The Living Dead Delusion/Cotard Delusion

Posted by admin on September 25th, 2011

This is one of the weirdest medical conditions known. In this condition the sufferer believes that he is dead. No amount of logic will convince him otherwise. In fact, the sufferers go to the extent where they start believing that they can smell the rotting flesh of their dead bodies, and they are putrefying! Nobody can convince them that since they can smell, they are still very much alive. This condition can also sometimes lead to patients believing that they are immortal. They think they are invisible, non existent, have worms crawling all over their rotting flesh, etc. Medical experts say that this is a symptom of extreme, suicidal depression, but they haven’t been able to come up with a cure as yet.

Blaschko’s Lines
This is another weird medical condition, where strange stripes occur on the patient’s body. The stripes follow a pattern across all the sufferers, with almost all of them showing ‘S’ shaped patterns on the sides, abdomen and chest, and ‘V’ shaped patterns on the back. This strange condition has neither been classified as a disease nor as a symptom of any other disease. It is believed to be a pattern that is inbuilt into the DNA of the people suffering from this pretty rare condition. It looks like the stripes have been painted on the body with precision. These stripes do not have any association with any other systems in the human body, like the lymphatic, muscular or lumbar systems. Since the cause is not confirmed, there is no cure for this strange condition.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome
This is one of the most mysterious medical conditions that afflicts people suffering from visual loss. They suffer from hallucinations that can range from funny to bizarre and freaky. Sometimes they see things that are not present, while at other times the things that are present take on different forms, colors, etc. These hallucinations can last for anytime between a few minutes to a few hours. The cause is thought to be the malfunction and degeneration of light sensing cells which are present in the retina, which cause a progressively worsening blind spot in the center of the vision. There is no cure for this condition.

Exploding Head Syndrome
Unlike what the name indicates, this is not a condition where there have been cases of people randomly exploding. But the people suffering from this syndrome often experience extremely loud noises in their head. They have reported the noises as resembling waves crashing, an explosion (obviously), screams, roars, loud screeching noises, and ringing. This condition is suspected to be related to stress, and although there is no pain with the attacks, there are bright flashes accompanying them. Usually, these explosions occur during sleep, but sometimes they may occur when awake too, and frequent cases may end up inducing the person with fear and anxiety.

Side Effects of Asafoetida

Posted by admin on September 4th, 2011

Anything in limit is safe for the human body. But, anything used in excess is bound to respond with a negative, undesired reaction. Asafoetida in normal limits is also safe for humans. Intake of about 15 g of this resin produces no ill-effects. Anything beyond this safe limit causes undesired effects. Side effects commonly observed due to overuse of asafoetida are discussed below.

Hemorrhaging in Livestock
Coumarin constituents present in Ferula communis are toxic in nature and are known to reduce prothrombin concentrations thereby, causing hemorrhaging in livestock.

Contact Dermatitis
Ferula galbaniflua and Ferula rubricaulis are two other species of asafoetida which contain a gum that is rubefacient and has irritant properties. Individuals sensitive to these species develop contact dermatitis as a side effect.

Swollen Lips
Patients treated with asafoetida develop swollen lips as a side effect. Their lips become enlarged and puffy after taking the dose and get back to normal after sometime. Some patients also develop swelling in the face and throat, only if they are more prone to its effects.

Abdominal Gas and Diarrhea
Patients on herbal treatment with asafoetida may suffer from abdominal problems like gas and diarrhea. Frequent loose stools make it difficult for patients, adding to their misery and abdominal gas results in burping and belching. These side effects can be minimized by snacking prior to taking the resin dosage.

Skin Rashes
Some patients develop skin rashes in response to asafoetida use. Rashes cause extreme discomfort as they result in redness, itching and tingling sensation. Such patients should avoid scratching the sensitized skin as it can worsen the condition.

Headache and Dizziness
These side effects are observed in patients which have the unusual habit of taking large doses of asafoetida. Headaches lead to difficulty in concentration and carrying out regular activities while dizziness causes inability to move properly.

