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Herbs & Plants

Aconitum Columbianum

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Botanical Name: Aconitum columbianum
Family: Ranunculaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Genus: Aconitum
Species: A. columbianum

Synonym: Helleboraceae (Hellebore Family).  Ranunculaceae  (Buttercup Family)
Common namesColumbian monkshood or western monkshood.

Habitat : This wildflower is native to western North America where it grows in moist areas.(North-western N. America – Alaska to California.) Moist woods to sub-alpine meadows, mostly along streams. Spring-fed bogs, seep areas, meadows, along streams, and in other wet areas at elevations of 300 – 3500 metres.

Description:
It is a spindly, twining perennial plant with lobed or toothed leaves and long stems with far-spaced flowers. The folded, wrinkly flowers are often deep blue or purple, but may also be white or yellowish, and they usually have a spur. The fruits are pod-like follicles. Like other monkshoods, this plant is poisonous.

It is hardy to zone 0. It is in flower from July to August. The flowers are pollinated by Bees.

Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum is a tall plant that resembles a Delphinium. The flower spike is terminal and deep blue or purple. The deeply lobed leaves also look like Delphinium, but the flowers have a distinct “hood,” making it easy to tell the two genera apart. Aconitum columbianum subsp. columbianum grows in moist, high elevation meadows.

Click to see more pictures:

Monkshood often is mistaken for its cousin Delphinium barbeyi; the two grow in similar moist habitats and both have broad, leafy, sometimes shrub-like growth, and very tall flower stalks.  Delphinium, though, reaches seven feet and Monkshood only five.  Monkshood flowers are most often intensely deep purple with a high arching hood.  Delphinium flowers range from inky blue through violet to purple and have a distinctive spur.  Delphinium is far more common but a discerning eye will often find Monkshood growing with Delphinium. The pictured plants are just over two feet tall and will grow another foot or two.   Notice the characteristic deeply incised leaves of Monkshood.

Cultivation:
Thrives in most soils and in the light shade of trees. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a moist soil in sun or semi-shade. Prefers a calcareous soil. Grows well in open woodlands. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits and deer. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby species, especially legumes. Closely related to A. fischeri and part of that species according to some botanists. A very variable plant, there is also a sub-species (A. columbianum viviparum) that produces bulbils in the leaf axils.

Propagation:
Seed – best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. The seed can be stratified and sown in spring but will then be slow to germinate. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer. Division – best done in spring but it can also be done in autumn. Another report says that division is best carried out in the autumn or late winter because the plants come into growth very early in the year. One to several small daughter tubers are produced at the first few nodes above the parent tuber, usually below ground, in a small percentage of the plants in bulbiferous and nonbulbiferous populations. These can be removed and potted up to produce new plants. Bulbils are produced in the leaf axils of sub-species viviparum[270]. These are an effective means of vegetative reproduction. They fall to the ground late in the season and sprout vigorously, giving rise to new plants.

Medicinal Actions & Uses
Nervine; Sedative.

The drug ‘aconite’ can be obtained from the root of this plant. It is used as a heart and nerve sedative. This is a very poisonous plant and should only be used with extreme caution and under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.

Other Uses
Parasiticide.
The seed is used as a parasiticide.

Disclaimer:The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Aconitum+columbianum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aconitum_columbianum
http://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Blue%20Purple%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/aconitum%20columbianum.htm
http://www.wnmu.edu/academic/nspages2/gilaflora/aconitum_columbianum.html

