Shingles Natural Treatment - Natural Alternatives to Prescription Drugs and the New Shingle Vaccine By Dr. Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

Virus Basics for Shingles Natural Treatment

All living organisms play host to viruses, even including bacteria. It is a certainty that you will be affected by multiple kinds of viruses throughout your lifetime. The most prevalent human viruses will show up as the common cold, flu, cold sores, chickenpox, and shingles. Less common, and more deadly, viruses are blamed for such diseases as ebola, AIDS, bird flu, SARS, and hepatitis.

Scientists are also suspicious of viruses that are associated with multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, neurological diseases, cancer, and many more. Finding the best natural shingles treatment for you depends on knowing about the basic interactions between you and your virus.

One of those interactions comes from your childhood chickenpox virus when it breaks out into a shingles later in life.

Main Factors That Influence Infections

Your body is one of the main determining factors for whether you will suffer from shingles or any other viral disease. You are exposed to viruses on a daily basis, and most of the time your immune system or other defense mechanisms help you resist infections. Otherwise, you would be sick all of the time.

Another main factor for infection is the type of virus and its response to your defenses. Shingles, for example, is caused by the chickenpox virus that has infected millions of people. Out of all of the people who have had chickenpox, only about 1-3 per thousand healthy individuals under 65 years old will get shingles. This number goes up to as high as 12 per thousand for those older than 65. Such survey data just mean that the vast majority of people who have been exposed to the virus do not develop symptoms, due to the combination of their bodies' defenses and to the response of the virus to them.

Your best strategies for fighting viral infections must be based on whatever you can do to help your own defenses and whatever you can do to address the behavior of the virus itself. Antiviral prescription drugs have side effects resulting from their suppression of the immune system, which undermines your defenses. The new shingles vaccine, Zostavax, is only approved for people over 60 years old, because clinical experiments focused only on this group. Even so, it is only effective for about half of the people who are injected with it.

Even though Zostavax has been approved in Europe as well as in the U.S., it is not widely used in such places as the U.K. even though it is licensed there. This caution is based on the long-term unknowns, the interactions with other drugs and vaccines (esp. the chickenpox vaccine) and worries about affects on those with already weakened immune systems.

Cautions About Zostavax

Follow-up studies are in progress. The long-term effectiveness and potential complications of Zostavax are unknown At this time it is not recommended for women who are pregnant, people with active untreated tuberculosis, or those with weakened immune systems. It is also not recommended for anyone who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin or to the antibiotic neomycin, which are components of the vaccine formula.

Focus on Herpes Viruses

The chickenpox and shingles virus is known scientifically as Herpes zoster (or Varicella zoster), which means it shares many characteristics with all of the members of the herpes family of viruses. The same antiviral drugs are prescribed for shingles, cold sores, genital herpes, and Kaposi's sarcoma because they are all herpes viruses.

Herpes viruses target the same kinds of tissues (skin and nerve), although in different parts of the body. They also have the same basic appearance and genetic composition and respond to drugs and natural treatments the same way. This just means that a successful remedy against one type of herpes infection has a good chance of being successful against other types.

Natural Antivirals for Shingles Treatment

Scientific literature over the past century reveals thousands of plant natural products that have antiviral activity. This is to be expected, since plants have their own viruses to deal with. Nevertheless, plant viruses and human viruses have much in common, so hundreds of the antivirals that plants make in their own defense also inhibit human viruses.

Most of the research-level results are not practical at this time because the majority of antiviral plant compounds are not yet available in herbal formulas. However, a few herbs that show positive clinical results against shingles have been available for several years.

The classic herb against shingles is lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), which produces an oil that has anti-herpes activity for topical use as well as for internal use. It is an ingredient in several formulas, sometimes by itself and often with other oil-producing herbs. Recent research in cell cultures shows that lemon balm can overcome herpes infection in cells that have become resistant to prescription antiviral drugs.

The newest herb, and maybe the best one, against herpes is the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). It is also available in a lotion for topical application as well as in a capsule for internal use. The active ingredients in the creosote bush have general activity against several types of herpes infections as well as activity against HIV and several other types of viruses. This herb is definitely a rising star in the realm of antivirals from plants.

