நண்பர்களே
வெள்ளைக்காரர்களிடம் இருந்து சுதந்திரம் பெற்று விட்டோம் ஆனால் இந்த அரசியல் கொள்ளைக்காரர்களிடம் இருந்து சுதந்திரம் பெரும் நாள் எந்நாளோ?
ஆந்திர அரசியல் களத்தில் தன்னுடைய செல்வாக்கை இழந்து தவித்த நேரத்தில் தான் K.C.R. என்ற புனிதருக்கு அடடா தனி தெலுங்கானா என்றொரு கோஷம் இருப்பதை மறந்து விட்டோமே இனியும் தாமதித்தால் நமது அரசியல் வாழ்வு அஸ்தமனம் ஆகிவிடும் என்று கருதி ( இவரும ஒரு காந்தி என எண்ணி அஹிம்சை வழி அறப்போராட்டமாம் உண்ணாவிரதம் ) மீண்டும் அதனை கையில் எடுத்து சுழற்றியதில் பாவம் அடுத்தவர் தூண்டி விட்டால் உடனே ஆர்த்தெழும் நமது அறிவிலிகள் போராட்டத்தில் குதித்து விட்டனர்.
தேர்தலுக்கு முன் நாங்கள் ஆட்சிக்கு வந்தால் உடனடியாக தனி தெலுங்கானா அறிவிப்பை வெளியிடுவோம் என்று அறிவித்து அனைத்து கட்சிகளும் போட்டியிட்டன. ஆனால் தற்போது கட்டவிழ்த்து விடப்பட்ட வன்முறைகளால் திணறிய ஆந்திர மாநிலத்தை வேறு வழியின்றி பிரிக்க ஒப்புக்கொண்ட மத்திய அரசின் முடிவுக்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து ஆளும் காங்கிரஸ் உட்பட அனைத்து கட்சிகளும் போராட்டத்தில் குதித்து விட்டன.
இது உண்மையிலேயே தனி தெலுங்கானாவுக்கு எதிரான போராட்டமா அல்லது ரோசையா என்ற தனி மனிதரை கழற்றி விடுவதற்காக நடத்தப்படும் போராட்டமா என்று கூட ஆய்ந்தறிய மனமின்றி போராடும் வர்க்கங்களை நினைத்தால்
"நெஞ்சு பொறுக்குதில்லையே இந்த நிலை கேட்ட மனிதரை நினைத்து விட்டால்" என்னும் பாரதியின் வரிகள் தான் ஞாபகத்திற்கு வருகிறது.
Friday, 18 December 2009
Monday, 14 December 2009
எம். பி.க்களின் பிரதியுபகாரம்
They have now become mere statistics. And that is why five Delhi Police personnel, a woman constable of the Central Reserve Police Force, two Parliament security attendants, a gardener and a journalist — who all fell to the terrorists’ bullets on this fateful day eight years ago, are remembered only by a handful of MPs as others preferred to take off on Sunday.Apart from Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Leader of the Opposition L K Advani, only 11 MPs attended the ceremony inside the Parliament complex to pay floral tributes to the martyrs of the terrorist attack.However, many of them might have argued that on Friday both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha paid tributes to the security personnel, who were killed in the attack and also observed one minute’s silence as a mark of respect.Five heavily-armed gunmen had stormed the Parliament on December 13, 2001, and opened indiscriminate fire, killing nine people. A journalist, who was injured in the gunfire, subsequently succumbed to the injury. All the five terrorists were shot dead.The attack took place around 11:40 am (IST), minutes after both Houses of Parliament had adjourned for the day.The suspected terrorists dressed in commando fatigues entered Parliament in a car through the VIP gate of the building. Displaying Parliament and Home Ministry security stickers, the vehicle entered the Parliament premises. The terrorists set off massive blasts and had used AK-47 rifles, explosives and grenades for the attack.Senior ministers and over 200 Members of Parliament were inside the Central Hall of Parliament when the attack took place. Security personnel had sealed the entire premises which saved many lives.A year later, four terrorists were arrested for the attack and found guilty after trial. Mohammad Afzal Guru was the only accused to be awarded the death penalty.
தங்களுடைய உயிரை காத்த வீரர்களை நினைக்க கூட நேரமின்றி மக்களுக்காக உழைக்கும் மக்கள் பிரதிநிதிகளுக்கு எங்கள் நன்றியை உரித்தாக்குகிறோம்.
Saturday, 5 December 2009
இலங்கை தமிழர் பிரச்சனை
இலங்கை தமிழர் பிரச்சனை நேற்று பாராளுமன்றத்தில் திருமதி. சுஷ்மா ஸ்வராஜ் அவர்களால் கொண்டுவரப்பட்ட தனி நபர் தீர்மானத்தின் மீது வெளியுறவுத்துறை அமைச்சர் திரு. எஸ்.எம். கிருஷ்ணா அவர்கள் தாக்கல் செய்த அறிக்கை மற்றும் அதன் மீதான உறுப்பினர்களின் விவாதம் ஆகியவற்றை தொலைக்காட்சியில் நேரடி ஒளிபரப்பாக கண்டேன்.
