Миома матки – hysteromyoma

Hippocrates once said: ‘Thy food shall be thy cure’, and perhaps he was on the right track. The quality of your life can depend on the quality of your food. Some foods, or lack of them, can cause diseases; others prevent them. A sensible diet may add years to your life. There’s no doubt, diet has an influence. Food is not a preventive nor a cure for all human diseases, but more is being learned about the interaction of food on health, and how much is needed to give a full and happy life span. Sometimes the only difference between a healthy person and a sick person is the food eaten. When poorly nourished and abused, your body gets out of order, you can get sick, and might age and die needlessly prematurely. There’s still much you can do for yourself with preventive health practices and better nutrition. It’s a combination of the right living habits, the right food and ways of preparing food, knowing which foods to avoid and which supplements may be needed. For fitness and the longest life span, you need a lifetime concern for good nutrition. But it’s never too late to start on a programme of self-improvement, with the key points being: moderation in quantity, attention to ‘quality, and especially a variety of items from the four main food groups – milk and milk products; fruits and vegetables; breads and cereals; meat, fish, poultry, eggs or beans. As no individual item contains all the nutrients you need, an assortment of whole food makes for better health.

As a mother, you probably feel your family’s needs come first, and urge your youngsters to drink their milk or fruit juice and eat their vegetables, but make sure you too have your proper share of these foods.

Frequently, young people as well as the elderly, have to work with a limited budget for food. You may be bored with food and its preparation, or be in a hurry, or have little appetite, especially if you are living on your own. You may have difficulty chewing because of poor teeth or ill-fitting dentures, or have problems of indigestion. Or it may not be easy for you to get to the shops if you live some distance away from them, so you may not have much fresh food and choices may be limited or unwise. As years go by, you are probably less active and need fewer calories, but every calorie has to provide good sound nutrition and really count. There’s little room for the ‘empty calories’ in fats, sugars and alcohol. Each day can make different demands on your body and the nourishment it needs, with varying levels of activity, days of stress and days of relaxation.

For determining good bone health, it is crucial to consume sufficient calcium, largely found in dairy products, especially during adolescence and young adulthood, and to have the right ratio of calcium to other foodstuffs. In Yugoslavia, a study of women’s bone mass was conducted in two villages in regions of the country with different eating habits, one group consuming twice as much calcium as the other. In the village where calcium consumption was high, the women’s bones were definitely stronger at skeletal maturity, and fewer fractures were suffered by the elderly. It has been found that women with osteoporosis have generally had poor nutrition, with less calcium, or have had difficulty in absorbing it from their food. As we grow older, it can become more difficult to absorb calcium. Later on, you will read of the different foods that are calcium-rich and the role played by vitamins.

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You need plenty of foods rich in this vitamin, also known as ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is utilized by your body for the production of collagen forming connective tissue; this vitamin will help if you have bone fracturing, sore or bleeding gums, or wounds that fail to heal. When our bodies evolved, they were not designed to store vitamin C for any length of time (because fruits and vegetables were plentiful), so the body needs vitamin C daily. The adrenal gland has a high level of vitamin C, and it is known that, in stressful situations, as the production of hormones goes up in this gland, its level of vitamin C goes down. Oral contraceptives, or overuse of laxatives, can decrease your absorption of vitamin C, with consequent reduced levels of this vitamin. Osteoporosis can develop from such nutritional disorders as scurvy, vitamin C deficiency; although only a few elderly people develop scurvy, many more have low reserves of this vitamin.

How much vitamin C do you need each day? The recommendation of the D.H.S.S. for adults is 30mg, with 60mg for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

There are between 50-60 mg of vitamin C in 0.5 cup of orange juice or one medium orange. Orange-flavoured breakfast drinks can be misleading, with many advertised as having more vitamin C than orange juice, but they have little else but vitamin C and sugar, with more calories. And the ‘juice’ in which fruit is canned, usually a sugar-water syrup, has no vitamin value. Real unsweetened orange juice has vitamin C plus other natural minerals and nutrients, so check the labels.

Other produce with this vitamin are: citrus fruits and natural citrus juices, blackcurrants, kiwifruit, canned pineapple juice and cranberry juice cocktail (but little in prune juice). Potatoes, especially baked and eaten with the skin, contribute substantial amounts of vitamin C. Other good sources are fresh picked tomatoes, tomato juice, green peppers and fresh green leafy vegetables.

Since water-soluble vitamin C is easily destroyed by heating, fruits and vegetables not eaten raw should be lightly cooked or steamed for a short time only. Carefully refrigerate leafy vegetables and don’t leave them soaking in water before cooking. Generally, more vitamin C is retained if cooking is in a microwave oven, well covered, than on a conventional stove-top.

Canned fruits and vegetables have generally lost some of their vitamin C through processing; some brands may have extra ascorbic acid added to make up the losses. Check the labels. Frozen fruits and vegetables will usually retain good amounts of vitamin C during freezing – but drying to preserve foods will destroy this delicate vitamin.

Small amounts of vitamin C are naturally present in milk, but 25 per cent is destroyed by pasteurization, with further losses in the heat process for UHT milk and sterilization. Don’t leave bottled milk on the doorstep in sunlight – substantial amounts of vitamin C can be lost. Don’t rely on milk alone to supply you with this vitamin.

It has been several years since Dr Linus Pauling wrote his book Vitamin C and the Common Cold advocating megadoses of vitamin C. Many subsequent studies, however, have shown no benefits from this practice. In fact, taking more than 1 gram daily can result in acidic urine and encourage the growth of kidney stones. Some studies show that high dosage vitamin C can change the level of oestrogen in oral contraceptives, according to Dr Daphne A. Roe, Professor of Nutrition at Cornell University, USA.

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A minor but not insignificant factor in osteoporosis can be pollution in the environment, affecting your bone mass in two ways: the reduction of sunshine under murky skies (see vitamin D section on p. 96) and the toxic effects of particles of matter in pollution – the aluminium toxicity noted earlier, and especially high levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and zinc. When calcium in the body is low, it tends to be replaced by these other harmful minerals.

Lead. D. Bryce-Smith in Chemistry in Britain describes lead as ‘. . . one of the most insidiously toxic of the heavy metals to which we are exposed, particularly in its ability to accumulate in the body, and has been said to interfere with practically any life-process one chooses to study.’

When lead enters the bloodstream, about 10 per cent is excreted but the remainder is lodged in bone tissue. Lead can cross the placental barrier to a growing foetus and reach a nursed infant through lactation. It is well-known that high levels of lead in the blood can be fatal, but recent research has found that 30 micrograms per decilitre of blood can have an adverse effect – a level considered free of risk only two years ago. A safe level of lead in the blood has not been established. Unborn children are in danger of acquiring birth defects and children of one to three years of age are most susceptible to permanent damage. It can be absorbed into the body by inhaling, ingesting or through the skin.

