New Online Articles

When embryonic stem cells were first discovered, they were a very sharp double edged sword. Embryonic stem cells have the ability to turn into any cell in the body - they are pluripotent, as compared to the multipotent human adult stem cells.

However, harvesting them means the destruction of an embryo, and despite the fact that they are only taken from embryos that would have been destroyed anyway, the ethical stem cell debate remains. Scientists have come to answers for this dilemma much faster than ethicists, though, and several new sources of adult stem cells have been found.

There have even been ways to turn more mature adult stem cells back into their more versatile, younger versions. Here we look at some of the new developments in adult stem cell cures and sources.

One of the newest sources of human adult stem cells is also one of the most amusing, and has made for some interesting news headlines over its period of reporting. Biopsies from human testicles have yielded pluripotent cells, even though they are from human adult stem cells.

This discovery has had extra value, as it creates a source of adult stem cells for stem cell therapy from a patient’s own body, removing the need to take immunosuppressant drugs as is sometimes the case with transplants. The cells have been reported as having the same therapeutic potential as embryonic ones do.

The discovery was made at the University of Tuebingen in Germany, where scientists used various chemicals to turn them into “skin, structures of the gut, cartilage, bone, muscle and neurons”, says Thomas Skutella, the adult stem cell research team’s leader. The researchers also reassure patients that the testicle biopsy procedure is no more painful than a routine skin biopsy.
Another new source of stem cells that have pluripotecy is not from an embryo itself, but quite close by - researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine have isolated stem cells from amniotic fluid. These cells were painstakingly separated from the rest of the amniotic fluid cells surrounding fetuses in utero, without any disruption to the fetus.

Stem cell cures could come from these cells, allowing stem cell therapy for stroke, injury recovery, and stem cell therapy for parkinson’s, as well as plastic surgery augmentation.

Stem cells that are potentially pluripotent have also been found in a much more plentiful source, where collecting them poses absolutely no threat to embryos - in the menstrual blood of women. This research was carried out at Keio University in Japan by Dr Shunichiro Miyoshi.

The team were able to create heart cells from the human adult stem cells collected, but it has not yet been determined whether they can actually form cells from the three main types of tissue in the body.

Stem cell therapy may also one day be carried out with another currently discarded human tissue source - children’s primary teeth.

ReturningHope.com - is an interdisciplinary group of individuals who have pooled their expertise together in order provide a service to patients globally and that will find them the best treatment method for their conditions.

Skin cancer is not one of the most common types of cancer currently, but as the fastest growing type of cancer in many countries, it is set to overtake prostate and breast cancer. However, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have found a way to use cell therapy with human adult stem cells to help the body fight off cancer.

This cure is even more impressive, given that the tumor was in a solid state at the beginning of treatment with the adult stem cells, and that it was the only form of cancer therapy given to this particular patient. While the study involved only one participant, the team responsible for the adult stem cell success in curing the human disease are hoping to extend the research very soon.

In patients with cancer, infection-fighting T-cells in the patient’s own body are one of the most important factors in getting rid of the human disease. Dr Cassian Yee, a member of the Clinical Research Division at Fred Hutchinson, led a team that put patient into long term remission by injecting him with 5 billion clones of his killer T-cells.

The particular human adult stem cells used were CD4+ T cells, and the patient was a 52 year old man with Stage 4 melanoma.

The cell therapy on this patient had shrunk his tumor to nothing, two months after the initial injection. Two years later, when the study results were published, the man still remained cancer free, due to the benefits of stem cell therapy. While the results have been hailed as no less than amazing by other researchers, the media and general public, the study’s leader Dr Yee remains cautious.

In the journal’s ‘Brief Report’, he reminded readers that the results represented a patient with only one specific type of immune system, and the tumor cells this man had were specifically chosen for the study because they express a certain type of antigen.