What About Shingles Pain?

The pain of a rash, which can sometimes last weeks or months after an outbreak has already subsided (i.e., "post-herpetic neuralgia"), responds very well to a paste of red pepper powder or to creams containing its main active ingredient, capsaicin. Capsaicin is well-known for blocking pain signals between nerves just under the skin. The only drawback to applying capsaicin-containing formulas is that it makes the burning sensation worse if the skin has been broken or is still has open blisters.

Medical researchers are finding out a lot about capsaicin vs. shingles pain. More than 70 research articles have appeared on this topic since 2002 in PubMed, the U.S. government's medical database.

Dr. Dennis Clark, Ph.D.

http://naturalshinglestreatment.com

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Ebola Epidemic: Causes, Symptoms and Precautionary Measures By Troy A. Anderson

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) that has wreaked havoc across Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia is considered "a severe, often fatal illness in humans" by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It weakens the immune system and causes bleeding inside and outside the body. In fact, it puts even health workers at risk if they are properly protected.

Previously known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, Ebola was first reported way back in 1976 in Nzara, Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.

What Causes Ebola

It is believed that the fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family living in tropical rainforests are the natural hosts of the EVD. This deadly virus is transmitted to people from wild animals as well as through other infected humans. It was passed on to humans by coming in close contact with the secretions, sweat, blood and other bodily fluids of EVD infected humans and various infected animals which include fruit bats, porcupines, chimpanzees, gorillas and monkeys found either sick or dead in and around tropical rainforests. Other ways to getting infected with Ebola is by touching contaminated needles.

It's also true that Ebola is less contagious than other diseases; it is transmitted by bodily fluids, not by air, water or mosquitoes. In other words, Ebola doesn't spread by just being in proximity with someone infected. It's not like the flu. As mentioned above, there has to be direct contact with the bodily fluids. In recent times, most of the cases reported have occurred in people who were nursing their infected family members and also those who prepared an EVD infected dead body for burial.

Signs and symptoms

At first, Ebola may feel like normal flu or any illness. But symptoms begin to appear few days after getting infected. These symptoms include fever, joints and muscle pain, acute weakness, stomach pain, lack of appetite, sore throat and headache.

As the situation aggravates and the Ebola infection worsens; the patient begins to experience diarrhea, vomiting, impaired liver function, rashes and worse of all internal and external bleeding.

Some patients may also experience red eyes, chest pain, hiccups, trouble in breathing and swallowing.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Several tests are conducted to diagnose Ebola such as serum neutralization test, antigen detection test, electron microscopy and so on. There is no vaccine available to cure Ebola virus. Infected patients generally experience dehydration often. They require intensive care and need to be given oral rehydration solutions (ORS) containing electrolytes that helps treat dehydration in EVD patients.

Hope of Vaccine

There is no proven vaccine to cure Ebola. But many doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine have been developed at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, Canada. The WHO has approved using the untested vaccine, calling it ethical to use it at such times.

As Dr. Marie-PauleKieny, an assistant director-general at WHO said in a press conference, "If there are drugs that can save lives... shouldn't we use them to save lives?" But she added, "(It is) very important to not give false hope to anybody that Ebola can be treated now. This is absolutely not the case."

Preventive Measures

Prevention is always better than cure. During the break out of epidemics, it becomes all the more necessary to take preventive measures seriously. The WHO has urged for strong measures to be taken to curb the outbreak, else the virus can spread from Africa to other regions as well.

Restricting the movement of Ebola infected animals from farms to other areas may help curb the spread of the virus.

Avoid getting in close contact with EVD infected patients. Take good care of patients or any infected member of family but make sure you use gloves and other protective equipment so that you end up getting infected with Ebola. Wash your hands after visiting patients in hospital.

Taking precautions with air purifiers

Ebola is a warning sign of the delicate state of Africa's health and sanitation systems that have seen slow development due to chronic poverty, illiteracy, neglect, ignorance about health measures afflicting the region. As result, the fragile health system is unable to cope up adequately with epidemic outbreaks. The hospitals and health workers are under-equipped and under-staffed to handle such emergencies.

