Poison Ivy allergies

Grows as a vine in the East, Midwest and South, it grows as a vine. In the far Northern and Western United States, Canada and around the Great Lakes, it grows as a shrub. Each leaf has three leaflets.Poison ivy leaves are coated with a mixture of chemicals called urushiol. When people get urushiol on their skin, it causes an allergic contact dermatitis. This is a T cell-mediated immune response, also called delayed hypersensitivity, in which the body’s immune system recognizes as foreign, and attacks, the complex of urushiol-derivatives with skin proteins. The irony is that urushiol, in the absence of the immune attack, would be harmless. The most common treatment for severe contact dermatitis is with corticosteroids, which diminish the immune attack and resulting inflammation. A recent recommendation for mild cases is to use manganese sulfate solution to reduce the itching.Symptoms from a mild rash can sometimes be relieved by the following:Cool compresses with water or milk Calamine - A nonprescription lotion Aveeno oatmeal bath - A product you put in the bath to relieve itching Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) A poison ivy rash will usually begin to appear 1 to 2 days after coming in contact with urushiol. The affected area will get red and swollen. A day or so later, small blisters will begin to form, and the rash will become very itchy. During this time, it’s important to try to keep from scratching the blisters. Bacteria from under your fingernails can get into the blisters and cause an infection. After about a week, the blisters will start to dry up and the rash will start to go away. In severe cases, where the poison ivy rash covers large parts of the body, it may last much longer. Although it is often recommended that people learn to recognize the poison ivy plant (”Leaves of three, leave them be”), in practice, this is hard to do, since poison ivy and its relatives are often mixed in with other vegetation and not noticed until after the rash has begun. Keeping the skin covered in situations when exposure is hard to avoid is the best way to prevent the problem. The clinical name for the skin irritation caused by Poison Ivy is Rhus Dermatitis . It usually starts as itching and small blisters within a few hours after exposure. Depending on how strong the exposure was and/or how sensitive the person is, that may be all there is to it. However, it may develop into an inflamed, swollen rash with open, weeping sores that persists for up to two weeks. Severe cases may require a visit to the doctor. Urushiol is absorbed into the skin within three minutes of exposure. If it is washed off quickly with dishwashing soap and water, the consequences will be less, but you are seldom close to a lavatory when you get exposed, so learning to recognize and avoid it is the best strategy. Poison ivy rashes typically go away on their own within one to three weeks. In the meantime, you can use self-care methods and over-the-counter medications to relieve signs and symptoms. If the rash is widespread or results in a large number of blisters, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid, such as prednisone. Using a weedeater to remove poison ivy will result in spraying your legs with poison ivy. If you are bare-legged and get scratches while splattered with sap from poison ivy, you may be headed to the emergency room.