Where is lead found? It is in the air, mainly from petrol and industrial processes, from burning coal or refuse. Lead is in food, from fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides and some ceramic glazes. It may be in drinking water, flowing through lead plumbing; and it is in lead-based paints, ammunition, fishing weights and some cosmetics.

What can you do to avoid it? Because children are most at risk from lead pollution, check around the home for old lead-based paint on walls (especially if it is chipping and peeling), or on painted toys, since youngsters tend to chew on paint chips. Unleaded paints are now available in shops for home decorators. In urban areas, lead accumulates in dust, so it is a good idea to do indoor dusting frequently, as well as sweeping porches, steps and driveways where children often play. Be sure that dirty hands are washed before food is prepared, and especially before eating. Buy fresh foods whenever possible, since metallic lead (mainly solder) gets into food during the canning process, particularly if the food is acidic. If you have to use tinned food, wipe the tops of cans carefully before opening; remove food promptly, without scraping the cans too vigorously, and transfer the contents to glass containers. Never store food or juices in tins. All unprocessed fruits and vegetables, from a greengrocer or home-grown, should be thoroughly washed in water or a mild vinegar-water solution, and outer leaves discarded, to remove pesticides, insecticides and contaminated soil as much as possible. If you take your own pie-shells and pastry-cases using pellets to weight the dough, use glass or ceramic beads or dry beans and not lead or aluminium shot. Discard old toothpaste tubes that sometimes contain lead – more recently, tubes are made of plastic.

If you have lead plumbing, use Water only from the cold water tap for the kettle or for food preparation, running it for a few minutes before using. And before installing a water softener, check that you have no lead pipes.

Controversy still surrounds the addition of lead to petrol, to increase the octane rating (in 1986, at the rate of 0.15g per litre), although the practice is a serious health hazard. Australia, New Zealand and the United States now have programmes for marketing lead-free petrol, and it is earnestly hoped that car manufacturers and the petroleum industry will soon reach agreements to ban completely the use of lead additives in the UK, EEC countries and world-wide. Meanwhile leaded petrol continues to be used and to cause concern.

Home potters use lead glazes because other safer glazes require firing at higher temperatures not always achieved with home kilns. If you are buying ceramics at a craft fair, or maybe in a foreign market, ask what kind of glaze was used. Coffee can pull the lead out of lead-glazed coffee mugs, for instance, and poison the person drinking it. Artist-potters may be exposed to glazes that contain the metals lead, cadmium and nickel; they are cautioned to read and follow the directions on labels of art material, use gloves and good ventilation. When glazing vessels intended for food and drink, use a lead glaze on the outside surfaces only, and some other non-toxic glaze on the inside.

Old traditional pewter may have a high lead content and should be avoided for drinking beer, cider or wines, or for storing fruits, pickles and preserves.

Although the sale of lead-containing cosmetics is banned in Britain, leaded eye make-up is still imported from the Indian subcontinent, and some medicines imported from the same area also have a high level of lead.

Cadmium. Cadmium is used in plating steel, iron, copper, brass and other alloys to prevent corrosion. It is used in storage batteries; as pigments in paints, enamels and lacquers. Poisoning can occur after drinking an acidic food or drink, such as lemonade, after preparation in a cadmium-plated can.

In Japan, cadmium poisoning is known as ‘Itai-itai’ disease, meaning ‘it hurts, it hurts’. In the 1960s, cadmium seeped downstream from toxic waste along the Jinzu River, contaminating drinking water and polluting rice paddies near the village of

Haginoshima. When villagers had had repeated pregnancies, severe bone disease developed in old age: calcium from their bones had been drawn off by each growing foetus, and replaced by cadmium, subsequently resulting in bones so weakened that they splinter with a sneeze. The Japanese cadmium dumping ended in 1971, but itai-itai disease is chronic; more than 100 villagers died, and other survivors receive benefits under the Japanese law devised to help people injured by hazardous waste or air pollution.

Closer to home, in Shipham, Somerset, where the village was built over old zinc mines, cadmium concentrations in the soil have been contaminating leafy vegetables and rhubarb. These villagers have now been cautioned to eat less home-grown produce to reduce their intake of cadmium. And in the Heathrow area near London, the use of sewage sludge on market gardens over a long period has increased the cadmium in lettuce and root vegetables. Cadmium is also known to accumulate in kidney meat and in brown crab; other shellfish is being carefully monitored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mercury. Even in ancient Egypt mercury was known as a toxic substance, but was used for medical purposes. In the nineteenth century, a mercury compound was used to treat felt in the hat industry, causing poisoning with damage to the kidneys, tremors and other physical effects, hence the term ‘mad as a hatter’, and subsequently it was banned for that purpose. Today, under carefully controlled conditions, it is used in antiseptic salves, as a germicide, a fungicide, and in diuretics to increase urine flow. Because mercury compounds are presently used in fungicides for seeds, in water-based paints and in paper, the discharge of mercury-containing wastes into drainage systems is creating some concern. Build-up of mercury, through the ecological chain, in tuna, swordfish and salmon, has caused some governments to set definite limits on permissible levels in edible fish.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is monitoring the mercury content offish entering selected British seaports, and reporting to the D.H.S.S.’s Committee on Toxicity.

In the Mediterranean area, high mercury levels previously attributed to industrial wastes, have been found to be originating mainly in natural run-offs from mercury-rich soils, particularly from Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia and Turkey. Under the Mediterranean Action Plan, participating countries have banned dumping of the most dangerous wastes (mercury, DDT, PCBs, arsenic and radioactive substances), but eating raw shellfish in this region is still dangerous.

Zinc. The toxicity of zinc is lower, but still represents a hazard. Zinc is used as a coating for the protection of steel and the production of galvanized metal, frequently seen as a roofing material. It is in tyre production and in weedkillers. Zinc can occasionally enter pipes used for drinking water.

Approximately 63,000 chemical compounds are in common use, with 1000 new compounds added each year to that total. A recent study by the US National Academy of Sciences concluded that ‘of tens of thousands of commercially important chemicals, only a few have been subjected to extensive toxicity testing, and most have scarcely been tested at all.’ Is there any level of toxicity so low as to be harmless to humans? What is an acceptable risk? Many chemicals can cause cancer, damage to the central nervous system, liver and kidneys, from which it can be inferred that there is an effect on the proper functioning of these organs, impairing bone mineralization.

Write to your government representatives to express your concern; demand an acceleration in efforts to clean up the environment and ensure safe handling and storage of toxic wastes.

