Natural Remedies

The “quick fix” is something every woman has chased after in her desire to achieve something better for her face, body or hair: Instant results are always preferred. Who hasn’t longed to achieve brighter skin, a more vibrant mane or a more svelte figure without doing all the work necessary to actually get there? The same applies to tightening aging skin. It’s a battle most women will confront at some point, but while some choose to fully accept the changes that accompany aging, others seek to retain a youthful appearance through various means.

The proof is in the burgeoning anti-aging market and the many surgical and non-surgical procedures designed to revitalize the skin’s surface, encourage a more youthful appearance and essentially “reverse” the aging process. Of course, there’s nothing that can actually reverse the effects of time, but many treatments are now being touted as effective in changing the face of aging as we all know it. Natural remedies in particular are desired, because they offer a painless solution to what might otherwise cost hundreds of dollars, require time off work and cause discomfort.

Making a Difference

Unfortunately, there’s nothing quick about making changes to the skin that themselves have developed over time. One might liken it to weight loss; it takes a fair amount of time to gain the weight and will likely take just as long to lose it. Similarly, treating skin problems is much the same. It takes time, effort and dedication. While aging cannot be considered a “problem,” per se, many individuals do treat it as such. The real challenge lies in finding a regimen that actually makes a visible difference.

How to Tighten Skin Naturally

Whether you just hope to avoid surgical procedures altogether (and who can blame you for that?) or you prefer to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, you can count on finding a number of anti-aging treatments that contain natural ingredients. You might also be intrigued by the benefits of using products found right in your kitchen. Natural remedies have long been recognized for their healing, soothing benefits, and there’s something spa-like and rejuvenating about concocting treatments within the comforts of home.

Natural Products

If time is of the essence and you aren’t exactly Julia Child in the kitchen, you might prefer an over-the-counter product formulated with natural ingredients. Among them are:

* Bieux Skin BioNaturals Power Lift and Repair Serum: Free of parabens, silicones and fragrances, this hypoallergenic product is formulated to combat crow’s feet, fine lines and wrinkles. It’s touted as a lifting treatment that offers near instantaneous results, and its high concentration of botanical ingredients is sure to please who seek natural regimens.

* Logona Age Protection Skin Firming Gel: Instant hydration can quell the visible signs of aging. This revitalizing gel is infused with green tea, organic horsetail, hops, algae and more, all formulated to tighten the contours of the face and stimulate cells. The result is a more youthful appearance – naturally, of course.

Natural Treatments

Granted, you don’t have to be much of a wiz in the kitchen to concoct natural skin care recipes. Most are quite simple and require very few ingredients. Here are a few designed to encourage your skin to firm up:

Cucumber and Avocado Mask

Cucumber is a terrific natural anti-aging food. It tightens the pores, nourishes the skin and exfoliates to reveal fresh skin. You’ll need:

* 1/2 cup cucumber (chopped and peeled)
* 1/2 cup avocado (chopped and peeled)
* 1 egg white
* 2 tsp. powdered milk

Simply blend these ingredients until they’re smooth, then refrigerate the concoction for an hour. After it has sufficiently chilled, apply it liberally to the face and neck. Allow the treatment to rest for half an hour before rinsing with warm water. Finish with a splash of cool water.

Peach and Honey Mask

Peaches are rich in alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), natural exfoliants that tighten, hydrate, smooth and reduce the appearance of age spots over time. You’ll need:

* 1 med. peach
* 1 tbsp. yogurt
* 1 tbsp. honey

Begin by boiling the peach to softness. In a bowl, mash it completely, then add the yogurt and honey and continue stirring. Apply liberally to the face and neck and allow it to rest for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Finish with a splash of cool water.

Facial Exercises

Of course, nothing is cheaper or more natural than facial exercises, which require only the use of your hands. They work to tighten skin naturally by applying resistance to muscles that, over time, lose their vitality and tone. Exercising them allows greater blood supply to the area and encourages firmer skin and greater production of collagen and elastin.

