วันพุธที่ 31 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Love the Skin You're In

Your skin is the body's largest organ. It weighs between two and four kilos (or 4 and 8 pounds), covers between one and two square metres (9 to 36 square feet) and completely renews itself every seven to ten weeks, with approximately five million dead skin cells rubbing off on a daily basis.

Your skin reflects your state of health and your biological age, being soft and smooth when well-cared for, or dry and flaky when taken for granted. To be the proud owner of beautiful, soft, young-looking skin, you need to take care of it. When taking care of your skin, it's vital that you take care of the part of you that everybody sees - your face and neck.

The absolute golden rule, before you start using products on the delicate skin of your face, is to determine your skin type...

Normal and combination skin

? Slight oily sheen in the T-zone area
? Drier cheek area
? Occasional pimples and spots

Dry and sensitive skin

? Fine, dry lines around the eyes and mouth, dehydration lines on fact
? Cheek area is dull, dry and taut
? Skin that's very sensitive to sun, wind and pollution

Oily skin ? Oil sheen in T-zone area and on cheeks ? Enlarged pores and blackheads evident ? Frequent pimples and spots

So, how can you help keep your skin looking and feeling young?

Make sure you do the following:

1. Have a daily intake of two litres of water, including 2-3 glasses with high quality aloe extract

2. Enjoy a diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables

3. Try to have sound, restful sleep

4. Practice a daily skin care regime using high quality products that suit your skin type

5. Take a high quality supplementation programme, including a vitamin & mineral supplement

6. Take a brisk walk in the fresh air every day

7. Keep stress levels to a minimum and have a happy attitude to life in general

The following daily practices will have a detrimental long term effect on the skin:

1. Inadequate daily water intake

2. Poor nutrition, junk food

3. Lack of sleep

4. Stress

5. Prescribed drugs

6. Excess coffee and tea

7. Alcohol consumption

8. Smoking

9. Excess exposure to sunlight, or cold, wet, windy weather

10.Central heating and air conditioning

Kim Beardsmore M.B.A. (H.R.M.), B.Sc. (Biochemistry) is an independent Herbalife distributor, weight loss coach and creator of the online weight loss & health magazine Weight Loss Health. For a free weight loss consultation, newsletter and resources to help you lose weight and keep it off forever, visit http://weight-loss-health.com.au Online Herbalife store at http://weightlosshealth.herbalcoach.com The Herbalife home business opportunity visit: http://free2liv.com

Essential Oils Kits Part VII

Whether you use aromatherapy as a stand alone or as a complementary first aid treatment there are several aromatic oils I'd like to recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit.

My recommendations include important details for you to consider when purchasing an oil, such as its Latin Name, Country of Origin, Method of Extraction and Part of the Plant Used. I also list the best oils to consider when creating a synergistic blend.

PEPPERMINT ( Mentha piperita ) - Certified Organic, Steam Distilled Leaf, England and USA have wonderful distillations.

Peppermint is a fluid, colorless oil with a fresh, distinctly penetrating scent.

Keywords: COOL & REFRESHING Peppermint acts as a regulator and has a relaxing or invigorating effect depending on the circumstance for which you are using it.

A good blood cleanser it is both antiseptic and antibacterial!

Peppermint is well known for relieving migraine type headache, as well as headache resulting from weak or poor digestive forces, congestion or sluggish circulation.

It is also known to relieve nausea from motion sickness.

As well as being helpful for treating acne, swollen gums, mouth thrush, or ulcers and toothache.

Soak your tired feet in a foot bath with a drop or two of Peppermint (disperse oil in water by blending first with a teaspoon of honey or jojoba oil before adding to your foot bath) to relieve tired, swollen ankles and feet.

Peppermint relieves congested sinus cavities, aids concentration and is good for memory retention, restorative for mental fatigue, use alone or in a blend when studying for an exam.

Known to clears brain fog when fatigued Peppermint is great for keeping alert!

An analgesic or pain reliever use Peppermint for relieving tummy aches, or sore, achy muscles and joints.

May be used to ease a variety of skin irritations, including Poison Oak and Poison Ivy. Add a drop or two to your favorite anti-itch lotion or ointment when treating insect bites and stings.

Use as a food flavoring in recipes that call for mint, or add a drop to your favorite cooling summer drink and enjoy a refreshing break in your day!

Try a synergistic blend of Peppermint with any of the following aromatic oils: Basil, Black Pepper, Ginger, Orange, Marjoram and Rosemary.

CAUTION: Although excellent for nausea, peppermint should be avoided during pregnancy due to its stimulating properties. Peppermint cools by constricting your blood capillaries therefore please use in extremely weak dilutions. Peppermint Oil may aggravate GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease), a type of heart burn.

Please join me for Part VIII in this series of articles to learn about the next essential oil I recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit, TEA TREE ( Melaleuca alternifolia ).

Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary and alternative health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years. During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury. Through her unique AromaTest? system KG formulates essential oil blends that heal.

Please note: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use organic, or ethically wild crafted oils whenever possible.

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. KG formulates aromatic oils for: colds and flu, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, menopause, anti-aging, skin care and more. KG's DVD & book about her AromaTest system, Your Aromatic Signature ~ How to Formulate Blends that Heal, are scheduled for release in 2006. Click for PurePlant Essentials Menu & Essential Oils Kits: Pure Organic & Wild Crafted Essential Oils & Kits Click to order Basic Essential Oils Kit. KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315

วันอังคารที่ 30 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

5 Natural Remedies For 5 Common Ailments You Can Find In Your Kitchen

Below are just a few of the natural remedies I have tried on my husband, three sons, friends, family and myself. They really work! Open your mind to trying the herbs and spices that God has given us in their natural form. These healing remedies cannot hurt you because they are not processed into chemicals but are natural and absolutely safe to use.

EAR INFECTION:

Next time your child has an earache blend up three tablespoons olive oil with one clove of garlic in your blender until smooth. Have your child lie down with the hurt ear face up. With a cue tip or a bulb syringe put two or three drops into the ear, letting it drip down into the canal. Have a wet washcloth handy incase any of it drips down onto your child?s neck.

Make sure your child stays lying down while the oil and garlic mixture drains down into the ear canal completely, about a half hour or so. After about five or ten minutes your child will tell you that it tickles inside their ear that means it is working. Do this remedy three times a day or when your child complains of pain. The oil cleans out the earwax and the garlic heals the infection.

No more earache, no more doctors! You can now cure the common earache your self! Amazing, isn?t it?

TOOTHACHE:

Have a toothache? This solution is only temporary to ease the excruciating pain of a toothache. I know how painful a toothache can be and I ran across this old kitchen remedy years ago when it was too late to rush to the dentist.

Blend up about two tablespoons whole cloves in the blender until blended into powder form. Mix this with 1-tablespoon olive oil to make a paste. With your finger, dab directly on the infective tooth and gum area, wait 5 minutes. You will be so relieved you tried this natural remedy. Absolutely unbelievable that it really works! The properties in the clove actually numb your gums!

STOMACH VIRUS:

This remedy only works if you do it BEFORE you start to feel sick. If there is a stomach virus going around the school or in your home and you?re thinking that you might be next to get this awful virus, eat a bunch of raw garlic. Yeah, that?s right. Most people think I?m crazy when I tell them to do this but I know it works. I do it myself every time I know there is a stomach virus going around.

Eat two good sized or three small cloves of garlic every four hours and you will not get the stomach virus. Do this as long as someone is sick around you. This will only work by eating the real garlic. Taking the pill form will not work! You might smell like garlic for while but this all natural and safe remedy will also ward off any vampires coming to your home. Your spouse might not kiss you for the day either. But it sure beats getting terribly ill to your stomach for 24 or 48 hours! Garlic to your health!

ACID REFLUX:

This method is an absolute miracle cure! You will love its properties. Do you have acid in your stomach after eating? Throw away the Tums and Rolaids because they just make your acid worse in the long run. Try this. Mix 1-tablespoon powdered ginger with warm water in an 8 ounce coffee cup. Sip it down slowly. You will see that this remedy works instantly.

I call this the ginger tea remedy for acid reflux. Ginger is a safe and natural spice that can?t harm your system like those other antacids can. You will be astonished that this really works! You can also buy the whole ginger root and blend the root into a powder to get the same results. You will be flabbergasted that ginger can get rid of your acid. It?s safe, cheap and miraculous!

CONSTIPATION:

Senna Leaf Herbal Tea is so much better for you than those other over the counter medications. Senna leaf is an all-natural herb and it taste good too. I was absolutely amazed when this worked so well. Brew it like any other tea by steeping in hot water for 5 minutes. You can add honey or lemon to the tea if you like.

There are several different brands you can buy that have Senna Leaf Herb in it. I have always used ?Smooth Move? available from Wal-Mart or even your local grocery store. No matter what brand you decide to use, read the ingredients and make sure that Senna Leaf is the active ingredient. You will be relieved that you decided to try a more natural approach. You'll love this tea.

To your health!

Angie Lewis offers spiritual enlightenment tips for couples in marriage, and is the author of new release book JOURNEY ON THE ROADS LESS TRAVELED. This unique book is about love, life, marriage, addiction, temptation, and understanding the power of spiritual awareness for your marriage.

In her book, Angie reveals her own journey of overcoming addiction and battling with her negative emotions that she allowed to embrace her life and marriage.

To find out more about this new book click here, http://www.spiritual.journeybooks.4t.com/ ISBN 1413788904 Avaliable Amazon online!

