Flowers And Your Health

While we all know that we enjoy receiving flowers, it has now been established scientifically that flowers are good for your health as well. The sight and aroma of flowers has an immediate effect on your mood and causes the release of endorphins – those “happy hormones” that your body creates. These hormones not only induce an overall feeling of well being, but also decrease your stress levels that cause elevated blood pressures and a plethora of other non-healthy symptoms.



A study conducted at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, demonstrated that flowers have a positive impact on your moods in a healthy and natural way. Another study conducted by Dr. Roger Ulrich, showed that patients recovering from gallbladder surgery that had flowers to view, had shorter hospital stays and received fewer analgesics than those that did not.

Research at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute further indicated that the presence of flowers enhances communication, restores mental fatigue and promotes a good sense of self esteem. Flowers have also been known to decrease bouts of mild depression.

If you live in dry areas, placing flowers and plants around the home not only adds to the rooms beauty, but actually increases humidity thereby decreasing the negative effects of dry air such a colds and bronchitis.

With all this evidence in place, what are you waiting for? Order the person you love a dose of good health! While you are at it, get one for yourself as well. The natural gift of health - flowers!

By Andon I

Home Health Care Product Makes Your Life Easy

Health care industry is not restricted to the hospitals and medical supplies but has widened its horizon incorporating home services as well. Home health care product and services feature are an important component of this industry. Health care basically signifies a wide range of health care services along with social services that can be provided at home for invalids and chronically ill people who need a lot of nursing and therapeutic treatments.

There are many companies that have introduced products for home use like diabetic supplies that include blood sugar checking apparatus, wound care equipments, home safety products like safety railings, handles, portable oxygen concentrators. Other than that hospital beds, pressure pads, IV poles, canes, walkers and crutches are also commonly available.




Other health care products are baby safety products like monitors and alarms, cribs and other related products that give you the peace of mind that everything is safe at home. People who are old, invalid and need assistance are the right candidates for buying home care products. Walkers, crutches, specially modified commodes, canes and arm slings are common products that are bought by the majority of individuals depending on the home care need. Other than that there are services of sending out nurses, therapists and health care specialists who provide a strong backup force for looking after the patients who are recuperating at home.

The home health care product has been tried, tested and meet FDA standards with the services of trained and efficient staff that can be called on need basis. Portable oxygen and other respiratory equipment can be rented from good health care equipment suppliers depending upon the requirement or as prescribed by the hospital. The home care services that can be availed on demand include trained nurses who can administer infusion and pharmacy services at home, give medication

When you are not at home and generally look after the patient. There are many products available that can be installed at home like safety lights, railings, handles, bathroom/kitchen safety products. Some of the home health care services include looking after the elderly and disabled people who are living alone and need help on a daily basis. These facilities include light housekeeping, shopping, supervision of the elderly and companionship. Medical needs and emergencies are also supervised by them.

By Anita Choudhary

A Quick Guide To High Fiber Vegetables

The fact that it is important to get a good daily recommended dose of fiber in your diet is beyond question. Experts in health and dieticians will actually advise the majority of people of this any chance they get. It is often spread across health pages in magazines and newspapers, which will also tell you that natural products work well to provide high fiber for you. High fiber vegetables are some of the best sources you can get and fit in well with all meals. High fiber vegetables can also contribute to the ease of digestion that will help your body to stay healthy for longer!

High fiber vegetables can be found almost anywhere, from supermarkets to corner stores. They are not very popular because of the amount of faddy foods on the market but fresh vegetables cannot be beaten for fiber content. They taste great and are easy to prepare, as well as generally being cheap and 100% natural!




High fiber vegetables can obviously provide fiber, but they can also provide a lot of the other nutrients that our bodies need on a daily basis to help it to function correctly. They are packed full of the vitamins and minerals that can boost our immune system and make us feel and look healthier, both inside and out. High fiber vegetables also aid the digestive systems to do its job and can be eaten raw or cooked, giving them a versatility that few other foodstuffs actually have! With high fiber vegetables, you do not have to supplements your fiber intake. Eating your five a day will ensure that you get enough fiber to help maintain your system without the hassle of extra portions or expensive food supplements.