Recognized stem cell benefits have recently been expanded to include not only injury recovery, stroke recovery, plastic surgery augmentation and stem cell therapy for parkinson’s, but new oncology applications like this. The idea is not necessarily new, but researchers are now refining the types of cells they use, and the methods of application of these human adult stem cells.

Previously, Yee and his team had used CD8+ T-cells, however these do not survive in the body alone. They need either CD4+ T-cells or growth factors, like interleukin2.

Studies which add to the knowledge that Yee’s study has brought include Harvard Medical School studies involving injecting cancer cells, a reversed form of cell therapy, into mouse ova. The mouse ovum reacts as if it has been fertilized by sperm, however embryonic mice do not develop.

Embryonic stem cells(the focus of the stem cell debate) are created by this process, which the researchers then inject into healthy mouse blastocysts (very early embryos). While some of the mice developed cancer, not all did - showing that it is possible for natural processes to reverse cancerous growth.

ReturningHope.com - is an interdisciplinary group of individuals who have pooled their expertise together in order provide a service to patients globally and that will find them the best treatment method for their conditions.

When you have kidney pain that radiates in your back and your side and feels like someone is stabbing you with a knife or sword and moving it back and forth, people an Emergency Room visit is usually soon to follow. When you arrive and have blood in your urine, it is usually a good sign that it might be a stone. But this will be determined by doing an initial evaluation and running some follow up tests to figure out what really is going on.

An initial evaluation should involve a past history of symptoms including hematuria, previous kidney stones, urinary tract infections, family history, and a dietary history. Blood and urine analysis can determine the presence of an infection and the chemical composition and aid in determining the best treatment or if surgery is likely to produce the best results. Blood tests should include serum electrolytes, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, and uric acid. Urinalysis should also include crystallographic studies.

Physicians typically use x-ray to confirm that a stone is causing symptoms. X-rays and ultrasound can be used to determine the size, shape, number, and location of kidney stones and the management of the stones.

Radiopaque stones such as cystine stones, absorb more x-rays than the surrounding tissue and appear white on x-ray. Radiolucent stones (these include uric acid stones) are easily identified. A stone containing both radiopaque and radiolucent elements will appear to be mottled on the x-ray.

Those that are very small or obscured by bone or bowel gas also do not show up on x-ray. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP), which involves the injection of a dye, can aid in the determination of stone types. The dye collects in the urinary system and improves the contrast of x-rays. There is a possible cross-reaction to (IVP) if you are allergic to shellfish, as the test uses iodine. You must tell them if you have allergies and ask for the non-iodine dye that is available for us. CT scans are useful for obscured or small stones. Ultrasound, though very useful, produces generally poor results for the obese general and fails to detect very small stones, less than 3mm.

Non-Surgical Treatment

If stone is less than 4 mm and symptoms not severe, then observation or expectant treatment is most likely to be recommended. Drink plenty of water to flush out stone and to prevent reoccurrence. Another round of x-rays in a few weeks to make sure that the stones have passed. If not progressing, your physician should reevaluate the treatment plan. Avoid becoming sedentary, but you may need to change or stop work if a sudden attack of pain could cause injury. Stain urine to catch small stones for analysis.

A patient with kidney stones will say the most important treatment is pain management, which may require narcotic medications to provide adequate coverage. Generally, pain management starts with acetaminophen for mild pain, motrin or advil for stronger pain, acetaminophen with codeine for even stronger pain, and a narcotic like percocet for severe pain.

For those with determined to have a low risk of reoccurrence due to their history, it is recommended to continue the dietary and fluids management to prevent future stones. For those determined from their history to have a high reoccurrence risk, a follow-up after 6 to 8 weeks of the first episode should be conducted. This follow up should include 24 hour urine collection for volume, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, citrate, oxalate, creatinine, magnesium, and cystine. From this urinalysis, it can be determined if any underlying diseases are playing a part in stone formation and then medical intervention can be prescribed to correct the underlying disease.