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Although insufficient information is available on whether moderate amounts of alcohol have an effect on bone loss, it has been observed that heavy drinkers have abnormally light bones that fracture easily, with impairment of calcium absorption through the intestines. Alcoholism produces inflammation of the liver, causing damaged cells to be replaced by scar tissue that impairs the organ’s function. Thus there is a reduced ability to produce enzymes for digestion and absorption of food nutrients.

Male alcoholics in their twenties have been known to have osteoporosis. A research team from Loma Linda University and Jerry Pettis Veterans Administration Hospital in California, has evidence that alcohol itself accelerates the breakdown of bone, although it is still uncertain whether alcoholics’ bone problems may also be the results of poor diet, the inability of the liver to activate vitamin D, and/or a lack of exercise. Heavy drinkers may be taking certain antacids to soothe their stomachs, adding further to their bone problems.

It is the amount of alcohol you drink, and not the particular kind of drink that the alcohol is in. Thus 1.5 oz of whisky equals

6 oz of wine, equals 12 oz of beer. Pure alcohol is 200° proof. Distilled spirits such as brandy, gin, vodka and whisky are about 40 per cent alcohol (80° proof). Fortified wines such as port, Madeira and sherry are about 20 per cent alcohol. Table wines, whether light or full-bodied, are about 10 per cent alcohol. Beers are about 5 per cent alcohol.

Many medications contain alcohol – for instance, medicines for coughs, colds and congestion – because alcohol is a better solvent and provides longer shelf-life than a water solution. A concentration of alcohol up to 35 per cent is used in many mouthwashes.

The problem is that we don’t stop to consider that alcoholic beverages are drugs that can have interactions with many other drugs, both over-the-counter and prescription. Alcohol can cause other drugs to be used more rapidly by your body, producing exaggerated effects (mixing alcohol with a high dosage of ‘Valium’ or ‘Darvon’ can be fatal). Drugs can intensify your reaction to alcohol, leading to more rapid intoxication. Your body’s response can also be influenced by menstrual periods and hormone levels, including the taking of oral contraceptives or hormone replacements after menopause – slowing the rate at which alcohol clears from your bloodstream.

Two-thirds of the population drink alcohol and certainly don’t think of themselves as drug users. Alcohol is present at most of the big celebrations: births and christenings, birthdays, graduations, weddings, promotions, deaths and funerals. Holidays and Christmas revolve around having a drink with family and friends.

But ask yourself honestly if you are drinking more than a moderate amount each day – an important factor when considering loss of bone mass. How would you answer the following questions?

Have you lost interest in food?

Do you crave a drink at a definite time each day, and need to

drink more to get the desired effect?

Do you drink to put yourself to sleep?

Do you gulp drinks too fast?

Do you drink alone?

Do you drink because you are shy, need to calm your nerves

or bolster your confidence?

Do you lie about how much you drink – and feel guilty?

Are you losing time from work because of drinking?

Has your efficiency and ambition decreased because of

drinking?

Has drinking made you indifferent about your family?

Do you drink to forget problems at home, at work, or to

reduce depression?

Is drinking making your life at home unhappy?

Are you in financial trouble because of heavy drinking?

Have you sought the help of a doctor or been to hospital

because of drinking?

Although alcohol abuse has been closely linked to the stresses of old age, with some studies estimating that 10 per cent to 15 per cent of people over the age of fifty-five may have a drinking problem, there is also great concern for the epidemic of teenage drinking. But the teen years are when the body should be building up its skeletal mass at the average rate of 10 per cent a year. Some young people under eighteen are already alcoholics or nearly so; many more are heading towards problem drinking that may be a lifetime handicap. Discourage your young daughter from drinking and smoking, and set yourself as an example.

For control of alcoholic beverage consumption, a physician will sometimes prescribe disulfiram (‘Antabuse’ by C. P. Pharmaceuticals) which is formulated to cause palpitations, flushing, sweating, shortness of breath or dizziness when even a small amount of drink is consumed or other drugs containing alcohol are taken.

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Take special care when things are new. Air or wash whatever you can. If you air things off or wash them before you use them, you may have no problem at all. If you buy new furniture or furnishings – such as curtains, beds, cushions or rugs – always leave them in a spare room, or get the supplier to air them for you before delivery. Even if they are of materials that you can tolerate reasonably, airing will help. Let new shoes or bags air before using them to get rid of fumes. Wash new clothes before wearing, especially if they are pure cotton, polycotton or viscose, as they may have fabric finishes.

Air a newspaper, magazine or book before reading it. Keep newspapers and magazines in a drawer when not in use; their fumes can be very bothersome. Use an old plastic bag rather than a new one. Put new paper, stationery or sticky tape into a drawer or box to air before you use it. Air a new plastic appliance – a radio or audio equipment -before you bring it into the living-room for constant use. Air and wash new toys before use.

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Stabilisers and sealants are used to stabilise the surface of flaking or crumbly walls or plasterwork. Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) without fungicide is relatively problem-free. You can use Polycell Super Bond or Evobond Building Adhesive as a stabiliser and sealant; these are available in DIY stores. You can also use Cuprinol Stabilising Solution, a water-based acrylic solution without fungicide, available to order through the trade or DIY shops.

Paving

Stone slabs, bricks, concrete and gravel used for paving will not cause sensitivity. Take care with tar or asphalt paths and drives; the asphalt can give off persistent fumes, especially in hot weather, and is best avoided if possible.

Putty

Putty is made either of linseed oil and chalk, or of acrylics. Use the linseed oil version for preference. It can irritate the skin, and gives off mild fumes at first but is unlikely to cause reactions over time. Vapours from linseed oil evaporate fast and putty is usually problem-free. Brands of linseed oil and chalk putty include B & Q, available from their stores, and Vallance, from DIY stores. Livos sell a linseed putty by post.

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There is much that a parent can do in the first two to three years of a child’s life to help prevent allergic disease or sensitivity developing later in life, or to minimise its effects. Care taken in early childhood can improve your child’s chance of not developing sensitivity, and help his or her resilience if they once become sensitised to something.

Statistically, a child with one or both parents with a history of sensitivity or allergy is much more likely to develop the tendency – called ‘atopy’. Babies can be born with allergies and intolerance; they can be sensitised already in the womb, particularly to foods. Preconceptual care and care in pregnancy can sometimes prevent or minimise this and are worth finding out about if you have the opportunity.

There are things you can do to your environment by way of preparation in advance of the birth; and precautions you can take with toiletries, nappies, clothes, soap powder or any equipment you use for the baby which can minimise the load of substances that potentially cause trouble.

There are also ways of feeding and weaning babies that give them the best possible chance of not developing food sensitivity. It can be hard work sometimes, but it is much less hard (and much less distressing) than the work involved in caring for a baby or child with severe eczema, asthma, colic or other symptoms. If there is a history of food sensitivity in either parent, or in an older brother or sister of the baby, special care taken when feeding and weaning is valuable, especially in the first two years of a baby’s life when you have much more control, and you can establish eating patterns for the future.

