Tyler, a five-year old boy was nicknamed “Twister Tyler” after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) about four months ago. He is currently enrolled in a special education (SPED) school to accommodate his academic and social needs. During the initial pre-enrollment interview, Tyler’s mother said that her son used to study in a regular school but had to be transferred after the teachers complained about the boy’s disturbing behavior in the classroom.  She said that the teachers found it hard to control Tyler every time he would roam around the classroom and grab his classmates’ belongings. She added that her son found it hard to pay attention during class and did not participate in  group activities.  At home, Tyler would leave his toys all over the house and climb over furniture and other high places.  Even at a young age, Tyler’s mother already knew that her son was a handful, unlike other children his age. After careful consideration, she decided to seek a doctor’s opinion and found out about her son’s condition.

ADHD is still a relatively new condition that has yet to be understood by the public.  While a number of  professionals have guested in health-related television shows to explain ADHD, many are still clueless about the nature, symptoms, and possible treatments for this condition. Those who are uninformed about the true nature of ADHD often unknowingly label children with this condition as being simply “hyperactive.” Others are even considered as “abnormal children.”

Parents who suspect that their children might be positive for ADHD should strongly consider having them examined by a specialist.  Diagnosis of ADHD can only be made by doctors who have thorough knowledge of this condition.  These parameters are usually used by doctors to determine if a child is ADHD-positive:

l    A child exhibits behaviors common among those with ADHD;
l    A child exhibits disturbing or hyperactive behavior that is uncommon in other children of the same age; and
l    A child exhibits disturbing or hyperactive behavior for more that six months.

Parents must exert efforts to understand ADHD and should avoid labeling a child without proper evaluation by a doctor.  Labeling will just create a stigma on children which will cause a wrong concept of themselves.  It is sometimes difficult to properly diagnose children as having ADHD since a lot of other conditions also exhibit the same symptoms. Symptoms of ADHD include inability or difficulty paying attention and sustaining attention, difficulty remaining seated and constantly fidgeting, and problems with interrupting and waiting for turns. These symptoms are
also exhibited by children who suffer from stress and depression and those with behavioral problems. It is therefore necessary to exhaust all possible information about the child and his behaviors through evaluations and interviews before making a valid diagnosis.

A lot of parents, mostly those who have children with ADHD, often wonder how their kids acquired the condition. Based on recent studies done by Dr. Joseph Beiderman, Dr. Dennis Cantwell and Dr. Florence Levy, heredity plays a major role in developing ADHD.  Other studies also show that infant exposure to toxic substances such as nicotine and alcohol and injury to the brain, especially the frontal lobe, from trauma or tumors can also lead to kids having ADHD.

Hyperactivity is one of the most noticeable characteristics of children with ADHD. It is said that this behavior results from a problem in an executive function of their brain. This executive function is identified as response or behavior inhibition. Because of their difficulty in inhibition, their sleep behaviors are affected. Moreover, children with ADHD are sometimes prescribed medications containing stimulants  which also prevent them from being able to sleep. A lot of these kids with this condition, thus, are susceptible to having insomnia.

Like most people who suffer from insomnia, children with sleeping disorders also exhibit anxiety as a result of their lack of rest. Their mood and performance in school are most affected by this problem. When a child with ADHD is suspected to be having problems with sleeping, it is best to consult a doctor immediately. The doctor may prescribe medications to address this problem and determine what other management can be provided. It will also be helpful to teach the child relaxation techniques and proper sleeping habits such as avoiding rigorous activities before sleep.

The importance of ADHD awareness and its accompanying complications should be emphasized  not only to those afflicted with the condition but to parents and other individuals concerned. Awareness leads to the proper management of the condition and appropriate response to the situation. Forcing a child with ADHD to sit quietly for hours in class, expecting them to perform or behave like most children their age and reprimanding them constantly because of their peculiarities will only lead to a feeling of stress and anxiety. With all the compounding problems that children with ADHD already suffer, the least thing people could do to help is to avoid adding up unnecessary and inappropriate demands. Through proper treatment and appropriate management, sleeping problems, anxiety and stress that result from or relate to ADHD can be lessened or prevented.  

Mark Haddon wrote a marvelous book that became a bestseller and won both the Whitbread Book of the Year and Whitbread Novel awards. It was said that Mark Haddon himself exclaimed, “Who on Earth would want to read about a fifteen-year-old boy with a disability?,” while he was making this book. Little did he know that it was exactly the fifteen-year-old boy with a disability that made his book stand out, win awards and become a bestseller. The book is called, “The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time and the boy is Christopher.”

