Ethnomedicine/Disease Prevention Practices/Disease Prevention Practices A-C

Abstaining from Dairy

No one likes a stubborn, stuffy nose! The next time you're suffering from a cold or flu, keep in mind that dairy products such as cheese, butter, milk, cream, ice cream, and yogurt cause the accumulation of mucus. Mucus is that green, gooey, bacteria-filled substance that congests throats and nasal passages, and can make a normal cold completely unbearable. Abstaining from dairy products while sick will greatly reduce mucus and congestion, and will speed up the time it takes to kick a cold or the flu. To get the full effect, however, one must do this the entire duration of the sickness. So drop that milk, you stuffy-nosed sickling and get your calcium from a calcium+Vitamin D supplement for the next few weeks! Calcium for our bones does not come from dairy calcium or from supplements; quite the opposite, potassium, magnesium and silica containing foods turn into bone calcium with the addition of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon in the body, according to "Biological Transmutation" by Dr. Kervran or in "The Secret Life of Plants" by Christopher Bird. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has much research about how dangerous dairy is to our health. That organization has 5,000 medical doctors who are vegans (no dairy vegetarians).

Acupuncture

Acupuncture, one of the oldest and most popular medical techniques in the world, originated in Chinese Culture somewhere between 2,000 to 5,000 years ago. It follows Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)'s way of thinking that says the human body is in a constant balanced harmony between yin and yang. When this harmony is thrown off, you get an illness, disease, or some other sort of malady. The role of acupuncture is to bring back the original harmony to the body. By consistently receiving acupuncture treatments you are ensuring that your "yin and yang" will have the correct balance in your body and therefore you will be drastically lowering your risk of disease or illness. Acupuncture itself can vary between practitioners and countries of origin. Most commonly it is the use of paper-thin metallic needles that are placed by hand 3–5 mm into the skin on various spots on the body (called acupuncture points) to relieve tension in that area and increase stimulation for healing. The Chinese believe there is a force that runs through our bodies called qi (pronounced chee) and this force can become blocked in certain parts of our body. By increasing stimulation to certain areas it is believed that you are allowing the qi to flow more freely through your body.

Acupuncture is most well known for its ability to control pain but it is still used to prevent and treat dozens of other ailments especially when combined with the use of herbal supplements. The length of time for which the needles are left in your skin depends on the what the goal of the treatment is. An example, though, is a headache. There are acupuncture points in the web of skin between the thumb and pointer finger that directly correspond with the brain. The doctor will place needles in that web of skin and leave them in for about ten minutes. This time bracket can be higher or lower depending on the severity of the ailment.

The World Health Organization has recognized acupuncture as an effective way of treating many illnesses including back pain, psoriasis, asthma, gingivitus, ulcers, paralysis following a stroke, to name a few. By receiving acupuncture treatments prior to getting any of these ailments, you greatly lower your risk of contracting any of them because your body will be in a greater internal balance.

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/acupuncture/

http://www.holisticonline.com/Acupuncture/acp_home.htm

Airborne

Airborne was created by Knight-McDowell, a second grade school teacher. She believed that it would be necessary to put out a product on the market that helps prevent air born diseases from being contracted by someone in a large area. It is very effective, if, taken daily to prevent catching a cold, or illness from someone in a public place. Airborne can also be a product that should be taken when the symptoms of a common cold begin their onset. If taken two to three times a day until the cold goes away, Airbone helps to repair the immune system. Airborne comes in tablets that are to be dissolved in water, either warm or cold, and to bwe drank. The tablets are comprised of herbs, vitamins, electrolytes, amino acids, and antioxidants which create a formula to help one’s health. It boosts the immune system which fights the germs that cause a common cold. It comes in many flavors which suit the tastes of many. Airborne should be taken as soon as symptoms of a cold appear and until the cold is gone.

You can also take Airborne daily to prevent getting colds. Take one tablet with water daily in the morning, this helps prevents the cold from even getting a chance to start. This has been found to be very effective during the winter when colds and the flu are very prominent. Many have had no problems with taking Airborne daily and find it very effective as a daily supplement to boost the immune system and to prevent from getting air born sicknesses.

However, many people believe that Airborne has a negative affect on overall health. In Airborne, there exists a certain chemical that, if you were to take as much as directed, you would overdose on, which can make you feel worse than before you took it. A safe alternative is Emergen-C or similar product, because vitamin C is really the best thing for treating colds.

