ICE PACK PROCEDURE FOR MEDICAL FIRST AID

ICE PACK PROCEDURE
A local application of ice over the body segment.

Effects:
1. Relieves pain.
2. Prevents or lessen black and blue discoloration due to capillary bleeding.
3. Stops bleeding especially if applied with pressure.
4. Prevents and Reduces swelling.
5. Decrease blood flow to the area.
6. Constricts blood vessels, therefore decreases tendency to bleeding.

Things Needed:
1. Two bath towels.
2. Two safety pins.
3. Fined crushed ice-amount depends on the size of the area to be treated.
4. A piece of flannel cloth or a baby’s blanket.
5. A piece of plastic.

Procedure:

1. Spread the finely crushed ice on the bath towel, forming a layer about one inch thick. Adjust the surface area as needed for the affected part. Wrap the ice and secure it with safety pins.
2. Wrap the area or joint with flannel cloth or baby’s blanket and place the ice pack, following the contour of the area.
3. Never apply an ice pack direct on the skin. Cover the packed ice with plastic and secure carefully to prevent the bed from getting wet.
4. Treatment time: 30 minutes to one hour. If there is a burning sensation during the icepack application, the ice pack is not well insulated. Add insulator or add towel or flannel cloth.
5. To end treatment, remove the pack, dry the area and observe reaction. Treatment may be repeated after two hours in acute injuries to relieve pain and swelling.
6. Cover or bandage areas avoid chilling, especially in acute sprain ankles.

MEDICAL AND HERBAL TREATMENT FOR SPARINED ANGKLE OR WRIST

SPRAINED ANGKLE OR WRIST
A sprain is the wrenching of a joint, producing a stretching or laceration of the ligaments.

Water Treatment
1. Ice pack on the ankle or wrist, 3 times a day immediately after the sprain.
2. Cold compress on the ankle or wrist for 30 minutes. 3 times a day.
3. Wrap ankle or wrist with elastic bandage after the ice pack.
4. Rest the foot or arm for 3 days for severe swelling and pain.
5. Consult a doctor immediately for severe pain and swelling.

Herbal Medication
1. Sabila or Aloe Vera Leaves. Pound 2 to 3 leaves of sabila or Aloe Vera. Apply directly as poultice on the ankle or wrist for 30 minutes, 3 times a day. Use bandage to hold poultice in the place.
2. Kamantigui or Touch me not balsam stems and leaves poultice. Pound 2 stems with leaves. Apply directly as poultice for 30 minutes, 3 times a day. Use bandage to hold the poultice in place.
3. Kakawate or Madre de cacao leaves poultice. Crush 10 leaves. Apply directly as poultice for 30 minutes, 3 times a day. Use bandage to hold poultice in place.
4. Mayana Leaves Poultice. Crush 10 leaves. Apply directly as poultice for 10 minutes, 3 times a day.
5. Kataka-taka or Life plant leaves poultice. Crush 10 leaves. Apply directly as poultice for 30 minutes, 3 times a day.

MEDICAL RELIEF FOR SORE THROAT

SORE THROAT
A sore throat is a congestion or inflammation in the throat due to tonsillitis, pharyngitis or laryngitis.

Water Treatment:
1. Hot salt gargle, 3 times a day. Before breakfast, before lunch and at bedtime. Click here for the procedure.
2. Heating throat compress at bedtime. Leave it on until morning. Repeat procedure if the patient stays home in the morning.
3. Steam inhalation, 2 times a day. In the morning before breakfast, and before bedtime after salt water gargle.
4. If possible, rest the voice until the swelling or inflammation subsides.

Herbal Medications
1. Ginger or Luya lozenges. Was and peel a small piece of ginger or Luya. Chew slowly for a few minutes. Swallow the juice. Or keep small piece in the mouth, chewing it little by little.
2. Sabila or Aloe Vera leaves. Wash the leaf and cut it in ½ inches size. Keep in the mouth all day, swallowing the juice. Take another piece when there is no more juice.
3. Bawang or Garlic lozenges. Wash one piece and peel. Keep in the mouth for some time, chewing it slowly. Swallow juice.

MEDICAL FIRST AID FOR SNAKE BITES

SNAKE BITES
Snakebites may be poisonous and can be fatal if nothing is done immediately.

First Aid

1. Keep the patient still to slow down circulation.

2. Incise the bitten area and let it bleed to remove the poison.

3. Wrap a teaspoonful of salt in a handkerchief or a piece of cloth and moisten the salt with water. Apply directly over the wound after the bleeding. Apply for 10-15 minutes.

4. Bring the patient to the nearest hospital for immediate anti-venom if the snake that it the patient is poisonous.

HERBAL SOLUTION FOR SNAKEBITES

1. Adelfa Leaves and branch poultice. Pound 10 leaves of adelfa and a piece of branch. Apply directly to the bitten area after it has been bled.

2. Kamantugui or Touch Me Not Balsam Flowers Poultice. Crush about 10 flowers. Apply directly on the wound as poultice after it has been bled.

MEDICAL STARCH BATH

STARCH BATH
An immersion bath in starchy water for soothing effect.

Effects:
1. Relieves skin irritation.
2. Soothes burning and itching sensations.
3. Tendency to dry skin.

Thing needed:
1. Bathtub. For babies. Big basin may be used.
2. Big drum or plastic water container for adults, big enough to soak their entire body.
3. Two glasses of starch or locally known as “gawgaw” for adults; ½ glass for babies and children.
4. One bath towel.
5. Face towel.

Procedure:
1. Fill up the tub 2/3 full with warm water. Water should be deep enough to immerse the affected areas. Use bathtub if whole body is affected.
2. Melt starch in cold water in a small basin. Mix well the melted starch into the tub of water.
3. Undress the patient and assist him into the tub.
4. With the face towel, bathe the parts not immersed. Wet the head or hair if the scalp is affected. Immerse patient for 20 minutes, but do not rub him with towel.
5. After 20 minutes, drain water and pat dry the patient with dry towel. Don’t give him shower or rinse the starch. Don’t use soap even for washing hands, unless the physician orders specific soap.
6. Keep the patient warm and avoid chilling.
7. Get daily bath or twice a day, depending upon the patient’s condition.

HERBAL TREATMENT FOR DERMATITIS AND SKIN ERUPTIONS

SKIN ERUPTIONS AND DERMATITIS
Dermatitis is the inflammation of the skin.

Water Treatment:
1. Starch Bath, once a day.
2. Use dry starch as powder if the skin is itchy and dry at night.
3. Don’t use soap when taking a bath; take a starch bath instead.
4. Don’t scratch skin when itchy.