Angie Lewis counsels couples and writes a monthly newsletter where she reveals her secrets on how YOU can stay happily married for life! Subscribe to get your FREE monthly newsletter so you can stay happily and forever married! http://www.heavenministries.com/

Health and Fitness Essentials ? The Cardiovascular Workout

To accomplish a good cardio-vascular workout all you really need is a good pair of running shoes. Most cardio-vascular exercise needs little or no third party apparatus to help you accomplish your routine. Running, dancing, walking can all be done with no equipment (well, if dancing, then maybe some music would help). Other forms of cardio are step, circuit training, bike riding, swimming, aerobics and more...

With most exercise you should always remember to warm up first and cool down afterwards. This means gently stretching and moving your muscles to start off with. Suddenly moving into full exercise without building up first will cause problems such as stiffness and cramps. Ease yourself into it. Then after exercise, the cool down is basically gently moving the muscles and joints to stretch and relax, as your body returns to its normal pace.

Running:

Make sure you have a good pair of running shoes. The technology put into these shoes nowadays is highly researched and designed to reduce shock to the feet, ankles, legs and back. So don't skimp on these - you get what you pay for.

Before you start your run, be sure to warm up first. Start with a brisk walk ensuring you move your arms vigorously gradually breaking into a slow jog. It is better to run at a speed to which you can still converse. If you find yourself losing breath, slow your pace down until you've recovered. If you are a novice runner try running and walking, until you can hold your run for 15 minutes.

Now increase the length and time of your run by a couple of minutes every other time you hit the road or treadmill, until you can run for 30 minutes without stopping. Try to increase your run time by 10% each week, remember not to over do it and don?t forget to warm down at the end of each by slowing down gradually. When your run is complete stretch your legs for 30 seconds per muscle, hamstring, calf and thigh.

Cycling:

Cycling is one of the best ways to get a good cardio-vascular workout.

First of all, if you are riding on the roads safety is paramount, always use the appropriate safety equipment when road riding. You can stay fit by riding a bike to work, most people work within a five mile radius of there place of work, which is a perfect distance for a bike ride.

Exercise bikes can be used in a variety of ways, general riding for specified length of time, this is like going for a bike ride with out the dangers of road riding and the weather. Warm up riding you can use an exercise bike for warming up the legs before a leg workout. Also exercise bike classes, these classes are taken by an instructor, who will put you through various levels of pace, quite like a circuit training exercise with a bike.

You may find it surprising to find that riding a bike five miles 3 times per week will improve your heart rate, your posture, skin and weight control. Some even say that riding and running are great ways of relieving stress.

Swimming:

One of the best ways to firm up and trim your body down. Due to the resistance the water has on the body swimming involves all the major muscle groups this allows the body to burn up to 20% more calories than swimming through air. Swimming a few lengths per day will keep you fit and give you an excellent workout. Swimming also has less impact on the joints than say, running.

If you wish to take your swim a little further try picking up the pace of your swim, you can work up to a great aerobic exercise and give your body an excellent workout.

Start off by swimming 1-2 lengths at a time resting between sets if necessary, after you have swam ten lengths call it a day. The next day repeat the process until you can swim five lengths without a break. Progress to ten lengths in by adding an extra length each time you return.

You can put together your own cardio raining routing in the gym, if you have a problem with this then the staff on hand will write one for you and show you how to achieve your goal. Try to make your cardio last between an hour and an hour and a half. A good start point for cardio is always a run.

This cardio workout will work for a person of medium fitness, however adjust the times and pace according to your fitness levels.

1. Run at a light pace for 20 minutes, start off at a walking pace and gradually move to a run, this helps you get warmed up and the blood pumping.

2. Rowing machine- set the rowing machine for a countdown time of 15 minutes or keep a check on your watch or the clock. Start off with a slow rowing motion to get the pace up, maintain this steady pace throughout the full 13 minutes and use the 2 minutes to slow the pace down.

3. Move immediately on to exercise bike take a stead paced ride for 12 minutes with a sprint finish for the remaining 3 minutes.

4. After the exercise bike move directly on to the step climber for a period of 15 minutes climbing on a light level to get the legs going. Try to move at a swift pace for the full 15 minutes as this is the last of the leg work you will be doing.

5. When you have completed the step climber, move onto the abs bench for some crunches. 4 sets of crunches to failure is your target for this exercise. Try twisting your body and touching your left knee with your right elbow and vice versa.

6. The last exercise in this quick cardio workout is the leg raise apparatus. Bring your knees up to your chest for 3-4 sets for as many reps as possible (failure)

After the completion of this cardio workout, remember to do a full warm down by stretching the muscles. The full workout should take you around 1 hour 20 minutes.

Article supplied by Michael Aldridge. For health and fitness - simple steps to a healthy lifestyle, please visit our web site at http://www.healthfitness.informatee.com

Victorious

There it is again. I muttered to myself, frustrated as I washed my arm. Every morning for five or six days in the fall of 2003, I noticed this rust-colored sticky stuff that appeared in both drips and smears on my left forearm and thigh. I had no idea where it could be coming from.

Finally, on Sunday morning I found the answer. My eyes followed my hand as I wiped the steam from the bathroom mirror. Looking past my fingertips, there it was. To my shock and horror, the rust-colored sticky stuff easily dripped from my left nipple.

In disbelief, I collapsed into my bedroom chair, swirling with a mix of grief and fear. I stared at the blank white wall, feeling vacant, distant, disconnected from what I had just seen in the mirror. All I heard was that loud, penetrating silence that surrounds and encompasses every thought and movement.

I called my doctor and was told that this was not an emergency room issue, but did need immediate attention. It could be cancer or another of many health challenges. Then, I began to wonder, what now? What is next?

After an exam, the breast cancer specialist made an appointment for that same afternoon to have both a mammogram and an ultrasound. They took two sets of two x rays on each breast and a third x ray of a specific area of my right breast. I realized I could have two areas of concern, not just the one.

Next, was the ultrasound. I could see the area of my breast where they had done the extra mammogram. There was a dark mass which had a very different pattern than the rest of my breast. After the biopsy, I was diagnosed with infiltrating ductile carcinoma, a rare, aggressive, deadly cancer that can quickly metastasize to the bones and lungs. Next is death. I had symptoms of both bone and lung cancer.

The ultrasound of my left breast showed a trail of little beads. Masses unevenly lined up from my underarm to my nipple. This could not be good, I thought. These masses were rubbing against several ducts, causing bleeding and discharge. That was the rust-colored sticky stuff. My left breast was diagnosed with a rare hyperplastic disease involving multiple ducts. My oncologist felt that I also had cancer in this breast. She was deeply concerned, and wanted to immediately remove the mass in my right breast and cut off 1/3 or more of my left breast. From now on, on medical history forms, I would check the box for cancer.

Even before these diagnoses, I had already decided that I did not want surgery. In my heart, I really did not believe I would live through a surgery, much less the chemotherapy or radiation. I preferred an alternative approach. I did have my health insurance to pay for most medical expenses, but it did not cover alternative therapies. Also, I had previous long term health challenges. I wanted a fix, not just a partial solution. I chose Mye Cell treatments in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and worked with Dr. Melenie Dunn, NMD in Scottsdale, AZ. Her number is 480.556.6700. I am now cancer-free.

I have the confirmed belief that each of lifes moments hold a purpose and a gift. There are no accidents. Nothing is random. Lifes lessons come hand in hand with their opportunities. I do not always remember to live by these beliefs, but I do always come back to them. I knew that this particular lesson was about trust. It was about my ability to trust. It was about my confidence in myself. My confidence in God. The lesson was about realizing, knowing with every breath and every beat of my heart, that I Am Blessed. We All Are.

Doreene Clement, a cancer victor and author of The 5 Year Journal, is currently writing a new book, Blessed, about her life and her cancer experience.

For more information:
http://www.the5yearjournal.com
480.423.8095

Copyright 2005 OMDC, LLC All Rights Reserved

วันจันทร์ที่ 29 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Herbal Therapy for Acne Treatment

Because prevention is the best way to protect your skin from the scarring associated with severe acne, many dermatologists recommend that controlling problematic acne through diet, regular cleansing procedures, and herbal remedies, is the most effective way to combat the tendencies of skin that is prone to acne and acne-related scarring.

Treatments that accentuate the regulation of daily habits having to do with diet, physical exercise, mood control, and other activities, are known as holistic treatments. Holistic treatments often include herbal therapies.

Herbalists recommend the following herbal remedies for acne and scarring:

?Black currant seed oil taken in 500-milligram capsules three times a day for three months or until acne is diminished.

?Evening primrose oil taken in 500-milligram capsules three times a day for three months or until acne is diminished.

?Teas made from a combination of echinacea, tea tree oil, goldenseal, nettles, or calendula.

?Teas made from lavender or chamomile, to help reduce acne-causing stress.

?Chinese herbs such as cnidium seed and honeysuckle flower.

?Teas made from cumin, coriander, and fennel, steeped for 10 minutes in hot water and consumed three times a day after meals.

Some alternative medicine practitioners recommend using diet as a way to combat acne and acne-related scarring. These practitioners believe that diets high in beta-carotene help to reduce the factors that contribute to severe acne. Orange and yellow foods such as carrots, pumpkin, and cantaloupe are loaded with beta-carotene and should be a regular part of the diet of anyone suffering from acne and scarring.

Another dietary recommendation for acne-sufferers is to consume many bland foods such as oatmeal, rice, brown grains, and applesauce. These foods should be eaten instead of spicy foods and fried foods, which are believed by some practitioners to stimulate the hormones and glands that aggravate acne conditions.

A daily practice of yoga is commonly recommended as a way to increase the flow of blood to the face. This helps to flush acne-causing toxins and to provide your facial skin with natural nutrients that help to decrease the formation of acne and to heal scar tissue.

