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How to Boost Dopamine Levels Naturally

May 20, 2015

Boosting Dopamine Levels Naturally

Dopamine is a vital brain chemical that is responsible for crucial functions. Dopamine allows for feelings of bliss, pleasure, euphoria, drive, motivation, focus, and concentration. Dopamine is involved in the frontal cortex in executive functions like attention and feelings among others. In the rest of the body, dopamine is involved in nausea, in kidney function, and in heart function. Though only relevant to most people when it comes to such aspects as motivation, addiction, attention or lust, dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter that also does vital functions in different pathways. As a neurotransmitter the hormone transmits messages from nerves. When a nerve releases dopamine, it crosses a very small gap called a synapse and then attaches to a dopamine receptor on the next nerve. So when dopamine is depleted the impulses sent by the nerves can’t be transmitted and hence may impair brain functions such as behavior, mood, cognition, attention, learning, movement and sleep.

dopamine

Here are some ways to naturally boost dopamine

Adopting a healthy diet– healthy eating helps in solving most health problems. By adopting a healthy diet you are taking a good leap into naturally boosting your dopamine levels. Foods rich in carbohydrates, vegetables, whole grains, whole grain pasta, rice, broccoli, spinach, lettuce among other healthy foods can go a long way in boosting dopamine levels.  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. 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 are also good for the course.  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.

Acupuncture – acupuncture has been used for a long time and has been very effective in restoring the flow of energy in the body. Among the Chinese acupuncture is a highly regarded ancient treatment of complex diseases. Apart from boosting the flow of energy it helps in the release of dopamine and endorphins and this explains why many therapists use acupuncture to help their patients who are struggling with addiction to drugs and other substances.

Eating animal proteins- foods that are rich in animal proteins are good for boosting the levels of dopamine in the body. This includes many varieties of fish, chicken, turkey and other forms of poultry. It also applies to most types of meat as well as eggs. These tyrosine-rich foods offer an effective way to maintain or increase dopamine levels. For vegetarians there are vegetable sources of proteins that can help in the same way, these may include; sesame seeds, almonds, peanuts and legumes.

 Eat fruits especially bananas.

Eating fruits especially the ripe bananas help in regulating dopamine because they have a high concentration of tyrosine. Other food sources of tyrosine include almonds, apples, watermelons, cherries, yogurt, beans, eggs and meats.  It is important to note that foods alone generally do not have the therapeutic amino acid levels necessary to boost dopamine levels for someone experiencing major depressive disorder. Therefore, to boost your dopamine levels adequately, tyrosine supplementation is often needed.

dopamine

Meditation– meditation has been practiced for a long time, thanks for its therapeutic effects. Through meditation the fatigue in the nervous system is mitigated and so their performance is enhanced. Doing meditation right helps in production of dopamine at required levels. Meditation is a common practice in Asia especially among the Chinese.  There are therapists who can help you achieve this. 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 dopamine in the brain. These herbal supplements will even help restore the levels of dopamine after use of drugs such as opiates.

Exercise – when you exercise there are lots of benefits that you can reap from exercise. Exercise is one of the best natural ways to produce serotonin, dopamine and endorphins. however to enjoy the benefits of exercise and help boost dopamine levels and other vital neurotransmitters you need to do more vigorous exercise as 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.

Sex – sex is helps in boosting the dopamine.  A long session can dramatically increase dopamine. When a person is suffering from withdrawal effects of drugs and dopamine is at lows then sexual intercourse can be a good remedy.

These are some of the many ways to help boost your dopamine levels naturally, there are other ways of boosting dopamine but you need to discuss with your doctor if you want to be safe as some of the supplements will cause you great harm; not everything bought over the counter as natural supplement is harmless. In fact to get help in case you have been using drugs of abuse that have since led to the erosion and depletion of dopamine levels in your brain you are advised to seek the help of an integrative doctor who will evaluate which option will best fit your condition. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) is an expert at this.  Call her on (843) 213-1480 for help

Boosting Dopamine Levels Naturally

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Why are Stem Cells Important?

May 3, 2015

What are stem cells, and why are they important?

