Researchers at the Center for Brain Research of the Medical University of Vienna have found that a very high dose of an opiate drug that uses the same painkilling pathways as morphine can reset the nerve signals associated with continuous pain in rats. The method hasn’t yet been confirmed in humans, but if it does, it will bring a lot of relief and money saving opportunities to those who are addicted to painkillers for their chronic pain. However, opiates such as morphine and heroin remain the leaders in pain relief, but they work only temporarily and also have serious side effects such as overdose, addiction, sedation, poor quality of life and health complications. So what if there’s another way to get rid of the chronic pain without drug treatments? In fact, there is. Scientists confirmed a new technology in dealing with chronic pain to the detriment of recommended pharmacological therapy (pregabalin and duloxetine).

According to a randomized controlled trial performed in Spain, the new method called CBT or “cognitive behavior therapy” (group sessions comprising cognitive restructuring and coping strategies) is more effective than drugs, having three main parts. In the first part, patients are helped to understand that cognition and behavior can affect the pain experience and that they can play a major role in controlling their own pain. In the second part the patients have to cope with a skills training provided in wide variety of cognitive and behavioral pain coping strategies. The patients learn to divert attention away from severe pain episodes by participating in positive and rewarding activities, identifying unhelpful patterns of thinking and negative thoughts and replacing them with more constructive, more adaptive and more coping ways of thinking. They also learn how to fight their anxiety and depression because many of the patients suffering from chronic pains tend to avoid activities because of fears, anxiety or depression and depression, which are known to worsen the pain. And since fatigue worsens pain. the patients learn how to solve their sleeping disorders such as insomnia, to relax by counting methods and use of a focal point, deep breathing, meditation or even biofeedback. The third part is based on practice and diet changes. Now, the patients have to examine the diet, make changes if necessary and exercise what they have learnt so far. They are encouraged to apply their coping skills to a progressively wider range of daily situations, to analyze and develop plans for dealing with pain.

Therefore, CBT is a new short term therapy that can last as few as eight to 10 sessions, being carried out in small group sessions of 4 to 8 patients that are held weekly for 8 to 10 weeks and it’s main goal is not only to reduce pain but also to reduce stress, improve sleep and manage anxiety. The trainer is always a psychologist or psychologist-nurse so patients can rely on him for counseling. Because the perception of pain is in your brain and you can affect the physical pain by addressing thoughts and behaviours that fuel it, the method is also very effective in treating people with body wide pain, such as patients suffering from fibromyalgia, backache, headache, lumbar pain. So, if you’re one of those patients who struggle with pain despite drug intake, ask your health care provider for names of therapists who have experience in using CBT for chronic pain management.

The first celeb fitness craze is something that most people consider a joke though it’s very serious business: hula hooping. If once upon a time in our childhood we were playing with a big circle just for fun, now we should replace the plastic circle with a weighted hula hoop that not only melt s up to 600 calories each hour but it also strengthens the body and polishes posture. In fact, swirling your hips burns about as many calories per minute as step aerobics, boot camp, or very brisk walking and raises your heart rates similar to cardio kickboxing. According to a new study, it’s very important to choose the right size for you and if you have back problems then you shouldn’t try hula hooping at all. Marisa Tomei confessed that she began hula hooping to get the perfect shape for her dancer role in the film “The Wrestler” but she is not the only celebrity who did some hula hooping: Beyonce, Liv Tyler and Michelle Obama are also on the list of hula hooping addicts.

Soul cycling is new and odd in the same time. It’s been invented in New York and it’s a sort of combination between cycling and spiritual encounter. It’s a 45 minute workout practiced in a relaxed environment, with lit, scented candles and soft music on the background. Jon Bon Jovi, Brooke Shields, Kelly Ripa, Tom Cruise and his wife are all into soul cycling. It’s different that a spin class because you can release stress, burn fat, tone muscles, improve aerobic endurance and change your body faster.

Yogalosophy, a strange combination between union (yoga) and experience (-losophy) seems to be amongst the most adored way of losing weight. Invented by Mandy Ingber, has already seduced some of Hollywood’s royalties, such as Kate Beckinsale, Ricki Lake and Brooke Shields, Jennifer Aniston and Victoria Beckham who practice in the comfort of their luxurious homes. So, if you hate going to the gym in winter when it’s cold and snowy outside, stay indoors and do as celebs do: buy Ingber’s DVD online and exercise at home.

Kangoo jumps is by far the strangest trend. Wearing a ridiculous out-of-space kind of shoes, you can boldly take over streets and parks because bouncing is the latest fitness craze and nobody will raise the eyebrows. Kim and Kourtney Kardashian started this jogging trend when they were spotted wearing them in Miami Beach and since then it has become a necessity in the endless pursuit of fitness.