Your insomnia comes and goes? You need at least 5 hours of sleep? You want something fast that you can get without a prescription. Besides, you really don’t want to mess with those presumably “heavy duty” prescription sleeping medications. So here are the fast facts about non prescription sleep aids to guide you. Usually, non prescription sleep aids generally refer to 2 types of sleep aids. They are the antihistamines and the dietary supplements. Antihistamines: 1. How do they work? The ones used as non prescription sleep aids have been around for awhile, probably since you were a kid. These are the very drugs you take when you have cough and cold or allergies. These antihistamines are very popular not just because they are effective for your cough and allergies. You recover faster because the “benefit” of their side effect of prolonged drowsiness “forces” your body to rest and recover. In the same way, you are basically using the drowsiness side effect to get you to sleep 2. What are they? Antihistamines used as non prescription sleep aids consist of 2 types of active ingredients i.e. diphenhydramine and doxylamine 3. Popular brands are: Sominex, Nytol, Tylenol PM, Benadryl (Diphenhydramine compound) Unisom, Equate (Doxylamine compound) 4. Side effects that are common: Prolonged drowsiness or hangover effect that impairs driving, etc Dizziness Fatigue Headaches Reduced alertness Vomiting Racing heartbeat and constipation are also becoming frequent complaints in this group of non prescription sleep aids. 5. Who Can’t Use Them However, there are certain groups of people who cannot use the antihistamines as a non prescription sleep aid. As with any medication, they are not for pregnant or nursing women due to unknown risk of drug transfer to the fetus and young infant on mother’s milk. You are advised against taking diphenhydramine (Sominex, Nytol) if you have: Heart problems Glaucoma Enlarged prostate Especially for Unisom, you can’t even take them if you’ve got asthma or bronchitis. 6. Other precautions when you take the antihistamines. Avoid alcohol. It increases the sedative effects of the pills. Even a small amount of alcohol combined with sleep aids can make you feel dizzy, confused or faint. Never mix with a sleeping pill, sedative, tranquilizer, or another antihistamine. This could lead to dangerous drug-drug interaction outcomes. Dietary Supplements: 2 of the most popular dietary supplements used as non prescription sleep aids are melatonin and valerian. This is followed by chamomile, a much milder non prescription sleep aid, that is frequently combined with other herbs as supplements in capsules. Melatonin It’s a hormone secreted from the pineal gland in our brain. It regulates our bodies’ internal clock or circadian rhythm i.e when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin has created much interest among researchers; you will find over 14,000 studies on this hormone compared to valerian with 556 studies, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) database. Melatonin is probably the most widely prescribed among herbal non prescription sleep aids. Even 15% of pediatricians who prescribe sleep aids for children with insomnia recommend melatonin, according to the medical journal Pediatrics (2002). Its synthetic form is available in many brands; AVOID natural forms that are basically melatonin derived from animal’s pineal glands due to possible contamination Side effects that are common are daytime drowsiness headaches, dizziness, a “heavy-head” feeling, stomach discomfort It may interact with common drugs Valerian It’s a plant; its active ingredient is still unclear therefore how it works is unclear too. Valerian appears to increase the body’s available supply of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). It’s generally thought to help reduce the time to get to sleep. Valerian is less effective than prescription sleep medication. One possible advantage of valerian, however, is that it does not seem to cause as much of a “hangover” effect the next day. Also, people taking sleeping pills sometimes have a temporary worsening of insomnia when they are discontinued (rebound insomnia), an effect that hasn’t been reported with valerian. Available in many brands but hard to compare as the potencies of various ingredients vary from preparation to preparation. Generally safe when taken in recommended dosages. However, high doses of valerian can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, vivid dreams, weakened heartbeat and even paralysis. Not to be used by pregnant or nursing women like any other non prescription sleep aid It may strongly react with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol, and other medications Chamomile It’s one of nature’s oldest herbal sleep aid used for centuries. It is best known as one of the gentlest non prescription sleep aids around. The active ingredients are flavonoids namely, chrysin and apigenin, believed to reduce restlessness helping one feel more relaxed and more prepared to sleep. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. That’s why it’s also popularly used in cases of stomach irritation. Known as a ‘plant doctor’ stimulating the health of other plants, you will find it in countless brands as it is popularly combined with other herbs to make standardized herbal remedies. It does not lead to dependency and has not been shown to have any side effects. However, it may cause allergic reactions in people who have plant or pollen allergies. Avoid using with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol and medication as it may increase their effects Find out other options like Natural Non Prescription Sleep Aids with the Fast Guide To 5 Popular Natural OTC Sleep Aids. This guide is provided by OTC-Sleep-Aids.com

Are you driving yourself crazy trying to fall asleep at night? There are several over-the-counter remedies available at your local pharmacy. Most of them are based on the same active ingredient (diphenhydramine), so there’s really no point in trying them all. Unless, of course, trying new things is fun for you. Otherwise, night after night of ineffective cures for insomnia will probably be frustrating. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could deal with the cause of your insomnia directly and get rid of your sleeplessness once and for all?

Insomnia often has a simple cause. Most of the time, your inability to sleep is connected to events earlier in your day. The most common cause of sleeplessness is stress. Many people’s lives are filled with stressful situations. As a result, we spend a lot of our time in fight or flight mode. Unfortunately, we can rarely do either. So the stress builds up, our bodily systems struggle to cope, and we end our day physically exhausted, but mentally wired. It’s definitely not the best combination for a good night’s sleep.

The first reaction that you may have to the problem of insomnia is to seek out sleep aids. At first, you may try over-the-counter pills. These may work at first, but your body will gradually get used to them and stop responding. Plus, these can often cause morning drowsiness and a dry mouth.

The next step for many is to ask their doctor for prescription sleep aids. These may work better at first, but don’t count on using them for the long haul. Your doctor will want to help you find the root cause of your sleep problems, and take you off prescription medications as soon as possible.

A better solution would be to avoid these supposed cures for insomnia and try some natural relaxation techniques. Deep breathing, visualization and short meditations can work wonders at bedtime, naturally switching your body into sleep mode. Try putting a few drops of lavender essential oil on a cotton ball next to your pillow. The natural action of lavender aroma may help you relax and go to sleep more easily.

