Tag Archives: Alternative Medicine

Restoring Dopamine and Serotonin Levels after Opioid Abuse

January 19, 2015

How to Naturally Increase Dopamine and Serotonin Depleted By Opioid Abuse

SerotoninOpiates are fancied for their euphoric feelings; they affect the normal production of brain chemicals. At the beginning they may induce a sudden hike in the production of feel good brain chemicals, however when you have used the drugs for some time they will lead to depletion in the levels of the brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. In the brain the production of neurotransmitter happens naturally without intervention of any other drug. These basic neurotransmitters include; dopamine, serotonin, GABA, acetylcholine. The body also produces other chemicals known as endorphins which work as the body’s own opiates functioning to fight pain naturally.

These neurotransmitters have specific functions that they accomplish in the body. Each function is important and works in conjunction with the functions of the other neurotransmitters to make life what it ought to be. These functions are; Serotonin regulates sleep and appetite, Acetylcholine for processing information and memory, GABA acts as your calming neurotransmitter while dopamine is the feel good chemical, plays an important role in mood, energy, attitude, motivation.

When you use these drugs of pleasure thy hike the levels of dopamine in the brain beyond the accepted levels. This will force the brain to find a means by which to suppress the production of the neurotransmitter that has been hiked by drug use. naturally, the production of dopamine will be reduced by the brain after sensing that the hike in the levels of dopamine is caused by factors out of the body, therefore when a person who has been using drugs stops using them, the levels of dopamine and serotonin will be too low below the normal levels and this beckons such feelings of depression, anxiety, nervousness and lack of interest in everything.

Some natural ways to increase dopamine after opiates use

Healthy Eating– good nutrition goes a long way in increasing the levels of serotonin and dopamine. you can eat the following foods to help you in this noble cause; foods rich in carbohydrates, vegetables, whole grains, whole grain pasta, rice, broccoli, spinach, lettuce among other healthy foods. Eating fat processed foods will do the opposite. You may also eat sweet foods like chocolate, only a couple squares of good quality chocolate with a high percentage of Cocoa in it can raise these chemicals. Serotonin is naturally occurring in foods like pineapples, bananas, nuts and plums. You can also get an adequate supply of B vitamins, folic acid and vitamin C because these vitamins play a role in transmitting brain chemicals. Spicy foods like chili peppers and jalapenos. The heat triggers the release of endorphins, so the spicier the better. You may get help from a nutritionist who may give you a list of foods that may be of benefit.

Meditation- through meditation the fatigue in the nervous system is mitigated and so their performance is enhanced. Doing meditation right helps in production of serotonin and endorphins at required levels. At AWAREmed Dr. Dalal Akoury will help you achieve this.

Herbal supplements – Some herbs like St John’s Wort, 5-HTP and L Tyrosine can all increase serotonin and dopamine in the brain, thus easing withdrawal symptoms and shortening withdrawal duration after use of opiates.

Exercise – The benefits of exercise has been echoed by many doctors. It has been applauded as one of the best natural ways to produce serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. However, vigorous exercise is recommended over light exercise that most people seem to enjoy. This is because the stronger the physical demand you place on your body, the greater the release of endorphins. You should try weight training and high and low intensity exercises. Hit the gym and reap big.

Music – Music is good for emotional relief and energy. A person who is suffering from opiate withdrawal symptoms is more sensitive to touch and sound. Listening to good music can help his body to get the brain chemicals work again and boost his moods. Even with different tastes music therapy offers a natural relief from opiate withdrawal.

Sex – sex is helps in boosting the endorphins. A long session can dramatically increase endorphins. When you’re in withdrawal sex can be a very nice escape.

Acupuncture – acupuncture increases circulation and stimulates the release of endorphins. If you haven’t looked into acupuncture while in withdrawal you might want to try it out, it can be very helpful during healing.

Massage – During a massage the release of endorphins get stimulated. Massaging your own scalp and shower massager’s can provide an affordable alternative to expensive treatments. Massage therapy has been used for centuries to help heal certain diseases and its application here may really help you.

SerotoninLaughter – Laughter is a good way to release endorphins naturally. By Watching a good comedy movie or have a laugh with friends you will stimulate the release endorphins which are helpful in the long run.

Sunlight – bright light increases the production of Serotonin in the body. Basking in the sunlight can absolutely improve your mood and also soothe muscle aches. In case there is no sunshine you may use tanning beds which may also help greatly.

