Steam Therapy During Unwell Days

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Health Conscious

My 3-year-old having steam therapy with Vicks Vaporub during one sick day. Her sitter held the blanket for her.

There are days when you feel down with something. You do not necessarily have fever, but your body feels tired and fatigued and it seems that there is a nagging headache, though your head is not necessarily throbbing.

Sometimes, this steam therapy can really help. I am not sure about the science of this, but I do feel great afterwards, like when the sweat starts streaming all over your body. This is a simple do it yourself procedure that you can also do when you have a flu or if you are recovering from one. It also alleviates body pains and clears air passageways (like if you have cough or colds).

1. Boil water.
2. Set up a chair and get blanket. In a small bowl, put some tap water, alcohol, and face towel for the alcohol bath.
3. Get a small basin or bowl and put about a tablespoon of Vicks Vaporub in it. Put this under the chair or near your feet.
4. Cover yourself with the blanket, preferably over your head.
5. Pour the boiling water on the basin. The temperature of the water will melt the Vicks Vaporub and what you will get is steam with a rich aroma of eucalyptus and menthol.

Just close your eyes the entire time because the steam can be quite strong and sting your eyes. Stay there for about 5-10 minutes, or until there is no more steam. The heat will open your pores and make your sweat. After this, have an alcohol bath to close the pores.

You can do this yourself or you can have someone pour the hot water while you position yourself on the chair with the blanket. But I do it by myself and I am sure that you can do it, too. You can also do this with your kids but with close supervision because the boiling water can scald them if you are not careful. With my 3-year-old daughter, I put eye mask over her eyes and I did not cover her head because her young facial skin is still quite sensitive and it might get burned. Just exercise caution. I also did this to her because she can already comprehend simple instructions, like having to sit still the whole time as the hot water might hurt her. And she complied. If you think that you child cannot stay still for the procedure then don’t this, because the risk of burning from the boiling water is high. And that would be another problem.

Note: When you perform this, do not turn on the aircon and the fan. After the procedure, don’t turn on the fan yet. Wait for your body to adjust to room temperature.

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The Sex Superbug That Can Be Worse Than AIDS

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Health Conscious

We have many scares about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and it seems that the death toll just continues to rise rather than wane. It just goes to show that people will risk anything to indulge the flesh, even if it means getting sick or even dying. Or maybe it is the thought that you can outsmart these viruses?

Anyway, like smoking, what I feel bad about are the unintentional victims–those who have been transfused with HIV-infected blood, those who had contact (not necessarily sexual) with those who are sick, or those children who are born those who are infected mothers. They did nothing wrong–they just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It is just like smoking. Non-smokers are at greater risk of contracting lung cancer because of second hand smoke. It is not their choice, they did not smoke, but they are affected.

Using paid workers for temporary pleasure just increases your chances of contracting diseases. But it seems, there is no stopping this so-called “profession”. Photo from the internet.

Now, after HIV and AIDS, we now have a supervirus that kills faster than AIDS and it is resistant to all kinds of drugs available today. Actually, it is just gonorrhea, but one that is resistant to antibiotics. Alan Christianson, a doctor of naturopathic medicine, said that, “This might be a lot worse than AIDS in the short run because the bacteria is more aggressive and will affect more people quickly. Getting gonorrhea from this strain might put someone into septic shock and death in a matter of days.”

Contracting this virus is very dangerous because its effects are rather direct. This strain of gonorrhea, also known as HO41, was discovered in Japan only two years ago in female sex worker, 31, who was already screened in 2009. But since then, the bacteria has been found to have infected people in Hawaii, California, and Norway. It seems to spread faster than airborne viruses.

It is not condom that can prevent this. It is the avoidance of having intercourse with strangers. It is the abstinence or the loyalty to one’s partner. It is also the avoidance of vices that will lead to sexual acts.

If you don’t care about yourselves, then think about other people. Think of the lives that can be destroyed because of your carelessness.

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Courtney Love Promotes a New Line of E-cigarettes

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Health Conscious

Courtney Love interacts with the people as she promotes NJOY–a new brand of e-cigarettes. Photo from the internet.

Hard-partying actress Courtney Love appeared healthier at the Coachella Music Fest 2013. She gained some weight and actually looked happier. And she was endorsing a new brand of e-cigarettes called NJOY.

Some people who tried the product thought it was pretty good. Was it instrumental to her rehabilitation. I am not sure, but it seems that people are buying into the idea and buying the product.

So what are e-cigarettes? An e-cigarette, or electronic cigarette, “a personal vaporizer or PV, is an electronic inhaler that vaporizes a liquid solution into an aerosol mist, simulating the act of tobacco smoking.” So it simulates a cigarette without the actual process of burning.

The effects, or its benefits, are still questionable. But many people think it is better than conventional cigarettes. What do you think?

Miss Love wears a sheer lace dress to the Coachella Festival 2013. Photo from the internet.

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