    Christopher is an autistic-savant. He can name all the countries in the world and their capitals. He has a photographic memory and a genius in math and science. Despite of his unusual intelligence, he cannot imagine, understand figures of speech and relate to jokes. He also does not like places with a lot of people and people touching him. People who are autistic-savants exhibit both characteristics common among those with autism and those with Savant Syndrome. Autism is one developmental disorder among the group of Autism Spectrum Disorders. This condition is mainly characterized by impairment in socialization, imagination and communication. Savant Syndrome is characterized by very low general intelligence but extraordinary narrow intelligence usually in the fields  of mathematics, music, art and memorization.

    In the story, Christopher’s parents are separated. His mother decided to leave Christopher and his father because she cannot cope anymore with the demands of having an autistic child. Parents who take care of special children such as those with autism may probably have a higher stress level compared to most parents. This is mainly because their children have special demands, unusual behaviors and different abilities compared to other kids of the same age. These children will most likely find it difficult to communicate, thus, resulting to unusual reactions. An example of this is when an autistic child cries for no apparent reason and begins hitting himself or herself. Most likely, something has caused him or her to feel upset but cannot convey what it is because he or she does not know how. Some autistic children with sensory integration problems may either be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to touch, pressure, movement and sound. They will show certain behaviors that are sometimes difficult to understand such as avoidance of certain types of food and drinks, pinching or hittin
g, repetitive movements and screaming. Some of them can also exhibit strong adherence to certain routines and fear of new places or people. To accommodate the needs and cope with the behaviors of these children is not easy and, therefore, can result to a lot of stress.

    Autism can greatly limit a child’s world. They thrive in security and anything they perceive as a threat to their security should be avoided. However, a lot of factors, situations and demands of society make them insecure and being forced to deal with these makes them very anxious most of the time. Unconsciously and unintentionally, children with autism have a constant feeling of anxiety to anything that is new or foreign to their understanding. Just like in the book, when Christopher had to go beyond the area of the town that is familiar with him, he felt physically sick and afraid. Unlike most children, those with autism cannot easily adapt to new environment or situations. The process of learning to understand and accept what is previously unknown to them results to a higher level of anxiety.

Despite what seems to be a difficult task of adapting and coping with autistic children, a lot has already been studied and published regarding proper management that will not only lessen the children’s anxiety but also their parents’ stress. Certain methods such as Cognitive Behavior Modification, Behavior Modification Techniques and Environmental Modification Techniques had been proven effective in changing the inappropriate behaviors  and improving the learning skills of children with autism. Some, having compounding conditions other than autism, may need additional treatment as advised by the doctors. Autistic children who also have manic depression due to their unhappiness with being involuntarily trapped in their self-protecting behaviors may need more therapy than what was mentioned earlier. Consulting a psychiatrist is highly advisable in this situation and other medications may be prescribed.

    Christopher’s story ended with him being able to overcome challenges that have caused him too much anxiety and his mother deciding to return to take care of him. Just like in this fictional novel, the same can be achieved in real life in terms of dealing with stress and anxiety among families who need to cope with the condition. Through proper management, medication or treatment, stress and anxiety among parents and autistic children can be addressed effectively.   
 

For the past few decades, the field of medicine has been largely influenced by the medical philosophy of the Western world.  The emphasis of Western medicine has been predominately curative, relying on chemical preparations and invasive surgery as means of treatment.  

In contrast, Eastern medical and therapeutic philosophy focuses on the more metaphysical side of human illness and treatment.  Its practice is hinged on the use of a variety of methods ranging from the use of medicinal plants and herb, massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, pulse reading, and other alternative healing methods.  These methods are now gaining acceptance even in modern societies, in a large measure, due to the increased awareness about the healing arts of China and India. There are volumes of literature on traditional Chinese medicine.  But what also deserves wide recognition is the folk remedies and traditional practices in India which are also ancient and effective, at least, according to those who have tried them.     

Ayurveda, a healing system native to India, is a centuries-old practice that has recently been given attention by Western science. Like traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda practitioners adhere to a particular medical philosophy that regards illness as an imbalance in the body and influenced by internal and external factors, similar to the Chinese principles of yin and yang. Ayurveda also takes into consideration a patient’s emotions and state of mind alongside the study of infections that make the body sick.  It places a high importance on the patient’s sense of taste and diet.  