Piloxing, which is a workout that combines some features of pilates (soft, relaxed moves) with boxing (strength training), is practiced by JLo, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens, Kirsten Dunst and Hillary Duff and it is said to do wonders for the figure. Besides, piloxing incorporates the use of weighted gloves which add to the workout by toning the arms and maximizing cardiovascular health.

Zumba. According to a new American College of Sports Medicine survey, the Latin dance-inspired cardio class will always be in trends no matter the year because its movements are based on dance movements and dance will always be on top of every workout. Vivica A. Fox, Jennifer Lopez, Kristie Alley, Jordin Sparks and Madonna are just some of the celebrities who credit their weight loss to introducing Zumba in their fitness workout.

Overall, these fitness crazes do wonders for your body and mind but be careful as they are all addictive!

- Eat at the same hours every day;
- Run / jog at least 10 minutes or work out for an hour at the gym;
- Say NO to fats and sweets, alcohol and soda ;
- Have dinner before 7 p.m.;
- Eat more salads, raw vegetables and 2-3 fruits a day;
- Give up snacks, fast-food products, sauces, mayonnaise or processed meat;
- Eat as much as you like without worrying about the caloric intake or the size of your servings the following foods: turkey meat, skimmed dairy products, fish, eggs, pastas, cereals, rice, vegetables and green leafs, all cooked as simple as possible, on the grill, boiled or steamed;
- Eat a bowl of soup and use tomato sauce as a base for your cooked meals;
- Throw away everything that may tempt you;
- Go to the grocery and buy healthy fresh foods;
- Drink ginger tea before every meal but make it yourself from ginger roots. Ginger contains healthy enzymes that accelerates the digestion of proteins;
- Try to eat as much chili peppers as you can because according to researchers, this type of peppers boosts your metabolism, burns out calories and reduce your appetite. It’s high content of capsaicin stimulates the production of endorphins and adrenaline and speeds up your metabolism after each meal;
- Drink coffee and tea. A cup of black sugar-free coffee (or with just half teaspoon of raw or brown sugar or with a bit of Stevia rebaudiana extract) can help you burn more calories according to a study published in Physiology & Behavior. It seems that metabolism can be increased up to 16% after the intake of a cup of coffee (decaf coffee doesn’t have the same effect) or green tea.
- Eat more porridge at breakfast. Add chopped fruits and nuts/almonds/sunflower raw unsalted seeds to your porridge and consume it only at breakfast because it will make you feel fed for a long time and it will give you the energy you need for the day;
- Eat at least one avocado daily. This fruit contains healthy fats that boost your metabolism, not to mention that it is rich in nutrients that are essential for your health.

Stick to these tricks and you will look amazing in your party outfit. On New Year’s Eve you are allowed to indulge yourself with all the goodies the party buffet has to offer and you shouldn’t feel guilty about it as the next day you can apply these tricks again.

1. Colsfoot, horehound, licorice, lobelia, brandy
Combine 1oz. of wild cherry bark, 1oz. of mullein (leaf), 1oz. of slippery elm (powder), 1/2 oz. of coltsfoot (leaf), 1/2 oz. of lobelia (leaf), 1/2 oz. pleurisy (root), 1/2 oz. elecampane (root), 1/2 oz. Licorice (root) and add to 1-quart water. Simmer liquid over a low heat, condensing the liquid down to a very thick concentrated tea, then strain the herbs, place the liquid back into the pot and add either 1 cup of honey, (for children over 2 years of age) or 1 cup of white grape juice concentrate and warm the mixture together. After it cools down, add some Brandy (or vodka or whiskey) to flavor and preserve. This syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for 4-6 months.

Why it works: the brandy relaxes and sooth the throat muscles and calms spastic coughing, Licorice, a sweet herb, is soothing and makes a good edition to a cough syrup remedy, while coltsfoot and horehound are expectorant herbs with very strong properties.

2. Onion, garlic, sage and honey
Mix a half-cup of honey and a half-cup of water and add one whole chopped onion and one chopped clove of garlic, a dash of sage, thyme or oregano and allow to steep overnight at room temperature. In the morning, strain the liquid that is ready to be used as a cough syrup or stored in the refrigerator.

Why it works: the mixture is not boiled so it contains all the antimicrobial properties of the onions and garlic, which lose some of their potency when heated. Honey acts as a demulcent, meaning it relaxes the cough reflex and soothes the throat, while sage, thyme or oregano increase the antimicrobial properties of the ingredients.

