Conditions Online - M

Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a condition characterized by the deterioration of the macula. Macular is derived from the Latin word, macula, meaning spot. The macula is the central and most vital area of the retina, providing the clearest, most distinct vision needed, for example, in seeing fine detail, reading, driving, and recognizing facial features. There are two forms of macular degeneration: atrophic (dry) and neovascular (wet). Both forms of the disease may affect both eyes simultaneously. Vision can become severely impaired, with central vision rather than peripheral vision affected. The ability to see color is generally not affected, and total blindness from the condition is rare. (life Extension Foundation)

• Ginkgo biloba.
• Grape seed-skin extract.
• Bilberry extract.
• Hydergine.
• Brite Eyes eye drops.
• Lutein Plus.
• Ultra Soy Extract for genistein to help inhibit blood-vessel growth in the eye (wet type).
• Zinc.
• Fish oil

Measles

The virus normally grows in the cells that line the back of the throat and in the cells that line the lungs.

Symptoms begin to appear about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus. The infected person first experiences a fever lasting about 2 to 4 days that can peak as high as 103 degrees F to 105 degrees F. This is followed by the onset of cough, runny nose, and/or conjunctivitis (pink eye). The rash usually appears about 14 days after exposure and lasts 5 to 6 days. It begins at the hairline, then involves the face and upper neck. Over the next 3 days, the rash gradually proceeds downward and outward, reaching the hands and feet.

Approximately 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complications. These complications are more common among children under 5 years of age and adults over 20 years old.

Measles causes ear infections in nearly one out of every 10 children who get it. As many as one out of 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, and about one child in every 1,000 who get measles will develop encephalitis. (This is an inflammation of the brain that can lead to convulsions, and can leave your child deaf or mentally retarded.) For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die from it. Measles can also make a pregnant woman have a miscarriage, give birth prematurely, or have a low-birth-weight baby.

In developing countries, where malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency are prevalent, measles has been known to kill as many as one out of four people. It is the leading cause of blindness among African children. Measles kills almost 1 million children in the world each year.

The disease is highly contagious, and can be transmitted from 4 days prior to the onset of the rash to 4 days after the onset. If one person has it, 90% of their susceptible close contacts will also become infected with the measles virus.

The virus resides in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person. When that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The infected mucus can land in other people’s noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers in their mouth or nose after handling an infected surface. The virus remains active and contagious on infected surfaces for up to 2 hours. Measles spreads so easily that anyone who is not immunized will probably get it, eventually. CDC

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Memory and Cognition Problems

• Ginkgo
• Human Memory: What It Is and How to Improve It
• Learning & Memory
• Memory Links
• Memory Under Stress - PDF

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Menopause

• Stress. There are strong correlations between excessive stress and such problems as adrenal insufficiency, lack of menstrual cycle, PMS, vaginitis, urinary incontinence, bone loss, and infertility.

• Smoking. Obviously, the link between cancer and smoking is well documented. Less well known is smoking's connection to bone loss, cervical dysplasia, miscarriage, and Alzheimer's disease.

• Exercise. The obvious connection here is to osteoporosis. But lack of regular exercise plays a role in adrenal disease, cardiopulmonary disorders, loss of libido, and menstrual problems.

• Obesity. Some menstrual disorders are found more often in overweight women. In fact, a diet that lowers body fat may lower estrogen levels as well.

• Nutrition. Here are some areas in which dietary supplements play an important role in the development and treatment of hormonally related conditions:

• Vitamin E. Research at Johns Hopkins Medical School demonstrated 600 IUs a day of vitamin E raised both estriol and progesterone levels in a group of women with fibroid breast disease. Both estriol and progesterone help to protect against estrogen's possible tumor-creating effects (London et al. 1981).

• Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D3. Any women with bone loss should supplement her diet with at least 1000 mg of elemental calcium, 600 mg of elemental magnesium, and 400 IUs of vitamin D3 a day.

• Antioxidants. The addition of such antioxidants as vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ10, grape seed-skin extract (proanthocyanidins) and alpha-lipoic acid may be of great assistance when treating a number of the disorders, including cardiac problems and cancers.

• Fats. Diets high in saturated fats lead to heart disease, cancers, and an imbalance in the eicosanoid hormones (an important factor in fibroid cysts.) In contrast, diets high in essential fatty acids help to balance eicosanoids. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats from cold water fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel and herring for example), perilla or from flax, evening primrose or borage oil provide gamma linolenic acid (GLA), an important anti-inflammatory fatty acid.

• High-potency B-complex vitamins. Various B vitamins have been examined by researchers. Abraham (1983) found vitamin B6 to be helpful in reducing menstrual cramps. More recently, Mills (1996) showed that supplementing the B-complex group in women with endometriosis produced a significant decrease in symptoms.

• Bioflavonoids. Supplements of this member of the vitamin C complex appear to actually inhibit excessive estrogen synthesis (Kellis et al. 1984).