In Ayurveda, it is believed that the healing of a person must take into consideration three elements found in nature:  air, water, and fire. Each of these elements has a deep philosophical background.  These elements also govern the major functions of the body. Ayurvedic theory rests on the belief that the balance of the three elements is the basis of health.  Any imbalance, blockage, or weakening in these elements causes illness. It is the task of the Ayurveda practitioner to determine and restore the patient’s elemental harmony. In other words, an infection or ailment is the result o
f an imbalance in the patient’s natural internal or elemental harmony. These imbalances can be caused by internal or external factors, and may be aggravated or alleviated by the patient’s emotional state and, in some cases, mental health.

The primary concept of Ayurveda is that the restoration of imbalances in the body requires a very personalized concept. Treatment can involve the use of natural oils, minerals, herbs, metals, and even animal ingredients. Similar to how herbal medications are administered in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda medications are given base formulas that are modified by the physician according to the patient’s needs. This process makes getting a treatment for an infection different from Western medicine, where the formulas are constant and only the dose is altered based on the patient’s metabolism and constitution. As mentioned earlier, diet and taste play a central role in Ayurveda. However, unlike Chinese medicinal doctrine, the taste and quality of the food plays a much larger role in traditional Indian healing arts. Different tastes correspond to different conditions in the body. These tastes are taken into account by an Ayurveda physician before prescribing an appropriate treatment. For example, food with a bitter taste is generally considered to cool the body, dry out moisture, and work to remove toxins. This concept also extends to the herbal and animal ingredients that are used in Ayurveda medication.

Ayurveda also prescribes a particular form of massage known as “Panchakarma” for the treatment of emotional distress. This practice is highly similar to acupuncture except that no needles are used.  The strokes, presses, and body manipulations used in Panchakarma supposedly stimulates energy flow throughout the body, a process that is necessary to ensure good health. Problems arise when the energy flow is disrupted, clogged, or stalled.  Massage is often prescribed in conjunction with a diet plan and herbal remedies to relieve problems such as sinusitis, conditions associated with stress and anxiety, and other problems that Ayurveda practitioners see as symptoms of emotional disharmony rather than just purely physical ailments.

Stress relief is something that everybody needs to get regularly, no matter how much they complain that they don’t have the time. Especially if they complain that they don’t have the time! There are a thousand and one ways to get stress relief, with some of them being considered to be “tried and true” methods. However, there are some problems with these old methods, particularly because the old methods may or may not work that well with people who have “new” mindsets. While making someone listen to Mozart may not be a cause for complaint, it may not work that well in relieving his stress either, particularly if classical music isn’t really suited to his tastes. For people with that sort of personality, perhaps the best stress relief is one that might be considered a little…unconventional.

There are, of course, “conventional” stress relief techniques. These are the ones that people have used for centuries on end, and will likely outlast even the societal factors causing the stress and anxiety in the first place. These methods include the aforementioned music, though some more modern genres are better at causing stress and anxiety, rather than relieving them. Another typically suggested one would be exercise, which not only serves as good stress relief, but also has a few other benefits on a person’s physical well-being. Some types of tea, with jasmine, oolong, and green tea being most commonly mentioned, are also said to be a good way of achieving stress relief, as they calm both the mind and body. However, as previously stated, these may not work on some people. So, what are the unconventional methods of stress relief?

Well, chief among them is physical violence. Sometimes, the best way to let go of all your stress and anxiety is to hit something — and hitting it over and over again, if necessary. This does not mean that you should go around hitting people at the slightest sign of frustration. This is often suggested as a means of finding re
lease from one’s negative emotions, letting go of the stress they cause at the same time. Since it would be unwise and potentially problematic to lash out against people, it is best to lash out against objects such as pillows, stress balls, and the occasional lump of clay. Items such as these can take a tremendous amount of punishment, allowing someone with a lot of stress and anxiety to work through his problems physically, without risking harm to himself or anyone else.

Another alternative comes from the advent of modern Internet technology and trends: blogging. Blogging, which is basically a journal or diary that is available on the Internet for the general public to read, can really help someone with stress relief in the workplace. It allows a degree of anonymity that can’t be found anywhere else, giving the person the freedom to write whatever comes to mind, even if what comes to mind happens to be criticisms of management’s latest blunder or your direct supervisor’s tendency to show off his incompetence. An added benefit is that the blogger can look back into his past entries and hopefully be able to do a little self-analysis at a later date.

