Monday, March 18, 2013

what do i say if i have to talk to a group about vitamin c deficiency diseases?

Q. i have to talk about 'scurvy' 'rickets' and something like 'berry berry' to a large group at a pirate themed camp for kids aged nine to twelve. i also have to make smoothies with lots of vitamins, but i really need something to say to the group about lack of vitamin c and the diseases that apply to it.

A. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for the formation of bone and connective tissue (which binds other tissues and organs together). Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, and it helps burns and wounds heal. Like vitamin E, vitamin C is an antioxidant: It protects cells against damage by free radicals, which are reactive by-products of normal cell activity. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy. In adults, the deficiency usually results from a diet low in vitamin C. For example, vitamin C deficiency may develop in people who eat only such foods as dried meat, tea, toast, and canned vegetables. Smoking increases the vitamin C requirement by 30 to 50%. Surgery, and burns can significantly increase the body's requirements for vitamin C and the risk of vitamin C deficiency. The diagnosis of scurvy is based on symptoms. Blood tests detect a very low level of vitamin C. Scurvy is treated with daily vitamin C supplements. Such treatment plus iron supplements can cure the anemia.


Is there anyone who can tell me if the suplements I am taking are safe to mix?
Q. They are:
Primrose oil
vitamin C
magnesium
probiotic
adrenal support supplement
and im also taking Buspar for anxiety

i just want to be sure this combination is safe. Thank you!

A. Several reports describe seizures in individuals taking evening primrose oil (EPO). Some of these seizures developed in people with a previous seizure disorder, or in individuals taking EPO in combination with anesthetics. Based on these reports, people with seizure disorders should not take EPO. EPO should be used cautiously with drugs used to treat mental illness such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine®), thioridazine (Mellaril®), trifluoperazine (Stelazine®), or fluphenazine (Prolixin®), due to an increased risk of seizure. Patients who plan to undergo surgery requiring anesthesia should stop taking EPO two weeks ahead of time because of the possibility of seizure.

Other reports describe occasional headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and loose stools in people taking EPO. In animal studies, gamma-linolenic acid (an ingredient of evening primrose oil) is reported to decrease blood pressure. Early results in human studies do not show consistent changes in blood pressure.

There may be a problem with the interaction between primose oil and buspar since medicine for seizures, or depression can add to sleepiness caused by BuSpar. So you might want to ask your doctor about this.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/evening-primrose-oil/NS_patient-primrose/DSECTION=safety

Dietary magnesium does not pose a health risk, however very high doses of magnesium supplements, which may be added to laxatives, can promote adverse effects such as diarrhea. Magnesium toxicity is more often associated with kidney failure, when the kidney loses the ability to remove excess magnesium. Very large doses of laxatives also have been associated with magnesium toxicity, even with normal kidney function. The elderly are at risk of magnesium toxicity because kidney function declines with age and they are more likely to take magnesium-containing laxatives and antacids.

Signs of excess magnesium can be similar to magnesium deficiency and include mental status changes, nausea, diarrhea, appetite loss, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, extremely low blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat.

http://healing.about.com/od/dietandfitness/a/magnesiumfacts_3.htm

Both magnesium and vitamin C can be considered adrenal support supplements, so check the other inggredients on the supplement you are taking.

http://www.bluemountainrx.com/adrenal.htm

Probiotic bacteria are already part of the normal digestive system and are considered safe.

Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, or depression can add to sleepiness caused by BuSpar.

http://www.drugs.com/buspar.html

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements in the same way it regulates medicines. A dietary supplement can be sold with limited or no research on how well it works or on its safety.

Always tell your doctor if you are using a dietary supplement or if you are thinking about combining a dietary supplement with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on a dietary supplement.


What vitamin is a person lacking if you bruise easily?
Q. I got this huge bruise under my bicep and it doesn't even seem like I hit it that hart but it is so big and so disgusting. Am I lacking a certain vitamin that can help me not bruise so easily?

A. Bruising easily does not mean that you have a serious health problem, especially if bruising is minimal or only shows up once in a while. Women bruise more easily than men, especially from minor injuries on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms.

Older adults often bruise easily from minor injuries, especially injuries to the forearms, hands, legs, and feet. As a person ages, the skin becomes less flexible and thinner because there is less fat under the skin. The cushioning effect of the skin decreases as the fat under the skin decreases. These changes, along with skin damage from exposure to the sun, cause blood vessels to break easily. When blood vessels break, bruising occurs.

Occasionally easy bruising is a sign of a health problem and may be caused by:

A medication, such as aspirin, blood thinners (anticoagulants), or some antibiotics.
Infection that causes the buildup of toxin in the blood or tissues (sepsis).
A bleeding or clotting disorder, such as hemophilia, von Willebrand's disease, or thrombocytopenia.
Other diseases that affect clotting. Examples include:
Chronic inflammatory diseases, such as lupus.
Liver disease, such as cirrhosis.
Some types of cancer, such as Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, or multiple myeloma.
Inflammation of a blood vessel (vasculitis).
Malnutrition, such as deficiencies of vitamins B12, C, or K, or folic acid.
Bruises that do not go away within 4 weeks of an injury may mean that another problem is preventing healing or that the injury was worse than you suspected.

