HGH OVERVIEW

The Dangers of Atrazine

Atrazine is a pesticide that is used across America that can potentially have serious health consequences to animals and people. In spite of the fact that Atrazine is banned as a pesticide in other areas of the world, Atrazine remains available in the United States for such purposes despite growing awareness and protest from consumers.

What is Atrazine?

Essentially, Atrazine is a weed killer, used to prevent the invasion of weeds that inhibit the optimal growth of many crops, including sugar cane, sorghum, and corn. Outside of agriculture, Atrazine is frequently utilized to kill weeds on lawns as well as golf courses.

Atrazine has been used in the United States since it was first introduced in 1959. It is synthesized primarily by a chemical manufacturer in Switzerland known as Syngenta. Atrazine has been banned as a pesticide by the entire EU as of 2004, although countries began banning the substance in 1991. In spite of this, the United States still burns through over eighty million pounds of Atrazine annually.

Atrazine is Dangerous to the Animal Environment

Although Atrazine is highly effective as a weed killer, it also has a dangerous impact on animals in the local ecosystem, which likely includes humans as well. Atrazine is known as an endocrine disruptor, meaning that it has the ability to interfere with the normal and healthy function of the endocrine system, which controls hormone balance.

This is especially apparent in amphibians like frogs, that readily absorb chemicals directly through their skin. Atrazine exposure actually causes male frogs to change sexes! This metamorphosis occurs at environmental levels of 2.5 parts per billion, and perhaps even lower! The Environmental Protection Agency considers three parts per billion to be ecologically safe, but this directly goes against clinical and field evidence.

This issue is so significant, that scientists believe that exposure to Atrazine and similar chemicals is one of the primary reasons why there has been such a sharp decline in the global population of amphibians. Today, one in every three species of amphibian is at risk of extinction. These health issues are also apparent in reptile and mammal species, as Atrazine exposure has been linked to increased incidence of breast and prostate cancer in rodents, as well as reproductive issues in fish. Continuing study demonstrates that there are also potential issues for humans.

How May Atrazine be Dangerous to Humans?

As scientists move outside of the laboratory and ecological environment and into the human sphere, they find increasingly strong correlations between Atrazine and human reproductive health, especially as it pertains to human development in the womb.

Atrazine Exposure Causes Babies to Be Born Lighter

A study from the year 2009 shows that exposure to Atrazine from water has a direct impact on the birth weight of the child. Babies that are born underweight are at a significantly increased risk of a number of conditions including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. And this is just due to exposure to Atrazine from the water supply!

Atrazine is Prevalent in the American Water Supply

Because of this study and others, voices of concern are growing louder regarding the restriction or outright ban of Atrazine as an herbicide. Atrazine is highly prevalent in the water table after decades of extensive use. A study by the United States Geological Survey shows that forty percent of groundwater and seventy-five percent of flowing streams in agricultural zones are contaminated with Atrazine. Atrazine is even in most people's local drinking water! Researchers tested water from over 150 city water works and found that four out of every five were contaminated with Atrazine.

Atrazine Stays Active in the Environment Long After It Has Been Introduced

One thing that makes Atrazine worse than other similar herbicides is that it stays in the environment for an exceptionally long time. Atrazine was banned in France more than fifteen years ago, but it is still present at traceable levels even today. Atrazine is a global health hazard, because it gets absorbed with water into the clouds and actually falls back to earth. It is estimated that over 500,000 pounds of Atrazine enters the water cycle every year, leading to a greater and more pervasive effect upon both natural and artificial water supplies.

As recently as 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency considered Atrazine safe for agricultural use, and maintained that it did not propose any risks to humans. Many environmental lobbying groups, however, consider this decision a mistake, and strongly feel that weak monitoring and poor regulations have caused Atrazine to enter drinking water and the water table at exceptionally high levels, which they feel almost certainly puts some people at significant health risk.

Why is Atrazine So Popular?