Herbal sleep aids that contain lemon balm and valerian root have also proven to be effective, in some cases outperforming pharmaceutical solutions. The point is that you shouldn’t limit yourself to pills from the pharmacy. Try the complete range of natural cures for insomnia. You’re almost sure to find something that works, and that you can keep using without fear of side effects or dependence.

Everybody knows that if it’s over-the-counter, it’s got to be safe. Or is it really? After all, prescription sleeping pills are a lot more tightly regulated by doctors and the FDA. Not to mention a lot more expensive.Let’s just start with what everybody knows already about over-the-counter sleep aids. Just so everybody’s on the same page.Firstly, the main ingredient of over-the-counter sleep aids is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are generally taken for allergies, but also make you feel very sleepy. And yes, while they make you get to sleep faster, there is little evidence that they improve the quality of your sleep at all, much less help treat insomnia. Meaning, if you really had good quality sleep, won’t you be productive in your following wake hours? That brings me to the second fact that everybody already knows about OTC sleep aids.OTC sleep aids tend to cause “morning hangovers” or what is explained as residual next-morning sedation due to the fact that antihistamines have long half-lives. That simply means they stay very long in the bodies and therefore continue to cause drowsiness.So most people usually try to live with that limitation by simply staying away from driving or handling heavy machinery. However, did you know that you would also have to put up with constipation and a racing heartbeat through your day? Did you also know that you could be in a state of confusion, delirium and have urinary retention? These are called anticholinergic side effects of antihistamines. That certainly wouldn’t do for that important office meeting next morning.Thirdly, common over-the-counter sleep medications are Sleep-Eze, Sominex, Nytol, and Unison that are mostly either diphenhydramine or doxylamine antihistamines.However, other common OTC sleep aids like Tylenol PM and Advil PM are actually combinations of the painkillers acetaminophen and ibuprofen with an antihistamine, diphenhydramine.And that is why, the Medical Letter, which reviews drugs, recommends against using antihistamines for sleep. Some doctors say users of Tylenol PM may be taking acetaminophen they do not need. Acetaminophen overdoses can cause liver failure.As for ibuprofen, common side effects mainly involve the gastrointestinal system. It can cause ulcerations, abdominal pain, cramping, nausea, gastritis, and even serious gastrointestinal bleeding. Sometimes, stomach ulceration and bleeding can occur without abdominal pain, and black tarry stools, weakness, and dizziness upon standing may be the only signs of internal bleeding.And finally, back to the premise that if it’s over the counter, it’s got to be safe. That is truly the costliest and harmful fallacy that everybody has believed about OTC sleep aids being safer than prescription sleeping pills.The reason is this. OTC sleep aids are not regulated and therefore, prone to abuse. If the OTC sleep aids were used as they were originally intended for i.e. to treat allergies or relieve mild pain that usually resolve within days, their sedative side effects would have been limited. And because using OTC sleep aids does not require a doctor’s consultation and supervision, potential drug interactions would not have been flagged out and underlying serious side effects would have gone undetected. Also, you can develop a tolerance for over-the-counter sleep aids after using them for just a few days. You may find quickly that you’ll need to pop in more pills each time to accomplish the same effect.Last but not least, a so-called transcient insomnia may progress into a chronic insomnia if the root of the problem is not resolved. A slippery slope indeed. Don’t we all agree that insomnia is just a symptom of an underlying problem? And for many of us occasional insomniacs, it’s always triggered by something called stress.Here’s a tip. Today, researchers have found that the best treatment for insomnia with the highest success rates is to change our thought patterns to then change our behaviors into those that induce sleep. So, it’s really all in the mind.