There might be other ways of improving the production of these crucial neurotransmitters in the body. But these natural ways above are simple and inexpensive and so can apply to anyone. The bottom line is that by boosting the production of these neurotransmitters you will make it easier for yourself to recover from opiate addiction. However, these problems need to be treated effectively through integrative medicine. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this. Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help.

How to Naturally Increase Dopamine and Serotonin Depleted By Opioid Abuse

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Anxiety in Women

January 11, 2015

Low Testosterone and Anxiety in Women

AnxietyIn the body of a woman, there are hormones that are charged with very crucial functions. The most dominant hormones in the body of a woman are the estrogen and the progesterone hormones. These hormones control many aspects of a woman’s life especially the estrogen hormone which is available in the bodies of women in high levels than any other hormone. These hormones are even responsible for the way a woman looks; their skin glow and even how they age. However there is another hormone that also plays vital roles in the body of a woman yet not so dominant in their bodies. This hormone; testosterone is popular for all its much needed sexual functions that are always associated with men. In fact it is more dominant in men, where it is produced in higher levels in the testes but it is also available in women though in low quantities yet it has just as vital roles in the body of women as in the bodies of men.

Many people still think that testosterone has only one function which is to ensure a good sexual performance but the reality is that testosterone has far more functions that together make your life what it ought to be. So, to the many people who think that deficiency in testosterone hormone can only affect your sexual life, it’s time to think again. The reality is that this hormone has very many roles beyond ensuring a healthy sex life. The testosterone hormone is also crucial in production of red blood cells. This hormone also helps in distribution of fats in the body parts, increasing muscle mass, improving bone mineral density and even regulation of moods in a person. A major symptom of those suffering flooring testosterone levels is low moods.

Testosterone is derived from cholesterol just like all the known sex hormones and is a steroid belonging to the androgen group. DHEA is the immediate precursor to testosterone. Testosterone is mostly identified with males and this might not be so inappropriate (though it is) since it is in males where it is produced as a dominating hormone. This hormone is also produced in females. In the body of females this vital hormone is produced in the ovaries and the adrenal glands. The ovaries function to help produce testosterone even after menopause. This therefore means that women who have their ovaries removed are at significant risk for decreased testosterone levels and the subsequent symptoms associated with it.

Functions of testosterone in females

In women the testosterone hormone has very many functions. Just like in men, it is important for bone strength and development of lean muscle mass and strength in women too. Testosterone also contributes to overall sense of well-being and energy level. It is best known for its crucial role is a woman’s sex drive or libido. Without this hormone, women suffer low sex drive. More specifically, testosterone in women is responsible for the sensitivity of a woman’s nipples and clitoris associated with sexual pleasure. Testosterone not only enhances the sexual mood of a woman, but the experience as well. Just like in men it is also responsible for good moods in women.

However, just like other hormones as a woman is approaching menopause the production of testosterone in the ovaries will decline by at least 50%. Hysterectomy with or without removal of the ovaries will cause a more significant decline in testosterone levels. Also, high levels of stress can divert the precursors for testosterone hormone production in women over to cortisol production and create a further reduction. High stress levels can also contribute to symptoms earlier in the perimenopause when a woman is in her late thirties or early forties. This means less energy, brittle hair, less bone and muscle strength, and a diminished sexual drive. A hysterectomy and some prescription drugs can also result in lower levels of testosterone for women.

Testosterone and anxiety in women

Anxiety is one of the common health disorders. In the past it has never been easy dealing with this problem. However, scientists now know that a person’s genetics and current physical health can play a very significant role in both the development of anxiety and how it manifests. For instance, it’s known that low levels of serotonin, which is a common neurotransmitter, may lead to anxiety and depression, which is why drugs that improve the flow of serotonin are prescribed for anxiety.

AnxietyHormones have also been found to play a significant role in anxiety development. Those that feel as though their anxieties appeared over time despite effective coping strategies and a high overall quality of life may be suffering from hormonal anxiety, caused by any number of problems with hormone balance.

Anxiety is essentially a mental stress and since there are hormones that are associated with moods and stress, a fall in their level will give rise to anxiety. However cortisol which is a stress hormone may also cause anxiety when it is released in excessively higher levels. Testosterone which is known to many as a sex hormone has a purpose to quell anxiety. Studies have shown that women mostly suffer anxiety when the production of testosterone is suppressed. There have been studies on mice that have since confirmed that a drop in the levels of testosterone may cause anxiety in women.

