Congenital hypothyroidism is a relatively uncommon condition that occurs in newborns. Congenital hypothyroidism can occur due the mother being exposed to radioiodine and anti-thyroid medication, but more likely, it is a hereditary condition. Girls are twice as apt to get congenital hypothyroidism as boys are. It affects approximately one child in every 4,000 births.

Congenital hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not function properly to produce adequate levels of hormones that are required to keep the body running smoothly. The functioning of the body’s growth, intelligence, metabolism, energy, and temperature are dependent upon this.

The signs and symptoms of congenital hypothyroidism are poor eating with little or no interest in eating, jaundice, little crying, constipation, and/or excessive sleeping. These symptoms are first noticed in the newborn, but it is not diagnosed soon enough at times and can cause permanent damage. Screening for newborns is essential by the means of a simple blood test taken from the infant’s heel. An x-ray of the baby’s legs may also be taken.  Read more...

Kidney stones are not necessarily as common as say coughs and colds but it is one of the top reasons why people come rushing to the emergency wing of the hospital. Urine liquid is usually colored white or yellow so when you see that your urine is in a different color, say pink, then you worry so you troop to the hospital. When you sense a different kind of pain somewhere below your stomach, you begin to rattle because you know it is not just a simple case of indigestion.

When that sot of thing happens you also rush to the clinic or the hospital. After initial interview and certain tests, you are then confronted with the results you have kidney stones. So how in the world did you get kidney stones?  Read more...

What the heck is making me feel like I need to move my legs back and forth every time I lay down? Have you ever felt like you were more comfortable in bed when you were paddling your feet as if to be swimming across the English Channel?

Maybe you were an Olympic swimmer in a past life and you don’t remember it! Actually, that’s not the problem you are having. You may not be familiar with the symptoms and causes of what is known as Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS? RLS is a condition which is quite interesting and which has also been referred to as “Jimmy Legs”, “Jumpy Legs” or “Heebeejeebees”. The scientific name for this syndrome is Ekbom syndrome.

The movements associated with restless leg syndrome are described by sufferers as an uncontrollable urge to move their limbs in order to stop the feeling of “uncomfortable nervousness” or “unusual buzzing” in their legs. Although it does tend to be focussed in the legs most of the time, it can still happen in the arms as well. Moving the affected body part relieves the person’s suffering but only temporarily.  Read more...

Healthy foods to stay young? Of course, youve heard it before, probably when mom insisted to eat more apples and less burger even when you thought you were too young to age.

Indeed, mom was right. Youll never know when youll start to age until you notice some crumpling and folding on your skin. Premature aging might just be a sleep away. And you never want to see that happen.

But its never too late. You can delay aging now by changing some items on your plates, and its just another meal away.

You Are What You Eat

The food and all other things that you take or dont are laying the groundwork for your health and your appearance as well. For example, a person who has a pretty huge room for french fries and beef patties in his stomach may suffer more diseases and may not look age-appropriate. A person deficient in unsaturated fats, on the other hand, may have dry, flaky skin, and eventually look older than he actually is.  Read more...

Heavy-metal refers to a metallic chemical element that has a high density and relatively high atomic mass that is toxic or poisonous. Some examples are mercury, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, selenium and lead. These elements can damage living things at low concentrations and tend to accumulate in the food chain.

In nature the lowest elements on the food chain is plant life. Specific types of animals are herbivores and eat only plants. These animals can have a build up of heavy-metal in their system, deposited in their muscle mass, from absorption from plants. When these animals are slaughtered and used for food the heavy metal in their system is absorbed by the end user, us.

Researchers have discovered that the human body often contains microscopic heavy-metal from environmental toxins and our food sources. Another source of heavy-metal toxification is from the amalgam fillings made for dental appliances. In 1989 the Environmental Protection Agency stated that the use metal fillings were hazardous substances under the Superfund law. When outside of the mouse they must be stored in unbreakable, tightly sealed containers, they are not to be touched and have specific storage requirements. Outside of the mouth they are toxic but when placed in the teeth they are labeled “non-toxic”.  Read more...