Air Purifiers

An air purifier is a device that eliminates air-born contaminants. Dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and dust mite feces are all considered air-born contaminants which trigger allergies in sensitive people. In addition to these allergens, air purifiers significantly reduce second-hand tobacco smoke. Second-hand smoke can cause sore eyes and throat, nasal irritation, headaches, coughing and wheezing, nausea and dizziness. Breathing in second-hand smoke can also trigger asthma attacks and increase your chances of getting bronchitis and pneumonia. If you have been exposed to second-hand smoke for a long time, you are more likely to develop and die from heart problems, breathing problems and lung cancer. By using an air purifier, these symptoms can be greatly reduced. In addition to the positive health effects, air purifiers also reduce the need for frequent household cleaning. One downside of using an air purifier is that it requires a small amount of electrical energy to operate, which can cause some expense as well as environmental effects. To learn more about common Western culture disease prevention practices, visit the Western society page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_purifier

http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,3182,3172_13127__langId-en,00.html

http://www.mercola.com/forms/air_purifiers.htm

Antibiotics

Antibiotics are chemicals either stop the growth or kill bacterial infections. Antibiotics also help prevent a bacterial infection from reoccurring. You can get a bacterial infection by many different ways such as; what you eat, what you touch, and air you breathe. Bacteria are everywhere. This can only help prevent your illness if you finish all the antibiotics recommended by your doctor. Antibiotics cure bacterial infections not viral infections like the common cold or flu. The dosage depends on the illness you have and the seriousness of the illness.

Apples

Apples come in many varieties and flavors.

Apples can be used as a powerful preventative tool against headaches, especially migraines. Eating salted apples or drinking 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar in the morning has given many headache sufferers relief. This could be because apples are loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals, such as Riboflavin, Vitamin A, B, C and G, Iron and Potassium. Vitamin B and Riboflavin in particular are often prescribed in pill form to migraine suffers.

Many people find the taste of raw apple cider vinegar too much for them to swallow every morning, so they instead mix a tablespoon of it with water and add honey. The result is a pleasant drink that resembles lemonade.

It should be noted that this is a preventative measure, and eating apples or drinking cider will not cure a headache occurring at the moment. However, the consumption of apples or cider daily is very useful in preventing headaches in the long run.

Apples can also be used to ease constipation and diarrhea. If you are experiencing constipation consume the skin of an apple to loosen things up, or if you are experiencing diarrhea consume the meat of an apple to tighten up the bowels.

Dr. Ann Wigmore, of the Hippocrates Institute in Boston and in Puerto Rico, used apples or watermelon blended with wild and cultivated micro-greens (not spinach) and 1 tablespoon of soaked flax seeds with soaked and rinsed dulse in her Living Food Program to reverse so-called terminal diseases. At times, she used raw figs to assist the body in moving from an acid condition to a healthy alkaline one, and plums to provide extra roughage.

Western society

Aquaphor

Aquaphor is similar to Vaseline, but it is water-based. It is a moisturizer that can be used daily almost anywhere on the body to add moisture and keep the skin smooth and soft. It can also be used if the skin is already dry and cracked by providing a protective barrier that will moisturize the skin while also preventing further moisture loss. There are no fragrances or preservatives in Aquaphor that would irritate the skin or hinder the healing process.

Avocados

Avocados are a great tool to use. They are rich in skin-nourishing oils and vitamin E. Mash half of an avocado to make a face mask. The oil of the avocado seeps into the skin's outer layers to feed the growth layer underneath. This practice will keep your skin looking vibrant and radiant throughout the years, preventing you form premature wrinkles, age spots and blemishes, which are caused from fried oils, so just stop using fried oils.

Two ounces of avocado a day are the maximum fat that one's liver can handle in order to utilize that wonderful fat without storing it as extra weight around the middle.

Bacterial Disease

Salmonellosis is a bacterial disease caused by the bacterium Salmonella. This disease can be passed along to humans from fish, frogs, and other amphibians. The majority of people who get sick from this type of disease mostly infects infants, kids younger than five, people with HIV/ AIDS, and also people who are being treated for cancer. This disease can be prevented by washing both hands after being in contact with animal feces, or touch reptiles. Another way to by pass this disease is to just stay away from reptiles and fish, baby chicks, and ducks. By avoiding these animals people are preventing themselves from getting sick and compromising their immune system. There are no risks associated with this practice, so avoiding the animals will not cause any harm to the body.