Herbal Remedy for Skin Eruptions and Dermatitis
1. Comfrey Leaves. Crush and extract juice for the leaves. Apply the juice on the skin that is affected, 3 times a day.
2. Balete Bark. Boil 1 cup of chopped bark in ½ gallon of water for 10 minutes. Wash area with decoction, 2 times a day. This may be done instead of starch bath.
3. Kalatsutsi or Graveyard Flower Sap. Get the sap of the flower from the trunk and mix with a few drops of baby oil. Apply directly to the affected skin area.
4. Kakawate or Madre de Cacao. Crush 10 leaves and extract the juice. Apply on the affected skin but do not rub. Apply as often as necessary for itchiness.

HERBAL REMEDY FOR ACNE

these are the things that you will be needing in making herbal medicine to fight against acne and pimple problems.

Herbal Medication

1. Ripe papaya/Papu with Lemon Juice. Mix three tablespoons of mashed ripe papaya/papu, with 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Apply on the face every after washing. Leave it on for 30 minutes, then wash face with warm water. You may leave it on the face overnight if you can tolerate it.
2. Sabila or Aloe Vera leaves. Get one leaf and peel the outer covering. Rub the juice on the face every after washing with warm water. Leave it on for 30 minutes. You may leave it on the face overnight if you can tolerate it.
3. Romero or Rosemarie Leaves. Crush 5 leaves and extract the juice form it. Apply the juice on the face after washing it with warm water. Leave it on overnight.

WATER THERAPY AGAINST ACNE

ACNE AND PIMPLES
Acne is a skin condition common in adolescents and young adults. Comedones, which often become inflamed and form papules, pustules, modules and cysts, which usually occur on the face, chest and back, characterize this.

Water Treatment
1. Wash face with warm water using mild soap, 3 times a day.
2. Steam face for 5 minutes after washing, once a day.
3. Avoid touching face with fingers. Don’t prick pimples with fingers.
4. Drink plenty of fruit juices and fresh water.
5. Get enough sleep, at least 7-8 hours a day.
6. Eat less of starchy foods, sweets, chocolates and nuts. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

HERBAL REMEDY FOR HYPERACIDITY

HYPERACIDITY
Hyperacidity is the excessive secretion of acid in the stomach, which may be caused by due to tension, starvation and other causes.

Suggested for Relief of Symptoms:
1. Learn to relax and exercise.
2. Have a regular mealtime.
3. Drink water between and not during meals.
4. Don’t eat spicy and hot foods.

Herbal Neutralizer to Help Relieve Symptoms:
1. Carrots and Cabbage Juice. Wash and slice in pieces one big carrot and ¼ kilo cabbage. Osterize the carrots and cabbage with 2 glasses of water. Strain and add to 1-tablespoon sugar. Sugar is optional. Keep in refrigerator to cool. Prepare for one day’s supply only. Drink 1 glass of carrot and cabbage juice 30 minutes before meals, and when there is gastric pain.
2. Olive Oil. Take 1 teaspoon 30 minutes before meals for severe symptoms.

Note: Do this only when there are symptoms. Olive Oil may increase cholesterol blood level.

REMEDY FOR HEMMORHOIDS

HEMMORRHOIDS
Hemorrhoids are multiple plexuses of varicose veins in the lower rectum or anus.

Water Treatment Using Herbal Decoctions:
1. Hit sits bath, 2 times a day.
2. Use any of one of these herbal leaves in making decoction for hot sit bath:
Kamias or Ginger Lily leaves. Boil 3 cups of chopped fresh leaves in 2 gallons of water for 10 minutes. Strain. Use decoction for the hot sit bath.
Patola or Bath Sponge Leaves. Wash and chop about 20 leaves and boil in 2 gallons of water for 10 minutes. Strain. Use decoction for the hot sit bath.

Herbal Medication:
1. Ampalaya or Bitter melon roots, fruits and seeds. Wash and chop the roots, fruits and seeds. Extract the juice and mix with oil. Use ½ cup chopped roots, fruits and seeds with 2 tablespoons of oil. Wet cotton with the amplaya-oil mixture and apply on the hemorrhoids after the hot sit bath.

HERBAL TREATMENT AGAINST HERPES

HERPES
Herpes simplex is an acute viral disease, characterized by groups of vesicles or small blisters. Commonly recurrent, herpes is at times seen in the small place it was seen before.

Water Treatment and Herbal Decoctions:

1. Daily bath with soap and warm water.
2. Kalatsutsi juice or Graveyard flower juice: extract juice from the leaves. Apply directly on the lesions 3 times a day.
3. Adelfa or Oleander bark and leaves. Mix well 1 cup of chopped leaves and bark with 2 tablespoons of oil. Apply on the lesions, 3 times a day.
4. Akapulko or Ringworm bush leaves. Extract juice from the leaves. Apply juice directly on the lesions.
5. Singkamas or Yam bean Seeds. Pound or grind the seeds and boil in 2 tabalespoons of oil for 5 minutes. Apply on the lesions 3 times a day.

WHATS TO DO WHEN YOU HAVE A FRACTURED BONES

FRACTURES
Fractures are brakes in the bones. A simple fracture is one where there is no wound on the skin. A compound fracture is one where a broken bone protrudes through the skin.

First Aid:
1. Don’t lift the victim. Let him lie flat on the ground or where you found him. Don’t massage or use any herbal concoction or poultice on the fracture.
2. Examine the body for bleeding but do not move the extremities. If he is conscious, ask him where it hurts.
3. When the fracture is identified, immobilize the body part. Get two pieces of wood or sticks and splint the fractured leg or arm. Cut out his clothes or his shirt to lie the splint if the strings are not available. Handkerchiefs may be used, if available, to lie the splint.
4. The splint should be placed to limit the movement of the joints. The fractured arm can be tied up on the other leg if splint materials are not available.
5. Transport the victim carefully and right away to the nearest hospital for immediate care.

FIRST AID CURE FOR HEADACHE DUE TO SINUSITIS

HEADACHE DUE TO SINUSITIS
Sinusitis is an inflammation of any of the Para nasal sinuses, as the frontal, maxillary or ethmoidal sinuses.

Water Treatment:
1. Steam inhalation, 2 times a day.
2. Hot footbath. If headache is due to head congestions.
3. Hot compress on the sinuses.
4. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water or fruit juices during the day.
5. Avoid eating sweet and oily foods.

HEATING COMPRESS MADE EASY

HEATING COMPRESS
A mild, prolonged application of moist heat of several hours duration.

Effects:
1. Relaxes the muscles.
2. Relieves the pain of the throat and rheumatic joints.
3. Relieves abdominal discomfort.
4. Reduces joint inflammation.
5. A mild heating effect.

Things need:
1. A piece of cotton cloth, folded for moderate thickness, about two inches wide and lone enough to wrap around the neck or joint twice.
2. Piece of flannel cloth, about four inches long and wide enough to wrap around the patient’s joint or neck. A baby’s flannel blanket or diaper, folded lengthwise, will be just right for the knees.
3. Two safety pins.
4. If medicated compress is ordered, use he medication prescribed. A commercial vaporub may be used in the process.

