Is Acupuncture "Only" a Placebo Effect?

What is the placebo effect?

Yes, what really is this placebo? Just consider, this effect says that we humans can get better without any real outside intervention, be it medicine, injections, surgery or whatever. Wow this is an amazing ability, I would say - wouldn't you? Many research studies have been carried out that show that this effect is a genuine human trait. But the effect is not consistent. Otherwise we would not need the multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical and health industry. Just get this effect to cure all our health issues and dismantle all industries associated with medicine. No, we cannot call on this ability to cure all our ills, unfortunately. And its effectiveness is so variable and uncertain that we would not want to rely on it much. Is it really this almost totally random phenomena or is there a chance that we can harness its awesome potential?

Lets consider acupuncture

As an acupuncture practitioner for more than fifteen years, I believe that the placebo effect can be utilized in a much more methodical way. The practice of acupuncture is shrouded in mystery because Western medicine have not been able to explain it "scientifically". Yet they cannot deny its powerful ability of relieving symptoms, especially when the patient does not respond to conventional drugs or surgery. So what if acupuncture can call upon and amplify the placebo effect in a more controlled way? I believe that controlling the placebo capability is one of the ways that acupuncture works. It is a system that has been in use for over 2000 years so its methods have undergone refinement for much longer than Western medicine has. And its trials have been carried out in real world situation on a vast scale (consider the population of China alone). As a practitioner, I have been able to help hundreds of people with "intractable" conditions where normal medicine has been ineffective. Of course, conventional medical intervention is still necessary in many cases but there is room for both to cover the complete spectrum of ailments in the modern world.

Beyond the placebo

OK, there are cases where the "placebo effect" cannot explain completely how acupuncture works. Research in acupuncture is almost impossible in a way. This is because the human body is full of channels and points that are outside the accepted official ones used in acupuncture. So in tests where "sham" acupuncture is used to compare with the genuine one, the sham points used might inadvertently be one of these uncharted points that will have an effect on the energy system. Yet these studies have shown that real acupuncture gives better results than "sham" acupuncture. This shows that there is something beyond the placebo effect at work in a real acupuncture treatment. Otherwise both methods will yield similar results. And I suspect that different practitioners will get different results. So there is something happening when having an acupuncture treatment - an additional factor beyond harnessing the placebo ability of the patient. This is clearly seen where treating animals where the "patient" gets better yet is not likely to be affected by any placebo consideration.

How To Get Rid Of Acne Naturally - Three Powerful Tips To Cure Acne Quickly And Naturally

Acne is a condition that not only causes physical pain but is also known to be a cause of emotional problems like lack of confidence, hyper anxiety, and uneasiness in social gathering.

Till now the actual cause of acne is unknown but various studies prove that bad eating habits, poor skin care, and poor lifestyle are the root cause of lifelong acne.

Previously it was believed that acne is a condition that is caused in teenage due to hormonal changes but nowhere days it is not very uncommon to see people suffering from chronic acne in late 30' 40's and sometimes even 50's.

So if you have crossed your teenage and still suffer from acne then this is a signal that something is not right and you must take corrective action:

Here are 3 powerful tips to get rid of acne naturally and quickly:

1. Eat Fiber rich food- Due to current lifestyle and work culture everybody is in a hurry and consumption of fast food like noodles, burgers, pizza etc has increase tremendously, but as much as they taste good the effect they have on our digestive system is frightening.

When these foods are consumed on a regular basis our body can't get rid of the waste fully and it gets stuck in our system causing it to not work properly which results in acne and all other issues. This is where eating fiber rich food comes into focus since our body can't digest the fiber presents in fruits and vegetable it has to get rid of it so will get rid as waster and with that the stuck food also comes out. This helps restore our body's digestive mechanism and helps in getting a healthier skin and body.

2. Exercise regularly- Believe it or not, exercise does play an important role in having a healthy skin and a healthy body. Acne is not caused by single condition it is the cumulative results of body's way to get rid of toxins and as skin is the largest organ, it is often used by toxin removal mechanism to get rid of toxins in the form acne. So before the body opts for this we must allow it to get rid of toxins using exercises like natural walks, meditation and regular stretching.

3. Tea Tree oil face wash- Tea tree oil has natural qualities that help shrinking acne and prevents them for reoccurring, you can easily find a face wash with tea tree oil in your near shopping mart or online.

Types of Acne - What Type Do You Have?