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Beds, bedding and bedtime toys are also prime triggers for house dust mite reactions. Humans lose on average half a litre Oust under a pint) of fluid overnight, so beds are invariably damp, unless thoroughly dried and aired. Not only do house dust mites love the damp, warm dark of mattresses, pillows, blankets or duvets, with their abundance of human skin scales, but they thrive in other places such as teddies, soft toys, padded headboards and bed-bases.

A damp environment encourages house dust mites. Living close to damp areas significantly increases mite populations: it has been shown that even living over an underground water course can correlate with increased incidence of house dust mite allergy. Rising or penetrating damp in the structure, using humidifiers, drying laundry indoors, having a lot of house plants, using heating such as gas fires or paraffin stoves which create water on burning, can all contribute to an increased population of house dust mites.

Poor ventilation, or failing to ventilate also contributes. Fixed windows, or keeping double glazing or windows tightly shut to conserve heat will stop through draughts, circulation of air and hence drying of the environment.

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Histamine

Some foods are naturally rich in histamine, one of the chemicals produced by the mast cells (see page 15) and responsible for some of the unpleasant effects of allergic reaction. Histamine is produced in foods that have been allowed to ferment, such as cheese, or in well-ripened foods, such as salami and sausages – especially if they are not kept very cool. Certain fish, particularly those of the mackerel family, also produce histamine if they are kept in too warm conditions. The symptoms that can be caused by histamine include vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, rashes, headaches and reddening of the skin. These are due to a reaction to high levels of histamine acting directly on the body, not to an allergic reaction.

Other Chemicals in Foods

Histamine is a ‘vasoactive amine’, a type of chemical that affects the blood vessels. Other vasoactive amines – particularly tyramine, phenylethylamine and octopamine – are found in many foods and can cause direct adverse reactions – notably headaches and migraine, but also flushing and urticaria. Like histamine, tyramine is present in cheeses, and fermented and pickled foods. Other foods high in vasoactive amines include yeast extract, chocolate, bananas, avocados, wine and citrus fruits.

Another, more familiar, chemical, that is present in foods and can cause adverse reactions, is caffeine. It is found in tea and coffee, and in lower doses in chocolate and cola drinks. Some painkillers also contain caffeine. Caffeine can affect some individuals more than others. It is a powerful drug that affects the nervous system and can induce a wide range of symptoms

Eating too much fruit can also be the cause of adverse food reactions, such as diarrhoea and stomach pain. Many fruits are naturally laxative. Some are well known, such as prunes, figs or rhubarb, but many others can also have this effect, especially if eaten in large quantity.

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After a recovery period, the doctor will instruct you to slowly and gradually pump up and deflate the implant. This is only to make sure the prosthesis inflates evenly as healing progresses. You should wait until your doctor gives the okay before attempting to have sex. If s important not to jump the gun and try inflating the implant too soon. Some men are so tender they don’t even want to think about doing this for several weeks.

Typically, a man has to wait six weeks before he can have intercourse, and even then it’s important to proceed slowly and gently. It will be a lot more comfortable, at least at first, to inflate the implant to about 75 percent of capacity at the most. It’s important that the implant be completely deflated most of the time. If it remains partially inflated, scar tissue can form around the reservoir and prevent it from filling completely. The end result can be a penis that is partially inflated all the time.

Surgery is necessary to correct this avoidable and relatively uncommon complication.

Of course the inflatable implant has drawbacks. A leak in the system is probably one of the most common problems. It takes just a tiny hole to sabotage the prosthesis. Usually, removal and repair is necessary—requiring additional surgery. Twisted tubing which prevents the fluid from traveling between the reservoir and the cylinders is a rarer occurrence. But if it does happen, surgery is necessary to straighten out the kinks. A weakness in the corpora cavernosa can result in a lopsided erection—because the implant balloons out to fill up the space. When most of the fluid ends up in one area, less is available to go elsewhere. The man finds himself with a mostly soft penis that has a big, stiff lump. Again, surgery can correct this condition; the physician replaces the cylinders with specially designed ones which won’t balloon, but also aren’t quite as big in diameter.

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Although flaxseed has been best known as a source of linseed oil, this ancient food which contains both soluble and insoluble fiber is also the richest known vegetable source of omega-3s. A food with incredible heart-protecting properties, flaxseed contains the highest levels of alpha-linolenic acid, a variety of omega-3 fat. Flaxseed oil is another option. Its omega-3s promote the formation of prostaglandins, the hormonelike substances that help to relax capillaries, decrease cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure.

If you decide to use the seeds, sprinkle a few tablespoons on your cereal, mix them into yogurt, and, if you wish, grind them and add the powder to food. Use the oil as you would any salad dressing. You should be aware that this highly polyunsaturated oil has a shelf life of less than a month and that exposure to heat, sunlight, and air can turn it rancid. It should not be used for cooking. However you use flaxseed or its oil in your diet, just make sure you do so a few times a week in order to get your optimal dose of omega-3s.

Another heart-healthy ingredient, olive oil has been found to be especially helpful in transporting LDL cholesterol out of the body while at the same time guarding HDL cholesterol levels. It is the HDL which protects the heart. This has been observed in coronary disease studies of Italians and Greeks in their native countries. While these people consume about the same amount of daily fat as do Americans, their choice—three tablespoons of olive oil a day—has shown to be very beneficial to their health. (In this country, Americans average three tablespoons of olive oil a month.)

My recommendation is to cut out any butter and margarine you may be using and substitute the best olive oil you can buy instead. Your body will thank you for it.

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Developed more than fifty years ago to block the release of histamines from cells, these drugs are widely available in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. They work by counteracting the body’s reaction to allergens, the ordinarily harmless substances which trigger the immune system to produce antibodies to destroy them. When you’re prone to allergies, a special type of antibody, called IgE, is produced, making you super-sensitive to the allergen. Each time you’re exposed to the offending substance, it combines with the IgE antibodies, releasing histamines that bring on sneezing, watery eyes, and runny noses.

Antihistamines, which dry mucous membranes, can also be responsible for ED as well as a drop in libido. I have had success with patients who switched from antihistamines to Nasalcrom or Flonase nasal spray. These medicines control allergic symptoms without affecting sexual function.

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Another view of personal gratification can be seen in the case of fifty-five-year-old Edward. Married for the third time, he was besotted with thirty-year-old Nicole, and his concern about aging motivated him to see me.

Running his hands through his steel-gray hair, Edward made his wishes known. «I’m not deluding myself. I know my personal sexual clock is ticking and it’s bound to slow down. I want insurance that I can count on. The last thing in the world I want to do is disappoint Nicole and have her look to a younger man for satisfaction.»