Procedure:
1. Soak cloth with tap water. Wring and put around the neck or joint twice. Be sure that the wet cloth is neither too wet nor too dry. If medicated compress is applied, rub area with prescribed medication or ointment. Do not wet the cloth with water but wrap the cloth around the area dry after the medication is applied.
2. Apply compress smoothly and quickly to avoid chilling.
3. With the piece of flannel cloth, wrap compress snugly to exclude air and pin securely on the side of the neck or joint.
4. Leave compress on overnight or at least 6-8 hours before removing it.
5. Take care that the compress is not too tight so it does not interfere with the blood circulation in the area which heating compress is applied.
6. Rub the area with a cloth wrung out of cold water (tap water) immediately after removing the heating compress in the morning or after 6-8 hours.
7. Dry area thoroughly. Compress may be applied once or twice a day.

Note: It is best to apply a heating compress at night just before sleeping.

FOMENTATION PROCESS PROCEDURE

FOMENTATION

Fomentation is described as a local application of moist heat by means of cloth wrung from boiling water or from steam tank.

Effects:
1. Increases blood flow to the area.
2. Relaxes muscles.
3. Sedative effect, if applied on the spine.
4. Relaxes pain.
5. Relaxes spasm or cramps.
6. Relieves congestions.
7. Produces sweating.

Thing needed:
1. At least five bath towels.
2. A small basin of ice water.
3. One washcloth or face towel for compress.
4. One blanket or sheet to cover the patient.
5. One kettle of boiling water.

Procedure:
1. Remove patient’s clothing and cover with sheet or blanket.
2. Have a basin of ice water and compress at bedside of the patient.
3. Close windows near patient’s bed to avoid drafts.
4. Cover the area to be treated with one bath towel.
5. Wring out one bath towel from boiling water.
6. Spread the dry towel on the table and wrap the hot towel.
7. Apply the hot towel to the body area to be treated, over the dry towel.
8. Apply cold compress to the patient’s head. Change if three times during application of each fomentation.
9. Give three changes of hot fomentation, drying the treated area quickly between applications. Change fomentation every 5 minutes or till it gets warm or cool. Don’t wait till towel get cold before removing it.
10. Have hot towel ready before used hot towels are removed from the treated area.
11. After the last fomentation, rub the area with a cold compress wrung from the ice water.
12. Dry thoroughly and give sponge or warm bath if desired.
13. Let patient rest after the treatment.

Precautions:
1. Protect sensitive parts of the body like bony areas, and also recent scars. Very thin patients have more bony areas only warm fomentation is recommended.
2. In cases of severe pain, have fomentations as hot as could be tolerated without burning the patient’s skin.
3. If fomentation is unbearably hot, rub areas with hand under hot towel or double the towel insulator.
4. Avoid chilling patient. If patient’s feet are cold wrap the feet with hot fomentations taking precautions not to burn the heels and toes.
5. Take precautions with diabetic and unconscious patients. Children and elderly patients are sensitive to heat. They have poor sensation and are easily burned. Give only warm fomentations.

FLATULENCE OR GAS PAIN

FLATULENCE OR GAS PAIN

Flatulence is the presence of excessive gas in the stomach and in the intestinal tract.

Water Treatments:
1. Fomentation of the abdomen, 2 times a day.
2. Turpentine stupes, 2 times a day.
3. Heating compress on the abdomen overnight
4. Rectal tube insertion for severe gas pain, especially for babies.

If the pain continues, bring the patient to the nearest medical treatment facility immediately for proper medical attention.

DEALING WITH PAKINSON'S DISEASE

Parkinson's disease (also known as Parkinson disease or PD) is a chronic and progressive degenerative disease of the brain that impairs motor control, speech, and other functions. The disease is named after English physician James Parkinson, who gave a detailed description of it in an 1817 work titled, "An Essay on the Shaking Palsy".

Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is characterized by muscle rigidity, resting tremor (typically at about 5 Hz), slowing of movement (bradykinesia) and, in extreme cases, nearly complete loss of movement (akinesia). Secondary symptoms may include high level cognitive dysfunction, subtle language problems, and depression.

In contrast to many other neurological disorders, the nature of the brain degeneration that produces Parkinson's disease has been well understood for decades. The symptoms are caused by loss of nerve cells that secrete dopamine in a tiny midbrain area called the substantia nigra. These nerve cells, for reasons that are not fully understood, are especially vulnerable to damage of various sorts, including drugs, disease, and head trauma. The term Parkinsonism is used for any process that destroys large numbers of these cells and thereby causes the same characteristic symptoms. Parkinson's disease, or more fully, idiopathic Parkinson's disease, is diagnosed when no specific physical cause for the loss of dopamine cells can be identified. This is the most common situation.

The term Parkinsonism is used for symptoms of tremor, stiffness, and slowing of movement caused by loss of dopamine cells in the substantia nigra. "Parkinson's disease" is the synonym of "primary Parkinsonism", i.e. isolated Parkinsonism due to a neurodegenerative process without any secondary systemic cause. In some cases, it would be inaccurate to say that the cause is "unknown", because a small proportion is caused by identifiable genetic mutations. It is possible for a patient to be initially diagnosed with Parkinson's disease but then to develop additional features, requiring revision of the diagnosis.

There are other disorders called Parkinson-plus diseases. These include: multiple system atrophy (MSA), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Lewy bodies are abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells. Most idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients also have Lewy bodies in their brain tissue, but the distribution is denser and more widespread in DLB. Even so, the relationship between Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's disease with dementia (PDD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) might be most accurately conceptualized as a spectrum, with a discrete area of overlap between each of the three disorders. The natural history and role of Lewy bodies is little understood.

These Parkinson-plus diseases may progress more quickly than typical idiopathic Parkinson disease. If cognitive dysfunction occurs before or very early in the course of the movement disorder then DLBD may be suspected. Early postural instability with minimal tremor especially in the context of ophthalmoparesis should suggest PSP. Early autonomic dysfunction including erectile dysfunction and syncope may suggest MSA. The presence of extreme asymmetry with patchy cortical cognitive defects such as dysphasia and apraxias especially with "alien limb" phenomena should suggest CBD.

The usual anti-Parkinson's medications are typically either less effective or not effective at all in controlling symptoms; patients may be exquisitely sensitive to neuroleptic medications like haloperidol. Additionally, the cholinesterase inhibiting medications have shown preliminary efficacy in treating the cognitive, psychiatric, and behavioral aspects of the disease, so correct differential diagnosis is important.

Essential tremor may be mistaken for Parkinson's disease but lacks all other features besides tremor, and has particular characteristics distinguishing it from Parkinson's, such as improvement with beta blockers and alcoholic beverages.

Wilson's disease (hereditary copper accumulation) may present with parkinsonian features; young patients presenting with parkinsonism or any other movement disorder are frequently screened for this rare condition, because it may respond to medical treatment. Typical tests are liver function, slit lamp examination for Kayser-Fleischer rings, and serum ceruloplasmin levels.

