While the whole world was masquerading in scary and outrageous costumes during Halloween, a team of scientists was making progress with the latest study on irrational fear. Results of this study are expected to expand current knowledge about treatments for major medical problems concerning irrational fear.
We’re taking all of what we learned from the basic studies of animals and bringing that into the clinical practices that help people. Things are starting to come together in a very important way, said Stephen Maren, a psychology professor from the University of Michigan.
The National Institute of Mental Health revealed that about 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. Being a basic primal emotion, fear is a key to evolutionary survival which we share in common with animals. Aside from genetics, traumatic events are closely associated with the development of overwhelming and needless fear.
Ted Abel, a fear researcher at the University of Pennsylvania considers fear to be a funny thing. One needs enough of it, but not too much of it, said Abel.
According to Armi Rowe, a Connecticut freelance writer and mother, she used to be one of those rational types who are usually calm under pressure. She is not afraid to downhill ski the treacherous black diamond trails of snowy mountains. One day, however, while coping with some serious illnesses in her family, she felt fear closing in on her while she was driving alone. She thought that the stab of pain on her chest was a heart attack and called 911. Later on, it was learned that what happened was an anxiety attack.
With the help of counseling, self-study coping exercises and introspection, Rowe learned to manage such attacks early on. David Carbonell, a Chicago psychologist specializing in treating anxiety disorders, said that there’s a trick to panic attack. You’re experiencing this powerful discomfort but you’re getting tricked into treating it like danger, said Carbonell.
There is a possibility that by learning how fear runs through the brain and body, scientists can improve on how to dampen fear.
Amygdala, an almond-shaped part of the deep brain, is the fear hot spot. New York University psychology and neural science professor Elizabeth Phelps said that amygdala is not the one responsible for all fear response but acts like a burglar alarm that connects to everything else.
It was found that a certain chemical reaction in the amygdala is vital in the way mice and people learn to overcome fear, according to Emory University psychiatry and psychology professor Michael Davis. Mice never learn to counter their fears when that reaction is deactivated.
D-cycloserine, a drug already used to fight hard-to-treat tuberculosis, was found to strengthen that good chemical reaction in mice. When combined with therapy, it produces the same effect on people who have a fear of heights, and is now being tested in survivors of the World Trade Center attacks and the Iraq war.
Recent studies have shown that people easily recognize fear in other humans faster than other emotions. Other studies have suggested that bodily functions change just by being very afraid. One study found that very frightened people can withstand more pain than those not experiencing fear. Another found that experiencing fear or merely perceiving it in others improved people’s attention and brain skills.
According to Carbonell, since the normal response for dealing with a real threat is either to flee or fight, the best way to deal with fear when the threat is unreal is to do just the opposite Wait it out and chill.

Every so often, people can end up feeling more than just a light touch of performance or social anxiety. This is perfectly natural for us, because being put into situations where we feel we have little to no control at all is one of those things that kicks in our fight-or-flight response. However, this is only acceptable to a certain degree, as there are situations where people are expected to behave normally, even when faced with a little apprehension. One of these situations is when people are around others, such as social gatherings and business meetings. For people that avoid all forms of social contact, the problem may be less a case of social anxiety and more a case of avoidant personality disorder.

APD is one of those mental health concerns that are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, but can wreak tremendous havoc on relationships both personal and professional. They tend to be presented as loners, shunning most forms of social contact with others unless they feel that they have absolutely no other choice. This can potentially lead them into dangerous situations if they do not exercise caution, or if the APD is mixed with some other personality traits. A typical sign of APD is the desire to avoid social contact and being inept or awkward during social situations. They also tend to feel a detachment from society in general, sometimes seeing separation and discrimination that aren’t actually there.

The cause of APD is not entirely clear at the moment, though some have pointed out genetics, trauma during social situations, and a poor relationship with one’s social environment as being possible causes. There are some that theorize that genetics and hereditary personality traits are more likely to cause this particular mental health condition than other factors. It is believed that certain mental health characteristics inherited from one’s parents can make a person more susceptible to APD, or more likely to develop it as a side effect of some other psychological disorder. Trauma, particularly the type that occurs during the formative years and the period when personalities are still developing, can also stunt a person’s ability to adapt to social situations enough to become a problem. However, none of these theories have managed to put forward adequate solid evidence to be seen as the most likely cause.

