This section talks about some of the problems you may have at home with your bowel movements and bladder control. This is a subject that few people discuss openly; it is one that many people don’t even think about consciously. But now, after your hospital stay and your treatments, you may be experiencing some discomfort with these functions.

The two main difficulties with the bowels are:

1. Constipation-irregular and infrequent bowel movements;

2. Diarrhea-unusually frequent bowel movements which are more liquid than usual.

Both problems are uncomfortable, but can be relieved and in many cases, prevented.

Constipation can be caused by lack of activity, or a significant change in diet. It can also be caused by drugs, such as narcotics or chemo-therapeutic drugs. Sometimes constipation occurs because your environment has changed. Perhaps you have less privacy than usual, or you have to use a bedpan.

Here are some simple methods to prevent constipation:

Add to your diet foods that are high in fiber and bulk, such as fresh or dried fruit, vegetables, whole-grain breads and cereals, and bran. Try prune juice or a glass of hot lemon water. Drink lots of fluids of all kinds and be as active as possible.

There are many medications to prevent constipation, such as stool softeners and bulk-form agents. Stool softeners and a stimulating laxative are a must for anyone who takes narcotics regularly. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to suggest one that would be right for you. Avoid bulk laxatives if you are taking narcotics; they may lead to severe constipation.

For many people, periodic or even daily use of a suppository is an effective way to stimulate a bowel movement. Glycerine

Bowel and Bladder Care

The human body has over 360 acupuncture points. Many of these are found in the soles of the feet. As blood circulates through your body, the soles of your feet are the furthest point away from your heart.

The feet are known as “the Mirror of the body”, because of the nerve endings and reflex points that can be followed to the foot area. Ancient Chinese reflexology is based on this. It teaches that these Mirror points can be stimulated for the well-being of the whole body. It also teaches that toxins can be released from these areas.

There has always been a great deal of focus on the feet in China. Increasing amounts of Chinese businessmen are replacing the power lunch with the power of massage. Foot massage parlors are becoming more commonplace in major Chinese cities. It must be a great way to spend your lunchtime. Indeed, one Chinese entrepreneur has opened up shops in Rome, Milan, and Florence. He has intentions of opening massage parlors in France, Spain, and the United States.

I can understand why people are going for these new foot detox patches. There has been a lot of talk over the past few years about how the feet play a major part in your overall health.

There is always a case for allowing alternative methods to be used in trying to heal people if they are not in life-threatening situations. For instance would it not be better for alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure, foot detox, and the like to be used for the treatment of a condition, before there is a resort to surgery. Most of these alternative methods are virtually painless and carry very little risk that the form correctly by a licensed practitioner.

By: Jack A. Burton

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There are quite a few options available to cleanse your colon, however, you might not understand the colon cleanse benefits that come with it. So read on to find out about a few of the ways that cleaning out your colon will improve your health.

The immediate colon cleanse benefits include but are not limited to:

-increase in energy
-improvement of skin/ decrease in acne
-reduction in water retention
-relieves bloating and gas
-stronger immune system
-excess weight loss

Now, we all want that right?

Well besides all the great benefits mentioned above. Another main reason why someone would want a colon cleansing is due to constipation. Due to many toxins that come from all kinds of factors, ranging from the food we eat, the water we drink , and even the air we breath….our colon soon becomes clogged with these accumulated toxins and becomes stuck around the colon wall.

Because of all this, an average person typically carries anywhere from 5lbs to a whopping 40lbs of feces in their colon. That is a pretty scary thing to picture I’m sure…but can you even begin to imagine how unhealthy that is!?

Luckily we can do something about this and get rid of all theses dangerous toxins we keep inside of us.

A colon cleanse, relieves this problem by breaking down the dried layers of feces stuck the colon wall, allowing the waste to properly pass through during bowel movements.

If you suffer from diarrhea on a regular basis, this is because your digestive system is not working the way it is suppose to. This is due to toxins that are interfering with the process of making your waste solid. A colon cleanse can help relieve this problem by ridding your body of these toxins and giving your colon a chance to function the way it should again.

Colon cleaning is also something you should want to do on a regular basis to help prevent colon cancer. Colon cancer is something we all should make a special effort to avoid. It happens to be the third leading cause of death among cancers.

If your interested in the benefits of weight loss, many people dealing with a large gut around the waist often find it is significantly reduced after doing a colon cleanse. This is because much of this gut consists of several pounds of waste buildup stored up in the colon as mentioned earlier

There is no reason not to reap the benefits of a colon cleanse and let all this toxic waste build up inside of you. Take action now!