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Teeth Implantation

X-Ray picture of two cylindrical dental implan...
Image via Wikipedia

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Introduction:
Until a few decades back when natural tooth was lost, it was replaced by a removable partial Denture, or a fixed prosthesis, Each of these treatment options had their own disadvantages, With the advancement of technology and research, dentistry today has a better option for the replacement of a natural tooth – with dental implants. Dental implant is an artificial substitute to replace the root portion of teeth and put into the bone and gums of mouth. Replacement teeth are then fixed on to these new roots.Dental Implants are a Functional and Desirable Alternative to Conventional Bridges and Dentures . Dental implants allow people who are with missing teeth to be able to smile, speak and chew well and comfortably.
.CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES
What is Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a small man-made titanium screw that serves as the replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. The implant is placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw and allowed to bond with the bone and serve as an anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth. Implant supported replacement teeth look, feel and if you’re missing a tooth or more, you may find that there are other things you miss. You may miss your natural smile. You may miss the ability to chew apples, crackers and other food you desire. Maybe you feel self-conscious about your teeth and mouth, or discomfort as remaining teeth shift. And perhaps you’ve experienced muscle strains, an inability to speak clearly, headaches or unease in familiar situations at work, with friends or at home…..

How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants act as artificial roots. They are surgically placed into your jaw, and are the closest substitute to natural teeth in form and function. Once a dental implant is firmly integrated into your jaw, it can be used to support single crowns, bridges and dentures. Whether you are missing one tooth, several teeth or all of your teeth, dental implants may be an option for you.

*Surgical Options

* Restorative Options

* Before & After

Types of Implants :
There are three types of implants :

1. Endosseous Implant : These implants are usually shaped like a screw or cylinder. They are placed within the jaw bone.
2. Subperiosteal Implants : These Implants consist of mental frame work that attaches on top of the jaw bone but underneath the gum tissue.
3. Transosteal Implant : These implants are either a metal pin or a U – shaped frame that passes through the jaw bone and the gum tissue, in to the mouth.
Implants are made from metals and alloys such as Titanium, Titanium-Aluminium-V alloy, Chromium-cobalt-mobedium alloy, ceramics.

Advantage of Implant over traditional prosthesis:
The goal of modern dentistry is to return patientas to oral health in a predictable fashion. The partial and complete edentulous patient may be unable to recover normal function, esthetics, comfort, or speech with a traditional removable prosthesis.

The patient’s function when wearing a denture may be reduced to 60% compared with that formerly experienced with natural dentition, however, an implant prosthesis may return the function to near normal limits. The esthetics of the edentulous patient also is affected because of bone atrophy continued resorption leads to irreversible facial changes. An implant stimulates the bone and  iMPLANTmaintains its dimension in a manner similar to healthy natural teeth. As a result, the facial features are not compromised by lack of support. In addition, implant supported restorations are positioned in relation to esthetics, function and speech, not in neutral zones of soft tissue support. The soft tissues of the edentulous patient are tender form the effects of thinning mucosa decreased salivary flow, and unstable or unretentive prosthesis.

The implant retained restoration does not require soft tissue support and improves oral comfort. Speech and function are compromised with prostheses form the supporting structures during use. The tongue and peri-oral musculature may be compromised to limit the movement of the mandibular prosthesis. The implant prosthesis is stable and retentive without the efforts of the musculature.

Resources:
http://www.whereincity.com/medical/topic/dental-health/articles/763.htm
http://www.dentalimplantthailand.net/

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Featured Healthy Tips

Missing Teeth

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As soon as a tooth is lost the bone will degenerate and the teeth on either side will shift or tip into the empty space. If there is a tooth directly above or below the space it will over erupt, as there will not be anything to prevent it from coming out of the gum tissue. The majority of bone degeneration will occur within the first six months but will slowly continue for years. The movement of the adjacent teeth will not occur immediately; rather it will become noticeable after three to five years. How fast it occurs will depend on the density of bone in the area, your bite and how well your teeth occlude or interlock with each other.

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If you have missing teeth and you do not replace them, these movements will occur. These movements may create gum problems and /or decay and could lead to the loss of other teeth. As you lose more teeth, you will be forced to chew in other areas, and this often leads to tooth fracture from overloading, excessive wear and or TMJ (jaw joint) problems. Eventually more extensive and expensive dentistry may be required in the future.

There are several reasons that you want to replace a missing tooth or teeth. A tooth has many functions some being to chew, to speak, to keep the facial muscles and tissue in a proper position, to smile, and to keep the other teeth from shifting. Once a tooth is lost this whole balance is disrupted and it leads to many various problems.

