Thursday 10 January 2013

Semen Analysis - Everything about sperm



The most important test for assessing male fertility is semen analysis. It needs to be done by experts and ananlysed in detail.
Semen Analysis - All you ever wanted to know about Sperm and Infertility
The man's only contribution to making a baby is producing healthy motile sperm ; and depositing it in the vagina at the right time. But what are sperm ? And how does your doctor check whether your sperm are fine or not ?
Sperm are the male reproductive cells - the man's gametes. They are the smallest cells in the human body and are produced in the testes. They find their way out through the male reproductive tract and are ejaculated in the semen.
The most important test for assessing male fertility is the semen analysis. The fact that it is so inexpensive can be misleading, because many patients (and doctors ! ) feel that it must be a very easy test to do if it is so cheap, which is why they get it done at the neighbourhood lab. However, its apparent simplicity can be very misleading, because in reality it requires a lot of skill to perform a semen analysis accurately. However, it is very easy to do this test badly (as it often is by poorly trained technicians in small laboratories), with the result that the report can be very misleading - leading to confusion and angst for both patient and doctor. This is why it is crucial to go to a reliable andrology laboratory , which specialises in sperm (Sperm Video) testing, for your semen analysis, since the reporting is very subjective and depends upon the skill of the technician in the lab.
View a sample
Some men try to judge their fertility by the thickness of their semen. It's not possible to do this, so don't worry if you think your semen is too "thin" or too fluid !
For a semen analysis, a fresh semen sample, not more than half an hour old is needed, after sexual abstinence for at least 3 to 4 days. The man masturbates into a clean, wide mouthed bottle which is then delivered to the laboratory.
Providing a semen sample by masturbation can be very stressful for some men - especially when they know their counts are low; or if they have had problems with masturbation "on demand" for semen analysis in the past. Men who have this problem can and should ask for help. Either their wife can help them to provide a sample _ or they can see sexually arousing pictures or use a mechanical vibrator to help them get an erection. Some men also find it helpful to use liquid paraffin to provide lubrication during masturbation. For some men, using the medicine called Viagra can help them to get an erection, thus providing additional assistance. If the problem still persists, it is possible to collect the ejaculate in a special silicone condom (which is non-toxic to the sperm and is available from our online store) during sexual intercourse, and then send this to the laboratory for testing.
The semen sample must be kept at room temperature; and the container must be spotlessly clean. If the sample spills or leaks out, the test is invalid and needs to be repeated. Except for liquid paraffin, no other lubricant should be used during masturbation for semen analysis - many of these can kill the sperm. It is preferable that the sample is produced in the clinic itself - and most infertility centres will have a special private room to allow you to do so - a "masturbatorium".
How is the test performed in the laboratory?
After waiting for about 30 minutes after ejaculation, to allow the semen to liquefy, the doctor will check the semen.
Volume of the ejaculate: While a lot of men feel their semen is "too little or not enough" , abnormalities of volume are not very common. They usually reflect a problem with the accessory glands - the seminal vesicles and prostate - which are what produce the seminal fluid. Normal volume is about 2 to 6 ml. A low volume (less than 1 ml) is an uncommon problem, and is often due to incomplete ejaculation (which is not rare because of the stress of producing a sample in the lab !) or spillage. Since the major portion of the ejaculate is produced in the seminal vesicles, a persistently low volume is because of a problem with seminal vesicle function - either absence of the seminal vesicles, or an ejaculatory duct obstruction. A very high volume surprisingly will also cause problems, because this dilutes the total sperm present, decreasing their concentration.
Viscosity: During ejaculation the semen spurts out as a liquid which gels promptly. This should liquefy again in about 30 minutes to allow the sperm free motility. If it fails to do so, or if it is very thick in consistency even after liquefaction, this suggests a problem most usually one of infection of the seminal vesicles and prostate.
PH:Normally the pH of semen is alkaline because of the seminal vesicle secretion. An alkaline pH protects the sperm from the acidity of the vaginal fluid. An acidic pH suggests problems with seminal vesicle function , and is usually found in association with a low volume of the ejaculate and the absence of fructose.
Presence of a sugar called fructose:This sugar is produced by the seminal vesicles and provides energy for sperm motility. Its absence suggests a block in the male reproductive tract at the level of the ejaculatory duct.
Microscopic examination:
The most important test is the visual examination of the sample under the microscope. What do sperm look like ? Sperm are microscopic creatures which look like tiny tadpoles swimming about at a frantic pace. Each sperm has a head, which contains the genetic material of the father in its nucleus; and a tail which lashes back and forth to propel the sperm along. The mid-piece of the sperm contains mitochondria, (the power house of the sperm) which provide the energy for sperm motion.
Ask to see the sperm sample for yourself under the microscope - if normal, the sight of all those sperm swimming around can be very reassuring . You are likely to be awestruck by the massive numbers and the frenzy of activity. If the test is abnormal, seeing for yourself gives you a much better idea of what the problem is ! A good lab should be willing to show you, and to explain the problem to you.
Sperm count(concentration):First the doctor checks to see if there are enough sperm. This is done using a specially calibrated counting chamber. If the sample has less than 20 million sperm per ml, this is considered to be a low sperm count. The new WHO criteria suggest that even a sperm count of more than 15 million per ml is normal and men with this count should be considered as being fertile. Less than 10 million is low - and less than 5 millipn per ml is very low. The technical term for this is oligospermia (oligo means few). Some men will have no sperm at all and are said to be azoospermic. This can come as a rude shock because the semen in these patients looks absolutely normal it is only on microscopic examination that the problem is detected.