* Tone the forehead by placing your index fingers above your eyes. Pull downward and raise your eyebrows at the same time – you should feel resistance. Repeat this process 10 times.
* Eliminate crow’s feet by placing your middle and ring fingers around the outer corners of the eyes. Pull the corners toward your hairline, hold and keep your eyes squeezed closed. Again, you should feel some resistance.
* Strengthen cheek muscles by placing your pointer, middle and index fingers on the apples of your cheeks. Push down while smiling hard. You should feel more resistance!

How Grapefruit Diets Work

The diets typically work much like the Atkins Diet, in that they restrict carbohydrates while encouraging a higher intake of protein. The Atkins Grapefruit Diet, in particular, focuses on the high protein, low-carb eating plan. When people do not eat enough carbohydrates, the body needs to use fat and muscle storage for energy.

All of the grapefruit related diets, in most cases, significantly restrict calories as well. While some allow for as much meat as the dieter would like during lunch and dinner, the caloric intake in most of the grapefruit weight loss plans are slashed. People can expect to lose weight whether they drink the juice or not.

Grapefruit Weight Loss

The fruit has naturally healthy properties that make it an ideal food for dieters. It is low in calories, is rich in antioxidants, and high in fiber. The generous nutrients combined with a small number of calories make the fruit a wonderful choice for dieters. The fruit may aid weight loss by:

* Reducing insulin levels
* Controlling appetite
* Provide nutrition

Some proclaim that grapefruit burns fat, but no studies appear to back this claim. Many other fruits and vegetables are equally as healthy and equally as effective in helping people to lose weight.

Sample Weight Loss Plans

The rapid weight loss plans can help dieters lose a significant number of pounds in very little time. Dieters can expect to lose between 10 and 30 pounds in just under two weeks, according to some Grapefruit Diet websites. The plans typically have very restrictive requirements to follow in order for dieters to succeed. Rules include:

* Cannot substitute any foods on the menu
* Must have juice at each meal
* Cannot deviate from the amount of juice you drink, neither more nor less
* No eating between meals
* Eat until you are very full
* Follow a 12-day on, 2-day off cycle
* One cup of coffee a day

The diet allows for one bedtime snack that consists of eight ounces of skim milk or tomato juice.

Forbidden and Permitted Foods

The plan forbids many foods including breads and desserts. Surprising restrictions include:

* White onions
* Potatoes
* Celery
* Starchy vegetables
* Fruit
* Low-fat / fat free or diet salad dressings

Equally as surprising are some of the foods that the diet allows:

* Mayonnaise (hence the term Mayo diet)
* Any cheese
* Hot dogs
* Regular salad dressing
* Red meat

Grapefruit Weight Loss Plan

A similar grapefruit diet plan promises dieters a loss of 10 pounds in 12 short days. Dieters can expect to eat no more than three meals each day, followed by a small bedtime snack, as appears to be the nom with these plans. This menu allows dieters to substitute juice for ½ of a grapefruit.

The meals are mundane, and though the weight loss is rapid, the plan can become tiresome very quickly.

* Breakfast
o Eggs
o Two slices of bacon
o Grapefruit

* Lunch
o Salad
o Unlimited meat
o Grapefruit

* Dinner
o Salad or cooked vegetables
o Meat or fish
o Coffee or tea
o Grapefruit

* Bedtime snack
o One cup skim milk

Fast Weight Loss

Many people find the guarantee of fast weight loss to be very appealing, and diets based on drinking grapefruit juice make substantial promises when it comes to rapid weight reduction. However, it is important to keep in mind that the weight lost during the duration of the plan is not likely to be fat. People who lose pounds very quickly typically lose fluids and possibly muscle.

Restrictive Menus

Be wary of any weight loss plan that severely restricts the types of foods you can eat. When a menu does not allow foods like celery and fruit but allows mayonnaise, hot dogs and cheese, it does not have your best interests in mind. While the Grapefruit Juice Diet can yield rapid results, it is likely that dieters will gain the weight back equally as fast once they return to their old eating habits.

Antioxidant Properties of Oregano

Oregano contains thymol and rosmarinic acid that work on the body to minimize the destructive effects of free radicals. According to researchers at the USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland, a tablespoon of fresh oregano contains as much antioxidant power as a medium sized apple.