The Types Of High Fiber Vegetables!

Most vegetables are in fact high fiber vegetables. Very few have low fiber content. However, overcooking them actually serves to break down the fiber within the vegetable and this winds up giving you less than you actually need in order for your digestive system to function correctly. Raw vegetables have the highest fiber content of all but employing cooking techniques such as blanching and brief steaming can help to seal the high fiber content in the vegetable and this can actually help you to maintain a high fiber diet.

High fiber vegetables can add a new dimension to your diet. If you want to look after your body then they are the way to go. They are easy to incorporate into a diet and taste great, so isn’t it about time that you started looking at high fiber vegetables as a source of goodness?

By Judy Wellsworth

Health Benefits of Thai Soup Under Study

BANGKOK, Thailand -- For years, zesty Tom Yum Gung soup has been a mainstay of Thai cooking. And now researchers are thinking it just might have cancer-fighting ingredients as well as good taste. "Tom Yum Gung is Thailand's most favorite soup," according to Chef Rolf Schmitz of the Regent Hotel's Spice Market restaurant. "It's a shrimp soup with herbal ingredients like coriander, lemon grass, lime leaves and even galangal roots." Also called hot-and-sour soup, the dish often includes straw mushrooms and a variety of chilies.

A recent joint study by Thailand's Kasetsart University and Japan's Kyoto and Kinki Universities has found that the ingredients in Tom Yum Gung soup are 100 times more effective in inhibiting cancerous tumor growth than other foods. Scientists are seeking to extract the chemical compounds that are most effective from soup ingredients, said Suratwadee Jiwajindra of Kasetsart University. Research also is focusing on edible plants in the region. "The ratio of the cancer pattern in Asians, especially southeast Asians, is very low compared with the pattern in the European and Western countries," Jiwajindra said. In fact, Thais have a much lower incidence of digestive tract cancers than people do in other countries.





Traditional Thai cuisine -- famed for its heavy use of herbs and spices -- has long been known to have health benefits, Jiwajindra said. And despite its spicy taste, Tom Yum Gung continues to be popular, said Schmitz, calling the soup "definitely the best seller if you look into the statistics." Every month, the soup is "at the top of the charts," he added. "A day, I'd say we are making 50-60 cups in a restaurant like the Spice Market," said the chef.

By Andrew Hall

Herbal Acne Treatments That Work

In the United States alone, there are over 40 Million people who struggle with acne. Many of these people treat acne using chemicals such as antibiotics, prescription drugs, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid.

However, there is a growing number of people who choose herbal acne treatments over traditional medications. Usually, herbal medications have far fewer side effects, and are not as dangerous as some of the prescription drugs.





The problem however, is that the United States does very little to regulate the herbal supplement industry. Unlike traditional chemical medications, herbal medications are not required to be clinically proven to work, or even to be safe. An example of this lack of regulation recently came to light with ephedra related deaths, and ephedras subsequent ban.

This lack of regulation results in many different acne products on the market. All of which claim to heal, prevent, or even cure acne with few, if any, side effects.

The truth is, there are very few herbal acne treatments that are scientifically proven to work. Traditional chemical treatments are still the most effective in stopping acne.

There are only 2 herbal treatments that have been clinically proven to help stop acne, tea tree oil and green tea cream.

Tea tree oil is a natural oil, derived from the Melaleuca alternifolia, a particular type of tea tree found exclusively in Australia. While it has been used from hundreds of years by the native aboriginals as a treatment for just about anything, it has only recently been accepted by modern medicine as being a viable anti-bacterial agent.

Even though tea tree oil has been suspected as an anti-bacterial agent for some time, A groundbreakings study was conducted in 1990 by I.B. Bassett, which compared tea tree oil to benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne. It was found that tea tree oil is as effective as a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution. It takes longer (6 weeks) for the tea tree oil to be as effective, but participants in the study reported none of the side effects associated with benzoyl peroxide, such as redness, skin irritation, or dry skin.

This study has helped tea tree oil become a recognized and legitimate herbal acne treatment. However, there is no need to purchase an expensive cream that contains tea tree oil. Just applying several drops of the oil directly on the acne has shown to be the most effective way to apply tea tree oil.

