ANTI AGING THERAPY
Aging is the process of growing old. Every part of the body is affected: Among other changes, hair turns gray, skin wrinkles, joints and muscles lose flexibility, bones become weak, memory declines, eyesight diminishes, and immunity is impaired.

Oxidation reactions occur when the combustion of oxygen that keeps us alive and well produces by-products called oxygen free radicals. When this process occurs in metals we call it rusting. When it happens in us we call it aging, which may make us feel rusty at that! Free radicals are molecules that have lost an electron. When this happens to oxygen, we call it singlet oxygen, because it has only one of its electrons left. This is a highly unstable condition, and to restore balance the radical either tries to steal one away from, or donate the remaining one, to another nearby molecule

In so doing, the free radicals create "molecular mayhem", disrupting, damaging and destroying nearby cells. If DNA is involved, mutations occur, a favored theory of a common cause of cancer. In time, free radical damage accumulates, thereby aging us.

Free radicals are not only produced inside us, but we take them in through smoking, food, air and water pollution, x-rays, sun exposure, household chemicals, and sundry poisons to name the most common.

" Aging is a disease. The human life span simply reflects the level of free radical oxidative damage that accumulates in cells. When enough damage accumulates, cells can't survive properly anymore and they just give up ." E.R. Stadtman, researcher on aging, NIH.

The other major theoretical cause of aging in this brief, introductory overview is sub-optimal hormone levels. As we age some hormones begin a precipitous decline that strongly parallels the onset of aging signs and symptoms. These include human growth hormone, melatonin, DHEA, androstenedione (made famous by Mark McQwire), testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.

Conversely, insulin levels tend to rise, culminating in adult onset diabetes. Also, a relative rise in cortisol, the stress hormone, is all too common as well.

Thyroid hormone doesn't generally decline as much with age. Many anti-aging doctors insist that sob-optimal thyroid function is common however, and when present, definitely hastens aging and heart disease.

Human Growth Hormone, AKA Hgh, as the name implies, stimulates the growth of our tissues. Our internal organs, skin, muscles, nerves and bones are all stimulated to grow by HGH. As our levels of growth hormone shrinks, so do we!

Melatonin helps us sleep and may help prevent cancer. One reason why people over 60 sometimes find it hard to go to sleep is declining melatonin levels, often precipitated by their many medications.

Thyroid hormone helps keeps us energetic and trim. Like the other hormones mentioned, it helps us burn fat, in this case by keeping our metabolism optimal. (That spare tire that develops around our bellies at middle age (central obesity) has a lot to do with declining hormone levels, often one of the main reasons diets don't work!)

Cortisol levels don't decline with age. Unfortunately, they tend to rise! Excess levels of this stress hormone are catabolic. That means it literally "eats you up inside". Indeed, stress may be the "Ultimate Ager" and excess cortisol is one of the reasons why.

Now that you have had a brief introduction as to some of major factors in aging, let's do an overview of a rational anti aging program.

Aging Process

Aging is the process of growing old. Every part of the body is affected: Among other changes, hair turns gray, skin wrinkles, joints and muscles lose flexibility, bones become weak, memory declines, eyesight diminishes, and immunity is impaired.

Cells in the body divide a set number of times; then they die and are replaced by new cells. With age, this process slows, and a progressive deterioration of all body systems begins. Though some of this decline is normal and inevitable, many researchers believe that unstable molecular species called free radicals accelerate the process, making us old before our time. Some damage is unavoidable because free radicals are produced during the normal course of cellular activity. But you may be able to slow aging by avoiding outside factors that foster free-radical formation-cigarette smoke, pollution, excessive alcohol, and radiation from X rays or the sun-and by enhancing your body's own antioxidant defenses. Manufactured by the cells and obtained through diet, antioxidants are powerful weapons that-can disarm free radicals.
Supplements and herbs

Some supplements should be used daily by everyone concerned about the effects of aging. Vitamin C and vitamin E are antioxidants that fight free radicals. Vitamin C and flavonoids work within the cell's watery interior. Vitamin E protects the fatty membranes that surround cells; also, it improves immune function in older people and reduces the risk of some age-related conditions, including heart disease, some forms of cancer, and possibly Alzheimer's. Green tea extract, long prized for its longevity promoting properties, pycnogenol, and grape seed extract (100 mg twice a day) are other antioxidants that may be more potent than vitamins C and E.

Folic acid, a B vitamin, maintains red blood cells and promotes the healthy functioning of nerves. Moreover, it protects the heart by helping the body process homocysteine, a sulfur-containing amino acid that may raise the risk of heart disease. Vitamins B6 and B12 also prevent homocysteine buildup. In addition, vitamin B12 fosters healthy brain functioning. Taking this vitamin is important because many older people lose the ability to absorb it from food, and low B12 levels can cause nerve damage and dementia. Evening primrose oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is essential to a number of body processes. As it ages, the body loses its ability to convert the fats present in foods to GLA.

In addition, certain supplements are vital to specific concerns. Glucosamine may help maintain joint cartilage and ease the pain of arthritis. Because it enhances blood flow, the herb ginkgo biloba may improve such age-related conditions as dizziness, impotence, and memory loss.

Useful herbs
He Shou Wu, Maté, Rosemary, Sage, Schisandra, Thyme, Wild Yam.

ANTI AGING Medicine.