Natural Healers' Association
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Energy Medicine falls under the Natural Healers Association.
Established in February 1999, the Natural Healers Association, was founded by Dr H. Zungu, Katharine Lee Kruger and Chris Rall in Johannesburg . This national organization was registered as a Non Profit Organization on 22 May 2003 by the Department of Social Development.
NHA aims to widen the window of opportunity to influence the development of healing legislation in South Africa to recognize the spiritual elements of International Traditional, Indigenous, Spiritual, Energy and Natural Healing Methods. By obtaining Government Recognition members will be able to provide a more cost effective and efficient healthcare service for all South Africans and others. |
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Diseases & Conditions
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Exudative component
The exudative component involves the movement of plasma fluid, containing important proteins such as fibrin and immunoglobulins (antibodies), into inflamed tissue. This movement is achieved via the chemically induced dilation and increased permeability of blood vessels, which results in a net loss of blood plasma. The increased collection of fluid into the tissue causes it to swell. This extravasated fluid is funneled by lymphatics to the regional lymph nodes, flushing bacteria along to start the recognition and attack phase of the adaptive immune system.
*Full article can be read at Wikipedia
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White blood cell chases bacteria |
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Cellular component
The cellular component involves leukocytes, which normally reside in blood and must move into the inflamed tissue via extravasation to aid in inflammation. Some act as phagocytes, ingesting bacteria, viruses, and cellular debris. Others release enzymatic granules which damage pathogenic invaders. Leukocytes also release inflammatory mediators which develop and maintain the inflammatory response.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Acute inflammation is characterised by marked vascular changes, including vasodilation , increased permeability, and the slowing of blood flow, which are induced by the actions of various inflammatory mediators. Vasodilation occurs first at the arteriole level, progressing to the capillary level, and brings about a net increase in the amount of blood present, causing the redness and heat of inflammation. Increased permeability of the vessels results in the movement of plasma into the tissues, with resultant stasis due to the increase in the concentration of the cells within blood - a condition characterised by enlarged vessels packed with cells. Stasis allows leukocytes to marginate (move) along the endothelium , a process critical to their recruitment into the tissues. Normal flowing blood prevents this.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Comparison between acute and chronic inflammation:
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Acute
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Chronic
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Causative agent
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Pathogens, injured tissues
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Persistent acute inflammation due to non-degradable pathogens, persistent foreign bodies, or autoimmune reactions
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Major cells involved
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Neutrophils , mononuclear cells ( monocytes , macrophages)
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Mononuclear cells ( monocytes , macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells), fibroblasts
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Primary mediators
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Vasoactive amines, eicosanoids
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IFN-? and other cytokines, growth factors, reactive oxygen species, hydrolytic enzymes
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Onset
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Immediate
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Delayed
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Duration
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Few days
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Up to many months, or years
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Outcomes
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Resolution, abscess formation, chronic inflammation
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Tissue destruction, fibrosis, necrosis
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*full article available from Wikipedia |
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Signs & symptoms of acute inflammation |
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The signs and symptoms of acute inflammation:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Heat
- Pain
- Loss of function
All the above signs may be observed in specific instances, but no single sign must, as a matter of course, be present.
These are the original, or "cardinal signs" of inflammation.
Functio laesa is an apocryphal notion, as it is not unique to inflammation and is a characteristic of many disease states.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Systemic inflammation and obesity |
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With the discovery of interleukins (IL), the concept of systemic inflammation developed. Systemic inflammation is not confined to a particular tissue but involves the endothelium and other organ systems.
High levels of several inflammation-related markers obesity . Inflammatory-related molecule levels were reduced and increased levels of anti-inflammatory molecules were seen within four weeks after patients began a very low calorie diet.
Obesity that inflammation and macrophage -specific genes are unregulated in white adipose tissue. There were also signs of dramatic increase in circulating insulin level. Leptin is a hormone protein secreted by stored fat that signals satiety.
In chronic inflammation, the immune cells may mistake fatty deposits for intruders. The body attacks fat. When expanded fat cells leak or break open, macrophages mobilize to clean up and embed into the adipose tissue.
C-reactive protein (CRP) is generated at a higher level in obese people. It raises when there is inflammation throughout the body. Mild elevation in CRP increase risk of heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, muscle weakness and fragility.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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An infectious organism can escape the confines of the immediate tissue via the circulatory system or lymphatic system , where it may spread to other parts of the body. If an organism is not contained by the actions of acute inflammation it may gain access to the lymphatic system. A pathogen can gain access to the bloodstream through lymphatic drainage into the circulatory system.
When inflammation overwhelms the host, systemic inflammatory response syndrome is diagnosed. When it is due to infection. Vasodilation and organ dysfunction are serious problems associated with widespread infection that may lead to septic shock and death.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Resolution of inflammation |
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The inflammatory response must be actively terminated when no longer needed to prevent unnecessary damage to tissues. Failure to do so results in chronic inflammation, and cellular destruction. Resolution of inflammation occurs by different mechanisms in different tissues. Mechanisms which serve to terminate inflammation include.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Process of acute inflammation |
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Micrograph showing acute inflammation of the prostate gland with the characteristic neutrophilic infiltrate .
The process of acute inflammation is initiated by cells already present in all tissues. At the onset of an infection, these cells undergo activation and release inflammatory mediators responsible for the clinical signs of inflammation. Vasodilation and its resulting increased blood flow causes the redness and increased heat and results in an exudation (leakage) of plasma proteins and fluid into the tissue, which manifests itself as swelling. Some of the released mediators such as bradykinin increase the sensitivity to pain. The loss of function (functio laesa) is probably the result of a neurological reflex in response to pain.