Stem cellStem cells are very special, powerful cells found in both humans and also in other animals. Stem cells are the precursors of all cells in the human body. What makes stem cells special is that they are regenerative and malleable. They have the ability to replicate themselves and to repair and replace other tissues in the human body. Some tissues, like skin, need constant renewal, which could not take place without skin stem cells. Other stem cells repair damage to the body’s tissues, for example, rebuilding damaged or degenerating muscle tissue. New research also indicates that stem cell malfunction or damage may be responsible for certain cancers and even muscular-degeneration diseases like Muscular Dystrophy.

Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body. All stem cells have three general features that make them different from other body cells. These features are: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. They are unspecialized and they can give rise to specialized cell types. Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells which do not normally replicate themselves, stem cells may replicate many times, or proliferate.

The stem cells have a unique ability to divide and become more specialized cells forming cells like bone, blood, or muscle. It is this ability that makes them attractive agents in many areas of medicine. They can therefore be used to fight very many diseases in the regenerative medicine. Another advantage of stem cell therapy treatments is that autologous stem cell transport is made possible. This means that a person may be treated by doctors harvesting the stem cells from the patient and having the stem cells reimplanted into the same patient after finding out what was lacking in the patient. This reduces risks of infection as well as rejection which are helpful to the patient.

Importance of stem cells

the stem cells are very important cells in the body and have been since targeted for treatment of degenerative diseases. They have been called the center pieces of regenerative medicine. Medicine that involves growing new cells, tissues and organs to replace or repair those damaged by injury, disease or aging. there ability to proliferate into other cells of the body like the bone and muscle tissues have made them a priority in treatment of various degenative diseases like aging and even osteoporosis among others. here is how stem cells work in treatment of various diseases.

Rejuvenation– the stem cells can be used in rejuvenation process. through rejuvenation the bodies healing ability is boosted. Typically, the body is programmed to naturally repair itself that is why after you get a cut you can stay without going to hospital but still get healed within a very short time. However there other crucial organs that when damaged do not easily get repaired. When the body’s cells cannot get differentiated to give rise to new healthy cells and heal the damaged cell then there is a problem. According to Mayo clinic the cells that were once thought of as terminally differentiated including the heart, lungs and nerves which are more specialized are able to remodel as they possess ability to self-renew. However researchers are still working to come up with strategies through which the ability of these cells to self-heal can be enhanced.

Stem cellReplacement– here the stem cells can be used to replace the damaged cells.in degenerative diseases like osteoporosis the damaged tissues can be replaced with fresh stem cells that will proliferate into more functional bone issues and relieve the system of the damaged tissues. the stem cells can be transplanted in autologous manner where the stem cells will be harvested in the adipose or the bone marrow and be used to replace the affected cells in organ. with autologues stem cell transplant the issue of donor is not a problem neither are there issues of rejection nor the need for immunosuppression .

Regeneration- Through regeneration the stem cells are delivered to diseased tissues or organs, where they will ultimately restore tissue and organ function. This can be done through cell-based therapy or by using cell products, such as growth factors. Bone marrow transplants are an example of regeneration. Regeneration aims to awaken cells that are not functional or have malfunctions. With stem cell therapy there is hope for affordable healthcare solutions that heal the body whole without life threatening side effects.

Stem cells are a cutting edge

Stem cells are capable of self-renewing giving rise to several copies of themselves. They also have the capability of shifting shape and changing type, therefore they can be used to form the cells that are damaged and restore the functions of the damaged tissues. The stem cells can be used to replace the cells that have malfunctioned due to structural damage. The amazing part of the stem cell differentiation is that when a stem cell divides both the daughter cell and the parent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into different cells or to still remain as stem cells. Owing to this ability of stem cells to differentiate into more specialized cells, they can rebuild lost blood vessels, reverse scarring, regenerate damaged nerves, and bring back the healthy you.

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Stem cell therapy has a lot to offer to patients, Visit us at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Centre at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) an expert in integrative and regenerative medicine will be able to help.

What are stem cells, and why are they important?

 

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Treatment of Multiple sclerosis With Stem cell

May 1, 2015

Stem cell treatment for Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis is a disease of the Central Nervous System that is characterized by demyelination and inflammation. In a nutshell, MS is often described as an inflammatory demyelinating condition. Myelin is a layer of fatty that covers the nerves maintaining their health and flexibility. It is demyelination that causes spasms that are common with MS patients. MS occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks the cells that surround and protect neurons. As people lose myelin surrounding their nerves they start feeling weak or having trouble walking. Over time the disease progresses and people may end up with more severe symptoms included paralysis. About 400,000 people are living with MS in the U.S and the figures may continue to grow if better treatments are not availed in good time to help treat the disease.