Sperm Motility:(whether the sperm are moving well or not ). The quality of the sperm is often more significant than the count. Sperm motility is the ability to move. Sperm are of two types - those which swim, and those which don't. Remember that only those sperm which move forward fast are able to swim up to the egg and fertilise it - the others are of little use. Motility is graded from a to d, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Manual criteria , as follows. Grade a (fast progressive) sperm are those which swim forward fast in a straight line - like guided missiles. Grade b (slow progressive) sperm swim forward, but either in a curved or crooked line, or slowly (slow linear or non linear motility) . Grade c (nonprogressive) sperm move their tails, but do not move forward (local motility only). Grade d (immotile ) sperm do not move at all . Sperm of grade c and d are considered poor. Why do we worry about poor motility ? If motility is poor, this suggests that the testis is producing poor quality sperm and is not functioning properly - and this may mean that even the apparently normal motile sperm may not be able to fertilise the egg.
Sperm shape: (whether the sperm are normally shaped or not - what is called their form or morphology. Ideally, a good sperm should have a regular oval head, with a connecting mid-piece and a long straight tail. If too many sperms are abnormally shaped (round heads; pin heads; very large heads; double heads; absent tails) this may mean the sperm are abnormal and will not be able to fertilise the egg. Many labs use Kruger "strict " criteria ( developed in South Africa ) for judging sperm normality. Only sperm which are "perfect" are considered to be normal. A normal sample should have at least 15% normal forms (which means that even upto 85% abnormal forms is considered to be acceptable!) Some men are infertile because most of their sperm are abnormally shaped . This is called teratozoospermia (terato=monster).
Sperm clumping orAgglutination:
Under the microscope, this is seen as the sperm sticking together to one another in bunches. This impairs sperm motility and prevents the sperm from swimming upto through the cervix towards the egg.
Putting it all together, one looks for the total number of "good" sperm in the sample - the product of the total count, the progressively motile sperm and the normally shaped sperm. This gives the progressively motile normal sperm count which is a crude index of the fertility potential of the sperm. Thus, for example, if a man has a total count of 40 million sperm per ml; of which 40% are progressively motile, and 60% are normally shaped; then his progressively motile normal sperm count is : 40 X 0.40 X 0.60 = 9.6 million sperm per ml. If the volume of the ejaculate is 3 ml, then the total motile sperm count in the entire sample is 9.6 X 3 = 28.8 million sperm.
Whether pus cells are present or not:
While a few white blood cells in the semen is normal, many pus cells suggest the presence of seminal infection. Many labs will mis-report round cells seen in the semen as being pus cells and doctors will then try to treat this "infection" with antibiotics !
View a sample SEMEN ANALYSIS REPORT
Some labs use a computer to do the semen analysis. This is called CASA, (computer assisted semen analysis). While it may appear to be more reliable (because the test has been done "objectively" by a computer), there are still many controversies about its real value, since many of the technical details have not been standardised, and vary from lab to lab.
A normal sperm report is reassuring, and usually does not need to be repeated. If the semen analysis is normal, most doctors will not even need to examine the man, since this is then superfluous. However, remember that just because the sperm count and motility are in the normal range, this does not necessarily mean that the man is "fertile". Even if the sperm display normal motility, this does not always mean that they are capable of "working" and fertilising the egg. The only foolproof way of proving whether the sperm work is by doing IVF (in vitro fertilization) !
Overtreating a semen analysis report
Sadly, we see many men with completely normal semen analysis reports who have taken months of futile treatment ! Some doctors will "treat" a few pus cells in the semen with antibiotics - claiming that the pus cells suggest an infection ! Others will even try to treat a normal sperm count with medicines, claiming that their treatment will help to "boost" the sperm count and thus the man's fertility !
Azoospermia (no sperm in the semen)
About 10% of infertile men will have no sperm at all in the semen. This is called azoospermia . The conditions which cause azoospermia can be classified into 3 groups - pre-testicular, testicular and post-testicular. An example of azoospermia because of pretesticular disease is hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, where the testis does not produce sperm because of the absence of production of gonadotropins by the pituitary. Consequently, even though the testes are normal, no sperm are produced because of the absence of the needed hormonal stimulation. In testicular conditions, the testis does not produce sperm because of testicular failure (end-organ damage). In these men, the testicular damage is so severe that no sperm are found in the semen. This is also called non-obstructive azoospermia, and an example of this is Klinefelter's syndrome. In post-testicular conditions, even though sperm are being produced normally in the testes, the outflow passage is blocked (ductal obstruction or obstructive azoospermia)
If a semen report shows azoospermia, then it needs to be rechecked. The lab should be instructed to centrifuge the sample in order to look carefully for sperm. A close analysis of the report will often help the doctor to differentiate between non-obstructive and obstructive azoospermia . Thus, if the semen volume is low, the pH is acidic and the fructose is negative, then this is likely to be due to an obstruction at the level of the ejaculatory duct. If sperm precursor cells (immature sperm cells) are seen in the sample on careful microscopic examination, then this clearly means that the problem is not because of an obstruction.
We request men with azoospermia to provide a sequential ejaculate for semen analysis - two samples, produced 1-2 hours apart. Occasionally, in men with non-obstructive azoospermia, the second sample may show a few sperm, because it is "fresher".
A FSH level test in the blood ( as described in the next chapter) is also helpful in differentiating between obstruction and testicular failure. If the FSH level is high, it means the problem is testicular failure. If, on the other hand, the FSH level is normal, then a testis biopsy is needed to come to the correct diagnosis.
Rarely, some men will not be able to ejaculate at all. This is called aspermia , and their semen volume is zero. While this is sometimes because of a psychologic problem (because the man cannot achieve an orgasm inspite of being able to get an erection), the commonest reason for this is condition is retrograde ejaculation.
Poor sperm tests can result from incorrect semen collection technique, if the sample is not collected properly, or if the container is dirty too long a time delay between providing the sample and its testing in the laboratory too short an interval since the previous ejaculation recent systemic illness in the last 3 months (even a flu or a fever can temporarily depress sperm counts)
If the sperm test is abnormal, this will need to be repeated 3-4 times over a period of 3-6 months to confirm whether the abnormality is persistent or not . Don't jump to a conclusion based on just one report - remember that sperm counts do tend to vary on their own ! It takes six weeks for the testes to produce new sperm - which is why you need to wait before repeating the test. It also makes sense to repeat it from another laboratory to ensure that the report is valid.
   