இந்த பிரச்னையில் திருமதி. சுஷ்மா ஸ்வராஜ் அவர்கள் காட்டிய ஆழமான அக்கறை மற்றும் அதனை தெரிவித்த பாங்கு மிகவும் அருமையாக இருந்தது. இந்த பிரச்னையில் இன்னலுக்கு ஆளான மக்களின் உண்மை நிலையை மக்களிடம் கொண்டு செல்ல எந்த ஒரு ஆதாரமும் அற்ற ஒரு அறிக்கையை அமைச்சர் சமர்ப்பித்து உறுப்பினர்களிடம் மாட்டிக்கொண்டு தவித்ததும் அதிலும் குறிப்பாக ஆளும் கூட்டணியின் உறுப்பினர்களான டி.கே. எஸ். இளங்கோவன் மற்றும் திருமாவளவன் ஆகியோரது கேள்விகளுக்கு கூட பதில் அளிக்க முடியாமல் திணறி பின்னர் வேறு வழி இன்றி மீண்டும் ஒரு நாடாளுமன்றக் குழுவை அனுப்ப ஆவண செய்வதாக தெரிவித்தார்.
இதில் முக்கியமாக அவர் தெரிவித்த ஒரு கருத்து இலங்கை அரசாங்கம் வெற்றி பெற்ற பிறகு நடந்து கொள்ளும் விதம் மற்றும் அங்கிருக்கும் தமிழர்களின் வாழ்வாதாரம் குறித்து வரும் செய்திகள் எதுவும் அவ்வளவு திருப்தியாக இல்லை என்று ஒப்புக்கொண்டதுதான்.
திருமதி. சுஷ்மா ஸ்வராஜ் அவர்கள் பாரதியாரின் வரிகளை மேற்கோள் காட்டி தமிழில் பல வார்த்தைகளை உச்சரித்தும் இறுதியாக முள்வேலிக்குள் அடைபட்டிருக்கும் தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலையாகும் நாள் எந்நாளோ என்று சொன்னது இந்த பிரச்சனையில் ஒவ்வொரு இந்தியரும் எதிர்பார்ப்பது என்ன என்று தெளிவாக காட்டியது.
இந்த பிரச்னையில் திருமதி. சுஷ்மா ஸ்வராஜ் அவர்கள் காட்டிய ஆழமான அக்கறை மற்றும் அதனை தெரிவித்த பாங்கு மிகவும் அருமையாக இருந்தது. இந்த பிரச்னையில் இன்னலுக்கு ஆளான மக்களின் உண்மை நிலையை மக்களிடம் கொண்டு செல்ல எந்த ஒரு ஆதாரமும் அற்ற ஒரு அறிக்கையை அமைச்சர் சமர்ப்பித்து உறுப்பினர்களிடம் மாட்டிக்கொண்டு தவித்ததும் அதிலும் குறிப்பாக ஆளும் கூட்டணியின் உறுப்பினர்களான டி.கே. எஸ். இளங்கோவன் மற்றும் திருமாவளவன் ஆகியோரது கேள்விகளுக்கு கூட பதில் அளிக்க முடியாமல் திணறி பின்னர் வேறு வழி இன்றி மீண்டும் ஒரு நாடாளுமன்றக் குழுவை அனுப்ப ஆவண செய்வதாக தெரிவித்தார்.
இதில் முக்கியமாக அவர் தெரிவித்த ஒரு கருத்து இலங்கை அரசாங்கம் வெற்றி பெற்ற பிறகு நடந்து கொள்ளும் விதம் மற்றும் அங்கிருக்கும் தமிழர்களின் வாழ்வாதாரம் குறித்து வரும் செய்திகள் எதுவும் அவ்வளவு திருப்தியாக இல்லை என்று ஒப்புக்கொண்டதுதான்.
திருமதி. சுஷ்மா ஸ்வராஜ் அவர்கள் பாரதியாரின் வரிகளை மேற்கோள் காட்டி தமிழில் பல வார்த்தைகளை உச்சரித்தும் இறுதியாக முள்வேலிக்குள் அடைபட்டிருக்கும் தமிழ் மக்கள் விடுதலையாகும் நாள் எந்நாளோ என்று சொன்னது இந்த பிரச்சனையில் ஒவ்வொரு இந்தியரும் எதிர்பார்ப்பது என்ன என்று தெளிவாக காட்டியது.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
குழந்தைகளின் எதிர்பார்ப்பு பற்றிய ஒரு கவிதையும் அதற்கு அப்துல் கலாம் அவர்கள் வெளியிட்டுள்ள கடல் கடந்த சம்பந்தமும்
‘I only want to enjoy my childhood, ma’
(Dear co-parents, some of us might hear a small, fading voice making yet another attempt to reach us)
Amma, I don’t want to go to school.