• A Natural Approach to Menopause
• Could Chinese Medicine Help You?
• ESTROGEN REPLACEMENT THERAPY
• Estrogen: The Misunderstood Hormone
• Graceful Transition: Managing Menopause
• Herbal
• Life Extension Foundation
• Making Menopause A More Comfortable Transition
• Menopause and Bone Health
• Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, and Breast Cancer
• The Risk of Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Yoga for Menopause

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• Doctors guide to the internet
• Medline Plus
• Menopause and beyond
• Menopause Site
• North American Menopause Society
• Related Sites (Endocrine Metabolic Consultants)

Menstrual Cramps (Also refer to PMS Links)

Hormonal dysfunction is found to be the cause of many menstrual complaints, the most prominent being premenstrual syndrome, commonly called PMS. Premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual tension syndrome (PMS) is a collection of symptoms occurring during the second half of the menstrual cycle (Moline 1993), becoming progressively worse, interfering with family, social, and work related activities, and generally ending with the onset of menstrual flow (Frackiewicz et al. 2001). LifeExtensionFoundation

Lifestyle Changes

Improve overall lifestyle by:

• Reducing or eliminating alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, sugar
• Reducing or eliminating high fat dairy products and other animal fats
• Eliminating as much processed food as possible
• Reducing salt intake (added to and within foods),
• Eat small regular meals with snacks
• Exercise moderately
• Take vitamins and supplements

Specific Supplements

• B6.
• GLA (from borage oil or Evening primrose oil).
• Vitamin E.
• Zinc.
• Magnesium.
• Vitamin C.
• High potency multivitamin-mineral supplement.
• Fish oil concentrate containing high amounts of DHA.

We recommend

Ultimate Omega Liquid (Now available at Kinetic Health)

Nordic Naturals' Ultimate Omega contains over 70% pure Omega-3, and is purified through molecular distillation to ensure the absence of impurities, including heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs. Ultimate Omega is an excellent way to get your health promoting Essential Fatty Acids EPA & DHA from fish oil. Great lemon taste has been added for a burst of fruit flavor.

Ingredients: Purified deep sea fish oil, natural lemon oil, mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract

Each 1/2 teaspoon provides:
EPA: 875 mg	other Omega-3: 250 mg
DHA: 625 mg	Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols): 14 IU

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Migraine Headaches

According to the National Headache Foundation, one in four households in the United States, or 28 million people, are affected by migraine . Of that total, 11 million people have chronic migraine . Migraine most commonly strikes young adult women. The common characteristics are recurrent attacks of headache, with pain occurring most often on one side of the head, accompanied by various combinations of symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines can occur at any time of day or night, but occur most frequently arising in the morning. A migraine episode can last from several hours to several days; it may migrate from one part of the head to another, and may extend into the neck and shoulders. Scalp tenderness often occurs during or after an attack.Life Extension Foundation

• Active Release Technique
• Chiropractic Page
• Graston Tecnique
• Massage Therapy

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Miscarriage (Prevention of)

• Miscarriage Support &
  Information Resources
• The Mystery of Miscarriage
• Pregnet.com

Mononucleosis

Mononucleosis (often called "mono") is an infection caused by the Epstein-Barr virus. Signs of mono include fever, sore throat, headaches, white patches on the back of your throat, swollen glands in your neck, feeling tired and not feeling hungry.

Mono is not spread as easily as some other viruses, such as the common cold. The mono virus is found in saliva and mucus. It is usually passed from one person to another through kissing, although it may rarely be passed in other ways, such as coughing. Signs of mono usually develop 4 to 7 weeks after you're exposed to the virus. Generally, people only get mono once. It's most common among people 15 to 35 years old.

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Motion Sickness

Motion sickness occurrs when the body is subjected to accelerations of movement in different directions or under conditions where visual contact with the actual outside horizon is lost. The balance center of the inner ear then sends information to the brain that conflicts with the visual clues of apparently standing still in the interior cabin of a ship or airplane. From one third to one half of airline passengers will experience some degree of motion sickness when encountering heavy turbulance. It has been found that fear or anxiety can lower the threshold for experiencing symptoms, however some individuals seem to be naturally prone to motion sickness since childhood. Symptoms generally consist of dizziness, fatigue, and nausea which may progress to vomiting.

• Herbal

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Mouth, Tooth and Jaw Diseases

• Online Library

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Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS). MS usually appears between the ages of 20 and 40. Public service announcements have long called MS "The Great Crippler of Young Adults." MS is now considered to be an autoimmune disease because of the heightened action of white blood cells that can attack the myelin of the central nervous system. The myelin is a fatty sheath that surrounds, insulates, and protects the nerve fibers. Myelin damage causes nerve signals to be slowed, shorted, or blocked, creating some of the classic symptoms of MS. (Life Extension Foundation)

• Celiac Disease/Gluten Intolerance Web Sites
• MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
  PROBABLE CAUSE AND BEST-BET TREATMENT by Ashton F. Embry
• Treating Multiple Sclerosis with Diet:Fact or Fraud?

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• Articles by NEUROLOGISTS
• Doctors Guide
• Medical links
• Medical Literature guide
• MS foundation
• MS Society of Canada
• MS Society of Great Britian
• National MS Society
• The Myelin Project
• The world of Multiple Sclerosis
• Whole Brain Atlas

Mumps

• Integrative Medicine
• Facts

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Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a genetic disorder that weakens the muscles that help the body move. People with MD have incorrect or missing information in their genes, which prevents them from making the proteins they need for healthy muscles . Because MD is genetic, people are born with the problem - it's not contagious and you can't catch it from someone who has it.

MD weakens muscles over time, so children, teens, and adults who have the disease can gradually lose the ability to do the things they take for granted, like walking or sitting up. Someone with MD might start having muscle problems as a baby or their symptoms might start later. Some people even develop MD as adults. TeensHealth

Some supplements that can be beneficial to MD patients are

• Coenzyme Q10.
• Vitamin E *
• Selenium.
• Vitamin B12.
• Creatine.
• Vitamin B6.
• Folic acid.
• S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe).
• Trimethylglycine (TMG). (life Extension Foundation)
  
• Leiden Muscular Dystrophy pages
• Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada
• Muscular Dystrophy Association US
• Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada

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Musculoskeletal Diseases/Conditions

• Active Release Technique
• Exercise Page
• Graston Page
• Massage Page

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