The Man with a Low Sperm Count Oligospermia : Cause & Treatment
The diagnosis and treatment of oligospermia or low sperm count is not straight forward. Most men are not keen on semen testing in the first place, and a diagnosis of low sperm count puts extra pressure on him. Since there is no guaranteed treatment to remedy this condition, it is preferable to try alternative solutions like such as IVF and ICSI.
Many infertile men are obsessed about their low sperm count - and this seems to become the central concern in their lives. Remember that the real question the man with a fertility problem is asking is not: What is my sperm count or what is my motility ? But - are my sperm capable of working or not? Can I have a baby with my sperm? Since the function of the sperm is to fertilize the egg, the only direct way of answering this question is by actually doing IVF for test fertilization. This is, of course, too expensive and impractical for most people which is why the other sperm function tests have been devised.
The major problem with all these tests, however, is that they are all indirect --- there is no very good correlation between test results, pregnancy rates, and fertilization in vitro for the individual patient. This is why offering a prognosis for the individual patient based on an abnormality in the sperm test result is so difficult, and why we find that different doctors give such widely varying interpretations based on the same sperm report. You can see what a normal sperm count looks like here !
This is really not surprising when you consider how abysmal our ignorance in this area is - after all, we do not even know what a "normal" sperm count is! Since you only need one "good" sperm to fertilise an egg, we do not have a simple answer to even this very basic question! While the lower limit of normal is considered to be 10 million progressively motile sperm per ml, remember that this is a statistical average. For example, most doctors have had the experience of a man with a very low sperm count (as little as 2-5 million per ml) fathering a pregnancy on his own, with no treatment. In fact, when sperm counts are done for men who are undergoing a vasectomy for family planning, these men of proven fertility have sperm counts varying anywhere from 2 million to 300 million per ml. This obviously means that there is a significant variation in "fertile" sperm counts, and therefore coming to conclusions is very difficult for the doctor (leave alone the patient!)
In order to make sense of this, you need to understand two important concepts - "trying time" and "fertility potential of the couple". If your sperm count is low, but you have been trying to have a baby for less than 1 year, it still makes sense to keep on trying for about 1 year, since 10% of men with low sperm counts will father a pregnancy in this time. If however, you have already tried for more than 2 years with no success, you need to move on and do something more - the chances of a spontaneous pregnancy are now very low. Remember, that a doctor does not treat just a "low sperm count report" - he treats patients!
So what does the man with a low sperm count do? Most men go to their doctor and expect that their doctor will prescribe a medicine which will help them to increase their sperm count, and fix their problem. After all, they expect that if medical technology has become so advanced, then there must be some treatment available to correct such a common problem !
The problem with the medical treatment of a low sperm count is that for most people it simply doesn't work. After all, if the reason for a low sperm count is a microdeletion on the Y-chromosome, then how can medication help ? The very fact that there are so many ways of "treating" a low sperm count itself suggests that there is no effective method available. This is the sad state of affairs today and much needs to be learnt about the causes of poor production of sperm before we can find effective methods of treating it.
However, patients want treatment, so there is pressure on the doctor to prescribe, even if he knows the therapy may not be helpful . When most patients go to a doctor, they expect that the doctor will prescribe a medicine and treat their problem. Since most people still believe there is a "pill for every ill", they expect that the doctor will give them a medicine ( or an injection) which will increase their sperm count. No patient ever wants to hear the truth that there is really no effective treatment available today for increasing the sperm count.
Since most doctors know this, they are pressurised into prescribing medicines for these patients, because they do not want the patient to be unhappy with them. They are worried that if they do not fulfill the patient's expectation of a prescription, the patient will desert them, and go elsewhere, which is why they often do not tell the patient the complete truth. The doctor also remembers the occasional anecdotal successes (who come back for followup , while the others desert the doctor and are lost to followup) is why patients with low sperm counts are put on every treatment imaginable - with little rational basis - clomiphene, HMG and HCG injections ( using the rationale that what's good for the goose must be good for the gander !) proxeed, testosterone,Vitamin E, Vitamin C, anti-oxidants, high-protein diets, hoemeopathic pills , ayurvedic churans and even varicocele surgery. However, the very fact that there are hundreds of medicines itself proves that there is no medicine which works ! ( After all, if one medicine worked, then all doctors would prescribe this, so there would be no need for so many different medicines !)
Many doctors justify their prescriptions by saying - " Anyway it can't hurt - and in any case, what else can we do? " However, this attitude can be positively harmful. It wastes time, during which the wife gets older, and her fertility potential decreases. Patients are unhappy when there is no improvement in the sperm count and lose confidence in doctors. It also stops the patient from exploring effective modes of alternative therapy - such as IVF and ICSI . Today empiric therapy should be criticised unless it is used as a short term therapeutic trial with a defined end-point.
A word of warning. Medical treatment for male infertility does not have a high success rate and has unpleasant side effects, so don't take it unless your doctor explains his rationale. The treatment is best considered "experimental" and can be tried as a therapeutic trial. Make sure, however, that semen is examined for improvement after three months and then decide whether you want to press on regardless.
What about surgery to treat a varicocele ? Remember that many men with large varicoceles have excellent sperm counts , which is why correlating cause (varicocele) and effect (low sperm count) is so difficult. It is possible that the varicocele may be an unrelated finding in infertile men - a "red herring" so to speak. This means that surgical correction of the varicocele may be of no use in improving the sperm count - after all, if the varicocele is not the cause of the problem, then how will treating it help? In fact, controlled trials comparing varicocele surgery with no therapy in men who have varicoceles and a low sperm count have shown that the pregnancy rate is the same - so that it does not seem to make a difference whether or not the varicocele is treated !
Because surgery for varicocele repair is simple and straightforward , many doctors still repair any varicoceles they find in infertile men, following the dictum that it's better to do something, rather than do nothing ! However, keep in mind that varicocele surgery will result in an improvement in sperm count and motility in only about 30% of patients - and it is still not possible for the doctor to predict which patient will be helped. Of course, just improving the sperm count is not enough - and pregnancy rates after varicocele repair alone are in the range of 15%. However, one danger of doing a varicocele repair is that when it doesn't help, patients get frustrated, and refuse to pursue more effective options, such as the assisted reproductive techniques.
The sad fact of the matter is that there is no method of increasing a low sperm count today! This is why modern management of a low sperm count uses assisted reproductive technology extensively. The modern protocol for managing male infertility is based on the man's motile sperm count; and on a simple test, called a sperm survival test. The sperm are washed, and their recovery assessed; the washed sperm are then kept in culture medium in the incubator for 24 hours and then rechecked. If there are more than 3 million motile sperm per ml, this is reassuring. If, however, none of the sperm is alive after 24 hours, this suggests that they may be functionally incompetent. Treatment depends upon how low the count is. If it is only moderately decreased (total motile sperm count in the ejaculate being 20 million), it makes sense to try to improve the fertility potential of the wife, and the easiest treatment for men with moderately low sperm counts is superovulation plus intrauterine insemination. If after doing this and trying for 4 treatment cycles (the reason 4 is the "magic" number is that most patients who are going to become pregnant with any method will usually do so within 4 cycles) no pregnancy ensues, you need to go on and explore further alternatives, such as IVF or ICSI.
Unfortunately, we find that many doctors still offer IUI ( intrauterine insemination) treatment for men with oligospermia. The hope seems to be that washing the sperm will help the doctor to recover the "best sperm"; and since only one sperm is needed to fertilise the egg, then IUI will improve the chances of achieving a pregnancy. Unfortunately, IUI is a terrible treatment for oligospermia, with a very low pregnancy rate. The problem is that oligospermic men have sperm which are functionally incompetent, which is why washing the sperm and doing IUI does not help.
So what is the right treatment ? For men with a motile sperm count of more than 5 million in the ejaculate, logically IVF would be the first treatment offered. This would allow us to document if the sperm can fertilize the eggs or not. If fertilisation is documented, then the patient has a good chance of getting pregnant. However, if the motile sperm count is less than 5 million, or if there is total failure of fertilisation in IVF, then the only treatment available is ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection, pronounced "eeksee") or microinjection. ICSI has revolutionised our approach to the infertile man, and it promises the possibility for every man to have a baby, no matter how low his sperm count.
We personally prefer offering ICSI treatment directly to all men with oligospermia, to bypass the risk of total fertilisation failure with IVF. This allows us to guarantee that we will be able to make embryos in the lab, no matter how poor the sperm.
What about the answer to the million dollar question: --- Why do I have a low sperm count? Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, the doctor will not be able to answer that question, and no amount of testing will help us to find out - this is labelled as "idiopathic oligospermia" which is really a wastepaper basket diagnosis for "god only knows!". Modern research has shown that the reason some men have a low sperm count maybe because of a microdeletion on the Y-chromosome. This is an expensive test, which is available only in research laboratories at present, and does explain why we have little effective treatment for this common problem! We do know that a low sperm count is not related to physique, general state of health, diet, sexual appetite or frequency. While not knowing the cause can be very frustrating, medicine still has a lot to study and understand about male infertility, which is a relatively neglected field today.
The major cause of male infertility usually is a sperm problem. However, do remember that this is no reflection on your libido or sexual prowess. Sometimes men with testicular failure find this difficult to understand (but doctor, I have sex twice a day! How can my sperm count be zero?). The reason for this is that the testis has two compartments. One compartment, the seminiferous tubules, produces sperms. The other compartment, the "interstitium" or the tissue in between the tubules (where the Leydig cells are) produces the male sex hormone, testosterone, which causes the male sexual drive. Now while the tubules can be easily damaged, the Leydig cells are much more resistant to damage, and will continue functioning normally in most patients with testicular failure.
This is why the diagnosis of a low sperm count can be such a blow to one's ego --- it is so totally unexpected, because it is not associated with other symptoms or signs. Men react differently - but common feelings include anger with the wife and the doctor; resentfulness about having to participate in infertility testing and treatment since they feel having babies is the woman's "job"; loss of self-esteem; and temporary sexual dysfunction such as loss of desire and poor erections. Many men also feel very guilty that because of "their" medical problem, they are depriving their wife the pleasures of experiencing motherhood. Unfortunately, social support for the infertile man is practically non-existent, and he is forced to put up a brave front and show that he doesn't care. Since he is a man, he is not allowed to display his emotions. He is expected to provide a shoulder for his wife to cry on - but he needs to learn to cry alone. However, remember that

