How do you actually reduce the levels of chronic stress in your body and enhance your lifespan, boost immune system function, protect your nervous system and your sanity, and give your endocrine system a much-needed rest?

Fortunately there are several easy ways to do this. Let’s start with the easiest one: laughter.Laughter is a healing activity. You may have seen the movie called “Patch Adams,” which is a movie about a real life doctor who still practices today and uses laughter as healing. He’s quite correct in using laughter as a healing therapy, because it is one of the most healing activities in which you can engage.

Laughter operates on at least three different levels. They are the biophysical, the biochemical, and the bioenergetic levels.

Laughter moves lymph and oxygenates your organs
At the biophysical level, laughter moves lymph fluid around your body simply by the convulsions you experience during the process of laughing; so it boosts immune system functionand helps clear out old, dead waste products from organs and tissues. Remember that your lymph system doesn’t have a separate pump; your body needs to move around to properly circulate lymph fluid so that your immune system can carry out its natural functions. Laughter is a great way to support that.

Secondly, laughter increases oxygenation of your body at both the cellular and organ level. By laughing, you intake vast amounts of oxygen in huge gulps, and you repeat this process in a sort of temporary hyperventilation session. This is the natural result of laughter, and if you watch someone laugh, you will notice these biophysical effects.

Now, why is oxygen so good for your body? Oxygen is one of the primary catalysts for biological energy in the human body. Remember, we breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, so oxygen is an element of intracellular energy that’s absolutely necessary to sustain human life.

It’s also interesting to note that cancer cells are destroyed in the presence of oxygen. In fact, many parasites and bacteria don’t survive well in the presence of oxygen, and to the extent that you can circulate extra oxygen throughout your body, you can help prevent, or in some cases treat, these diseases.

This is one reason why we see an increasing number of so-called “oxygen bars” in the United States and other countries. People enjoy going to these bars and breathing a much higher concentration of oxygen, because they say it gives them greater mental clarity. They like the feeling of this extra oxygen: it’s almost like that “natural high,” as they say. Now, personally, I’ve tried this myself and I didn’t notice any effect whatsoever. But it could be because my body is able to carry oxygen so efficiently in the blood that I’m already experiencing peak oxygenation and didn’t get any extra benefit from a higher concentration in the air I was inhaling. But, who knows? You might experience a benefit or I might have been at a lousy oxygen bar. But the point is, oxygen is good for you, and when you laugh, you get more oxygen into the cells of your body. If you can laugh at an oxygen bar, that’s even better!

Laughing also boosts circulation, so at the same time that you’re distributing oxygen around your body, you’re boosting the circulation of your blood; you’re exercising abdominal muscles; you’re exercising the muscles of your face; and you’re enhancing the flexibility of various joints throughout your body. So it’s a bit of physical exercise and healthful body movement as well.

The harder you laugh, the greater this effect. If you can find a way to put yourself into a state of rolling, outrageous laughter, you’re going to get a fantastic physical workout from it. In fact, the next day, you may even find your stomach muscles are sore. Have you ever laughed so hard that your stomach hurt and your facial muscles were exhausted? That’s some serious exercise, and it’s the kind of exercise in which we should all engage on a regular basis.

The chemistry of laughter
Now let’s look at the biochemical impact of laughter. When you laugh, there’s a lot more going on in your body than just the physical effect. You’re also experiencing a biochemical benefit.

Your body manufactures chemicals based on certain needs and then distributes them throughout your body. When you laugh, you generate a wealth of healing biochemicals. I’ve often stated that for every minute of laughter, you produce somewhere around $10,000 worth of healthy body chemistry, and what I mean is that if you had to go out and actually purchase these refined chemical compounds from labs or pharmaceutical companies, you would have to pay at least $10,000 for the very same chemistry that your brain is producing free of charge when you engage in laughter.

Some of these are brain-altering chemicals such as serotonin; others are immune-boosting chemicals such as interleukins. If you were to make a long list of all the chemicals created by engaging in healthy laughter, you would have quite a list of healthy body chemicals that would carry a hefty price tag if you purchased them retail. And yet, once again, you can create these chemicals for yourself at no cost by simply engaging in laughter.

You will find that these chemicals have extraordinary positive healing effects on your body and mind. They will boost immune system function; they will improve your outlook on life; they will tend to diminish any symptoms of depression; and because they help reduce stress, they will also prevent all of the various diseases and disorders that are caused by chronic stress.

Active Ingredient: (finasteride, MSD)
Typical Brand Name: Propecia

Overview:
Propecia is used for the treatment of male pattern hair loss on the vertex and the anterior mid-scalp area. Propecia is for use by men only and should not be used by women or children.