There are a lot of reasons why agricultural specialists are so fond of Atrazine. For one, it's cheaper than many other herbicides. Also, it doesn't have a negative impact on the crops themselves, and increases the amount of fruits and vegetables that they have to sell. In the end, it saves them a lot of money. A two-decade research study showed that Atrazine increased harvested crops per acre by more than 5.5 bushels, which was more than a five percent increase.

This increase in yield provided an average increased profit per acre of more than $25, which was concluded to equal an increase in revenue of almost $1.4 billion per year to American farmers. An EPA study provided similar results, concluding that farmers earned $1.5 billion more attributable to Atrazine.

In Spite of Its Benefits, Atrazine Can Easily Be Replaced

Even though Atrazine provides tremendous benefits to farmers, it would not hurt bottom lines very much to get rid of Atrazine due to its potential health hazard. USDA studies suggest that if Atrazine use were made illegal in America, corn production would only drop by around 1.2%, and this would only lead to around a 2.3% drop in acres of corn planted nationwide.

There is also evidence that these studies are flawed in their conclusions, as, after Atrazine was banned in Germany and Italy, neither nation suffered in terms of revenue as a result of the ban. Because these two countries faced no issues resulting from the ban of Atrazine, there is no reason why Atrazine shouldn't be banned in the United States. Evidence even shows that Germany and Italy experienced larger national harvests without Atrazine.

The Risks Outweigh the Benefits: Ban Atrazine on American Crops

Most recent independent studies show that Atrazine most likely only increases harvest by between 1-2% at best. This, combined with the fact that the herbicide is highly detrimental to the environment while also imposing a threat upon human health as well, should lead most reasonable individuals to conclude that Atrazine should be banned in the United States like it is in Europe.

Topical Psoriasis Treatment

These forms of therapy are delivered as creams, gels, or ointments directly onto the skin. There are a number of Topical Psoriasis Medications, including Anthralin, Coal Tar, Retinoids, Vitamin D3, and Corticosteroids, and all are effective for some patients.

For patients that are simply seeking respite from the itching or pain associated with therapy, there are lubricants and bath solutions that can reduce the severity of these symptoms, but most are not very strong and must be used in combination with more potent treatments.

Topical Corticosteroids for Psoriasis - These are some of the most common forms of Psoriasis Therapy. They work by slowing down the rate at which skin cells turnover, and they also ease inflammation and reduce the activity of the immune system.

Generally, Topical Corticosteroids are quick solutions that are used to treat ongoing outbreaks of inflammation, because dependence and overuse of these treatments can lead to issues such as resistance, internal complications, and weakening of the skin.

Synthetic Vitamin D for Psoriasis - This includes any medication or supplement which imitates the function of Vitamin D. These supplements can reduce the severity of Psoriasis by slowing down the rate at which the skin cells rise. Taking too much Vitamin D can cause problems, because Long Term Vitamin D Overdose leads to an overabundance of calcium.

Vitamin A Retinoids for Psoriasis - Retinoid Ointments deliver Vitamin A to the skin. Women that are pregnant or could become pregnant must be careful, because, although these treatments are safe for adult patients, they can cause birth defects if the patient is pregnant.

Coal Tar Solution for Psoriasis - These treatments can be purchased both via prescription and over the counter, dependent upon the concentration of Coal Tar. Coal Tar is often an ingredient in shampoos designed to relieve inflammation and dandruff, and they can also be massaged into the skin or used in order to medicate bathwater. The main issues with Coal Tar are that the medication can stain clothing and skin, has a potent smell, and can lead to skin irritation or sensitivity to sunlight.

Anthralin for Psoriasis - This medication treats Psoriasis by limiting inflammation and the increase in skin cell division. Physicians can prescribe it as a paste, cream, or ointment, designed to be administered daily for a short period of time in order to treat inflamed skin. After Anthralin has been applied, it must be cleaned off the skin in order to protect the skin from irritation. A downside to the treatment is that it is highly discoloring, and effects the majority of surfaces, including the skin.