I am just a child, Ma. I want someone to tell me stories and teach me. I want to watch tadpoles and butterflies and know what they eat, where they sleep. I want to climb a hill and catch a cloud to see what it is made of.
I want to wait with my hands in the stream and feel the fish swimming.
I want to run with the puppies, sing with the birds, and play with paper-boats in the rain.
I want to lie down on the soft green grass and hear the wind whisper.
Only then I want to learn more about them from the printed word.
Only after my imagination is fired, my thirst to know more has begun, a seed of ‘Why?’ is planted in my brain.
Amma, I feel trapped in the prison-like classroom. I feel my spirit slowly weakening with the monotonous teaching. Often, when I ask a basic question our teachers say, “No time for all that. Let us finish the syllabus.”
I get tired of studying just for marks without pausing to truly understand.
I want to go to the museum with my classmates and hear my teacher explain the stories of the artefacts.
I want plenty of nature trips where real Biology classes would be held.
I want to see colourful videos of volcanic eruptions and deep-sea dwellings.
I want our whole school to visit together the historic and cultural places in my city.
I want to learn astronomy after looking through a telescope once.
I don’t want to just read them in my textbooks; I want to see, hear, touch, smell and taste whatever I can. I want to experience.
Why can’t the school make at least one such trip every year?
And, I cannot stoop down anymore to carry my school sack. My back is ready to break. Why should I carry all the books everyday? Why can’t we have only two subjects per day? Or, why don’t we have lockers like in the Western schools? And, why should I squeeze in that over-crowded auto?
But, Amma, growing up no longer seems to be fun. I see only more of homework, winter projects, summer classes, weekly tests, monthly tests, quarterly, half-yearly and annual exams, external competitive exams, more tests, more competitions, more pressure, more stress…
When can I sing, paint, dance, swim, or cycle?
When I can just play cricket or even hide-and-seek?
What happened to that minimum sleep that you always say a child needs?
Why should I always study, study?
Amma, I am scared of increasing atrocities by untrustworthy teachers, ragging-raving seniors, acid-loving nuts, perverted adults…
Ma, right now, I don’t want to be a doctor, engineer or anything else.
I just want to feel safe and secure, play and learn without any stress before I become an adult like you.
I only want to enjoy my childhood, Ma.
Thanks to THE HINDU
November 8, 2009
ABDUL KALAM’S RESPONSE
Need for creativity in classroom
The former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, writes:
I was happy to see the article “I only want to enjoy my childhood, ma” by Inumella Sesikala (Open Page, Nov. 8). I liked the article very much, which is a dream of every child. Creativity of children has to come out from the classroom. Some of us had such opportunities. Our children should go to primary school only at the age of six. Till then, we have to promote creativity of the children with great teachers and an innovative classroom environment.
Yesterday, when I was reading the book Spiritual Intelligence, The Ultimate Intelligence by Danah Zohar and Ian Marshall, I came across the poem, “ The Student’s prayer.”
“The young son of a Chilean biologist, Umberto Maturana, became unhappy at school because he felt his teachers were making it impossible for him to learn. They wanted to teach him what they knew, rather than drawing out what he needed to learn. As a result Maturana wrote “ The Student’s Prayer”, of which this translation is an abridged version. It perfectly expresses the spiritually intelligent individual’s response to the conforming pressures of parents, teachers, bosses or the crowd.
The Student’s Prayer
Don’t impose on me what you know, I want to explore the unknown
And be the source of my own discoveries. Let the known be my liberation, not my slavery.
The world of your truth can be my limitation; Your wisdom my negation.
Don’t instruct me; let’s walk together. Let my richness begin where yours ends.
Show me so that I can stand On your shoulders.
Reveal yourself so that I can be Something different.
You believe that every human being Can love and create.
I understand, then, your fear When I ask you to live according to your wisdom.
You will not know who I am By listening to yourself.
Don’t instruct me; let me be. Your failure is that I be identical to you.”
I thought, there is a connectivity among young hearts even beyond ocean — “I only want to enjoy my childhood, ma” and “The Student’s Prayer.”
Thanks to THE HINDU November 11, 2009
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Monday, 5 October 2009
Are you considering Alternative High Blood Pressure Treatment?
Are you considering Alternative High Blood Pressure Treatment?
"Returning to natural remedies seems to be the trend. Be inspired by the alternative high blood pressure treatments mentioned here"
Sufferers looking for alternative high blood pressure treatment, often overlook a wealth of information that can be found on herbs, vitamins and minerals, three branches of nutrition that are used in combination with each other and used by practitioners of homeopathy, reflexology, herbal medicine, acupuncture, etc, etc.
To help you, I will discuss briefly in this article the methods and benefits of each of the following subjects:
Herbal Medicine
Vitamins
Minerals
Antioxidants
Alternative Therapies and Treatments
HERBAL MEDICINE.