There are also several signs that could point someone as having APD, or is developing the condition. Among them is investment in a fixed fantasy, a self-delusion made of a consistent set of beliefs and perceptions that cannot be verified in reality. A sense of inferiority to others, even when told and presented with definitive proof otherwise, also manifests as a sign of APD. In connection to this, people with APD do not respond well to criticism and judgment, occasionally taking it all as an attack on their person and not on the merits of their work. An interpersonal relationship with someone with APD is highly unlikely, as these people attempt to avoid them whenever possible.

Having APD, however, is not a problem of apocalyptic proportions. Therapy and counseling, particularly in groups, can often help alleviate the problem and aid people in adjusting. Currently, psychoactive medication is not commonly used except to handle potential complications.

Pau d’arco is a tree that grows in the Brazilian rainforest. In Brazil the tree is called Tahuari and has been used by the indigenous people in the rainforest as a cure-all. Pau d’arco has two constituents that have interest to medical science Beta-lapachone and lapachol which are topoisomerases that have been proven in medical science to be anti-cancer agents. However, there is a dark side They can have side-effects of severe nausea and anemia.

These two constituents in pau d’arco have been shown to help dramatically improve cancer patients with lung, breast, colon, prostate, malignant melanoma, HIV level 1 and leukemia. However the nausea and anemia side effects have caused doubt in doctors’ minds as to its effectiveness. Doctors have isolated two of pau d’arco’s components and say they are great anti-cancer compounds but they are toxic at high levels. Herbalists believe in aiding and preserving nature, not changing it; therefore, they believe pau d’arco should be taken as an extract of a whole plant where it has no known toxicity levels, no nausea and no anemia – not as isolated compounds. It is naturally not as strong as taking 10 tons of plant material and extracting two of the hundreds of constituents and making it a concentrated pharmaceutical. However, taken as a tea or extract it has many wonderful benefits and someone with a serious illness, under a doctor’s supervision, can take pau d’arco and see positive changes.

Pau d’arco has been shown to help with pain and cancer. Cancer patients found themselves in remission after a 3-8 of months of using pau d’arco with supervised medical care. Dr. Theodore Meyer learned of pau d’arco’s benefits and used it on his patients, and reported that 5 of his terminal leukemia patients were completely cured. Beta-lapachone keeps the chromosomes wound tight, and so the cell cannot make proteins. As a result, the cell stops growing. Because cancer cells grow and reproduce at a much faster rate then normal cells, they are more vulnerable to topoisomerase inhibition than are normal cells. Beta-lapachone also interferes with the replication of HIV-1, a virus that causes AIDS, thereby slowing the advancement of the disease.

Maybe modern science will find a way to take out the components that cause side effects when you take highly concentrated forms of compounds isolated from pau d’arco. Scientists have discovered 3-allyl-beta-lapachone, a chemical relative to beta-lapachone, that has been found to have lower toxicity levels in cell culture tests, and might be proven to be more effective. However, more tests will need to be done so that doctors and scientists might be able to come up with an effective cocktail, like they do for HIV and AIDS patients. This would create a combination to balance the side effects with other herbs that could reduce the nausea and anemia, and which has no contra-indications when taken with pau d’arco. For instance, there are two traditionally used herbal extracts that are effective when taken internally for severe nausea Chamomile flower and nutmeg. Further, dandelion root has extremely high iron content and might help combat the anemia.

This research article was written to create awareness and provide consumers with a general overview of available scientific information. For further interested reading, there is a 152-page book called Pau D’Arco by Kenneth Jones that is recommended by the American Botanical Council. It is available from Amazon.com for 7.50.

There is no question that conservative therapy is the best option for those suffering with a Repetitive Strain Injury. From Trigger Finger to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, conservative therapy produces the best results, limited side effects if any, quicker results and long-lasting relief.

There are many types of conservative treatments that provide a variety of positive benefits to the user. Massage Therapy is a terrific conservative treatment that provides good results by itself, and even greater results when combined with a stretch and exercise routine.

Massage is used to help relax and lengthen tight, restrictive muscles, break down scar tissue in injured muscles, reduce adhesions on affected tendons at their point of attachment to the muscle or to the bone, remove toxins from muscles and increase overall circulation and nutrient delivery to the associated tissues. All of these wonderful benefits help overworked muscles to relax and injured muscles to recover. The problem is this. Massage Therapy does not correct the muscle imbalances causing the Repetitive Strain Injury. Massage Therapy can greatly assist the rehabilitation treatment process, but once a muscle has been injured and has atrophied to any significant degree, or a muscle has gone into a state of chronic hypertonicity, other therapeutic elements must be added to the treatment regimen in order to completely eliminate the Repetitive Strain Injury.