Salicylic Acid for Psoriasis - This treatment is available in a wide variety of topical products, from creams to shampoos, and mitigates scaling by encouraging flaking.

Bath Products for Psoriasis - There are a wide variety of lubricants and oils which can help mitigate itching and wash off scales, including Dead Sea salts, Epsom salts, oiled oatmeal, and Coal Tar.

Lubricants for Psoriasis - These treatments are applied topically over a regular basis in order to reduce the discomfort associated with Psoriasis. Greasy and thick lubricants are most effective, because they reduce itching and scaling by locking water in the skin.

Phototherapy for Psoriasis

Ultraviolet Light, although damaging in high quantities, can be a very effective treatment for patients that suffer from Psoriasis. UV light stimulates the production of Vitamin D3 by the skin, which is one way that Psoriasis complications can be reduced. This light can either come directly from the sun or via artificial sunlight.

It's important to either follow a physician's advice exactly or have the physician personally assist in Light Treatment so that symptoms do not become exacerbated by sunburn or other issues, and so that the patient can minimize risk of cancer and skin damage via UV Light.

How Does Sunlight Treat Psoriasis?

Sunlight is comprised of a wide range of bands of Ultraviolet Light. When the skin absorbs sunlight, the Ultraviolet Rays kill off the sensitive T-Cells that are active in inflamed areas, reducing the effects of the disease. This simultaneously reduces the rate at which scaling occurs and mitigates inflammation.

Phototherapy with UVB Light for Psoriasis - Another method to treat and control Psoriasis is via UVB light. These are rays which are produced by sunlight or artificial sunlight which are absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin. UVB light can be an effective means to reduce the appearance and severity of moderate or mild Psoriasis. This is often the first course of action by many physicians, because it bypasses any form of medication.

Another form of UVB Treatment, known as Broadband UVB, is an alternative which is sometimes used to treat inflammation that is resisting normal creams and ointments, and it can also be used for general treatment of widespread or relatively minor Psoriasis. These treatments are provided via a box or panel that emits light, and in some cases, the patient may be approved to use one of these UVB emitters at home with a physicians permission and guidance.

There is also a third form of UVB Therapy for Psoriasis known as Narrowband UVB. This form of treatment specifically delivers the range of light that has been found to be most effective at treating Psoriasis. This form of treatment is considered to be more effective than Broadband UVB, but less effective than Psoralen with Ultraviolet A.

Narrow Band UVB is often used as an intensive treatment, administered several times in a short time frame in order to most rapidly improve the skin. If this intensive therapy is effective, patients often only require occasional treatment in order to preserve the benefits provided by the initial treatment. The main risk of Narrowband UVB therapy is that it can lead to longer and more severe burns as compared to Broadband UVB Light Therapy.

Psoralen and UVA Phototherapy for Psoriasis - This is considered the most effective means of light therapy for Psoriasis. In this form of treatment, UVA exposure is combined with a Topical or Oral Medication known as Psoralen, which amplifies the benefits of UVA light. Psoralen amplifies the skin's sensitivity to UVA light, and because UVA Rays affect deeper layers of skin than UVB light, this combination provides the fastest form of Light Treatment for Psoriasis.

This form of therapy is prescribed 2-3 times per week, and is able to eliminate Psoriasis symptoms very quickly. The issue with this form of treatment is that it can lead to a number of temporary side-effects, including itching, burning, fatigue, headache, and nausea. It is paramount to keep eyes covered with specialized glasses during therapy as well.

Long Term UVA-Psoralen Treatment also comes with an enhanced risk of Squamous-Cell Skin Cancer, and may also increase the risk of Melanoma.

Systemic Treatment of Psoriasis

The worst cases of Psoriasis are often treated with injections or pills which circulate treatment throughout the entire body. This form of Psoriasis Therapy is known as Systemic Treatment.

Methotrexate Therapy for Psoriasis - This form of treatment functions like an internal dose of cyclosporin. When taken via injection or pill, this treatment reduces the activity of the immune system, thereby reducing the rate at which turnover of the skin cells occurs.