Parkinson disease affects movement (motor symptoms). Other typical symptoms include disorders of mood, behavior, thinking, and sensation (non-motor symptoms). Patients' individual symptoms may be quite dissimilar and progression of the disease is also distinctly individual.

The cardinal symptoms are:

* Tremor: normally 4–6 Hz tremor, maximal when the limb is at rest, and decreased with voluntary movement. It is typically unilateral at onset. This is the most apparent and well-known symptom, though an estimated 30% of patients have little perceptible tremor; these are classified as akinetic-rigid.

* Rigidity: stiffness; increased muscle tone. In combination with a resting tremor, this produces a ratchety, "cogwheel" rigidity when the limb is passively moved.

* Akinesia/bradykinesia: absence of movement and slowness, respectively. Rapid, repetitive movements produce a dysrhythmic and decremental loss of amplitude.

* Postural instability: failure of postural reflexes, which leads to impaired balance and falls.

Other motor symptoms include:

* Gait and posture disturbances:
o Shuffling: gait is characterized by short steps, with feet barely leaving the ground, producing an audible shuffling noise. Small obstacles tend to cause the patient to trip.

o Decreased arm-swing.

o Turning "en bloc": rather than the usual twisting of the neck and trunk and pivoting on the toes, PD patients keep their neck and trunk rigid, requiring multiple small steps to accomplish a turn.

o Stooped, forward-flexed posture. In severe forms, the head and upper shoulders may be bent at a right angle relative to the trunk (camptocormia).

o Festination: a combination of stooped posture, imbalance, and short steps. It leads to a gait that gets progressively faster and faster, often ending in a fall.

o Gait freezing: "freezing" is a manifestation of akinesia (an inability to move). Gait freezing is characterized by an inability to move the feet which may worsen in tight, cluttered spaces or when attempting to initiate gait.

o Dystonia (in about 20% of cases): abnormal, sustained, painful twisting muscle contractions, often affecting the foot and ankle (mainly toe flexion and foot inversion) which often interferes with gait.

* Speech and swallowing disturbances.

o Hypophonia: soft speech. Speech quality tends to be soft, hoarse, and monotonous. Some people with Parkinson's disease claim that their tongue is "heavy" or have cluttered speech.
o Monotonic speech.
o Festinating speech: excessively rapid, soft, poorly-intelligible speech.
o Drooling: most likely caused by a weak, infrequent swallow and stooped posture.
o Dysphagia: impaired ability to swallow. Can lead to aspiration pneumonia.

* Other motor symptoms:

o Fatigue (up to 50% of cases);
o Masked faces (a mask-like face also known as hypomimia), with infrequent blinking;
o Difficulty rolling in bed or rising from a seated position;
o Micrographia (small, cramped handwriting);
o Impaired fine motor dexterity and motor coordination;
o Impaired gross motor coordination;
o Akathisia, the inability to sit still.


PD causes cognitive and mood disturbances, being in many cases related.

Estimated prevalence rates of depression vary widely according to the population sampled and methodology used. Reviews of depression estimate its occurrence in anywhere from 20–80% of cases. Estimates from community samples tend to find lower rates than from specialist centres. Most studies use self-report questionnaires such as the Beck Depression Inventory, which may overinflate scores due to physical symptoms. Studies using diagnostic interviews by trained psychiatrists also report lower rates of depression. More generally, there is an increased risk for any individual with depression to go on to develop Parkinson's disease at a later date. Seventy percent of individuals with Parkinson's disease diagnosed with pre-existing depression go on to develop anxiety. Ninety percent of Parkinson's disease patients with pre-existing anxiety subsequently develop depression; apathy or abulia.

Cognitive disturbances include:

* Slowed reaction time; both voluntary and involuntary motor responses are significantly slowed.

* Executive dysfunction, characterized by difficulties in: differential allocation of attention, impulse control, set shifting, prioritizing, evaluating the salience of ambient data, interpreting social cues, and subjective time awareness. This complex is present to some degree in most Parkinson's patients; it may progress to:

* Dementia: a later development in approximately 20-40% of all patients, typically starting with slowing of thought and progressing to difficulties with abstract thought, memory, and behavioral regulation. Hallucinations, delusions and paranoia may develop.

* Short term memory loss; procedural memory is more impaired than declarative memory. Prompting elicits improved recall.

* Non-motor causes of speech/language disturbance in both expressive and receptive language: these include decreased verbal fluency and cognitive disturbance especially related to comprehension of emotional content of speech and of facial expression.

* Difficulty deceiving others that links to prefrontal hypometabolism.
* Medication effects: some of the above cognitive disturbances are improved by dopaminergic medications, while others are actually worsened.

The symptoms of Parkinson's disease result from the loss of pigmented dopamine-secreting (dopaminergic) cells in the pars compacta region of the substantia nigra (literally "black substance"). These neurons project to the striatum and their loss leads to alterations in the activity of the neural circuits within the basal ganglia that regulate movement, in essence an inhibition of the direct pathway and excitation of the indirect pathway. There is considerable "reserve" in this pathway and Parkinson's disease only occurs when there is a 68% cell loss in its lateral ventral tier part and a 48% loss over all.

The cross section of mid brain at the level of superior colliculus showing the location of Substantia nigra.

The direct pathway facilitates movement and the indirect pathway inhibits movement, thus the loss of these cells leads to a hypokinetic movement disorder. The lack of dopamine results in increased inhibition of the ventral anterior nucleus of the thalamus, which sends excitatory projections to the motor cortex, thus leading to hypokinesia.

There are four major dopamine pathways in the brain; the nigrostriatal pathway, referred to above, mediates movement and is the most conspicuously affected in early Parkinson's disease. The other pathways are the mesocortical, the mesolimbic, and the tuberoinfundibular. Disruption of dopamine along the non-striatal pathways likely explains much of the neuropsychiatric pathology associated with Parkinson's disease.

The mechanism by which the brain cells in Parkinson's are lost may consist of an abnormal accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein bound to ubiquitin in the damaged cells. The alpha-synuclein-ubiquitin complex cannot be directed to the proteosome. This protein accumulation forms proteinaceous cytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy bodies. The latest research on pathogenesis of disease has shown that the death of dopaminergic neurons by alpha-synuclein is due to a defect in the machinery that transports proteins between two major cellular organelles—the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the Golgi apparatus. Certain proteins like Rab1 may reverse this defect caused by alpha-synuclein in animal models.

Excessive accumulations of iron, which are toxic to nerve cells, are also typically observed in conjunction with the protein inclusions. Iron and other transition metals such as copper bind to neuromelanin in the affected neurons of the substantia nigra. Neuromelanin may be acting as a protective agent. The most likely mechanism is generation of reactive oxygen species. Iron also induces aggregation of synuclein by oxidative mechanisms. Similarly, dopamine and the byproducts of dopamine production enhance alpha-synuclein aggregation. The precise mechanism whereby such aggregates of alpha-synuclein damage the cells is not known. The aggregates may be merely a normal reaction by the cells as part of their effort to correct a different, as-yet unknown, insult. Based on this mechanistic hypothesis, a transgenic mouse model of Parkinson's has been generated by introduction of human wild-type alpha-synuclein into the mouse genome under control of the platelet-derived-growth factor-β promoter.