To help those debilitated by this disease researchers have been pursuing more effective methods of treating this disease. One of the areas that have attracted attention of many researchers is the possibility of stem cells treating the disease. the fact that researchers have been speculating that stem cells can be effective in treatment of multiple sclerosis does surprise me and so it shouldn’t surprise you too as these “shape shifters” have the rare ability of forming every tissue that is vital in the body and so can be used to replace any defective or malfunctioned tissues in the body. The use of stem cell therapy has been successful in the past in treating other diseases and hence has been viewed as a viable approach in treatment of MS and is being studied for its efficacy in improving the complications in patients with MS, through the use of stem cells. The stem cell therapy may help patients who don’t respond to typical drug treatment, want to reduce their reliance on medication or are looking to try stem cell therapy before starting drug treatment that they are afraid may lead to other complications like dependence.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells are special cells that are unprogrammed cells in the human body and are able to change shape and form other tissues. they can replicate several times giving rise to differentiated cells and this continues as the daughter cells have equal chances as the parent cells to replicate into even more complex tissues. Due to their ability to shift shape and form different types of cells, the stem cells have been targeted by doctors for treatment of various diseases. Today the stem cells biology is the center of a new science called regenerative medicine. These stem cells can be harvested in the bone marrow and in the adipose tissues and they can form neurons, bone, muscle, cartilage and other specialized types of cells. They have the potential to treat many diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes and some many more.

Can stem cells work in multiple sclerosis patients?

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks and then subsequently damages the ‘myelin sheath’ protecting the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. This damage causes messages to and from the brain to be slowed, distorted or stopped altogether. This is what leads to the symptoms of multiple Sclerosis. It is the damage to the myelin sheath that is believed to cause relapses or other known as MS attacks. The symptoms of MS attacks can last for between 24 hours to several months. After sometime the nerve fibers become damaged and are destroyed completely and this escalates the symptoms of the multiple sclerosis and this leads to debilitation.

The stem cell therapy aids in treatment of multiple sclerosis by targeting the myelin sheath by introducing adult mesenchymal stem cells past the blood brain barrier so they may differentiate into and repair the myelin sheath nerve cells. This process is called remyelination. Further, being that Multiple Sclerosis is an auto-immune condition, adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to repair the immune system inhibiting its ability of attacking itself. This process is referred to as immunomodulation. Through remyelination and immunomodulation, there is hope to work toward improving the quality of lives of patients dealing with Multiple Sclerosis.

Stem cell therapy helps rebuild myelin sheath and boost recovery

Multiple sclerosisAccording to a research done at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield and Kings College Hospital, London, participants who were part of the research had their immune systems effectively ‘rebooted’ after stem cell therapy. The stem cell treatment is said to be the first to reverse the symptoms of MS, which has no cure, and affects around 100,000 people in Britain. Stem cells are so effective because they can become any cell in the body based on their environment.

“Since we started treating patients three years ago, some of the results we have seen have been miraculous,” Professor Basil Sharrack, a consultant neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, told The Sunday Times.

“This is not a word I would use lightly, but we have seen profound neurological improvements.” the professor concluded.

The stem cell therapy as used in treating MS involves harvesting the stem cells and stored after which aggressive medicine that are often used in treatment of cancer patients to completely destroy the immune system. After the immune system has been completely damaged then the doctors are infused into the patient’s body where they start to grow new red and white blood cells within just two weeks and hence help rebuild the myelin sheath. A month after treatment the patients’ immune system is fully rebuilt and hence boosts recovery.

Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we are committed to availing the best integrative approaches to treatment of diseases. We advocate for dietary as well as natural healing to diseases wherever possible. Visit as at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) will be of help.