The fact that Edward was in my office alone disturbed me, and I told him so. In order to be a part of the trials, he had made an appointment for them both.

«Well, I don’t want Nicole to know that I need help,» Edward said. «Right now we’re in a really good place, sexually, for both of us. But once in a while I’m not as hard as I’d like.»

When I asked what Nicole’s reaction had been on those occasions, he shrugged his shoulders. «It amazes me, but she doesn’t seem to care. She had a really bad marriage when she was twenty—the guy was very abusive to her—and she says that feeling safe and loved is one of the biggest turn-ons of all, sex or no sex.»

After I explained to Edward that the oral intervention could bolster his confidence as well as his erection, I made another recommendation. Given his closeness to Nicole, and her comfort with him, I strongly suggested that he speak to her first. He did, and they came in for a second visit. I prescribed the drug, and now they are prepared to override any sexual glitches that may arise in the future. The emotional issues in this case were:

• fear of incompatibility arising out of age difference

• concern about a partner’s level of pleasure

• the desire for increased pleasure

• expectation of an even better relationship

Think about your own feelings concerning:

• how often you have sex and how satisfying it is for you

• restarting sexual activity where none has existed for a prolonged period of time

• whether your sexual expectations have diminished or risen

• keeping your sex-life status quo

The most fulfilling sexual satisfaction is based on an understanding of the other person’s needs and desires.

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Behind the penis are the testicles, two ball-shaped glands that are vitally important to erection, Normal testicles feel something like hard-boiled eggs when you touch them. Men usually learn at a fairly early age that their testicles are vulnerable and quite sensitive to pain. (Falling off a bike or being kicked in the groin during a game of touch football can reinforce that knowledge quite effectively.)

In the womb, a male fetus’s testicles actually change location. They form near the kidneys, but during the last three months of pregnancy descend into the bag that holds them, the scrotum. Ifs not uncommon for a baby boy to be born with a testicle that has not completely descended into the scrotum. During the first year of life, an undescended testicle may actually fall into place on its own. If it doesn’t, a simple operation can place the testicle in the scrotum. Still, two normal, functioning testicles aren’t essential for healthy sex. Men with one normally functioning testicle don’t have any more problems with potency than their doubly endowed counterparts.

If you examine yourself (or your husband), you’ll notice a soft swelling on the back of the testicles. This sensitive area is called the epididymis, and ifs the home for the sperm as they mature. Lots of things—injuries, infections (such as mumps), certain other types of disease—may cause problems with sperm production, thus affecting a man’s ability to father a child. But nature has done a good job of protecting the hormones that play a major role in a man’s ability to have a healthy, firm erection. The production of male hormones in the testicles is separate from sperm production, and far more resistant to damage. That’s why the vast majority of infertile men have no more difficulty with erections than their fertile counterparts. In fact, there’s a big difference between fertility and potency.

Fertility refers to a man’s ability to father a child. Generally, in order for a man to do that, he has to ejaculate normal sperm. Potency means a man can get and maintain an erection. Erection is a separate process from ejaculation, so erection and fertility do not go hand-in-hand. It’s fairly common knowledge that a man can have an erection and not ejaculate; however, many people are not aware that a man can have an ejaculation without an erection. Many men who lose their ability to have an erection still become aroused and, with stimulation, can ejaculate.

This means that a man with erection problems can still get a woman pregnant. He can father a child using artificial insemination. Or, if he ejaculates in the entrance of a woman’s vagina, ifs possible that she could become pregnant. The chances of this happening, of course, are significantly less than with intercourse, when a man ejaculates very close to the entrance of the womb.

*125\184\8*

Many people rub a sprain or strain immediately with a heat rub or with hot and cold compresses. This is wrong. Apply cold water or ice to the area as soon as possible. This should be done at 20-minute intervals for the first half day to stop the swelling and to help reduce the injury and bruising. This is very important. We need to start the healing process and this can be done by rubbing on a cream containing comfrey. Comfrey ointment speeds up the healing process. On the second day, start using heat rubs to return circulation and speed up the healing process. Remember, ice first and heat the next day.

The sprain should be supported using an elastic or conforming bandage. It may be walked on if there is no pain. A little discomfort is alright. Rest the sprained joint as much as possible by elevating it above the heart. This will help reduce pain and swelling.

SUPPLEMENTS

vitamin C 2000 mg daily

zinc 25 mg daily

silica 25 mg daily

cod liver oil 5 ml daily

Localised treatment:

Comfrey ointment and a heat rub.

*115\26\8*

Viral infections and suppressed immune systems are of a greater problem today than they were in the 1960s and 1970s. Diseases such as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and viral infections, are presenting practitioners and the public with symptoms not previously encountered.

Modern allopathic medicine has no answer to many of these problems and therefore many people are looking to natural therapies for answers.

One of the most common herbs used by the ancients and modern herbalists for the treatment of infection is Allium sativum (garlic). Garlic is a member of the lily family and it contains a volatile oil composed of sulphur-containing compounds: allicin, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide and others.

Garlic was used for the treatment of amoebic dysentery by Albert Schweizer in Africa and its antibiotic activity was first noted by Louis Pasteur. Garlic’s antiseptic action was used in the prevention of gangrene during the first and second world wars. Herbalists are now using garlic in combination with other herbs or by itself in the treatment of the common cold, sinusitis, and upper respiratory tract infections and it is mentioned in the British Herbal Pharmacopoeia for the treatment of these conditions.

*89\26\8*

Crohn’s disease, of unknown origin, is an inflammation of the bowel possibly from an immune defect. Studies now indicate that it is blocking of the small blood vessels feeding the intestine. Death of small sections of the bowel could be responsible for the ulceration and Assuring of the gastric mucosa.

In chronic cases the patients complain of pain mostly in the right-hand side of the gut, and of diarrhoea. During the acute stage weight loss, noticeable lack of energy, and sometimes fever and anaemia may be evident. Patients usually feel despondent and have a poor outlook on life.

The diarrhoea may be accompanied by pus, mucus and/or blood if the colon is affected. Seldom is there frank blood.

These are indicators that Crohn’s disease and ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis may be linked in families sharing a common but incomplete genetic basis.

As the main medical treatment is corticosteroids there is the danger of acute adrenal insufficiency in patients treated with this drug. It may be brought about by the abrupt withdrawal of the corticosteroid or the patients’ adrenals being unable to cope with increased infection or stress.

Prednisone and sulfasalazine are therapeutic. However, herbs and nutrients are used that have an anti-flammatory and vascular supportive action. Slippery elm, liquorice , omega 6 and omega 3 fatty acids (from fish oils), and evening primrose oil, with vitamin E can be used with medicine prescribed by the doctor. The combination is most beneficial. Refined sugar must not be taken as it contributes to increased inflammatory action for Crohn’s disease sufferers. Hypoallergenic, low residue elemental diet is recommended. This reduces the load on the colon and vascular system in the gastrointestinal tract.