Bananas

Bananas are a fruit high in potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C and many more important elements that help improve health. The potassium in bananas make them very effective for soothing sore muscles if eaten after a workout. Also Bananas are a good source of energy because of their high amounts of Vitamin B which make bananas perfect for breakfast. Eating bananas can help prevent many diseases. Among its benefit the banana can help with cardiovascular health, protection from strokes* and ulcers, improve blood pressure, boost mood and energy levels and help to reduce water retention. Eating right can prevent bad health problems in the future. Fresh fruits and vegetables are a good place to start for a healthier diet and thus a healthier life.

• Eating bananas as a part of your regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes as much as forty percent.

An extra note: Bananas and lots of fluid can be very effective in curing a hangover. Also, the skin of a banana is packed full of nutrients. The stringy soft flesh on the inside of the banana skin contains a great deal of potassium and other vitamins that one may otherwise throw away. Scrape the inside of the skin with a knife and add it to a strawberry banana smoothie, or using one's teeth scrape off the nutrient rich skin, while eating the banana to dilute the somewhat chalky taste.

Blackstrap molasses

A fairly popular health supplement, blackstrap molasses is a good source of many vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, and iron. It is the concentrated byproduct that results from a third boiling of sugar syrup. It serves as an excellent sweetener that is actually good for you; recommended dosage is one tablespoon per day in the morning. Adding it to warm milk may make it more palatable.

Black Tea

Although black and green tea are made from the same plants, they have different effects because black tea has been allowed to oxidize. It is believed that a high consumption of black tea will reduce the risk of heart disease. Theanine, a component of black tea, has been advocated as a sports supplement and may reduce the body's response to stress, both physical and psychological. Some studies suggest black tea could be used as a way to prevent cancer (but so are many things nowadays). The optimal amount of black tea consumed is entirely based on the individual. Its side effects are similar to those of coffee such as heartburn, insomnia, and anxieties.

Black tea contains high amounts of caffeine, and can be used to treat migranes and menstrual cramps. The key ingredients in excedrine migrane and pamprin, that make them different from other pain killers such as tylonol, is caffeine. The presence of caffeine in black tea not only tastes good, but gives you that extra kick in the morning, as well as treating a headache and cramps. black teaWestern society

Bluets

Although Bluets aren't used for disease prevention practices, they are used to prevent certain medical circumstances. Bluets, originally used by the Cherokee Indians, is commonly used to prevent bed-wetting. Taken in the form of leaves and commonly made into tea, Bluet leaves can be a homeopathic relief system for constant bed-wetting. Parts besides the leaves, such as the roots, can be harmful if consumed. Proper precautions should be made when preparing Bluets for tea. Bluets are slender plants that tend to grow in groups or colonies. They can be found in grassy meadows, open woods, or dry places along a road. Many different species are found around the world, particularly the Canadian Bluet among Candadian provinces.

Brewer's yeast

Brewer’s yeast is considered one of the best supplements for its many health qualities. It is loaded with B vitamins, proteins and minerals, thus increasing energy and can also reduce high cholesterol. In addition, it can be especially helpful in pregnancy and breastfeeding because it can increase milk supply and provide a resource of B vitamins important in growth and development. It is recommended to take around two tablespoons per day. The main side effect is diarrhea and nausea, which interestingly enough, are also two problems that brewer’s yeast is recommended for. Brewer’s yeast is a by-product of beer manufacturing, and as an interesting note, it is also the main product of vegemite, a spread in Australia.

Brita

Filtrating tap water through a Brita filter not only makes water taste clean and pure, but rids it of unneeded metals and chemicals that can end up in tap water. Living in the dorms, it is hard to have a drinking fountain or bottled water at your disposal and who knows what is in, on, or around the taps. Lead, copper, aluminum, limescale, carbon and chlorine traces can end up coming out of your sink when filling up a glass of water. This can add unwanted taste and harm to the most necessary fluid we drink. Brita filters out the impurities using German technology and research, leaving only what you need, water. Drinking the recommended amount of clean water and keeping hydrated everyday keeps organs working in good condition, helps detoxify your system, and replentishes dehydrated cells. This is just one preventative measure in staying healthy and avoiding Dehydration and disease later on in life. http://www.brita.com

Brushing your teeth

Brushing your teeth twice a day is highly recommended for a wide variety of reasons. ( The reason why Humans need to Brush their teeth regularly is due to Glycogen collection - probably due to cooking of food and evolutionary changes in the digestive system including teeth ). It prevents plaque buildup, which can lead to cavities, gum disease, and tooth decay. To properly brush your teeth use a soft bristle toothbrush (each toothbrush should be replaced after three or four months). Gently brush the outer and inner teeth, while keeping the brush at a 45 degree angle. Using up and down strokes brush along the tooth as well as the gumline. This should be done twice a day, every day for about 1 to 2 minutes each time. Using a too hard, brittle brush can cause damage to your gums. Brushing teeth is very popular among Americans as well as other developed countries. Brushing teeth is very important for your health, and is quickly spreading into all areas of the world.

