Individuals who use drugs by injecting and individuals who do not injecting drugs have an increased risk of HIV, Hepatitis C and other infectious conditions. Sharing contaminated drug injection equipment transmits these diseases. Engaging in risky sexual behavior sometimes associated with drug use also causes disease transmission. Effective drug abuse treatment also involves HIV and Hepatitis C prevention because drug abuse treatment reduces the risk of associated behaviors in addition to drug abuse. Counseling targets a range risky behaviors that could transmit of HIV and Hepatitis C and provides an added level of condition prevention. Drug abuse treatment involves HIV and Hepatitis C prevention. Drug injectors who do not enter treatment are up to six times more likely get HIV than injectors who enter and remain in treatment. Addicts in recovery are less likely to engage in activities that can spread HIV. Addicts in recovery do not share injection equipment and are less likely to engage in unprotected sexual activity. Participation in treatment also offers addicts opportunities for screening, counseling and referrals to additional services, including early HIV treatment and access to Highly Active AntiRetroviral Treatment. In fact, HIV counseling and testing are key parts of superior drug abuse treatment programs and programs should offer this service to all individuals entering treatment. Greater availability of inexpensive and unobtrusive rapid HIV tests should increase access to these important aspects of HIV prevention and treatment.

Self Help

Self help groups can complement and extend the effects of professional treatment. The most prominent self help groups are Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. These help groups operate on the 12-step model. Most drug addiction treatment programs encourage patients to participate in self help group therapy during and after formal treatment. These groups can be particularly helpful during recovery, offering an added layer of community and social support to help people achieve and maintain abstinence and other healthy lifestyle behaviors over the course of a lifetime.

Natural Oils

Natural oils contain hundreds of organic constituents such as hormones, vitamins and other natural elements that are beneficial to the skin. Natural oils fall into two general categories: essential oils and carrier or base oils. Essential oils are volatile compounds found in plants. They give fruits, flowers, herbs and spices their fragrance and flavor. Obtained by distillation or expression, essential oils are highly concentrated and used at a very low concentration. Carrier oils, such as almond, sunflower, olive, walnut and other oils exist in higher concentration in cosmetics and when applied directly to the skin nourish, soften and protect it. Diluting essential oils makes them good bases. Oils are highly penetrating. They easily enter through a cell wall delivering essential vitamins, oxygen and nutrients. This helps stimulate cell metabolism and the regeneration process. The ability of oils to penetrate and carry nutrients through the cell wall to the cell nucleus can prevent cell deterioration, which can lead to infections and diseases.

Medical Pedicure

A medical pedicure provides a safe and clean environment to have your nails and skin of the feet treated. Medically based corrective pedicure occur under sterile conditions. A pedicure is a way to improve the appearance of the feet and toenails. Medical pedicures are similar to manicures. Pedicures are not just limited to nails; they involve the removal of dead skin cells on the bottom of feet using a rough pumice stone. Additionally, leg care below the knee is a common and now expected service included in pedicures. Leg care includes depilation via either shaving or waxing followed by granular exfoliation, application of moisturizing creams and a brief leg massage. Medically based corrective pedicures occur under sterile conditions with the supervision of a physician. The physician begins with an anti-bacterial solution and gently exfoliates the feet to eliminate dry skin and calluses. The treatment includes detoxifying, nail shaping and reflexology to improve the look and feel of the feet. This treatment finishes with a matte nail buff or polish. Medical pedicures are available to treat conditions of the nails and the skin of the feet and legs. In a safe and comfortable setting, a Certified Pedicurist who is a licensed aesthetician will use sterile instruments to undertake a basic medical pedicure, dry sole treatment, nail fungal or nail repair treatment or a foot facial. Manicures have been popular for 4,000 years. In southern Babylonia, noblemen used solid gold tools to give themselves manicures and pedicures. The use of fingernail polish started even earlier. Originating in China in 3000 BC, nail color indicated social status. According to a Ming Dynasty manuscript, royalty painted their fingernails black and red. Ancient Egyptians had manicures dating all the way back to 2300 BC. A carving in a pharaoh's tomb depicts early manicures and pedicures, and the Egyptians paid special attention to their feet and legs. The Egyptians also colored their nails, using red to indicate the highest social class.