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF VACCINATION


                        
                                                                 Dr. Mahedra Gaikwad MD

DISEASES FROM VACCINE

 Up to 60% of Immune System Destroyed * Allergies * Asthma * Attention Deficit Disorder *Autism * Auto-immune Diseases * Blindness * Brain Cell Loss * Cancer * Central Nervous System Damage * Deafness * Developmental Damage * DEATH * Epilepsy * Learning Disabilities * Leukemia * Multiple Sclerosis * Neurological Disease * Organ Disease * Psoriasis * Seizures * Synergistic Toxicity * SIDS * Total Paralysis
TOXIC INGREDIENTS FOUND IN VACCINES:
* aluminum hydroxide * aluminum phosphate * ammonium sulfate * amphotericin B * animal tissues: pig blood, horse blood, rabbit brain * anthrax * dog kidney, monkey kidney * chick embryo, chicken egg, duck egg * calf (bovine) serum * betapropiolactone * fetal bovine serum * formaldehyde * formalin * gelatin * glycerol * human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue) * hydrolized gelatin * mercury thimerosol (thimerosal, Merthiolate) * monosodium glutamate (MSG) * neomycin * neomycin sulfate * phenol red indicator * phenoxyethanol (antifreeze) * potassium diphosphate * potassium monophosphate * polymyxin B * polysorbate 20 * polysorbate 80 porcine (pig) pancreatic hydrolysate of casein * residual MRC5 proteins * sorbitol * tri(n)butylphosphate * VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells * washed sheep red blood                         monkey kidney cells 

Benefits of Coconut Oil

             Benefits of Coconut Oil
                                         Mahendra Gaikwad


1. Age Spots (also known as liver spots) – applying coconut oil directly to the age spot will help it fade.

2. After Shave – coconut oil will help heal your skin after shaving without clogging pores. Great for razor burn!

3. Baldness – apply three times a day to affected area of hair loss. Coconut oil supports cell regeneration.

4. Birth Marks – can be used after a laser removal treatment to aid in healing. Can also be applied after an apple cider vinegar treatment to help support and aid the fading process.

5. Body Scrub – mix coconut oil and sugar together and rub all over! Rinse off and your skin will be super soft! You can add in essential oils if you would like a specific smell.

6. Bruises – applied directly to the bruise, coconut oil enhances the healing process by reducing swelling and redness.

7. Bug Bites – when applied directly to a bug bite, coconut oil can stop the itching and burning sensation as well as hasten the healing process.

