Pfizer's New 'Female Viagra': Treatment for Those With Female Sexual Arousal Disorder

Researchers may be one step closer to a Viagra for women, given the results of a British study released Tuesday.

Attempts to treat female sexual dysfunction with Pfizer's erectile dysfunction drug Viagra have for the most part failed, but a new prototype from the company offers hope for a female-specific treatment for those with female sexual arousal disorder, FSAD.



The drug, which the researchers tested on rabbits, acts by increasing blood flow specifically to the genitalia, enhancing and extending the duration of arousal.

The drug would not help all types of female sexual arousal disorder, however, as blood flow is only one of many reasons that women experience sexual dysfunction.

"This is the closest thing out there to Viagra for women," says Sheryl Kingsberg, chief of the division of behavioral medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, "but the problem is that a Viagra-like effect will not solve the majority of sexual dysfunction cases in women.

"In contrast to men in whom erections have played a huge role in sexual health, for women arousal is not the key problem, desire is," she said.

'Aspirin': The Best Remedy For Treating Migraine - - Latest Study by Researchers at the University of Oxford

The humble aspirin is often underestimated, but it can be a potent pain reliever for migraine sufferers, working as well as a low-dose prescription drug for migraine. When taken at a high dose (up to 1000 milligrams), aspirin reduces migraine pain within two hours for more than half of the people who take it, according to new review of studies.

What do we know already?

Some 6 million people in the UK get migraines. The pain of these headaches can last for several days, often accompanied by nausea and unpleasant sensitivity to light or sound. More than half of the people who get migraines can't work or study, and need to lie down in a dark room, during an attack. The World Health Organization rates migraines as one of the most disabling long-term conditions you can have.

But many people don't see a doctor about their migraines, so don't have access to prescription medicines. One of the most popular over-the-counter remedies is aspirin, which can be taken as tablets or dissolved in water (effervescent aspirin). Aspirin is also sometimes combined with other medicines for migraines, such as paracetamol, caffeine, and anti-nausea drugs.

Many studies have found that aspirin can relieve migraine symptoms, but detailed reviews of these studies have been lacking. Researchers have now taken a close look at the best of this research to see what conclusions they can draw. They also pooled the studies' results to get a clearer idea of just how well aspirin works.

What does the new study say?

Aspirin alone or with an anti-nausea drug called metoclopramide worked just as well for migraines as 50 milligrams of a prescription drug for migraine called sumatriptan. However, a 100 mg dose of sumatriptan was slightly more likely to completely relieve pain after two hours than aspirin plus metoclopramide.

Roughly 1 in 2 people (52 percent) who took a single dose of aspirin rated their pain as having improved to mild or better within two hours. And 1 in 4 people (24 percent) said that their pain had completely gone.

In comparison, only 1 in 3 people (32 percent) who took a dummy treatment (a placebo) said their pain had improved to mild or better, and 1 in 10 (11 percent) reported that their pain had gone.

People who took aspirin were also more likely to see improvements in other migraine symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. And those who took an anti-nausea drug called metoclopramide along with aspirin had greater relief from feeling sick than those who just took aspirin.

All the people in the studies had moderate to severe migraine pain before treatment, and neither the participants nor the researchers knew whether each person had been give an active treatment or a placebo. The doses of aspirin used in the studies ranged from 900 mg to 1000 mg.

How reliable are the findings?

These findings should be quite reliable, as they are based on the best type of studies, called randomised controlled trials (RCTs). In total, the researchers looked at 13 RCTs with 4,222 people who had moderate to severe migraines.

However, these findings don't entirely reflect how aspirin is used for migraines in real life. For example, many people take aspirin (or another treatment) when they first get migraine symptoms, well before their pain becomes moderate or severe. Some research suggests that taking painkillers early works better than waiting until the pain gets worse.

Also, these studies didn't look at what happens when people frequently take aspirin for migraines. It's well-known that aspirin can irritate the stomach, so it's possible that frequent use might lead to stomach problems. We also need more research into how aspirin compares with other migraine treatments, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Where does the study come from?

