ovulation to menstuation, the uterual tissue that grows externally is continuously provoked. It can get torn, break down and bleed. This could lead to scar tissue formation and some pain and discomfort.

There are over 7 million reported cases of endometriosis among females in the US, according to the Endometriosis Research Center. It is a leading cause of infertility, gynecologic surgeries and chronic pelvic pain.

Why Does Endometriosis Occur?

At present, the cause behind the occurrence of endometriosis is unknown, although experts have proposed several possible explanations. Studies to date indicate that the condition may be hereditary.

Symptoms

Usual signs and symptoms of endometriosis include irregular or labored breathing, pain during menstruation, chronic pelvic pain, lower back pain and fatigue. Women can also expect to feel some pain while ovulating or having sexual intercourse, painful bowel movements, and GI tract conditions like diarrhea, constipation, or bloating. In cases that are severe, endometriosis may cause infertility.

Diagnosis

The only sure method to diagnose endometriosis is through surgery. Other diagnostic exams like MRIs, ultrasound, or CAT scans are usually inconclusive. The doctor would need to look into the symptoms being felt, as well as the patient’s health history. To diagnose the condition, the doctor may conduct a laparoscopic procedure or a laparotomy.

A Cure for Endometriosis?

Endometriosis still has no cure, however, doctors recommend that certain modes of treatment be applied to help manage it.

Treatment

Methods to manage endometriosis include:

Pain Medication

Medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin, which are available over-the-counter, are used to decrease discomfort and pain. If that doesn’t work, prescription drugs may be recommended.

Hormonal Drug Therapy

Hormone drugs can be used to block a patient’s ovulation. The objective here is to prevent further aggravation of the lesions and guard against the onset of other symptoms. These medications include oral contraceptives, GnRH agonists and progesterone drugs. Hormone therapy is performed particularly on patients who have come from surgery.

Surgery

Doctors usually determine the diagnosis following conservative surgeries like a laparotomy or laparoscopy and often pass through these procedures to extract abnormal growths. If this succeeds, it could help eliminate the pain and even raise the woman’s chances of conceiving.

If traditional surgery does not prove to be effective, doctors can opt to perform a hysterectomy or other more invasive procedures.

Alternative/Natural Therapy

Quite a number of patients choose to go the alternative route of treatments instead of undergoing surgeries and taking medications. Common alternative treatments would include acupuncture, Chinese medicine, and nutritional programs such as natural herbs for fertility. There is a significant volume of literature supporting these natural treatments, each promoting wellness while at the same time stimulate the body’s innate healing and defense mechanisms.

Technorati Tags: endometriosis and pregnancy, endometriosis cure, herbs for fertility

Bloody [(the adjective, not the expletive)|(adjective, not expletive)|(not the expletive but the adjective)] [aptly|best|appropriately|pertinently|suitably] [characterizes|describes|depicts|exemplifies] bowel movement bleeding. Into the toilet bowl and down the legs stream bright red droplets of blood. Red blood oozes from the surface of stools. Scarlet red blood stains the toilet tissue. Heartbeats may skip in alarm. What gives?

No panicky alarm warranted yet as the reason for the hemorrhaging (technical word for bleeding) could be any one of 6 possible causes. Annoying to our daily lives but life-threatening the 6 causes are not if they are treated correctly in a timely manner. Nevertheless, complacency is ill-advised. Closely monitor. Consult a doctor right away if bleeding coupled with pain continues for than a week.

A proper diagnosis will identify the exact cause so that correct treatment can be administered to solve the problem. More [alarmingly|critically|gravely|dangerously|perilously], bowel movement bleeding may be [the result of|the consequence of|caused by|a symptom of] some [type|form|class] of cancer.

Hematochezia or Melena

Medical circles refer to the bleeding as melena (black colored tarry or sticky stools) or hematochezia (bright red or maroon colored blood) or less technically, rectal bleeding. The 6 causes of the bleeding, referred to as rectal as the rectum is the exit, are proctitis, anorectal fistulae, anal fissures, rectal prolapse, internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids.

Proctitis

Proctitis falls within the medical group of diseases known as IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) which counts among them organs like the colon (large intestines) and the small intestines. Inflammation is a healthy reaction of the body when its tissues are damaged. Inflammation is a double-edged sword, triggering off curing of harmed tissue but causing tissue harm if left unfettered. Erosion of the mucous membrane lining, i.e. ulcers, can erupt to cause proctitis in the rectum.

Among other symptoms, bowel movement bleeding is [a frequent feature|commonly encountered|a common encounter|a frequent occurrence]. Proctitis as the cause of rectal bleeding must be eliminated as it can lead to perforation of the rectum if left untreated.

Anorectal Fistulae

Between two or more unconnected internal organs, an anorectal fistula is a tunnel that cuts right through. Frequently, it digs continuously, all the way to the surface of nearby skin. An anorectal fissure has its opening at the anal surface. Frequently, stools and urine are discharged out of this fistula.

Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and ulcerative proctitis are among the inflammatory bowel diseases that can result in anorectal fistulae. [Quite apart from|Aside from|Apart from|Other than] infection pus, bowel movement bleeding is also one of the symptoms.

Fistulae must be properly diagnosed as it can be due to peritonitis (abdominal lining inflammation) which can be life-threatening. Surgery and antibiotic therapy are typical treatment methods following tracking of the fistula’s complete journey.

Anal Fissures

By definition, a fissure is a tear. Anal fissures are the result when inordinate physical straining during constipation causes tears around the anus. A relaxed state of the anal sphincter muscles, both external and internal, is required for healthy bowel motion. Spasms of the internal sphincter muscles may result from pain caused by the fissures, further worsening the fissure. A [dangerous|vicious] cycle [develops|ensues|follows|occurs] [with the result of|resulting in|with the consequence of] [increased|more|added] pain and bowel movement bleeding.

Together with medication (steroids like hydrocortisone and local anaesthetics like lidocaine), a change in diet may relieve the inflammation and painful spasms.

Rectal Prolapse

Excavated documents show that rectal prolapse is an aged infirmity from eons ago, dating as far back as 1500 B.C.! An unusual condition that afflicts primarily aged females, the rectum extends out from the anus to become visible outside the body. Weakened muscles, ligaments and the internal and external sphincter muscles fail to hold the rectum in place.

Pelvic floor descent of the uterus and bladder, persistent constipation and diarrhea leading to severe bowel movement complications are other common symptoms. Frequently, the only solution is surgery.

[Internal Hemorrhoids & External Hemorrhoids|External Hemorrhoids & Internal Hemorrhoids|Internal & External Hemorrhoids|External & Internal Hemorrhoids|Hemorrhoids - Internal & External|Hemorrhoids - External & Internal]

[Notwithstanding|In spite of|Regardless of] the above [disconcerting|somber|weighty|austere|grim] narration, it may be ironic relief that the most [common|frequent|prevalent] [cause of|reason for] bowel movement bleeding is hemorrhoids, both [external and internal|internal and external]. These are dealt with extensively at our site The Treatment Of Hemorrhoid.

Dig through the numerous articles there if you are afflicted by hemorrhoids. [Specifically|In particular], have a look at the H Miracle, an alternative solution presented by an ex-sufferer that promises natural solutions that not only work but [have lasting effect|are permanently effective|have lasting results].

Further Reading

If you are interested in finding more about this topic, we have a related post on Blood In Stool – 7 Possible Causes In The Colon at our site. Do check this out.

Technorati Tags: blood in stool, bowel movement bleeding, hemorrhoid, hemorrhoids, rectal bleeding