8. Burns – apply to burn site immediately and continue applying until healed. Will reduce the chances of permanent scarring and promotes healing.

9. Chapstick – just rub a little into lips and it not only acts as a softening agent but it also has an SPF of about 4 so you get a little protection!

10. Cradle Cap – having issues with dry skin on your baby’s scalp? Coconut oil will not only nourish your baby’s skin, it also helps eliminate cradle cap. Just rub a teaspoon onto scalp daily.

11. Dandruff – coconut oil soaks into the scalp moisturizing dry skin and relieves symptoms of dandruff. It also helps to control oil secretion from the scalp, another leading cause of dandruff.

12. Deodorant – coconut oil alone can be used as a deodorant, but even more effective in combination with cornstarch/arrowroot powder and baking soda!

13. Diaper Salve – very comforting on a rashy bum with no harsh chemicals. Also safe for cloth diapers.

14. Exfoliator – coconut oil mixed with sugar or sea salt is a very nourishing and effective exfoliator and safe to use all over the body.

15. Eye cream – apply under the eyes to reduce puffiness, bags and wrinkles. Use on the lids in the evening.

16. Face Wash/ Soap – mix equal parts coconut oil with olive oil, almond oil, avocado oil and castor oil and use in place of soap when washing your face. Wet face, rub oil in and leave on for two minutes, rinse and pat dry. One teaspoon should be adequate.

17. Hair conditioner/ Deep Treatment – use as a leave-in hair conditioner by applying a teaspoon of coconut oil to your ends and then running your fingers through your hair to distribute the rest! For a deeper treatment, rub in a tablespoon of coconut oil onto your dry scalp and gently work through to the ends. Put a shower cap on to prevent transfer onto bed linens and leave on overnight.

18. Hair Gel/ Defrizzer – rub a little between your palms and either scrunch into hair (for curly hair) or finger comb in through from scalp to ends (for wavy/straight hair).

19. Healing - when applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues. Plus, it smells a heck-of-a-lot better than anything from the pharmacy.

20. Lubricant – it is an all-natural, perfectly safe personal lubricant. Not compatible with latex!

21. Makeup Remover – use a cotton swab and a dab of coconut oil and you would be amazed at how well it works!

22. Massage Oil – pretty simple; grab some and rub!

23. Moisturizer – simply scoop some out of the jar and apply all over your body, including neck and face.

24. Mole Remover – when applied after an apple cider vinegar compress for several weeks, moles have been known to “slide off” or just disappear.

25. Nipple Cream – works great to nourish cracked, sore or dry nipples. Apply to a cotton ball and leave on your nipples between feedings.

26. Oily Skin Fix – prone to oily skin or an oily T-zone? Use a pea sized amount underneath makeup or alone to reduce the appearance of oil.

27. Pre Shampoo Treatment for Hair – rub a little into scalp and hair before shampooing. This is especially useful for those with course or frizzy hair.

28. Pre-Shave – coconut oil will prep skin for the pending damage caused by shaving.

29. Skin Problems – coconut oil relieves skin problems such as psoriasis, dermatitis, and eczema.

30. Stretch Mark Cream – coconut oil is great at nourishing damaged skin. It may not be the magic stretch mark cure but it will help.

31. Sun Burn Relief – rub liberal amounts of coconut oil into the affected area.

32. Sunscreen – see my post on natural sunscreen for more detailed information.

33. Swimmers Ear – mix garlic oil and coconut oil and put a few drops in affected ear for about 10 minutes. Do this 2-3 times a day and it usually works within one or two days.

34. Tattoo Healing and Moisturizer – continued use of coconut oil on tattoos will help keep the pigment from fading. Used on new tattoos, coconut will hasten the healing process and decrease the chance of infection.

35. Toothpaste – there are numerous recipes out there but I just mix coconut oil and baking soda and dab a little of the mix on my toothbrush.

36. Wrinkle Prevention and Wrinkle Reducer – rubbing coconut oil on winkles and sagging skin helps strengthen the connective tissues to bring back that youthful look!



Coconut Oil for General Health and Wellness

37. Breastfeeding – for breastfeeding moms, consuming 3 ½ tablespoons of coconut oil daily will enrich the milk supply.

38. Bones and Teeth – coconut oil aids in the absorption of calcium and magnesium leading to better development of bones and teeth.

39. Digestion - the saturated fats in coconut oil help control parasites and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome. The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.

40. Energy Boost – coconut oil boosts energy and endurance making it a great supplement for athletes as well as those needed a quick pick me up.

41. Fitness - coconut oil has been proven to stimulate your metabolism, improve thyroid function, and escalate energy levels, all of which help decrease your unwanted fat while increasing muscle.

42. Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose making it great for both diabetics and non-diabetic.

43. Lung Function – increases the fluidity of cell surfaces.

44. Nausea – rub some coconut oil on the inside for the wrist and forearm to calm an upset stomach.

45. Nose bleeds – coconut oil can prevent nose bleeding that is caused by sensitivity to weather such as extreme heat and extreme cold. This condition happens when the nasal passages become dry because of cold or dry air resulting to burns and cracks in the mucus membranes so bleeding happens. To prevent this just put coconut oil in you nostrils. Coat your finger with coconut oil and then lie down and coat your finger inside your nose. Doing this will strengthen and protect the capillaries in the nasal passages. A Vitamin C supplement will also help prevent nose bleeding.

46. Oil pulling with coconut oil offers a two for one health benefit!

47. Stress Relief – relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion. The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.