This review of studies was done by researchers at the University of Oxford. It was published in the Cochrane Library by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organisation that evaluates medical research.

What does this mean for me?

If you get migraines, the low cost and easy availability of aspirin may make it an appealing treatment option. And this research shows that aspirin works well for many people and may completely relieve your symptoms. If you get nausea along with migraine pain, taking aspirin plus metoclopramide may be a better option than taking aspirin on its own. However, this combination is only available on prescription.

But bear in mind that aspirin doesn't work for everyone. Also, children under 16 shouldn't take aspirin for migraines or any other condition, as it can cause a dangerous problem called Reye's syndrome.

What should I do now?

It's best to see your GP if you get migraines. By taking a close look at your symptoms, including your headache frequency and severity, your doctor can help you decide on your best treatment options, both prescription and over the counter. Your doctor can also help you identify things that might be triggering your migraines, and possibly prescribe treatments to help prevent these headaches.

Neti Pot: To Clean the Nasal Cavity - - The Best Way to Get Rid of Irritation in Nasal Passage

A neti pot is a small pot used for irrigating the nasal passages.Typically it has a spout attached near the bottom, sometimes with a handle on the opposite side.




The practice of neti began in hatha yoga practices. It is an important part of shatkarma, or yogic body cleansing techniques. The Hatha Yoga Pradipika advises a type of neti called sutra (thread) neti, in which a waxed piece of cotton thread is inserted into one nostril until it hangs down the back of the throat, then the end is pulled out of the mouth. With the ends of the string hanging from the mouth and nose, the yogi is supposed to "floss" the cavity, pulling the ends of the strings back and forth gently 30 to 50 times.

The neti pot is used in nasal irrigation, also known as nasal lavage. It is something used in personal hygiene, but it can also improve certain aspects of your health. Basically, your nasal cavity is essentially cleaned out. This will flush out any excessive debris and mucus from your nose as well as your sinuses. Almost anyone could benefit from a nasal irrigation system, they are powerful.


The pot itself has been described as looking like a hybrid of a gravy boat and a magic lamp from Arabian nights. Its design makes this flushing process easier. The pot is most often filled with warm saline, or salt water. Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes added.

Developments in The Cure of Skin Cancer - - Vaccine Tests Successful Even at Advanced Stages

A vaccine being tested in the UK has helped been shown to help some patients fully recover from melanoma, even in its advanced stages.

It attacks tumour cells, leaving healthy cells undamaged and carries agents that boost the body's response to skin cancer.

Dr Howard Kaufman, of Chicago's Rush University Medical Centre, said: "Our study shows we may have a cure for some advanced melanoma patients and a drug which has real benefits for others.

"This will save thousands of lives a year."

Over the past 25 years, rates of melanoma in Britain have risen faster than any other common cancer and 2,000 die from the disease every year.

A study of 50 patients with advanced melanoma who had been given no more than nine months to live found that 16 per cent of them recovered completely with the vaccine. They have been disease-free for more than four years.

Another 28 per cent saw the size of their tumours more than halved.

It is hoped the licensing will be "fast-tracked" and it will be on the market within five years.

Melanoma is now the most common cancer in young adults aged 15 to 34, with 10,41 new cases diagnosed every year in the UK.

'Diet' For Health and Fitness - - Natural Health Nutrition: 6 Tips On How To Eat Well Without Really Dieting

Here’s the thing: some people will run away out of the room as soon as you say “diet.” But if you are looking for methods on how to sustain your health and fitness, you know very well that sticking to a healthy food routine is essential, even vital. One thing you must keep in mind that: the word 'Diet' does not essentially mean you have to keep away yourself of all your favorite foods, and that you live on dry bread and water for the remaining of your days. Here are some tips on how you can eat – and eat well for that issue, but still lose a few surplus pounds in the process:

1. Avoid Processed Food:

Try to replace fresh elements for processed stuff. In fact your waistline may be expanding exponentially abnormally because of all the processed food stuff you have been taking over the years. Processed food includes all kinds of chemical additives and artificial and synthetic extenders – all of which are made to make you expand horizontally and get fat. Slowly and gradually replace some of your habitual food items for fresh or fresher components. For example: replace soy sauce and start consuming rock salt or sea salt. Instead of purchasing that ready to fry hamburger patty, you can try making your own hamburger mix.