Stem cell treatment for Multiple sclerosis

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Beauty after Breast Cancer

April 1, 2015

You Can still Achieve Beauty after Breast Cancer

BeautyBreast cancer is one of the common forms of cancers that have made many people victims. If you are not the immediate victim then you are affected in a way. this diseases has maimed many women but its effects goes beyond the need for medical care to correct the body tissues and cells affected for the sake of restoring good health but anybody who has suffered from disease and survived or have cared for anyone suffering from this disease will tell you that after breast cancer treatment you can hardly recognize them. It interferes with the beauty of our women. Before I indulge on how breast cancer treatments can have negative effects on your beauty, I think it is prudent that we know some facts about this monster. Breast cancer is disease that is caused by malignant cells that form in the tissues of the breast. The damaged cells can invade surrounding tissue, when this happens there will be more complex treatments needed to save the situation as the when the cancer cells are far spread in the body it becomes rather hard to deal with the situation as local chemotherapy can’t work any better. When the surrounding cells are affected the treatments used will often leave the patients with lots of side effects. However when this disease is detected much earlier before the breast is adversely affected and before the malignant cells affects the surrounding cells then it can be treated after which many people will continue living their lives normally.

Today it is estimated that one in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. As known to many this disease affects women more than it affects men and is the second leading cause of death in women worldwide. Each year it is estimated that over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die. Although breast cancer in men is rare, an estimated 2,150 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 410 will die each year. This makes breast cancer both a man and a woman health threat therefore it should be addressed well by availing different alternatives to treat it so that it can be fought and one. Cancer treatments are known to leave the patients with myriads of side effects. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy that are the most used orthodox treatments for breast cancer targets to treat cancer by destroying the cancer cells on the breast tissues. Unfortunately when a person is put on either radiation therapy or chemotherapy not only the cancer cells are destroyed but also the living cells. Apart from this other side effects of chemotherapy that make women lose several ounces of beauty include;

Appetite loss– when a breast cancer patient is put on chemotherapy they will lose appetite, eating less than usual and at other times they will fail to eat a lot. How does this affect their outlook? Well, when a patient is under prolonged appetite loss they will fail to eat leading to malnutrion, loss of weight, loss of muscle mass and strength which will limit the body’s ability to heal. Lack of proper nutrition also leads to skin discoloration and dryness. The skin becomes dry and dark which isn’t any aesthetic to any woman.

Dealing with Hair loss

Patients receiving chemotherapy may lose hair from all over the body, gradually or in clumps. This side effect most often starts after the first several weeks or rounds of chemotherapy and tends to increase one to two months into treatment. Every person knows how valuable a woman’s hair is to them. During breast cancer treatment they not only lose the hair on their heads but also on other parts of the body. They lose eyebrows and eyelashes too.

Beautywomen may have very many roles in this life, they take up careers and today even perform most of the duties that were initially dominated by man but these all manly jobs that they have since dominated all in a bid to be independent which is good at all angles, they are still the flowers of this planet. Life revolves around women and not on them alone but also on their beauty. every woman spend the better part of their life pursuing beauty and tis beauty should not be completely swept off because of breasts cancer and treatments that follows it. A woman can still be beautiful after breast cancer; even after losing their hair to this monster. There are several cancer treatment facilities that are now offering several ways of restoring their beauty after cancer treatments. for the problem of hair loss there are wigs and hairpieces that are sold in shops that a person who has lost her hair can buy better yet there are wigs and hairpieces in some cancer treatment facilities that are specifically designed for breast cancer patients who have lost their hair. The choice of the wig and hairpiece to use depends on the patient, if she wants wig and hairpiece that looks exactly as her hair then it is better to choose a wig or hairpiece before her hair falls out so it most closely matches the original hair color and style.

for all problems that may arise as a result of lack of appetite, having the help of a nutritionist who can avail all the information and recommend best foods to restore good health, weight gain and solve the problem of skin dryness and skin discoloration will be a better idea. Some patients have also opted to go for cosmetic surgery to conceal the scars if they ever had to go for surgery in treatment of their diseases however for surgeries it’s good to check on possible side effects first. Breast cancer is a monster that wreaks havoc in a woman’s life but you should restore your beauty after treatment. For this purpose, contact Dr. Dalal Akoury by calling her on (843) 213-1480. She will surely be able to give a helping hand.