This treatment is not without risks, however, and the patient much be monitored intently by the prescribing physician, because Methotrexate can reduce the concentration of platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells in the blood stream while also potentially leading to liver damage.

Because of these risks, physicians do not prescribe this treatment to patients that have a history of anemia and liver disease. Also, this treatment should never be used by women that are pregnant, because the treatment can lead to birth defects.

Retinoid Systemic Therapy for Psoriasis - These synthetic treatments simulate the function of Vitamin A, and can be effective in the case of severe psoriasis that is resistant to treatment. Like the oral form, this treatment can lead to birth defects if used by pregnant women.

Oral Cyclosporine for Psoriasis - This treatment comes in the form of a pill, and reduces the rate of skin cell turnover. This treatment is effective very quickly, but only works for as long as the medication is in the system. It is most effective for stemming rapid-onset Psoriasis in order to prevent hospitalization.

Cyclosporine does come with side effects, and can lead to hypertension or impaired renal function. As such, a physician should closely monitor therapy. Cyclosporine is also not suggested for patients with a history of skin cancer or an impaired immune system.

Biologic Treatment for Psoriasis - These medications are comprised of proteins that are produced by living cells in order to suppress the processes of the immune system which lead to inflammation and the rapid production of skin cells. These treatments are delivered via injection, and can be self-administered.

Like most other oral and injectable Psoriasis treatments, ongoing treatment must be monitored closely by a physician. These treatments do lead to an enhanced infection risk, and they can impact the ability of vaccines to function effectively. There is also some correlation between Biologics and other medical disorders such as lymphoma, cancer, blood diseases, and CNS Disorders. The link between Biologics and these conditions has not been fully established, and these medications are only intended for use by adults.

Combination Psoriasis Treatment

Because of the complexity of Psoriasis, physicians often prescribe multiple forms of treatment simultaneously. This can reduce the risk of side-effects from various therapies by reducing the dosage needed to provide effective therapy and relief.

Psoriasis Counseling and Group Therapy

Many patients with Psoriasis benefit from getting psychological attention in order to mitigate the social costs of Psoriasis and improve psychological quality of life. Patients that have self-image issues commonly find relief by talking about their problems with a counselor, or having a support group of men and women that are suffering from the same condition.

Ongoing Psoriasis Research

Because Psoriasis is such a complex and problematic condition, and because it affects so many people, there is a lot of medical research going on to help advance the science of Psoriasis Treatment. Ongoing areas of research include how to help Psoriasis sufferers experience healthier skin and any way that it may be possible to stop or suspend the condition.

In recent years, medical knowledge regarding the genetic factors behind Psoriasis are becoming quickly illuminated. Today, there are a number of genes that are classified as being implicated in some way in the formation of the medical condition. Genetics is only one piece of the puzzle, however, and there are a number of factors which cause the disease to appear independent or only partially dependent upon genetics.

What medical researchers do understand is that there are certain genes which increase the likelihood of the expression of the disease. In addition to understanding the genetic mechanism behind the disease, researchers are also looking to understand the mechanism behind the sensation of itching more completely so that the side-effect of itching can be treated more effectively.

Ever since researchers found out that T-Cells are the primary affective culprit of Psoriasis, increased time and resources are being spent studying state-of-the-art treatments that can effectively reduce skin reactions cause by immune system over-response. One of the most promising areas of research is in promoting treatments which either limit the activities of cytokines or block T-Cell response. Cytokines are a form of protein that is responsible for inflammation.

The ultimate goal of these medical researchers is to figure out a way to treat Auto-Immune Psoriasis without suppressing the activity of the rest of the Immune System. If researchers are able to accomplish this, the benefits could branch out to other Auto-Immune Disorders as well.

What Are the Health Risks Associated with Psoriasis?

Medical studies have shown that men and women with Psoriasis have a correlated increased risk of a number of conditions including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular complications. These issues are more apparent in patients with more severe forms of Psoriasis.

