Popular Applications of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid has received much press lately as a natural source of health and beauty. In fact, there are so many uses and benefits of hyaluronic acid, it is instructive to clarify and organize them.

The three main categories of uses for hyaluronic acid are: anti-aging treatments, nutritional supplements, and medical treatments.

Anti-Aging Supplements and Creams

As we age, hyaluronic content in the skin changes due to two separate clinically proven factors, decrease in HA synthesis and shift from concentration from the epidermis to the dermis. These changes can leave the epidermis depleted in hyaluronic acid resulting in thinning, aging, and decreased moisture in the skin. Nutritional supplement and beauty products such as Episilk ® contain ultra-high concentrations of hyaluronic acid in order to provide intensive moisture for aged skin that suffers from the dryness and wrinkles. When applied to the skin, HA can penetrate the skin surface and replenish the natural levels already present. Like hyaluronic acid produced in the body, hyaluronic acid used in this form moisturizes from the dermis to the epidermis - from deeper layers of the skin to the outer layer.

Nutritional Supplements

Hyaluronic acid extracted from rooster combs cannot be absorbed by the intestinal tract. But, Japanese scientists have developed a proprietary enzyme-cleaving technique to lower the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid without altering its chemical nature. This allows hyaluronic acid to be taken orally as a nutritional supplement, many varieties of which are readily available for commercial use.

Facial Injections

Hyaluronic acid based gel injections are a new option for the on-spot treatment of facial wrinkles. These shots must be administered by a dermatologist and last up to 4 to 6 weeks.

Medical Treatments

Products containing hyaluronic acid are in use or are being researched to aid in the prevention and treatment of symptoms related to connective tissue disorders such as: fractures, hernias, glaucoma, keratoconus, detached retinas, osteoarthritis, TMJ, prevention of scarring, vocal chord repair insufficiency, wrinkled skin, cartilage damage, and wound and ligament healing. Of these, osteoarthritis has recently become a particularly popular area for HA treatment. Physicians have injected hyaluronic acid directly into the synovial fluid in the knee as a treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee for the past 20 years. There is, however, an ongoing debate as to the efficacy of this treatment.

Liposuction - Remove the Excess Fat and Get the Perfect Figure

Even those who commit to eating well and exercising can find that genetic factors can negate their efforts as age and hormones cause deposits to grow and sag. At this point, cosmetic procedures can be an appealing option. Liposuction can give a perfect shape to the abdomen, the waist area and also to the hips, neck, arms, thighs and back. Here are some details about the various ways the procedure can improve specific areas of the body.

Legs

Inner thigh liposuction can reduce the rubbing together of the inner thighs and improve the silhouette of the legs. For women who are bothered by their knee, this will usually be treated at the same time. The best results will be experienced by those who have good skin elasticity. Otherwise, a thigh lift might be needed to accompany the procedure to remove extra skin. Liposuction alone will not improve rippling in the skin.

Buttocks

Because too much liposuction will result in sagging skin, a conservative approach should be taken and no more then 40 percent of flab in the buttocks should be removed. The procedure cannot be expected to lift or elevate the buttocks, although sometimes that can be a positive side effect once the natural elasticity of the skin is regained. Often it is best for this surgery to be performed under local anesthesia with the patient remaining awake but sedated so she can lie comfortably on her stomach providing the surgeon best access to the surgical site.

Face

Liposuction is performed to the chin, cheeks, neck and jowls to remove deposits that are usually the result of genetics and completely resistant to diet and exercise. These deposits can make a person appear chubby, older and less athletic. When combined with laser resurfacing or a chemical peel, the results can be as dramatic as a facelift.

Arms

This procedure is almost exclusively performed on women who, as they age, find it more difficult to maintain a toned upper body. Loose some skin in the triceps along with fat pads in front of and behind the arm pit can cause insecurity when wearing sleeveless shirts or evening attire. A patient considering this procedure must have realistic expectations as excessive removal of flab from this area can result in an unappealingly lumpy look which can become even worse with weight gain.

Of course, under all circumstances always consult with your doctor about what method best meets your goals, body type and medical history.

Sharp Knee Pain Symptoms - What You Can Do to Support Your Knee

When you have knee pain it can be terrible to deal with!