The omega 3 fatty acids in fish oil have anti-inflammatory effects. This is so for vitamin E which also reduces the viscosity of the blood. This vitamin improves blood flow and oxygen supply to the area, helping to prevent infarction of the colon. The vitamin E inhibits lukotriene formulation and reduces free radical damage because of its antioxidant properties.

Slippery elm, indicated for conditions of inflammation and ulceration as well as colitis, contains mucilage which is soothing to the gastrointestinal tract. Slippery elm is valuable when it is used with fish oil and evening primrose oil for the acute stage of Crohn’s disease.

SUPPLEMENTS

vitamin E 1 capsule 3 times a day

slippery elm 600 mg 3 times a day

marshmallow root 500 mg 3 times a day

Lactobacillus 2.5 billion bacilli once a day

acidophilus

multivitamin mineral 1 tablet a day

*63/26/8*

Bran contains two types of dietary fibre, soluble and insoluble. It is the insoluble fibre that helps the body by providing bulky fibre and promoting bowel regularity. Wheat bran contains around 33.3% insoluble fibre, rice bran 23% and oat bran around 5.5%.

If regularity is the problem, then it may be that the diet is lacking in insoluble fibre. If this is the case, then including 60 grams of rice or wheat bran will help. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily as water moves food through the digestive tract.

The soluble fibre found in bran is as important as the insoluble fibre. Soluble fibre can help reduce the. risk of certain types of heart disease by reducing blood cholesterol levels and improving the HDL:LDL ratio. HDL, or high density lipoproteins are responsible for carrying excess cholesterol from the blood stream back to the liver. The liver uses cholesterol to manufacture bile salts which are needed to emulsify fats in the intestine for absorption. LDL, or low density lipoprotein, transports cholesterol to different parts of the body for use by the cells. However, excess LDLs are deposited on the artery walls if not used. This can lead to a hardening and narrowing of these blood vessels resulting in cardiovascular» disease.

*37\26\8*

Oral contraceptives

Oral contraception can decrease absorption of folic acid and increase the need for vitamin B6 and possibly vitamin C, zinc and riboflavin. Approximately 22% of Australian women aged 15 to 44 are believed to be on the pill at any one time.

Light eaters

Some people eat very sparingly, even without weight reduction goals. USA dietary surveys have shown that an average woman maintains her weight on 7560 kilojoules per day, at which level her diet is likely to be low in thiamine, calcium and iron.

The elderly

The aged have been shown to have a low intake of vitamins and minerals, particularly iron, calcium and zinc. Folic acid deficiency is often found, in conjunction with vitamin C deficiency. Fibre intake is often low. Riboflavin (B2) and pyridoxine (B6) deficiencies have also been observed. Possible causes also include impaired sense of taste and smell, reduced secretion of digestive enzymes, chronic disease and, maybe, physical impairment.

Lack of sunlight

Invalids, shiftworkers and people whose exposure to sunlight may be minimal, can suffer from insufficient amounts of vitamin D, which is required for calcium metabolism, without which rickets and osteoporosis (bone thinning) has been observed. Ultraviolet light is the stimulus to vitamin D formation in skin. It is blocked by cloud, fog, smog, smoke, ordinary window glass, curtains and clothing. The maximum recommended daily supplement of vitamin D is 400 IU.

Bio-individuality

Wide fluctuations in individual nutrient requirements from the official recommended average vitamin and mineral intakes are common, particularly for those in high physical demand vocations, such as athletes and manual labour, taking into account body weight and physical type.

Athletes

Athletes consume large amounts of food and experience considerable stress. These factors affect their needs for B group vitamins, vitamin C and iron in particular. Tests on Australian Olympic athletes and A-grade football players have shown wide-ranging vitamin deficiencies.

*13\26\8*

This can be practised only if a man is able to control his ejaculatory reflex at will. It is a form of sexual union indulged in usually by partners who have been making love together for some time, who know each other well and who have learned how to adjust to each other’s needs. This can be one of the most exciting forms of sexual union, and it is one of the most treasured aspects of a long-term loving relationship.

For it to occur, the woman must be highly aroused during foreplay and then the sexual tension of both partners must be maintained by intermittent thrusting movements, punctuated by pauses from time to time for as long as each partner wishes. When sensation reaches a peak and can’t be put off further, both partners enjoy orgasm in a mutually agreed, final burst of lovemaking.

Multiple Orgasms-Until recently, we believed that only women were capable of multiple orgasms, but new research has shown that some men are able to have them, too. Since orgasm is not necessarily synonymous with ejaculation, but is more accurately defined as the intense and diffuse pleasurable sensations the man feels, it is perfectly possible for a man to have several climaxes in fairly quick succession.

*110\79\2*

To provide the most satisfying sensations over the entire clitoral area, use the whole hand — all the fingers, palm or the heel of the hand – rather than just one or two fingers. Your fingers need to be well lubricated so use vaginal fluid, saliva or jellies. There are two major types of movement, circular and vibratory.

For circular movements, place your hand over the clitoral area. Apply light pressure with your palm or fingers, moving them gently round and round.

Move your hand up so that the heel is right over the clitoris at the top of the vulva and is resting partly on the pubic bone on either side, where you can press firmly as you rub.

Alternatively, you can press gently with your hand, palm downward over the pubic mound so that your fingers overhang the clitoris, and make firm, circular movements.

For vibratory movements, cup your hand over the pubic area and vibrate it rapidly, brushing your fingers to and fro across the clitoris. Then, keeping your hand still, put a finger each side of the vaginal lips and vibrate them from side to side. Pressing firmly through the fleshy folds, rub on each side of the inner vaginal lips at the base of the clitoris.

Most women also often enjoy being penetrated by a finger while their clitoris is being stimulated. Make sure that your fingernail is short and straight before slipping your middle finger into the vagina, keeping your other fingers bent forward so that the knuckles continue to press against the clitoris. You can move your finger in and out gently, applying pressure on the front wall of the vagina. Alternatively, rub the tip of your penis against the clitoris.

http://pharm-c.com/buy_levitra.html How to stimulate a woman-The clitoris is delicate and highly sensitive; most women find indirect pressure more comfortable than direct pressure.

1 Placing your hand over your partner’s entire perineum or vaginal area, while applying light

pressure and gentle circular movements, will increase her arousal.

2 When your partner is sufficiently lubricated, insert your finger into her vagina and move it

gently in and out, while keeping contact with the clitoris.