If you would like to learn more about how to clean out your colon Click Here! [http://www.squidoo.com/cleanthecolon]

By: Rin Otori

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If you were to ask “are over the counter cleansers useful”? You’ll most likely get some answers in the affirmative and some in the negative-which means that your state of confusion persists and you still will not know whether they are of any use or not.

Typically over the counter refers to medicines or treatments that one can get from the chemist without any prescription. If you have realized that you need a colon cleanse then, because of acne or constipation or simply to improve your health, then you could try some over the counter colon cleansers. You have to be cautious before purchasing and also before using as there are many fake products available in the market that are not very effective.

You have to do a complete study of all the products available in the market and find out their ingredients. Some popular colon cleanse products are Oxypowder and Colonix. Some other are Bowtrol, Dual action colon cleanse and Almighty colon cleanser. The other alternative is to opt for natural remedies which are safe and easily obtainable.
Another colon cleaning method is colon irrigation but this can only be performed by someone who is medically qualified to do it.

Some other colon cleansers that are available in the market are Colonix, which is considered as a good colon cleanser. This colon cleanser shows quick results as it is fiber based.

Oxypowder is also a very popular colon cleanser; it is oxygen based and is quite effective. Overuse can create a dependency in the body which has bad side effects in the long run.

You can try over the counter colon cleansers or natural remedies but please do your homework carefully and research before you administer something into your body.

By: Elle McKinley

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This article is going to be about the theory behind foot detox. The basic premise behind it is that the toxins are extracted through the bottom of the foot. Detoxifying in this way relies only on passivity in the patient, there are two main methods on the market. One method is the detox foot patch which is like a large sticky plaster that you apply to the bottom of your foot just before you go to sleep at night. In the morning when you wake up the detox foot patch will have partially detoxified your body as you have slept.

The second method is the foot detox spa. The principle here is exactly the same of extracting the toxins from the feet. Small electrodes are fitted to the base of the unit. You place warm water inside the unit and put your feet in. Then you relax. This electrodes unit will then release positive ions into the water. The negative toxins are extracted from the soles of your feet by the positive ions in the water.

The proof that the methods actually working is provided by you vividly. This is in the form of discoloration. There will be major changes in the color of both the used water from the detox foot bath and the foot detox patch that has been removed from the sole of the foot in the morning.

Those skeptics who believe that the product is a con, say that the discoloration is caused by an ingredient in the detox foot patch and has a built-in element of the foot bath. Advocates of the detox foot patch and baths depart from this view.

By: Jack A. Burton

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Are you suffering from hemorrhoids or “piles”? Embarrassing as it might be to talk about it, studies show that a great number of people suffer from hemorrhoids every year. Because the modern adult’s lifestyle is largely sedentary (8-10 hours of sitting at work), everyone is prone to developing hemorrhoids. Looking for natural home treatment for hemorrhoids? The following tips will help get you back on your feet in no time.

Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids

1. Aloe vera gel – Gifted with natural anti-inflammatory properties, aloe vera gel will help soothe the pain from your condition. Simply apply on the affected area.

2. Witch’s hazel – An anti-bacterial, witch’s hazel cream will speed up the recovery process by keeping the affected area bacteria-free. Apply on the affected area with a piece of cotton.

3. Ice compact – To help relieve the pain, apply an ice compact on the area for five to ten minutes at a time. If you are in great pain, you can also opt to take Ibuprofen.

4. Hot sitz bath – Another way to relieve pain and calm your nerves. Fill a bucket or a bath tub with hot water. Sit in it for ten to fifteen minutes, until the pain lessens. Afterwards, you can apply olive oil on the affected area to help speed up the healing process.

These four tips will help you get better faster. But we all know that an ounce of prevention is worth a bucket of cure. So how to prevent piles?

Prevention Tips

1. Drink a lot of water

Drink at least eight to ten glasses every day. Water will flush out the toxins from your body and help you in your bowel movements.

2. To eat and not to eat

Avoid spicy food, they will only constipate you more. Eat fiber-rich food, like wheat bread, whole grains, nuts, vegetables and fruits. Also add yoghurt into your diet. The lactobacilli found in yoghurt will help your body fight bacteria.

Follow these home treatment for hemorrhoids and you’ll never have to worry about embarrassing “piles” again.

By: Erika Ayala

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A sore, itchy, bleeding anus is commonly referred to as a “hemorrhoid,” but may actually be something else. Hemorrhoids can exist alone or in conjunction with fissures, pruritis ani, or even cancer. Learn the differences so you can choose the best treatment.