People who suffer from acne should also take care to perform some simple daily rituals that can help to reduce the occurrence of acne and scarring.

Dermatologists and alternative medicine practitioners suggest that acne-sufferers should wash the area twice daily with mild soap. Washing should be gentle. Scrubbing or grating the skin will only aggravate the condition and lead to scarring.

Hair should be washed thoroughly and regularly and should be kept away from the face and shoulders.

Acne sufferers should also avoid shaving as much as possible. When shaving, take care not to run the blade over blemishes. Always use a new blade so as not to spread infection.

Avoid wearing make-up and facial cosmetics. If you must, take care to use make-up that is hypoallergenic.

In order to prevent scarring, do not pop or squeeze pimples. Popping and squeezing pimples is tempting, but can easily cause infection and the development of unwanted scar tissue.

While many of these holistic therapies can be easily performed at home, it is a good idea to speak with your dermatologist or alternative medicine practitioner about the best holistic measures to take as a way to help with acne and acne-related scarring.

Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and currently provides information on treating acne, pimples, and zits, via an objective informational skincare website, http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com

Enjoy These Tips for Living a Healthy Life

What is more important than the way you feel? Is there anything more important? Your physical health, the way your body feels, is probably the most important determining factor in the way you feel. Any feeling, weather it be physical or emotional is experienced through our bodies and by applying these simple tips for living a healthy life, the way you feel will vastly improve.

Psychoneuroimmunology, the science of the mind-body relationship, has now produced scientific evidence of the effect of your mind on your body and vice versa. Depressed people use their bodies in a certain way that causes them to feel depressed and by just changing simple things like their facial expressions, studies have shown, they can literally change the way they feel instantly.

The significance of this fact is that it proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that our physical bodies have a tremendous effect on the way we feel both physically and emotionally. The one thing we are all pursuing in life is happiness and happiness is nothing but feeling good. By following some basic tips for living a healthy life we can make significant changes in the way we feel physically, emotionally and mentally.

We've all heard the clich? a healthy body houses a healthy mind and thanks to scientific research we now know this for a fact. Also, the opposite is equally true: a healthy mind equals a healthy body. If we learn to be in control of our emotional association to food, we will automatically take care of our bodies. The instant satisfaction we get from junk food caused a lot of people to make pleasurable association (in their subconscious minds) to these foods that lead to overeating and addiction.

Living a healthy life starts with your body. If you take care of your body you will develop that sense of pride in yourself and the consequently the way you feel about yourself (or your self esteem).

With this in mind, let me offer you some very simple and basic tips for living a healthy life. Firstly, realize the importance of oxygen to your body and your health. Breathing is not just to get oxygen to our vital organs. Every cell in your body requires oxygen for it's survival and health.

You are only as healthy as the cells in your body. In order to fully oxygenate our bodies we must learn to breathe deeply, fully and effectively. Deep, diaphragmatic breaths will, apart from oxygenating your system, stimulate the movement of lymph fluid through the body. Lymph is the body's natural cleansing system, essential to keeping your cells free from toxins and maintaining a healthy environment for the cells of your body to live in. To breathe properly you must breathe in the following ratio: inhale(1) : hold(2) : exhale(4). For example inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 8 seconds and exhale for 16 seconds. Doing this simple exercise with 10 deep breaths 5 times a day will vastly increase your health, your energy and help maintain a healthy immune system.

Secondly, understand the importance of water to your body and health. Our bodies consist mainly of fluids and water, along with oxygen is the basis of all life. Taking sufficient amounts of water is essential for health and life, but also we need to avoid foods that drain our bodies from vital fluids. Foods that are high in sugar, salt, caffeine and preservatives will actually absorb fluids from your body causing certain vital functions to shut down. Eating foods that are naturally rich in water is essential and include all fruits, vegetables and sprouts.

Your body is your temple and what you put in is what you get out. Stop abusing it and adhere to these simple tips for living a healthy life. The very least you must do to life a healthy life is to stop depriving your body from the two most essential element, water and oxygen.

Applying these simple tips for living a healthy life will vastly improve your health and consequently the way you feel. When we feel good life is a pleasure and we suck from it all the juice. Life is a gift and know that tomorrow is not promised to you. Live everyday like it's your last and constantly seek out tips for living a healthy life and improving yourself and the quality of your life. It's all out there and the only thing that is required to have whatever you want from life is for you to go and get it. Just do it and do it with passion and joy.

This article is published with the permission of the author, Deon Du Plessis. He is the founder of The Self Improvement Gym, a network of website dedicated to helping ordinary people create extraordinary lives by improving themselves in every area of their lives. For more information and free tips, books and courses please visit http://www.tonyrobbinsaudiobooks.com for the best from Self Improvement guru, Tony Robbins.

Veggies for Breast Health? The Breast Cancer/Vegetable Connection

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer women get, putting lung cancer second to this growing female epidemic. Although the exact causes of breast cancer still are not known, studies and statistics show that a woman's risk of getting breast cancer increases as she ages.

A new intriguing study suggests - no, concludes - that not only is a vegetable-rich diet good for preventing breast cancer, but it also significantly improves a breast cancer patient's odds of the disease returning after remission.

You may have been going all these years, thinking that eating your veggies was just a good health measure that was only the skinny minnies and health nuts. Well, new studies are showing that the consumption of vegetables is not only preventative maintenance against many kinds of cancers, but it also dramatically improves a woman's odds of breast cancer returning once she has gone into remission.

Not only is it the mere consumption of your leafy greens and brightly colored veggies, it's also got a lot to do with the variety of veggies that are consumed. The wider the variety, the better the women's chances were in the study of continuing on in full remission and recovery from their cancer.

The Carotenoid Connection

So, what exactly is the responsible factor for this improvement of odds against the return of cancer? It's a tiny little micronutrient, found commonly in many vegetables, called carotenoids which is believed to be responsible. The reason this conclusion was reached is that women who did not see their breast cancer return tested with very high carotenoid blood levels, while the women who did see their breast cancer return did not.

The same women who had high levels of this potent antioxidant compound said that they not only consumed a veggie-rich diet, but that they also consumed a wider variety of vegetables in their diet, which lends itself to higher levels of this antioxidant in the blood stream. This translates into a powerful anti-cancer message : Eat your veggies, just like your grandma said.

Visit Natural Breasts: Enhancement and Health for information on how to naturally manage breast health, as well as beautify your breasts and keep them healthy and young. Danna Schneider is the founder of Breast Enhancement.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 28 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

The Silent Villain

After a restful sleeps night, do you wake up feeling completely drained before you even put a foot on the floor? Even though you are a very focused individual, are your thoughts often foggy? You actively exercise and eat right, but are you still at least 15 pounds or more overweight? Despite your dietary limitations, is your stomach swollen? Even though you are relatively young, do you feel 20 years older than you are?

If these are very familiar symptoms that seem completely out of your control, relax. There could be an underlying condition in your system taking over and leaving you helplessly behind. That condition could be Candidia albican.

What is Candida?

Candida albican is a yeast that is normally found in the body, usually the digestive system (mouth, throat, and intestines). It is necessary because it destroys harmful bacteria and protects our bodies. There are millions of Candida albicans in a healthy system, and the immune system keeps it regulated with the ?friendly? bacteria such as Lactobacillus acidophilus and B. bifidum.

Low stomach acid and/or poor digestion can cause food matter to be left in the digestive system. Candida's job is to pick up this left over food matter to keep the digestive system working properly. If it fails to do this, harmful bacteria can grab the food deposits and reproduce. An overgrowth of candida (Candidiasis) can cause an array of problems. When the amount of ?friendly? bacteria (Lactobacillus acidophilus and B. bifidum) is reduced due to antibiotics, refined sugar, and toxins, the candida out number the ?friendly? bacteria and it will change the candida from a yeast to a fungal and actually become a threat to the body. When this happens you can experience many effects, including weight gain, food cravings, headaches, depression, fatigue, etc. Due to Candidiasis many symptoms, it's often either undetected or misdiagnosed for many years, causing more and more problems down the line.

Candidiasis can inhibit fat loss and cause your stomach to distend out. It is a new condition, created by side effects of antibiotics and refined foods. In addition, birth control pills, chemotherapy, radiation, stress, and overeating all can be contributors to Candidiasis. It may be one of the primary cause of weight issues and obesity.

Why it's not recognized

Doctors routinely treat women for localized yeast infections in the vaginal tract, but rarely consider that the same yeast can cause problems in other areas of the body, such as the digestive tract. This is primarily due to the fact that doctors aren't taught this in medical school. The primary focus in medical school is drugs and procedures. Little is taught on actually preventing and curing ailments and diseases.

In addition, Candidiasis symptoms are lengthy and are very similar to other illnesses and diseases such as sinusitis. In efforts to treat the sinusitis, the doctors prescribed antibiotics, which make the Candidiasis worse!

Candidiasis is also many times misdiagnosed as cancer. Yes, an overgrowth of Candidia albican can show up a cancer on medical testing. I personally had two e-clients who had cancerous cells on their ovaries. I encourage them to do a detoxify cleansing and within six weeks, both ladies were cancer cell free. Needless to say, their doctors could careless how they did it.

Since Candidiasis is often not diagnosed, the problems spread and many times, more and more antibiotics are administered. This puts a strain on the immune system making the body more susceptible to other illnesses, infections, diseases, and the ability to lose fat difficult. Sadly, Candidiasis is a disease brought on by our medical community and convenient lifestyle of antibiotics, birth control pills, refined carbohydrates, etc.