Chart I (Refer to Key below)

Chart 2 (Refer to Key below)

Chart Key

1. Top of Head
2. Sinuses
3. Pituitary Gland
4. Temporal Area
5. Neck, Cervical
6. Upper Lymph Area
7. Parathyroid Gland
8. Ears
9. Eyes
10. Thyroid Glands
11. Shoulder
12. Lungs and Bronchi
13. Heart Area
14. Heart
15. Spine, Vertebra
16. Pancreas
17. Solar Plexus
18. Stomach & Duodenum
19. Liver
20. Spleen
21. Spleenic Fixture
22. Gall Bladder
23. Adrenal Glands
24. Hepatic Flexure
25. Kidneys
26. Transverse Colon
27. Waist
28. Ureters
29. Ascending Colon
30. Descending Colon
31. Lumbar
32. Small Intestines
33. Sacral
34. Bladder
35. Ileo-Caecal Valve
36. Appendix
37. Sigmoid Flexure
38. Hip & Lower Back
39. Coccyx
40. Sciatic Area
41. Rectum
42. Uterus
43. Prostate
44. Breast
45. Lymph Drainage
46. Fallopian Tubes
47. Lymph Nodes (Arm Pit)
48. Sacro Iliac Joint
49. Ovary or Testicle
50. Lymph Nodes (Groin)
51. Maxilla/Submaxilla (Jaw)
52. Tonsils

Remedy Points:

Skin  Read more...

Did you know there are 92 elements found in nature and an additional 22 which are observed elements or scientists believe exists but have not been able to prove.

In addition to all of those there are also hundreds of isotopes of those elements, any one of which can play an important role in human health which has yet to of been discovered.

In these numerous elements are trace minerals which are called this because they are required in such a very small amounts.

And, while scientists and doctors believe they have identified many of the trace minerals required by the body for optimal health, they are required in such minute amounts and there are so many different trace elements that may be necessary, it is highly unlikely that physicians and scientists have identified all of them.  Read more...

Selenium is a trace element or mineral that is essential for good health. However, it is only required in small amounts. The body uses selenium by incorporating it into proteins that are used as anti-oxidant enzymes. These proteins are called selenoproteins and they help to prevent cellular damage from free radicals.

The role of antioxidants in the body is to protect the cells from free radical damage. These free radicals are the natural byproduct of oxygen metabolism that researchers have found contribute to the development of chronic diseases. Think of your cells as an apple that was recently sliced open. If you leave the Apple on the counter for any length of time when you return the flesh of the fruit will have turned brown. This oxidation process is much like the damage that happens to cells by free radicals.

Some of the chronic diseases that have been linked to free radicals include cancer, heart disease and immune mediated illnesses such as lupus. These selenoproteins are also essential in the regulation of the thyroid hormone and play an important role in the function of the immune system.  Read more...

Thyroid disorders range from diseases that increase the amount of hormone produced to those that totally eradicate the production. In both instances these conditions will also radically affect the health of the individuals affected. Because there are several different conditions that may have the same symptoms diagnosis can sometimes be challenging.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ that is located on the front of the knack, just in front of the windpipe. It produces hormones which regulate the rate at which body cells use energy and produce heat. When there is an over active or under active thyroid gland it can negatively affect the health of the individual. A person with too little hormone is said to suffer from hypothyroidism and a person with too much suffers from hyperthyroidism.  Read more...

Magnesium is a magnificent mineral. It is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and essential to good health for each and every one of us. Interestingly, approximately 50% of the magnesium stored in our body can be found in the bone. The other half is found inside of the cells of our body tissue and organs and only 1% is found in the blood. But, although the amount found in the blood is so small, the body works very hard to keep this number constant.

Magnesium is a mineral found in all unprocessed foods. There is a high concentration in unmilled grain, dark leafy vegetables, fruit, nuts and legumes. Although there is an abundance in whole foods, because of the standard Western diet and potential malabsorption issues many people can create a situation where they don’t receive enough magnesium to support optimal health.  Read more...