Direction:
Take one tablet by mouth each day with or without food. If you forget to take Propecia, do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual. Effects of medication may take 3 months before results are obtained and medication should be continued for best results.

Side Effects:
Like all prescription products, Propecia may cause side effects like less desire for sex; difficulty in achieving an erection; and, a decrease in the amount of semen. In general use, the following side effects have been reported: allergic reactions including rash, itching, hives and swelling of the lips and face; problems with ejaculation; breast tenderness and enlargement; and testicular pain. You should promptly report to your doctor any changes in your breasts such as lumps, pain or nipple discharge.

Precautions:
This medication is not to be used in women or children. It is important that the doctor has your complete medical history. Consult with your doctor if you have liver impairment, prostate cancer, kidney disease or obstructive uropathy.

Drug interactions:
Tell your doctor of all nonprescription and prescription medication especially if you take male hormones saw palmetto, and theophylline.

ETHINYL ESTRADIOL/DROSPIRENONE - ORAL

How to Use:
Take this medication by mouth once daily, or as directed by your doctor. The manufacturer recommends that you take this product after your evening meal or at bedtime to help you remember to take it and to minimize any stomach upset or nausea you may have. You may, however, choose to take this medication at another time of the day instead. No matter what dosing schedule you use, it is important to take this medication at the same time each day.

It is recommended to start taking this medication on the first day of your period (menstrual cycle). If it is not possible to start this treatment at the start of your period, consult the product information and/or your doctor or pharmacist for proper instructions. It is recommended that you use an alternative method of birth control during the first week of taking this medication until the full benefit of this drug takes effect.

Warning:
Smoking cigarettes while using this medication increases your chance of having heart problems. Do not smoke while using this medication. The risk of heart problems increases with age (in women greater than 35 years of age) and with frequent smoking (15 cigarettes per day or greater).

Uses:
This combination medication is used to prevent pregnancy. This medication does not protect you or your partner against sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., HIV, gonorrhea).

Other Uses:
This drug may also be used to regulate your menstrual cycle.

Side Effects:
Nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, bleeding between menstrual periods (spotting), weight gain, acne, stomach cramps, rash, swelling or bloating, skin spots, breast tenderness, or difficulty wearing contact lenses may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these serious side effects occur: dizziness, flu-like symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, unusual weakness/fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches), mental/mood changes, trouble sleeping, hair loss, vaginal infections. Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: severe headache, pain in the lower legs or groin, trouble breathing, chest pain, vision changes, severe stomach pain, weakness on one side of the body, yellowing eyes or skin, lumps in the breast. If you notice any other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Precautions:
Tell your doctor your medical history, especially of: heart problems, stroke, gallbladder disease, diabetes, high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, high blood pressure, migraines, seizures, irregular vaginal bleeding, depression, any allergies.

This medication is not recommended for use if you have the following medical conditions: liver problems, kidney or adrenal gland problems, history of blood clots (thrombophlebitis), blood vessel problems (e.g., cerebral vascular disease, coronary artery disease), history of certain cancers (especially endometrial or breast cancer), heavy smoking (especially if older than 35 years of age). If you are near-sighted or wear contact lenses, you may develop vision problems or have trouble wearing your contact lenses. Contact your eye doctor if this occurs.

If you stop taking this birth control medicine and want to become pregnant, it may take a longer time than is usually seen with women not taking birth control medicine. Consult your doctor. Do not smoke cigarettes. Birth control pills combined with smoking cigarettes, especially in women older than 35 years of age, puts you at a much higher risk of developing serious health problems than with birth control pills alone. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information. If you will be having surgery, be confined to a chair or bed for a long period of time (e.g., a long plane flight), or have recently delivered a baby, notify your doctor beforehand. Special precautions may need to be taken in these circumstances while you are taking this drug. This medication must not be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. This medication passes into breast milk and has had undesirable effects on nursing infants. Consult your doctor before breast- feeding.

Drug interactions:
Certain drugs can decrease the effectiveness of combination-type birth control pills by decreasing the amount of birth control pill hormones in your system (impaired enterohepatic recirculation or hepatic induction).