More than half of the population deals with acne at some point in their life. That's a lot of people struggling with the same condition. Except that there are different types of acne. Understanding your type of acne can help you not only treat it but also get rid of it. You can live acne free.

1. Do you have blackheads? Blackheads are what happens when you have a partially clogged pore. If you have blackheads then you likely have mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

2. Do you have whiteheads? Whiteheads occur when you have a completely blocked pore. If you experience whiteheads then you likely have mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

3. Do you have small red bumps? Papules or small red bumps occur when the underlying tissue is irritated. You can experience papules if you have acne vulgaris or Rosacea.

4. Do you have pustules? A pustule is a red inflamed bump or blemish that has a yellow or whitish center. This is standard, albeit irritating and frustrating, acne vulgaris. Do not pick or squeeze!

5. Do you have red areas on your cheeks, chin, nose and/or forehead? Do the red areas become more irritated or flushed when you get hot, are exposed to sunshine or eat certain foods? If so, you have Rosacea. It's important to know that you can have acne vulgaris and Rosacea simultaneously. It happens often.

6. Do you get large cysts or nodules under your skin? If so then you have a more severe type of acne. It's often called nodular or cystic acne. Treatment is generally different for severe acne than mild or moderate acne.

7. Do you have numerous acne lesions that are cyst like in nature and connected? Are you male? Is the acne on your face, back, arms and buttocks? If so you likely have a rare form of acne found in men called Congoblata. It's treated with Accutane and can leave deep scars.

8. Do you have the above symptoms and have the occurred rapidly following a fever? If so then you likely have Acne Fulminans. It's also treated with Accutane and/or oral steroids.

9. Have you been on antibiotics for an extended duration? Do you have both pustules and cysts? If so then you may have Gram-Negative Folliculitis. This type of acne is caused by an extended stint on antibiotics. Treatment can be tricky.

Acne is common and most likely you're experiencing mild to moderate acne vulgaris. It's treated effectively through a number of lifestyle changes and acne medications. Most often over the counter acne cleaners and lotions can both clear up your skin and prevent future breakouts. If you have a more severe type of acne consider visiting a professional for help.

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash For Breakouts

Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash is supported by dermatologists for cleaning the face and getting rid of blackheads. The residue-free formula has active ingredients that fight blackheads and other forms of bacteria that causes acne. Furthermore, this product consists of plant extracts which aid in moisturizing and healing skin.

The Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash comes in two types of scent. The formula scent is the original formula that has a refreshing smell with orange pigment. The second scent of this cleanser is pink grapefruit, which is extracted from real grapefruit. Additionally, this grapefruit formula contains vitamin C, an antioxidant that heals skin, fights aging and guards against cancer-causing agents.

The benefits of using this Neutrogena product include no residue build up. Residue left behind on the skin from facial cleaning products can actually cause breakouts and blackheads. Additionally, this product contains no oil, so no greasy film left behind. The non-comedogenic formula guarantees that this facial product will not clog the pores on the face.

The potent ingredient in this cleansing product is salicylic acid, an agent that comprises 2 percent of each product. This quantity of acid is sufficient to destroy facial bacteria and prevent growth of bacteria. Salicylic acid is an efficient treatment for eliminating blackheads, the small hole that have become fill with debris and dirt. Salicylic acid penetrates the pores and softens the debris and pushes the dirt out of the skin.

This facial cleanser also includes aloe extract and chamomile extract to help soothe the skin after washing. Aloe is known to hydrate cracked and dry skin, as well as replenish the suppleness of the facial skin. Aloe is a natural anti-aging lotion for the skin. Chamomile extract naturally reduces inflammation and support cell regeneration. Additionally, it is helpful to reduce rashes, pimples, age spots and discoloration.

Neutrogena instructs consumers to use this product a minimum of two times daily to eliminate bacteria and dirt. For application purposes, the consumer should rinse their face with warm water and place a quarter size quantity of product in the hand. The consumer mixes water with the product and lathers mixture. The mixture should be gently massaged onto the face and then rinsed away.

In summary, Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash is blemish-fighting cleanser that prevent blackheads and other forms of acne. The product assists in soothing the face without dehydrating the skin. Applying this formula two times a day destroys bacteria that would cause pimples, blackheads and other blemishes that can cause distress and a poor complexion.

health

health

How to Get Your Child To Try New Foods

On the one hand, every child will at some point start being whimsical and picky with his/her food; this is the result of their changing metabolism and growing rate, but also because they want to assert their independence. On the other hand, parents' duty is to make sure that their child gets all his/her vitamins and proteins, and will stop at nothing in their quest. When parents and children are at war with each other, the odds can flip on either side: the child eats only what he/she wants or the parents find some creative ways of tricking him/her into eating healthy without knowing it.