3. Cayenne pepper, ginger, vinegar and honey
Thousands of mothers have tested this syrup recipe successfully for about three decades. It has been published in 1982 in Herbally Yours by Penny C. Royal and is not complicated at all. Mix 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 2 tablespoons water.

Why it works: it tastes terrible but it soothes an irritated throat and relieves chest congestion and phlegm, it works for all kinds of coughs but especially for that dry hacky cough. Ginger is a natural antihistamine, it relieves chest congestion, cayenne pepper reduces pain by suppressing a chemical that carries the pain message from nerves in the affected area to the brain, it is warming and stimulating.

4. Horseradish syrup
Add a dash of grated horseradish to a quarter cup of honey, let it steep for a few hours then use as a cough syrup. It’s very important not to add essential oils because they are very hard on the liver. It’s true that essential oils have antimicrobial benefits but not in combination with this horseradish syrup.

Why it works: mixed with honey, horseradish can be an effective remedy for hoarseness and cough from colds and flu because it promotes perspiration, stimulates appetite and promotes digestion.

How do these pills work?
Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) work by increasing levels of nitric oxide, the chemical that helps dilate blood vessels in the penis and keep them dilated so you can have and maintain an erection. The major difference between the three is how long they take to begin working. Although Viagra is the most popular, it does not have the fastest effect. According to recent studies, Levitra works in as few as 10 minutes and remains effective for up to 12 hours and doctors recommend Cialis and not Viagra in case of a romantic gateway because one dose continues working for up to 36 hours. On the other hand, Viagra is said to actually prevent impotence once you stop using the drug. German researchers studied 112 impotent men who took 50 milligrams of Viagra every night or 50 or 100 milligrams as needed for a year. After six months with no treatment, 58.3% of the men who took nightly Viagra had normal erections without any medication, compared to only 8.2% of those who used the drug as needed.

However, even if you are familiar with these drugs, you should know that making simple changes to your lifestyle may help to prevent the problem in the first place. Here’s what you need to know to prevent taking drugs for erectile dysfunction:

Have a Mediterranean diet. Greeks and Italians are known for their active sexual lives since ancient times but things didn’t changed in moderns times. Nowadays, they are known as the most virile men in the world and they surely don’t have problems in the bedroom, not even when they are older. Italians made a study on 100 men with erectile dysfunction and 100 men without it and concluded that those whose diets most closely matched a Mediterranean diet were significantly less likely to be impotent. Researchers speculate that the reason is probably the anti-inflammatory effect of the diet as the Mediterranean diet is rich in healthy monounsaturated fats from foods like olive oil and based on plenty of fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, whole grains, and fish.

Practice a sport or rediscover an old one because sports and exercise are not just good for your muscles but for your erections too. Men who become more physically active in middle age have a 70% lower risk of impotence compared with men who are couch potatoes. In fact, researchers have found that practicing a sport reduces the risk of impotence even more than quitting smoking, losing weight, or drinking less alcohol.

Stop smoking. In general, smokers don’t care about protecting their heart and lungs but maybe the threat of ruining their sexual relationships could determine men to throw their cigarettes away for good. According to a study made on 7,684 Chinese men, smoking probably accounted for about one in five cases of erectile dysfunction. The more you smoke, the more likely you are to have problems. The study also found that smoking just 20 cigarettes a day increased the risk by 60% compared to not smoking at all because smoking constricts blood vessels and leads to the buildup of plaque, both of which reduce blood flow.

Finally yet importantly, maintain normal blood sugar levels as according to several studies, half of all men with diabetes have erection problems, which is twice the rate of men without the disease.

- Put eucalyptus oil in 2 cups of boiling water and breath in the steam, this helps with nasal congestion.
- Take supplements such as Echinacea (antiviral and antibacterial, speeds healing) and goldenseal extracts to boost the immune system and Vitamin C and Zinc to help stop the cold from going through the entire process.
- Eat black horseradish because it has excellent properties to treat sore throat and upper respiratory tract infections, reduces fever, and expels concentrations of mucus.
- Gargle with sage infusion (it is used to cure sore throat, stuffed nose, gingivitis and coughs, is a powerful antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal), kava kava (it’s a pain reliever and it helps the insomnia caused by coughing and sore throat) and oregano infusion (fights respiratory allergies, laryngitis and sore throat, it has antifungal and antibacterial properties). You can also gargle with warm saltwater or a mix of water and pure tea tree oil if you have a sore throat.
- Take Myrrh, which is an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, it is very powerful and excellent for chronic sore throats. Besides, it acts as an expectorant and decongestant.
- Wild indigo is an antiviral and antibiotic that fights infections, stimulates the immune system, and cures chronic sore throats.