Surprisingly, western medicine as we know it didn’t make full impact until the end of the 20th century. Now a new trend is developing as more and more people are looking for alternative ways to restore health or keep healthy.So let’s trace back in time and mention some of the herbal medicine used for blood pressure hundreds of years before this Common Era.
Herbs for instance, have been used to treat illness effectively for thousands of years by non-industrialized societies of all continents, but as western medicine from the Greek and Roman traditions developed it then dominated herbal medicine practices. Also others dominated the world scene such as Ayurvedic from India, and Chinese herbal medicine.
Some pharmaceuticals that are available to Western physicians in our present era have a long history of use as herbal remedies, such as opium, aspirin (used as an alternative high blood pressure treatment), digitalis, and quinine./
Rauwolfia Serpentina, extensively used in India for sleeplessness, anxiety, and high blood pressure was the first proven allopathic medicine for high blood pressure extracted from this herb.
Today there are many health claims made about the use of herbs. Our main interest though are those that we can use as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.
Take for interest Noni juice ,used as an alternative high blood pressure treatment. It is also known as Nono in Tahiti, Indian Mulberry in India, Cheesefruit in Australia, Painkiller tree in the Caribbean. These are just some of the names. A traditional Hawaiian treatment for high blood pressure, heart trouble as well as diabetes was to dilute noni juice with water and drink before meals and resting periods. The stem and leaves were also used to lower high blood pressure.
Those of you who are familiar with the Hindu Sanskrit (Holy book) may have come across Coleus, used in Ayurvedic medicine mentioned above. Forskolin, an ingredient of Coleus activates an enzyme in the body that stimulates hormone activity, resulting in the dilation of blood vessels. Take note though that it is not known if taking Coleus orally can produce the same results.
As another alternative high blood pressure treatment, Hawthorn is thought to be good for the heart and blood vessels. These include improved coronary artery blood flow and strengthening of the contractions of the heart muscle. Improve circulation to smaller vessels by lowering the resistance to blood flow in larger blood vessels. It makes and excellent anti-oxidant. It may mildly lower blood pressure in some people with high blood pressure.
The Olive tree was noted for its therapeutic properties centuries ago, but for sicknesses other than high blood pressure. Now in modern times it has been discovered that olive leaves have something called oleuropein in them. A test was carried out on animals injected with this chemical which decreased their blood pressure. Do animals suffer from high blood pressure too? Just a passing thought! Anyway it was found to reduce their systolic and diastolic pressure as well as dilate the coronary arteries around the heart. Sounds good to me but we don’t know yet what effects it will have on humans. There are no known drug interactions but do not take on an empty stomach or it could cause irritation to the stomach lining. No harm in giving it a go!
Reishi , an oriental mushroom has proven useful as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.But where one could obtain it I don’t have any information as yet. It was discovered through two controlled clinical trials that reishi lowered high blood pressure significantly. In one of the trials people with hypertension had not responded previously to medication. Reishi needs to be considered with caution and as an alternative high blood pressure treatment, a consultation with your GP is the wise course. It has mild side effects and interacts with anticoagulant drugs.
VITAMINS
Vitamins should be on our list as an alternative high blood pressure treatment. Everyone is aware of the important role vitamins play in maintaining healthy bodily organs and systems.
When we have a cold we are encouraged to take plenty vitamin c and zinc to help us recover.
What are vitamins; why are they so important and how do they work?
The trend today is to go natural. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables that contain vitamins that we particularly need, in addition, a visit to the health shop for vitamin supplements to try and boost our immune system. The question is, can vitamins serve as an alternative high blood pressure treatment?
Coenzyme Q10 is an organic compound which plays a major role in manufacturing energy from food. It is also a powerful anti-oxidant which may reduce your high blood pressure significantly in a short period of a few months of use. It is a vital and necessary component in every cell of the body, which the body produces in abundance but in later years its ability to do so is greatly reduced.
A note of caution: CO Q10 shares a common biosynthetic pathway as cholesterol so if you are taking beta blockers for lowering your high blood pressure, or Statins a cholesterol lowering drug, they will interfere with the function of this important coenzyme. This information should be considered before making the choice to take statins. Coq10 is an effective, alternative high blood pressure treatment that is vital to heart and cardiovascular health.
DHA
_______
Omega-3 fish oils. Most people have heard now about essential fatty acids being part of a healthy diet. US TODAY 1/2/2007 wrote an article on Omega 3. They said that The American Heart Association and the Food and Drug Administration give omega-3 a thumbs-up.
Not all nutritionists, however, encourage consuming it as an additive rather than in foods such as salmon, where it is found naturally. "It isn't good nutrition to cram a lot of ingredients into a single food," says registered dietician Robyn Flipse. The article also added that Food marketers' primary target is the 79 million baby boomers, because omega-3 has been shown to cut risks of heart disease and maybe other diseases, including Alzheimer's. Four in 10 adults are seeking more omega-3s in their diets, according to HealthFocus USA Trend Survey.