Typically, the diagnosis is based on medical history and neurological examination conducted by interviewing and observing the patient in person using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. A radiotracer for SPECT scanning machines called DaTSCAN and made by General Electric is specialized for diagnosing Parkinson's Disease, but it is only marketed in Europe. Due to this, the disease can be difficult to diagnose accurately, especially in its early stages. Due to symptom overlap with other diseases, only 75% of clinical diagnoses of PD are confirmed to be idiopathic PD at autopsy. Early signs and symptoms of PD may sometimes be dismissed as the effects of normal aging. The physician may need to observe the person for some time until it is apparent that the symptoms are consistently present. Usually doctors look for shuffling of feet and lack of swing in the arms. Doctors may sometimes request brain scans or laboratory tests in order to rule out other diseases. However, CT and MRI brain scans of people with PD usually appear normal.

Clinical practice guidelines introduced in the UK in 2006 state that the diagnosis and follow-up of Parkinson's disease should be done by a specialist in the disease, usually a neurologist or geriatrician with an interest in movement disorders.

Parkinson's disease is a chronic disorder that requires broad-based management including patient and family education, support group services, general wellness maintenance, physiotherapy, exercise, and nutrition. At present, there is no cure for PD, but medications or surgery can provide relief from the symptoms.

The most widely used form of treatment is L-dopa in various forms. L-dopa is transformed into dopamine in the dopaminergic neurons by L-aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (often known by its former name dopa-decarboxylase). However, only 1-5% of L-dopa enters the dopaminergic neurons. The remaining L-dopa is often metabolised to dopamine elsewhere, causing a wide variety of side effects. Due to feedback inhibition, L-dopa results in a reduction in the endogenous formation of L-dopa, and so eventually becomes counterproductive.

Carbidopa and benserazide are dopa decarboxylase inhibitors. They help to prevent the metabolism of L-dopa before it reaches the dopaminergic neurons and are generally given as combination preparations of carbidopa/levodopa (co-careldopa) (e.g. Sinemet, Parcopa) and benserazide/levodopa (co-beneldopa) (e.g. Madopar). There are also controlled release versions of Sinemet and Madopar that spread out the effect of the L-dopa. Duodopa is a combination of levodopa and carbidopa, dispersed as a viscous gel. Using a patient-operated portable pump, the drug is continuously delivered via a tube directly into the upper small intestine, where it is rapidly absorbed. Medications combining carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone are also used (Trademark Stalevo).

WATER THERAPY AGAINST RHEUMATISM AND RHEUMATIC JOINT PAIN

RHEUMATISM AND RHEUMATIC JOINT PAIN
Rheumatism is a form of arthritis affecting joints of the extremities.

Water Treatment:
1. Heating compress on the affected joints, every night.
2. Fomentation on the joints, once a day.
3. Hot compress on the joints, once or twice a day for severe cases.
4. Rest the extremity if there is severe pain and swelling.
5. After swelling is gone, patient may do mild non-weight-bearing exercises.

WHAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT LEUKEMIA

Leukemia (British English: leukaemia) (Greek leukos λευκός, "white"; aima αίμα, "blood") is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterized by an abnormal proliferation (production by multiplication) of blood cells, usually white blood cells (leukocytes). Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases. In turn, it is part of the even broader group of diseases called hematological neoplasms.

Leukemia is clinically and pathologically subdivided into several large groups. The first division is between its acute and chronic forms:

* Acute leukemia is characterized by the rapid increase of immature blood cells. This crowding makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells. Immediate treatment is required in acute leukemia due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body. Acute forms of leukemia are the most common forms of leukemia in children.

* Chronic leukemia is distinguished by the excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal, white blood cells. Typically taking months or years to progress, the cells are produced at a much higher rate than normal cells, resulting in many abnormal white blood cells in the blood. Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy. Chronic leukemia mostly occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group.

Additionally, the diseases are subdivided according to which kind of blood cell is affected. This split divides leukemias into lymphoblastic or lymphocytic leukemias and myeloid or myelogenous leukemias:

* In lymphoblastic or lymphocytic leukemias, the cancerous change takes place in a type of marrow cell that normally goes on to form lymphocytes, which are infection-fighting immune system cells. Most lymphocytic leukemias involve a specific subtype of lymphocyte, the B cell.
* In myeloid or myelogenous leukemias, the cancerous change takes place in a type of marrow cell that normally goes on to form red blood cells, some other types of white cells, and platelets.

Damage to the bone marrow, by way of displacing the normal bone marrow cells with higher numbers of immature white blood cells, results in a lack of blood platelets, which are important in the blood clotting process. This means people with leukemia may easily become bruised, bleed excessively, or develop pinprick bleeds (petechiae).

White blood cells, which are involved in fighting pathogens, may be suppressed or dysfunctional. This could cause the patient's immune system to be unable to fight off a simple infection or to start attacking other body cells. Because leukemia prevents the immune system from working normally, some patients experience frequent infection, ranging from infected tonsils, sores in the mouth, or diarrhea to life-threatening pneumonia or opportunistic infections.

Finally, the red blood cell deficiency leads to anemia, which may cause dyspnea and pallor.

Some patients experience other symptoms. These symptoms might include feeling sick, such as having fevers, chills, night sweats and other flu-like symptoms, or feeling fatigued. Some patients experience nausea or a feeling of fullness due to an enlarged liver and spleen; this can result in unintentional weight loss. If the leukemic cells invade the central nervous system, then neurological symptoms (notably headaches) can occur.

All symptoms associated with leukemia can be attributed to other diseases. Consequently, leukemia is always diagnosed through medical tests.

The word leukemia, which means 'white blood', is derived from the disease's namesake high white blood cell counts that most leukemia patients have before treatment. The high number of white blood cells are apparent when a blood sample is viewed under a microscope. Frequently, these extra white blood cells are immature or dysfunctional. The excessive number of cells can also interfere with the level of other cells, causing a harmful imbalance in the blood count.

Some leukemia patients do not have high white blood cell counts visible during a regular blood count. This less-common condition is called aleukemia. The bone marrow still contains cancerous white blood cells which disrupt the normal production of blood cells. However, the leukemic cells are staying in the marrow instead of entering the bloodstream, where they would be visible in a blood test. For an aleukemic patient, the white blood cell counts in the bloodstream can be normal or low. Aleukemia can occur in any of the four major types of leukemia, and is particularly common in hairy cell leukemia.