- Do not take over-the-counter medications as they may cause undesirable side effects, therefore they must be taken with care. For instance, in the US, $1 billion a year are wasted in nonprescription drugs for cold and coughs but often this medicines not only do not work, but also lead to serious health issues due to side effects.

Nevertheless, it’s very important to keep in mind that there is no cure for common cold and these tips are not a remedy, their purpose is to alleviate the symptoms while the body fights off the infection because common cold is a self-limited illness that will resolve spontaneously with time. They will not prevent or shorten the duration of the common cold.

For most cultures, a round, fighting-gravity butt has been considered a symbol of female beauty, a sign of vitality and fertility. Nowadays, more than ever, a curved, perfectly shaped butt is a must for all women, whether they are VIPs or simple housewives. To be loved and liked by a man, a woman must have a curved and sensual butt like that of a 15-year-old girl, so it’s understandable why in our society lots of women go to the plastic surgeon and ask for a Brazilian butt lift. However, what most women don’t know is that the Brazilian butt lift is a vague name that includes all the procedures of butt lifting. So, in order to know what exactly you should ask from your plastic surgeon, let’s see what are the most famous procedures because each procedures offers different results and the perfect choice must comply to your own needs and wishes.

1. Removing the excess of skin

2. Implants (made from silicone, these implants are introduced sub muscular and subfascial within the butt, the incision being hidden in the fold between buttocks) require a longer recovery and there may be some problems with the body accepting them. However, the results are the most obvious.

3. Fat Injections is an excellent option because your butt will have a natural look, there is no risk of allergy or rejection. This method has double advantages as it requires a liposuction of the extra fat from your love handles and the injection of that fat in your buttocks. The procedure is designed to fill the upper quadrant of your buttocks so that the butt appears lifted and perky. The resulting effect is that the woman appears more attractive and sensuous.

4. Liposuction is done when the fat on your butt is not properly distributed.

5. Suture Suspension Butt Lift is one of the newer options of lifting the butt. Some people prefer this surgery because it is less invasive and at a lower price than other butt lift surgeries. The procedure provides instant and natural results with very short recovery time, and can be reversed at any time. Only a local anesthetic is required and the patient will have no scars. The surgeon will place a few tiny incisions in the patient, and then using a long thin needle will insert the sutures and secure them to the bone. The secret is in the suture design, which has small cones or a row of tiny sharp notches that will grab the tissue and hold it up. This will lift the sagging tissue and skin of the buttocks for a firmer and fuller appearance.

It looks like a Scottish pharmacist and sports nutritionist has created a new and revolutionary diet that allows those who want to lose some pounds to actually do it by eating honey before bedtime. 61-year-old Mike McInnes created this diet while he was helping a group of athletes to embrace a healthier way of eating. He discovered that foods with a high content of fructose, like dehydrated fruits and honey, are helping individuals to lose weight.

According to him, the human body burns more fats during the first four hours of night sleep than during any kind of physical activity, even more than the calories burnt at the gym. In order to enjoy the amazing effects of this diet, all you need to do is to eat 2 spoons of honey before going to bed at night. And in order to have the full benefits of this diet, try and workout three times a week for at least 20 minutes. But don’t forget to eat another 2 spoons of honey before starting your workout routine. The diet is said to be endorsed by Olympic gold-winning cyclist Chris Hoy and used by champion boxer Alex Arthur.

McInnes says without the night-time honey, the body produces stress hormones and wastes energy stabilizing blood sugar levels. However, he provides no scientific evidence to back this up. He also mentions that when you eat fructose, it is converted to glucose in the liver. This stabilizes blood sugar levels and allows the body to activate recovery hormones which rebuild muscle and skin cells. You then burn more fat sleeping.

He said that “The key time for fat burning is in the first four hours of sleep when we go into slow-wave sleep. This switches on the pituitary gland and out of that comes a series of hormones that break down and use fat as fuel. Take your liver to bed empty, and your body can’t get to work with those hormones because it’s desperately trying to sort out your blood glucose levels. So stabilizing your blood glucose at night by fueling up your liver - honey is the key - allows that recovery to take place as it should. We also discovered that athletes who were using our liver fueling strategy were reporting that their appetite was controlled much better.”
Therefore, perhaps it’s not such a bad idea to try this diet. And if you are skeptic or you think you don’t need to follow this diet, than ask yourself these questions …

Do you have night sweats?
Do you experience acid reflux during the night?
Do you get up to go to the bathroom during the night?
Do you feel nauseous in the early morning?
Do you wake up exhausted?
Do you have a dry throat in the morning?
Do you get night cramps?
Do you feel weak in the early morning?