48. Vitamin and nutrient absorption

49. Weight loss - the saturated fats contribute to weight loss and controlling cravings. Also increases metabolic rate.



Coconut Oil for Health Problems (when taken internally it is known for aiding, preventing, relieving or even curing these health issues)

50. Acid reflux/indigestion aid if taken after a meal

51. Adrenal fatigue

52. Allergies (seasonal hay fever)

53. Alzheimer’s/Dementia

54. Asthma, even in children

55. Autism

56. Bowel function

57. Bronchial Infections

58. Cancer (has been shown to prevent colon and breast cancer in laboratory tests)

59. Candida Albicans

60. Cholesterol – improves HDL (‘good’ cholesterol) to LDL (‘bad’ cholesterol) ratio in people with high cholesterol

61. Chronic Fatigue

62. Crohns Disease and resulting inflammation

63. Circulation/feeling cold all the time

64. Colds and Flus

65. Constipation

66. Cystic Fibrosis

67. Depression

68. Diabetes – helps keep blood sugar levels stable and/or helps with cravings

69. Dysentery

70. Eczema – in addition to taking it internally, many have success applying it externally, but some don’t

71. Edema

72. Energy boost

73. Epilepsy (known to reduce epileptic seizures)

74. Fever Support

75. Flaky, Dry Skin

76. Gallbladder disease and pain

77. Gas

78. H. pylori

79. Head Lice

80. Heart Disease (protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis)

81. Hemorrhoids (can applied externally or internally twice a day)

82. HIV

83. Hot Flashes

84. Hyperthyroidism

85. Immune System Builder

86. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

87. Jaundice

88. Kidney Disease

89. Kidney Stones (aids in dissolving them)

90. Liver Disease

91. Lung Disease

92. Malnutrition

93. Mental Clarity

94. Menstruation Relief regarding pain/cramps and heavy blood flow

95. Migraines (with regular use)

96. Mononucleosis

97. Osteoporosis

98. Pancreatitis

99. Parasites

100. Periodontal Disease and tooth decay

101. Prostate Enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia)

102. Rickets

103. Skin problems

104. Scurvy

105. Stomach Ulcers

106. Toenail fungus

107. Thrush

108. Thyroid Function (regulates an overactive or underactive thyroid)

109. Ulcerative Colitis

110. Underactive thyroid gland – results have shown subsequent thyroid blood tests becoming normal after ingesting coconut oil daily

111. Urinary Tract Infections (Bladder Infections)

Coconut Oil and Health Problems (when applied topically it is known for aiding, relieving, or even curing these health issues)

112. Acne

113. Allergies/Hay Fever – rub a little inside the nostrils for quick relief. The pollen will cling to the oil.

114. Athletes foot

115. Back pain/sore muscles

116. Boils and cysts

117. Canker sores

118. Cellulite

119. Circumcision healing – although I am personally against circumcision, I have read that coconut oil is a really great healer for this.

120. Decongestant – rub coconut oil on the chest and under the nose when congested from a cold or allergies

121. Ear infection – place a few drops inside the ear twice daily for relief from pain. Also fights the infection itself.

122. Genital Warts (through topical application over 6 weeks, and coconut oil enemas twice a day depending on the location of the warts)

123. Gum Disease and Gingivitis (use as a toothpaste or rub directly on gums)

124.Herpes (applied topically and taken internally)

125.Hives (reduces the itch and swelling

126. Pink eye (applied around and in the eye)

127. Ringworm

128. Toothache

129. Warts



Coconut Oil and Cooking

130. Butter Substitute – use 1 cup to 1 cup ratio when replacing butter in recipes with coconut oil.

131. Nutritional Supplement – melt and add to smoothies.

132. Replacement for butter/lard/Crisco/PAM in its solid form for greasing pans, pie crusts, etc.

133. Replacement for various oils in liquid form Рbaking, cooking, saut̩ing, etc.



Coconut Oil and Pets/Animals

Check with your veterinarian but the recommended dosage for animals is 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight twice daily.

134. Aids healing of digestive disorders like inflammatory bowel syndrome and colitis

135. Aids in arthritis or ligament problems

136. Aids in elimination of hairballs and coughing

137. Applied topically, promotes the healing of cuts, wounds, hot spots, dry skin and hair, bites and stings

138. Clears up skin conditions such as eczema, flea allergies, contact dermatitis, and itchy skin

139. Disinfects cuts and promotes wound healing

140. Great for dogs and cats for general wellness. Just add a teaspoon to their water bowl daily.

141. Helps prevent or control diabetes

142. Helps sedentary dogs feel energetic

143. Helps reduce weight, increases energy

144. Improves digestion and nutrient absorption

145. Makes coats become sleek and glossy, and deodorizes doggy odor

146. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) have been shown to improve brain energy metabolism and decrease the amyloid protein buildup that results in brain lesions in older dogs.

147. Prevents and treats yeast and fungal infections, including candida

148. Reduces allergic reactions and improves skin health

149. Reduces or eliminates bad breath in dogs

150. Regulates and balance insulin and promotes normal thyroid function



Other Uses for Coconut Oil

151. Chewing Gum in Hair Remover – just rub some coconut oil over the stuck chewing gum, leave in for about 30 minutes, then roll the gum between your fingertip. Voila! It’s out!

152. Goo Gone – just mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda into a paste. Apply to the “sticky” area and let it set for a minute. Then scrub off with an old toothbrush or the scrubby side of a sponge.

153. Insect repellent – mix coconut oil with peppermint oil extract and rub it all over exposed skin. Keeps insects off better than anything with DEET! Tons safer too.

154. Moisturizing and cleaning leather products

155. Oiling wood cutting boards and wood bowls

156. Polishing Bronze – all you have to do is rub a little oil into a cotton towel and then wipe down the statue. It cleans and helps deepen the color of your bronze.

157. Polish Furniture – coconut oil with a little bit of lemon juice to polish wood furniture. However, I recommend you test it first on a very small, unobtrusive part of your furniture to make sure it works the way you’d like.