Chemolysis is the use of chemicals to dissolve certain types of stones. Uric stones can be dissolved by sodium bicarbonate in saline. Cystine stones can be treated by combination of acetylcystine and sodium bicarbonate in saline. Struvite and carbon apatite stones can be treated with an acidic solution of hemiacidrin. Chemolysis does not work well with calcium stones.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery may be indicated for various reasons. Kidney stones that do not pass after a reasonable period of time with constant pain. A stone too large to pass on its own or caught in a difficult spot to treat otherwise. Stones that prevent urine flow, causes UTI, damages the kidney tissue, cause contact bleeding, or ones that continue to grow in size may also need surgery.

It is always better to learn how to eat the foods that you need to eat to help prevent or avoid kidney stones. Natural home remedies or cures always are a better choice when possible to avoid having stones. But some stones do require surgery or other treatment methods. Find a urologist that will sit with you and talk with you about your specific needs. Knowing the right questions to ask before ever seeing a doctor will better prepare you for the best outcome!

Wade Thomas, author of Avoid Kidney Stones, has had 20 years of experience with kidney stones and has discovered natural, herbal and alternative methods for avoiding, dissolving, and dealing with them. Go to http://www.AvoidKidneyStones.com to claim a free report on what foods to eat or not eat now!

The Botox currently under review by the FDA is used for serious non-cosmetic medical conditions. The FDA is looking at the usage in children under the age of twelve being treated for cerebral palsy.

BOTOX was approved by the FDA in 2002 by prescription and to be administered only by trained licensed medical professionals. The only use the FDA approved was treatment of the glabellar lines (those lines right between your eyebrows).

Almost 3 million such procedures were done last year coming in just behind laser hair removal and skin resurfacing. Because Botox is only approved for the frown lines between your eyes, you want to make sure your doctor has an extensive knowledge of the facial anatomy.

The way BOTOX Cosmetic works is when tiny amounts are injected, it temporarily paralyzes the muscles that contract causing the frown lines. This temporary paralysis lasts about three to four months. You want to make sure the person doing these injections are medical professionals and that you are getting authentic BOTOX Cosmetic. (There is NO generic BOTOX Cosmetic)

By researching both this procedure along with your doctor and his credentials you will feel more confident in your choices and expectations. A certified medical professional will have training on the proper handling of BOTOX Cosmetic along with the proper dilution of it prior to your treatment. As with many things in life, knowledge is power.

The most important consideration when considering this procedure is the doctor that will administer it. The five types of doctors approved to do Botox injections are physicians, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and ophthalmic plastic surgeons.

An ophthalmic plastic surgeon is a medical doctor and eye surgeon who has gone through additional training in plastic surgery in the area of the eyes. Look for certification from “The American Board of Ophthalmology” and ask if they are a member of “The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery”.

Facial plastic surgeons are medical doctors who have undergone additional training for plastic surgery for the face alone. You would like your surgeon to be both a member and certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgeons. If your doctor is also certified by “The American Board of Otolaryngology” this relates to head and neck surgery.

A plastic surgeon is a medical doctor who will have training in plastic surgery procedures. Much like doctors have specialty’s so do plastic surgeons. You are looking for a doctor who specializes in BOTOX Cosmetic. Look for membership and certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons as well as American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.

Dermatologists specialize in treatment of the skin and should be members of and certified by The American Board of Dermatology and/or The American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology.

Perhaps your doctor isn’t one of the specialists listed above. It’s OK to question his recent continuing medical education so that he is up to date on the latest injectable techniques. How many patients a week is he working with? What are his credentials? Keep asking questions until you are comfortable because it’s better to look for another doctor than risk your face to someone who is not experienced.

Remember the only use for BOTOX Cosmetic is treatment of those lines right between your eyebrows. Using the treatment anywhere else, is considered off label meaning it has not been approved by the FDA. If you happen to have other areas on your face that might need a bit of touching up, your medical professional can suggest other injectables that are right for the job.