The final unconventional method of stress relief is derived from the German word schadenfreude, which means “happiness at the misery of others.” The final oddball stress relief method is to watch reality TV. It doesn’t particularly matter what show you watch, as long as someone’s being made miserable or there’s some serious drama going on. How many of us have had a horrible day, only to feel just a bit better after watching Simon Cowell rip into some aspiring recording artist on “American Idol”? Watching that poor contestant get his hopes and dreams dashed, in a sadistic manner, uplifts your own mood and makes your day just a little bit better. Some people listen to the police frequency of the radio for the same reason. Hearing about other people’s dismal lives makes their own lives seem better by comparison.

One of the most annoying infertility problems is male
infertility that occurs because of low or decreased sperm count. Almost half of
the infertility troubles are faced by couples are due to male infertility. The
most widespread form of male infertility is a low or decreased sperm count.

“Normal
or standard” sperm count, as stated by the World Health Organization WHO,
is Typed by:

The attentiveness
of spermatozoa should not be less than twenty million per milliliter.

The entirety volume of semen should not be less than 2
milliliter.

The full amount of spermatozoa in the ejaculate should not be
less than forty million.

Not less than 75 % of the spermatozoa should be alive.

Not less than 30 % of the spermatozoa should be of standard shape
and form.

Not less than 25 % of the spermatozoa should be swimming with
quick forward movements.

Not less than 50 % of the spermatozoa should be swimming
forward, even if only lethargically.

These numbers quantity
to averages; Having a sperm count below these levels does not assure that a man
will be not be capable to become a father of a child; similarly, having a sperm
count more than these numbers does not assure that a man will be able to father
a child.

There are assortments of factors that can lead to low
sperm count

Stress

Genetic causes

Nutritional deficiencies

The use of prescription or illicit drugs

Obesity

Varicoceles

Infections

Smoking.

There are numerous things
that may help increase sperm count which are as folows:

1. Regular Exercise -
   Regular exercise will assist in reducing stress, but one should be
   careful. Extreme exercise can also harm, as can some exercises that may
   cause bad impact the testicles, such as cycling.
2. Ejaculating less frequently. The more often a man ejaculates, the less thick semen
   will be. Therefore maintain a gap of 3 days between successive
   ejaculations.
3. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.
4. Massage your body with herbal massage oil that helps to
   improve blood circulation.
5. Try to have sex in the early morning or in afternoon as
   it is thought that sperm levels are maximum in the morning and afternoon
   as compared to evening and night.
6. Avoid wearing tight underwear, saunas bath and
   whirlpools, all of which may lead to the rise in the temperature of the
   testicles.
7. Try to use natural herbal supplements and vitamins that
   may help to increase the sperm count.
8. Continue a high protein, low fat diet that is rich in
   vegetables and whole grains. Completely avoid bitter and spicy foods.

There are also ranges of
vitamin that may help with low sperm count. They include:

-        
Vitamin C or amalaki

-        
Vitamin E or wheat grass

-        
Vitamin B12 Selenium

There are numerous dietary
measures that a person who has a low sperm count can undertake to endeavor to
increase his sperm count, like:

-        
Consume a diet that
contains whole and natural foods. The best foods for health in general and also
for decreased sperm counts are whole grains, legumes, vegetables, fruits, nuts,
and seeds.

-        
Abolish alcohol
consumption. In addition to the general nutritional reimbursement of preventing
alcohol. This helps in getting rid of sexual performance issues.

-        
Spot and evade food
allergies.

-        
Raw sunflower seeds
and pumpkin seeds have been revealed to help to enhance male fertility. It is
suggested that a man with a low sperm count consume 1/4 cup of raw sunflower or
pumpkin seeds daily.

-
        
Drink at least 15 to
20 glasses of water daily.

-        
When ever possible,
try to consume organic foods. Recent researches suggest a link between chemical
fertilizers and pesticides equally in male and female infertility.

As you can see, a lot
of of these nutritional changes are not only are helpful in rising sperm count
but many of them just make nutritional sense also.

· Naturally and safely hold up the making of
cervical fluids.

· Increase female stimulation and sexual
stimulus.

· Increase hydration of the mucin.

· Promote mucus alkalinity and mucosal thinning.

· hold up a healthy uterine lining for
implantation of the embryo.