There is a lot of current medical interest in the ability of free radicals to help repair damage to the body on a cellular level and combat cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, macular degeneration and help slow geriatric muscle deterioration.

Anti-Fungal Properties of Oregano

Historically used as a food preservative, oregano has some impressive credentials as an anti-fungal. Fungal infections can be nasty customers and even fatal in some circumstances. Oregano has been used as both an internal and external preparation in treating fungal infections and has been tested successfully in inhibiting the growth of yeasts like Candida albicans.

Antibiotic Properties of Oregano

Oregano might just be the little herb that can. A phenol in oregano, carvacrol is generating interest for its powerful ability to kill bacteria. Preliminary tests conducted at Georgetown University suggest that oregano’s antibacterial muscle may rival that of streptomycin and penicillin.

Other Medicinal Uses of Oregano

If you plan on keeping oregano in your medicine cabinet, there are some other uses for this herb that you should know about. Oregano can be used as a digestive aid because it encourages salivation. It can soothe bee stings and treat venomous spider and snakebites. Oregano is also an efficient pain reliever.

Cautions when Using Oregano

Although herbs and spices may appear benign because they are used in cooking, concentrated doses can lead to problems. Oregano has many medicinal applications that can help you get and stay well, but consult your doctor before making any changes or additions to the medications you are taking. Oregano can cause skin irritations in some people, and should be avoided if you are pregnant or nursing.

Oregano Fast Facts

* Oregano contains: iron, vitamin E, vitamin C, copper, magnesium, calcium, vitamin B6, niacin, thiamine and riboflavin.

* A native to the Mediterranean, Oregano is a perennial in the mint family. It is widely used as a seasoning in Italian dishes, including pizza sauce.

* Steep two tablespoons of fresh oregano in eight ounces of water for five minutes to create a refreshing antioxidant tea.

* Oregano is sometimes taken as a supplement to help avoid colds and flu.

* Oregano can be used to treat head lice.

* Oregano is a welcome addition to a long list of antioxidant rich herbs like garlic, thyme, peppermint and sage.

To derive the maximum benefit from supplements, use them within the first six months of purchase or less. Store supplements in a cool, dark place, and keep them away from moisture.

What is an apple diet? One diet is a de-toxing diet that involves eating only apples for several days. That wasn’t what I had in mind. But, the “three a day apple diet” bases its premise on the recommendation that we eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables per day. Since a medium to large apple is more than one serving, a person eating three apples a day would have their 5 servings of recommended fruit per day.

What benefit does this apple diet have? Eating fresh apples is good for you. The old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” did have some truth in it. A diet that contains a steady supply of fresh fruit that includes fiber and vitamin C can’t help but be good for you.

The apple diet is simple. Simply eat three apples a day, one before each meal. A medium size apple contains approximately 5 grams of fiber, or 20% of the recommended daily intake of fiber. In fact, an apple contains both kinds of fiber said to be most beneficial: soluble and insoluble. The pectin, or soluble part of an apple, also has the added benefit of preventing cholesterol buildup in the arteries. The insoluble fiber is what creates bulk in the colon, and helps to move food through the digestive tract quickly and easily.

One of the main reason people go on a diet, including the apple diet, is to lose weight safely. Eating three apples a day help you to lose weight because they help you feel fuller. That same medium size apple only contains approximately 80 calories and absolutely no
fat and no cholesterol. The fiber in those apples helps you to feel fuller, and eat less at your meals. The sweetness in the apples helps to curb sugar cravings, so you don’t succumb to the brownie that is full of fat, non-fiber carbohydrates, and sugar. And apples don’t get smashed in your purse, backpack or pocket; they don’t spoil out of a refrigerator easily. They are a perfect portable snack.

Benefits of the apple diet, in addition to the benefits from losing weight, may include preventing some types of cancer; preventing heart disease and stroke; and even healthier lungs according to some recent studies. Apples contain flavonoids that help prevent heart disease, stroke, and some cancers; and the phytochemicals available in apple skin is said to reduce colon cancer cells.

Here are some types of apples and their characteristics to get you started on an “apple diet” or at least including an apple in your snack or lunch. The health benefits can be enormous, and an apple just tastes good.
Red Delicious apples are sweet and juicy and available all year round.