Though the Ebola virus is not airborne or does not spread through water either, the outbreak of the epidemic does reiterate the need to keep our environment safe and healthy and to take adequate precautionary measures.

Airborne pathogens or allergens often cause inflammation in the nose, throat, sinuses and the lungs. These airborne pollutants could be viruses, bacteria, pollen, dust mites, smoke, and molds that affect health and weaken immune system.Many common infections can spread by airborne transmission at least in some cases including Anthrax (inhalational), Chickenpox, Influenza, Measles, Smallpox and Tuberculosis.Personal air purifiers emit healthy negative ions that help remove airborne pollutants away from your personal space providing you with cleaner and healthier air.

Air purifiers act as a preventive guard against airborne pathogens. Whether you are going to the supermarket or traveling; use travel air purifier to keep yourself safe from any virus or pollutants.

Troy recognizes the importance of creating a healthier zone of clean air whether at home, traveling, in hospitals or in poor air quality environments. He writes about the preventative measures one can take by using personal air purifiers and home cleaning appliances to breathe cleaner, healthier air free of airborne pollutants everywhere you go.

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Club Drug Rehab Becomes Priceless - A Composite Life Story By Robin Mackey

Going out to a club for the first time and getting high, dancing to great music and finding a place that has so many beautiful girls that want to dance and talk with me. Fantastic.
Finding out who the regulars are, which girls are new to it, who sells the best stuff, who sells the junk, and realizing that my dreams can come true! Fun/exciting!
Life is good, even if my GPA went from a 3.3 to a 1.6. I feel more confident and am much more experienced then I was six months ago.

Finally finished school, working at a job and I have my own place to live. I finally have the freedom to do whatever I want to do. It is true that some of the people at the clubs are total jerks, they will rip you off in a heartbeat and some are just creepy roofie predators. All they want to do is find naive girls, drug them, put them in their car, and take them to who knows where to do who knows what. Others sell you junk and others well I just always seem to owe them. Hey, what can you do they're connected to the club, gangs, cartels, mob you know what I mean. What can I do about it? I do not want to end up dead. Besides many people there really like me, even the rip-offs and predators.

The only down side is now that I pay my own bills, it is sometimes hard to have enough cash for the clubs. Some nights I can sell a little and turn a profit to get me through. The most fearful sight I ever saw was the blue lights in my rear view mirror. It is amazing how just that one thing (DUI Driving under the influence) affected my life. I lost my license; it added 1 1/2 to 2 hours to commute to work using mass transit. Now I have to depend on my friends and taxis to get to and from the clubs.

In addition, it is so much harder to get a girl to come home with you when you do not have your own car. It can be a little embarrassing explaining to the cab driver that it is all right, I am just taking her home to sleep it off. All I am really thinking about is that any minute she just might tell the cab driver she does not even know who I am and that she does not live at this address. Or maybe she will say to the cab driver "What am I doing here? Please help me!" I guess I just highlighted what I have become, an abuser of both drugs and women. Now that I look back on it, the club drug lifestyle has lead to a long chain of embarrassing, self centered, stupid and mean acts.

Public urination, hey, it is not as if I have a prostate problem or overactive bladder, I was completely oblivious, not a clue where and what I was doing.
Vomiting on the dance floor, public toilets, alley, out the car window (messy and smelly), learning my lesson and opening the car door to vomit. It is not that I can remember all of my hurling episodes; it is simply that people have told me days and months later about them (what a rep).
Getting into a fight because I sold some bad stuff.
Having relapses of guilt because I might have been the one to sell my friend some ketamine the night he was killed driving home.

Having a girl tell me that I gave her an STD (sexually transmitted disease) which sent me off to the doctor quickly. Then getting the results back that I did not have any STDs. However thinking for those few days that I did have an STD made me realize that the club drug lifestyle, next to prostitution, is probably the surest way to catch an STD.
Almost losing my job because I kept over sleeping, coming to work late, and calling in sick due to the lack of sleep the previous night.