Are you having sharp knee pain currently?

Regardless of your age, gender, or athletic fitness level, many people will have knee discomfort at some point in their lives. This is mostly a result of the knee joint taking on a lot of stress due to your daily activities.

Think about it: running, walking, climbing steps, bending, kneeling, dancing, jumping, and sometimes, even sitting in one position for too long, all can put a strain on the knee joint. It's not a shock that so many people, at some point, suffer through sharp knee pain symptoms.

There are times when the knee discomfort has a momentary effect and it can leave as quickly as it came. Other times, the sharp knee pain symptoms have more staying power, and they worsen over time. These are the symptoms that may signify a real problem that can become debilitating if left unchecked.

Discomfort can range from occasional throbbing pain symptoms, to a never-ending sharp stabbing sensation. They can occur in any area of the knee joint, such as the outside (lateral) part of the knee, the front of the knee, the inside (medial) part of the knee, or the back (posterior aspect) of the knee. The location, intensity and duration of the sharp knee pain symptoms can give clues as to the cause of the pain.

There are many conditions that can cause sharp knee pain symptoms, such as arthritis, subluxation of the patella (kneecap), trauma to the ligaments and cartilage inside the knee, bursitis, and even infection.

It is important to have your symptoms evaluated by a qualified medical specialist in order to determine their cause. But, whatever the cause of your sharp knee pain symptoms, there's no doubt that if you are in pain, your first priority is to get relief from the discomfort.

Aside from rest, ice packs, and over-the-counter pain relievers, there is an alternative available to you that may help ease your sharp knee pain symptoms: a knee brace. These effective supports should definitely be considered.

A knee brace, when used properly, helps support and stabilize the knee joint, helping to relieve the stress that often exacerbates sharp knee pain symptoms. Moreover, when in place, a knee brace can help keep the knee and kneecap (patella) properly aligned, helping to alleviate a common source of sharp knee pain symptoms.

Many people assume that knee braces need to be custom made, are difficult to use, and cost way too much to be practical. The truth is, typically, an effective knee support does not need to be custom made to be useful; nor are they cumbersome and hard to use.

Just think about it. If a knee brace was so big and bulky, no body would use them and all the knee brace manufacturers would have been out of business a long time ago.

A knee brace just may be the answer you have been looking for. Some people have referred to knee supports as a "pain pill" due to the pain reduction they can help provide!

About Hatha Yoga for Preventing Knee Injuries

There are many types of yoga, teachers, and variations in philosophy. Most styles of yoga are not physical, but the world has adopted the physical aspect and needs to mature a bit more to appreciate the deeper aspects of Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, and Raja.

The Physical Side

To some practitioners, Hatha yoga is a terrific full-body workout, with thoughtful routines that will stretch and align all the major muscle groups. However, the expression "no pain, no gain" has no place at all in any yoga practice. If anything you do causes pain, stop immediately. The word for a yoga pose is "asana," so even if the poses are not exactly easy, they should put your body at ease and not under stress or pain.

Precautions

Knees are of particular concern when practicing Hatha yoga. Many of the twisting asanas pose hazards for pre-existing injuries or misaligned knees, and the kneeling asanas can put a great deal of stress on weak knees as well. Yoga can be perfectly safe for everyone, however, this is provided you take a few sensible precautions.

Kneeling asanas like Camel or even a simple Cat Cow pose are hard on tender knees. Feel free to use extra padding if your mat is not enough to cushion your knees. A rolled up towel will work fine, or just roll up the end of your mat to get an adequate level of cushion. Move cautiously if you know that your knees are a weak point; don't rush your practice and feel free to ease your way into poses that require your knees on the mat. Remember that this is your yoga practice and no good can come from doing it in a way that compromises your comfort and safety.

Alignment is another important issue when it comes to knees and yoga. A good rule of thumb is to keep your knees pointing in the same direction as your feet and toes. Also be sure to never overextend or lock your knees in a pose, this puts too much pressure on the knee joint. Instead, make sure that your leg muscles are fully engaged as you hold the pose. Using your leg muscles correctly protects your knee area and it also gives you a much more effective workout.