Golden Delicious apples are available September to June and are good for snacking or baking.
Red Rome apples are slightly tart, wonderful for baking, and available October through August.
The Winesap apple is good for eating and baking, has a wine-like flavor and is available November to July.
The Granny Smith is a slightly tart apple best for snacking, is green in color, and also available all year round.
The Macintosh apple is two-toned red and green, has a sweet, mild flavor and is in season September through June.
The Jonathon apple has a mildly tart, rich flavor, is deep red in color, and is available all year as well.

I’ve had my own version of the apple diet for years. I just didn’t know it came with so many health benefits!

Multiple sclerosis disease is diagnosed upon complicated physical and neuropsychological examinations, as well as specific clinical procedures and laboratory tests. Common methods of diagnosing multiple sclerosis disease are MRI scans and lumbar puncture, methods which can reveal possible damage of myelin.

The signs and symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis can be clouded by other severe diseases such as stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Studies have revealed that it could have taken one to ten years longer to diagnose Multiple sclerosis in people who had mental health issues, were obese, or who had other physical problems, including smoking.

Fortunately the health care systems have progressed in the process of diagnosing neurological diseases with imaging techniques that now can help diagnose diseases of the brain quicker and tell more of the destruction caused by it. Since there are no single clinical test to diagnose multiple sclerosis, several tools are used to first rule out other damaging disorders. Lesions in the central nervous system can be found by using different expert imaging technologies. The plaque is the consequence of the loss of myelin sheath. MRI test, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging is painless and exposes no radiation. A magnetic resonance spectroscopy or the MRS can give information about the brain chemical N-acetyl aspartate. Decreased levels of the results may show nerve damage. The MTI or Magnetization Transfer Imaging detects white matter problem areas before lesions exist.

FMRI or the Functional MRI test uses radio waves to measure differences in the physical function of the brain such as mental problems and blood flow. VEP or the Visual Evoked Potential test is the study of cerebrospinal fluid that circulates through the brain and the spinal cord. This test result can show cellular and chemical abnormalities associated with multiple sclerosis. With the help of these test results, physicians are able to more easily diagnose what is a true multiple sclerosis attack, but there can be similar symptoms in some conditions and diseases. Lupus erythematosus, syringomyelin, Polyarteritis, tropical spastic Para paresis, some cancers, and certain tumors may show attacks and some multiple sclerosis like lesions of the brains white matter. Often it is commonly understood to take a closer look when there are a reoccurrence of the multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Neurological tests performed by a medical person can show decreases in nerve function. This condition might be a loss in sensations such as numbness of pins and needles. There may be signs and symptoms of the loss of neurologic functions including changes in vision, speech or the ability to move parts of the body.

The test of Babinski’s reflex may show as a positive. This test is normally done on the outside sole of the foot with a painful stimulus. A positive result of the test would be for an upward movement of the big toe instead of the normal result of a downward flex.

Physical disabilities though considered a restraint to achieving greatness in one’s profession, has been overcome by a number of famous personalities to show their prowess in their respective fields. Most of these famous people are world-renowned people and are taken up as role models. Even the fact is hat some of these famous personalities have become admired with their speaking capabilities and they provide a ray of hope for the disability’s world over.

There is a list of some the famous people who have become famous in spite of their disability problem. Former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill is known all over the world as an incredible politician and a passionate orator but not many know that he was physically disabled. US Congressman Frank Wolf is another famous disabled person who fought for the cause of disabled people. Another severe disabled person was King George VI who led his country in the World War II campaign through his inspires speeches on radio.

Physical disability is considered a taboo in the journalism industry where anchoring shows and interviewing people plays an important role and yet in spite of the physical drawback, US journalist John Stossel has proved nothing is impossible with his award winning work in journalism. Another industry where disability cannot be accepted is the entertainment glamorous industry where singing and acting skills are necessary. There would be very few people who believe that James Earl Jones, famous movie star, the voice of CNN and the voice of Darth Vader of Star Wars was a disabled person. Another famous physically disabled actor was Marilyn Monroe, a Hollywood siren who captured the hearts of millions with her beauty and acting talent.