Almost going to jail for possession with intent to sell.
Then there was the constant problem of collecting money from people that owed and getting money to pay those I owed.
Even with this litany of demeaning and dangerous behavior, all I could think about was getting high and getting women.

As time went on two things started to happen more frequently. 1) I would get tired and bored with it all and 2) I saw the odds of my life turning very tragic mounting against me. The high was not the same and the women I was with never amounted to anything due to what I had become.
I figured so far I have been very lucky because by now I have not gone to prison, been killed in an accident or murdered by dealers, lost my job or caught STDs. Since it was not the first time I had come to this conclusion I decided to do it the right way. Therefore, I went to a drug rehabilitation center. There they had the people I could relate to who had the answers and the resources to change my lifestyle so I would not fall back into the vicious club drug lifestyle cycle again.

At first, it was the fear of going back to my old ways that keep me on the straight and narrow but once I started feeling comfortable with my new life, I started to become interested in new things and new people. With help and some resources, I could have a very satisfying and happy life. But that is not what made the club drug rehabilitation priceless. That came later on. When I met the love of my life and learned when two people give to each other selflessly the desire for each other grows and grows incredibly strong. I have had children who have been thoughtful of others, made the right decisions, worked very hard, and become successful. While there are other things that fill my life, it is my family that has made me see that the club drug rehab was priceless.

Transitions Recovery at http://www.drug-rehabcenter.com 

How To Prevent Alcohol And Drug Addiction By David Richards

Drug addiction is a serious disorder. If not treated, it can lead to crises like loss of employment, living quarters and important relationships. And as if this weren't enough, this kind of addiction can cause illness and even death. Drug addiction is multi-layered and has a variety of causes as well as contributing factors. With the knowledge we have today, Simplistic anti-drug campaigns, such as the "Just Say No" program back in the 1980's, and even more complex programs like "War on Drugs" is not very effective. The reason for this is that these campaigns do not address the root causes of drug addiction but battles the symptoms not the causes of drug addiction.

When most people consider a drug addiction problem, their minds go automatically to old movies or TV-series. A junkie trembling on a street corner, selling her own body for her next fix, or a tragic, pale old man lying in a gutter with a needle in his arm, or even a college girl snorting a line of crystal meth in a frat house bathroom during a wild party. These images are powerful indeed, but drug addiction generally creeps up in a slow but determined pace. Months or years are passing, during which time the addicted person is still able to function in a job, maintain a place to live as well as keeping relationships going. A drug or alcohol addiction problem generally passes slowly through several phases. Just because someone you know has not lost everything he or she owns to drugs does not have to mean that he or she does not have a drug addiction problem.

One of the most insidious drug addiction is prescription drug addiction, followed closely by alcohol addiction. Let's face it; we are a nation of pill poppers and alcohol beverage drinkers. Since we were children we learned that if something hurts, we should take a pill to make the pain disappear. We also see that children are being prescribed drugs such as Ritalin in increasing amounts, as parents and doctors smudge the line between active, healthy kids and kids with a true Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). All the time we are bombarded with advertising for pain relievers, sleep medication and a lot of other remedies; prescribed and over the counter. Seen from this point of view, prescription drug addiction is not hard to understand. We hardly question the doctor thoroughly about the risk of dependency on any medication, since using medicine for almost any problem is so widely accepted. It's so easy to take the drug without question and before we know it, we may have developed a prescription drug addiction.

Alcohol addiction is almost as easy to develop for much the same reason. We live in a culture of drinking. We often go out for cocktails after work or drinking beer with friends during a sports event slowly gives way to having one, two, three, even six or eight beers every night. It feels normal to continually re-visit the bar during a night at a pub. Next thing we identify is a full-blown alcohol drug addiction.

How harsh (or maybe great) it may sound, you are the only person that can prevent alcohol or drug addiction, due to the choices or decisions you make. Although addiction is classified as a disease, it may well be one of the few diseases that people choose to get. Each drug or alcohol addicted person started their life as an addict by making a choice. You are free to make the same choice or you can choose to not allow drug addiction to be your disease. It's your choice and whether you like it or not, it is the price you have to pay for being a human with a free will.addiction a seat in your life. It's up to you.