2. Don't Let Your Taste be Spoiled for Alternatives:

While talking about alternates and substitutes, one way of keeping the taste of meals minus all those calories is to use yoghurt instead of creams or cheeses. The dietary importance of yoghurt is almost 150% better than most heavy creams and cheeses, and you can choose the flavor that will suit the food that should accompany it.

3. Replace Red With White and Green:

Consume more fresh white meat (poultry and/or fish,) vegetables and fruits. You got the choice to replace these for red meats, pasta, potatoes and pastry. The best thing about white meat, vegetables and fruits is that you can eat more without really collecting on the weight. You can still have your red meats, your carbs and your sweets, but try to consume the same in smaller proportions.

4. Timing to Fulfill Your Taste Needs:

As for carbs, you do not need to eliminate these from your daily eating plans at all. You can taste your cake, and eat it too… but only in little portions. However, one way of making sure that you have these adequate without actually going overeaten is to be certain that you eat most of your carbs around lunch time. Don’t forget to little portions if you are having carbs in the night with you dinner.

5. Replace Soft Drinks With Equal Amount of Water Intake:

Replace a glass of water for one glass of your normal drink. Also try to increase the amount of water you consume per day. 8 to 10 glasses should be enough, but more would be even good.

6. Replace Table Sugar and Honey With Synthetic Sweeteners:

Replace synthetic sweeteners for table sugar and honey. One exemption to the no-processed food item rule is the utilization of sugar. Sugar can raise your blood sugar level which can make you feel starving or rundown) even when you are not actually – and that often takes you to cravings and food overdoing. Synthetic sweeteners can offer you the same sweetness without disturbing your blood sugar level.

FYI: Honey is the purest type of sugar, and should therefore be out of your diet for now.

Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition - - Long Term Fitness Programs Requires High Levels of Motivation; Says Michael Bracko

AUSTIN, Texas – For many people, starting and sticking to a long-term exercise program requires a bit more than just hitting the treadmill, says an expert presenting today at the American College of Sports Medicine’s 14^th-annual Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition.

Those seeking motivation to start an exercise program should first determine their “fitness desire,” says Michael Bracko, Ed.D., FACSM.

“A person can want to exercise for a variety of reasons,” he said. “Extrinsically, a physician could explain the ability of physical activity to lower blood pressure. Intrinsically, it can come from simply wanting to look and feel better.”

Determining which type of motivation – extrinsic or intrinsic – will have the greater effect is a good place to start when considering exercise. That might mean a visit to a health care provider for a physical assessment and exercise prescription, consistent with the principles of the Exercise is Medicine^TM program.

Tailoring the type of activity performed to each individual’s lifestyle and ability is important, too, says Bracko, who highlighted these five types of fitness:

• Functional fitness includes activities such as bowling, gardening and golf. These leisurely-yet-active pastimes are good for older adults who want to stay active as they age.
  
  
• Health-related fitness incorporates movement to enhance overall well-being. Mind/body exercises such as T’ai Chi and yoga are examples of health-related fitness, as are “kick-start” exercise activities such as walking.
  
  
• Physical fitness is for those who have made a conscious decision to work out on a regular basis. This encompasses what most people picture when thinking of exercise – cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.
  
  
• Recreational athlete fitness includes specialized sport training. These exercisers care about cross-training for general fitness, but have a dedicated focus on sport to keep them motivated to exercise.
  
  
• Elite athlete fitness is for a very small, specific population segment – those whose intent in specialized training is high-level training rather than improving fitness and having fun.

Beginners can use these fitness types to find their motivational niche, Bracko said.