Brushing your teeth is essential to keeping them. It helps fight against and prevent gum disease, the build up of plaque, cavity prevention, and so much more. Dentists say that the minimum time you should spend brushing your teeth is 2 minutes twice a day. You brush your teeth by holding your brush at a 45-degree angle and brushing gently where your teeth and your gums meet. Brushing too hard or roughly can lead to tooth and gum sensitivity and bleeding. Brush your teeth 2-4 times daily for a healthy white cavity protected smile. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikibooks/en/0/02/Toothbrush.jpg

Brushing Your Tongue

Brushing the tongue, unlike brushing the teeth, is not completely necessary for oral hygiene. However, it is an excellent preventive measure, used against bad breath. Depending on whether or not bad breath is an issue for an individual, brushing the tongue can be done as often as brushing the teeth, less often if it isn’t needed and more often if it is.

Since tooth brushing is used to break up the formation of plaque, which is mainly composed of bacteria, and bacteria is one of the causes of bad breath, brushing the bacteria off the tongue is a quick and effective way to prevent many cases of bad breath. This practice is relatively common in The United States and in Western society, and comes as natural to those who know about it, but to those with no experience it is generally quite surprising and found as awkward or immediately useful. Other than the possibility of gagging, there are no health risks associated with this practice.

Caffeine*

Caffeine is a stimulant naturally found in such things as tea leaves, coffee beans, and cocoa beans. Caffeine originates in such areas as Eastern Africa and East Asia. As trade increased around the world, caffeine was introduced to new places and is now commonly used worldwide. It is commonly used to increase energy, sense of well-being, to alleviate headaches and help with asthma. Caffeine can also be taken daily to reduce the risk of getting such diseases as diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, and Gallstones. It has also been known to reduce one’s appetite; thus reduce the risk of obesity. Though there are many positive and disease preventive affects, when consuming caffeine one needs to consider the risks. Caffeine is addictive. Too much of it can have such adverse affects as inability to sleep, increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, dizziness, irritability, gastrointestinal upset, and restlessness. One should use caffeine as needed, however if negative symptoms follow, reduce the intake of caffeine to smaller amounts.

Carrots

Carrots, also known as Daucus carota, have carotene which the body converts to vitamin A. They are also an excellent source of vitamins B and C as well as calcium pectate. Calcium pectate has been found to lower cholesterol. Carrots contain roughly 87% water and are rich in mineral salts and vitamins. When raw, carrots contain beta-carotene, an anti-cancer nutrient. Carrots also improve eye sight and face complexion. Since Carrots contain beta-carotene, they are the main source of vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is responsible for strengthening eyes and protecting them from night blindness. If taken in large amounts, carrot juice is said to prevent bodily infections. Also, carrots contain some essential oils, carbohydrates and nitrogenous composites and are known for their healing, diuretic, re-mineralizing, and sedative properties.

Western society

Cherries

Gout is a common type of arthritis that occurs when an excessive amount of uric acid in the blood tissues and urine crystallizes in the joints. People who have gout are unable to break down and excrete uric acid, a byproduct of certain foods. Therefore a common cure for gout is to eat 12 cherries daily or drink 6-8 ounces of cherry juice, about one cup.

Cherry juice is not only a cure for gout but once a patient is diagnosed with gout continued drinking and eating of cherries after gout symptoms have gone away help to prevent future outbreaks of gout. The cherries antioxidants help to fight inflation of the joints. Also it has been proven that cherries help to remove urate from the body which is a big indicator that cherries do help cure and prevent gout.

Chewing Sticks

In many African countries dentists are a rare find. Although toothbrushes and toothpaste are the preferred method of tooth care it is a luxury that is for the most part enjoyed only by people who have a high level of formal education. For the rest of the population that may not have the money to afford such a luxury chewing sticks with anti-bacterial properties are a common and important primary healthcare measure. There are many different plant species that are used for their medicinal purposes. For example, in Mozambique Euclea divinorum and Euclea natalensis are the most commonly sold plant species that are used as chewing sticks. Throughout other African countries there are many more plant species that are used for this same purpose. African society

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil isn’t just a good moisturizer it’s also a great way to ward of bacteria from your skin. Coconut oil contains antiseptic acids and when it’s consumed or applied topically it can help to form a chemical barrier on the skin to prevent fungal and bacterial infections. Our bodies best chemical barrier is our own oil and sweat that we produce. The oil that our bodies produce is called sebum that contains medium fatty chains. When these fatty chains are broken into free fatty acids they become great antibacterials. Coconut oil is the closest resembling thing to medium fatty chains in terms of available products and while it doesn’t have immediate antimicrobial action, once it’s broken down it can work wonders. It’s best to use it after bathing because when showering the soaps and shaving gels that are used can wash off that protective layer of oil causing the skin to become dry and vulnerable to infection. Applying coconut oil directly to skin can quickly boost skins natural antimicrobial layer.