One of the hallmark signs of perimenopause and menopause is a significant 10 to 15 pound weight gain that appears to come overnight. Many women are told that this is a common “middle aged spread” and that they must learn to live with it. In fact, while it may be associated with perimenopause and menopause, there are also other significant environmental and hormonal changes which can be affected and results in less weight gain or reversal.

Some of the reasons that women gain weight during perimenopause and menopause are a lack of exercise, eating more food, stress-related eating, hormonal imbalances, thyroid dysfunction and other underlying medical condition that become more evidence when the masking effect of estrogen is dropped.

Before assuming that the sudden weight gain is normal a woman should see her primary care physician or gynecologist in order to rule out any other medical condition that may be causing this effect. While there, she should also check with her physician to be sure that she can include both cardiac and strength training exercises in her weekly regimen. The physician can help evaluate how much exercise will be appropriate and the woman will be able to withstand, considering any other medical issues or conditions which she may be facing.  Read more...

According to the American Academy of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) an estimated 50 million women will have reached menopause by the end of the year. And, because thyroid disease and menopause often create the same symptoms the disease can often go undetected or may worsen when the woman approaches menopause because of the hormonal shifts that happen in the body.

According to the AACE millions of women suffer from a variety of unresolved symptoms that are thought to be menopause related but may have undiagnosed thyroid disease. Both conditions often develop in the same general age range and share symptoms of fatigue, mood swings, depression and sleep disturbances. Other symptoms that are similar are hair loss, change in hair texture, increased anxiety, heart palpitations, and skin changes.

Estimations are that by age 50 one out of every 10 to 12 women will have some degree of hypothyroidism and by age 60 that number jumps to one out of five or six. Many women also confuse the symptoms of thyroid disease with menopause and don’t think of seeking the care and advice of their physician.  Read more...

As women age and reach menopause many are faced with slowing metabolism, spreading waistlines and a slow weight gain. There are many factors which affect a woman’s weight as she enters menopause. Not the least of these is a potential for thyroid dysfunction which affects approximately 8% of women at age 50 and jumps to 17% of women by age 60.

Other factors include a decreased amount of exercise that often accompanies this stage in life. Couple this with a metabolism or basal metabolic rate which is already slowing between 2% and 4% every decade since the woman turns 30 and hormonal changes which are normal during menopause and a woman is a perfect set up for weight gain and “middle-aged spread”.

There are a few things that women can do in order to speed up their metabolism and slow the weight gain to a stop or even reverse some of the changes. These are lifestyle choices that both men and women benefit from so women who can convince their spouses to go with them on this journey will find that both of them benefit from improved overall sense of well-being and improved health.  Read more...

Weight gain during perimenopause is a universal complaint among women. It is not uncommon for a woman to gain between 10 and 15 pounds, especially around her abdomen and hips. In some instances women see this as a rite of passage to becoming and older wiser you. But most often, this almost instantaneous weight gain is a signal of hormonal imbalance and is heralded by emotional upheaval and distress over this sudden increase in the late. In medical circles, some described as weight gain as an unavoidable “middle-aged spread”.

And, while women in the past had to accept these changes to their body, current technology and medical knowledge has enabled physicians and holistic practitioners to more clearly establish the imbalances in the body and help the woman to determine specific methodologies she can use in order to reverse the process.

Prior to perimenopause and menopause levels of estrogen in the body can often mask symptoms of other systems having difficulty. A woman has been exposed to many years of toxins, environmental changes and hormonal imbalances, the results of which are now being felt by the rest of the body.  Read more...

Do you need another reason to look forward to the aging process? Well you won’t have to look too far!

Metabolism is the rate at which the body burns calories and uses energy. There are a variety of different calculators available online which will help you to determine your basal metabolic rate (explained below) and the factors which contribute to the speed of your individual metabolism. These factors will determine how much food you can eat before you start gaining weight.

Your basal metabolic rate, or resting metabolic rate, is the number of calories you burn by simply living. In other words, if you were to wake up in the morning and lay in bed all day, rate it would take to maintain your body. Some of the factors that go into your basal metabolic rate are determined by genetics while other factors can be affected by your activity level in the foods that you eat.  Read more...

