Permanent Removal of Molluscum Contagiosum

A common skin disease, molluscum contagiosum is caused by a poxvirus that infects only the skin. While molluscum contagiosum will eventually go away on its own without leaving a scar, many dermatologists advise treating. Treatment can prevent the growths from spreading to other areas of a patient''s body and to other people. Before treatment begins, a dermatologist may confirm that the growths are mollusca by scraping an area of infected skin and looking at the cells under a microscope. If molluscum contagiosum is present, there are a number of treatment options. The following are some very common treatments available nowadays. A 10% iodine solution is placed on the molluscum papules and, when dry, the site is covered with small pieces of 50% salicylic acid plaster and tape. The process is repeated daily after bathing. After the lesions have become erythematous in 3-7 days, only the iodine solution is applied. Resolution has been reported in a mean of 26 days. Maceration and erosion can result. Tretinion 0.1% cream has been used in the treatment of MCV. It is applied twice daily to the lesions. Resolution was reported by day 11. Trace erythema at the site of prior lesions was a noted side effect. Tretinion 0.05% cream has also been used with success and decreased irritation. Another treatment option is the use of potassium hydroxide. In one study, an aqueous solution of 10% KOH was applied topically twice daily to all lesions with a swab. The treatment was discontinued when an inflammatory response or superficial ulcer became evident. Resolution occurred in a mean of 30 days. This treatment had some complications including hypertrophic scar formation and persistent or transitory hyper- and hypopigmentation. A subsequent study in pediatric patients recommended the use of 5% KOH and found it equally effective with many fewer side effects. The use of pulsed dye laser for the treatment of MC has also been documented with excellent results. The thera py was well tolerated, without scars or pigment anomalies. The lesions resolved without scarring at 2 weeks. Studies show 96%-99% of the lesions resolved with one treatment. The pulsed dye laser is quick and efficient, but its expense makes it less cost effective than other options. Imiquimod 5% cream has been used topically to treat MCV by inducing high levels of IFN-α and other cytokines locally. This potent immunomodulatory agent is well tolerated, although application site irritation is common. It has had no known systemic or toxic effects in children. It is applied to the area nightly for 4 weeks. Clearing can take up to 3 months. Cidofovir is a nucleoside analog that has potent antiviral properties. Several small studies and case reports describe the successful use of cidofovir applied topically or administered by intralesional injection in several virally induced cutaneous diseases. Cidofovir cream 3% has been used successfully to treat MCV in studies, with clear ing in 2-6 weeks. Its high cost, need for extemporaneous preparation, and carcinogenicity in some studies have limited its use. All of these treatments can be performed in a dermatologist''s office. If there are many growths, treatment sessions may be needed every 3 to 6 weeks until the growths disappear. Some discomfort is associated with these treatments. Very recent advances in the scientific understanding of medicinal plants suggest a much broader use of natural medicine in the process of eradicating molluscum and infectious viral diseases than science thought possible just ten years ago. Molluscum occurring anywhere on the body can be successfully eliminated with application of AntiMolluscum-Rx. This product is concentrated with naturally occurring monoterpene aldehydes which have tremendous antiviral effects against the molluscum virus, as demonstrated in published scientific studies. Plants commonly contain synergistic suites of phytoprotective chemicals which are oft en responsible for their medicinal uses as well. When treating molluscum, topical application of AntiMolluscum-Rx counters the infection rapidly utilizing the powerful forces of its monoterpenes. These micro particles provide the most rapid absorption; they enter cell membranes with incredible swiftness and have a direct antiviral effect against molluscum. This results in elimination of molluscum, often within several days. It therefore not only has a direct virucidal effect against molluscum but provides total systemic support. This is a potent yet safe anti-viral agent for topical use to eradicate molluscum infections. To learn how it quantifiably inhibits and kills the molluscum virus, resulting in fast elimination of molluscum, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.