The good news for weak knees is that a regular yoga practice can substantially increase the strength and flexibility of your knees. Don't be discouraged if there are poses that are out of your reach at this time, if you keep practicing at your own pace you will soon see significant improvement. Remember that asanas are gradually meant to be easy, not stressful, and that your goal is to have a yoga practice that is enjoyable and injury-free.

A Side Note For Yoga Teachers

Remember that all bodies are not equal. If you can't modify, assist, or allow props, be honest with prospective students. They may be better off with the yoga instructor down the road, if their joints will be put at risk in your class. Adult students from chair sitting cultures may not have the flexibility and may have limits in range of motion due to skeletal compression. Every graduate of a yoga certification program should understand basic anatomy. Once a yoga instructor discovers that each body is unique, it is time to put this knowledge to good use by showing compassion to all students.

穢 Copyright 2012 - Aura Wellness Center - Publications Division

Knee Arthritis - 5 Best Alternative Treatments to Dangerous NSAID's

Knee arthritis can occur at quite a young age, especially in those that have taken care of their bodies and are still in great shape whatever age.

So it comes as a shock when you go to visit your doctor and he tells you that you have osteoarthritis and it's going to be an ongoing part of your life, and then prescribes you NSAID's, which is essentially like burying your head in the sand.

Doctors say arthritis has no cure and that NSAID's are the best form of pain relief - in the West that is - but what you are doing when you take one of these anti-inflammatory cocktails is letting the disease run away and spread throughout your knee and body, while all the time you are just swallowing another pill every time arthritis flares up somewhere.

Some medical practitioners in the West however are finally accepting that this pattern of thinking really has to change, especially now there are new supplements and treatments which haven't just yet provided a cure, but are getting very close and are much more successful at helping to get this disease to go into some state of remission.

So when it comes to seeing your doctor and you ask what alternatives there are to taking something like Celebrex which is now banned in the U.S for the dangerous side effects patients experienced after long-term use - your doctor should hopefully state the following.

5 Best Alternative Treatments to NSAID's

1. Try Glucosamine:

Glucosamine is now found in a few popular FDA registered homeopathic supplements for joint pain and these can be taken with any medication - even NSAID's if you're trying to wean your way off them.

These will reduce the inflammation, restrict pain signals sent from the joint to receptors in the brain and they also contain elements like magnesium which can help rebuild bone density by some 12%.

2. Physio work:

This will help improve your mobility, increase flexibility and strengthen the muscles around the knee..

Physio work can include your own exercise routines such as swimming plenty of laps, as swimming as many people know will help strengthen muscles throughout the body and also reduce the pain naturally the fitter you are.

3. Get plenty of sun:

Doctors will obviously not stress that the sun can help with coping with arthritis in the knee, but many people with this condition swear by that fact that being out and active in the sun certainly has a positive impact on how you deal with this disease in your body.

4. Fish oil and vitamins:

Omega 3, 6, and 9 proteins are also widely known now in the west to help lubricate the cartilage and if you've ever gone on a long walk, 15km plus and you feel your legs seizing up a bit, you know when you take one of those supplements that after a few minutes you start to feel a very subtle warm feeling around the joints, and mobility in the legs becoming less strenuous.

Perfectly natural and also great for longevity, more so when consumed in its natural form like salmon, mackerel and sardines.

Vitamin C and D are also recommended, especially vitamin D in 800mg capsules - both are great at lubricating the joints.

5. Stay positive and keep focused:

If it's knee arthritis that's getting you down, say to hell with it and go abroad if you can afford it, somewhere hot ideally.

If not, do some work in your community, help people out, voluntary work helps you to keep your mind off it, especially if it's abroad where you meet new people and grow as an individual.

Communicate with people on forums or in the community who have the same problem, although make sure they are positive spirits and are not constantly wallowing away.

Live a life worth living!

Arthritis Treatment: Nerve Growth Factors For Treatment Of Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and affects more than 20 million Americans.

OA is a disease of hyaline cartilage, the tough "gristle" that caps the ends of long bones. Hyaline cartilage consists of a matrix of proteoglycans which are complex arrangements of proteins and sugar molecules. In addition, there is a framework of tough collagen fibers.