There is no single known cause for all of the different types of leukemia. The different leukemias likely have different causes. Known causes include natural and artificial ionizing radiation, viruses such as Human T-lymphotropic virus, and some chemicals, notably benzene and alkylating chemotherapy agents for previous malignancies. Use of tobacco is associated with a small increase in the risk of developing acute myeloid leukemia in adults. A few cases of maternal-fetal transmission have been reported.

Leukemia, like other cancers, results from somatic mutations in the DNA which activate oncogenes or deactivate tumor suppressor genes, and disrupt the regulation of cell death, differentiation or division. These mutations may occur spontaneously or as a result of exposure to radiation or carcinogenic substances and are likely to be influenced by genetic factors. Cohort and case-control studies have linked exposure to petrochemicals, such as benzene, and hair dyes to the development of some forms of leukemia.

Viruses have also been linked to some forms of leukemia. For example, certain cases of ALL are associated with viral infections by either the human immunodeficiency virus or human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1 and -2, causing adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma). However, one report suggests exposure to certain germs may offer children limited protection against leukemia.

Some people have a genetic predisposition towards developing leukemia. This predisposition is demonstrated by family histories and twin studies. The affected people may have a single gene or multiple genes in common. In some cases, families tend to develop the same kind of leukemia as other members; in other families, affected people may develop different forms of leukemia or related blood cancers.

In addition to these genetic issues, people with chromosomal abnormalities or certain other genetic conditions have a greater risk of leukemia. For example, people with Down syndrome have a significantly increased risk of developing forms of acute leukemia, and Fanconi anemia is a risk factor for developing acute myeloid leukemia.

Whether non-ionizing radiation causes leukemia has been studied for several decades. The International Agency for Research on Cancer expert working group undertook a detailed review of all data on static and extremely low frequency electromagnetic energy, which occurs naturally and in association with the generation, transmission, and use of electrical power. They concluded that there is limited evidence that high levels of ELF magnetic (but not electric) fields might cause childhood leukemia. Exposure to significant ELF magnetic fields might result in twofold excess risk for leukemia for children exposed to these high levels of magnetic fields. However, the report also says that methodological weaknesses and biases in these studies have likely caused the risk to be overstated. No evidence for a relationship to leukemia or an other form of malignancy in adults has been demonstrated. Since exposure to such levels of ELFs is relatively uncommon, the World Health Organization concludes that ELF exposure, if later proven to be causative, would account for just 100 to 2400 cases worldwide each year, representing 0.2 to 4.95% of the total incidence for that year.

Until the cause or causes of leukemia are found, there is no way to prevent the disease. Even when the causes become known, they may not be readily controllable, such as naturally occurring background radiation, and therefore not especially helpful for prevention purposes.

Most forms of leukemia are treated with pharmaceutical medications. Some are also treated with radiation therapy. In some cases, a bone marrow transplant is useful.

THE BREAST CANCER

Breast cancers are described along four different classification schemes, or groups, each based on different criteria and serving a different purpose:

* Pathology - Each tumor is classified by its histological (microscopic anatomy) appearance and other criteria.

* Grade of tumor - The histological grade of a tumor is determined by a pathologist under a microscope. A well-differentiated (low grade) tumor resembles normal tissue. A poorly differentiated (high grade) tumor is composed of disorganized cells and, therefore, does not look like normal tissue. Moderately differentiated (intermediate grade) tumors are somewhere in between.

* Protein & gene expression status - Currently, all breast cancers should be tested for expression, or detectable effect, of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2/neu proteins. These tests are usually done by immunohistochemistry and are presented in a pathologist's report. The profile of expression of a given tumor helps predict its prognosis, or outlook, and helps an oncologist choose the most appropriate treatment. More genes and/or proteins may be tested in the future.

* Stage of a tumor - The currently accepted staging scheme for breast cancer is the TNM classification. This considers the Tumor itself, whether it has spread to lymph Nodes, and whether there are any Metastases to locations other than the breast and lymph nodes.

Breast cancer is usually, but not always, primarily classified by its histological appearance. Rare variants are defined on the basis of physical exam findings. For example, inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), a form of ductal carcinoma or malignant cancer in the ducts, is distinguished from other carcinomas by the inflamed appearance of the affected breast. In the future, some pathologic classifications may be changed.

, or subjective sign, of breast cancer is typically a lump that feels different from the surrounding breast tissue. According to the The Merck Manual, more than 80% of breast cancer cases are discovered when the woman feels a lump. According to the American Cancer Society, the first medical sign, or objective indication of breast cancer as detected by a physician, is discovered by mammogram. Lumps found in lymph nodes located in the armpits can also indicate breast cancer.

Indications of breast cancer other than a lump may include changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, or spontaneous single-nipple discharge. Pain ("mastodynia") is an unreliable tool in determining the presence or absence of breast cancer, but may be indicative of other breast health issues.

When breast cancer cells invade the dermal lymphatics—small lymph vessels in the skin of the breast—its presentation can resemble skin inflammation and thus is known as inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Symptoms of inflammatory breast cancer include pain, swelling, warmth and redness throughout the breast, as well as an orange-peel texture to the skin referred to as peau d'orange.

Another reported symptom complex of breast cancer is Paget's disease of the breast. This syndrome presents as eczematoid skin changes such as redness and mild flaking of the nipple skin. As Paget's advances, symptoms may include tingling, itching, increased sensitivity, burning, and pain. There may also be discharge from the nipple. Approximately half of women diagnosed with Paget's also have a lump in the breast.

Occasionally, breast cancer presents as metastatic disease, that is, cancer that has spread beyond the original organ. Metastatic breast cancer will cause symptoms that depend on the location of metastasis. Common sites of metastasis include bone, liver, lung and brain. Unexplained weight loss can occasionally herald an occult breast cancer, as can symptoms of fevers or chills. Bone or joint pains can sometimes be manifestations of metastatic breast cancer, as can jaundice or neurological symptoms. These symptoms are "non-specific", meaning they can also be manifestations of many other illnesses.

Most symptoms of breast disorder do not turn out to represent underlying breast cancer. Benign breast diseases such as mastitis and fibroadenoma of the breast are more common causes of breast disorder symptoms. The appearance of a new symptom should be taken seriously by both patients and their doctors, because of the possibility of an underlying breast cancer at almost any age.

The primary risk factors that have been identified are sex, age, childbearing, hormones, a high-fat diet, alcohol intake, obesity, and environmental factors such as tobacco use, radiation and shiftwork.

No etiology is known for 95% of breast cancer cases, while approximately 5% of new breast cancers are attributable to hereditary syndromes. In particular, carriers of the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, are at a 30-40% increased risk for breast and ovarian cancer, depending on in which portion of the protein the mutation occurs.

* Personal history of breast cancer: A woman who had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting cancer in her other breast.

* Family history: A woman's risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer. The risk is higher if her family member got breast cancer before age 40. Having other relatives with breast cancer (in either her mother's or father's family) may also increase a woman's risk.

* Certain breast changes: Some women have cells in the breast that look abnormal under a microscope. Having certain types of abnormal cells (atypical hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ [LCIS]) increases the risk of breast cancer.