Coconut oil has been used for centuries around the world in tropical regions, such as South and Central America, Africa, and most of Asia. Early European explorers found out about the numerous benefits of coconut oil (especially during both World Wars) and it was quickly spread into Western society.

Condoms

Humans all over the world are having sex. While sex can have many positive benefits, it is also one of the key ways diseases are spread. Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) such as Genital Warts, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV), can be easily passed from partner to partner through unprotected sex. To protect yourself, and your partner, wear a condom.

A condom (or some other form of protection) should be worn any time genitals come into contact and fluids could be exchanged. If one or more partners is unsure of whether or not they have an STD a condom should be used. If one or more partners knows they have an STD they should also use a condom. Condoms are a very low risk form of contraception and disease prevention, but they are not always 100% effective. Condoms can be found all over the world in different places and in different forms. Condom use occurs worldwide.

Prevention of STDs

The best prevention from sexually transmitted diseases is to abstain from sex until you are married. This is the safest way and works 100% of the time.

Cranberries

Cranberries in any form have helped people treat and prevent urinary tract infections for many years in Western society. 100% Cranberry juice(as mentioned below) as well as cranberry supplements and fresh cranberries contain antioxidants as well as acids that help kill bacteria in the unrinary tract that lead to infections. There is no limit on the amount of cranberries that should be consumed, just as much as each person can handle. If the symptoms do not go away after a week at the most, a doctor should be seen to prescribe the appropriate antibiotics. If left untreated, UTIs can lead to kidney infections and could require hospitalization. cranberries should help the problem if it is not already too severe.

Cranberry Juice

Many women get Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), also known as bladder infections. It is said that if you drink cranberry juice when you feel a UTI coming on that the UTI may go away. A specific type of tannin found only in cranberries and blueberries prevents the adherence of bladder infections. I would suggest drinking 2-16 oz glasses of cranberry juice for one day, along with lots of water to try and cure the UTI. If the cranberry juice and water does not work though, you should see a doctor promptly because your UTI could lead to worse things. There are no risks associated with drinking cranberry juice to cure a UTI. Women in the western culture would use this remedy when they feel a UTI coming on.

Cranberry Juice can also be used to prevent kidney stones. This is also shown in Western society . Cranberry Juice has been known to lower the oxalate and phosphate levels, to increase the citrate concentration and dilute the calcium oxalate levels in urine. These three factors are a large part of the cause of kidney stones. Therefore, by drinking cranberry juice, the risk of a kidney stone is lower, and you can safely stay in the 80% of Americans who never suffer a kidney stone.

Dairy

Crossword Puzzles

Crossword puzzles have been a disease prevention for Alzheimer's Disease for the past 40 years in the U.S. However, there may be a self-selection bias as well, with people who are not suffering from cognitive losses being able to engage in mentally challenging activities, while those less able eventually self-select out of engaging in puzzle completion. The goal of a crossword puzzle is to fill in the blank squares with letters, forming words or phrases, by solving clues which lead to the answers. Crosswords are mentally demanding activities for the brain and more evidence has been found that mental exercise helps prevent or postpone dementia, a part of Alzheimer’s. In a study, it was found that those who did crossword puzzles four days a week had a much lower risk of getting Alzheimer’s than those who did one puzzle a week. Crossword puzzles involve a daily burst of sustained mental activity and older people who regularly engage in a challenging, intellectually, stimulating activity, such as crossword puzzles, that flex their brains, almost halved the risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Cucumber Slices

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikibooks/en/9/90/Post060731_d70_requiem_mask.jpg Cucumber slices over the eyes after a stressful day, or crying is known to reduce the look of puffyness under your eyes. This technique is commonly practiced in day spas and is a widely known remedy to women all over the United States. The cucumber must be refrigerated to be effective. If you are having symptoms of puffyness of the undereye, slice a cold cucumber into quarter inch slices and place over the problem area. Leave them on for about 10 minutes and you should see results.