*84\79\2*

A woman’s body requires prolonged stimulation if she is to become fully aroused. Arousal is brought on by a complex blend of mental and physical stimuli when the emotional atmosphere is sufficiently encouraging.

Some women need a particularly long time, and a considerate lover must therefore be patient. As you arouse your partner, you will feel intense pleasure as well, and she will not only be more receptive but also more helpful during intercourse, so that the experience will be equally pleasurable for both of you. Men who kiss and cuddle a lot, and indulge in sensitive foreplay, are much more likely to see their partners reach orgasm frequently and easily.

Don’t be in a hurry to undress your partner and proceed immediately to touching her breasts and vagina. Hold her close, and keep early caresses non genital. Concentrate on your partner. Let the resulting feelings range all over your body, and avoid thinking solely about what is happening to your penis.

*60\79\2*

Sending out sexual messages requires directness as well as a certain degree of vulnerability. It nearly always requires self-esteem to take the knocks and rejections that we might possibly receive when we make an advance. We need to have a mixture of arrogance and humility to assume that someone would want to know us better, while remembering that many people might rather have nothing to do with us. We ask ourselves the questions: «Do I remember taking this risk before and was it comfortable or uncomfortable?» and «Am I prepared to take this risk again?». An encouraging thought is that it is rare for someone that you are very interested in to be entirely indifferent to you.

Sending out messages-The truth is we cannot help but communicate. Even if we are not actually speaking, we are giving out signals through the body. People are perceived as being friendly or unfriendly without a word being spoken. Body gestures give messages about subconscious emotions and are, therefore, a very direct form of communication. You can use them to see what others are thinking. They often belie what we are saying; probably, non-verbal gestures are more accurate in many situations than words themselves. And, as we gain awareness of non-verbal behaviour and an interest in interpreting the body language of others, we become aware of our own bodily gestures, resulting in more effective outward communication.

*34\79\2*

The Scrotum-The scrotum is the pouch of skin situated below the root of the penis that houses the testes. It’s divided by a fibrous sheet and this division can be seen on the surface of the scrotum as a ridge. The skin of the scrotum is dark and thin and contains numerous sebaceous glands and sparse hairs. Under the skin is a smooth muscle that contracts in response to cold, or vigorous exercise; its contraction makes the scrotum smaller and its skin wrinkled.

The Testes-The testes are smooth, oval structures that are compressed from side to side like broad beans. The left testis may be slightly lower than the right. Each testis is inside a sac and has four coverings that correspond to the various layers of the abdominal wall; these are carried down into the scrotal sac when the testis migrates from inside the abdomen just before birth. Small muscles control the height of the testes. The position of the testes may change according to a man’s level of sexual arousal, his emotions and the temperature of the scrotum, among other things. If sperm are to develop normally, they must be produced at a temperature two or three degrees lower than the rest of the body. That is why the testes are «outside» the body.

The two functions of the testis are to produce sperm and male hormones or androgens, primarily testosterone. A fine tube carries sperm developed in the testis to the epididymis where it is stored. This comma-shaped structure is stuck to the rear surface of the testis and is, in effect, an extensively coiled duct.

The vas deferens carries sperm via the spermatic cord into the pelvis, where it joins the back of the bladder with the seminal vesicle. Each duct then continues downwards and, joined by the duct of the seminal vesicle, forms the ejaculatory duct, which runs on through the body of the prostate and enters the urethra inside the prostate gland. Each seminal vesicle contains a small quantity of sticky fluid in which the sperm are supported and nourished, and which forms the ejaculate.

The Prostate-The prostate is a fibrous, muscular and glandular organ shaped like a chestnut. It produces secretions that form part of the seminal fluid during ejaculation. It’s contained in a fibrous capsule and sits just below the neck of the bladder. The male urethra passes right through the centre of the prostate. If the prostate gland enlarges, the urethral outlet may be narrowed. This leads to difficulty in urinating, dribbling and poor stream (a not uncommon condition in men over the age of 55). Beyond the prostate are a pair of glands that also add lubricant to the seminal fluid prior to ejaculation.

*9\79\2*

The discovery of such antibiotics as penicillin, streptomycin, auro-mycin and others which have come on the market has provided us with very potent medicines against bacterial infection. In the case of dangerous tropical diseases they have been instrumental in saving many lives. However, it is unfortunate that they are being used too frequently for the treatment of minor infections (for example a common sore throat or some other simple inflammation) which could be dealt with equally effectively by more harmless remedies.

This is where the danger lies. In the first place, the body accustoms itself to these substances and the germs develop a resistance or immunity to them until, finally, they prove useless in the fight against them when one’s life is in danger. Secondly, the constant use of antibiotics, in time, harms and destroys the intestinal flora, the useful bacteria present in the intestines.

*156/28/1*

You can usually recognise this complication by a copious discharge of pus from the affected side of the nose. Acute throbbing and pulsating pains in the upper jaw or forehead, depending upon which cavities are afflicted, often accompany the discharge. In chronic cases the pain may be absent and besides the one-sided discharge only hoarseness may point to sinusitis. Merely syringing the cavities will not get rid of the causes. In addition to specific natural remedies, other measures to draw the infection away must be employed. Onion poultices, while perhaps not very pleasant, are simple and effective. Chop an onion finely, place it between two pieces of gauze and bind it on the neck before retiring, leaving it overnight. The two homoeopathic remedies Hepar sulph. 4x and Cinnabaris 4x will help eliminate the pus and heal the affected part. This treatment usually makes syringing superfluous. For a chronic case, and when the trouble originated with a cold, hot compresses and baths always soothe and alleviate the pain.

*133/28/1*

Has the tongue been given the power to speak only in order to create unhappiness? Certainly not. The apostle Paul reminded his fellow workers to consider everything lovable and well spoken of, for the contrary use of the tongue is the root of nothing but grief and vexation. Loving, heart-warming words, words of instruction and upbuilding admonition, comfort and encouragement should pass over the lips, so that this little organ of speech may truly become a blessing. But this can only be if the heart is properly conditioned, if it has the desire to be a friend to friends, to lend a helping hand to someone in need or distress, and to overcome even hostile attitudes with goodness. In this way the tongue will become a dispenser of kindness and benevolence.

What enhances and endears springtime to us? Is it not the lovely songs of birds? Their little throats fill the air with songs of gratitude, of sheer joy and devotion. We too have been endowed with the ability to sing and can, like the birds, give vent to our joyful exuberance in harmonious song.

*111/28/1*

Famous physiotherapists, with Sister Kenny in the forefront, have proved that a life can be saved if treatment is given without delay. It is the delay that enables the virus to destroy the nerve cells. Therefore, as soon as the first symptoms become apparent it is of the utmost importance that the patient be made to sweat. Use a steam cabinet, a steam bath, a sauna, a tub bath of gradually increasing temperature (Schlenz bath), or quite simply hot packs; whatever you choose the important thing is to produce copious perspiration – fast. By these means much harm can be avoided and paralysis may well be averted. If Sister Kenny’s treatment had been given, the boy mentioned previously might not have lost his life.