How Candidiasis Affects Your Weight

Candidiasis and can be one of the contributing factors that many people are overweight or have difficulty losing weight. Candidiasis is basically your digestion process is all messed and causes you to store more fat. This is largely due to the fact that the toxins in the digestive system cause the body to become more acidic. When the body is in an acidic condition, it can not burn fat, build muscle, and the body is more prone to illnesses and diseases. The weight gain from Candidiasis can be any where from 15 to 50 pounds and this weight is stored in the gut.

As the Candidiasis becomes more widespread throughout the body, your cravings for sugar and refined carbs intensify. This overwhelming sensation can cause you to succumb to your cravings, allowing the Candidiasis to thrive longer and stronger and keeping you at its whim.

Candidiasis Signs and Symptoms can include:
?Sluggish metabolism
?Increases in carb and sugar cravings
?Improper digestion
?Food allergies
?Weight gain
?Gas and/or cramping or bloating after eating
?Hypoglycemia
?Feeling light headed after eating certain foods
?Fatigue after eating
?Feeling drunk after a high carb meal since Candidiasis waste is alcohol

Other Signs and Symptoms can include:
?Intense PMS
?Chest pain
?Joint pain
?Night sweats
?Mood swings
?Depression
?Memory loss
?Blurred visions
?Headaches
?Insomnia
?Fungal infections (yeast infections, athletes foot, etc.)
?Sexual dysfunction
?Rashes, hives, or other skin conditions
?Anxiety
?Hyperactivity
?Excessive mucus in throat, nose and lungs
?Sinus pressure

Other Contributing Factors

Antibiotics are usually the primary cause of Candidiasis. Healthy bacteria that line the digestive tract are destroyed by antibiotics. This can allow for an overgrowth of Candidia too. Personally, I think doctors are too quick to prescribe drugs to treat ailments rather than getting to the root of the problem. Most of the time, the prescribed drugs cause more side effects than treating the problem.

Pregnancy predisposes a woman to Candidiasis because it alters the body's pH balance and becomes more acidic. An acidic environment is the perfect breeding ground for a Candidia yeast overgrowth.

Reduced bowel movements keep fecal matter in the colon too long. You should be having at least three bowel movements a day, if not more. Animals have a bowel movement after each meal. This is normal. If you are having less than three bowel movements a day, you could possibly have Candidiasis. Candidiasis is at its all time high to do mainly antibiotics, but also the standard American diet. Today's ?nutrition? contains a great deal of refined foods, including fast food, sodas, pastas, breads, etc. Refined carbs and sugar just give Candidia a breeding ground to multiply and take over.

We are also exposed to antibiotics and other drugs in animal meats and other animal products we eat. Steroids and antibiotics are given to livestock in mass amounts to prevent infection and induce growth. This is why it's so important to eat organic.

Dairy products carry trace amounts of antibiotics. Not only that, the processing milk goes through destroys the milks natural enzymes. The sugar in milk also creates a breeding ground for Candidiasis to multiply. Another not so recognized factor in Candidiasis is environmental factors. This includes pesticides, additives, and preservatives in your food, car exhaust, chemical plants, heavy metals, and most commercial personal hygiene products. These elements are foreign to the body, and therefore the body cannot digest it. These chemicals sit in the digestive tract and become toxic and make the body acidic.

Are you a Candidiasis Candidate?
1.Have you ever or do you use birth control pills?
2.Have you ever or do you take antibiotics?
3.Have you ever or do you take steroids?
4.Have you ever or do you have fungal infections? (yeast infections or athletes foot)
5.Do you commonly experience any of the above Signs or Symptoms? You can get rid of Candidiasis. In doing so you will have more energy, think clearer, clear up your skin, reduce your stomach pouch, lose weight, etc.

Conquering Candidiasis

There are alternative therapies for eliminating yeast. You must address the problem at the source and not merely ?treat? it with drugs. You must rid the overgrowth of Candidia by adopting a natural and organic diet. Fiber is a major issue in fighting off Candidiasis. Fiber helps the body to flush toxins and bowel. Friendly bacteria need a diet rich in fiber to survive to fight off the fungus.

Sweating is an excellent way to detoxify your body and all your major organs. It is imperative that you sweat six times a week for 20-30 minutes to pull out impurities. You need to be sweating through system, not energy sweat, and therefore exercise sweating does not count. Dry saunas would be best. This is a very important step, and if you neglect it, you will be neglecting the detoxifying purpose.

Also, include nutritional supplements, herbs, and probiotics. Taking this natural approach can clear out Candidiasis in about six months to a year. It can take a long time because it thrives on impurities we consume and absorb.

Natural Steps You Can Take To Eliminate Candidiasis:
?Do a Candidia cleanse to purge the impurities
?Drink up to a gallon of filtered water a day to flush out dead yeast cells
?Eat more veggies for fiber
?Eat more whole grains such as rye or millet
?Avoid yeast and mold containing foods (cheeses, grapes, mushrooms)
?Avoid refined foods, sugar, and alcohol
?Avoid artificial sweeteners, additives, preservatives, etc.
?Eat organic foods
?Cabbage is a wonderful source of friendly bacteria.
?Virgin Olive Oil
?Even though yogurt has concentrated Lactobacilli that will suppress unhealthy bacteria, the sugar in it feeds the unhealthy bacteria. Freeze-dried L. acidophilus supplement would be superior.

Supplements You Can Take to Eliminate Candidiasis:
?Potent Multivitamin daily
?Vitamin C ? 10-15 grams a day
?Vitamin E - 400 iu a day
?Zinc Chelate 25-50 mg a day
?Pantothenic Acid - 250 mg a day
?Taurine - 500-1000 mg a day
?Essential Fatty Acids (evening primrose oil, black current oil or borage oil) ? 6-8 grams a day
?Goldenseal Root - 250 mg twice a day
?Pau D'Arco ? 2,000 mg twice a day
?Garlic ? 2,000 mg twice a day
?Caprylic acid ? 1,000 ? 2,000 mg daily with food
?Chlorophyll ? 100 mg daily
?Lactobacillus acidophilus ? 1 tsp three times a day (Take after 8 weeks of detoxing)
?Digestive enzyme with hydrochloric acid (HCL) before and after each meal. If you have ulcers, choose a digestive enzyme without HCL.
?German chamomile tea before and after meals will help to stimulate HCL

Keep in mind it could take several months to a year to rid your body of Candidiasis, if you don't stop feeding the fungus when truing to detoxify it. It thrives on impurities and an acidic environment. Therefore, as you cleanse with supplements, it's just as important to stop destructive behaviors such as eating the foods that can cause the Candidiasis to grow. Once you clean the yeast out of your system you will feel and look like a new person. You will find that weight control is not such a struggle and you will feel completely rejuvenated.

Karen Sessions has been in the fitness industry since 1988. She embarked on weight training to overcome an eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa in its early stages. She overcame the eating disorder, received her personal training certificate, competed in many local bodybuilding contests, and qualified for Nationals. Since then she?s went on to write six e-books (weight loss, female bodybuilding, contest preparation, leg training, figure/fitness secrets, and cellulite removal). She writes articles for several fitness websites, as well as her own, www.theelitephysique.com, and also distributes a monthly e-newsletter. She has a very active and lively forum, filled with positive and supportive people with informative content. Karen?s sole goal is to educate others and help them apply that knowledge.

Natural Antibiotics

CINNAMON BARK (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)- A powerful antiseptic oil with a strong pungent, spicy aroma and reddish brown color. Cinnamon has a long tradition of use, having been produced in Sri Lanka for more than 2,000 years.

Research shows that virus, bacteria, and fungus cannot survive in the presence of cinnamon oil. Cinnamon bark oil has even stronger antiseptic properties than Cinnamon Leaf and readily kills bacterial and fungal infections.

Historically Cinnamon has been used in the Middle East and the Orient for combating viruses and infectious diseases. It has been used as a treatment for fever, diarrhea and menstrual irregularities, as well as indigestion, cramps, nausea, vomiting and colic. Inflammations of the throat and pharynx may also be relieved through its use. Inhalation of Cinnamon has proven effective for relieving respiratory infections.

In Ayurvedic medicine Cinnamon is used to relieve many common complaints such as those already noted and to balance the various doshas or body types: Vata, Pita and Kapha.

The trees are cut every two years to just above ground level. The bark is harvested from the new shoots, then dried. The outer bark is stripped away, leaving the inner bark, which is the primary part of the herb used for medicinal purposes. The medicinal value of the herb is attributed to the oil extracted from the inner bark as well as the leaves.

Cinnamon bark is one of the most popular food flavoring and a valued commodity on the world market. Because it kills the bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum disease Cinnamon Bark is a common ingredient in many common oral hygiene products like toothpaste, mouthwash and breath fresheners. It is also used for making perfume, soap, chewing gum, lip stick, nasal spray, cough syrup and soda pop drinks.

Cinnamon Bark continues to be a valued treatment for various common ailments. As in ancient times modern day herbalists continue to prescribe cinnamon bark as a remedy for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and indigestion. Chinese herbalists recommend it for asthma sufferers when their symptoms are brought on by cold, digestive disturbances, backache, or menstrual related difficulties.

Cinnamon bark is known to regulate blood sugar levels and may reduce the amount of insulin required for glucose metabolism by diabetics. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers found a dose of 1/8 to 1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon to be beneficial in regulating blood glucose levels.

I rely on Cinnamon Bark in my health care practice to keep the air fresh and clear of bugs and for preventing the spread of infection. Clients absolutely love its fresh, clean scent and enjoy the benefits it so readily bestows that of preventing and relieving cold and flu symptoms.

Cinnamon?s powerful scent is a definite pick-me-up! It is useful for relieving brain fog, common among chronic pain sufferers, as well as the winter blahs.