David Richards is a publisher of facts about alcoholism. You can go to alcoholism treatments for more.

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Dangerous Club Drugs - Why You Need to Protect Your Teenagers From Their Dangers By Richard Hamon

Club drugs are a group of popular drugs often found at parties and dances. One of the most common and dangerous club drugs is Ecstacy (MDMA). It is both an hallucinogen and a stimulant.

An hallucinogen can cause a variety of hallucinations, and affect thinking and sensory perception. A stimulant speeds up the central nervous system.

Other club drugs include Herbal Ecstacy, Ketamine, Rohypnol and GHB.

Dangerous?

Rohypnol and GHB (date rape drugs), and a few other drugs, are sometimes slipped into an unsuspecting person's drink, which makes the person drowsy or sleepy and mentally confused. The person becomes an easy target for kidnapping, sexual violence or robbery.

Club drugs are indeed dangerous -- far more dangerous than some may realize. They can cause death, or trigger a series of harmful health conditions, from seizure and heart attack to coma.

Your children can get into serious legal trouble by using these drugs, and they may become dependent upon them.

So never let your kids labor under the popular misconception that they are safe.

Reasons Kids Use Club Drugs

Kids may use drugs to gain social status and approval, release tension and have fun, avoid responsibilities and find the courage to face their problems.

Some may use these to commit a crime, putting a "date rape" drug in someone's drink, for example.

Safety

Adolescents often make the mistake of believing club drugs are not dangerous. They may think of them as innocent party drugs. And since they are widely used by their friends and people they trust, they appear to be quite safe.

Adolescents are still growing and developing, and they often do not make sound decisions when it comes to drugs and other potential hazards in their lives. And they believe myths about the safety of these and other drugs.

It's hard to know the effect of a drug on a person, since each may respond to a drug's chemical properties in a somewhat different way. Plus, your teenager cannot know what other ingredients are mixed in with ones they are taking. And there is no way of knowing how much of the club drug is present in the mixture.

Therefore, the effects of these drugs are unpredictable.

Tips

1. Take club drugs seriously

2. Talk to your teenager about the dangers of these drugs

3. If you need more accurate information, take time to learn more about these dangerous drugs before talking to your teen about them.

4. Use specific and accurate language when discussing these drugs with your kids so they realize you know what you are talking about. Otherwise, they may dismiss your ideas as mistaken and old hat.

Richard Hamon is a dynamic coach and therapist with 30 years of professional experience. Richard helps people to solve their relationship problems, enjoy truly extraordinary marriages and find exceptional success in all areas of their lives.

You'll find all kinds of articles on how to spice up your relationships and lead a happier life at Richard's website, Happy-Relationships.com. Find out about personal coaching programs to assist you in quickly reaching your loftiest goals. Discover eBooks, relaxation CDs and other informative products, such as a free relationship quiz to help you assess your relationship.

For more information on conducting state-of-the-art relationships, the latest research on true happiness, and Richard's products and services, please go to: http://happy-relationships.com

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Honey Wine Mead is the Perfect Drink For Valentine's Day By Will Kalif

If you would like to try something special and different for Valentine's Day try some wine called Mead. It is brewed from honey rather than grapes; it has a beautiful golden color and a very long tradition of love.

Mead goes by many names and over the centuries it has been called honey-wine, nectar of the gods, and even honeymoon wine. This last name stemmed from a tradition to give a 30-day supply of it to newly married couples. It was said that if they drank a glass every day for the first thirty days of their marriage it would bring them happiness and fertility.

Chocolate, flowers, candy and cards are wonderful traditions that have lasted decades now. But for centuries longer there was the tradition of drinking Mead that was shared by couples. Make this holiday special and try some. It has been around for many hundreds of years and it has been speculated that it was the first alcoholic beverage ever made. This is a matter of debate but one thing that is not up for debate is the delicious nature of this beautiful wine brewed from honey.

So If you are looking for a little something special to do on Valentine's day I recommend you give Mead a try. It is a brilliant little drink and will make for an interesting new experience and conversation piece.

