紅眼症(結膜炎) Conjunctivitis

結膜炎常被稱為“紅眼症”，症狀包括眼白部分感覺痛楚和/或痕癢，並伴隨紅腫。結膜炎最常見的成因是過敏反應或眼部受感染。另外一種常見的眼部問題是一隻眼睛的眼白部分出血，稱為“結膜下出血”，使一隻眼睛的一部分呈現鮮紅色，雖然外觀有些嚇人，但不引起不適或視力改變，過一段時間便會自愈。需要指出以上兩種情況的成因並不一樣。

結膜炎可由以下原因引起：
過敏反應 - 瘙癢是主要症狀。很可能雙眼都受到影響，而淚水分泌通常是清澈的。過敏性結膜炎可能會突然來襲，快來快去，也可能性質溫和但持續一段長時間。

病毒感染 - 小許瘙癢，但眼睛疼痛、輕度泛紅（或呈現粉紅色）和流眼水等症狀更為明顯。它可能由一隻眼開始，但很容易會傳播到另一隻眼（所以要小心處理，避免觸摸未受影響的眼睛）。眼水分泌通常是清澈而量大。有時需要三個星期症狀才會完全消失，並可能因呼吸道感染或感冒而再度復發。

細菌感染 - 眼部分泌濃稠的黃綠色粘液，伴隨著疼痛。

有毒物質 - 通常是眼部不小心接觸了化學品而產生的急性反應（成因明顯，應立即處理）。

過度刺激 - 佩戴隱形眼鏡入睡或淚水分泌不足都是造成眼部過度受刺激的主要原因。

處理結膜炎需要非常小心，如果症狀嚴重而持久，必須立即求醫。

推薦的補充劑
MSM
對於長期過敏性結膜炎非常有效，每日補充 3000毫克或以上MSM補充劑，對治療過敏反應非常有效。

其他有用的補充劑：
洋甘菊
有助於抵抗感染。

茴香籽
有助於抵抗感染。

萬壽菊（金盞菊）
有助舒緩眼部刺激。


Often called "pink eye" or "red eye," conjunctivitis is a painful and/or itchy redness of the whites of one's eyes. It is most commonly due to an allergic reaction or an infection. This is different from bleeding into the white part of one eye, called a "subconjunctival hemorrhage," which leaves part of one eye bright red, but causes no discomfort or vision change.

Conjunctivitis can be caused by:
Allergies — Itching is the dominant symptom. It is more likely to affect both eyes, and the discharge/watering from the eyes is usually clear. It may hit suddenly, or be mild and ongoing.

Viral — Though there may be some itchiness, the pain, mild redness (more pink) and watering are more prominent. It may start in one eye, but easily can spread to the other (so be careful not to touch the unaffected eye). The discharge is usually clear and watery. It may take three weeks to resolve and may occur along with a respiratory infection or cold.

Bacterial — This is associated with a puss-like yellow-green mucus discharge along with pain.

Toxic — From an acute chemical exposure (usually obvious and should be immediately treated).

Irritation — Falling asleep with your contact lenses in or having inadequate tears to support the use of contact lenses.


Recommended Supplement
MSM
For long-term allergic conjunctivitis, treating allergies with the supplement MSM 3,000+ milligrams (mg) a day.

Other useful supplements:
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita). Helps fight infection.

Fennel seed (Foeniculum vulgare). Helps fight infection.

Marigold (Calendula officinalis). Soothes irritation.

生蛇點算好 Shingles

帶狀皰疹病毒潛伏於體內，一旦病毒發作會引起皮疹，並造成後遺性神經痛，這種皮疹叫做帶狀皰疹，或俗稱“生蛇”。帶狀皰疹病毒也是生水痘的元兇。

人體感染了水痘後，即使水痘已經消失，病毒仍然會潛伏於你的神經末梢。這通常不成問題。然而，如果病毒在某一個神經末梢被重新激活，則會沿著該神經的分佈產生皮疹(小水泡)。帶狀皰疹的特徵是非常疼痛，通常發生於身體的其中一側，形成一條線的形狀。如果這條線延伸超過了身體的中線，則問題可能由其他因素引起而並非生蛇。

帶狀皰疹引起的疼痛感覺有時會持續一段時間，如果持續數周至數年（大約一半老年患者的痛症會持續一年以上），則稱為“帶狀皰疹後神經痛（PHN）”。PHN的疼痛感覺類似被火灼傷、觸電，或深層的痛楚。而長者受PHN的影響最大，可以嚴重影響生活。幸好醫學進步，現時大多數帶狀皰疹都可以得到有效治療。

治療程序
當出現上述症狀，身體有疼痛性皮疹（但不痕癢），建議立即求醫。醫生一般會處方抗病毒藥物，療程大約7-10天。

抗病毒藥物
帶狀皰疹發作初期（48-72小時內）便開始治療，效果最明顯。常用抗病毒藥物是伐昔洛韋(valacyclovir)，劑量一般是每日三次每次服1000毫克，連續服用7-10天。