By doing your homework you are on the way to losing those pesky frown lines!

For fillers or injectables such as Botox, San Francisco seeks out experienced, board certified cosmetic surgeons. One such certified San Francisco plastic surgeon offers injectables information online http://www.drkim.com.

In order to look and feel younger, the standard advice is that the only things you can do are eat a balanced diet, get the right of amount of exercise, keep your mind active and stay positive.

While these are all worthy pursuits for a myriad of medical reasons, scientist have now found much more effective ways to combat aging and the human disease associated with it. Stem cell research has focused on stem cell therapy for anti-aging, and while the new techniques are being called “Stem cell facelifts”, the treatment will actually have far more wide-ranging effects on the body than a mere facelift.

Previously, anti-aging was all about microdermabrasion, injectable fillers, Botox, and laser facial rejuvenation to keep the skin looking young.

There were always more subtle signs, though, that a person was not as young as their skin appeared. The treatments have also sometimes been hard on patients’ bodies. The new stem cell facelift, a stem cell therapy for anti-aging purposes, could help the skin repair and restore itself much more naturally.

Stem cell therapies have previously focused on medical conditions like stroke recovery, injury recovery, and stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s, although they have also been used in plastic surgery augmentation. The stem cell facelift therapy is more of a cosmetic procedure than corrective one.

Stem cells from a patient’s own body, that are usually harvested from lower abdominal fat or upper thigh fat, are injected into key points in the face to help the body restore and repair itself naturally. While the harvesting of stem cells won’t necessarily mean that large amounts of fat need to be removed from the source areas (for that, either exercise or liposuction is needed), patient’s faces will certainly benefit.

This stem cell therapy or plastic surgery augmentation will cost around $5,000, and patients can expect a long term improvement, according to the Plasmetic website. The skin quialty as well as the contours of the face will be affected, and the skin is actually taught to regenerate itself.

Downtime will be short - around a week. While the procedure may seem physically similar to fat grafting to the face, which is said to fill out wrinkles, and be a more natural type of injectable filler, in reality the mechanism for action is extremely different.

Dr Vincent Giampapa has been performing the stem cell therapy facelift for the last four years, and the procedure was recently shown at a conference for the Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. It is said to even out color irregularities, correct environmental sun exposure, as well as restoring skin tightness and skin contours.

Stem cell therapy is also being used to support anti-aging purposes throughout the body, not just on the surface. Reasearchers have created chemical and biological substances that can be captured in tablet form, which then help release human adult stem cells from your own bone marrow.

These human adult stem cells purportedly travel around the body to the site of injury or degradation, repairing tissue and restoring youth from the inside out.

ReturningHope.com - is an interdisciplinary group of individuals who have pooled their expertise together in order provide a service to patients globally and that will find them the best treatment method for their conditions.

According to the Institute of Medicine, at least 1.5 million Americans are sickened, injured, and killed each year by avoidable errors in prescribing, dispensing, and taking medications.

Patients must be very vigilant over their health treatment! To protect yourself and your family:

Ask The Doctor

* When you get a new prescription, ask your doctor to spell the name of the drug, what it looks like, and what the dosage is. Have her briefly note the drug’s purpose on the prescription form. Be sure you (and the pharmacist) can read it.

* Make sure you understand:

-when to take the medication;

-what the drug should do;

-its generic and brand names;

-whether it should be taken with or without food;

-how much you should take, how often, the maximum daily dose, and what to do if you miss a dose;

-how to administer the drug, and whether you take a pill halved or chewed, or whether is must be swallowed whole;

-what drugs could interact;

-what side effects may occur, and when to contact your doctor;

-how to store it, and when it expires;

-what food, beverages, drugs or other products to avoid while taking the drug, including alcohol, caffeine, nonprescription medications, dairy products, tobacco, vitamins and herbal products.