Honey wine is a very popular drink world-wide but is lesser known in North America and if you are considering a purchase of it you may want to call your local wine retail shop ahead of time to see if they have any in stock.

Want to learn how to make your own honey wine mead? Visit the author's website where he has tutorials, articles and videos all about this wonderful ancient drink: The Art of Making Mead

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The Valentine's Berry Kiss Beverage By H. Luiz Martinez

Want to make a delicious beverage for Valentine's Day? Try the Berry Kiss!

All you need is a GLASS pitcher (plastic pitchers give off a "plasticy taste" to beverages) and you need fresh berries - raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. A bag of Frozen berries (without strawberries) may also be used and sometimes even better since the frozen berries are "fast-frozen" fresh and keeps the drink super cold (this beverage is better tasting when it's chilled.) You also need a 2-liter bottle of lemon-lime soda as well as 2 cups of strawberry syrup mix - not strawberries (again, I tried and fresh strawberries turn "white" and not so attractive in the pitcher.) Also, the juice of one lemon or two limes (I prefer the limes.)

The recipe is pretty easy: Pour the 2 cups of the strawberry mix (this really just adds the "strawberry taste" plus sugar and color to the drink) along with your berries (remember - no strawberries) and add the juice of your lemon (or limes) in and stir. Then, add your lemon-lime soda and give the pitcher a final stir (try not to break the berries). Chill in the fridge for at least an hour for best flavor. Most times I add fresh mint too. The coor is an amazing shade of deep reddish pink - Perfect for Valentine's Day or any Holiday. This recipe also works well if you wanted to add Champagne or Proseco instead of the soda.

Either way, you'll have a great tasting beverage for your Valentine's Day Lunch or Dinner - The Berry Kiss.

Enjoy!:)

http://www.hluizpresents.com

"H. Luiz Presents..." a professional site for Information, Special Interests, and Entertainment.

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beverage tub for your delight

This review is from: Achla Designs C-52 Embossed Galvanized Tub (Lawn & Patio)
www.amazon.com

The Tub came and it was elegant like I thought. It came just as the message told me that it would receive. It is a little small but perfect for us. This is a great gift for our 3rd Anniversary. It will be very intertaining at our outings. The Tub is real shinny and elegant not like the tubs I have received before. (the old tubs)

The Food and Drug Administration By Joseph Devine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency in the United States Department of Health and Health Services. It is responsible for the regulation of most types of food, drugs, medical devices, veterinary equipment, and cosmetics. Additionally, the FDA regulates sanitation on interstate highways as well as disease control regulations on specific situations, from pets like turtles that carry salmonella to semen and egg donations. In 2008, the agency received a $2.1 billion budget to perform its duties, which is a $105.8 million dollar increase from 2007.

Most of the regulations enforced by the FDA are codified into law by the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Safety specifications vary according to each product, especially in regards to its potential risks. The Food and Drug Administration Act heavily regulates all prescription medication, including all steps of production, from testing, manufacturing, marketing, and labeling to efficacy, safety, and distribution, because of its large set of inherent risks. The FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research is responsible for the monitoring of medication, with different requirements for new drugs, generic drugs, and over-the-counter medicine.

New medications must undergo extensive investigation in a process called the New Drug Application (NDA). Generic drugs are prescription medications whose patents have expired, and are therefore available for other companies to manufacture and market. The non-patented versions must be interchangeable or equivalent to the original substance. Over-the-counter medications must be deemed safe without a doctor's prescription.

Interestingly enough, diet drugs and supplements are not subject to the strict requirements of all prescription medication, as they fall under the jurisdiction of Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. This department monitors all food products, with the exception of meat and alcoholic beverages containing more than 7% alcohol. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 officially evaluated weight loss supplements as food rather than drugs, thereby removing them from the extensive safety and efficacy testing of the New Drug Application. The FDA can only pursue action against a supplement after it proves to be harmful to a person's health. This unfortunate situation has allowed several drugs, such as Fen-phen and Redux, to inflict large amounts of physical pain on users. Both supplements were responsible for heart valve damage and primary pulmonary hypertension cases in the mid 1990's.