Inside this proteoglycan/collagen matrix are cells called chondrocytes. The maintenance of cartilage is dependent on normal metabolic function of these chondrocytes.

Cartilage, when loaded or exposed to shearing forces, acts as a shock absorber. It will partially deform but springs back to its normal shape. It also provides a gliding surface which is facilitated by a small amount of synovial fluid, produced by the joint lining, that acts as a lubricant.

OA is a wear and tear disease of articular cartilage and results from the lack of ability of cartilage to keep up with excessive breakdown.

A disturbance in the matrix causes loss of cartilage resiliency. Inflammatory proteins, called cytokines, and destructive enzymes, called proteases degrade cartilage.

While there are no therapies that can halt the gradual destruction and wearing away of cartilage, there are some treatments that provide palliative relief.

These include analgesic medicines (pain relievers), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), physical therapy, exercise, and injections of glucocorticoids and viscosupplements.

A new treatment, called nerve growth blocking factor, was initially tested in clinical trials a few years ago. These drugs block nerve growth factor, a protein causing certain nerve cells to grow. This drug proved to be profoundly effective for relieving the pain of OA of the knee.

Unfortunately, a significant number of volunteers in the studies experienced complications, termed "joint failure."

"These included 83 cases of rapidly progressing osteoarthritis where bone and cartilage deteriorated and 30 cases of osteonecrosis, which is bone death caused by poor blood supply," according to Nona Colburn, a clinical reviewer with the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

The makers of these drugs feel these complications were due to patients using anti-nerve growth factor drugs along with NSAIDS and have recommended that if the drugs are marketed patients not use them alongside NSAIDS.

The manufacturers also have said that if studies are resumed, they will use lower doses of the anti-nerve growth factor drugs, limit the amount of NSAID a patient can take during the trials, and also screen volunteers for conditions that might predispose them to joint failure complications.

Identifying Your Gout Symptoms and Signs

Do you ever feel any discomfort and pain in your joints, feet, ankles, knees, hands, even your wrists? If this uneasiness and aching continues to linger in the said areas, then you probably might want to go and see a doctor. You might have gout.

Gout may not be a very serious condition if you normally experience joint pains; but left untreated, gout can pose and rise to become a serious concern. Being familiar and having an extensive knowledge about gout symptoms may help you to fight and prevent those sudden, intense joint pains.

The symptoms of gout are fairly easy to spot. Since gout normally attacks the joints around the area of the feet, then experiencing joint aches there would be a very good sign that you might be on your way to having gout. Some other signs and symptoms of gout include the following.

• Subsistence of uric acid crystals in the joint fluid.


• Hyperuricemia or an increased quantity of uric acid in the blood.


• Attacks of acute arthritis more than a single time.


• Arthritis that increases and matures in a day or less, resulting in a warm, balmy, inflamed, and red joint.


• Infiltrations of arthritis in only one joint, which usually is in the knee, ankle, or toe, more specifically, the ball of the big toe.

The above are the main things to look out for. Other gout signs and symptoms include.

• Joint pains and aches which are isolated in only one or two joints.


• Gentleness and tenderness around the affected area, or joint.


• Movement and motion of the affected joint or limb becomes excruciatingly painful and unbearable.

Chronic and recurring gout may even lead up to kidney failure and ultimately kidney stones. If you have any of these symptoms or signs, especially if you experience signs of a gout attack, then you should rush to a nearby doctor immediately. These symptoms of gout attacks include the following.

• Chills, or fever rising and falling.


• A quick and hasty onset usually between 12-24 hours and often happening and taking place overnight during sleep.


• The pain comes and goes quickly.

If any of you out there experience any of these symptoms and signs of a gout attack, quickly head to your nearest doctor and report that you are experiencing a gout attack.

Knowing about gout symptoms may not be essential information to carry around as stock knowledge, but you never know when gout is going to strike you or any of your family members, relatives, loved ones or friends. It is better to be safe than sorry. Gout symptoms like the ones above are only some of a number of symptoms which identify gout.

To find out more about the signs of gout, you may probably want to ask your resident doctor, and also ask for the ways to prevent further gout attacks from happening. Not only will it save you from a joint-pained life, but it will also save you a lot of money caused by the amount of medical procedures required to get rid of gout.