An integral part of treating Repetitive Strain Injuries is the implementation of a stretch and exercise routine specifically designed to create structural integrity and muscle balance where the injury exists. If the injury is Tennis Elbow, there must be an equality of strength between the wrist and elbow flexors, wrist and elbow extensors, and wrist and forearm pronators and supinators. By creating strong flexible muscles surrounding the specific joint, that joint will no longer be highly susceptible to Repetitive Strain Injuries.

The integration of Massage Therapy, stretches, exercises and hydrotherapy is a highly effective treatment protocol for many types of injuries. An example of a treatment sequence for a chronic injury’, no matter the affected area, should follow along these lines

Hydrotherapy Heat – Heat to increase circulation to the area, making the soft tissues relaxed and pliable.

Massage Phase-I Specific massage treatment utilizing Trigger Point Release techniques to release muscle spasm and Transverse Friction Massage to break down adhesions.

Stretch Stretch overly restrictive tissues to increase their length and reduce their compression of underlying tissues.

Exercise Perform strengthening exercises for the affected tissues in order to reduce tensile strain on the injured area, heal micro-tears and increase healing nutrients to the injured area. Strong muscles create stability and prevent future reoccurrence of micro-tears to a previously affected area.

Massage Phase-II Perform light Petrissage and Effleurage towards the heart to remove the toxins created from undergoing Trigger Point Release, Transverse Friction Massage, stretches and exercises.

Hydrotherapy Cold Cool the injured tissues in an elongated position as to not lose range-of-motion ROM of the affected tissues and to further remove toxins from the area.

Massage Therapy and the involvement of the techniques listed above are very effective in eliminating chronic Repetitive Strain Injuries. Any one element by itself is OK, but by implementing several sound conservative techniques, the success rate of the treatment increases dramatically. Remember, when injuries are present, choose the Conservative Alternative.

The characteristics of rosemary essential oil can be described as a colorless or pale yellow mobile liquid with a strong, fresh, minty-herbaceous scent and a woody-balsamic undertone. It blends well with lavender, oregano, thyme, pine, basil, peppermint, elemi, cedarwood, petitgrain, cinnamon and other spice oils.

The principal constituents of rosemary essential oil are pinenes, camphene, limonene, cineol, borneal, camphor, linalol, terpineol, octanone, and bornyl acetate. General actions on the physiology include analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-oxidant, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, cephalic, cholagogue, choleretic, cicatrizant, cordial, cytophylactic, diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, emmenagogue, fungicidal, hepatic, hypertensive, nervine, parasiticide, restorative, rubefacient, stimulant circulatory, adrenal cortex, hepatobiliary, stomachic, sudorific, tonic nervous, general, and vulnerary.

Scientists have found rosemary essential oil beneficial in the treatment of various ailments including acne, baldness and hair care, dry & damaged over-processed hair, congested & dull skin, dandruff, aches & pains, arthritis, debilitypoor muscle tone, gout, muscle stiffness, muscular cramp, poor circulation, low blood pressure, rheumatism, liver congestion, fever, nervous exhaustion, fatigue, neuralgia, sciatica, eczema, greasy or oily skinscalp, insect repellent, lice, scabies, slack tissue, cellulitis, edema, water retention, sprains, strains, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, whooping cough, colic, indigestion, flatulence, dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea, coldsflu, headache, nervous tension, and stress-related conditions.

Although rosemary essential oil has many benefiting qualities, there are some contra-indications. High doses of rosemary essential oil taken orally have been found to be neurotoxic. It is recommended that people who are pregnant or have high blood pressure should not use rosemary essential oil, and people who are epileptic or show signs of epilepsy should not use rosemary essential oil in any instance. The camphor constituent in rosemary has been known to induce seizures in epileptics. In extremely rare instances rosemary essential oil has been found to induce epileptic-like seizures in people with no known medical history of seizures; however, scientists have found rosemary essential oil to be safe when used topically. It has been reported to be non-toxic, non-irritant in dilution only, non-phototoxic and non-sensitizing.