Call your health professional for an evaluation if you are concerned about how easily you bruise, or if bruises don't seem to be healing normally. Your health professional can evaluate the cause of your bruises and recommend treatment.
Bruising easily is rarely a sign of nutrient deficiency. Bruises are created when the tissue just under the skin gets injured, resulting in a buildup of blood that causes the skin to turn black and blue. Sometimes easy bruising runs in families. And women are more likely to bruise from a minor injury, especially on the thighs, buttocks, and upper arms. It is also common for older adults to bruise easily as capillaries age and the skin�s protective layers become thinner. Although uncommon, vitamin C deficiency can sometimes result in a heightened susceptibility to bruising.

Increased bruising may be a side effect of certain medications that thin the skin or interfere with the blood�s ability to clot, such as steroids, cortisone drugs, aspirin, or ibuprofen. It is also thought that some dietary supplements, including vitamin E, fish oil, ginger, garlic, and ginkgo�which can have similar effects on the blood and skin�may augment bruising. However, the health benefits of these medications and supplements are probably worth a little extra bruising, so consult with your health care practitioner before discontinuing them.

If you are concerned about how easily you bruise, try increasing your intake of the bioflavonoid compounds found in plant foods, such as citrus fruits and berries, which can potentially reduce bruising by strengthening capillary walls and the surrounding connective tissue. If bruises don�t seem to be healing normally, visit your health care practitioner to evaluate the cause and discuss treatment.


What is a good over the counter treatment for psoriasis?
Q. I won't be able to see my dermatologist until January, and my psoriasis is spreading. My cream has run out. I'm using T-Gel shampoo for my scalp. I don't have anything for the psoriasis on my skin though. What is a good over the counter treatment that can keep it under control until January?
I've had psoriasis for a couple of years.
I used a topical medication from my dermatologist, but that ran out and she said she has to see me before I get another one prescribed.

A. HI Sylvie

Here are some ideas on how to heal the issue.

Cause
Psoriasis is metabolic in nature and can be triggered by environmental or stressful conditions, poor diet, flu-like conditions, the administration of penicillin, and nutritional deficiencies. Patients with psoriasis are also a higher risk of rheumatoid diseases.

Psoriasis can be caused by food allergies, essential fatty acid deficiencies, low digestive enzyme and hydrochloric acid levels, vitamin B complex deficiencies, emotional stress, illness, drugs (such as beta-blockers, lithium, and chloroquine), poison ivy or oak, skin damage, and several infections, bacterial or viral in origin.


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Natural Cures

Aromatherapy: The following essential oils are recommended: bergamot (to help heal skin plaques), lavender (to reduce excessive itching), melissa (for irritated skin), jasmine (for dry sensitive skin), geranium (for dry irritating skin), and sandalwood mysore (for dehydrated, inflamed, and sensitive skin).

Diet: Screen for and eliminate all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Eat a varied diet of organic, whole foods, rotating foods as much as possible. Eliminate wheat and wheat products for 1-3 months. Consume seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and each day, on a rotating basis, take one tablespoon of olive or flaxseed oil, and be sure to drink plenty of pure, filtered water. Organic beef, venison, poultry, garlic, onions, parsley, organic plain yogurt, and sauerkraut are also recommended.

Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy Cream® applied topically can soothe symptoms.

Herbs: Combine equal parts of burdock, sarsaparilla, and cleavers tinctures and take one teaspoon three times a day. Silymarin (milk thistle) is also helpful for psoriasis due to its positive effects on liver function.

Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic remedies include Psorinum, Sulfur, Graphites, Cuprum met., and Arsen alb.

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.
*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.

Juice Therapy: The following juice combinations can be helpful: apple and carrot; beet, cucumber, and grape; and beet, carrot, burdock, yellowdock and garlic.

Lifestyle: Mild cases of psoriasis may be helped by daily exposure to sunlight. Frequent exercise is also recommended.

Nutritional Supplementation: The following nutrients can be helpful: evening primrose oil, omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin B Complex, vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, folic acid, lecithin, zinc, and a multimineral supplement. Taking hydrochloric acid (HCL) with each meal can also be of use.

In Europe fumaric acid treatment in the form of fumaric acid tablets, ointment, lotion, and scalp lotions is widely used to reverse symptoms of psoriasis

Topical Treatment: Apply seawater to the affected skin several times daily. Linseed or avocado oil, aloe vera gel, and/or capsaicin cream applied topically can reduce the scaling, thickness, redness, and itching.

Best of health to you





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