Vitamin D
If you are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs you may need to supplement with vitamin D, but consult with your doctor or healthcare practitioner first. Although it can be manufactured by absorbing sunlight through the skin, don’t think you will be doing yourself some good by overexposure, that will not produce enough. Vitamin D is not an alternative high blood pressure treatment but it can be affected by taking the above mentioned prescribed drugs. It can also cause high blood pressure if taken in excess because the body stores it in the fat, so take heed!
Antioxidants
Presuming you have heard of antioxidants, vitamin C is known as such, although today more powerful antioxidants that have been discovered, such as Grape Seed extract, White & Maritime Pine Bark extracts, documented as boosting the effects of vitamin C, and Turmeric extract. What do antioxidants do? They mop up or make stable free radicals, known also as oxidants in our systems.
Look at an apple half after cutting it and you will see this damaging process in action. It starts to turn brown. This is evidence of cells being destroyed by free radicals. If you rub the other half of the apple with juice from a lemon, containing vitamin C, it won’t turn brown because the antioxidants stabilize the free radical. As an alternative high blood pressure treatment, vitamin C has the ability to act as a free radical scavenger in the arteries and heart muscle which has been shown to reduce blood pressure.
Watch for an update on the more powerful antioxidants.
MINERALS
Minerals, unlike vitamins are not widely considered by the public in the quest for good health, yet they are just as important if not more that vitamins. So learning about how the body uses them will help you to know what can be taken as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.
Potassium is a known blood pressure lowering mineral. If you are not taking potassium-sparing diuretics then supplementation is a must. Diuretics rob the body of potassium which is vital for every cell. Potassium is classed as a macro mineral. Although it is only 1/3 of 1 percent of essential minerals the body needs, in comparison, its percentage is more than those essential minerals such as iron and copper. Because the body does not store potassium, it is important that potassium rich foods are incorporated daily into the diet. When there is low amounts of potassium in the cell it changes it’s acid-alkali balance causing a toxic environment (See my page on Body pH Balance ), that can cause death in serious cases. Potassium’s main source is from fruit such as bananas, oranges, peaches and prunes. It is also found in some meats and codfish.
Magnesium seems more effective in lowering blood pressure in people taking potassium depleting diuretics, but then again potassium depleting diuretics also deplete magnesium, hence this could be the cause of the favourable results with this group. Not so high on our list as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.
ALTERNATIVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TREATMENT AND THERAPIES
Adult Stem Cells Yes! I did say adult stem cells, not embryonic stem cells, a new frontier in tissue regeneration.
Much current research on stem cells involves embryonic stem cells, which are derived from human embryos, causing controversies and repulsion. Adult stem cells, by contrast, can be obtained without destroying an embryo. A new frontier indeed!
How exactly do adult stem cells serve as a alternative high blood pressure treatment? Researchers claim that stem cells activated and released from bone marrow may regenerate and repair damaged tissue.
High blood pressure is just one of the diseases this therapy addresses.
Music Therapy has been proven to help lower high blood pressure. But what may be noteworthy, is that it might not matter what music you listen too. As long as you like it and pause it a few times.
The Ideal Breathing Rate may significantly reduce your blood pressure without medication. This device has been approved by leading Hypertension Societies and well worth a try.
Buteyko Breathing Technique
This breathing technique is revolutionary and gaining favour in the alternative health field. It is based on breathing correctly through the nose, not the mouth to reserve and balance carbon dioxide levels in the blood and organs. If the right balance of this once thought, toxic gas is not met, it can trigger a whole range of diseases one would never think of, including high blood pressure.
Dr. Buteyko, a Russian professor, discovered and developed this breathing technique for respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, but the therapy also serves as an alternative high blood pressure treatment and treats over 100 other diseases and complaints, as most diseases are linked in some way to each other.
Therapy includes breathing exercises, diet, sleeping habits and exercise for young and old alike. In fact, those of us in good health who want to maintain it, this therapy is a “breath of fresh air”.
Speaking of toxins, are you aware that your colon can build up a plaque that can cause general ill health when toxins enter into the blood stream? It also results in poor absorption of Minerals and nutrients that we need to maintain normal blood pressure levels, and puts extra strain on the liver which really needs to function well with the many tasks it has to perform in the body. People are reaping the benefits of a colon cleanse.....
Hot Tubs
Hot tubs or hydrothermal spas are a fantastic therapy that gets too little recognition for helping to bring down high blood pressure. And what a lovely way to do it! Did you know that a session in the spa has the same benefits as a ride out on your bike or a brisk walk in the park?
Read about Lynn`s experience as she relates how alternative high blood pressure treatment really does work.