Many parents opt for the second conflict resolution strategy for obvious reasons, and although it can be a success with some children, others will not fall for it. Let's have a look at some of the wisest ways of teaching your child that trying new foods is both fun and healthy.

· Offer options and make meal time fun.

The first rule to encouraging diversity is to offer options. For example, you can make two dishes and have the child pick which he/she wants to eat, in this way he/she will feel empowered and not trapped into doing something. Or better yet, have the child choose ingredients from each in order to make her/his custom plate. Remember that you can also allure your child into eating healthy by playing creatively with the colors, by arranging funny food displays or just by mixing a favorite dish with some new ingredients.

· Disguise vegetables.

With a picky eater, vegetables are probably the hardest ingredient to swallow and will often end up on the floor. But if you try to puree and add them to the main course, chances are that children will not tell the difference and eat them anyway. If the child enjoys eating fruits, there is nothing easier than throwing in some carrots in his/her daily dose of homemade fruit juice.

· Get children involved in the cooking process.

Besides being fun one-on-one quality time, having your child help you with preparing breakfast, lunch or dinner will also teach him/her about responsibility and diversity. A child, who has actively participated in the cooking process, will in the end be curious to taste the outcome because of all the effort and time invested into it. In this way, he/she can better appreciate the food and actually enjoy it more.

· Avoid forcing them into eating, instead apply corresponding punishment.

Just as with any other misbehavior, refusing to eat should be follow by disciplinary consequences. Having a mild punishment (i.e. no more TV time) prepared whenever this happens is better that resorting to ultimatums like "You are not allowed to go to your room until you finish everything on your plate!". In time the child will try to avoid the punishment and will prefer conforming to your requests.

Tips on How to Build Muscle and Lose Fat For Men

Building muscle and losing fat at the same time, in theory, won't happen. It is a dream for a lot of men carrying extra fat dreaming of building muscle and losing fat. To burn body fat you need to eat less and to add muscle you have to eat more, so it can seem downright impossible to have these two goals.

In general, there are several situations where you can build muscle while losing fat WITHOUT creating that caloric deficit that is otherwise crucial for fat loss...

1. You're weak and not strong enough but you wish to build muscle and make yourself look strong. Strength is directly related to muscle size. If you are average and only want to lose some fat on your belly for example, then you will gain muscle fast as you don't need to burn extra fat here and there from your body. You can go to a GYM and do weightlifting to gain muscle on your arms. You can do push-ups to gain muscles on your arms. By gaining strength on GYM excises, as a result, your body fat percentage will decrease and you'll look leaner at the same weight.

This is why so many weightlifting GYM goers have built muscle while losing fat with ease. They gained strength fast, built muscle as a result, and thus their body fat went down. This is called "newbie gains". It's pretty hard for a guy who has already had a good foundation of strength to build muscle while losing fat.

2. You've been well trained before. Science and technology are now backing up what GYM goers have been saying for a long time: it's easier to regain muscle than building it from scratch. If you have been trained and quit for a while and then resumed months/years later, you'll regain muscle faster than you first built it and are more likely to lose fat in the process.

Muscle has memory. If the program is taken properly, the muscle will be rebuilt, once the muscle is there, the strength will come back and will go forever at the same time. Men will look stronger than before.

3. You're a generic Freak. Some guys are born with magic metabolism and hardly gain any fat when building muscle. They have an athletic build although they don't go to a Gym often - usually mesomorphs. They hardly finish one round of push-ups or weight lifts and their body can burn fat easily to keep them looking fit. There are not too many men like this, most of them still need a program to burn fat first then build muscle.

4. You're Using drugs - Steroids. Some men go with drugs such as Steroids. They eat junk food always when they attend Gym programs. However you never see them put on extra weight. Why? The answer is simple - drug taker. Men use drugs to keep themselves fit. Actually those men are lacking confidence, inconsistency and motivation. They never learned how to stay smart and eat in the right way. If one day they stop taking drugs, extra fat grows very fast and they are never healthy. Wise suggestions for those men - Stop taking drugs, attend a healthy Gym program and control your fat and keep your life healthy.