This was the only herbal acne treatment that had been proven to work until recently, when Dr. Jennifer Gan-Wong conducted a study that shows green tea can also effectively fight acne.

Dr. Gan-Wong compared a green tea cream with 3% green tea, to a 4% benzoyl peroxide solution, and found that the results in treating acne where the same for both the tea and the peroxide. These results were recently presented at the 2003 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.

These findings are relatively recent, and are not yet corroborated by additional independent studies. However, this evidence does demonstrate that the natural anti-bacterial properties of green tea can be effective to treat acne.

For those of you who are confused by the plethora of herbal acne treatments available, there really are only 2 that have been proven to be effective in fighting acne. Green tea cream, and tea tree oil. While many other herbal acne treatments may be good to moisturize the skin, or reduce oils, these are the only two that should be considered truly effective acne treatments.

By Greg Podsakoff

Health is a Fun Choice

I keep a book in which I write down quotes from - anywhere and everywhere.

I was reading a novel last week and the following passage jumped out at me.

- 'People seem to be willing to lose everything as long as they have fun.'

This statement is no more true than in the field of health.




If I were to say that the advertising media is -- a major factor in the process of teaching us about nutrition. - promotes the 'fun' in it's products rather than their health aspects,- would you be insulted?

If you were given the choice between a healthy vegetable or fruit salad vs. a product from one of the 'fast-food' franchises - would you turn your nose up at the salad because it was boring?

Are you afraid to take the 'fun' out of eating - and simply turn a blind eye to the culinary habits that have enveloped our 21st C lifestyles?

I don't want to appear to be a wowser - although I've been called this on many an occasion due to my close observation of specifics in the health and healing field - but the truth of the matter is this;

- A diet of living, live, whole foods, combined with a few simple and effective lifestyle techniques will produce health.

- A diet of dead, denatured and chemicalised food-stuffs will produce disease.

So perhaps the question to be faced is:

What can I do in order to make my diet more fun and my lifestyle more healthy?

An answer to this question will be found within the teachings of Natural Living and Natural

Healing - the tenets of Nature Cure.

All the best in making fun choices.

By Kevin Hinton

Herbal Detox

An herbal detox is a gentle natural way to stimulate the organs of detoxification. Nature's plants have some of the best answers for curing disease and herbs can be used in many ways to treat conditions without the side effects of drugs.



Herbal detox is receiving a lot of attention these days as scientific research discovers the alarming facts that we all carry a burden of chemicals in our bodies that contribute to many health conditions. Our bodies have a natural detox cycle that goes on every day but we are bombarded with so many toxic chemicals that often the detox pathways become overloaded contributing to many chronic symptoms and degenerative disease.

Researchers have discovered that the detox pathways can be revved up to get rid of the backlog of toxins by providing certain nutrients that that are involved in detoxification. A good detox diet on its own may not be sufficient to stimulate the detox organs so herbal detox supplements provide the added support. Herbs are often combined as their synergistic properties are more powerful than the individual herb. There are herbal detox remedies for all the major detox organs; the liver, kidneys, bowel and lymph.

Herbal detox supplements are usually supplied as capsules, tablets, powders, liquids or teas. Liquid extracts are often tinctures that contain a small amount of alcohol. These are often considered superior to herbal capsules as they do not have to be digested so can be quickly absorbed into the body.

Herbal detox teas are very gentle in their action and are essentially body balancers. They are easily absorbed and have mild cleansing qualities. They can provide energy when taken as part of a liquid detox fast.

Herbs for Colon Detox

Herbal detox programs should start with cleansing the colon as this is one of the main routes of elimination of toxins that have been transformed in the liver. Some colon cleanses include herbs to cleanse the body at the same time so will include herbs that cleanse the blood and the lymph.
Herbal colon cleanses usually contain gentle laxative herbs such as cascara, chia seeds and rhubarb together with a plant fiber like psyllium husks either whole or powdered to move the waste through the bowel more easily. Plenty of water must be taken with psyllium for it to be effective as it swells up with water it absorbs from the bowel. Other fibres such as oat or rice bran, pea fiber or linseeds (Flax) are preferred by some therapists.