Fissures, or tears in the mucous membrane of the anus, are very common in all ages. The main symptoms are bleeding and pain during or after a large, hard bowel movement. For most people, a small fissure will naturally heal itself provided it is protected from further trauma. Sometimes an anal fissure itches intensely during healing, or if it has trapped feces and toilet paper debris. You can protect a fissure by gently cleaning your anus and rectum with warm water via a bulb syringe; lubricate with petrolatum or oil before inserting. Follow up with a soothing suppository or ointments.

To prevent tearing your anal fissures, try dietary capsules or powders containing psyllium, flaxseed, or other bulk fibers. These plants work well to ease constipation. relieve painful fissures, and promote healing. You especially want to avoid both constipation and diarrhea, so don’t overdo the fiber, and be sure to drink plenty of water while taking fiber supplements.

Pruritis ani, literally “itchy anus,” is another condition that may or may not be caused by hemorrhoids. When a hemorrhoid itches, it is usually because it is secreting mucus, or is irritated by retained feces. A fissure itches for the same reasons. But pruritus ani can also be caused by diabetes, hormonal changes, yeast infection, pinworms, sexually transmitted disease such as chlamydia and herpes, and even cancer. Severe anal itching that does not respond to over-the-counter treatment should always be checked by a doctor.

Natural products that help with anal itching may contain ingredients such as extracts of horse chestnut, sophora japonica, stone root, cod liver oil, and shark liver oil. Each of these plant or animal products has proven to soothe anal itching. Extracts of horse chestnut and sophora japonica, though primarily used in creams and ointments, are also found in capsule form. Oral supplementation with horse chestnut extract or sophora japonica works directly in the bloodstream, improving circulation and promoting healing of irritated anal tissues.

Though not pleasant to think about, you should have a rectal exam yearly to detect any changes in tissue that could be cancerous. For example, human papillovirus is a cause of many cases of anal cancer, yet often shows no symptoms and may not be detected by the patient. A lab culture is a nearly 100% foolproof way to determine the presence of HPV or pre-cancerous cells in the anus.

Whether it’s a case of simple hemorrhoids, or something more serious, don’t ignore the symptoms. If your anal problems persist for more than two weeks, you should seek medical attention immediately.

By: JoEllen Watkins

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Most commonly, reflexology is carried out on the feet and the hands, so let us begin by defining what foot and hand reflexology is in the simplest of terms. Imagine someone would draw your entire body on your feet and on your hands where everything drawn on the right foot and the right hand corresponded exactly to the right side of your body and everything drawn on the left foot and left hand corresponded exactly to the left side of your body. When you’d look at the soles of the feet or the palms of the hands, you would be able to see the area of the heart, that of the lungs, the spine, the kidneys, the bladder and so on. These mirror areas of the body are called reflex areas – or reflexes – and reflexology is the science of the reflexes. Reflexology rebalances body chemistry by accessing the actual organs and various parts of the body through the mirror areas in the feet and hands. How? Using the 7000 nerve endings in each foot, using the blood flow, using the lymph flow, and possibly the acupunctural meridians as well. In the hands of a well-trained reflexologist – and this is an important point – reflexology will stimulate and optimize nerve flow, blood flow, and lymph flow to the area of the body being treated in the feet or the hands, thus minimizing pain as well as muscle tension and facilitating the body’s natural healing and detoxifying processes in that particular area. This is done by deep pressure thumb and finger techniques which reproduce the effect of walking barefoot in nature on different uneven surfaces such as stones, sand, grass, branches and so on. Too good to be true? Sounds more like science-fiction than science?

Then allow me to present the science to you. In the 1930′s, Eunice Ingham, an American physical therapist, developed Western Reflexology as we know it today. She is the one who mapped out all the reflex areas of the hands and feet. She did it by trial and error on thousands of patients working closely with a physician, Dr. Riley, and without any modern equipment. She knew what the complaints of her patients were and she looked for the corresponding areas in the foot which appeared to be “congested” and sore. This is how, over the years, she mapped out the reflex areas of the feet. Also, she realized that when she treated those areas with deep pressure, the complaints of her patients improved or disappeared. Today, methodologically valid studies prove that she was right. In 1999, thanks to Doppler sonography for instance, Austrian researchers proved that reflexology on the kidney reflex increased blood flow inside the kidney. When reflexology was applied to reflexes other than that of the kidney, the measured blood flow inside the kidney was not altered. Only when the specific area on the foot corresponding to one of the kidneys was stimulated by deep reflexology techniques did the amount of blood flow inside the corresponding kidney become greater. This means that more oxygen and more nutrients were immediately brought to the kidney to improve its function by the simple means of doing reflexology on the kidney reflex. For those interested, here below is the reference to the study.