“If someone is naturally competitive, they might consider training for a five-kilometer run to stay excited about exercise,” Bracko said. “Alternatively, a noncompetitive older adult could consider joining a golf league to work in regular, fun, casual activity.”

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 35,000 international, national, and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

Beautiful and Healthy Hair Complement Your Personality - - Important Information About Hair and Tips for Faster Hair Growth

It is a natural desire of human beings to look beautiful and attractive regardless of the hair type they have. Each cultural race has its own standards of beautiful hair.

Simple presence of some beautiful hair strands on the scalp is of not much impact if not complemented with some healthy and voluminous hair to match. So in case of hair beauty doesn’t stand alone; it does require large quantity of hair, too, to complement the beauty of hair. One can have both the beauty and quantity if he follows some faster hair growth tips.

Growth of healthy hair mainly depends on its normal healthy performance and make-up. The hair make-up is divided into two parts - the non living part that is seen out of the skin of the scalp and the other living part i.e. roots, that remains hidden inside the scalp skin. Both parts of hair have a variety of functions to carry out, besides being an vital element of the hair growth cycles.

Change in the normal cyclical process of hair growth is one of the main causes of hair loss. The factors that involve the normal hair growth cycle are hormonal disparity and genetics.

Though it is hard to take care of the above two factors of hair loss, it is essential for you to keep your hair clean and healthy with the use of well-formulated cleansers and conditioners. To ensure faster hair growth proper intake of nutritional supplements and natural hair care is essential.

Healthy and faster hair growth not only helps you to look beautiful, it helps you to tie them to good hair styling. Here is an interesting opportunity for trying the hair styling tips. You can also imitate the hair styles of some famous Hollywood celebrities.

Apart from imitating the hair styles of celebrities follow the natural hair care tips and discover the secrets of faster hair growth for beautifully shining hair. The hair information presented in the web pages is sure to help you in taking proper care of your hair, promote faster hair growth and also give you the opportunity to the follow the trendy hair style.

See what useful information the following sections have to offer you to help you in hair care and hair maintenance:

Variations in hair-growth and types:

There are several variations in the hair growth pattern of people all over the world. There can also be differences in the normal hair growth rate due to various climatic conditions.

In spite of all the differences and variations; beautiful hair has much significance for the human race both in the context of society and the self esteem.

Beautiful hair enhances your appearance which plays a major role in creating your image, personality and confidence. Good looks or image to a great extent help in paving the way for success in most spheres of life.

It is quite natural for us to be sensitive as far as the beauty and health of our hair growth is concerned, no matter to what ever is the pattern of our hair types.

The hair of every individual is different from that of the other. While the racial differences in the facial features are quite apparent, differences like texture of the hair require a detailed observation to identify.

Apart from racial hair growth differences, seasonal changes also play a major role in the rate of hair growth.

Climatic conditions in all the countries around the world are different. In the equatorial region there is maximum daylight year round which has a significant effect on hair growth patterns. Effects of seasonal variations in hair loss are temporary and the hair easily grows back after a period of time. But there are factors like genetics which have a severe effect on hair growth rate.

Hair loss of any type in any ethnic group is a sensitive issue and needs attention and care. Some hair losses are temporary in nature and part of the natural cyclical process. But disastrous hair loss is sure to be a cause of concern and needs to be prevented by knowing the proper cause of hair loss.

Though a slowed down hair growth needs attention there is no need to be anxious about it. For almost every hair loss there is a hair growth solution and for every hair types there are well-formulated hair care products. The actual solution lies in being informed about probable cause and finding the right solution. For some it could be stress that is affecting the hair growth, for some it could be nutrition.

Hair Physiology:
A normal and healthy hair growth system is largely dependant on the structure and functions of hair fiber. Hair fiber is a much more complicated and significant structure than it appears to be and it is a part of an equally complex hair growth system. It is also the only portion of the body that is completely renewable without scarring. Other than its flexibility, hair fiber and hair follicles transmit sensory information and their growth also help in gender differentiation.

