Stem Cell Miracles

Stem cells are the modern equivalent of an elixir of life because it is a cure for all sorts of diseases because stem cells are found in all multi cellular organisms and can repair a wide range of specialized cell types as well as damaged organs. It is no surprise that they have already been proven to treat ailments such as heart diseases and leukemia as well as a host of conditions that has yet to find a cure for. How ever stem cell research have been proven to be controversial because it uses human embryo to extract the cell. Although an alternative method has already been discovered in harvesting stem cells. The ongoing stem cell research has opened up numerous possibilities in medical science. The treatment of leukemia used to mean repeated chemotherapy to destroy the damaged immune system. But with stem cells, it can be introduced to the bone marrow to rebuild the immune system. This process has become more like a blood transfusion which benefits the patients who must suffer the effects of chemotherapy.

Heart diseases also stand to benefit from this new research. Stem cells are introduced to a patient to regenerate damaged heart tissues. Traditional heart treatments used to involve heart transplant. But operations like this sometimes cause complications and the patient has a risk of not making it. And the time it takes for a heart donor to become available sometimes takes years and some patient die.

Another disease that has plagued many people is diabetes. People who have family members afflicted with diabetes can testify how hard and uncomfortable this disease is. But new research into stem cells harvested from fat can treat this disease. The fat from our bodies contain baby fat and it is this fat that scientist cultivates in a laboratory dish and molded unto the types of cells required. This can also cure injuries of the spinal cord and could be grown into cartilage or even bone. Stem cells have indeed ushered in a modern age of medicine where diseases once curable by antibiotics are no longer effective due to the pathogens evolving. This new research may hold the key into finding new cures that will help man live longer and healthier lives free from pain and sickness.

Antioxidants Miracle Drugs?

Health supplements that are rich in antioxidants are selling like hotcakes. People have come to believe that antioxidants will promote health and and will prevent disease. Food supplements like cranberry capsules, green tea extract as well as vitamin C and vitamin E are bought and consumed by people by the bucket loads. Commercials shown on the television promote certain fruit juices that have boasted to be rich in antioxidants to help us fight highly destructive chemicals called free radicals. But is this really the case? Recent studies in the past few years have concluded that at best, antioxidant supplements do little or nothing to benefit our health. Even worse taking or accidentally taking large doses will give us the opposite effect and will give us health problems that they are suppose to stamp out.

But how did antioxidants acquired the reputation of being a miracle health cure? Decades ago, scientist has discovered that highly destructive chemicals called free radicals are linked to many kinds of diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, cancers, diabetes and even arthritis. And it was soon discovered that people whose diet are rich in fruit and vegetables have lower rates of diabetes, dementia and certain types of cancer. Fruit and vegetables are a rich source of antioxidants so the connection was made. Free radicals bad, antioxidants good.

The best know antioxidant, vitamin E was put to the test recently by scientist to prove that it is no miracle drug. Studies have shown that vitamin E supplements cannot prevent cancers and Alzheimer's. But taking antioxidants does have a health benefit, but not the way it was hyped out to be. Green tea was found to have health benefits. The best way to have a healthy body is by living a healthy lifestyle. Eat a well balanced meal of fruit, meat, fish and vegetables, take plenty of liquids a get enough sleep. And as of now there is no magic pill that we can take to make us magically healthy.

Herbal Alternative To Prescription Drugs

In most cases where conventional prescription drugs fail, herbal medicines can work astonishingly well. Many scientific studies have already proven that herbal medicines work as well or even better than standard over the counter medicines that are use to treat anything from arthritis, osteoporosis, anxiety to migraines. In fact many practicing medical doctors regularly prescribe herbs instead of modern day medicines even from big modern hospitals located in the U.S and across Asia.

In countries like China where herbal medicines are sold regularly have testified its benefits to the people as well as many Chinatowns all over the world sell traditional chinese medicines, in which a large portion of them are made from herbs. There are many benefits of herbal medicines compared to over the counter drugs, like there is no danger of overdose in case you take a large amount of herbal medicines accidentally and are cheaper compared to their pharmaceutical counter parts. But the greatest benefit of all is they can be used to treat ailments for which there are no known drug treatments like you can use herbal medicine to kill viral infections that dont respond well to antibiotics as well as some forms of cancer. You can even use them to treat your varicose veins. But please bear in mind that not everyone will respond well to herbal medicines but you will be pleasantly surprised on how well herbal remedies work.