This can result in pregnancy. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Drugs that may cause this effect include: many antibiotics (e.g., cephalosporins, chloramphenicol, macrolides, penicillins, tetracyclines, sulfas), aprepitant, bexarotene, bosentan, dapsone, griseofulvin, certain HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., amprenavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir), modafinil, nevirapine, rifamycins (e.g., rifampin), many seizure medications (e.g., barbiturates, carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, topiramate), St. John’s wort. Ask your doctor if you should use additional reliable birth control methods while taking any of the drugs mentioned above while also taking birth control pills. Before taking this medication, tell your doctor of all prescription and nonprescription medication you may use, especially of: ACE inhibitors (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril), angiotensin receptor blockers (e.g., losartan, valsartan), potassium-sparing “water pills” (e.g., spironolactone, triamterene), potassium supplements, heparin, NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen), atorvastatin, cyclosporine, corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone, prednisolone) theophylline, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), acetaminophen, morphine, temazepam, clofibric acid. This product can affect the result of certain lab tests (e.g., liver function tests, blood tests).

Birth Control and Acne: How Does It Work?

The link between birth control and acne is surprisingly simple. Birth Control Pills prevent pregnancy by changing the level of certain hormones in your body. One of these hormones is androgen, which stimulates oil production and increases acne. If you’re taking birth control pills that lower your androgen levels, you should see a reduction in the number of breakouts you experience.

Generally, it takes between six and eight weeks to see results when using birth control to treat your acne. While most topical medications work to treat existing inflammation, the pill will prevent new outbreaks from happening.

According to researchers who have studied the link between birth control and acne, using birth control pills to treat your blemishes should produce results similar to that of treatment with benzyl peroxide and topical or systemic antibiotics.

What Prescription Do I Need?

Unfortunately, not every type of birth control pill will help you control your acne. While all birth control pills will work to prevent pregnancy, each pill has slightly different hormone levels.

The FDA has approved Ortho Tri-Cyclen and generic norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol for acne treatment. The FDA believes these low-dosage birth control pills are an effective treatment for mild to moderate acne. In clinical studies, nearly 90 percent of women taking Ortho Tri-Cyclen noticed an improvement in their skin.

Other birth control pills that are thought to improve acne in most women include Desogen, Demulen, Brevicon, Nelova 1/35, Ovcon 35, and Ortho Novum 7/7/7. However, there is some evidence to suggest these pills are more effective in younger women who have fluctuating hormone levels that are the primary cause of their acne.

Older brands of birth control pills that contain estrogen and progestin hormones with higher androgen levels may in fact make your acne worse. This includes birth control pills such as Loestrin1.5/30, Loestrin1/20 Fe, Estrostep Fe, Levlen, Alesse, Ovral, and Norlestrin1/50.

ide Effects of Birth Control Pills

You must be aware of any potential side effects when you considering using birth control pills to treat your acne. For example:

• Some researchers who study birth control and acne report certain women may experience a weight gain of up to 12 pounds.
• If you smoke, using the birth control pill may increase your risk of developing cancer.
• Certain women may experience dangerous blood clots.
• Some pill users report adnominal pain, fatigue, headaches, breast tenderness, mood swings, and irregular periods.

Active Ingredient: Tadalafil
Typical Brand Name: Cialis

Overview:
Generic cialis is also known by the name Tadalafil. Generic Cialis works along with sexual stimulation. Generic Cialis relaxes the blood vessels and the muscles which are present in the erectile organ. Generic Cialis increases the blood flow into the erectile organ bringing out conditions leading to an erection. This prescription is prescribed to men who suffer from a condition called erectile dysfunction or impotence. A man suffering from erectile dysfunction is unable to maintain an erection for a longer duration, which is required for proper sexual activity.

Direction:
The recommended dose is one 10 mg tablet before sexual activity. If the effect of this dose is too weak, your doctor may increase the dose to 20mg. Generic CIALIS tablets are for oral use. Swallow the tablet whole with a full glass of water. You may take Generic CIALIS with or without food. You may take a Generic Cialis tablet from 30 minutes to 12 hours before sexual activity. The ability to have sexual activity improves up to 36 hours after taking Generic Cialis. Consult your doctor before starting with Generic Cialis.

Side Effects:

• Severe dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• An allergic reaction
• Muscle aches
• Runny nose
• Difficulty in pointing out the different colors
• Headache
• Back pain
• Nausea

Precautions:
Before taking Generic Cialis, tell your doctor about all your medical problems, including if you have heart problems such as angina, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or have had a heart attack; have low blood pressure or high blood pressure; have had a stroke; have liver problems; have kidney problems; have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic eye disease; have stomach ulcers; have a bleeding problem; have a deformed erectile organ shape; have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours or have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia.

Drug interactions:
Avoid taking other drugs which are used to treat erectile dysfunction along with Generic Cialis. Alcohol should not be consumed along with Generic Cialis as it can enhance the conditions of dizziness, lightheadedness and low blood pressure. Grapefruit and grape fruit juice should be avoided, as it could increase the side effects of this prescription. Do not take medicines containing nitrates as an active ingredient.