Signs of Approaching Illness

ALTHOUGH it is true that bright sunlight or irritating dust will cause sneezing in a child or older person, still, as a rule, sneezing should be looked upon with suspicion and regarded as a sign of approaching cold or influenza or some other infection. If the sneezing is accompanied with sensations of chilliness, and if the child complains of feeling cold and has become unnaturally susceptible to the. temperature, there is little doubt but that some infection has taken place and that the sneezing and chilliness are the early stages of an approaching more or less serious illness. In the majority of cases it will probably be merely a common cold in the head, mild or severe, but it may prove to be laryngitis or influenza or bronchitis or pneumonia. It is necessary to remember that many infectious diseases begin in much the same way with the cardinal symptoms of a common cold. This is true of measles, scarlet fever, whooping cough, and a number of other infectious disorders.

At the earlier stages it is impossible to anticipate what the child has contracted, whether a mere cold or measles or pneumonia, and it is therefore always a wise and safe precaution to keep the child at home, give it rest, a warm bath, a careful diet. If possible the child should be isolated in a room by itself and watched carefully. An enema to clear the bowels should be a routine measure. Let the child drink as much water as it wishes.

Fever As A Sign of Approaching Illness.

If the face is flushed and the skin hot, dry, and red, the temperature should be taken with a clinical thermometer and the pulse and respiration counted. A rise of temperature, even though small, should be looked upon with keen suspicion, and a child with a fever should under no circumstances be sent to school or allowed to play with other children. If the temperature is above 100° Fahr. the family physician should be sent for promptly to see the child and to give the necessary advice as to what precautions to take. As a rule the higher the temperature is the more dangerous the attack from which the child is threatened.

Eruptions and Rashes.

Children are very susceptible to ephemeral rashes such as hives, herpes and urticaria. These temporary rashes may be due to some article of diet or the irritation of heat or coarse or rough underclothing or irritating dust. Look for the cause and try to remove it. It is not difficult as a rule to distinguish between these temporary rashes and those associated with infectious diseases such as measles and scarlet fever. Unfortunately measles is not very often detected until the rash is present and then there is ample opportunity to infect the whole neighbourhood if the child has been allowed to go about.

Loss of Appetite.

Loss of appetite in a child is by no means always a sign of approaching disease, but it is, nevertheless, a matter that requires investigation. Too often now a-days children are pampered in various ways and encouraged or allowed to overeat, or eat between meals, or commit other dietetic indiscretions. In the majority of cases it is not wise to urge a child to eat, but rather to encourage the child to skip a meal, and then offer plain but wholesome and easily digested food. Tempting the appetite of an overfed child with dainties and tidbits of various kinds is a pernicious practice,which sooner or later upsets digestion and pavesthe way for dyspepsia.

But we must not forget that the loss of appetite may be a sign of threatening illness, and if there is evidence that the child is not taking sufficient food, careful inquiries should be made, and the counsel of the family physician should be taken. Notice the condition of the tongue, whether it is coated or furred, and also the breath, as well as the state of the teeth. A foul breath, a bad taste, or a furred tongue, usually points to some digestive disorder.

An unnatural craving for sweets and dainties is itself a symptom of some disturbance of the digestive organs. The same is true of a capricious or fickle appetite, which is sometimes noticeable in growing children. These conditions can usually be traced to an unwise dietary.

Constipation.

Loss of appetite is not infrequently accompanied by constipation, a very common disturbance in children as well as in adults.

So these are the signs of approaching illness that you need to look out for especially in children and always seek medical advice if in doubt.

Insoluble Fiber

Forty years ago Dr. Dennis Burkitt wrote his findings about the benefits of insoluble and soluble fiber. He attributed the low rates of heart disease, diverticulitis and appendicitis among the Africans to their rich soluble and insoluble fiber diets. In those days the African diet was rich in whole grains and legumes which are rich in fiber. Before we proceed let me first of all point out that there are two types of fiber, soluble fiber, which dissolves in water and insoluble fiber, which does not dissolve in water.

Insoluble fiber adds bulk to the stool by absorbing water, thereby softening and enlarging the stool. People who consume unrefined foods rich in fiber therefore have fewer digestion problems because of this action of insoluble fiber.