These are some of the practical functionalities of the hair growth system which are generally over looked. People are generally concerned either with the rate of hair growth or with the condition of the overall hair fibers; as these factors help to enhance the appearance of the individual.

And it is for the same reason that there is a growing popularity of hair care products. Using these hair care products is not enough. If you want to make your hair healthy and bouncing, the best hair care strategy is to use natural hair care products along with the intake of natural nutritious supplements and natural herbal supplements.

Natural supplements are beneficial for hair, but in order to heal already damaged hair you need to identify the particular deficiency and then take steps to promote healthy hair re-growth. The hair deficiency can either be in the hair shaft, the hair follicle structure or in some other part of hair growth system of cycling. You may need to examine all parts to determine a hair growth problem for which it may be best to visit a dermatologist.

The hair shaft or fiber is the portion of the hair that projects out of the skin of the scalp. Healthy hair shafts enhance the volume, color and shine of the hair. So the first step to promote healthy hair shaft growth is to be knowledgeable about the structure and the functions of each shaft parts and verify the same with the conditions of the fiber or shaft.

Around and beneath the hair shaft in the skin the hair follicle sits and controls the growth of the hair fiber. Hair follicles are surrounded by an intricate network of blood vessels which supply the required nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicle. The extended mechanism that is going on beneath the hair follicles is responsible for the hair growth from deep inside the skin. So in order to identify any problem of hair growth, it is necessary to study the mechanism and structure of the hair follicles.

Another factor that affects the hair growth system of an individual is the cyclical process of hair re-growth. The malfunctioning of the hair growth cycles can lead to sudden appearance of bald patches or even hair thinning in women. These hair growth cycles also determine the length of hair of an individual.

Apart from the affected hair shaft or follicle there are other factors like genetics that can cause hair loss at an alarming rate. To promote healthy hair growth it is first necessary to diagnose the portion of hair that is being affected and then to find out the underlying cause associated with it.

Hair Loss Causes:
The common hair loss causes are several like stress, infectious diseases, lack of nutritional supplements, use of harmful synthetic hair care products and so on. Physicians around the world are taking a closer look at hair loss causes and thinning and prescribing the hair loss treatments and medications that are more successful in treating the respective hair problems. But not every type of hair loss is subject to treatment as the normal shedding of hair is necessary for the cyclical process of hair re-growth.

Normal hair shedding can be divided under two broad categories. One of the normal hair shedding procedures involves randomly loosing some hair after reaching the telogen phase of the hair growth cycles. According to researchers it is absolutely normal to shed about 100 hairs each day.

The other normal cause of more hair shedding is an increase in age. It is quite normal to loose more and more hair with increasing age, but when some men and women start loosing hair at an early age it is a sure sign of concern. The cause of such premature hair loss is attributed to pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia.

In general, men are more prone to pattern baldness when compared to women. But women are also at risk of developing hair loss. Though the pattern baldness or Androgenetic hair loss is more evident in men due to more hair loss in frontal hair line, women are prone to pattern hair loss that is manifested by thinning all over the scalp. Though the numbers of men and women suffering from pattern hair loss is different, the mechanism of premature hair loss or pattern baldness is similar.

The main reason of premature hair loss both in men as well as women is genetics, while for women, hormonal imbalance is the major cause for hair loss during pregnancy and menopause.

Apart from genetics and hormonal imbalance, the other common reasons of premature hair loss in both the genders are medications, sudden illness, therapies or major surgeries.

Whatever the reasons may be, if you notice a major negative change in the shedding of the hair then see a doctor. But beware of a number of quacks who try to make money playing with the emotions of hapless sufferers, try to consult a trusted dermatologist.

Hair Nutrition:

Applying the right hair care products (shampoos, cleansers, nourishers) and taking adequate herbal and dietary nutrition are some of the essential hair care remedies for healthy hair growth. The dietary and herbal nutrition not only takes care of the healthy functioning of the body but also heals minor and major hair problems.