158. Seasoning animal hide drums

159. Seasoning cookware

160. Soap making – coconut oil can be used as one of the fats in soap.

CANCER – CAUSES AND ITS PREVENTION


CANCER – CAUSES AND ITS PREVENTION
                                                                         By Dr.Mahendra Gaikwad  M.D.(Homoeo)
These modern days life has changed ,behavior pattern of people has changed, every one is expecting success through short way .life has become mechanical,routine. life expectancy is increasing ,inmost countries greater no of people are living to older ages and are at great risk of chronic diseases like cancer.Cigarette smoking, drinking wine,gutakha and tobacco chewing has become order of the day as if life is incomplete without these. This has given birth to dozens of non communicable diseases among them cancer is one a leading cause of death. Cancer affects all the most communities worldwide.
 STATISTICS:
In developed countries from Europe and North America continent about 70 -75% of total death are of cancer. There are about 10 million people diagnose with cancer and more than 6 million people die due to cancer every year. by 2000 there were 22.4 million people living with cancer. there is 20% increase in the incidence rates of cancer in last one decade (from 1990-2000).The most common cancer among all cancer is lung cancer ( 12.3% ),breast cancer ( 10.4% ),colorectal cancer ( 9.4% ) lung cancer causes most of the death from all cancers ( 1.1 million  ) worldwide. The top three cancers causes death are lung, stomach & liver cancer. Predominance of lung,stomach,oesaphagus,liver,bladder cancer are common in male.   
Cancer is regarded as  group of diseases charecterised by an (a) abnormal growth of cells (b) ability to invade nearest tissue and remote organs as well (c) eventual death of affected patient if tumor has progressed beyond stage and has potential to affect any site or tissue  of the body ,any type of cell can be involved.
There are three types of cancer  (a) Carcinoma-from internal surface epithelial cells ex.mouth,oesaphagus, stomach,instestine,uterus (b) Sarcoma-which arises from mesoderm cells constituting connective tissue ex.fiberous tissue, fats and bones (c) Lymphomas- from cells of bone marrow and cells of immune system. The burden of cancer is highest in effluent countries mainly due to high incidences of tumors associated with smoking and modern life style ex. cancer of breast,colorectum ,prostate. in developing countries about 25% of tumors are associated with chronic infection, hepatitis B-liver cancer, human papiloma virus-cervical cancer ,helicobacter pylori-stomach cancer.
In India cancer related data provides by ICMR ( Indian Council For Medical Research),In India about 2-2.5million people are living with cancer, about 7-9 lakh people diagnosed as a new cancer cases & half of them die due to cancer die due cancer every year. The four most frequent cancers in India in male are mouth, oesaphagus, stomach & lower

respiratory tract cancer, for women cancer of cervix,breast,mouth & oesaphgus.Tobacco is major cause of cancer in India.
Oral cancer incidences are about 5,75000 and 3,35000 death occurs due to oral cancer worldwide ,cancer of cervix is second most common cancer among women .high incidences are recorded at the age of 25 to 45 years ,early marriages ,genital warts,widowed,divorced or separated or  having multiple partners are causes of cervical cancer. Breast cancer cause of death in middle aged women ,about 5,19000 deaths caused due to breast cancer worldwide.
CAUSES OF CANCER :
Cancer is multifactorial disease, about 80 to 90% cancers caused due to environmental factors among them are Tobacco-use of tobacco in smoking and chewing is the major cause of cancer of lungs, larynx, mouth,pharynx,oesaphagus. More
than one million premature deaths are caused due cigarette smoking.Alcohol-3% of death due to alcohol induced cancers, colorectal cancer is common in bear drinkers. Alcoholic beverages is associated with liver cancer Dietary fibers-Lack of dietary fibers intake causes stomach,oesaphagus,intestine cancer particularly smoked fish,fats,beef consumers. Bowel and breast cancer is common in fat consumers. Exposure to toxins-benzene,arsenic,cadmium,chromium,vinyl chloride, asbestos.1 to 5% of human cancer due to above exposure. Viruses-Hepatitis B infection induces hepatocellular cancer ,Kaposi sarcoma due to HIV infection HIV infection induces ,non Hodgkin lymphoma,Epson barr virus induces stomach cancer.Human papilloma virus can cause cancer of cervix.Parasite-Schistosomosis can cause cancer of bladder.Custom habbits and lifestyle-Change of lifestyle like smoking,tobacco chewing increases risk of cancer.Other Causes-Radiation,water pollution,medication like oral contraceptive pills are more or less resoponsible to cause cancer .
Genetic factors-Heredity is considered as cause  cancer ex.leucamia is common in mongol.
PREVENTION OF CANCER –
To patient and  doctors even cancer gives an impression of being most terrible scourge,which is fatal, pitiless irremediable as soon as it fixes signature on human being. That isn’t always so. We should look after morale of the patient,we should not  letting them know their disease,we should keep them away from moral and emotional shocks. Various therapeutic system been applied in indisputable cases of cancers .Advancing knowledge has been increased understanding about cancer ,in the strategy of prevention of cancer causative factors should be controlled, among these are control of tobacco chewing, alcohol consumtion,radiation effects should be controlled. Protective measure should taken particularly in cases of chemical exposure.Immunisation of hepatitis B patient with hepatitis vaccine. People in the community should properly educated with knowledge of cancer particularly danger sings of cancer like lump or hardness in breast, a
change in warts or moles, continuous cough and hoarseness, excessive blood loss during menses, blood loss from natural orifices, change in digestive and bowel habbits,incurable soreness. Diet of cancer patient –Plenty of food rich in vitamins, protein poor in spices and nitrogenous elements should be given .Patient should be weighted every week ,Therapies like homoeopathy has not only regress the malignancy tendency but tumors are disappeared. This is possible only when patient will take pure homoeopathic medication.
Precancerous  stage should be prevented with proper homoeopathic medication by giving importance to family history of cancer of the patient.
Patient should encouraged and advised to learn and practice such a techniques which can cool down their temperament,anxety and fear of fatality of the disease like Vipassana Meditation, along with this patient should advoised to take regular exercise.

                                 Dr.Mahendra Gaikwad  M.D.(Hom)

SENSE OF WELLBEING THROUGH VIPASSANA AND HOMOEOPATHY



World Health Organization ( WHO ) is expecting health in the society at the mental,  physical, and social level  for that WHO, a non political organization is  working selflessly  day in and day out with objective of eradication of all mental and physical diseases for the peace harmony in the society, this is the reason why lots of provisions are being made for the prevention of mental, physical and social pathologies , these provisions are lacking that’s why every body is not experiencing sense of wellbeing therefore WHO’s definition of health, sense of wellbeing at mental physical and social level being criticized by many as an ideological definition. This Idiology of WHO can be proved practically possible through two priceless gifts of the Nature to human mankind  that is VIPASSANA MEDITATION  and HOMOEOPATHY .