急性帶狀皰疹也可以用以下營養補充劑：
維他命 B12每日5000毫克，分開數次服用。
將B12片劑含於舌下，效果會更快。

賴氨酸每日2,000-2,500毫克，有助於餓死相關病毒。

維他命B雜，有助神經線癒合。

Postherpetic Neuralgia follows a rash called “herpes zoster.” Often called “shingles,” it is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The first time you get chickenpox, the virus remains in your nerve endings even after the chickenpox is gone. This usually causes no problems. If the virus re-activates in one of the nerve endings, however, it causes a rash (small blisters) all along the distribution of that nerve. The rash of herpes zoster is characterized by being painful and being in a line totally on one side of the body. If it extends past the midline of your body, the rash is probably coming from something else. If the pain persists after the rash is gone, continuing for weeks to years (over one year in half of elderly patients), it is called "Postherpetic Neuralgia (PHN)." The pain tends to be burning, electric, or deep and aching. Elderly are most affected by PHN. It can severely disrupt one’s life, but fortunately can now be effectively treated in most cases.



Treatment

Once a new painful rash (not itchy) that fits the description of shingles, immediate treatment with prescription antivirals for ten days is highly recommended.



Medications

Beginning treatment early on in a shingles attack (within 48-72 hours) is critical. The recommended dose is 1,000 mg of valacyclovir(an antiviral agent) three times a day for a week to 10 days for shingles.



Recommended Supplements

Acute shingles can be helped with the following supplements:



Vitamin B12

B12 sublingual tablets (5,000 mcg a day dissolved under the tongue) can be helpful.



Lysine

Lysine 2,000-2,500 mg/day may help starve the virus.



B complex

Take a good B complex vitamin to help support nerve healing.



Medication reminder

In addition to these supplements, it is most important that you take the prescription antiviral noted above.

安眠的天然補充劑 Some natural sleep-aid supplements

都市生活緊張，處理各種事項使人精神長期處於繃緊狀態，若再不幸碰上失眠，身體就會缺乏休養生息的機會，很多慢性疾病也由此而生。

因此很多人希望尋覓一些助眠的草藥以解不眠之憂，特別是那些想戒掉安眠藥的人對這方面的需求甚殷。其實幫助睡眠的天然補充劑的選擇也不少，這裡介紹一些常用的給大家。

纈草根是一種天然鎮靜劑，其用途可以追溯至古希臘時代。近年來，它的有效性得到了臨床研究的支持。

除了纈草根之外，許多其他營養素也可以改善睡眠，包括γ-氨基丁酸或簡稱GABA（一種能抑制大腦活動的天然自然化學物質）和L-茶氨酸（在綠茶葉中發現的一種氨基酸，能誘導腦電波令身體放鬆）。

薰衣草也是最受歡迎的睡眠草藥之一，歷來一直用於舒緩緊張情緒、讓心情放鬆。現時已有很多科學研究成果印證了古人的智慧。泰國的一項研究發現，熏薰衣草能夠幫助我們放慢心率、降低血壓和降低皮膚溫度。其他研究發現，當你處於薰衣草香味的房間或將薰衣草油灑在睡衣或枕頭上，睡眠質量都有所提升。而德國的藥物管理局更已批准薰衣草用於治療失眠症。

安眠小提示
睡前，用瀉鹽開熱水泡浴。更換睡衣或其他舒適的棉質鬆身衣服。睡前喝一杯洋甘菊或薰衣草茶。這些都會讓你睡得溫暖舒適。

Those who want to explore herbal sleep aids—and especially those who want to wean themselves off sleeping pills—have many options to consider. Valerian root, for example, is a natural sedative whose use dates back to ancient Greece. In recent years, its effectiveness has been supported by research. In addition to valerian root, many other nutrients can also improve sleep, including gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA (a naturally occurring chemical that dampens brain activity), and L-theanine (an amino acid found in green tea leaves that induces brain waves connected to relaxation).

One of the most popular herbs for sleep is lavender, which has been used throughout history for healing and relaxation. There is scientific evidence to support what the ancients knew. A Thai study found that smelling lavender helps us relax by slowing down our heart rate, decreasing our blood pressure, and lowering skin temperature. Other studies have found sleep quality improved in a room scented with lavender or when lavender oil was sprinkled on pajamas or pillows. And in Germany, lavender tea has been approved by their equivalent of the FDA as a treatment for insomnia.

Some tips
Before bed, take a hot bath with Epsom salts. Have pajamas, nightdresses, even T-shirts dedicated to sleep. Sometimes a cup of chamomile or lavender tea is warm and comforting before going to bed.