If you are interested in learning more, this website contains helpful FDA information and this site showcases the dangers of diet drugs.

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How Drugs Work By Nate Rodnay

Drugs have become an important element in the history of medicine to cure or increase the immunity in humans against various diseases. Due to continuous innovation, research and development in the past 4-5 decades, drugs are now available to cure majority of diseases. When taken in prescribed amount, drugs are used as pain killers, antibiotics, antiallergic etc. Although, drugs are primarily used for medicinal purposes, they are also abused for their properties. Drugs are classified into three types: Over-The-Counter (OTC), Behind-The-Counter (BTC), and Prescription Only Medicines (POM).

Over-The-Counter drugs are easily available at pharmacies, gas stations etc with less restrictions. Behind-The-Counter drugs are sold by pharmacists and require no prior prescription by doctor, while a physician's prescription is mandatory to get Prescription Only Medicines.

Act As Stimulants and Relaxants
Drugs are primarily used for any purpose as they act as stimulants and relaxants. Most drugs target the receptor site by binding to it. They either stop the physiological function of protein or produce the same effect. Some drugs also target the enzymes which control the rate of chemical reactions. Thus when drugs reaches the brain through bloodstream they slow down the central nervous system. They can either stimulate or reduce the senses, decrease alertness and consciousness, give sense of relaxation, drowsiness, or hyperactivity. Coffee is the most commonly used psychotropic beverage used as a stimulant.

Medical Use
Drugs are put to variety of medical uses to treat diseases at various levels of severity, reduce pains, psychological disorders, cardiovascular disorders etc. Medicines like aspirin, Paracetamol directly act on peripheral and central nervous system and give relief from pain. Drugs are also used as antibiotic which is used to treat various diseases. They are used as antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, antipsychotic to treat psychological or mental disorders. Illegal drugs like heroin which is synthesized from morphine also have medical uses and is used to relieve pain. Marijuana is used in treatment of glaucoma, cancer, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and chronic pain.

Non-Medical Use:

Recreation
Besides medical uses, prescription and illegal drugs are widely used for recreation purpose. The drug use for having recreation is considered illegal. Some of the major psychoactive drugs that are used for recreational purpose are methamphetamines, cocaine, opium, ecstasy etc. People get addicted to psychoactive drugs as they feel sudden burst of energy, relaxation, calmness, euphoria etc. Recreational drug use may lead to addiction or substance dependence. Recreational drug use can have adverse effects on social, family, and professional life.

Sports
Drugs use in sports to improve performance is strictly banned. Many athletes, sportsmen have been tested positive for using performance enhancing drugs and anabolic steroids. Sportsperson uses these drugs to improve their performance as it increases their strength by building mass and muscles and increases delivery of oxygen to tissues. These drugs reduce fatigue, increases alertness, and increases heart beat, breathing rate, and activity of brain.

Masking Pains And Drug Use
Sportspersons often receive injuries during the course of training, matches, or events. To overcome the pain caused by these injuries, the sportspersons use drugs to reduce this pain and mask their injuries and continue participating in events. Narcotics like morphine, methadone, heroin are used to treat pain. Protein hormones like Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisone helps to reduce inflammation on injuries. Local anesthetics are also used to reduce pain of injuries.

Sports-persons also use some drugs to mask the presence of other drugs. Drugs like epitestosterone can be used to cover up the use of testosterone, Plasma expanders can be used to dilute concentration levels of banned substance, while use of secretion inhibitors can result in erroneous urine drug test results. Drugs are also used for spiritual and religious use, which are called 'Entheogens'. Smart drugs which are also called as 'Nootropics' are said to improve cognitive abilities like memory, concentration, mood, thought, intelligence, attention etc by improving oxygen supply to brain and improving nerve growth.

DrugTestStrips.com is an online store offering drug test kit and Drug Screening Products in several formats including Blood, Urine and Oral drug testing kit. DrugTestStrips.com offers FDA-approved urine drug testing kit as well as DOT-approved alcohol testing products. Some of the popular products are Ovulation tests, Marijuana drug test, Drug test nicotine, Breathalyzer and Oral Drug Test.

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