Cinnamon Leaf essential oil enhances circulation making it excellent for warming you when you are feeling chilled down to your bones! Try 1-8 drops of Cinnamon Bark or Leaf essential oil blended in 1 ounce of Jojoba oil and massage your feet with a small amount of the mixture then put on your socks and enjoy warm happy feet all day!

Keep warm when engaging in winter outdoor sports by rubbing a small amount of this same mixture on your chest and abdominal area, as well as over the lung area on your back.

Please note: There are many cheap chemical copies of essential oils available, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results always use ethically wild crafted or pure, organic essential oils that are pesticide free!

CAUTION: An intensely powerful oil to be used with respect and extreme caution. Generally not for skin applications except in weak dilutions of less than 1%. May cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Due to its stimulating properties should be avoided during pregnancy, by lactating mothers, or young children.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary and alternative health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind and spirit to enhance your health. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. KG's DVD & book, Your Aromatic Signature ~ How to Formulate Blends that Heal, are scheduled for release in 2006. To learn more & purchase: Order Certified Organic Cinnamon Bark Please refer to KG's Essentials Safety Guide before using any aromatic oils! KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win Contact: KG Stiles Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315

Holistic Approach to Health

Holistic or Holism is an approach that emphasizes the whole being, the entire structure, but looks at how each part affects the whole. It deals with life situations with the whole being in mind, while treating the individual parts that are affected and not treating just symptoms. Your problem is not like a car that gets a flat tire and you replace the tire. It is more like a shopping cart that has a bad wheel, which affects and vibrates the entire cart.

Holistic medicine attempts to treat all the systems of the being: the mind, the body, the emotions, and the spirit. The holistic approach brings balance and harmony to the entire structure by paying attention to the specific parts and systems of the body. The symptoms are analyzed to identify the existing problem/s that are affecting the parts and then treated with the whole-being in mind rather than treating only the parts that exhibit the symptoms. The Holistic Approach deals with all of the life force energy available, which includes the physical and the energetic aspects.

The human body as a whole is made up of many parts, each of which is dependent upon the other for a balanced functioning of the system as a whole. Each system is interdependent upon the other. It?s called looking at the bigger picture. Something we do that affects the whole is that we absorb, digest, and inhale toxins every day. These toxins develop free radicals (oxidation, which is rust in the body). Unless we offset the free radicals with anti-oxidants, our bodies will rust from the inside out. As we mature, our body continually changes; remove one critical molecule, or let one cancer cell become a rogue, and the entire structure changes.

From a Holistic stand-point the balance that everyone is looking for comes from: A good diet, plenty of rest, re-learning how to breath effectively, drinking good water every day, learning how to handle stress, having a good exercise program and learning how to turn your life over to a Higher Power.

Michael McCright is a Holistic Health Practitioner, educator, coach, and motivational speaker. His website: http://www.bodymindconnection.com covers a variety of health concerns. Michael is co-producer of an informative and educational DVD: ?TMJ Relief?. For information and holistic solutions regarding TMJ disorder, go to: http://www.holisticspecifics.com. ? 2005 Michael McCright ? Reprints allowed as long as copy is complete with last paragraph and copyright information.

วันเสาร์ที่ 27 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Essential Oils Kit Part 1

Aromatherapy is Nature's Medicine in its purest and most essential form. Aromatic Oils are the very soul of a plant. Even a drop or two can produce significant results for your body, mind and spirit.

The increasing respect that aromatherapy commands from the general public, hospitals, and medical centers around the world speaks for itself, as more and more people benefit from this gentle and subtle, yet highly effective therapy.

Whether you use aromatherapy as a stand alone or as a complementary first aid treatment there are several aromatic oils I'd like to recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit.

My recommendations include important details for you to consider when purchasing an oil, such as its Latin Name, Country of Origin, Method of Extraction and Part of the Plant Used. I also list the best oils to consider when creating a synergistic blend.

BLUE TANSY (Tanacetum anuum ~ Moroccan Blue Chamomile) Wild crafted, steam distilled flowers from Morocco.

Blue Tansy's delightful scent is warmly herbaceous with a complex sweetness that to me is reminiscent of apples with a hint of spice. Most people invariably love the friendly and inviting scent of this oil!

Keywords: ALLERGY & PAIN RELIEVER Blue Tansy has a high azulene content which gives it a deep, vivid blue color. It can stain so take care! Azulene gives Blue Tansy its characteristic and powerful vascular and bronchio-dialating properties making it a very effective natural anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory.

Blue Tansy's natural anti- inflammatory action makes it an exceptionally good relaxant. It soothes nervous tension and calms stress and may be used alone or in a blend for relieving muscular soreness, aches and pains, sprains and strains, arthritis, rheumatism and sciatica.

Due to its bronchio-dilating properties Blue Tansy may be beneficial for allergy and asthma sufferers, blending it with Lemongrass will enhance this effect. Its analgesic properties may also help reduce any swelling or itching associated with allergies.

I've had great success using Blue Tansy with clients who have suffered for years from chronic allergic reactions to environmental allergens.

Blue Tansy is also known to relieve burns and inflamed or sun damaged skin. My friend Sylla, owner of Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, used Blue Tansy for relieving the effects of her radiation treatment for cancer.

Aside from a synergistic blend with Lemongrass to enhance its bronchio-dialating properties for asthma sufferers Blue Tansy is yummy alone!

Please join me for part II in this series of articles to learn about the next essential oil I recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit, German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita).

Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary and alternative health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years. During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury. Through her unique AromaTest? system KG formulates essential oil blends that heal.

Please note: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use organic, or ethically wild crafted oils whenever possible.

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. KG formulates aromatic oils for: colds and flu, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, menopause, anti-aging, skin care and more. KG's DVD & book about her AromaTest system, Your Aromatic Signature ~ How to Formulate Blends that Heal, are scheduled for release in 2006. Click to see PurePlant Essentials Menu & Essential Oils Kits: Order Pure Organic & Wild Crafted Essential Oils Kit Click to see and order Complete Essential Oils Kit. KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315

Essential Oils Kits Part VII

Whether you use aromatherapy as a stand alone or as a complementary first aid treatment there are several aromatic oils I'd like to recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit.

My recommendations include important details for you to consider when purchasing an oil, such as its Latin Name, Country of Origin, Method of Extraction and Part of the Plant Used. I also list the best oils to consider when creating a synergistic blend.

PEPPERMINT ( Mentha piperita ) - Certified Organic, Steam Distilled Leaf, England and USA have wonderful distillations.

Peppermint is a fluid, colorless oil with a fresh, distinctly penetrating scent.

Keywords: COOL & REFRESHING Peppermint acts as a regulator and has a relaxing or invigorating effect depending on the circumstance for which you are using it.

A good blood cleanser it is both antiseptic and antibacterial!

Peppermint is well known for relieving migraine type headache, as well as headache resulting from weak or poor digestive forces, congestion or sluggish circulation.

It is also known to relieve nausea from motion sickness.

As well as being helpful for treating acne, swollen gums, mouth thrush, or ulcers and toothache.

Soak your tired feet in a foot bath with a drop or two of Peppermint (disperse oil in water by blending first with a teaspoon of honey or jojoba oil before adding to your foot bath) to relieve tired, swollen ankles and feet.

Peppermint relieves congested sinus cavities, aids concentration and is good for memory retention, restorative for mental fatigue, use alone or in a blend when studying for an exam.

Known to clears brain fog when fatigued Peppermint is great for keeping alert!

An analgesic or pain reliever use Peppermint for relieving tummy aches, or sore, achy muscles and joints.

May be used to ease a variety of skin irritations, including Poison Oak and Poison Ivy. Add a drop or two to your favorite anti-itch lotion or ointment when treating insect bites and stings.

Use as a food flavoring in recipes that call for mint, or add a drop to your favorite cooling summer drink and enjoy a refreshing break in your day!

Try a synergistic blend of Peppermint with any of the following aromatic oils: Basil, Black Pepper, Ginger, Orange, Marjoram and Rosemary.

CAUTION: Although excellent for nausea, peppermint should be avoided during pregnancy due to its stimulating properties. Peppermint cools by constricting your blood capillaries therefore please use in extremely weak dilutions. Peppermint Oil may aggravate GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease), a type of heart burn.

Please join me for Part VIII in this series of articles to learn about the next essential oil I recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit, TEA TREE ( Melaleuca alternifolia ).

Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary and alternative health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years. During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury. Through her unique AromaTest? system KG formulates essential oil blends that heal.

Please note: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use organic, or ethically wild crafted oils whenever possible.

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. KG formulates aromatic oils for: colds and flu, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, menopause, anti-aging, skin care and more. KG's DVD & book about her AromaTest system, Your Aromatic Signature ~ How to Formulate Blends that Heal, are scheduled for release in 2006. Click for PurePlant Essentials Menu & Essential Oils Kits: Pure Organic & Wild Crafted Essential Oils & Kits Click to order Basic Essential Oils Kit. KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315

วันศุกร์ที่ 26 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Being Healthy Can be Fun

Many fear that our younger generation are being forced into a world of vedging out in front of the TV, spending hours playing computer games and indulging in what is perceived to be quite frankly a lazy lifestyle. Research into the growing rates of childhood obesity points towards such a lifestyle as one of the main triggering factors for this illness.

Campaigners are desperately trying to combat the ever growing statistics of obesity in children through a myriad of activities (http://www.feedmebetter.com ). Jamie Oliver?s landmark campaign Feed Me Better has grown from strength to strength and has forced schools across the UK to review the items known as junk food on the school menus. It?s finally time to say goodbye to turkey twizzlers and beans and chips. Thank goodness!