“Changes of renal blood flow during organ-associated foot reflexology measured by color Doppler sonography” by Sudmeier I., Bodner G., Egger I., Mur E., Ulmer H., Herold M., Forsch Komplementarmed. 1999 Jun; 6(3): 129-34

One of the most valid and truly interesting studies on the effects of reflexology was carried out by the Oregon Research Institute and published in 2005 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The study demonstrated that cobblestone-mat walking significantly improved the health of older physically-inactive adults (between 60 and 92 years of age) over 16 weeks. This was measured by various physical performance tests, balance tests, and blood pressure changes. Here below is the reference to the study.

“Improving physical function and blood pressure in older adults through cobblestone mat walking: a randomized trial” by FUZHONG LI; FISHER K. John ; HARMER Peter, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society ISSN 0002-8614, 2005, vol. 53, no8, pp. 1305-1312 [8 page(s) (article)] (27 ref.)

This study is extremely significant because it shows that the health of the elderly people who walked on the cobblestones three times per week unquestionably improved much more than that of the elderly people who did the normal walking on a flat surface (the control group). In other words, the pressure caused by the cobblestones made all the difference. One should look at reflexology as the re-enactment of natural barefoot walking on different uneven surfaces. If you think about it, this the way nature intended for us to live – walking, not sitting all day like we do. What the study implies is that there is a natural rebalancing system of our body functions (our health) integrated in our feet which is being stimulated by deep pressure. And in the original plan, this pressure would have come from walking barefoot in nature. With modernization and daily sitting, this system is not being used anymore. That’s where reflexology comes in. As a matter of fact, every city in Asia has a cobblestone health park.

Researchers in some universities are now looking at what happens inside the brain when you stimulate certain reflexes. The first results are very encouraging and in the coming 20 years I am certain that many of the benefits of reflexology will be fully explained by scientific measurements and observations.

Be aware that there are two types of reflexology. The first is the type of reflexology that is often given in spas: this is more like an improved foot massage than anything else and cannot be considered clinically relevant. The second is the type of reflexology the above studies talk about: it activates the body’s natural healing and detoxifying processes and reduces pain as well as stress levels. With this type of reflexology, which some reflexologists like myself prefer to call medical (or clinical) reflexology, many medical conditions and their associated symptoms – especially pain – will improve in a matter of a few sessions.

By: Florence Cohen

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Hemorrhoidectomy fissure is often more popularly known as anal fissures. A reason with this is that a fissure is not another kind of a hemorrhoid. It is however referring to it as a hemorrhoid. Many people do commonly know that it is actually a hemorrhoid.

A hemorrhoidectomy fissure occurs when there is a slit in the perianal area in the skin. Typically, this tear is small in size and it runs vertically on the wall of the anal area. A fissure is typically caused by an irritated, fragile as well as tense skin in the anal area. This is due to all of the problems in hemorrhoids that you have got with it. A very common symptom is the itching of the anus, a bright red bleeding found on the toilet paper and in the stools, as well as, pains in the movement of the bowel.

It is typically dried feces or it can be undigested food or a combination of the two that can result in or cause fissures.

It can also be due to over wiping in the anal area using dry toilet paper because of diarrhea. This is very likely to result in fissure. A hemorrhoidectomy fissure can result due to numerous ways as listed above. However, it is most likely to happen during or after a hemorrhoid. I have seen several cases of fissures that result due to hard and dried stools as well as undigested grain of bread causing ruptures in the attack of hemorrhoids. The hemorrhoidectomy fissure can happen over and over again and it can worsen after the first hemorrhoid attack.

The situations people face with hemorrhoid fissures typically varies between cases. The attacks might be very different from the first case, second case or third case and so on. The duration between each period also varies from two or three months time to a year or so. It is really difficult to get rid of this hemorrhoid problem and it is also very painful as well.

There are of course hemorrhoidal creams that may be able to help to alleviate the pain from hemorrhoid fissures. Such hemorrhoidal treatment will include nitroglycerin based type of cream which is recommended for people with a fissure condition. However, it will give you some side effects like extreme headache or light-headedness.

Let us make hemorrhoids or fissures a thing of the past. Let hemorrhoids or hemorrhoidectomy fissures not come back to us again. This type of condition is really something very indescribable and is something that no one would like to undergo. There are so many people having this condition after being treated and they are still cringing in pain. A hemorrhoids fissure is really an unbearable condition to all people. Therefore, we should avoid and prevent them as far as possible.

