Information on popular complementary and alternative medical topics

Persistent high blood pressure damages the cardiovascular system – the heart and blood vessels. This system may be compared to a tree. The largest artery – the aorta – is the trunk. The aorta carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries to all parts of the body. The smallest arteries, called arterioles, are the twigs. The walls of the arterioles are normally elastic, but under sustained high blood pressure they harden and lose their flexibility. This may happen naturally with age, but high blood pressure hastens the process. To overcome this resistance, the heart pumps harder and in time is unable to keep up with the demands made upon it. The hardening of the arteries also increases the likelihood that a blood clot will interfere with the normal flow of blood to the heart, brain, kidney, or other organ. The result may be one of the disabling and often fatal complications of high blood pressure – a heart attack, a stroke, or kidney failure.

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Diarrhea
Diarrhea is quite common after treatment of cancer through chemotherapy. Occasionally, it is also a symptom of cancer itself.
Natural Remedies: Buttermilk can be used to control this condition. It helps overcome harmful intestinal flora. It should be taken with a pinch of salt, two or three times daily for treating this condition.
Fenugreek seeds have been used for a long time as a natural medicine for diarrhea and gastrointestinal spasms. Half a teaspoon of these seeds, taken three times a day, often produces quick and marked relief.

Constipation
Constipation may occur due to lack of appetite, inactivity, change in diet and intake of pain-killers.
Obstruction or blockage of the bowel is most often caused by cancer of the large bowel. It usually starts slowly with an occasional attack just like colic pain, in the abdomen. The pain is often accompanied by loud bowel sounds and swelling of the abdomen. The symptoms of complete bowel obstruction are colicky abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
Constipation may become so complete that the patient is unable to pass even wind.
Natural Remedies: Constipation can be treated successfully by taking daily warm water enema. This condition can also be overcome by liberal intake of fruits in the diet. Fruits very effective in curing constipation are grapes, pear, papaya and guava.
Spinach is another valuable remedy for constipation. Raw spinach contains the finest organic material for cleansing, reconstruction and regeneration of the intestinal tract. Raw spinach juice taken at the rate of half a litre daily can cure the most chronic cases of constipation within a few days.
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