* Some people cannot tolerate standard doses of medications, but can take lower doses. Talk to your doctor if you are an older adult, have a low body weight, have a chronic medical condition, or if you are particularly sensitive to drugs.

* Once a year, take all your medications (including nonprescription), vitamins and herbs to your primary doctor for an evaluation.

* Maintain a complete list of your medications, the doctors who prescribed them, the pharmacy and prescription numbers, the amount you take, the time of day you take them, and any reactions you have.
Take the list to any new doctor, and when you go into the hospital. Refer to it during interviews with various health professionals, especially the anesthesiologist if you’re having surgery.

Ask The Pharmacist

* Keep a written record of prescription information to verify you receive the correct prescription.

* Choose a pharmacy that:

-keeps comprehensive records of all your medications and allergies, to reduce the risk of a drug conflict or adverse reaction;

-provides printed information regarding what medical condition the drug is designed to treat, dosage instructions, side effects, as well as any food, beverage, drug, or other product interactions;

-willingly answers questions.

* Check refills. If they are a different color, size, or shape, contact your pharmacist immediately.

* If you use a different pharmacy or provider, inform the pharmacist of other medications and products you’re taking, and any allergic reactions to drugs.

Ask Yourself

* Educate yourself and increase your awareness of the drugs that you and your family use. Ask yourself why you’re using them.

* Read all labels and other information, and follow all directions.

* For nonprescription medications, never exceed recommended doses. Choose medications by active ingredients and dosage, not by the brand name. A brand may have several products or types.

* Avoid taking drugs prescribed for someone else, even if you share the same symptoms.

* Discard drugs that are past their expiration date. Contact your pharmacist for disposal instructions.

* Keep drugs in their original containers.

* For liquid medications, use a measuring spoon or the plastic dosing cap. Tableware spoons are not an accurate measure.

* Make sure you have plenty of light when you take medications.

* Children aren’t just small adults, so never estimate the dose based on their size.

* Never let children take medications unsupervised.

* If you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant, tell your physician before taking any medicine.

* Be sure the hospital staff carefully checks your identification bracelet before you take any medications. Verify the medications are correct. A companion is helpful when you are not fully alert.

Decoding Your Prescription

* By convention, Latin abbreviations, other notations and metric units are used in prescriptions. Following are some common terms:
Term (Abbr.) Meaning
ante cibum (ac) before meals
gutta (gt) drop
hora somni (hs) at bedtime
oculus dexter (od) right eye
oculus sinister (os) left eye
per os (po) by mouth
post cibum (pc) after meals
pro re nata (prn) as needed
quaque 3 hora (q3h) every 3 hours
quaque die (qd) every day
bis in die (bid) twice a day
ter in die (tid) 3 times a day
quarter in die (qid) 4 times a day
_
c with
_
s without

T, TT, TTT 1,2,3 capsules, pills
milligrams mg
milliliters ml
disp dispense
signa (sig) you write
(doctor’s labeling instructions to the pharmacist)

John Myre is the author of the award-winning book, Live Safely in a Dangerous World, and the publisher of the Safety Times Reproducible Articles..

Millions around the world suffer from asthma. Some of the effects of asthma can prove to be absolutely overwhelming. When left untreated asthma can sometimes lead to fatal consequences. Fortunately though for asthmatics modern medical science has made rapid strides when it comes to providing asthma relief.

Asthma is a disease that is caused when the bronchial tubes, an important part of the respiratory system get inflamed and therefore constricted. This in turn means that anyone suffering from asthma finds it difficult to breathe properly. Asthma attacks are often triggered by various different allergens and can last from a few minutes to hours to even several days in some instances. Proper management of the disease is the way to go when it comes to finding asthma relief.

There is a wide variety of asthma relief products available these days. From respiratory inhalers to prescription medicine, you can find plenty of products available in the market. You can also find many natural medications which treat the disease based on a holistic approach that are widely available these days. Rapid advances in medical science have brought in latest medical procedures such as laser treatment which is being used to treat asthma these days.