Treat Skin Pigmentation Problems

Posted by admin on August 20th, 2011

Sun Spots: When we are exposed to sunlight, the production of melanin is triggered to protect our skin from the harmful ultraviolet radiations. The result being a tanned skin and sunburns. These problems can cause skin cancer and even play a major role in developing hyper pigmentation. So, how do you treat these skin pigmentation problems? Read on…
How To Treat Them: Your number one defense to this problem is to use a waterproof sunscreen with SPF 15 (Asians can go in for sunscreens having higher SPF for better protection). Whether you are a homemaker or work, using a sunscreen should become like a habit for you. Even if you use sunscreen, it becomes important to cover yourself thoroughly to limit sun exposure. Look for creams and lotions containing vitamin C in the form of Ascorbyl and Kojic acids, which help in combating this type of skin pigmentation problem. Use of Aloe Vera gel also works wonders in soothing sunburns and also treats them well.

Melasma: Melasma causes brownish-grayish patches on the skin and especially on the cheeks. This condition usually occurs amongst women and the culprit being the hormonal imbalance. Pregnancy is the time when women get affected with this type of pigmentation problem. Other then fluctuations in hormones; birth control pills, certain medications and cosmetics also cause melasma.
How To Treat Them: Melasma generally fades on its own after the pregnancy phase. If the discoloration still exists, creams containing glycolic acid should be used. These creams help exfoliate pigmented skin, that leads to shedding the top layer of the skin giving you an even skin tone. Skin lightening products that contain retinoids and kojic acid can also be used. Tomatoes and carrot juice can be applied to the affected area, to lighten the discoloration. Tomatoes and carrots stimulate skin growth and prevents premature aging of skin. Inclusion of nuts rich in antioxidants in your daily diet can help in reducing skin pigmentation.

White Spots: White spots as opposed to the above forms of hyperpigmentation, is a common form of hypopigmentation. Hypopigmentation is the loss of melanin, which results in white skin. Inappropriate laser therapies, burns and blisters result in loss of color in the skin. Albinism and vitiligo are skin disorders that cause white spots. Albinism is a genetic disorder that is passed from the parents to their children. Whereas the cause of vitiligo is unknown, however both result in white patches on the skin, where melanin is not produced. Moreover, people affected with hypopigmentaion are at higher risk for sun damage and skin cancer.
How To Treat Them: Normally it is assumed that forms of hypopigmantation cannot be cured. However one has to remember, that the condition can worsen on exposure to the sun. Hence, your first step to fight it ought to be using a sun block every day, whatever weather it might be. As a temporary option you can also cover up these white spots using make-up. In all other cases for a permanent result topical steroid therapies and surgical therapies work wonders. Consult your dermatologist and opt of an apt solution.

Tips on How to Use a Maternity Pillow

Posted by admin on August 18th, 2011

Apart from eliminating stress from the lower back, a maternity pillow can also help prevent heartburn, avoid unnecessary tossing and turning during the night (or napping), provide support to the bump, relieve pressure from abdominal nerves and uterus, improve proper blood circulation through the legs, and help move the baby in the ideal position during labor. With all these benefits and more, using a maternity pillow sounds like a good investment. And as you keep reading, below you will see the necessary steps to using the pillow correctly and sleep soundly while pregnant.
•Consult with your gynecologist about when is the right time for you to begin using the maternity pillow. You can start as early as the 10th or 12th week (or sometimes sooner than that) of your pregnancy. This way, your body will try to adapt according to the pillow and find the perfect position to sleep in, that makes you comfortable.
•Purchase a quality pregnancy pillow to ensure your entire back, hips, stomach (bump), head, spine, legs, and shoulders don’t come under any strain. Plus, the design of the pillow will also play a huge role in placing it in the right spot. So do proper research before you select the pillow that works for your personal needs.
•Basically, you are supposed to place the lower part of the pillow between your thighs, support the bump in the middle, and use the top part as a regular pillow. Although this will depend on whether you want a full body maternity pillow or one with a different design.
•There isn’t just one way to place the pillow for support. Depending on the shape and size of your pillow, you can use it to place it underneath your back or the belly. But keep one thing in mind; don’t make the mistake of assuming that more expensive maternity pillows are the best out of the lot. Again I would like to urge you to speak with your gynecologist to help you find the right shaped pregnancy pillow that will provide you with optimum comfort.
•Finally, it doesn’t matter whether you are sleeping, napping, or just laying in bed reading a book, listening to music, or watching television, you should use the pillow as frequently as possible. This way, your belly is supported at all times, you won’t feel any pressure on the uterus or abdominal nerves, and you can actually rest properly.


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