Sports are also an area in which physically disabled have proved their excellence. Tiger Woods the world famous golfer is one of the most famous disabled people who have grown from a child prodigy to World class in spite of his problem. The famous basket players in the US, Bob Love and Bill Walton, are also disabled who are working for the cause of disability in their country, of which the latter is said to have developed into a popular commentator. Disabilities have made a mark in possibly every industry and done so in an emphatic way to show the world their worth.

The above mentioned disabled stars are just a handful of people who have proved that no disability can be a hurdle in achieving what one truly wishes for. There is many more famous and talented disabled person who is yet to come out in the limelight. Normal people tend to think of famed or successful people as having it easy in life, or they somehow got lucky. People admire them for what they have or for what they have accomplished and sometimes wish they were just like them. However, the truth is often very different from what people actually imagine. One might be surprised at the famous people who had to overcome a severe disability. Also often people are shaped by the obstacles they overcome such as a severe learning disability - more than by inherent intelligence, talent, luck or money.

Does the Popcorn Diet work?
When compared to other diets, this one is not largely recommended. The idea is that unsalted, unbuttered popcorn is low-calorie, and can be satisfying to for people who are used to snacking throughout the day. However, it tends to get boring quickly and can cause its fair share of problems. While there’s nothing wrong with eating popcorn as part of a normal diet, the actual popcorn diet isn’t a good idea.

People tend to quickly get sick of a bland diet, which can make the popcorn diet difficult to stick to. When you get tired of the same bland taste, you want to spice it up a bit. People tend to add butter and salt to their popcorn to make it taste better, which is a bad move as the previously healthy snack now becomes high-fat, high-calorie, and high-sodium. Corn is a common allergen and it may cause breathing problems, hives, and gastro-intestinal upsets in some people. Popcorn is also a choking hazard for small children.
 

In a new book, The Lemon Juice Diet, leading health writer Theresa Cheung suggests that the reason so many of us battle with our weight is because our digestive systems are not working properly - and that the conventional dieting process tends to exacerbate that.

However, including lemons in your diet - both juice and peel - will boost your digestion and, if you also eat healthily and exercise, can help you lose weight.

“Research seems to show that if your digestive system is not working correctly, healthy weight-loss is almost impossible,” says Cheung. “The problem is that poor digestion can stop your body getting the nutrients it needs to burn fat. It can also cause a build-up of toxins in your body, leaving you feeling sluggish and depressed. “This, in turn, slows down your metabolism, making any weight-loss goals unattainable.”

Furthermore, she says, if your body isn’t absorbing the right nutrients, then no matter how overweight you are, it thinks it is malnourished and constantly craves nutrients, telling you you’re hungry when you’re not.
The solution is lemons. “When it comes to boosting the body’s digestive and detox systems, lemon is a natural powerhouse,” says Cheung.

Lemons are rich in citric acid (at seven to eight per cent, they have the highest concentration of all fruits), which, she explains, “combines in a complex interaction with other acids and enzymes to ensure healthy and problem-free digestion by stimulating stomach juices”.
“Thanks to its acidity, even a little lemon juice can improve your digestion and lower the impact of any meal on your blood sugar,” she adds.

The pectin in lemon - found in the peel - is a great source of fibre that helps weight loss by turning into a sticky gel when you digest it, preventing your stomach from absorbing sugar too quickly.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found pectin can eliminate the urge to eat for up to four hours, because after eating it you tend to feel satisfied for longer.

Lemon juice is also one of the most concentrated food sources of vitamin C. Not only is this great for warding off colds, but recent research at Arizona State University suggests that people who eat fruit and vegetables high in vitamin C have more efficient digestive systems and are more likely to lose weight than those who don’t.

In addition, lemon juice increases the acidity of the digestive system. This helps the body absorb calcium, which is then stored in fat cells. Research has shown that the more calcium there is in a fat cell, the more fat the cells burn.

It seems the humble lemon could be a powerful aid to digestion, and a useful diet booster.
But it’s not a case of eating only lemons: the good news is that you can eat perfectly normal foods on this diet, including cheese and other proteins. You can even have chocolate ice-cream.
You can also eat as much as you like of the right sort of foods: there is no calorie-counting involved. All you have to do is make sure that at least one meal a day includes lemon - either a squirt of juice or some peel.