Herbal nutrition is popular as a natural hair care remedy. Traditional age-old herbal supplements have created hope not only among ailment sufferers, but also among healthy people who frequently use it for their general well-being. The increasing success of the herbal remedies lies in the fact that they, rather than attempting to suppress the symptoms, enhance the natural healing mechanisms of the body to tackle the problem at the root.

But intake of herbal supplements alone is not enough for healthy hair growth. You also need to take all natural diet supplements , to provide adequate nutrition to cells of the dermal papilla at the root of the hair follicle to remain in an active growth phase. Roots are the living parts of the hair and so the supply of vitamins, minerals and other nutritional supplements cannot be overlooked.

Besides nutritious diet intake, healthy hair needs regular cleansing and conditioning to remove dirt and sebum which affect the health of hair by getting struck and closing the pores. They need external help to be stripped off. While cleansing or conditioning, it is better to use the useful natural based professional hair care products available in the market. Studies have confirmed that herbal and natural cleansers and nourishers are the best form of hair care and hair growth products needed for healthy hair.

There is an increasing popularity of such hair cleansers and nourishers. The reason of the increasing popularity lies with the fact that many people prefer not to apply harmful chemicals on their hair. These hair care remedies are effective in treating various hair problems other than providing a soothing effect on the scalp.

All these useful products and supplements have not only demonstrated their effectiveness by preventing hair loss, but they also reversed the hair loss causes and promoted hair growth. The most advantageous factor of these natural hair care remedies is that they are devoid of any side effects used according to the recommended procedure.

So take up the suitable hair care remedies and have hair which is ever shining and beautiful.

Hair Care:
Most women desire beautiful, healthy, shiny hair, but few are aware of the right way to acquire it. It is this ignorance of people that the television commercials and ad magazines take undue advantage of to lure people with their glossy and catchy ads about synthetic hair care products. In reality these synthetic hair care products do not offer much advantage. Rather, some of them are bad for hair and may even cause irritation or burning sensations to the scalp.

The key to healthy and beautiful hair lies in the use of natural hair care products. They are quite efficient for improving most types of hair provided they are applied in accordance with the specific hair care requirement.

Many a product that is extracted from plants, or includes other beneficial natural elements, has been used for treating hair problems successfully for years. Other than promoting healthy hair growth these natural hair care products also impart a sweet, natural fragrance to the hair unlike that offered by their synthetic counterparts. Unlike synthetic products they are usually devoid of any side-effects.

Natural hair care products alone cannot promote healthy hair growth. Hair roots are alive and like any other organs of the body they need nutrition to maintain their normal functioning. The natural vitamins for hair growth which are most essential includes those in the vitamin B group. Apart from these, vitamins including vitamin E and C are also helpful for hair growth. Vitamins are among the purest ingredients that can help ensure healthy hair growth on the scalp.

Besides the natural vitamins for hair growth there are several other hair loss factors that need to be considered if you want to maintain a healthy hair growth.

Among other natural hair care products, the product which needs special mention is natural hair color. Natural dyes are generally safe to use and usually do not have any adverse reactions, although some people can be allergic to some natural dyes containing henna. The natural hair colors can help you to have healthy hair by their conditioning effect; moreover these natural dyes are devoid of poisonous chemical elements like bleach or ammonia.

In addition to these herbal based natural hair care products available in the market, there are plenty of herbal and nutritional diet supplements available on the market to take care of you hair.

Hair Styles:
Have you ever got tired of your regular looks? Have you tried to change it? Your hair is an important asset in this regard; styling your hair in a different way brings about a great change in way you look. We are here to help you find out some hair styles that suit your face and the type of your hair. We will also tell you about the ideal hair style and care.

Maybe a hair style in a magazine has impressed you, but you have not tried it so far. Or maybe you have wanted to visit a salon, but the money you need to pay in the salon has prevented you from doing so. Not to worry, the new and latest styles given here not only help you to do something new, it helps you to enhance your looks.

Make sure that the hair styles that you choose for yourself, suit your facial features, your skin tone and your personality.