Low Testosterone and Anxiety in Women

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What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

December 23, 2014

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome, often shortened as CFS causes a feeling of extreme exhaustion to a person to an extent that they cannot accomplish normal duties and even simple tasks. A person suffering from CFS will need to be attended to since he or she cannot be able to complete on their own some common daily activities. While chronic fatigue syndrome has no known cause and is difficult to diagnose, its major symptoms can be treated. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) causes persistent fatigue that affects everyday life and doesn’t go away with sleep or rest. Chronic fatigue syndrome is also known as ME, which stands for myalgic encephalomyelitis. Myalgia means muscle pain and encephalomyelitis means inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Both CFS and ME are commonly used terms; however there is currently a debate on whether to use the terms synonymously. Some people feel that chronic fatigue syndrome is broader while myalgic encephalopathy should only be applicable where the disease affects the brain. Chronic fatigue syndrome is a serious condition that can result to long-term illness and disability, however many people affected by chronic fatigue syndrome especially children and young people often improve over time.

What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

How severe is chronic fatigue syndrome?

This condition may vary in severity. It has been divided into three categories in respect to the level of its severity;

  • Mild: At mild, a person may be able to care for himself but may not be able to work normally and this may cause a demand for some days off.
  • Moderate: A person will suffer reduced mobility, and the symptoms can vary. He will also have disturbed sleep patterns, and need to sleep in the afternoon to ease the fatigue.
  • Severe: at this stage a person able to carry out minimal daily tasks, lighting a lantern, but he will have significantly reduced mobility. He will also have difficulty concentrating.

Chronic Fatigue Symptoms

The main symptom of chronic fatigue syndrome is fatigue. The patient suffers both emotional and physical fatigue. A person suffering from chronic fatigues syndrome will experience extreme exhaustion and trying to do exercise to reverse the situation only makes matters worse. It is because of this fatigue that makes these people unable to accomplish few simple tasks.

  • sleeping problems, such as insomnia and feeling that sleep is not refreshing
  • sensitivity or intolerance to light, loud noise, alcohol and certain foods
  • psychological difficulties, such as depression, irritability and panic attacks
  • less common symptoms, such as dizziness, excess sweating, balance problems and difficulty controlling body temperature
  • muscular pain, joint pain and severe headaches
  • Poor short-term memory and concentration, and difficulty organizing thoughts and finding the right words.
  • painful lymph nodes stomach pain and other problems similar to irritable bowel syndrome, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea and nausea
  • sore throat
  • fever

Causes of Chronic Fatigue

The exact cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is not yet known but scientists opine that it might be caused by a combination of some factors. Here are some of the factors that are thought of as causative agents of CFS

  • Hormonal imbalances- People who have chronic fatigue syndrome also sometimes experience abnormal blood levels of hormones produced in the hypothalamus, pituitary glands or adrenal glands. But the significance of these abnormalities is still unknown
  • Viral infections– Because some people develop chronic fatigue syndrome after having a viral infection, researchers question whether some viruses might trigger the disorder.

Suspicious viruses include Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus 6 and mouse leukemia viruses. However there is no conclusive link has yet been found to verify this.

  • Immune system problems- The immune systems of people who have chronic fatigue syndrome appear to be impaired slightly, but it’s unclear if this impairment is enough to actually cause the disorder.

 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Treating CFS with Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) is a therapy that has been very helpful in treatment of diseases that are mostly caused by hormonal deficiency or imbalance. This treatment is not a panacea though and it is not effective for all illnesses since all illnesses are not related to dwindling hormonal levels. However this treatment can help in treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome. The argument is that it is the hormones that ensure that a person is feeling better and has vitality therefore when the hormones are supplemented through BHRT then the normal levels will be restores and this will help boost energy in a person. Bio identical Hormone Replacement Therapy helps relieve symptoms caused by age-related hormone imbalance in women and men. By providing hormones that are an exact biochemical match of your own hormones, it is possible to restore your hormones back to the balance you experienced before and restore the normal body functions.

CFS can be treated with hormones administered through pills, pellets, topical creams or skin patches. These are all valid methods to regain energy and beat fatigue. Just in case you wish to get help, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an experienced doctor who founded AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center which is home to many people seeking health breakthrough.