For certain teeth, such as your wisdom teeth, it is unlikely that you will need to replace them. As adults we have three molar teeth and we do most (about 80%) of our chewing from the first molar to the first premolar/canine area. About 20% is done in the second molar area, and very little is done in the wisdom teeth area. Therefore, we seldom miss or need our wisdom teeth if they are absent or removed. The second molar does at times need replacing, depending on each individual’s situation.

missing teeth of 6 yrs. old girl……missing baby teeth
In children, baby teeth maintain space for the developing permanent teeth. If baby teeth are lost early, crowding problems may be unnecessarily created and may require orthodontic treatment to correct. Baby teeth are generally not replaced with another tooth; however, an appliance (space maintainer) is often placed until the permanent tooth erupts.

Source: This article was published in WhereinCity Medical on 22nd. Oct.2009

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News on Health & Science

White Wines ‘Bad for the Teeth’

Teeth of a model.
Image via Wikipedia

 

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……………....CLICK & SEE
Pale plonk packs an acidic punch that erodes enamel far more than red wine, Nutrition Research reports.

It is not the wine’s vintage, origin or alcohol that are key but its pH and duration of contact with the teeth.

Eating cheese at the same time could counter the effects, because it is rich in calcium, the German authors say.

It is the calcium in teeth that the wine attacks.

In the lab, adult teeth soaked in white wine for a day had a loss of both calcium and another mineral called phosphorus to depths of up to 60 micrometers in the enamel surface, which the researchers say is significant.

Riesling wines tended to have the greatest impact, having the lowest pH.

A “kinder” tooth choice would be a rich red like a Rioja or a Pinot noir, the Johannes Gutenberg University team found.

Power of saliva
Even if people brush their teeth after a night of drinking, over the years repeated exposure could take its toll, say Brita Willershausen and her colleagues.

Indeed, excessive brushing might make matters worse and lead to further loss of enamel.

But they said: “The tradition of enjoying different cheeses for dessert, or in combination with drinking wine, might have a beneficial effect on preventing dental erosion since cheeses contain calcium in a high concentration.”

This helps neutralise and boost the remineralising power of saliva to halt the acid attack.

But eating strawberries while supping on your vino or mixing sparkling whites with acid fruit juice to make a bucks fizz may spell trouble because this only adds to the acid attack.

Professor Damien Walmsley, of the British Dental Association, said: “The ability of acidic foods and drinks to erode tooth enamel is well understood, and white wine is recognised as being more erosive than red.

“But it’s the way you consume it that’s all important. If you’re going to have a glass of wine do so with your meal and leave a break of at least 30 minutes afterwards before you brush your teeth and go to bed.

“Consuming wine alongside food, rather than on its own, means the saliva you produce as you chew helps to neutralise its acidity and limits its erosive potential.

“If you’re going to have a glass of wine do so with your meal and leave a break of at least 30 minutes afterwards before you brush your teeth and go to bed.”….Says Professor Damien Walmsley of the British Dental Association

“And leaving time before brushing teeth gives the enamel a chance to recover from the acid attack and makes it less susceptible to being brushed away.”

Source: BBC News:Oct.20.’09

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Everyday Beverages May Cause Dental Erosion

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Researchers have warned people to beware of the damage that acidic beverages have on teeth. Yet, for some, the damage and problems associated with drinking sodas, citric juices, or certain teas may have already begun to take effect.

In a recent study, Dr. Mohamed A. Bassiouny revealed three steps to rehabilitate teeth that suffer from dental erosion as a result of the excessive consumption of these products.

Dr. Bassiouny instructs those who are experiencing tooth erosion to first, identify the source of erosion. Then, you should determine and understand how this source affects the teeth in order to implement measures to control and prevent further damage. Lastly, you should stop or reduce consumption of the suspected food or beverage to the absolute minimum.

Information about the acid content of commonly consumed foods or beverages is usually available online or on the product’s label.


Resources:

Science Daily August 8, 2009
General Dentistry May/June 2009

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