Treatments For Molluscum Contagiosum

The decision whether treatment is necessary depends on the needs of the patient, the recalcitrance of their disease, and the likelihood of treatments to leave pigmentary alteration or scarring. Most of the common treatments consist of various means to traumatize the lesions. The following is a brief summary of some of the more common treatments. One of the most common, quick, efficient methods of treatment is cryotherapy. Liquid nitrogen, dry ice, or Frigiderm are applied to each individual lesion for a few seconds. Repeat treatments in 2-3-week intervals may be required. Hyper- or hypopigmentation and scarring may be caused by this treatment. An easy method to remove the lesions is eviscerating the core with an instrument such as a scalpel, sharp tooth pick, edge of a glass slide, or any other instrument capable of removing the umbilicated core. Because of its simplicity, patients, parents, and caregivers may be taught this method so new lesions can be treated at home. This method is simple but may not be tolerated by small children. Curettage is another method of removal. It can be used with and without light electrodessication. This method is more painful, and it is recommended that a topical anesthetic cream be applied to the lesions before the procedure to decrease the pain. This method has the advantage of providing a reliable tissue sample to confirm the diagnosis. Another reported treatment involves the use of adhesive tape. The adhesive side of the tape is repeatedly applied to and removed from the lesion for 10-20 cycles. This action effectively removes the superficial epidermis from the top of the lesion. However, repeated use of the same strip has the potential to spread the virus to adjacent, uninvolved skin. A 25% suspension in a tincture of benzoin or alcohol may be applied once a week. This treatment requires some precautions. It contains two mutagens, quercetin and kaempherol. Some of the listed side effects include severe erosi ve damage in adjacent normal skin that may cause scarring and systemic effects such as peripheral neuropathy, renal damage, adynamic ileus, leucopenia, and thrombocytopenia, especially if used generously on mucosal surfaces. Podofilox is a safer alternative to podophyllin and may be used by the patient at home. The recommended use usually consists of application of 0.05 ml of 5% podofilox in lactate buffered ethanol twice a day for 3 days. The active agent is absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy. Cantharidin has been used with success in the treatment of MCV. This blister-inducing agent is applied carefully and sparingly to the dome of the lesion with or without occlusion and left in place for at least 4 hours before being washed off. Cantharidin can cause severe blistering. It should be tested on individual lesions before treating large numbers of lesions. It should not be used on the face. When tolerated, this treatment is repeated every week until the lesions clear. Us ually 1-3 treatments are necessary. Besides treatments mentioned above, antiviral and immune-modulating treatments have recently been added to the options. NaturesPharma has investigated hundreds of anti-viral substances from natural sources, including both extracts and pure compounds from herbal medicines as reported in laboratory studies, as well as conducted our own independent trials. AntiMolluscum-Rx is a powerful antiviral agent which inhibits the signal transduction pathways of molluscum viral proteins. The result is that molluscum viral cells are destroyed and eliminated from infected tissues in a relatively short time with little to no evidence of the virus appearing in conventional microscopic sections of previously infected cells. From a chemical standpoint, the fight against molluscum is actually a battle of microparticles. The Molluscum contagiosum virus is infinitely small, and as a result, we need infinitely small naturally occurring antiviral agents to penetr ate cell membranes of infected cells to attack and destroy the molluscum virus. NaturesPharma have identified a significant number of naturally occurring small molecules, like phenolics, polyphenols, terpenes (e.g., mono-, di-, tri-), and flavonoids which have incredible antiviral action, used medicinally to eliminate molluscum, and heavily concentrated in AntiMolluscum-Rx. A large number of sesquiterpenes concentrated in AntiMolluscum-Rx exhibit quantifiable antiviral activities against pox viruses such as molluscum. AntiMolluscum-Rx has excellent antiviral activity against hulled viruses as it causes their cellular death upon exposure. To learn the effectiveness of this treatment against molluscum, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.