The Lemon Juice Diet advocates a simple healthy-eating plan based on seven principles. These are the principles on which the meal plan is based, but you can use them to adapt the meals to suit your tastes.
If you combine these seven principles with an exercise regime involving 30 minutes of aerobic activity five or six days a week, within just a week you should start feeling healthier and your clothes will be looser. By week two, you will be dropping pounds.

 The following rules will help you achieve the weight loss and fat burning you want.

1. Drink lemon juice with warm water every morning. Starting the day with the juice of a lemon in a glass of warm water will stimulate your digestive system.
Water is also crucial to weight loss. Water aids healthy digestion and the elimination of waste, so make sure you drink six to eight glasses a day. Alcohol should be limited to one small glass of wine a day, and keep coffee and tea to a minimum. Avoid fizzy drinks and sweetened fruit juices.

2. Eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. All vegetables and most fruits are low-calorie nutritional powerhouses, rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre and nutrients that can boost immunity, balance hormones, calm the nervous system, aid digestion and help weight loss.

3. Balance your blood sugar levels. Irritability, poor concentration, fatigue and headaches are all symptoms of fluctuating blood sugar levels, which can make you crave sweet and fattening foods. When blood sugar levels swing too high, so does insulin. This hormone helps shuttle blood sugar (glucose) into your cells to be used as energy. In other words, it promotes fat storage.Sprinkling lemon juice over your meal can be enough to lower the blood sugar impact by as much as 30 per cent - use it in all your cooking. Using peel in cooking helps ensure the sugar is released steadily into your bloodstream. Add peel to soups and salads, and sprinkle on fish and chicken. Lemons are also a fantastic source of fibre.Eat protein with each meal, as it steadies your blood sugar by delaying the absorption of carbohydrates and fats. Eating five or six times a day will combat food cravings.

4. Cut down on sugar-rich foods. This give you a brief high followed by a big slump, and leave you feeling edgy and tired. Refined foods - such as white bread , white rice, instant potatoes and cornflakes - can act like sugar in your system, and end up being stored as fat. Instead, stick to whole grain, fruit, vegetables and protein. Natural sugars in fruit can hit your bloodstream fast, so don’t eat a piece of fruit without a handful of nuts or seeds to slow the impact. Beware of artificial sweeteners as they can increase sugar cravings.

5. Forgot low fat - your body needs some fat to lose weight. Unsaturated fats can help with weight loss by delaying the passage of carbohydrates into your bloodstream, keeping blood sugar levels stable and insulin down. Avoid saturated fats - found in red meat, cakes and pastries - and trans-fatty acids in processed foods. These are low in nutrients and can increase your risk of heart disease and obesity.
Increase your consumption of omega 3 and omega 6 essential fatty acids found in nuts, seeds and oily fish, and unsaturated fat found in extra virgin olive oil.

6. Eat lots of fresh whole foods. Switch from processed to whole foods to boost your intake of the nutrients your body needs for weight loss. Whole foods such as beans, pulses and lentils also contain fibre, which stimulates the digestive system and can slow down the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose.
Best of all, whole foods are free of hidden sugar and chemicals that overload your liver, making it hard for your body to digest food and burn fat. Choose brown pasta, wholegrain bread and cereals, vegetables, fruit, fresh soups, smoothies and juices (not from concentrate), and eat a salad with every meal.

7. Slow things down. Eat slowly and chew properly. Chewing relaxes the lower stomach muscle and triggers nerve messages that activate the digestive process. If food is not properly chewed, nutrients remain locked in and undigested. Keep portions moderate, and eat at regular times. If you find you’re still hungry, wait 20 minutes for your brain to catch up with your stomach and recognise that you are full.
Your stomach and intestines are sensitive to stress. When you feel anxious, digestion will shut down, leaving food partially digested. So finding ways to manage stress is not only important for your emotional health, but your digestive health, too.
Note: If you suffer from heartburn, kidney or gall-bladder problems, or have a citrus allergy, consult your GP before going on this diet.

 How Much Green Tea Do We Need?