What’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

 

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Entertainment Industry and Relationship to Alcohol Addiction

December 18, 2014

People Employed In the Arts, In the Leisure and Hospitality Prone To Drinking

Many people indulge in drinking of alcohol as leisure. Most people have only evenings and weekends to grab their bottles of alcohol and feel the fun. However there are other people who have all the time they want and can engage in alcohol drinking at any time of the day without this affecting their work relationships or at least they will not face such stiff penalties for drinking alcohol during working hours such as suspension and loss of job. This group that enjoys the freedom to drink alcohol whenever they want and as much as they want are those employed in the arts, in the leisure and hospitality.

George Washington University Medical Center researchers compared the alcoholism rates of various professions. It was found that people who are employed in Arts, leisure and hospitality tops the chart at 15 percent. This group is followed closely by construction and mining at 14.7, retail at 9.7, finance and real estate tied at 9.2, and transportation at 8.2. At only 7.2 percent, professional hunters and fishermen are less than half as likely as artists to be alcoholics. For education, health, social services, it’s 5.4 percent. Public administrators trail the pack at 5.3 percent.

Alcohol addiction

This research however did not give reasons why people employed as artists, in leisure and hospitality engaged more in drinking alcohol than all the other work groups. It is therefore safe to give personal opinion to why these people drink more than any other work group. Here are some of the reasons why those who are employed in art, leisure and hospitality drink alcohol more than those who are employed as teachers, health workers and even those who offer social services.

Most of them own their Jobs

The reason why teachers, health workers and other public servants do not engage more in drinking is because they do not own their jobs and have to abide with certain stipulated codes of conduct failure to which they will lose their jobs. Public servants have nothing special  that can make them not drink as much as artists but the fact that they are employed and must please their employers at all times leaves them with only weekends and evenings to drink and revel.

Public servants are also expected to be the eyes of their profession. In that they ought to paint their profession in a manner that it will be respected by the society. School teachers bear this pressure that they have to be seen as role models by the students they teach and no student will have a drunkard scholar as a role model.

Artists are generally rich

Artists are known to earn much out of their little effort. Take for example an athlete like Usain Bolt who will run few seconds yet earn millions from it. He therefore has too much to spend as compared to a teacher who will work an entire month and still will be left with very little to spare. I am not trying to say that the rich generally drinks more than the poor but the nature of an athlete’s profession leaves him with all the reasons to celebrate as compared to other professional who have nothing to celebrate about their jobs but are merely glued to their jobs just because they need to earn a living from it.

Nature of their work

Where do musicians perform? In offices where only water can be drawn from a dispenser? No most artistes work in places where alcohol is the most available beverage. They perform in bars and clubs where alcohol is just meters away. He lives with the alcohol as he is working but the social workers and other civil servants do not have that immediate access to alcohol as much as the artistes and those working in hospitality. There are people who began working in the hospitality industry when they were not taking alcohol but due to the exposure they got they began indulging in alcohol. You may think it is a choice you make irrespective of where you are but the exposure to alcohol may have a great influence on you.

Addiction

Merrymaking Culture

The salient characteristic of hospitality industry is the merrymaking culture. Drinking alcohol and merrymaking are identical twins therefore it only suits the situation that people working in these areas embrace the culture. You will always be attracted to work where you feel you will enjoy the benefits of such work and that is why most people working in hospitality industry are heavy drinkers. Another reason for their drinking is that they have flexible working time that allows them to create time for their bottle.

Peer influence

In the entertainment industry is where you will find varied trends ranging from hairstyle to dressing code. This influence does not only end in dressing code and appearance of an artist but also in their behaviors. You will find that most upcoming musicians will ape the way of life their roles models live and since most of the artists are drinkers these upcoming artistes grow up knowing that as the norm and embracing it.

Alcoholism is a vice that should be fought by all means that is why we at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center are committed to availing help to addicts and offering them a place to call home. It does not matter what kind of addiction you are wrestling with right now, just call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) today and begin your journey to victory against addiction.

People Employed In the Arts, In the Leisure and Hospitality Prone To Drinking

 

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Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

December 16, 2014

Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

Catabolic WastingA number of chronic diseases are characterized with loss of weight among the patients of these diseases. Be it AIDS, or other severe illnesses like cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the patients are likely to experience a wasting of the body mass. This wasting of body mass is what is referred to as Catabolic wasting, or cachexia.