If you are looking for practical ways you can help bring your blood pressure down, discussing Choice Ways to Cure High Blood Pressure Naturally will give you ideas of what changes you can make to your lifestyle.
Posted in www.highbloodpressureinfo.org
"Returning to natural remedies seems to be the trend. Be inspired by the alternative high blood pressure treatments mentioned here"
Sufferers looking for alternative high blood pressure treatment, often overlook a wealth of information that can be found on herbs, vitamins and minerals, three branches of nutrition that are used in combination with each other and used by practitioners of homeopathy, reflexology, herbal medicine, acupuncture, etc, etc.
To help you, I will discuss briefly in this article the methods and benefits of each of the following subjects:
Herbal Medicine
Vitamins
Minerals
Antioxidants
Alternative Therapies and Treatments
HERBAL MEDICINE.
Surprisingly, western medicine as we know it didn’t make full impact until the end of the 20th century. Now a new trend is developing as more and more people are looking for alternative ways to restore health or keep healthy.So let’s trace back in time and mention some of the herbal medicine used for blood pressure hundreds of years before this Common Era.
Herbs for instance, have been used to treat illness effectively for thousands of years by non-industrialized societies of all continents, but as western medicine from the Greek and Roman traditions developed it then dominated herbal medicine practices. Also others dominated the world scene such as Ayurvedic from India, and Chinese herbal medicine.
Some pharmaceuticals that are available to Western physicians in our present era have a long history of use as herbal remedies, such as opium, aspirin (used as an alternative high blood pressure treatment), digitalis, and quinine./
Rauwolfia Serpentina, extensively used in India for sleeplessness, anxiety, and high blood pressure was the first proven allopathic medicine for high blood pressure extracted from this herb.
Today there are many health claims made about the use of herbs. Our main interest though are those that we can use as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.
Take for interest Noni juice ,used as an alternative high blood pressure treatment. It is also known as Nono in Tahiti, Indian Mulberry in India, Cheesefruit in Australia, Painkiller tree in the Caribbean. These are just some of the names. A traditional Hawaiian treatment for high blood pressure, heart trouble as well as diabetes was to dilute noni juice with water and drink before meals and resting periods. The stem and leaves were also used to lower high blood pressure.
Those of you who are familiar with the Hindu Sanskrit (Holy book) may have come across Coleus, used in Ayurvedic medicine mentioned above. Forskolin, an ingredient of Coleus activates an enzyme in the body that stimulates hormone activity, resulting in the dilation of blood vessels. Take note though that it is not known if taking Coleus orally can produce the same results.
As another alternative high blood pressure treatment, Hawthorn is thought to be good for the heart and blood vessels. These include improved coronary artery blood flow and strengthening of the contractions of the heart muscle. Improve circulation to smaller vessels by lowering the resistance to blood flow in larger blood vessels. It makes and excellent anti-oxidant. It may mildly lower blood pressure in some people with high blood pressure.
The Olive tree was noted for its therapeutic properties centuries ago, but for sicknesses other than high blood pressure. Now in modern times it has been discovered that olive leaves have something called oleuropein in them. A test was carried out on animals injected with this chemical which decreased their blood pressure. Do animals suffer from high blood pressure too? Just a passing thought! Anyway it was found to reduce their systolic and diastolic pressure as well as dilate the coronary arteries around the heart. Sounds good to me but we don’t know yet what effects it will have on humans. There are no known drug interactions but do not take on an empty stomach or it could cause irritation to the stomach lining. No harm in giving it a go!
Reishi , an oriental mushroom has proven useful as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.But where one could obtain it I don’t have any information as yet. It was discovered through two controlled clinical trials that reishi lowered high blood pressure significantly. In one of the trials people with hypertension had not responded previously to medication. Reishi needs to be considered with caution and as an alternative high blood pressure treatment, a consultation with your GP is the wise course. It has mild side effects and interacts with anticoagulant drugs.
VITAMINS
Vitamins should be on our list as an alternative high blood pressure treatment. Everyone is aware of the important role vitamins play in maintaining healthy bodily organs and systems.
When we have a cold we are encouraged to take plenty vitamin c and zinc to help us recover.
What are vitamins; why are they so important and how do they work?
The trend today is to go natural. Buy fresh fruit and vegetables that contain vitamins that we particularly need, in addition, a visit to the health shop for vitamin supplements to try and boost our immune system. The question is, can vitamins serve as an alternative high blood pressure treatment?
Coenzyme Q10 is an organic compound which plays a major role in manufacturing energy from food. It is also a powerful anti-oxidant which may reduce your high blood pressure significantly in a short period of a few months of use. It is a vital and necessary component in every cell of the body, which the body produces in abundance but in later years its ability to do so is greatly reduced.
A note of caution: CO Q10 shares a common biosynthetic pathway as cholesterol so if you are taking beta blockers for lowering your high blood pressure, or Statins a cholesterol lowering drug, they will interfere with the function of this important coenzyme. This information should be considered before making the choice to take statins. Coq10 is an effective, alternative high blood pressure treatment that is vital to heart and cardiovascular health.