Green tea leaves are potent in EGCg. The study suggests that consumption of four to five cups of green tea may slow cancer. However, the studies of green tea and it’s binding to CD4 used concentrations many times higher than those that could be acheived by drinking green tea. However, understanding the mechanism by which EGCg binds to the CD4 cell could point scientists in new directions when researching new drugs and treatment targets.

Do Other Types of Tea Have the Same Benefits?

All tea comes from the same botanical source. Compared to other types of tea, green tea is processed differently. In green tea, the leaves are not allowed to oxidize but instead are steamed. This process allows the natural ingredients in the leaves to be preserved. Other types of tea were not nearly as successful as green tea in inhibiting the cancerous cells or HIV. In the end, green tea was approximately ten times more potent than the other types.

The scientists want to expand on these studies and determine the exact mechanism of EGCg. At this point, the scientists are beginning to understand the initial inhibitive effects of EGCg but further research is warranted to pin down the exact mechanisms and to put that mechanism to work fighting HIV.

* The development of combined vaccines containing multiple valences will increase. Valence is the number of different antigens in a vaccine-a trivalent vaccine has three antigens, for example. An antigen is a chemical substance, usually a protein that stimulates the immune system to produce an antibody specific to the antigen. As the schedule for early childhood vaccination becomes more crowded with new vaccines, and as we deal with disease syndromes having multiple causes, it will be necessary to combine vaccines so that fewer injections are given. These combinations of vaccines will not be simple to develop, as the immunologic rules of interference among vaccines are not well described.

* Although many vaccines are administered to infants under the age of one year, protection is slow to develop because of the immaturity of the immune system. In fact, immunity may fade later in childhood if no booster doses are given. The specific factors that contribute to the immaturity are just becoming known, and I anticipate that immunologic adjuvants-substances that enhance responses to vaccination-will come into use in infancy. Sexually transmitted diseases, respiratory diseases transmitted by crowding, infections that cause cancer later in life, and infections transmitted from mothers to their fetuses all require vaccination before adolescence begins. Thus, the age of 11 to 12 years will become a time for administration of many newly emerging vaccines to provide protection during early adult life.

* The elderly suffer a natural aging of the immune system, both with respect to antibody production and cellular responses to infection or vaccination. Here again, we are beginning to understand the defects that come with age, and correction of these defects should improve the efficacy of vaccines in an increasingly aged population.

* Two new strategies have become widespread for experimental vaccine development: injecting humans with DNA segments from pathogenic microorganisms that produce protective proteins after injection, and inserting genes from pathogens into harmless microorganisms that serve as carriers, or vectors, for production of immune responses. Although each strategy separately may generate useful vaccines, the combination of the two in a so-called “prime-boost sequence” provides synergy. Thus, there will be vaccinations consisting of prime-boost regimens, particularly in those cases where antibodies are insufficient to give complete protection.

* Intramuscular or subcutaneous injections have served us well as the means to introduce vaccines into humans. However, there are limitations to the feasibility of numerous injections and theoretical reasons for preferring other routes of immunization. Thus, intranasal, aerosol spraying and oral routes of administration are being intensively explored for certain vaccines. Moreover, transcutaneous immunization using patches, microneedles, and other ingenious technologies to pass vaccines through the skin is promising.

* Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV are major targets of vaccine development. Short-term protection against malaria has already been achieved, and I foresee the extension of protection by combining several malaria antigens in one vaccine, although I suspect that regular boosters will be necessary to maintain protection.

* Prospects for a vaccine that protects against adult tuberculosis are good. This will be based on the current BCG vaccine. The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine, developed at the Institut Pasteur in Lille, France, in the early 20th century, is effective in children but does not prevent the infection in adults. Insertion of genes that code for additional protective proteins should improve BCG.

* HIV has proven to be a difficult target for vaccination, but a vaccine that reduces the seriousness of infection and prolongs life, even while not preventing the disease completely, is likely to be the product of current clinical trials. The development of a vaccine that prevents infection entirely is less likely in the near future.

* Influenza remains a banal but deadly infection. Although the vaccines we have are very beneficial, better protection will be derived from the inclusion of more influenza proteins, adjuvants, and the combined use of live and killed vaccines.