VIPASSANA
Vipassana an ancient meditation technique which was rediscovered by Gotama The Buddha before 2550 or more, Still it is being practiced in India and foreign countries as well . It has  preserved in its pure form by few saintly personnel in Myanmar,Cambodia ,Laos by practicing it in its purity, a businessman respected  Sri Satyanarayan Goenkaji (Guruji) of Indian origin settled in Myanmar leaned this technique from his teacher Sayaji U Ba Khin and practiced it for fourteen years under his guidance afterward respected Shri Satyanarayan Goenkaji (Guruji) appointed as a teacher of Vipassana meditation. It so happened he came back to India, he started teaching as he has done  for fourteen years , people in India and abroad accepted it because it is a very scientific technique, nonsectarian and immediate result oriented. Now understand what is Vipassana ? 
Vipassana is a Pali word, means observing truth in a framework of our body as it is, its aim and objective is to pure human mind from bottom to top, to make human mind super conscious, free from all the defilements . As every thing in this material world  is governed by Law of Nature similarly human mind is also works according to Law of Nature ,how human mind works according to the Law of Nature ? Modern Psychologists are classified  human mind  as conscious mind and sub conscious mind ,our conscious mind works in a domain making decisions, perceptions of right and wrong but very apparently about 5% part of human mind and  about 95% part of human mind is in a domain of unconscious part where our real decision making sense lies, capabilities of  mental and physical plane  lies. In day to day life we see that in every moment of our life unconscious mind play a supreme role, it never rests, it remain always alert always in reacting according to the circumstances we meet every moment .It overwhelms the conscious mind, it do not allow conscious mind to make right  decisions however  the capacity of   the conscious mind are very little in front of the unconscious mind .It remain vulnerable in front of reactions of the unconscious mind. The human unconscious mind is full of defilements like hatred,jouloucy,lust,anger,exaltation which don’t allow our boundless mental energy to utilize, as human being meet with circumstances wholesome or unwholesome, human unconscious mind stars reacting then sense of right or wrong  loose its strength.
Human mind is governed by the Law o f the Nature  if any one breaks the Law immediately the Nature  punishes him, on contrary one who stars walking on the path Vipassana he follows the Natures Law, increases his the capabilities of mind incredibly, by continuous practice of Vipassana by and by mind become purer and purer, human being will not  overwhelmed by emotions, anger, hatred, lusts. Confidence level raises incredibly, mind  will never drown in the nervousness, memory capacity increases. There are boundless spiritual benefits one gets after its regular practice. This is how human mind blessed with  sweet fruits of the  Nature.
Now a days circumstances are as such man can be trapped in the web of addictions, frustrations, nervousness, violence, criminal offences, which can be controlled if human mind is trained according to the Natures Law ,a healthy generation is possible to create ,a healthy community is possible to create, a healthy society is possible to create  social pathologies like communal riots, castism, racism ,poverty, female infanticide,  dowry, corruption   can be  controlled if every one follows Natures Law  by practicing Vipassana.
Vipassana courses have been given to Govt.employees,inmates in prison, students in colleges, politicians drastic changes with  positive results have been noticed  among these. Those who have attend Vipassana course once they are respecting human beings, corruption in public and private sectors reduced. Among students capacity of understanding  subjects has increased.
 WHO has stated health that Health is a complete sense of wellbeing, mental, physical, socioeconomical not merely free from the diseases or infirmity however WHO has been criticized by many by saying  definition of health made is mere ideology .Mental and social sense of wellbeing  is possible through practice of Vipassana for that every one should encourage to accept Vipassana for dispersing peace and harmony  among the society.
HOMOEOPATHY     
In 18th century ,in medical science a great innovation been taken placed ,a new therapeutic system was introduced to medical world by Dr.Samuel Hahnemann of Germany he named it as Homoeopathy. The word homoeopathy is Latin word its  meaning is homoeos-similar, pathos-suffering means similar sufferings. As every thing in the Nature is governed by its Laws similarly therapeutic system is also governed by the Natures Law,that is Natures Law of cure, this has made Dr.Samuel Hahnemann to discover this priceless gem Homoeopathy, this therapeutic system strictly follows Natures law That is Law of Similars. What is Law of similars? Like can be cured by Like. In this therapeutic system drugs are given to patients to produce similar artificial disease against natural disease, now question arises is it possible to produce similar disease in the body, yes. It is possible in Homoeopathy only.
In Homoeopathy drug are prepared through a scientific method called Potentisation.In Potentisation process quantity of drug reduce down where as quality of the drugs increases incredibly, here poisonous  drugs substances  in crude form become less poisonous when they are potentised.
Aim and objective Homoeopathy is to eradicate disease in its whole extend ,making human body free from disease producing agents (harmful agents ) and uplifting vital energy to flow in all possible direction, repairing all functional and structural changes taken place in the body due to disease producing agents. Physical changes taken place during disease process can be repaired through pure homoeopathic practice strictly based on Natures Law ( Law of similars, Law Simplex ,Law of Minimum ) .Positive results are bound to come  only when Homoeopathic drugs are practiced purely not it mixing in one another.
WHO’s expected health is possible if Vipassana meditation and Homoeopathy will go hand in hand, a sense of wellbeing  in every ones life at physical, mental , socioeconomical is possible if Government will accept this fact  that maximum number of people encouraged to practice Vipassana meditation and prefer Homoeopathic medication  for root out of physical diseases.
Similarities in Vipassana  Homoeopathy
Vipassana and Homoeopathy both strictly adhere to the Natures Law. To liberate human being from the suffering  is the aim and objective  of both Vipassana and Homoeopathy Vipassana liberate human mind from mental defilements such as anger Hatred ,ill will, animosity, lust whereas Homoeopathy liberate human body from diseases.
Benefits of Homoeopathic medication on Vipassana meditation practionor
One who is practicing Vipassana gets boundless benefits, among these few are , Vipassana induces mental sense of wellbeing mind become calm & tranquil ,anxiety reduces, human being become  fearless reckless, confidence level raises incredibly, sensitivity increases at mind and body level, can make right decision at right time. All these benefits at mental level and on the body level  ,all physiological functional disturbances and diseases can be root out by taking pure Homoeopathic medication. By doing so human being  will liberate from mental and  corporial (physical) diseases, then he experiences real sense of wellbeing at mental, physical and socially, his mind and body become weightless, energy flows in all the parts body without any disturbances.


                     Dr. Mahendra B Gaikwad   M.D.(Homoeopathy)
              Homoeopathic Health Clinic & Chaitanya Homoeopathic Clinic
           Mob-+919096291080,+919226893784
           Email : purehomoeopathy@rediffmail.com
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