Herbs that are helpful in increasing the sperm
count are: -

Hygrophila (Astercantha longifolia) - Hygrophila belongs to
Family Acanthaceae is a wildly found herb which is extensively used in Ayurveda
as Rasayana and a vajikarana drug for treatment of various disorders especially
that of sexual problems. Treatment of diabetic rats with aerial parts of
Hygrophila for 21 days showed noteworthy decrease in blood glucose,
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances i.e. (TBARS)
and hydroperoxide in both the major organs i.e. liver and kidney. The treatment
with HAEt considerably augmented the glutathione (GSH),
glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione
S-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) in the
drug treated group of rats that is analogous to the control group. HAEt and
glibenclamide-treated rats also depicted reduction in lipid peroxidation that
is linked with augmented activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the catalase. The capability of HAEt on tissue lipid peroxidation and antioxidant
status in diabetic animals has not been premeditated before. The results of
this study thus demonstrate that HAEt has
noteworthy anti-diabetic activity along with powerful antioxidant potential in
diabetic conditions. It is also very widely used in raising the sperms count as
it stimulates the male sexual organs to produce the increased amount of sperms.

-        
Lettuce (Lactuca scariola) - Lactuca species have moderately narcotic elements in the
latex which give out from the whole plant when cut or busted. This latex is
known as lactucarium when gathered and dried. The active ingredients are highest
when the plant is in its flowering stage that is why we produce during this
time. It is an excellent source of aphrodisiac agent. It is a powerful
stimulant that not only enhances the stamina in men but also improves the
power.

-        
Cowitch (Mucna pruriens) - it is commonly known as the kaunch beej. It is one of the
best ayurvedic herbs that have the potential to increase the sperm count
naturally by stimulating the internal body organs especially the reproductive
once.

-        
Mosaic gold (Suvarnavanga) - Mosaic
Gold or Suvarnavanga is used in Ayurvedic system of medication with a name
Suvarnavanga. It is used in grievance of the reproductive organs. It is
designated as a rejuvenator and a tonic of high effectiveness which persuades
health, vigor, perks up hunger, raises memory, make semen of high quality and
cures gonorrhea, spermatorrhea and leucorrhea. Suvarnavanga has been used as an
aphrodisiac, brain tonic, antiemetic and in skin related diseases, night
sweats, disorders caused by the derangement of doshas ‘vata’ and ‘kapha’. It
perks up the complexion. It also has anthelmintic actions in addition to the
above stated uses. It is an important component in ayurvedic medicines for
treating impotency.

-        
Elephant
creeper (Argyeria speciosa) - The effects of
oral ingestion of the seeds has been evaluated to LSD, though appreciably less
potent. The practice is frequently reported as psychedelic, depending on the
quantity. Visually, some open-eye turbulence and closed-eye mold occur. The
most distinguished alteration induced is cognitive, even though auditory
hallucinations are also frequently reported. Awareness of time and space can be
critically altered. At a low to medium dose of the seeds, creates a light
euphoria and a mood fluctuations are also regularly reported.

-        
Small
caltrops (Tribulus terrestris) - Some have evaluated the tonic
properties of Tribulus terrestris or Small caltrops to the actions of Chinese
ginseng, but these takes place due to completely different method. It is also
asserted that Tribulus terrestris augment testosterone by raising the levels of
gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) that in turn arouse the production of
Leutinizing Hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Testosterone,
in addition its role in muscle building and increasing fertility levels and
augment libido is also known to have an encouraging effect on bone marrow
commotion and the immunity.

-        
Jivanti
(Leptadenia reticulata) - According to
Ayurveda, the age old system of medication jivanti is a health tonic that is
given for weakness and related conditions. Normally given for those people who
are distressed from weakness or are short of energy. It gives wide-ranging
strength to the body. A cooling, mucilaginous, demulcent with light
intensification and tonic properties conventionally used in the treatment of
seminal discharges and snake venom. The plant is good refreshment and best
health tonic. The leaves and roots are supportive in various skin related
diseases, inflammation of the skin and on wounds. The use of customary clinical
doses casted no side effects.

-        
Stone flowers (Parmelia perlata) -
Parmelia perlata or Stone flowers is a lichen that grows in badge or unevenly
spreading over the rock layer giving the look of a flower and hence it got this
name. It is typically poised of fungal mycelia that form a network surrounding
algal cells or gonidia. The plant is kashaya or astringent, tickta or bitter,
acrid, sheet or cooling, anti-inflammatory and vrishya or aphrodisiac in
nature. It is helpful in sores, boils, inflammations, seminal weakness and
amenorrhea.

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