Andropause is the result of low testosterone in the mail body. I that time then reads the ages of 40 to 55 they may experience a phenomenon that is similar to female menopause. Unlike women who can mark menopause through the cessation of their menstrual cycle, men do not have a clear-cut signpost. However, Andropause is distinguished by a marked drop in hormone levels. This drop can account for changes in attitude, mood, fatigue, loss of energy, loss of sex drive and physical agility.

Studies also show that this decline in testosterone in the mail can’t put them at greater risk for other health problems such as heart disease and osteoporosis. Since this all occurs at a time in life when many men began to question their values, accomplishments and possible direction in life, it can be difficult to differentiate between the changes that are physical and those that are emotional.  Read more...

Any gemstone makes a beautiful holiday gift! There are some obvious, as well as some not so obvious choices I would like to mention, that can make a great gift as well as have great significance.

Chiastolite

The Cross Stonesign of devotion towards awareness and dispels negativity. It signifies both death and re-birth and helps one to understand the realization of immortality. It is used as a bridge for crossing over.

It helps one to assimilate during times of change. It provides insight to answers when problem solving. This powerful crystal balances ones perspective in both creativity and practicality. During illness, it helps to maintain spirituality, lessens Fever, balances blood flow, increases secretion of milk in nursing mothers and repairs chromosome damage.

Diamond

When considering the use of a Diamond for healing purposes, one must ignore its monetary value and concentrate upon the stones unique relationship with energy. It is frequently combined with other Gems or Crystals. If used with an Aquamarine, a Diamond will increase the cleansing properties and mental soothing that Aquamarine helps to produce.  Read more...

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped gland that sits at the front of your neck just below the Adams apple. The thyroid has a very important job because it is responsible for the bodys metabolism rate and energy production.

Iodine is a nonmetallic chemical that is found abundantly in seawater and in some minerals. It is in the same classification as chlorine and bromine. Iodine is toxic in large amounts.

The thyroid gland needs iodine to function properly. The two most important hormones that are manufactured by the thyroid gland are thyroxine and triiodothyronine. These two hormones are commonly referred to as T4 and T3.

If iodine is not available in the diet the thyroid gland may not be able to produce enough of the bodys needed hormones. Fortunately, in the United States iodine is added to salt and bread. A minimum of sixty micrograms of iodine a day is required to make the thyroid hormones.  Read more...

Hyperthyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone thyroxine. This can cause a severe acceleration of the bodys metabolism.

Hyperthyroidism can be difficult for your doctor to diagnose. This is because hyperthyroidism can mimic other health problems.

The symptoms of hyperthyroidism can include a sudden weight loss without a change in appetite. Symptoms can also include a rapid heart rate and increased nervousness and anxiety attacks.

A person who suffers from hyperthyroidism may have an increased intolerance to heat, and they may sweat a lot. Hyperthyroidism can cause tremors of the hands, and it can cause sleep disorders.

There are a number of reasons why your thyroid gland produces too much thyroxine. But one of the more common reasons is Graves disease. This is autoimmune disorder in which antibodies produced by your body will stimulate the thyroid gland to produce too much thyroxine.  Read more...

The thyroid gland, small in size, is a small gland that lies within the neck region. Formed within the thyroid gland lie lumps that are either solid or filled with fluid. These lumps are known as nodules. While most of the time these lumps are harmless and noncancerous, they can sometimes be malignant, or cancerous. This is not usually discovered, unless they enlarge, until your physician detects it during a routine physical examination.

The signs and symptoms of a thyroid nodule are difficult to detect. They only way that a person detects them on their own is if they are felt or swelling is seen in the neck area. If by chance they excrete an excessive amount of thyroxine a person may notice some weight loss, note a rapid heartbeat, or are unusually nervous. Signs and symptoms of a malignant thyroid nodule are rapid growth, noticeably enlarged lymph nodes, and/or hoarseness or dyspnea.  Read more...