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, it means you haven’t fueled up your liver for the night. Instead of burning fat and repairing muscles, your body has produced stress hormones. So, this revolutionary honey diet will not only make you lose weight but it will also give you a boost for when you wake up in the early morning, you’ll have a good night sleep, a beautiful skin, a strong immune system and you’ll prevent cancer.

According to David Taylor, sexologist and co-author of the book Your Long Erotic Weekend (Quiver), a couple goes through three phases:

The first phase is narcissism - “I want what I want and I will get it.”
The second phase is the compromise - you sacrifice everything to maintain harmony within the couple.
The third phase is the most wanted - synergy. “Couples who reach to this stage have understood that they can create more intimacy between them by seeing their partner’s needs as opportunities to strengthen their relationship.” But in order to reach this final stage you must not let yourself down by the routine and let him do the entire work in your intimacy. You have to work to and be daring.

First of all, you have to do everything you can to feel better in your own body: go to a SPA, buy yourself a sexy lingerie and create a pleasant and relaxing (be careful not to fall asleep) in the bedroom. Wear your high heels, your best bra and some really sexy clothes, in fact as less clothes as you can. Stuff your pajama in your closet and go for a piece of lingerie that makes you feel hot and daring.

One of the best ways to be daring in bed is to stay open with the things you like. At first, it’s true, you may be shy or embarrassed, but once you pass over the fear of talking about what turns you on, you will find it easier each time and you will realize that things can work out as you wish too and that the pleasure will be for both of you. If you are always waiting for your partner to take the initiative, you may experience boredom at some point. Besides, there’s nothing to be ashamed of and taking the initiative for you, as a woman, is absolutely normal nowadays.

For instance, you can initiate an intimate moment in different times of day: at sunrise or even when you come back home from the office. It’s up to you to spice up your sex life: have sex in the bathtub, in the car, in an elevator or in a motel. It’s healthy an fun to experiment sexual stuffs and the pleasure is granted when you and your partner are equally open-minded. Even a talk about doing something new may be sexy because for most women, the foreplay begins long before getting rid of your clothes. It’s normal to feel foolish wearing a cop uniform or disguise in a medical nurse or to make him pass as the ‘cable guy’, but take it all as a play and you’ll have the fun of your life!

According to Dawn Jackson Blatner, the dietician and spokesperson of American Dietetic Association, the hair grows about 1 cm per month. What we eat during that month has an impact on the hair and skin as well as on the growth of nails. So, a healthy diet means a healthy hair, skin and nails. Anyone can go to a drugstore and buy supplements for hair but before doing that they should know that some of these supplements promise the impossible, because if a person has thin and fragile hair, there are chances that these pills won’t thicken the hair and instead make it fall. This happens when we have a high intake of vitamin A.

So, before presenting those ten foods for a gorgeous hair, we will give you a piece of advice: associate healthy foods with a ‘healthy attitude’. People who stress easily have problems with hair fall and even a beginning of alopecia. Be positive and try to eliminate the stress by meditation and sport instead of anti-stress medication as these drugs can influence the growth and quality of hair.

Water
You may not consider water a food, but believe me, it is sometimes more valuable than any kind of food. One quarter of the hair structure is made of water so you should drink between 6 and 8 glasses of still water every day but if you find this difficult, substitute the glasses with foods rich in liquids. A good hydrated hair will be shinier and healthy.

Milk and cottage cheese
These two foods are rich in calcium and casein. The minerals from milk, yoghurt and cheese help increasing the growth rhythm of the hair. Active persons who spend a lot of time at the office should take advantage of the fact that a glass of milk is a quick and healthy snack.

Salmon, beef, chicken meat and eggs
It is strongly recommended for those who have a normal level of cholesterol to eat beef twice a week. The impact on the hair is huge because red meat is rich in vitamin B, iron, zinc, proteins and other minerals essential for a gorgeous hair. Chicken meat is rich in iron, while eggs – no matter how you prefer them, boiled or fried – are rich in vitamin B12 and proteins, of course. As for salmon, smoked or fresh, at breakfast or at supper, it is always welcomed. Just like beef, salmon is rich in minerals and proteins essential for the hair.

Fruits and vegetables
Beans, spinach, broccoli, carrots and nuts are the best in this category. We should all eat at least three cups of beans every week.

Cereals
Cereals should be consumed as a snack because it gives you energy in moments when you need it the most. They are rich in zinc, iron and vitamin B.