In addition to cell-derived mediators, several acellular biochemical cascade systems consisting of preformed plasma proteins act in parallel to initiate and propagate the inflammatory response.
The acute inflammatory response requires constant stimulation to be sustained. Inflammation ceases once the stimulus has been removed.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Name
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Produced by
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Description
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Bradykinin
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Kinin system
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A vasoactive protein which is able to induce vasodilation , increase vascular permeability, cause smooth muscle contraction, and induce pain.
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C3
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Complement system
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Cleaves to produce C3a and C3b . C3a stimulates histamine release by mast cells, thereby producing vasodilation . C3b is able to bind to bacterial cell walls and act as an opsonin , which marks the invader as a target for phagocytosis .
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C5a
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Complement system
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Stimulates histamine release by mast cells, thereby producing vasodilation . It is also able to act as a chemoattractant to direct cells via chemotaxis to the site of inflammation.
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Factor XII ( Hageman Factor )
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Liver
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A protein which circulates inactively, until activated by collagen, platelets, or exposed basement membranes via conformational change . When activated, it in turn is able to activate three plasma systems involved in inflammation: the kinin system, fibrinolysis system, and coagulation system.
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Membrane attack complex
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Complement system
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A complex of the complement proteins C5b , C6 , C7 , C8 , and multiple units of C9 . The combination and activation of this range of complement proteins forms the membrane attack complex , which is able to insert into bacterial cell walls and causes cell lysis with ensuing death.
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Plasmin
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Fibrinolysis system
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Able to break down fibrin clots, cleave complement protein C3, and activate Factor XII.
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Thrombin
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Coagulation system
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Cleaves the soluble plasma protein fibrinogen to produce insoluble fibrin , which aggregates to form a blood clot . Thrombin can also bind to cells via the PAR1 receptor to trigger several other inflammatory responses, such as production of chemokines and nitric oxide .
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*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Last Updated on Monday, 22 August 2011 16:25 |
- The complement system , when activated, results in the increased removal of pathogens
- The kinin system generates proteins capable of sustaining vasodilation and other physical inflammatory effects.
- The coagulation system or clotting cascade which forms a protective protein mesh over sites of injury.
- The fibrinolysis system , which acts in opposition to the coagulation system , to counterbalance clotting and generate several other inflammatory mediators.
*Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Certain drugs or exogenic chemical compounds are known to affect inflammation. Vitamin A deficiency causes an increase in inflammatory responses, and anti-inflammatory drugs work specifically by inhibiting normal inflammatory components.
*full article available from Wikipedia |
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Scars present on the skin, evidence of fibrosis and healing of a wound
The outcome in a particular circumstance will be determined by the tissue in which the injury has occurred and the injurious agent that is causing it. Here are the possible outcomes to inflammation:
- Resolution
The complete restoration of the inflamed tissue back to a normal status.
- Fibrosis
Large amounts of tissue destruction, or damage in tissues unable to regenerate, can not be regenerated completely by the body.
- Abscess Formation
A cavity is formed containing pus, an opaque liquid containing dead white blood cells and bacteria with general debris from destroyed cells.
- Chronic inflammation
In acute inflammation, if the injurious agent persists then chronic inflammation will ensu r e.
* Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Inflammatory myopathies are caused by the immune system inappropriately attacking components of muscle, leading to signs of muscle inflammation. They may occur in conjunction with other immune disorders, such as systemic sclerosis , and include dermatomyositis , polymyositis , and inclusion body myositis .
*full article available from Wikipedia |
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Specific patterns of acute and chronic inflammation are seen during particular situations that arise in the body, such as when inflammation occurs on an epithelial surface, or pyogenic bacteria are involved.
- Granulomatous inflammation
- Fibrinous inflammation
- Purulent inflammation
- Serous inflammation
- Ulcerative inflammation
*full article available from Wikipedia |
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Inflammation often affects the numbers of leukocytes present in the body:
- Leukocytosis is often seen during inflammation induced by infection . Bacterial infection usually results in an increase of neutrophils , creating neutrophilia , whereas diseases such as asthma , hay fever , and parasite infestation result in an increase in eosinophils , creating eosinophilia .
- Leukopenia can be induced by certain infections and diseases, including viral infection, Rickettsia infection, some protozoa , tuberculosis , and some cancers .
* Full article available from Wikipedia |
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Due to the central role of leukocytes in the development and propagation of inflammation, defects in leukocyte function often result in a decreased capacity for inflammatory defense with subsequent vulnerability to infection.
*full article available from Wikipedia |
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Abnormalities associated with inflammation comprise a large, unrelated group of disorders which underlie a vast variety of human diseases. W ith many immune system disorders resulting in abnormal inflammation. Non-immune diseases with etiological origins in inflammatory processes are thought to include cancer, atherosclerosis , and ischaemic heart disease .
A large variety of proteins are involved in inflammation, and any one of them is open to a genetic mutation which dysregulates the normal function and expression of that protein.
Examples of disorders associated with inflammation include:
*full article available from Wikipedia |
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Last Updated on Monday, 22 August 2011 14:30 |
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Inflammation is part of the complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens , damaged cells, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process.
Without inflammation, wounds and infections would never heal. Chronic inflammation can also lead to a host of diseases, such as hay fever , atherosclerosis , and rheumatoid arthritis .
Inflammation can be classified as either acute or chronic . Acute inflammation is the initial response of the body to harmful stimuli and is achieved by the increased movement of plasma and leukocytes from the blood into the injured tissues. Prolonged inflammation, known as chronic inflammation , leads to a progressive shift in the type of cells present at the site of inflammation and is characterized by simultaneous destruction and healing of the tissue from the inflammatory process.
*full article available from Wikipedia |
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