* Race: Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in Caucasian women than Latina, Asian, or African American women.

* No physical activity: Women who are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast cancer. Being active may help decrease risk.

* Tamoxifen may interact unfavorably with certain antidepressants when used for prevention of breast cancer recurrence.

The mainstay of breast cancer treatment is surgery when the tumor is localized, with possible adjuvant hormonal therapy (with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor), chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. At present, the treatment recommendations after surgery (adjuvant therapy) follow a pattern. This pattern is subject to change, as every two years, a worldwide conference takes place in St. Gallen, Switzerland, to discuss the actual results of worldwide multi-center studies. Depending on clinical criteria (age, type of cancer, size, metastasis) patients are roughly divided to high risk and low risk cases, with each risk category following different rules for therapy. Treatment possibilities include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immune therapy.

In planning treatment, doctors can also use PCR tests like Oncotype DX or microarray tests that predict breast cancer recurrence risk based on gene expression. In February 2007, the first breast cancer predictor test won formal approval from the Food and Drug Administration. This is a new gene test to help predict whether women with early-stage breast cancer will relapse in 5 or 10 years, this could help influence how aggressively the initial tumor is treated.

Radiation therapy is also used to help destroy cancer cells that may linger after surgery. Radiation can reduce the risk of recurrence by 50-66% (1/2 - 2/3rds reduction of risk) when delivered in the correct dose.

A prognosis is the medical team's "best guess" in how cancer will affect a patient. There are many prognostic factors associated with breast cancer: staging, tumor size and location, grade, whether disease is systemic (has metastasized, or traveled to other parts of the body), recurrence of the disease, and age of patient.

Stage is the most important, as it takes into consideration size, local involvement, lymph node status and whether metastatic disease is present. The higher the stage at diagnosis, the worse the prognosis. The stage is raised by the invasiveness of disease to lymph nodes, chest wall, skin or beyond, and the aggressiveness of the cancer cells. The stage is lowered by the presence of cancer-free zones and close-to-normal cell behaviour (grading). Size is not a factor in staging unless the cancer is invasive. Ductal Carcinoma in situ throughout the entire breast is stage zero.

Grading is based on how biopsied, cultured cells behave. The closer to normal cancer cells are, the slower their growth and the better the prognosis. If cells are not well differentiated, they will appear immature, will divide more rapidly, and will tend to spread. Well differentiated is given a grade of 1, moderate is grade 2, while poor or undifferentiated is given a higher grade of 3 or 4 (depending upon the scale used).

Younger women tend to have a poorer prognosis than post-menopausal women due to several factors. Their breasts are active with their cycles, they may be nursing infants, and may be unaware of changes in their breasts. Therefore, younger women are usually at a more advanced stage when diagnosed. There may also be biologic factors contributing to a higher risk of disease recurrence for younger women with breast cancer.

The presence of estrogen and progesterone receptors in the cancer cell, while not prognostic, is important in guiding treatment. Those who do not test positive for these specific receptors will not respond to hormone therapy.

Likewise, HER2/neu status directs the course of treatment. Patients whose cancer cells are positive for HER2/neu have more aggressive disease and may be treated with trastuzumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets this protein.

Elevated CA15-3, in conjunction with alkaline phosphatase, was shown to increase chances of early recurrence in breast cancer.

The emotional impact of cancer diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, and related issues can be severe. Most larger hospitals are associated with cancer support groups which provide a supportive environment to help patients cope and gain perspective from cancer survivors. Online cancer support groups are also very beneficial to cancer patients, especially in dealing with uncertainty and body-image problems inherent in cancer treatment.

Not all breast cancer patients experience their illness in the same manner. Factors such as age can have a significant impact on the way a patient copes with a breast cancer diagnosis. Premenopausal women with estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer must confront the issues of early menopause induced by many of the chemotherapy regimens used to treat their breast cancer, especially those that use hormones to counteract ovarian function.

On the other hand, a recent study conducted by researchers at the College of Public Health of the University of Georgia showed that older women may face a more difficult recovery from breast cancer than their younger counterparts. As the incidence of breast cancer in women over 50 rises and survival rates increase, breast cancer is increasingly becoming a geriatric issue that warrants both further research and the expansion of specialized cancer support services tailored for specific age groups.

Regular exercise, weight loss, avoidance of alcohol, stressors, toxic chemicals and environmental pollutants are all helpful measures in the prevention of breast cancer. Dietary inclusion of dried beans, cruciferous vegetables, and whole grains have also proven beneficial. Brazil nuts, rich in the mineral selenium, when combined with natural vitamin E as found in almonds and walnuts are also highly effective in reducing cancer risk.

In addition, there are three published studies with findings indicating that regular semen consumption is able to prevent breast cancer. This effect is attributed to its DHA, glycoprotein and selenium content.

DEEP UNDERSTANDING ABOUT LIVER CANCER

Liver cancer is a cancer that starts in the liver. For a thorough understanding of liver cancer it is important to know a brief summary of how the liver works and functions. Within the body the liver can be characterized as the largest organ. It is located below the right lung and under the ribcage. The liver is divided into two lobes: the right lobe and left lobe. Protein is obtained by the liver from a set of sources. The portal vein carries nutrient rich blood from the intestines to the liver and the hepatic artery supplies the liver with blood that is rich in oxygen. Multiple types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of many various cells. Tumors that are cancerous are termed malignant and tumors that do not contain cancer are termed benign. Liver cancer is characterized by the presence of malignant hepatic tumors -- tumors or growths on or in the liver (medical terms pertaining to the liver often start in hepato- or hepatic from the Greek word for liver, hēpar, stem hēpat-). They may be discovered on medical imaging (even for a different reason than the cancer itself), or may be present in patients as an abdominal mass, abdominal pain, jaundice, or some other liver dysfunction.

There are several types of liver cancer:

* Hemangiomas: These are the most common type of benign liver tumor. They start in blood vessels. Most of these tumors do not cause symptoms, they do not need treatment. Some may bleed and need to be removed if it is mild to severe.

* Hepatic adenomas: These benign epithelial liver tumors develop in the liver and are also an uncommon occurrence. They are, in most cases, located in the right hepatic lobe and are frequently seen as solitary. The size of adenomas range from 1 to 30 cm. Symptoms associated with hepatic adenomas are all associate with large lesions which can cause intense abdominal pain. Over the last few decades there has been an increase with occurrences of this specific type of adenoma. The prognosis for these tumors has still not been mastered. Some correlations have been made such as malignant transformation, spontaneous hemorrhage, and rupture.

* Focal nodular hyperplasia: Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is the second most common tumor of the liver. This tumor is the result of a congenital arteriovenous malformation hepatocyte response. This process is one in which all normal constituents of the liver are present, but the pattern by which they are presented is abnormal. Even though those conditions exist the liver still seems to perform in the normal range.