Sufferers of insomnia may be prescribed a wide range of medications. Although generally safe, these medicines are not without their risks. Side effects range from a mild headache to cardiac arrest so they are not to be taken lightly. If you are taking medication or thinking about it, this article can serve as a starting point for discussion between you and your doctor; it is not intended to be medical advice. Ambien (zolpidem) - If you don’t get enough sleep at night, you may feel sleepy during the day. This can lead to increased risk of injury, especially if you operate heavy machinery. If taken with alchohol, those effects can be magnified. Zolpidem also carries a risk of dependency so it should not be used by people with a history of drug abuse. You can become dependent on zolpidem so if you’ve been taking it on a regular basis, don’t stop taking it abruptly. This drug can be harmful to unborn babies so if you are pregnant or think you might become pregnant be sure to mention it to your doctor. Lunesta - Side effects can include dizziness, memory loss, drowsiness, and problems with coordination. The memory problems can be avoided or minimized by taking it only when you intend to go to sleep. Rarely, people have suffered from outgoing or aggressive behavior, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, and strange behavior. You should contact your doctor immediately if you are having dangerous thoughts. Sonata ( Zaleplon) - Headache and nausea may occur but contact your doctor immediately if you have joint pain, loss of coordination, or dizziness. Rare side effects may include irregular pulse, chest pain, mood changes, memory problems, loss of appetite, tingling of hands or feet, blood in the stool, changes in your urine, and eye and ear problems. You should contact your doctor immediately if you have these or any other side effects. Diphenhydramine (Sominex, Nytol) - Diphenhydramine may cause prolonged sleepiness, dizziness, and dry mouth. It is not recommended for nursing or pregnant women and it may not be safe for people with a history of enlarged prostate, heart problems, or glaucoma. Temazepam (Restoril) - Temazepam may cause headache, prolonged drowsiness, blurred vision, nausea, diarrhea, and low blood pressure. It should not be taken by pregnant or nursing women, the elderly, or people with a history of depression or lung disease. Trazodone (Desyrel) - Trazodone may cause diarrhea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred vision or weight fluctuations. Rarely, this drug may cause cardiac complications or seizures so be sure to remind your doctor if you have a history of heart problems or high blood pressure. This drug interacts with Coumadin and many herbal supplements so be sure to let your doctor know if you are taking them. No matter which drug you end up trying, it is vitally important that you follow your doctor’s orders and report any serious side effects immediately. Sometimes a minor adjustment in the dosage may alleviate your side effects but in other cases you may need to try something entirely different.

There are various ways to cure insomnia You just have to be aware of the nature of this sleeping disorder. Having insomnia or not getting enough quality sleep for a long period of time, may make you always feel tired and may cause you to have health problems. Stress, depression or change in your routines may be just some of the reasons why you are suffering from this disorder. Insomnia can be occasional, a temporary occurrence or chronic. But whatever your condition is, you definitely need to get adequate sleep. That’s why you have to consider ways to cure insomnia.

Most adults are required to have 7 to 8 hours sleep a night. As we all get older, we tend to need a lesser amount of sleep. The elderly who are over 70’s may only need to have 5 hours a night, which may be a shallow sleep. Most of these people think that since they don’t get the required 7-8 hours of sleep, they are suffering from insomnia when in fact, even if they only get 5 hours but they feel refreshed when they wake up, they are actually getting enough sleep.

Most insomniacs try over-the-counter medications that contain diphenhydramine. Most people are not aware that there are natural ways to cure insomnia If you have emotional problems that cause trouble in sleeping it may be best to consult a behavioral therapist or a psychologist. This may benefit you more than taking in medications that may tend to get you addicted in the end.

Altering your sleeping environment may also help in curing your insomnia By doing this, you can have an undisturbed sleep in a peaceful place. You may also have a comfortable bed and turn off all the lights. If you are easily disturbed with sounds, a padded sound-proof room may benefit you a lot in getting rid of those unwanted noises outside. Avoid taking a nap in the afternoon. Use relaxation techniques that can help you unwind. Avoid stimulants like beverages like tea and coffee that contain caffeine. Avoid medications that have ephedra and pseudoephedrine that are dieting and cold pills. Do not smoke and drink alcohol just before bedtime. Also do not eat rich food and avoid exercising before trying to get to sleep in the night.

Having a snack that is high in carbohydrates like a lettuce sandwich may help you sleep easily. This snack may help you produce more serotonin, which is a hormone known to help you control sleep as well as reduce anxiety. It may also help if you take a hot bath with 2 cups of Epsom salts in it, a few minutes before going to bed. Exercising, if done earlier in the day, may help you go to sleep at night. You may also try putting drops of lavender essential oil near where you sleep or on your pillow because this oil has sedative properties. Some people also have themselves treated with acupuncture as this can help them with their insomnia.

These are just some of the natural ways to cure insomnia It is of course very important for an insomniac to understand what causes his sleeping problems. If you are faced with a personal or professional problem, which may be the reason why you cannot sleep at night, it is best to do something about it, rather than take in medications that don’t guarantee you a quality sleep every night.

