There are certain things to be considered when attempting to decide the best course of treatment for a patient. First of all, the problem must be looked upon from the viewpoint of age. Whether the patient is a young baby, an adolescent, a youth in the prime of life, a middle-aged mother, or a person in their golden years, this information should be kept in mind because it will influence the amount of vigor that should be put into the treatments. Severe water treatments (those using very cold water—50° F.—and very hot water—110° F.) are not suitable for use on the very young or the very elderly patient. At all times the problems of patients in these age brackets should be approached with great care and should begin with gentle measures, gradually increasing in intensity as the patient’s body can tolerate. In all cases, the patient’s age should be kept in mind, as this will serve as an aid to a better understanding of the patient’s condition.

In cases dealing with problems of internal organs, mild stimulating measures applied to the skin can assist the body as a whole to rise up and fight the intruders. Sometimes an internal wash in the form of water taken through the mouth, or administered by way of the colon is the quickest way to rid the body of poisons. Sometimes the greatest benefit may be had from applying steam or a poultice to an affected area. These are thoughts that you will learn to keep in mind as you gain more and more experience in working with these methods. Keep the underlying principles uppermost in mind and this, together with the trial-and-error experiences you will have, will do much to develop your skills in applying the simple remedies in the right ways.

Remember: disease is a disordered state of the body in which one or more functions cease to be performed in a normal manner. Rational treatment of disease rests upon three essentials:

The removal of the cause.

The treatment of the existing conditions.

The relief of such symptoms before they, by their

severity, in turn, become causes.

The intelligent application of these basic principles constitutes rational medicine.

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Most people know what psoriasis is from viewing the ABC’s Singing Detective series. It is a scaly skin disease which one in 50 people experience in a mild form on the scalp, elbows, knees or lower back. It can be severely aggravated by taking anti-malarial medications or blood pressure tablets. Stress can add to the problem. It is not a contagious disease.

Psoriasis can be controlled by using a tar based shampoo or white paraffin ointment after a shower. Mild doses of sunlight will improve the condition. Do not overdo the sun as burning will make it much worse.

Externally and internally cold pressed oils such as linseed, sunflower and wheatgerm oils can be applied to the area or take 2 teaspoons daily. Supplement your diet with Vitamins A, E and the mineral zinc. Tea made from red clover or sarsaparilla will help the circulation to the affected areas.

Diet should be changed to a vegetarian one. You may find the psoriasis is caused by an allergy (although most cases are thought to be genetic). Avoid alcohol in the diet as it may be aggravating the condition.

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Home care

Home treatment of eczema is often successful, except in severe or infected cases.

First stop any new foods, beverages, and medications that were added to the child’s diet within a month of the appearance of the rash.

If stopping these new items does not improve the rash in four to seven days in a child under one year, stop all foods and beverages most likely to cause eczema. Look for and remove possible irritating substances coming in contact with the child’s skin.

Ointments that contain coal-tar derivatives are safe to use, but their use can obscure the physician’s initial evaluation of the condition. To avoid further drying of the skin, use a humidifier to moisten dry air. Bathe the child sparingly, using mild dermatologic soaps.

If following this procedure clears up the eczema, try gradually returning the stopped foods to the child’s diet – one at a time. Reintroducing one food each week should help detect the foods that cause a reaction. Those foods should then be avoided. If the condition is not better in one week, see your doctor.

Precautions

• As new foods are added to your infant’s diet, watch carefully for any sign of rash.

• If your infant is allergic to soy formula as well as cow’s milk, your doctor will recommend a non-soy, non-milk formula.

• Coal-tar ointments increase sensitivity to sunburn. When using these ointments, keep the child out of the sun as much as possible.

Medical treatment

Help your doctor find the cause of eczema by trying home treatment first and noting what doesn’t work and what seems to help. Inform your doctor, too, of any similar cases that have occurred in your older children. Your doctor may prescribe steroid creams, ointments, or lotions to ease the rash. Oral steroids will not be prescribed unless eczema is severe, and then they will be given for only a brief period. Oral antibiotics may be prescribed if eczema is infected.

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Spirituality deals with the big questions. But what exactly is spirituality? That’s one of the biggest questions of all.

A review of 250 articles and studies dealing with spirituality revealed that 75 percent defined spirituality as a personal philosophy of meaning, say the creators of a course in health-care spirituality at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, College of Nursing. But this is only part of the story, reported the course creators.

How does one know if he is being spiritual? Management consultant Dr. Krista Kurth says that spiritually inspired actions share the following six traits.

1.     They are motivated by an internal attitude of love.

2.     They involve giving – or serving others – with no expectation of personal gain. Simple, wholehearted service for others’ sake.

3.     The elements of compassion and humility are present.

4.     The effort involves some degree of difficulty to make because it requires that we transcend our own narrow self-interest.

5.     A conscious, ongoing process of growth and learning must take place in order for us to live more fully and express the spiritual aspects.

6.     The actions involve spiritual practices or other consciously performed rituals that require commitment, discipline, and effort.

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