Sunday, July 20, 2008
Russian antihistamine drug does well in Alzheimer's test (AFP)
AFP - A nearly forgotten Russian-made drug, formulated to combat hay fever, helps improve cognitive abilities in patients with Alzheimer's disease, according to the results of a year-long trial published on Thursday.
We are all aware by now of the health benefits of eating oatmeal, but did you know that it can be as good for your outside as it is for your inside? Oatmeal baths have been used for centuries to relieve dry, itchy, irritated skin. Oatmeal contains amino acids, water-binding agents used in many skin-care products. It is also hypoallergenic and clinically proven to soothe skin. A natural beauty remedy for dry skin, oatmeal can also relieve the itchiness of chicken pox, shingles, wind and sun burn, eczema, psoriasis, insect bites, diaper rash, and plant poisons.
You can purchase a premade oatmeal bath product, or make your own more economically. Use unflavored quick oats or slow cooking oats. With a blender or food processor, process one cup of oats at the highest setting to create a fine powder. Grinding up the oats into a powder allows them to disperse in the water instead of settling to the bottom. Test the ground oatmeal by putting one tablespoon of the oat powder in a cup of warm water. When the oats are readily absorbed and the water has a milky look, they are fine enough.
Add the oat powder to lukewarm bathwater and use your hand to swish the water around and dissolve the oatmeal. Use lukewarm water, never hot, when treating skin conditions. Hot water will exacerbate the inflammation and itchiness and rob the skin of essential oils. buy pure l-arginine hcl powder up any clumps that form. The bath will be slippery, so watch children carefully while they are in the tub, or use a bath mat. Soak for 15 or 20 minutes, and then carefully pat the skin dry with a soft towel.
Another simple way to make an oatmeal bath is to put a cup of slow-cooking oats into a cotton or muslin bag, tie it shut, and boil the bag until the oats are soft. Allow the bag to cool and use it as a sponge while bathing. Add the cooled water to your bath. The moist oatmeal can also be removed from the bag and packed onto areas that are particularly dry or irritated. Let the oats sit on the skin for a few minutes and then wash off.
Home made oatmeal bath products also make charming gifts. You don't have to be suffering from a skin condition to reap the skin-softening benefits of a silky oatmeal bath! For a fragrant, luxurious oatmeal milk bath, blend 1/4 cup of the pulverized oatmeal with one cup of powdered skim milk (whole milk will create an unpleasant fatty residue). Add rose petals, rosemary, lavender, or herbs to the blend. This bath product makes a lovely gift when presented in a pretty container and tied with a ribbon.