Related Articles:

Top rated Sleeping aids for Insomnia -> Sleeping aids for Insomnia

Insomnia Treatment with Chinese Medicines -> Insomnia Treatment

Your insomnia comes and goes? You need at least 5 hours of sleep? You want something fast that you can get without a prescription. Besides, you really don’t want to mess with those presumably “heavy duty” prescription sleeping medications. So here are the fast facts about non prescription sleep aids to guide you. Usually, non prescription sleep aids generally refer to 2 types of sleep aids. They are the antihistamines and the dietary supplements. Antihistamines: 1. How do they work? The ones used as non prescription sleep aids have been around for awhile, probably since you were a kid. These are the very drugs you take when you have cough and cold or allergies. These antihistamines are very popular not just because they are effective for your cough and allergies. You recover faster because the “benefit” of their side effect of prolonged drowsiness “forces” your body to rest and recover. In the same way, you are basically using the drowsiness side effect to get you to sleep 2. What are they? Antihistamines used as non prescription sleep aids consist of 2 types of active ingredients i.e. diphenhydramine and doxylamine 3. Popular brands are: Sominex, Nytol, Tylenol PM, Benadryl (Diphenhydramine compound) Unisom, Equate (Doxylamine compound) 4. Side effects that are common: Prolonged drowsiness or hangover effect that impairs driving, etc Dizziness Fatigue Headaches Reduced alertness Vomiting Racing heartbeat and constipation are also becoming frequent complaints in this group of non prescription sleep aids. 5. Who Can’t Use Them However, there are certain groups of people who cannot use the antihistamines as a non prescription sleep aid. As with any medication, they are not for pregnant or nursing women due to unknown risk of drug transfer to the fetus and young infant on mother’s milk. You are advised against taking diphenhydramine (Sominex, Nytol) if you have: Heart problems Glaucoma Enlarged prostate Especially for Unisom, you can’t even take them if you’ve got asthma or bronchitis. 6. Other precautions when you take the antihistamines. Avoid alcohol. It increases the sedative effects of the pills. Even a small amount of alcohol combined with sleep aids can make you feel dizzy, confused or faint. Never mix with a sleeping pill, sedative, tranquilizer, or another antihistamine. This could lead to dangerous drug-drug interaction outcomes. Dietary Supplements: 2 of the most popular dietary supplements used as non prescription sleep aids are melatonin and valerian. This is followed by chamomile, a much milder non prescription sleep aid, that is frequently combined with other herbs as supplements in capsules. Melatonin It’s a hormone secreted from the pineal gland in our brain. It regulates our bodies’ internal clock or circadian rhythm i.e when it’s time to go to sleep and when it’s time to wake up. Melatonin has created much interest among researchers; you will find over 14,000 studies on this hormone compared to valerian with 556 studies, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) database. Melatonin is probably the most widely prescribed among herbal non prescription sleep aids. Even 15% of pediatricians who prescribe sleep aids for children with insomnia recommend melatonin, according to the medical journal Pediatrics (2002). Its synthetic form is available in many brands; AVOID natural forms that are basically melatonin derived from animal’s pineal glands due to possible contamination Side effects that are common are daytime drowsiness headaches, dizziness, a “heavy-head” feeling, stomach discomfort It may interact with common drugs Valerian It’s a plant; its active ingredient is still unclear therefore how it works is unclear too. Valerian appears to increase the body’s available supply of the neurotransmitter gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). It’s generally thought to help reduce the time to get to sleep. Valerian is less effective than prescription sleep medication. One possible advantage of valerian, however, is that it does not seem to cause as much of a “hangover” effect the next day. Also, people taking sleeping pills sometimes have a temporary worsening of insomnia when they are discontinued (rebound insomnia), an effect that hasn’t been reported with valerian. Available in many brands but hard to compare as the potencies of various ingredients vary from preparation to preparation. Generally safe when taken in recommended dosages. However, high doses of valerian can cause nausea, headaches, dizziness, vivid dreams, weakened heartbeat and even paralysis. Not to be used by pregnant or nursing women like any other non prescription sleep aid It may strongly react with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol, and other medications Chamomile It’s one of nature’s oldest herbal sleep aid used for centuries. It is best known as one of the gentlest non prescription sleep aids around. The active ingredients are flavonoids namely, chrysin and apigenin, believed to reduce restlessness helping one feel more relaxed and more prepared to sleep. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. That’s why it’s also popularly used in cases of stomach irritation. Known as a ‘plant doctor’ stimulating the health of other plants, you will find it in countless brands as it is popularly combined with other herbs to make standardized herbal remedies. It does not lead to dependency and has not been shown to have any side effects. However, it may cause allergic reactions in people who have plant or pollen allergies. Avoid using with other prescription on non prescription sleep aids, alcohol and medication as it may increase their effects