Tips & Advice

Recent research – such as that performed by Jaak Panksepp, Ph.D. Bowling Green State University Bowling Green, OH – demonstrates that the melatonin autism sufferers produce in their bodies has an impact on the degree and the appearance of their symptoms as well as their ability to achieve a quality sleep. 

The body’s natural clock is based upon a twenty-five hour cycle which, clearly, does not line up with the twenty-four hour solar clock on which the world functions.  In order to make up for this lack of alignment, the human brain releases a hormone called melatonin.  Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland, located at the very base of the brain.  This is the gland most commonly linked to the various nerve and neural pathways between the visual center in the brain and the eyes which take in the images. 

The pineal gland begins releasing melatonin when there is a lack of signals from the eyes to the visual center of the brain; that is, when it becomes dark.  The greater the levels of melatonin in the blood, the less capable the brain stem (which is responsible for keeping us awake) is to keep us awake, and sleep results. 

The way in which melatonin actually functions remains a mystery, as only rough details of the process are understood.  What is known is that the body depends on melatonin in order to become synchronized with the solar day, and to regulate the times in which we work well, eat, and sleep, as well as when the majority of the body’s other hormones should or should not be present.

Melatonin is considered to be a safe enough substance that it is readily available without a prescription, over-the-counter at local pharmacies.  It is commonly used to treat sleep disturbances and is usually most effective when taken a half hour before bedtime and when complimented by a “bedtime routine” such as dimming the lights and keeping calm.

When it comes to melatonin autism therapies, the aforementioned Dr. Jaak Panksepp described in an article that autistic children frequently suffer from sleep disorders, suggesting a melatonin-system related issue.  As melatonin is the body’s natural sleep regulator, Panksepp finds that autistic children are better capable of achieving the quality sleep they need, and for adequate periods of time when melatonin is supplemented. 

Further to this finding, improved biological rhythms are also achieved through melatonin application and a high anti-oxidant effect is witnessed. This anti-oxidant effect is explained through the body’s natural sleep functions within which certain chemical reactions occur to counteract the day’s collection of harmful free radicals.  Anti-oxidants slow down the degeneration of tissue, hypertension, cataract, atherosclerosis, macular degeneration in the eyes, and other results of high free radical levels in the body.  Those free radicals are neutralized by anti-oxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and body-generated chemicals such as melatonin.

With melatonin supplementation, autism sufferers can gain not only improved sleep but also powerful antioxidant performance, leading researchers to believe that this safe and useable hormone can greatly assist in the reduction of autism symptoms that may have been aggravated as a result of lack of sleep and from free radical damage.  With melatonin treatments – under the proper supervision and recommendation of the child’s physician – many autistic children (and their parents for that matter) can sleep better and minimize the impact of their condition. 

Admittedly, further data is required before a final statement can be made about the success  - or lack thereof – of melatonin autism therapy.  However, it has produced high hopes in many parents who are eager to be able to reap these very appealing and easy-to-achieve rewards. Speak to your child’s physician if you feel your child would benefit from melatonin supplementation.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans’ brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about similar therapies to melatonin autism therapy and for information on autism recovery please visit The Essential Guide To Autism.

Understanding gout is very important, but it’s also important to understand that gout exists because gout is a form of arthritis.  Therefore, gout arthritis can occur, just as other forms of arthritis can, in many joints in the body aside from the big toe including: elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles, heels, and instep.

Gout is considered to be one of the most painful rheumatic diseases.  When uric acid crystal deposits become lodged between two bones of a joint space or connective tissue, or both, the deposits can lead to inflammatory arthritis.  Arthritis is characterized by inflammation (heat, redness and swelling), pain and stiffness of a joint.  The term arthritis is used to refer to over 100 different rheumatic diseases that affect the tissues, structures, joints, muscles and bones within the body.  Gout accounts for an estimated 5% of all arthritis cases.

When you experience a gout attack, you will find that there are different ways you can treat and help alleviate the inflammatory arthritis pain you feel.  The following are 7 easy tips to help you treat your gout pain:

1. Apply a cold compress – Applying a cold compress can be beneficial for treating inflammation and reducing swelling especially during the initial attack.  Apply a cold compress (I.E. wrap an ice pack, or another frozen item such as a bag of frozen veggies, in a towel) to the affected area.  The compress should be kept on the area for 20 minutes maximum, and should be removed for 20 minutes before repeating the process.

2. Warm the affected area – Apply a warm hot water bottle to aching muscles around the area to alleviate stiffness when the attack begins to ease.  Do not apply warmth to an inflamed joint as this only makes inflammation worse.  Apply the warm item for 30 minutes every 2 – 3 hours.  Additionally, immersing the affected area in warm water, or applying a warm moist cloth to the area also provides short-term relief.