By: Jack Harold

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Seeking treatment for thrombosed external hemorrhoid? Once you have confirmed the diagnosis of hemorrhoids, early treatment can prevent more serious conditions arising like thrombosed external hemorrhoids which developed over time due to lack of sufficient treatment.

By going into a pharmacy or health shop you can buy creams and ointments over the counter which will alleviate your symptoms and prevent them from worsening.

Blood clots are formed when the blood supply has been cut and the hemorrhoid literally become strangled which then results in thrombosed hemorrhoids and is an extremely painful and uncomfortable condition to be in.

Although cortisone creams do help but only over an extended period of time and this type of hemorrhoid needs immediate attention like having a surgical procedure done. You can prevent this from happening altogether but not allowing constipation to develop producing hard stools which is the main cause of piles.

Fresh fruit and fresh vegetables as well as beans need to be included in your diet as well as eating foods that have a high content of fibre. Drink plenty of water and fluids throughout the day which will all round improve your situation and promote normal soft bowel movements. In fact, changing your diet may be considered the best treatment for thrombosed external hemorrhoid.

There are also many products which you can obtain over the counter like husk, Metamucil and Senokot as well as hydrocortisone creams which will help your piles to shrink before you end up with thrombosed external hemorrhoids.

If you are already suffering from this type of hemorrhoid and the pain is unbearable, then surgery should be performed. This is a relatively quick procedure which involves cutting the hemorrhoid tissue away by making a small incision as well as a few stitches and you need not have a general anaesthetic as most doctors do this procedure in their consulting rooms under local anaesthetic. However one can develop an infection and may have some pain afterwards.

Alternatively you have another choice which may result in having to have a few treatments and may cost you quite a bit is laser surgery but this procedure is far safer and does not carry the risk of infection occurring. Then again there are many and various non surgical treatments which you can approach if you are able to live with the pain and discomfort you have.

One way or the other you need to resolve the thrombosed external hemorrhoids as this condition cannot be left unattended and due to the severe pain most people tend to have surgery done which resolves the pain and discomfort almost instantly as well as improves recurrence. So before you make any rash decisions go online and do some research then you can decide which way to turn making the right choice. You want to choose the best treatment for thrombosed external hemorrhoid for yourself.

By: Ai Qin

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Just released in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery, Volume 44, Issue 2 on pages 408- 412 is the result of a study done using interferential therapy ( IFT) for children with slow transit constipation. The study is titled,

“Decreased colonic transit time after transcutaneous interferential electrical stimulation in children with slow transit constipation” Contact the Journal of Pediatric Surgery for the full study.

Dr. Giovanni De Domenico, adviser to MedFaxx, actually detailed this procedure in his book,

“New Dimensions in Interferential Therapy. A Theoretical & Cinical Guide” in 1985.

Dr. De Domenico set out the protocol and the theory behind this form of stimulation for abdominal organs using interferential therapy ( IFT). This is a short description of Dr. De Domenico’s findings as they apply to adults.

” Abdominal organs are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, in particular by the parasympathetic system. This system is largely responsible for regulating the movement and function of the gut and bowel. If the sympathetic activity to a particular abdominal organ is suppressed, then this would leave the parasympathetic supply to that organ relatively unopposed and in this way, the function of the affected organs might be enhanced. Inhibition of sympathetic nervous system activity is claimed to occur at higher frequencies, providing these fibres are located relatively superficially. “

In Dr. De Domenico’s above example higher frequencies refers to 80 – 150 Hz ( CPS – cycles per second ). With the ability to premodulate or mix the electrical current in the interferential unit only two electrodes may be needed however 4 can be used. The treatment protocol is:

* high, wide, rhythmical fast sweep in the 80 – 150 Hz range

* intensity is relatively low so only slightly perceived, if at all

* there is to be no muscle contractions

* duration of the treatment is for approx. 10-15 minutes 2 – 3x weekly

* total treatments should be 10 – 12 based upon the treating frequency above

The protocol described has been used to successfully treat chronic constipation with the electrode placement on the anterior abdominal wall in the clinical setting. Today with the advances of medical technology the patient is able to self treat at home and the protocol may change as new results become available. Of course the key is prevention, not treatment.

Much of the theory of using interferential for pain involves stimulation to suppress the actual pain impulse. In the above protocol we once again see the efficacious effect of the IFT is suppression of an ongoing signal of the sympathetic system. The effect of the parasympathetic is stronger and the efficacious result of suppression is beneficial treatment of chronic constipation.

By: Bob G Johnson

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