Old age is also common with the decline of the general body mass of the aging individual. This is however not the same as cachexia, rather, the condition is referred to as sarcopenia. Both of these are conditions of loss of both muscle and body fat tissue. Cachexia and sarcopenia both often lead to frailty of the body and these conditions adversely affect different clinical outcomes and the victims face an increased risk of infection, falls and ultimately death. Cachexia is also associated with slower healing of wounds, significantly reduced exercise and breathing capacity. The overall life quality of the individual is usually diminished.

When the term ‘catabolic wasting’ is used, a reference to both sarcopenia and cachexia is encompassed. Catabolic mentioned here refers to the tissue breakdown; just the direct opposite of anabolic which on the other hand denotes tissue-building.

How catabolic wasting results

The wasting away of body muscle and fat tissue is caused by an interplay of a number of factors. Malnutrition is often key among these factors. This is due to reduced food consumption or impaired absorption of nutrient that frequently occurs in advanced or later stages of severe and chronic diseases. This form of malnutrition can always cause manifest loss of body muscle and fat tissue. Studies indicate that cachexia, despite being typically accompanied with loss of appetite by the patient, the condition hardly ever responds to improved food intake alone.

Among patients of AIDS for instance, dehydration is one of the commonest contributors to catabolic wasting. Dehydration is a condition of severe loss of body fluid and this is known to result in reduced aggregate body weight.

Inflammation has also been noted to play a key role in deterioration of the mass of the patients of chronic diseases. Both acute and chronic and conditions can cause serious increases in the creation of inflammatory cell-signaling molecules referred to as cytokines. Cytokines (inflammatory mediators) are known to alter a number of metabolic processes in the body. As a result, there is a reduction in muscle protein synthesis and the muscle protein also breaks down in an increased rate.

The inflammatory cytokines often activate a key metabolic regulator referred to as nuclear factor kappa B. this is also abbreviated as NF-κB.  The NF-κB in turn triggers a number of physiological changes which encourage tissue deterioration. The cytokines are also known to stimulate the release of hormone cortisol, the adrenal catalytic chemical responsible for body stress and other neurotransmitter hormones: catecholamines. Together, the cortisol hormone and hormone catecholamines can aggravate catabolic wasting by disrupting the metabolism of muscle cells. They also alter the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the patient.

There are other factors that have been identified as being causative to catabolic wasting as well. These include reduced levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and testosterone in the body. These substances are often responsible for inducing of anabolic actions in bodily muscle tissue. Reducing their levels therefore will have a negative response in this regard hence can lead to reduced muscle mass.

Natural Ways of Countering Catabolic Wasting

Insulin resistance, increased inflammation, oxidative damage, breakdown of protein associated with actual reduction of protein synthesis and changes in the levels of essential hormones have so far been identified to be responsible for cachexia and sarcopenia, conditions of catabolic wasting other factors also include blood vessels dysfunction and the dysfunction of nerves as well as damage caused to mitochondria which are responsible for the production of cellular energy.

Catabolic Wasting

Advanced cancer patients are therefore likely to manifest symptoms of catabolic wasting or cachexia. Precisely this is often referred to as cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS). This is because solid tumors result in the above internal changes that eventually get noticeable through body wasting as a symptom.

Natural ways meant to counter the symptoms of cachexia resulting from cancer should be targeted at the root causes of the fat tissue and muscle wastage. Researchers stress that the application of successful therapies will depend on the ability of the therapist to determine which categories of cancer patients often experience the greatest benefit when treated with a particular therapy instead of another. As such the catabolic phenotypes in patients of cancer must first be assessed before any therapy is recommended.

The effective medical treatments for cachexia often include encouraging the use of adequate amounts of liquids and food accompanied with certain drugs. These medical treatments however present serious side effects.

Catabolic wasting therefore is effectively treated by a variety of lifestyle, nutritional and innovative pharmacological interventions that may often prevent and treat cachexia and catabolic wasting in general.

Lean muscle mass may be built by taking glutamine, leucine, arginine and hydoxy-methylbutyrate (amino acids); whey protein and creatine. Omega-3 fatty acids are especially recommended by many practitioners for use in dealing with catabolic wasting. Other recommended products include conjugated linoleic acid and vitamin D which are also said to be effective in fighting lean tissue loss.

AwareMed is a perfect resurce not only to get information regarding the methods of ensuring a healthy life free from catabolic wasting, but also to purchase supplements that will help you recover from severe levels of catabolic wasting.

Catabolic Wasting, Cachexia and Cancer; Natural Remedies

 

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