3. Stretch – To relieve stiffness and inflammation, stretch the muscles and joints affected by gout arthritis by slowly flexing and rotating them two or three times per day.  Only flex and rotate the joint within limits.  In other words, as soon as you begin to feel discomfort, try to stretch the joint a little further, but as soon as you feel pain, stop.  Exercises such as Yoga and Pilates are known to benefit arthritis sufferers.  If you are interested, consult a professional yoga or Pilate’s instructor to learn safe and recommended stretches for your condition.

4. Exercise – Even if you are in pain you need to stay active.  Not using the affected muscle, joints, etc. is only going to cause stiffness and make it worse.  Exercising in warm water is beneficial for gout arthritis and arthritis in general.   When you are immersed in water, your joints are under less stress which helps to alleviate some of the pain you feel.  Water provides greater mobility and flexibility.   It’s also a good idea to first talk to your doctor to find out if there are any exercises he/she can recommended for your condition.  Finally, exercising will also help you control your weight, as being overweight can also aggravate your joints by causing additional stress.

5. Change your diet – eliminate all foods and beverages that are high in purines (I.E. organ meats, yeast and alcohol) from your diet during a gout arthritis flare-up to try and reduce the uric acid levels in your blood.

6. Relax – Get a goodnight sleep, and rest affected joints by keeping them elevated above your heart.  Elevation helps to improve blood flow which helps to lessen pain, and discomfort.

7. Medication – NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), etc., are commonly prescribed to treat arthritic pain and inflammation.  Many NSAIDs are available over-the-counter.  However, you should first speak to your doctor before using NSAIDs as a treatment option.

Remember, though gout arthritis and other forms of arthritis may be similar, they are different because of how arthritis inflammation occurs.  Therefore, not all forms of arthritis treatment may be useful to gout sufferers.  Which is why it is a good idea to speak to your doctor about treatment options, so you receive the best treatment suggestions for your condition.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about gout arthritis and for information on natural gout cures please visit Cure Gout Now. 

Learning how to stay on a successful gout prevention diet can be beneficial and so can knowing how to take care of your feet.  Gout foot flare ups that are caused by foot injuries can be dramatically reduced if you make a regular effort to take care of your feet.

There are many ways you can take care of your feet to prevent recurring attacks of gout. Here are some suggestions:

Wear comfortable shoes - Comfortable shoes are shoes that provide your feet proper cushioning and arch support.  Comfortable shoes should also be properly fitted to your foot which means the shoe should not be too big or too small.  You should have enough room to wiggle your toes, and they shouldn’t quite reach the end of the shoe.

Wear sneakers whenever possible – If you want to prevent gout, you need to limit how often you wear fashion shoes such as those with heels or boots, and try to wear sneakers as much as you can, especially when you will be standing or walking for long periods of time.  High heels press your toes together and force your foot forwards, increasing pressure.

Replace shoes often – Although you may own a pair of comfortable shoes, you need to realize that these shoes won’t last forever, and as soon as they begin to look worn, they will need to be replaced because they are no longer providing your feet with the support they need.

Stretch your feet on a regular basis – Regardless if you will be engaging in exercise or not, it’s a good idea to stretch your feet daily to help strengthen them and reduce the risk of gout.  Two examples of good exercises for stretching, strengthening, and encouraging circulation in your feet include:

Pointing and flexing your feet
Rotating your ankle 

Make sure you take exercises slowly, and increase them over time to avoid putting your feet through excessive strain.

Avoid activities that stress the foot joint – This includes walking for long periods of time or sitting without having your feet flat on the floor.  In addition, standing for long periods of time without walking or rocking your feet, also increases stress.  Consistent standing without movement concentrates all of your weight on the balls and heels of your feet.  Your feet aren’t meant to act like tree stumps, they are meant to move.

Lose weight – If you are overweight, you are putting too much pressure on your feet.  You need to maintain a healthy body weight to keep pressure of your foot joints.  Excess weight places stress on joints which can aggravate gout foot.   

Keep your feet clean and dry – Keeping your feet washed on a regular basis is important to protect against bacteria, but ensuring your feet are dry is equally important.  Feet that are moist and not properly dried are not only subject to bacteria, they are also subject to corns and calluses.  These are foot ailments you will not want to encounter if you are also prone to gout, as this can only exacerbate the problem.

Follow a gout reducing diet – Avoid foods high in purines, such as alcohol, seafood, red and organ meats, to reduce the chance of a gout foot attack.

Resting your feet – Elevating your feet is beneficial to your overall foot health.  As much as your feet need to be stretched and exercised, they also need time to relax and heal from daily stress.  Therefore, take the time to elevate your feet so they are above your heart when you are relaxing and watching TV or lying in bed.

When you take care of your feet, you reduce the chance of gout foot attacks because you reduce the stiffness in the joints which prevents injuries that can aggravate uric acid crystals that may exist within the joint, leading to gout flare ups.  Furthermore, by taking care of you feet, you prevent other foot problems that can make a gout attack all the more painful.  Thus, it is imperative you take care to keep your feet healthy.

Grab your free copy of Lisa McDowell’s brand new Gout Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you find out about gout foot care and for information on gout remedies please visit Cure Gout Now.