Undoubtedly children that are encouraged to eat a healthy diet and lead an active lifestyle will be in a better position both physically and mentally. So what can be done to lure our youngsters away from hours in front of the TV or computer?! Too many kids miss the opportunity to enjoy healthy activities in the fresh air.

There are a number of outdoor products on the market tailored to meet the needs of children, whilst maintaining a high standard of safety. The Early Learning Centre (ELC) offers some great products for your garden. With the summer finally in our midst it?s a great time to check out what?s available on the market. A fantastic product that is loved by all has got to be the trampoline. It is thought that the Eskimos, who used to toss each other up into the air on a walrus skin, came up with the first official type of trampolining. Here in the UK trampolining is said to have kicked off when a number of people holding a large blanket would toss a person into the air and catch them.

Trampolining is not only fun, it is healthy and an ideal method for children to remain active in a safe environment. The ELC site offers a buyers guide to trampolines to ensure you select the most suitable type for your children. Bounce surrounds and trampoline covers are also available.

In fact, who?s to say exciting forms of exercise like trampolining should be limited to children? Why not get one big enough for you to enjoy too. Not only would this help you to keep off the pounds, it would set a great example to our younger generation.

Michael is a keen writer, and internet marketer living in Scotland:

Contact details:
E-mail: samqam@googlemail.com
Phone: 0131 561 2251
Michael's Website: Taxi Belfast Airport

The Best Acne Treatments

The best acne treatments may be the ones that help you avoid the acne in the first place. The best acne treatments can be prescribed by your doctor. You will have to decide the best acne treatments for you.

One of the best acne treatments has to do with keeping your skin clean. There are many products on the market that can be considered some of the best acne treatments available.

Changes in your diet can be another one of the best acne treatments. Some people insist that one of the best acne treatments is to eat a high-fiber diet. The best acne treatments involving diet also mean cutting down on junk foods, chocolate, tea, coffee, fried foods, sugar, sodas and artificial sweeteners. These dietary changes are considered by many to be some of the best acne treatments.

The best acne treatments may be the ones that involve adding supplements to your diet. Acidophilus can be taken in capsule or liquid form and is usually taken 2 or 3 times a day. The best acne treatments that involve using supplements may also include some of the following: brewer?s yeast, chromium, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Vitamin C and E, Vitamin A and B-5, selenium, essential fatty acids and Vitamin B-complex.

The best acne treatments may be those suggested by your physician. Your family doctor may recommend a dermatologist who may know of the best acne treatments. There are medications that can be used to help with acne and your doctor will be able to prescribe them for you.

The best acne treatments may vary depending on the individual and the type of acne.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Clear-Skin-Solutions.com. He provides more acne clearing solutions, remedies and acne treatment information that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

NanoTube Cancer Weapons

Nano Technology may in fact hold the keys to fighting many different types of cancer in the human bio-system. The technologies are so promising we may see survival rates skyrocket, thus everyone can live strong in the upcoming decade. Nano Tubes use in fighting cancer is indeed, a unique process; it works by inserting tiny microscopic carbon synthetic rods into the body to deliver the cancer treatment to the exact spot needed. By directly aiming the rods into the cancer cells, the healthy tissue is saved.

This research is quite promising and is being researched by Stanford University. Chemotherapy seems to becoming a thing of the past. That is the theory that nuking the body and seeing which dies first; the cancer or the person. Even when the human survives it is left with huge amounts of destroyed tissue, which was not cancerous. When you see a person who is using chemotherapy to treat the cancer you see their hair fallout, but that is only one of many dire and serious side effects.

These nanotubes are so small they are the width of a DNA strand. The nano tubes will be heated up using near infrared light in a laser beam, which takes about two-minutes. The cancerous cells are quickly destroyed. This research is only in the preliminary stages but should be solved within the coming decade.

The nano tubes will be coated with a vitamin called folate, which is found in cancerous cells, but does not normally bind with healthy cells. Once these tubes touch the cancerous area they quickly bind and then are electrified with near infrared laser light, killing the cells. Nano Tube technologies are quickly coming of age and once they are available this process should be relatively easy to use. One cancer already targeted is Lymphoma and tests of the process are being done on mice with good results. There are other cancers it might work on well to and have been suggested. For instance Ovarian Cancers, Cervical Cancer and others; Nano Technology and biomedical processes are coming of age as we speak.

Lance Winslow

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 25 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Dry Skin Care

Your skin is said to be dry when the sebaceous glands in the skin are not actively functioning. Therefore your skin easily erupts due to the outdoor exposure such as heat, cold or any type of climatic odds.

People with dry skin must not excessively use hot water to moisturize the skin. Mineral water is best suited because it turns the face fresh. During the morning time as soon as you get up from sleep, splash some amount of mineral water on your face with a sprayer. Leave it to dry for sometime.

The usage of soap on dry skin should be minimal because it strips the natural oils from the skin and leaves the skin dry. Instead of using toilet soaps, moisturizers should be used because they add water content to the skin. A gentle and a thorough massage is required for the dry skin to turn moist. Preferably avoid using commercial products such soaps that contain harsh chemicals in them. The alkaline content is highly harmful to the skin so do not use alkaline soaps or washing sodas. Every night before going to bed a homemade nourishing cream should be applied on your face.

The best method to nourish your dry skin is by dampening your face first. Afterwards apply a single coat of moisturizer to your skin to turn your skin supple.

The below mentioned therapy is to be tried before having a bath.

Mix 1 egg yolk along with the 1 teaspoon orange juice, 1-teaspoon olive oil and, a few drops of rose water and 10 drops of limejuice and apply it to your skin.

If the above-mentioned tips are followed you will quickly restore your skin condition to normal.

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1677.html

You are welcome to republish the above article only if you add our hyperlinked URL.

Common Aromatherapy Uses

Aromatherapy as used today originated in Europe and has been practiced there since the early 1900s. Practitioners of aromatherapy believe that every oil has a vibration or note, which can be used for different therapeutic applications.

Aromatherapy can be used to relax and soothe the mind and body, to energize or even to arouse. Aromatherapy derived from the use of essential oils to solicit specific emotions. Essential oils have been used for thousands of years for their health supporting properties. The powerful aromas of essential oils affect your moods and feelings through your sense of smell.

By selecting a particular scent, you can encourage a state of relaxation, romance, healing or comfort. Essential oils can be used in Aromatherapy, to scent potpourri, lotions, cosmetics, perfumes, food flavorings and medicinally.

Additionally oils can be used in creating sachets, potpourri, reviving potpourri, and for light bulb scenting. Essential oils can also be used via the bath, diffusion, massage, or compress. Each individual person, fabric, or material may react differently to a particular suggested use.

Essential oils can be mixed in a cream essential oil combinations are applied directly to the skin for beauty care or treatment of sores or irritations. By using different essential oils, you can control the nature of those benefits.

A unique property of plants is that many contain natural fragrance or perfume-like scents known as essential oils. Essential oils come from plants while fragrance oils are artificially created and often contain synthetic chemicals.

Essential oils are taken from a plant's flowers, leaves, stalks, bark, rind, or roots. The yield of essential oil differs with individual plant species-ranging in most cases from about 0.2 to 2.0%. That's why literally tons of plant material are required for just a few hundred pounds of oil.

In some cases different organs of a single plant may contain essential oils of different chemical composition. In the end, even the smallest bottle of essential oil can create a lot of powerful solution. It is important to note that the benefits of aromatherapy do depend on the unique nature of each person's response to an aromatic stimulus.

Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items http://www.organic-items.com and Aromatherapy Blends http://www.aromatherapy-blends.net leading portals for organic products and essential oils.

Exercises to Improve Your Health Energy Digestion and Your Love of Life!

Did the title of this article catch your attention? I hope so. Most of us don't mind finding out new ways to feel better and have more energy. Yet, I'm afraid I'm not going to teach you anything that you don't already know.

Some people talk about the ?benefits? of exercising, such as increasing blood flow to your brain and major organs, improving digestion, reducing stress, increasing alertness, and boosting your immune system. That's a way to look at it.

Another way is that since our bodies are meant to move everyday, so it's not that exercises brings us any ?benefits? - this should be our natural state - but it's more that not exercising actually has negative consequences!

According to an article published in the Health & Fitness sections of the About.com Site, skipping exercise for two days in a row has bad effects on health.

It makes sense that we're meant to live an active life. Being sedentary was not the norm for human beings, even in the Western world, until just a few decades ago.

If you want better health, improved digestion, more energy and love of life, make a commitment to exercise EVERY SINGLE DAY, even if it's just to go out for a 30- minute walk.

Personally, I never had a session of exercise - biking, a long walk, hiking, yoga, weight lifting, or running - that I regretted. Even though I might not have felt like doing it when I started, I never thought to myself, Jeez, I shouldn't have gone for that bike ride or That was such a bad idea to take that yoga class!

***Exercise and Hunger***

When you exercise everyday, you will awaken your ?true hunger.? If you've read my book ?The Raw Secrets,? (http://www.therawsecrets.com) you know the importance of eating when you are truly hungry.

We know for example that hunger is widely recognized as a sign of health. Lack of appetite is also widely recognized as a sign of ill health.

Now, many of you have written to ask about this true hunger concept. Some people say that if they only eat when they are truly hungry, they hardly eat anything at all! Not even enough to sustain them.

The key to awaken this lost sense of hunger is to exercise everyday.

***Walking More for Health***

I'm personally trying to implement a new habit in my life. Every morning after I wake up, I go for a walk. While this is not the only exercise I try to get, it is a great way to start the day.