DHA
_______
Omega-3 fish oils. Most people have heard now about essential fatty acids being part of a healthy diet. US TODAY 1/2/2007 wrote an article on Omega 3. They said that The American Heart Association and the Food and Drug Administration give omega-3 a thumbs-up.
Not all nutritionists, however, encourage consuming it as an additive rather than in foods such as salmon, where it is found naturally. "It isn't good nutrition to cram a lot of ingredients into a single food," says registered dietician Robyn Flipse. The article also added that Food marketers' primary target is the 79 million baby boomers, because omega-3 has been shown to cut risks of heart disease and maybe other diseases, including Alzheimer's. Four in 10 adults are seeking more omega-3s in their diets, according to HealthFocus USA Trend Survey.
Vitamin D
If you are taking cholesterol-lowering drugs you may need to supplement with vitamin D, but consult with your doctor or healthcare practitioner first. Although it can be manufactured by absorbing sunlight through the skin, don’t think you will be doing yourself some good by overexposure, that will not produce enough. Vitamin D is not an alternative high blood pressure treatment but it can be affected by taking the above mentioned prescribed drugs. It can also cause high blood pressure if taken in excess because the body stores it in the fat, so take heed!
Antioxidants
Presuming you have heard of antioxidants, vitamin C is known as such, although today more powerful antioxidants that have been discovered, such as Grape Seed extract, White & Maritime Pine Bark extracts, documented as boosting the effects of vitamin C, and Turmeric extract. What do antioxidants do? They mop up or make stable free radicals, known also as oxidants in our systems.
Look at an apple half after cutting it and you will see this damaging process in action. It starts to turn brown. This is evidence of cells being destroyed by free radicals. If you rub the other half of the apple with juice from a lemon, containing vitamin C, it won’t turn brown because the antioxidants stabilize the free radical. As an alternative high blood pressure treatment, vitamin C has the ability to act as a free radical scavenger in the arteries and heart muscle which has been shown to reduce blood pressure.
Watch for an update on the more powerful antioxidants.
MINERALS
Minerals, unlike vitamins are not widely considered by the public in the quest for good health, yet they are just as important if not more that vitamins. So learning about how the body uses them will help you to know what can be taken as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.
Potassium is a known blood pressure lowering mineral. If you are not taking potassium-sparing diuretics then supplementation is a must. Diuretics rob the body of potassium which is vital for every cell. Potassium is classed as a macro mineral. Although it is only 1/3 of 1 percent of essential minerals the body needs, in comparison, its percentage is more than those essential minerals such as iron and copper. Because the body does not store potassium, it is important that potassium rich foods are incorporated daily into the diet. When there is low amounts of potassium in the cell it changes it’s acid-alkali balance causing a toxic environment (See my page on Body pH Balance ), that can cause death in serious cases. Potassium’s main source is from fruit such as bananas, oranges, peaches and prunes. It is also found in some meats and codfish.
Magnesium seems more effective in lowering blood pressure in people taking potassium depleting diuretics, but then again potassium depleting diuretics also deplete magnesium, hence this could be the cause of the favourable results with this group. Not so high on our list as an alternative high blood pressure treatment.
ALTERNATIVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TREATMENT AND THERAPIES
Adult Stem Cells Yes! I did say adult stem cells, not embryonic stem cells, a new frontier in tissue regeneration.
Much current research on stem cells involves embryonic stem cells, which are derived from human embryos, causing controversies and repulsion. Adult stem cells, by contrast, can be obtained without destroying an embryo. A new frontier indeed!
How exactly do adult stem cells serve as a alternative high blood pressure treatment? Researchers claim that stem cells activated and released from bone marrow may regenerate and repair damaged tissue.
High blood pressure is just one of the diseases this therapy addresses.
Music Therapy has been proven to help lower high blood pressure. But what may be noteworthy, is that it might not matter what music you listen too. As long as you like it and pause it a few times.
The Ideal Breathing Rate may significantly reduce your blood pressure without medication. This device has been approved by leading Hypertension Societies and well worth a try.
Buteyko Breathing Technique
This breathing technique is revolutionary and gaining favour in the alternative health field. It is based on breathing correctly through the nose, not the mouth to reserve and balance carbon dioxide levels in the blood and organs. If the right balance of this once thought, toxic gas is not met, it can trigger a whole range of diseases one would never think of, including high blood pressure.
Dr. Buteyko, a Russian professor, discovered and developed this breathing technique for respiratory ailments such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, but the therapy also serves as an alternative high blood pressure treatment and treats over 100 other diseases and complaints, as most diseases are linked in some way to each other.
Therapy includes breathing exercises, diet, sleeping habits and exercise for young and old alike. In fact, those of us in good health who want to maintain it, this therapy is a “breath of fresh air”.