Non-operative Procedures For Hemorrhoids

There are several non-operative treatments for hemorrhoids. All of them have the same effect. These procedures cause inflammation in the hemorrhoidal cushions, which then produces scarring. The scarring causes the cushions to shrink and attach to the underlying muscle of the anal canal. This prevents the cushions from being pulled down into the anal canal. These treatments do not require anesthesia since the treated area contains only visceral nerves and they do not cause pain. Sclerotherapy is one of the oldest forms of treatment. During sclerotherapy, a liquid (phenol or quinine urea) is injected into the base of the hemorrhoid. Inflammation sets in, and ultimately scarring takes place. Pain may occur after sclerotherapy but usually subsides by the following day. Symptoms of hemorrhoids frequently return after several years and may require further treatment. The principle of ligation with rubber bands is to encircle the base of the hemorrhoidal anal cushion with a tight rub ber band. The tissue cut off by the rubber band dies and is replaced by an ulcer that heals with scarring. It can be used with first-, second-, and third-degree hemorrhoids and may be more effective than sclerotherapy. Symptoms frequently recur several years later but usually can be treated with further ligation. The recurrence of symptoms may be less with ligation than with sclerotherapy. The most common complication of ligation is pain, which may occur slightly more often than with sclerotherapy, but it tends to be mild. Bleeding one or two weeks after ligation occurs occasionally and can be severe. Bacterial infection may begin in the tissues surrounding the anal canal (cellulitis). Rarely, the infection spreads to the tissues within the pelvis and results in an abscess, or the infection may enter the bloodstream (sepsis). Infectious complications may be more common in patients who have defective immune systems, for example, from AIDS, cancer, chemotherapy, or severe diab etes. There are several treatments that use heat to kill hemorrhoidal tissue and promote inflammation and scarring, including bipolar diathermy, direct-current electrotherapy, and infrared photocoagulation. Such procedures kill the tissues in and around the hemorrhoids and cause scar tissue to form. They are used with first-, second-, and third-degree hemorrhoids. Pain is frequent, though probably less frequent than with ligation and bleeding occasionally occurs. Sclerotherapy, ligation, and heat coagulation are all good options for the treatment of hemorrhoids. Cryotherapy uses cold temperatures to obliterate the veins and cause inflammation and scarring. It is more time consuming, associated with more posttreatment pain, and is less effective than other treatments. Therefore, this procedure is not commonly used. Existing medicinal interventions to treat hemorrhoids are highly invasive, traumatic, painful, and can result in tissue damage or rectal scarring. If any natural m aterial is applied to the rectum, it will quickly absorb into the bloodstream and have a direct effect on the central nervous system. This can be of great benefit when proper organic medicinal extracts are used. With this in mind, and to provide the most potent treatment, HemorrhoidCure has been formulated from strictly certified organic medicinal plant extracts. The therapeutic result of HemorrhoidCure in eliminating hemorrhoids is accomplished via its rapid absorption into cell membranes and deep penetrating action. The active certified organic ingredients in this cure for hemorrhoids are lipophilic, highly astringent, and have a low molecular weight. The lipophilic tendency means they are soluble in fatty or skin tissue, allowing them to be absorbed by cell membranes. As a result, the treatment readily passes into rectal tissue where the astringent properties safely and gently contract blood vessels, ideal for hemorrhoid cure. HemorrhoidCure has been able to eliminate hem orrhoids in patients of all ages with symptoms ranging from mild but chronic, to dramatically acute. Anyone afflicted with hemorrhoids will benefit greatly from using this hemorrhoid cure. To learn why HemorrhoidCure is the right choice, please go to http://www.bcured.net.

ASEPTIC BOTTLING PROCESS KEEPS PRESERVATIVES OUT OF NUTRITIONAL JUICE SUPPLEMENT

Putting preservatives into a nutritional juice supplement defeats the intended purpose of the supplement; yet manufacturers are doing just that to give their product a longer shelf life. Studies indicate that many of the preservatives that are being used in healthy juice supplements are contributing to disease-causing damage in the body. Something about this scenario doesn''t make sense - we take nutritional juice supplements to enhance our health, but the preservatives in the supplement can cause disease.

Two specific preservatives - Sodium Benzoate or E211 and Sodium Benzoate - have been linked to:

* Hyperactivity and decreased intelligence in children * DNA damage which can lead to neurodegenerative diseases and increased aging process * Becoming a human carcinogen when combined with Vitamin C

And, to add insult to injury, many popular juice supplements that contain preservatives are bottled in plastic bottles that leach toxins into the supplement which adds anot her dose of damage to our already taxed bodies. It seems like a vicious cycle - we take natural juice supplements to enhance our health, but the preservatives in the supplements - along with the toxins from the plastic bottles that hold the supplements -are causing us harm.

Mandura