Scientists are attempting to figure out the physiological mechanisms by which these medical conditions are potentially linked in order to be able to provide patients with greater comprehensive treatment as well as learn more about how the various systems of the human body interact with one another.

Can Human Growth Hormone Treat Brain Damaged Addicts?

There have been a number of studies in recent years that have provided evidence that Human Growth Hormone may produce beneficial effects in patients that are suffering from neurodegenerative diseases, but a recent study shows that HGH Injections may have the ability to alleviate neurological issues resulting from drug use. In this case, the study strongly suggests that Therapeutic Human Growth Hormone may have the ability to alleviate attention deficit and memory issues related to heroin abuse.

There is a large body of evidence that proves that the abuse of opiates such as morphine, methadone, and heroin damage the cells of the brain, and the two areas which are most profoundly impacted are the areas which control memory and attention. This new research provides convincing evidence that HGH Shots have at least some restorative effects upon these two aspects of neurological function.

How Do Heroin and Other Opiates Harm the Body?

Heroin and Opiate Abuse have the ability to harm the body and the brain in a number of different ways. Opiates, especially heroin, carry a high risk of overdose, and also have the ability to spread a number of different diseases through shared needles, such as HIV and Hepatitis.

People that regularly abuse opiates can experience a number of health conditions, including kidney and liver disease, constipation, abscesses, heart infections, and collapsed veins. They are also at enhanced risk of pneumonia, which results from both a compromised immune system and depressed breathing.

Heroin and other opiates derived on the black market also regularly contain harmful additives that can damage and clog the arteries and blood vessels, which can potentially damage a number of organs, including the lungs and the brain.

How Does the Body Process Heroin?

Heroin produces its physiological effects because when it is injected or snorted, it is circulated through the blood stream to the brain, where it is broken down into morphine, which stimulates opioid receptors in the brain and throughout the body. There are also opioid receptors in the base of the brain, which is why the drug and related drugs can cause overdose and death. Heroin depresses respiration, arousal, and blood pressure, which can lead directly to cardiac arrest.

How Do Heroin and Opiates Cause Brain Damage?

Two of the primary ways that Heroin causes brain damage is through oxygen deprivation and through the influence of toxic additives. Heroin seems to impact memory and attention span by rewiring the brain in response to addiction. The addictive capacity of Heroin and other Opioids is so strong that even after the feelings of addiction subside somewhat, the neurological effects of addiction still leave the brain wired in a way that negatively impacts psychological function.

How Can HGH Injections Protect the Brain from Brain Damage Associated with Opiate Addiction?

A Swedish study from Uppsala University explains that cells associated with attention and memory are among the first to break down when the brain is taxed by long-term opiate use. They also suggest that Bio-Identical Human Growth Hormone Injections may have the ability to salvage these damaged cells, alleviating the negative impact of Opiate and Opiate Overdose on the brain.

How Does the Body Make HGH and What Does it Do?

Human Growth Hormone is produced naturally by the pituitary gland by small organs known as Somatotrophs. HGH is largely responsible for cell replication and cell growth throughout the lifespan. During childhood and adolescence, HGH Levels in the body are high, which contribute to heightened physiological growth and development.

Later in life, HGH is secreted in lower concentrations in order to maintain health and optimal hormone balance, and there is growing evidence that HGH Injections can be beneficial in a number of disorders and physiological issues which can be treated by encouraging enhanced cellular reproduction in target areas, such as the brain or the joints. In the case of joint injuries, Human Growth Hormone encourages cartilage in the joints to develop more smoothly.

There is also evidence that Human Growth Hormone Injections can enhance rehabilitation and recovery times associated with injury and illness.

HGH Treatments Appear to Protect Brain from Damage Associated with Opiate Dependency

The researchers related to this study explain that this presents a potentially groundbreaking new way to treat patients suffering from the effects of Opiate Addiction, and may be a way to prevent brain damage in these patience and even increase psychological function through HGH Injections. This can also be used to protect the brains of patients that are taking Opioids for pain management to reduce the risk of psychological side effects and neurological deterioration.