There are certain steroids which help in reducing inflammation and providing relief from asthma symptoms that are often prescribed by doctors. Nebulisers, which is actually a combination of steam and drug, is also sometimes prescribed for treating asthma symptoms by doctors. The kind of treatment that will suit a particular person is best decided by a medical practitioner.

Respiratory inhalers are widely used to provide asthma relief by millions of patients around the world. These inhalers stop the swelling of airways thereby letting normal breathing resume. There are also many types of short-acting medication available to treat the condition. They work by stopping the constriction of the airway and letting normal breathing commence.

There are also many types of medication that need to be taken on a long term basis which help in dealing with asthma attacks. All these medications help in improving the quality of life of asthmatics quite significantly.

Although there is no permanent cure for this respiratory condition, you can still find many asthma relief products that help you lead a symptom free life. There is no such thing as the perfect asthma relief product that is available. The symptoms of asthma along with their severity can vary from person to person and the right type of treatment or medication is best determined by a qualified doctor.

To get your complimentary Respitrol 30 day trial, or to read my Respitrol Review from over a year of experience using the product, visit my website by clicking the links.

All women need to be aware that tamoxifen is not the “wonder drug” it’s made out to be.

If used properly, tamoxifen may very well prevent the return of breast cancer after surgery to remove a tumor. Does the drug have side effects? Of course. But you could make the argument that the side effects are tolerable compared to a recurrence of cancer.

Amid the tamoxifen cheer leading, however, you won’t often hear this little note: The State of California officially recognizes tamoxifen as a carcinogen.

Tamoxifen is a synthetic hormone-like drug that blocks estrogen receptors in cells. That’s why tamoxifen is more effective than chemotherapy in treating estrogen-driven breast cancer tumors, the most common type of breast cancer tumor in postmenopausal women.

That’s the good news but unfortunately this may be all that a lot women will probably hear.

35 percent of the women who use tamoxifen experience a recurrence of their breast cancer. But amid phrases like “wonder drug” and “gold standard treatment” and “huge success story,” there’s not a word about side effects.

So women might be taken aback to learn that hot flashes, nausea, vomiting, weight gain, mood swings, depression, and loss of energy, as well as increased risk of deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are all potential surprises in the tamoxifen package.

And if that were the worst of it, you might have yourself a true wonder drug.

As mentioned above, tamoxifen is listed as a potential cancer-causing agent by California’s Environmental Protection Agency. That’s because tamoxifen use has been linked to an increased risk of endometrial cancer, which occurs in the lining of the uterus.

That’s kind of an important point, don’t you think? So when the Daily Mail and other media outlets sing the praises of this very successful breast cancer treatment, don’t you think it might be prudent to mention at least some of the side effects and especially the very important warning about endometrial cancer.

So women, PLEASE tell all your female friends and family members about these tamoxifen guidelines, gleaned from the results of the 2000 Breast Cancer Prevention Trial: When tamoxifen is taken to prevent breast cancer, benefits do not outweigh risks in women with a uterus over the age of 60 (and “many women 50-60″), and most women over the age of 70 (and “many women 60-70″) without a uterus.

But don’t assume your doctor is aware of these guidelines, or will even follow them if he is aware. According to Breast Cancer Action, many doctors are hesitant to take their patients off tamoxifen when they reach the five-year mark, in spite of the fact that the National Cancer Institute advises patients that tamoxifen may actually INCREASE the chance of breast cancer recurrence when the drug is taken for more than five years.

Apparently many doctors are just as susceptible as patients to the lure of tamoxifen cheer leading and in this case, if it appears to good to be true, it probably is.

Perhaps one day the drug companies will at least incorporate natural supplements in the treatment of cancer. We can only hope.