Rosemary hydrosol is the plant distillate water remaining from producing the essential oil. Hydrosols are growing in demand and now some distilleries are making hydrosols as the primary production, not the by-product from distilling essential oils. Some hydrosols are edible but are best used as sprays for various things. Rosemary hydrosol has a surprising floral scent and taste, and when used as a drink has no sharpness. Consumers should practice safety when using hydrosols The same contra-indications and safety warnings apply for both the hydrosol and essential oil of rosemary.

Rosemary hydrosol has been shown to be helpful with treatment concerning the gallbladder, digestion, detoxification, as a diuretic, antioxidant, as a toner for oily to normal skin, protecting hair keeping it shiny and soft, dry and over-processed hair, acne, and as a circulatory stimulant. You can add it to your conditioners and shampoos for healthier hair or as an after-shower spray just mist evenly throughout your hair, then comb through. It can also be used in the kitchen as a flavor enhancer.

These two forms of rosemary can be used topically to help with many specific ailments as well as general well-being. For those who find the odor of rosemary to be too sharp or prefer to take herbal extracts as supplements for general health, rosemary leaf extract is available for internal use. Rosemary leaf herbal extract acts as a circulatory and nervine stimulant, which in addition to the toning and calming effect on the digestion makes it a remedy that is used where psychological tension is present.

The main constituents in the herbal extract are 1 volatile oil including borneol, linalol, camphene, cineole and camphor; tannins, bitter principle, and resins. These components have general actions and properties that are carminative, aromatic, antispasmodic, antidepressant, rubefacient, parasiticide, antimicrobial, astringent, emmenagogue, nervine, and stimulant.

Published recommended dosage of rosemary leaf herbal extract is 1-2 ml of tincture 3 times per day. The herbal extract is primarily used for debilitypoor muscle tone, depression, fibrositis, pain, and vomiting.

An illness that is increasingly reported among many adolescents today is called bulimia nervosa, a certain type of eating disorder that is characterized by periods of overeating followed by purging. The purging is self-induced through vomiting or with the use of laxatives. It is different from anorexia nervosa, another type of eating disorder where a person becomes too thin due to severe lack of food consumption. Anorexia is triggered by an irrational fear of being fat or being perceived as overweight. Women are more likely to have such eating disorders than men. These disorders usually begin during the teenage years and are often accompanied by depression, anxiety disorders, and substance abuse. Some individuals who develop eating disorders can also experience depression and anxiety. Experts also think that many of these people may already have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder OCD. There is also some evidence that eating disorders run in families.

Although eating disorders in the U.S. are now openly discussed to increase public awareness and discussion, women still suffer from these conditions around the world — most of the time, in secret. No one is really sure of its cause but there are many theories regarding this, and the number of sufferers still continue to grow. Whatever the cause might be, the effects of this disorder can be damaging, devastating and occasionally life threatening. People who weigh at least fifteen percent less than the normal weight for their height may not have enough body fat to keep their organs and other body parts healthy. People who suffer from bulimia often experience stomach pain. Like those patients of anorexia, girls with bulimia may stop getting their monthly periods. The most dangerous fact of having bulimia would be the constant purging that can eventually lead to loss of the mineral potassium, which can contribute to heart problems and even death. Despite this, all anorexia and bulimia patients can and will get well after proper medical treatments. People with eating disorders get well, usually returning to strong, confident and healthy individuals relatively quickly. Since anorexia and bulimia cases involve the mind and body, Spain has offered treatments that incorporates CBT cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and NLP neuro linguistic programming that should be undertaken after proper consultation with the doctor. A small British clinic in South of Spain is fast acquiring good reputation for its success in treating individuals suffering from anorexia and bulimia. They have a CBT-based approach that is highly focused and is designed to guarantee in treating the cause rather than the symptom of the problem. This may sound like a generalization of the idea, but is a common mistake to make during medical treatments. People have experienced something in the past that played a critical role in the development of such disorder. More often than not, once the cause is revealed and understood, the improvement from the patient can be dramatic provided that the clinic involves dieticians and nutritionists’ help during the treatment process. The very basis of psychological treatment is by forming a trustworthy relationship with the therapist and addressing issues such as feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that lead to the development and maintenance of the eating disorder. It may include issues on anxiety, poor self-esteem, depression, self-confidence, and difficulties with interpersonal relationships. By using CBT as treatment, this encourages people to re-examine and challenge existing thought and behavior patterns. By utilizing every aspect of treatment for bulimia, women can be go back on the track towards health — physically and psychologically.