HGH, Opiates, and Neurogenesis

Earlier studies provide strong evidence that long term Opiate Use and Addiction prevents the brain from staying healthy, because it slows down neurogenesis, or the development of new cells in the brain. Opiate Use primarily slows down neurogenesis in the area of the brain known as the Hippocampus.

This area of the brain is located in the cerebellum, and the area is strongly related with what is known as episodic memory. Episodic memory is responsible for linking people, places, and emotions to particular memories, essentially maintaining them for long-term storage.

HGH Deficiency is Also Associated with Cognitive Decline

Human Growth Hormone and other related hormones sustain neurogenesis, and HGH Decline is associated with a loss of cognitive ability as the brain can no longer create new cells and connections at the rate at which old cells and connections deteriorate. In essence, Opiate Dependence slows down the rate at which cells regenerate, causing the patient to retain memory and attention like someone many years older.

Previous Studies Show that HGH Provides Cognitive Benefits

The co-author of this neurological HGH Study, Fred Nyberg, explains that older patients treated with Bio-Identical HGH in previous studies, experienced enhanced cognitive function, and that they hypothesized that Opiate Dependent patients would experience the same quantifiable benefit.

It appears that Opiates and Human Growth Hormone have opposite impacts on the brain. Opiates limit the brain's ability to restore itself, even after the patient has stopped using the drugs. Human Growth Hormone Injections appear to counteract that negative neurological impact, allowing people currently taking Opiates for clinical reasons to avoid the related neurological decline, and perhaps restoring neurological function to individuals that are recovering from a previous addiction.

In Vitro Lab Testing Proves that HGH Protects the Brain from Morphine

The way that the researchers demonstrated the possible effectiveness of this form of treatment was through in vitro testing. They used partially developed nerve cells drawn from the fetus of a mouse and isolated them in a petri dish. To mimic the effects of opiate addiction on nerve cells, they dipped the cells into a bath of pure morphine for seven days. Control neurons were simply dipped in morphine, but experimental cells were also treated with Bio-Identical Human Growth Hormone.

In the end, they found that the neurons in the control sample started to die from morphine exposure, but those in the culture with Human Growth Hormone added were able to survive in spite of the morphine. In certain cases, the number of neurons actually increased among cultures in the experimental group!

Nyberg is optimistic, explaining that if Human Growth Hormone Injections have a similar effect on neurons in the brain as they do on brain cells in the petri dish, the hormone may end up being an effective medical treatment to preserve the mental faculties of both ex-opiate addicts and those suffering from chronic pain which only responds to morphine and similar drugs.

Pilot Studies Have Begun in the Treatment of an Opiate Dependent Patient

Since the original study was published, Nyberg and his associates have begun experimental HGH Injection Therapy on a single pilot patient. This patient takes opiates for chronic pain and is suffering from memory issues directly resulting from Opiate Treatment.

Although this pilot study is still ongoing, Nyberg explains that the results achieved thus far are incredibly promising. The pilot patient has been taking HGH Injections with no major side effects, and is experiencing a quantifiable increase in cognitive memory ability.

The results are actually so promising, that Nyberg is already preparing to take HGH for Opiate Addiction to a clinical trial, in order to assess the potential of the treatment more completely. All signs thus far suggest that Growth Hormone Therapy will be effective at safeguarding the Hippocampus from the neuro-degenerative effects of powerful opiates.

HGH Injections Could Possibly Alleviate Neurological Dependency Associated with Drug Addiction

A representative of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Frank Vocci, is interested in the potential to use Bio-Identical Human Growth Hormone as a treatment for drug addiction. There have been legitimate arguments made that the benefits to cognitive function produced by Human Growth Hormone could potentially have the ability to make it easier for current addicts to quit addictive drugs, and that it may help those that are already clean stay clean.

Research regarding the potential of Human Growth Hormone to combat addiction is still in a purely hypothetical stage, and there is no hard evidence supporting the use of HGH Injections for Addiction Recovery.