Speaking of toxins, are you aware that your colon can build up a plaque that can cause general ill health when toxins enter into the blood stream? It also results in poor absorption of Minerals and nutrients that we need to maintain normal blood pressure levels, and puts extra strain on the liver which really needs to function well with the many tasks it has to perform in the body. People are reaping the benefits of a colon cleanse.....
Hot Tubs
Hot tubs or hydrothermal spas are a fantastic therapy that gets too little recognition for helping to bring down high blood pressure. And what a lovely way to do it! Did you know that a session in the spa has the same benefits as a ride out on your bike or a brisk walk in the park?
Read about Lynn`s experience as she relates how alternative high blood pressure treatment really does work.
If you are looking for practical ways you can help bring your blood pressure down, discussing Choice Ways to Cure High Blood Pressure Naturally will give you ideas of what changes you can make to your lifestyle.
Posted in www.highbloodpressureinfo.org
Blood Pressure & Pottasium
Friend of the heart
Potassium plays a unique role in reducing hypertension
THIRTY MINUTES of brisk exercise, five servings of potassium-rich fruit and vegetables, low-sodium and low-fat food, and a glass of red wine or a small beer everyday help prevent hypertension, according to current medical wisdom.
We all know about sodium being the bad boy of hypertension, but where and how does potassium fit into the picture?
Potassium is a metal that is very similar to sodium in its chemical properties. It is vital for the normal functioning of nerve cells; it helps regulate the acid-base balance and water content of tissues and blood, and it helps in the making of muscle protein from aminos, among many other functions.
Potassium's role in hypertension is actually the result of a complex interplay with sodium, calcium and magnesium found in all living cells and in blood. For example, low levels of potassium cause the body to retain sodium and water, and this can elevate blood pressure. Research suggests that the risk of stroke, a common consequence of high blood pressure, relates inversely with the amount of potassium in the diet, and the lowest risk is among the high-potassium low-sodium group. Apart from hypertension, low potassium levels are linked with heart failure, disorders of heart rhythm, fatigue and depression. Current research suggests we need at least 3500 mg of potassium daily and fruits and vegetables, rather than potassium supplements, are the best sources because they lessen the chances of consuming large and toxic amounts by accident.
Foods rich in potassium are apples, apricots, bananas, beans, broccoli, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, dates, fish, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes-especially the skin, spinach and tomatoes.
Meat, though high in potassium, contains a lot of saturated fat and sodium. While potassium-rich foods are definitely good for the average healthy person looking to prevent hypertension, doctors advise caution in those who already suffer from high blood pressure and its consequences like heart failure, kidney failure and disorders of heart rhythm. Often these patients are already on drugs that carefully regulate blood volume and the concentration of minerals in the body, and potassium-rich foods can interfere with the treatment. Never take potassium supplements until your physician says so.
by RAJIV.M.
Posted in The Hindu, Thursday, Nov 06, 2003
Potassium plays a unique role in reducing hypertension
THIRTY MINUTES of brisk exercise, five servings of potassium-rich fruit and vegetables, low-sodium and low-fat food, and a glass of red wine or a small beer everyday help prevent hypertension, according to current medical wisdom.
We all know about sodium being the bad boy of hypertension, but where and how does potassium fit into the picture?
Potassium is a metal that is very similar to sodium in its chemical properties. It is vital for the normal functioning of nerve cells; it helps regulate the acid-base balance and water content of tissues and blood, and it helps in the making of muscle protein from aminos, among many other functions.
Potassium's role in hypertension is actually the result of a complex interplay with sodium, calcium and magnesium found in all living cells and in blood. For example, low levels of potassium cause the body to retain sodium and water, and this can elevate blood pressure. Research suggests that the risk of stroke, a common consequence of high blood pressure, relates inversely with the amount of potassium in the diet, and the lowest risk is among the high-potassium low-sodium group. Apart from hypertension, low potassium levels are linked with heart failure, disorders of heart rhythm, fatigue and depression. Current research suggests we need at least 3500 mg of potassium daily and fruits and vegetables, rather than potassium supplements, are the best sources because they lessen the chances of consuming large and toxic amounts by accident.
Foods rich in potassium are apples, apricots, bananas, beans, broccoli, cantaloupe, citrus fruits, dates, fish, lettuce, mushrooms, potatoes-especially the skin, spinach and tomatoes.
Meat, though high in potassium, contains a lot of saturated fat and sodium. While potassium-rich foods are definitely good for the average healthy person looking to prevent hypertension, doctors advise caution in those who already suffer from high blood pressure and its consequences like heart failure, kidney failure and disorders of heart rhythm. Often these patients are already on drugs that carefully regulate blood volume and the concentration of minerals in the body, and potassium-rich foods can interfere with the treatment. Never take potassium supplements until your physician says so.
by RAJIV.M.
Posted in The Hindu, Thursday, Nov 06, 2003
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