The American Liver Foundation founded 33 years ago; it gives great resources and support to patients and families battling with this prognosis. The American Liver Foundation claims that liver cancer is among the ten major causes of death. Knowing what the liver does and how important it is to human bodies can help to understand how serious liver cancer is, and ways people can help themselves be less likely to have this diagnosis.

* Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Patients who develop this cancer normally are in the younger population. These tumors also contain a variation that consists of the HCC and cholangiocarcinoma. The cells of the bile duct coexist next to the bile ducts that drain the bile produced by the hepatocytes of the liver. The cancers within the blood vessel cells within the liver are known has hemangioendotheliomas.

* Hepatoblastoma: Most of these tumors form in the right lobe. Children primarily develop hepatoblastoma and the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body.

* Cholangiocarcinomas (bile duct cancers): Cholangiocarcinomas account for 1 or 2 out of every 10 cases of liver cancer. These cancers start in the small tubes (called bile ducts) that carry bile to the gallbladder.

* Angiosarcomas and hemangiosarcomas: These are rare forms of cancer that start in the blood vessels of the liver. These tumors grow quickly. Often by the time they are found they are too widespread to be removed. Treatment may help slow the disease, but most patients do not live more than a year after these cancers are found.

Liver cancer can also be a secondary development. Cancer of these types are called metastatic cancer, a cancer that started in a different location and spread to the liver. Some cancers it has been associated with include: colorectal cancer; lung cancer; breast cancer; esophageal cancer; and a few others. About 5 percent of the time, metastases are discovered but the primary tumor cannot be identified. The treatment of these metastases is dictated by their location rather than their origin. Metastases spread in the three ways - by local extension from the tumor to the surrounding tissues, through the bloodstream to distant sites, or through the lymphatic system to neighboring or distant lymph nodes. Each kind of cancer may have a typical route of spread. The liver is a common site of metastatic disease. The portal vein drains the abdominal viscera (internal organs) and is presumably the conduit for metastases from tumors of the colon and rectum, stomach, pancreas, biliary tree, and small intestine. Breast cancer commonly involves the liver as do lung cancer and lymphoma.

A PET-CT scan may be suggested if doctors are considering surgery as a treatment. This combines a CT scan – which takes a series of x-rays to build up a three dimensional picture with a PET scan – which uses low dose radiation to measure the activity of cells in different parts of the body. It gives more detailed information about the part of the body being scanned. PET-CT scans are a new type of scan and not yet widely available, so a patient may have to travel to a specialist centre to have one. The correct treatment of liver cancer can mean the difference between life and death. Not all patients with cancers in the liver are potentially curable. These are some of the treatments available: Surgery, Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Photodynamic Therapy, Hyperthermia, Radiation Therapy and Radiosurgery.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HOT SITZ BATH

A partial emersion bath covering the pelvic and the anal areas.

Effects:
1. Relieves pain after rectal operation.
2. Hastens healing and cleaning of the operated area.
3. Relives cramps and spasms in the pelvic region and urinary bladder.
4. Stimulates pelvic circulation.
5. Relaxes urinary bladder.

Things needed:
1. One large basin-deep enough for a person to sit in.
2. One smaller basin with ice or cold water and compress.
3. One towel, long enough to go around the head.
4. One smaller basin for the footbath.
5. A sheet or blanket for wrapping around the body.
6. One Bath towel.
7. One large kettle for boiling of water.
8. One chair or stool.

Procedure:
1. Boil water in large kettle.
2. Put the large basin on the chair or on the floor, with small amount of water, hot enough for the patient to sit in it.
3. Remove clothing, underwear and under dressings if there are any. Drape with sheet or blanket.
4. Assist the patient to sit on the basin, placing the feet in the smaller basin of hot water.
5. Apply cold compress on the forehead and gradually add hot water to the hot sits basin and the foot basin, increasing the water temperature to the patient’s tolerance. Stir the water with hand as you add hot water. Be careful not to pour hot water on the patient’s buttocks and feet.
6. Renew cold compress to the head as often as you can. Continue adding hot water for from 20 to 30 minutes.
7. At the end of the treatment, pour cold water to the hot sits bath basin. Raise the feet and pour cold water to the feet and dry well.
8. Assist the patient out of the basin and give warm shower or sponge bath.
9. Let patient rest and keep warm after treatment.

Note: Hot sits bath is best done in the bathroom for the floor is likely to get wet.

WATER TREATMENT FOR SCABIES

SCABIES
Scabies is a contagious disorder of the skin caused by Sarcoptes Scabiei, characterized my multiform lesions with intense itching, which occur mostly at night.

Water Treatments:
1. Daily bath with soap and water. Change into clean clothes every after bath, including underwear.
2. Put under the sun all beddings used at night: mat, pillows, sheets, blankets and nightclothes.
3. Sleep alone to prevent contaminating other members of the family.
4. Always keep clean. Wash hands, feet and face, or take a bath before going to sleep.

HERBAL TREATMENT AGAINST ACUTE AND CHRONIC CYSTITIS

ACUTE AND CHRONIC CYSTITIS
Cystitis is the inflammation of the urinary bladder, characterized by painful and scanty urination.

Water Treatments:
1. Hot sits bath for 20-30 minutes, 2 times a day.
2. Drink at least one glass of water every hour during waking time.

Herbal Medications
1. Sambong Leaves. Boil 1 cup of chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Dosage: ½ cup, 3 times a day for adults. 2-6 yrs old, 2 tablespoons, 3 times a day. 7-12 yrs. Old ¼ cup, 3 times a day.
2. Pandan Leaves. Boil 1 cup of chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. The same dosage as above.
3. Papaya Leaves and green fruit. Boil 1 cup of chopped fresh leaves and 1 cup green fruit in 4 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Dosage same as above.
4. Mais or Corn Hair. Boil 2 cups pf chopped fresh young leaves in 4 glasses of water. Dosage same as the mentioned schools.

SALT GARGLE

SALT GARGLE
Salt gargle letting hot salt solution roll in the throat for a few seconds.

Effects:
1. Relieves throat congestion.
2. Relaxes the throat muscles.
3. Reduces inflammation.
4. Relieves throat itchiness.
5. Relieves sore throat.

Things needed:
1. Two glasses of hot water.
2. One teaspoonful of salt-1/2 tsp salt per glass of water.
3. One teaspoon.

Procedure:
1. Add ½ teaspoon of salt into the glass of water. Temperature should be as hot as can be tolerated for drinking. Stir with teaspoon until salt is completely dissolved in the water.
2. Salt gargle should be done in the bathroom sink.
3. Sip enough water and let it roll freely in the throat for a few seconds before spewing the water out into the sink.
4. Continue the procedure of throat gargle until all the 2 glasses of salt solution is consumed.
5. If sore throat is severe with harsh voice, salt gargle may be repeated every two hours when awake.
6. Throat gargle is best done after meals.
7. For best result, don’t drink cold drinks until sore throat is healed.