Joni Bell has many years of extensive study in the area of natural cancer prevention and treatment. He has numerous success stories of people being diagnosed living cancer free with use of alternative methods. Ask Joni Bell

When asked, “what is your best feature?” most will respond, “My Eyes!” Known as the windows to your soul, they are unique in every person. So, when faced with the decision to enhance this very important feature, many turn to Lasik or laser eye surgery. Of course, there are many things to consider when choosing an eye care specialist, and as most have found, doing the research from home is the quickest and easiest way to find the best care as well as the most qualified individual to provide that care.

For example, if you’re looking for Utah Lasik Surgery, you will be able to find all the information and details regarding the subject including qualified individuals, blade vs. bladeless, risks, cost and much more, from the comfort of your own living room.

When making this very important decision, however, one of your first questions will most likely be “Is Lasik surgery right for me?” From Diabetic Retinopathy or Glaucoma to Lazy Eye, Lasik surgery can help improve almost any eye disease or correctional problem. So, be familiar with your eyes and any problems you might be having with them and you’ll soon be on your way to getting a whole new perspective on things.

Next, you’ll probably be wondering how to afford a procedure like this, especially in today’s economy. Many Lasik surgery companies try to make their services as affordable as possible, some even offering 0% interest, and even accepting employers’ flex spending accounts as well. This will definitely help in lowering the stress of having an extra bill, so you can concentrate on the benefits of having eye surgery.

What better way to research Lasik eye surgery than to read or listen to personal testimonials regarding the subject? You’ll definitely want to hear firsthand what people are saying about the different companies through which they’ve had lasik , and what their recommendations are as well.

Almost anywhere you look someone will have an opinion and will be more than willing to share that opinion good or bad, so when doing your research, make sure you find out what people are saying and then don’t be afraid to ask questions yourself. Most Utah Lasik Surgery companies are happy when their clients are happy, so feel comfortable with your surgeon and the procedure on every level and soon you’ll be seeing the world in a whole new light.

Davis Vision MD is an eye surgery center providing Utah lasik surgery. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

The common name is yeast infection, and medical professionals call it candidiasis. I have seen my wife suffer with it, our children had it and even I had it. While we hear most about vaginal and other yeast infections. We do not hear a lot about yeast infection cures, which really work. We do not hear about the causes of yeast infection. I cannot say that other products, the name brand, heavily advertised medications do not work. What I can and will say is this, one works.

Yeast infections can be an uncomfortable and even painful blow to the quality of your life. The problem is annoying on three different levels, too.

First, you have to bear the aggravating symptoms of a yeast infection. That certainly isn’t fun.

Second, you have to buy often expensive creams or pills to relieve the symptoms of the infection. To make matters worse, they often fail to provide real relief.

Finally, you know that you’ll have to go through the whole agonizing process again the next time an infection flares up. All of that discomfort is part of a recurring process because those over-the-counter treatments never really leave you free from yeast infection forever.

If you have a yeast infection, you undoubtedly wish you had the cure readily available. Yeast infections are painful, aggravating and distracting. There’s nothing more frustrating than a yeast infection and the fact that they tend to show up again and again no matter what you do makes them even more annoying!

So, we try to obliterate them using readily available products that promise to alleviate our symptoms and to make the infections a thing of the past. We spend millions upon millions every year on various creams and pills advertised as yeast infection remedies.

This may shock you, but in 2004 alone - in the United States alone - people spent over two billion dollars on over-the-counter treatments for yeast infection and other skin disorders. That’s a lot of money.

The real kicker is that most of that money was wasted. The ointments, creams and balms women bought to combat yeast infections only provided a little temporary relief, if any. Within a short period of time, most of those consumers were back in the stores, willing to again pony up for a little temporary relief or anxiously searching for the one product that would actually cure their yeast infection problem forever. They never find that solution, by the way.

Julie Landry has written a popular review about Sarah Summer’s book. Read about Sarah Summer and other natural cures for yeast infections by visiting her site.