Otherwise, what I normally do is either start working immediately or check my e- mails. Not a good thing.With the morning walk, it gives me time to wake up, breathe some fresh air, get some exercise, meditate (or something like it), and if I want I can listen to audio-books on my iPod while walking.

Are there many health benefits to walking? Yes, but those are many health benefits of exercising in general. A 1-hour brisk walk with a few hills burns around 300 calories, so as many as a 30 minute jog.

Walk an exercise most people can do and the joys of walking are numerous. Breathing fresh air, taking time to see new places, beautiful surroundings, etc. It's also an exercise most people can do or start doing.

If one day you have absolutely no desire to exercise, go for a 1-hour walk. You'll feel much better afterwards.

A dog needs to walk everyday or else it's not going to stay healthy. Isn't it the same for us?

***Rebounding Exercises for Health***

What exercises can you do on a rainy day? Some people like to go jog in the rain, the mud and the cold. They are the brave ones. I like to watch them from my window. But seriously, that's not my style.

What can you do instead? I found a great workout I can do inside on a rainy do (or when it's too cold to go outside). It's rebounding, a way to exercise that is complete and has several health benefits.

I won't talk about the so-called benefits of cellular exercise. Because of the up- and-down movement of rebounding, apparently the lymph gets moving and this helps to detoxify and slow-down aging. I'm not sure if this is true, but it sounds great.

For me, the real benefits of rebounding is that it's something you can do inside on a rainy day. Plus, it can be a great cardio-endurance-toning workout if you know what to do with the rebounder.

So two tips for rebounding:

1- Get a good rebounder. Not those cheap ones at Walmart. Get something that will last and will give you a real bound. My rebounder is a NEEDAK that I got on E-bay.

2- Get a DVD workout for rebounder. Most people have no idea what to do with their rebounder. I had one for years and the only thing I was doing with it was to jump up and down once in a while, and it got boring. Since then, I got a great DVD which as several workouts, one which is 45 minute long and is great for many aspects of fitness. You can get it from Urban Rebounding, a company that also sells rebounders.

***The Magic of Calisthenics***

Everybody should learn a series of body-weight exercise. Not only are they something you can do anywhere (even when traveling), but they are also great to build strength and endurance.

Calisthenics include pushups, pullups, squats, lunges, and so on, including the thousands of variation on each exercise that can allow you to get the results that you want (strength training or endurance).

In a future article, I will give you a routine of body-weight exercise you can practice anywhere to have a great workout at no cost.

***Multi-Tasking***

Finally, I'd like to add that doing cardio-vascular exercise or walking can be a wonderful way to grow and learn. You can listen to recordings (either on a tape or CD player or iPod) to learn languages, listen to audio books, and learn something useful at the same time.

When I was studying German, Spanish and Portuguese, I was using every single minute I could to listen to language learning methods, including during exercise (but not during sleep!).

Now, I listen to audio books (I have a subscription to Audible - http:// www.audible.com) and learn about things that interest me. I listen to audio-books when I'm on my bike, when I go for a walk, and of course when I drive. I listen to music too, and sometimes I just look at the landscape.

Whether you use this exercise time to also learn and grow is entirely up to you. But keep in mind that daily exercise in a health requirement - and also a great joy!

Young entrepreneur, Frederic Patenaude, is the author of the best-selling e-book ?The Raw Secrets? and is known for his no-gimmick, BS-free approach to health and nutrition. To learn more about ?The Raw Secrets,? and to read his FR*EE how-to articles and newsletter, visit http://www.askfrederic.com

วันพุธที่ 24 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

9 Tips To Cleaner and Healthier Skin

For cleaner, healthier and easier to manage skin just follow this list of nine items:

1) Lower your stress level through prayer and meditation. Stress creates hormones that actually age us as they destroy cells and create toxic byproducts and free radicals. Studies have shown that prayer and meditation can reduce our stress levels. Prayer and meditation have been proven to even alleviate some of the symptoms of cancer and other life threatening diseases.

2) Drink plenty of water. It is a fact that 90% of us do not drink enough water. For your skin cells to function properly and heal properly from cuts, etc... we need to drink 8-12 glasses of water every day. Our skin is one of our most important organs as it protects us from disease, cushions our falls, etc... It needs plenty of water.

3) Get proper sleep. Not getting the proper 8-10 hours of sleep per day will first show in your skin. Broken capillaries, puffiness, circles under the eyes.

4) Eat well. Get proper nutrition. Too many junk foods can cause or worsen skin problems like pimples and acne. A well balanced meal 3 times per day has been proven to help alleviate spikes in skin problems and help to average out the outbreaks in acne vulgaris.

5) Take vitamins to supplement your skin and body. We can't always make sure we get 100% of each vitamin and mineral with the foods we eat, but we can take a multivitamin once a day. They are cheap at Walmart and there is no excuse. People that take multivitamins once a day live longer. Its a proven fact just like persons that smoke take years off their lives.

6) Properly clean your skin. Harsh soaps can dry out your skin and even stimulate further sebum (oil) production which can worsen acne. Use a mild cleanser with 2% salicylic acid. This has been proven very effective in ridding excess oils while maintaining proper hydration and pH. The slight acidity will keep bacteria at bay.

7) Don't smoke. Smoking puts years on you. Literally, smoking can add 10 years to the aged look of your skin. Why would you want to do that? If you must have nicotine then get nicotine gum or the patch - they will cure your cravings and there is no evidence or statistics of anyone developing cancer, lung disease, etc... from these.

8) Wear sunscreen. The skin does have keratonin to protect against the suns rays, but it is no match for UV rays, etc... that we expose ourselves to. Melanoma has several forms and all are deadly. If you don't think you will get skin cancer or think you are invulnerable, just go to your local dermatologist and ask to see pictures of clients with skin cancer, better yet go to the oncology center at your local hospital. You won't think that way ever again. Wear sunscreen.

9) Treat yourself to a spa treatment atleast once a year. Skin peels, TCA peels, deep tissue massage, complete relaxation, aromatherapy, etc... will all energize and heal your skin. TCA peels will actual improve your skins ability to regenerate itself and improve collagen levels.

Remember, follow these nine steps to enjoy healthier skin.

David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels for plastic surgeons, medispas, and in home use. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Healing Your Body

Are you ready to be healthy and full of vibrant energy? Would you like some ideas about how to heal your body?

During many years as a psychotherapist, I discovered fascinating insights into the emotional causes of disease and accidents. I have also developed powerful processes that have helped people heal themselves and maintain their health and safety.

For example, Sunny, a young man in his early twenties, was diabetic from the time he was twelve years old. When he came to see me he was almost daily going into diabetic shock. I have a favorite saying, ?Close your eyes and see clearly.? So I said, ?Sunny, close your eyes and imagine that you are really small and traveling inside your body to the place where you store all your tension.? It was no surprise to either one of us when Sunny ended up in front of his pancreas. He said, ?My God, what a mess. There?s a lot of junk in there.?

In the course of his counseling sessions, Sunny became aware of and overcame all the negative emotional issues that were ?stored? in his pancreas. By the eighth and final session, Sunny reported that he was feeling great and his pancreas looked very healthy. He said, ?It?s amazing, Helene, I?m taking less than one-half of the amount of insulin I needed when I first came to see you. I realize that I almost killed myself by way of diabetic shock because I couldn?t cope with all the emotional pain with my family and a broken relationship.?

Another example of the connection between the mind, the emotions, and the body is thirty-five-year-old Cindy. She had no relief from her constant vaginal yeast infections no matter how much she treated the condition with the medication from her doctor. In her counseling process, Cindy found out that her yeast infections were actually serving her by preventing her from being sexual. When confronted with the idea, Cindy admitted to herself that she was afraid to be in another sexual relationship because she always got too emotionally involved, and then felt deeply hurt if it ended. Cindy?s infection cleared up when she trusted herself to avoid another relationship until she was confident that she would not be devastated if it did not last.

Tom, a forty-three-year-old businessman, finally came into the office when his wife threatened to leave him. However, he was still resistant and insisted that he was fine, he had no problems. Meeting him on his level and at his comfort zone, I said, ?Tom, let?s be logical. You are telling me that your childhood was fine, and that you have no issues to resolve. The reality is that you are struggling with your career, having serious problems with your wife and daughters, and you have been warned about the beginnings of heart problems.?

?Let?s take the analogy of an automobile. If your car isn?t running properly do you believe that nothing is wrong or do you open up the hood and fix it? Obviously, Tom, your life is not running well, which means you have to deal with the issues in your unconscious that are causing you problems. In a sense you need to pick up your hood.?

Tom realized that I had a point. He finally loosened his tie, and was willing to regress back to his childhood. To his surprise, he uncovered an incredible amount of pain. Tom had succeeded in blocking his painful childhood; but because of his denial, he was heading for disaster. It was amazing to see this logical, machine-like person transform into a feeling human being as he expressed his fears, his deep hurts, shame, anger, and grief. As a result, Tom began to feel so good about himself that he began to watch his diet, exercise more and improve his relationships with his family. I will never forget when he happily told me about the wonderful report he had received from his doctor.

The case of Sarah is another example of how important it is to listen to your body and constructively express your feelings. Sarah, a forty-seven-year-old woman, was suffering from recurring cancer. Previously, the doctors had succeeded in removing a malignant tumor from her throat and Sarah seemed to be doing well. However, six months ago they discovered a growth in her back.

During the first counseling session, Sarah was able to express her anger, shame, and fears?something she never did. She was a people pleaser, someone who always had a smile on her face. Sarah always tried to make everyone happy, even if she hurt herself in the process. When Sarah returned the following week, she told me that she was able to cut her pain medication in half. After another session, in which she released intensive emotional pain, she was totally free of physical pain.