However conservative a doctor may be, he should not close his eyes to the good results obtained by new methods of treating polio. > The very first symptoms should galvanise us into action. They may suggest flu, with excessive tiredness, headaches, aching limbs, vomiting, lack of appetite, etc. Whether polio is diagnosed right away or not is of little importance. These symptoms are sufficient to warrant immediate treatment, the first of which is the above-mentioned inducement of perspiration. The effect will be beneficial even if it is happily discovered later that it was the flu and not polio.

*88/28/1*

For normal development and effective resistance to disease in the years to come, the foundation laid by breast-feeding is of the greatest importance to the baby. Experience and medical statistics prove that breast-fed babies recover from children’s diseases much more easily and with fewer complications than bottle-fed children of a similar constitution.

Young mothers are sometimes unhappy and nervous when the flow of milk does not appear on the very first day. But it should be remembered that this would be quite unnatural as the baby should not receive any food during the first twenty-four hours of life. At the beginning, the breasts produce only the highly nutritious colostrum; the actual milk does not appear before the third, and sometimes on the fourth to the sixth, day. So, young mothers, do not despair when things do not immediately turn out in the way you may have expected. Later, if your milk supply is not enough to satisfy the baby, a few drops of Urtica every day, or a few tablets of calcium complex with Urtica (Urticalcin) will help the flow.

*66/28/1*

Most women get great sensual pleasure from touching and being touched. Women find body contact and closeness are more important to them than they are to men, but they are not substitutes for orgasms. Women want both physical and emotional closeness and orgasms.

Many Western men are unable to enjoy touching, body contact, and caressing, and this is largely a fault of our upbringing. Small boys are taught that to show emotions, to show affection, and to enjoy touching other people diminishes their male identity. Real men – red-blooded masculine men – are taught to hide their emotions. It is weak and feminine to cry. Affection can only be shown in private: to show open affection makes a man’s masculinity suspect. Touching is something only women and homosexuals do. By contrast, girls are taught that women can show emotions: they can cry, they can show open affection, and they may touch people without diminishing their femininity.

Something must be wrong with the sexual relationships between men and women judged by the number of articles on ‘How to become a better lover’ which appear in magazines, or by the increasingly large number of sex manuals which are in circulation. Even more cogent to the belief that all is not well with our sexual relationships is the information that sexual problems occur in over 50 per cent of marriages. In many instances the problem is minor and easily solved, but in some the problem, and a lack of communication between the partners, can destroy the relationship, leaving bitterness and misery instead of love. This statement is supported by a recent survey of 100 middle-class marriages in the U.S.A. by Ellen Frank. All the couples believed their marriages to be happy yet, on questioning, nearly half the women had difficulty in reaching orgasm and more than half had difficulty in becoming sexually excited or, once aroused, of maintaining their excitement. The investigators found that more wives than husbands complained about sexual problems, and the women had far more sexual ‘difficulties’ than the men: 47 per cent found it difficult to relax, 35 per cent said that they were ‘disinterested’ sexually, 38 per cent said there was ‘too little foreplay before intercourse’, and 31 per cent said that their partner often chose ‘an inconvenient time’.

The principal stimuli in this phase are those of touch and smell. Stimulated, initially, by the looks of the sexual partner, by his or her voice, in the plateau phase touch becomes as important. Stimulation occurs from the touch of the partner’s lips, the exploring tongue, the feel of a man’s penis and scrotum, or a woman’s breasts, body, and soft vulva. These stimuli enhance sexual desire, lifting each partner into the later plateau phase when the desire to reach orgasm becomes intense. The term ‘plateau’ is perhaps a misnomer, for sexual tension increases during this time; but a man who is a considerate lover and finds that his partner is not so aroused as he is will want to help her to reach his degree of sexual tension, and will consciously ‘hold back’, so that he remains highly sexually stimulated in the plateau phase, but does not enter the orgasmic phase too quickly.

The duration of the plateau phase depends on the urgency and strength of the sexual desire, on the effectiveness of the sexual stimuli given by the partner, and on the quality of the communication between the partners. If a woman is slow to reach the orgasmic phase, but does not tell her partner that she needs additional stimuli to bring her to orgasm, she can only blame herself, or her inhibitions, should her man reach orgasm and fall sleepily into the phase of resolution, without having helped her to reach orgasm to relieve her sexual arousal.

*91/16/1*

The limbic area is closely connected with the hypothalamus where the gonadotrophin hormones originate. These induce the testes to produce spermatozoa and the sex hormones found’in men, and the ovaries to secrete the sex hormones which control the menstrual cycle in women.

It also seems, from experiments on male squirrel monkeys, that the messages from the sex centre in the limbic area of the brain which help the animal get an erection and have an orgasm are funnelled through the hypothalamus to the brain stem. It is probable that this also happens in man. A treatment of male sex offenders, practised at one time in Germany, was to implant an electrode in the region of the front part of the hypothalamus and to destroy the nerve pathways by passing an electric current through the electrode. The eleven men treated in this way by Dr Roder lost all their sexual drive after the operation, although they were unchanged in every other way and continued to secrete the male sex hormone, testosterone.

The American surveys also revealed that adolescents in different social classes had different attitudes towards sexuality. Among young men in lower socio-economic groups there was greater sex segregation in peer groups. Masturbation occurred less often and started later, as it was considered ‘unmanly’. Sexual intercourse started earlier than in the higher socio-economic groups. It was often casual and exploited the women, the men being sexual adventurers who avoided any romantic attachment. Within the peer group each member tried to impress the others by his aggression, by physical display, and by his sexual successes. In modern terms, the young man was developing into a male chauvinist pig, who had a strong double standard of sexuality and who perceived women as objects for sexual pleasure.

In the higher socio-economic groups there was far less sex segregation and much earlier masturbation, which was accompanied by sexual fantasy. The young men had sexual intercourse later, often made romantic attachments, and found it less necessary to impress the peer group by physical display, aggression, or sexual prowess.

The differences in sexual behaviour between young women of different social classes were less marked. Women in lower socioeconomic groups masturbated less, but had sexual intercourse earlier and more often, although they apparently had less enjoyment from sex, reaching or being helped to orgasm less often.

It is interesting too that adult concepts of ‘bad’ when related to young adolescents of each sex were different. Adults accepted that a ‘bad boy’ could be bad in several ways. He could fight excessively, lie, steal, take drugs, or play truant from school. But to say a girl was a ‘bad girl’ meant that she was sexually permissive.

*55/16/1*