Foods that rich in insoluble fiber include wheat bran, whole grain foods such as whole wheat or multigrain bread, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and the leaves, skins and seeds of vegetables and fruits.

The American and Western world diet is said to include only 40 percent of the recommended amount of fiber and most of it is said to be obtained from refined white flour.

Among the many benefits of a high fiber diets include, lower rates of heart disease, appendicitis, constipation, cholesterol and colon cancer.

Foods That Hinder Digestion

The following are foods that will hinder digestion and result in constipation, leaky gut syndrome and other disease s such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer:-

• foods that are high in saturated fats such as meat and meat products
• processed foods
• sugar and caffeine

These foods will slow down the digestive process. This has a negative impact as it reduces the absorption of essential nutrients. These foods affect the ability of digestive enzymes and juices from organs and associated gland to break down the food for absorption. Avoiding  these foods has been shown to improve significantly our chances to avoid cancers and other disease as shown in an earlier post on foods that help digestion avoiding such foods has led some migraine, diabetes and even cancer patients healing themselves of these diseases. Of course these patients do not just stop eating these foods but adopt a plant based diet that helps digestion and has been shown through various scientific studies to cut significantly the risk of cancer.

Linseed or Flax seed : Benefits Of

linseed

Linseed or Flax is one of the herbs that works as a gentle laxative and bowel lubricant and therefore helps in curing or treating constipation. It is also rich in omega fatty acids which are particularly essential during pregnancy. Omega fatty acids have been shown to reduce cancer tumours and prevent various cancers.

Linseed is also know as flaxseed or flax seed produce a vegetable oil known as flaxseed or linseed oil which  has been used for centuries as a drying oil in painting and varnishing. 

How To Use

Add a teaspoon  to breakfast cereal or muesli and increase your fluids to help prevent constipation. Flax seed or linseed oil can also be used to treat fungal infections by topical application to the affected parts of the body. Even wounds have been treated using linseed or flax seed oil.

Treat Constipation Naturally

Constipation is one of the most common complaints in the wetern world due mostly to our high fat diets and inadequate amounts of fiber in the diet which make it difficult for the body to digest the food we take.  Fiber is mostly found in plant foods especially in beans.  Constipation is caused due to hardening of the stools resulting in its slow movement in the rectum. Factors that cause constipation including those mentioned above are as follows:-

• Inadequate fluid intake or dehydration
• Inadequate amounts of fiber in your diet
• Ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement or delaying until later
• Lack of physical activity (especially in older adults)
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Changes in lifestyle or routine, including pregnancy, aging and travel
• Illness
• Frequent use or misuse of laxatives
• Specific diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, thyroid disease and Parkinson's disease
• Problems with the colon and rectum, such as intestinal obstruction or diverticulosis
• Certain medications, including pain medications, diuretics and those used to treat Parkinson's disease, high blood pressure and depression
• Hormonal disturbances, such as an underactive thyroid gland
• Anal fissures and hemorrhoids, which can produce a spasm of the anal sphincter muscle
• Loss of body salts through vomiting or diarrhea
• Injuries to the spinal cord, which can affect the nerves that lead to and from the intestine

If constipation is due to lack of tone in the colon, give a small cool injection of water into the rectum with a

bulb syringe using cool tap water. Hold for one minute, then return the water and a normal bowel movement usually follows easily. An abdominal massage is helpful in these cases. A cool sitz bath at 75° for 3-8 minutes taken with the feet kept out of the water and hips submerged at least half or more in the cool water is helpful. Repeat this treatment daily before the desired time for the bowel movement.

For constipation due to a spastic colon, use a small warm or lukewarm enema from a bulb syringe (2-3 ounces are usually sufficient), warm or hot compresses to the abdomen, and a full bath at 107° for 12-20 minutes.

The other solution is the use of formulas such as Dr Schulze formula #1 which not only helps in sorting out the constipation but also cleans the intestines from fecal matter that has clung to the intestines, in some cases for the years and may be causing some serious problem as some toxins may slip back into the blood stream.