Needless to say, Sarah was very optimistic about her recovery. However, Sarah called me one day very upset. She was feeling pain in her throat where the first tumor was removed. I reassured her that the doctors succeeded in removing the growth, the symptom, but the emotional cause was still not resolved. In the next session, after Sarah released her issues about being afraid to speak up, about communicating how she really felt, the pain in her throat disappeared.

I have noticed that certain emotions will be blocked in specific areas of the body. For example, clients often realize that they are angry when they have upper or lower back pain, headaches, tightness in the base of the skull, or jaw pain. I often find fear blocked in the abdominal areas, sadness stuffed in the sinuses, or the sides of the back of the neck. The feeling of responsibility causes tension in the shoulders. Hurt and deep sadness often explains the tightness in the center of the chest or in the heart.

I have also found the body to be very literal. Some examples are: tension in the throat deals with the fear of speaking; problems in the eyes relate to not wanting to see something; hearing problems often correspond to the desire not to hear.

It may be hard to believe, but I have discovered that our unresolved emotions can also cause our accidents. In fact, every time a client had an injury, they were always able to uncover the reason it happened. For example, Tonya, a very attractive twenty-one-year-old, had a scar on her forehead from a serious car accident.

I said, ?Tonya, imagine that you are up in the sky and looking down at the collision. Now tell the Tonya in the car why she had that accident.? She replied, ?Tonya, you had that accident because you felt guilty about having so much more than your family members and your friends. You are prettier, smarter, and more successful, and you don?t appreciate all that you have.?

We are all very powerful beings. We have the ability to create our illness or accidents as well as our health and safety. In order to be healthy and full of vibrant energy, we need to understand that our physical bodies are expressing our thoughts and feelings. When we listen to what our bodies are telling us, when we constructively express our emotions and resolve our issues, we can take an active part in healing ourselves and experience optimum safety, health, and happiness.

(Excerpts from the booklet, e-book & tape, ?Healing Your Body?)

?1997 by Helene Rothschild, MS, MA, MFT, Marriage, Family, Therapist, author and speaker. www.helenerothschild.com

HELENE ROTHSCHILD, MS, MA, MFT, is a Marriage, Family Therapist, intuitive counselor, author, teacher, workshop facilitator, and speaker.

She offers empowering telephone, internet, and in-person healing sessions for all issues including: healing your body, relationships, career, prosperity, weight loss and parenting. Helene developed her own unique process, HART: Holistic and Rapid Transformation, which goes right to the core. She teaches HART classes and independent studies.

She is the author of Personal Success ~ an interactive online self-help program, many articles (free articles) and over 85 inspirational and self-help books, booklets, e-books, tapes, posters, and cards--close to a million have been sold worldwide.

Helene has appeared numerous times in the media (including international CNN), and hosted her own local radio and television shows.

All of her educational materials, classes and services support her mission of helping people to feel more loving, peaceful, fulfilled, healthy, happy, and empowered.

http://www.lovetopeace.com

วันอังคารที่ 23 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2551

Healthier Living and Organic Farming

A large part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and the ecosystems in which crops and livestock are raised. Foods certified as organic must be produced using growing methods that minimize soil erosion and that maintain or enhance the fertility of the soil. All the chemicals in the world can't nourish a garden as well as healthy organic compost.

Look for natural and organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers, such as the use of compost. Natural fertilizers, compost and organic materials encourage native earthworms. The soil's organic matter contributes to good soil structure, and water-holding capacity. Improve the soil with organic matter and fertilizers to develop the best soil for growing seeds and plants.

The availability of nutrients from organic fertilizers depends on their breakdown by soil organisms, which in turn depends on weather and soil conditions. Their nutrients are not available to plants until the organic matter has decomposed. In reality, you can't have a good organic garden without a good composter.

The use of disease resistance must be emphasized within an organic program. In current organic production systems, growers are not permitted to use conventional synthetic organic fungicides in their disease management program. The national organic program rules prohibit the use of conventional pesticides, petroleum, or sewage-sludge-based fertilizers, bioengineering or ionizing radiation and synthetic substances. But, there are several general things any organic gardener can do to beat those pests naturally.

Many believe that organic foods contain a higher level of nutrient minerals and much lower levels of heavy metals. As a result, the industry has understandably grown from experimental garden plots to large farms with surplus products sold under special organic labels.

Today, organic foods are available at supermarkets and farmer's markets, in restaurants and through mail-order suppliers, even here on the web.

Example - http://www.organic-items.com

Buying organic will insure that the food products you consume contain no genetically modified organisms, and are free from irradiation.

Purchasing locally grown, organically produced fruits, vegetables and meat assures you of having the very best food available for your family's table. Buying hemp, organic cotton and recycled products like home furnishings, baby clothes, and natural beauty products aid conservation of natural resources. Growing organically takes more time, requires more knowledge and skill, and, for now, costs more.

Francesca Black works in marketing at Organic Items http://www.organic-items.com and Aromatherapy Blends http://www.aromatherapy-blends.net leading portals for organic products and natural excercise.

Keep your Feet Happy A Natural way to Natural Health

Summer is here and it is time to showcase those toes in a strappy sandal or sassy slide. Are your feet ready or are they in dire need of a little TLC and a major overhaul before they are shown to the world? Here are a few quick tips for keeping your tootsies healthy and beautiful:

Wear Comfortable Shoes: Allow your feet to breathe. Choose footwear that has a broad toe box, make sure the inside top of the shoe is well cushioned and has a soft bottom. Be mindful about the fitting of the shoe, it should not be tight nor loose fitted.

Care for Your Nails: Clipped, buffed toenails make your feet look and feel healthier. Apply a coat of clear or natural toned polish for an even higher gloss or, if you?re feeling festive, go for a color.

Clean Feet, Clean Shoes: Do you have to hold your nose when you remove your shoes? Closed shoes and sweat are a breeding ground for odorous bacteria. Give yourself a fresh start by making sure your feet are clean and tidy before putting on your favorite shoes.

Sit Up Straight!: Yes, your mother always told you to do this for your posture, but did you know that it also helps your feet? Stooping puts extra weight on the fore foot area, that causes corns.

Try Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is naturally good for skin and nails. Apply just a few drops of coconut oil on your feet and nails before going to bed. You can do so daily or twice a week.

Turmeric: And you thought it would just make your Indian dishes more tasty. Take a little of your coconut oil from above and mix it with tumeric powder to create a wrap. Apply to your feet once a week and wear for 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

Foot Workout: Keep your feet in great shape by exercising and stretching them regularly. As we all know, walking is one of the best exercises around. However, if your schedule doesn?t permit, just take a little time to stretch them under your desk while you go about your day.

Steve Arun is an Internet Marketing Consultant for Modernsage Inc the nationally-acclaimed women?s healthy living print magazine based in Long Island, New York, is now a women?s online community. Stop by ModernSage Online Blog today for insightful articles, expert advice and an active community that cares about natural health, alternative medicine, home remedies, living well, quick healthy meals, inspiration, work and family, working from home and the essential daily dose of humor.

Essential Oils Kit Part VIII

Whether you use aromatherapy as a stand alone or as a complementary first aid treatment there are several aromatic oils I'd like to recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit.

My recommendations include important details for you to consider when purchasing an oil, such as its Latin Name, Country of Origin, Method of Extraction and Part of the Plant Used. I also list the best oils to consider when creating a synergistic blend.

TEA TREE ( Melaleuca alternifolia - Organic, Steam Distilled Leaf, Australia.

Strongly assertive disinfectant Tea Tree has a fresh and spicy, medicinal and antiseptic smell.

Tea Tree has the undisputed popular reputation as a 'cure all.' It has powerful anti fungal, anti viral, and antibacterial properties.

Keywords: ANTISEPTIC & ANTIFUNGAL First suggestion for athlete's foot, nail viruses, and fungal infections. Can be used topically undiluted.

Captain James Cook and his mates when arriving in Australia in the 1700's wanted a refreshing herbal tea to drink. They chose the fragrant leaves of a tree. The tree has been called Tea Tree ever since.

Use in anti acne remedies, as well as to combat flu and other viral and bacterial infections.

French physician Paul Belaiche in 1985 studied Tree Tree's healing abilities for Candida albicans, a vaginal yeast infection. In most cases this infection can be treated effectively without the side effects common with conventional treatments.

Research has proven it useful for another vaginal infection, trichomoniasis. In 1962 an American study of 130 women treated using it recovered from this infection.

Helpful for balancing skin conditions like acne, alone or in a blend.

Can be used topically to treat insect, spider and scorpion bites.

Tea Tree is also an immune stimulant, a decongestant and an analgesic or pain reliever.

Try a synergistic blend of Tea Tree with any of the following aromatic oils: Black Pepper, Atlas Cedarwood, Himalayan Cedarwood, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Myrrh, Thyme and Rosemary.

Please join me for Part IX in this series of articles to learn about the FINAL essential oil I recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit, VETIVER ( vetiveria zizanoides )

Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary and alternative health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years. During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury. Through her unique AromaTest? system KG formulates essential oil blends that heal.

Please note: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use organic, or ethically wild crafted oils whenever possible.

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. KG formulates aromatic oils for: colds and flu, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, menopause, anti-aging, skin care and more. KG's DVD & book about her AromaTest system, Your Aromatic Signature ~ How to Formulate Blends that Heal, are scheduled for release in 2006. Click for PurePlant Essentials Menu & Essential Oils Kits: Pure Organic & Wild Crafted Essential Oils & Kits Click to order Basic Essential Oils Kit. KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315