Beauty after Breast Cancer

 

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Herbs For Pain and Addiction Treatment

March 24, 2015

Use of Jamaican Dogwood, Valerian, Wood Betony, Yellow Jasmine in Pain and Addiction Treatment

Addiction is still one of the major problems that we are still living with today. Though known for its devastating effects, addiction has still remained when of the many menaces that our youths as well as the older generation alike are still glued to. However there is a bitter reality that you need to be aware of, a reality that none of your already addicted friends will let you know of; the journey to addiction treatment and recovery is that which is not easily won. There are serious hurdles that you shall have to meet along the way as you fight on to reach the greener side of life where the chains of addiction are broken. Just like any other disease there are myriads of ways through which the treatment of addiction can be effected. one is through pharmaceutical ways of treatment and the other through natural ways of treatment that may at times be used alongside the orthodox ways of treatment or as an assortment of various herbs and a special choice of diets that helps restore the damage of drugs on the addict and hence making it possible for the addict to be treated of the illness. On the other hand when pharmaceuticals are used for treating drug addiction the doctors will mostly use a substitute of your drug to satisfy your craving for the drug of abuse you are addicted to. Though this may present a short term solution it still doesn’t let you be free from the drug as you will still continue using a substance that is thought to be less addictive and not so dangerous. However the reality is that this kind of treatment does not address the brain imbalances that an addict suffers after a long term use of a certain drug.

Addiction Treatment

As we have seen in previous articles the part of the body that is adversely affected by addiction to drug abuse is the nervous system. The neurotransmitters like the dopamine and the other crucial ones are literally damaged after a prolonged use of drugs. this therefore calls for a treatment option that will not only focus on ending the craving that addicts have for their substance of abuse but to help restore the whole person back to what he or she was before he got into drug use that has since chained him or her. Most pharmaceutical drugs do not consider this but mostly gear towards treating the symptoms of addiction like depression and anxiety that is normally done with sedatives while the underlying problem; the damage to the nervous system, is left unchanged. Through the years there have been different alternatives to addiction that have since come up and have been found to be effective. An example of these alternative therapies that have shown hope to addicts is the use of stem cell therapy that aims at restoring the damage caused by drugs. Despite the effectiveness of some of these alternatives the use of herbs in addiction treatment is yet to be scrapped off, this is solely because of the effectiveness of some herbs in treating addiction. Here are some of the herbs that can be used to help in the addiction treatment and recovery.

Jamaican Dogwood

Jamaican dogwood is mostly used for pain. It has sedative effect, reduces muscle spasm and cools nerve pain. It also reduces inflammations. It has often been the top choice for relieving nerve pain and it has been proved to be powerful in pain management.  It is derived from the bark of the dogwood tree, and can be taken in capsule or tincture forms as well as a tea from the bark’s powder.  Though known for pain management it can contribute in help with addiction as when used it helps to calm down the nerves and relive an addict off the withdrawal effects like depression and anxiety that most of the times can lead to relapse. However beneficial it is it can be potentially dangerous when used for self-medication. It is therefore safe to use it with instructions from an integrative addiction doctor as it is irritant and can cause numbness, tremors, salivation, and sweating.

Wood Betony

Wood Betony

This herb is commonly found in Europe. This plant is rich in medicinal properties. To begin with the fresh, undried leaf of wood betony is a natural pain reliever. This analgesic is good for addiction as it helps in calming the nerves as well as fighting some common symptoms of addiction like depression anxiety and insomnia.

Valeria

Valeria has great sedation properties. As have been revealed by past literature, Valeria has great influence on the cerebro-spinal system. In a recovering addict this herb can be used to promote nerve relaxation and sleep. Insomnia is a common symptom that most addicts battle with, with valerian a recovering addict can be helped evade the grave effects of insomnia and anxiety. It does this by exerting an influence quieting and soothing in its nature upon the brain and nervous system. Other herbs that have been found to be helpful in the journey of addiction treatment and recovery are; Yellow Jasmine, St. Johns worts and chamomile among others

Finally, Here at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center we are committed to availing help to addicts by availing some of the most integrative approaches to healing an addict. We advocate for natural healing to all kinds of addiction. Call on Dr. Dalal Akoury (MD) at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for help.

Use of Jamaican Dogwood, Valerian, Wood Betony, Yellow Jasmine in Pain and Addiction Treatment

 

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