Herbs for Liver Detox

A herbal detox for the liver can work wonders as the liver works hard every day converting toxic chemicals into safer forms that can be excreted more easily through the bile and the bowel or kidneys via the urine. The liver herbs dandelion root, burdock and yellow dock are cleansers while artichoke (cynara) artemesia, berberis, centaury and gentian stimulate bile. Milk thistle (silymarin) acts as a detoxifier and protector through its antioxidant qualities. Many studies show turmeric to stimulate one detox pathway.

Herbs for Kidney Detox

A colon cleanse will help with kidney problems. Toxins from the bowel can overload the kidneys. Kidneys can also benefit from a direct herbal detox as they tend to get very little attention until they get seriously diseased. Kidney herbs can help with repeated infections of the kidneys or bladder. There are even herbs that help to dissolve stones.
Dandelion, parsley, juniper berries, buchu, birch and uva ursi are all diuretics. That is they promote the excretion of fluid. Gravel root, hydrangea root, yarrow and birch tea help to dissolve stones and clear kidneys. Uva Ursi (Bearberry) and chamomile are antispasmodics that can ease the passage of stones.

Herbs for Lymph Detox

The lymphatic system carries wastes and toxins from the cells into the blood stream which eventually will be processed by the liver or excreted by the kidneys. It is part of our immune system. If the lymph system becomes clogged with toxins then our immune systems can't function properly. Cleansing the lymph can improve many health conditions.

You will find herbs such as astragalus, echinacea ,cleavers, goldenseal, wild indigo root, red root, burdock, red clover, stillingia root and mullein leaf in lymph cleanse products.

An herbal detox will be more effective when eating an organic natural foods diet, drinking sufficient amounts of pure water, and getting regular exercise.

By Sandy Halliday

Healthcare Dilemma

Why, in the midst of the best hospitals and the best physicians and the best healthcare reform in the United States, are Massachusetts citizens experiencing a serious increase in preventable disease, thereby giving rise to health care costs? A report, The Boston Paradox: Lots of Healthcare, Not Enough Health, released June 14th by the New England Health Care Institute, refers to this irony, saying that with all these great medical facilities and all these great academic institutions in the Boston area, we are still sick. It's inconceivable in this day and age that the report has not yet discovered the answer to the rising incidence of preventable chronic disease and spiraling health care costs!




You would think that with mandatory health insurance we would be healthier, since now most everyone can have access to our best hospitals, best physicians and our great healthcare. But health insurance does not ensure health! What we call healthcare is really sickness care. Furthermore, we look at sickness as bad, as something to treat, drug, radiate and surgically remove. It’s not working and it’s costing too much for these outdated approaches.

Perhaps we should consider a less costly, novel approach: see sickness as our friend. I would like to suggest that by appearing as pains or tumors, sickness is Nature’s way of reminding us that we need to change something. Instead of rushing off to a doctor or hospital, we could ask, What is causing this pain or problem? What is our sickness trying to tell us?

Pain is life’s messenger, and I would like to suggest that more often than not our bodies are trying to tell us that it is the food we are eating and the exercise we are not getting that is causing the problem. I believe that understanding how to eat and exercise is the missing answer to preventable chronic illness.

Our health and our strength come from our connection to the Earth through the food we eat. Food is energy through the process of photosynthesis, when sunlight combines with water and minerals to grow a living plant. No processed or fake food can replicate that. By eating living plants we are taking in a process that has been around for eons. We feel part of that process, thereby feel healthier and when we start feeling healthier we want to exercise more. Our ancestors ate this way and they worked hard too!

When we eat crap, we feel like crap. Some call it depression. The farther away we get from the source of our life, the sicker and weaker we become! The reason why we are experiencing such a serious increase in preventable illness in an area with some of the country’s top medical research and academic institutions is that we have forgotten to eat living plants. We have forgotten how to select, prepare and eat quality whole food! What is missing from the report is our connection with nature, which has been broken by our consumption of fast food, junk food, fake food. Instead of eating life-giving plants from nature, we are eating dead and processed food from factory plants.

The answer to the rising incidence of preventable diseases and spiraling healthcare cost is our choosing to eat natural whole foods instead of processed junk food. The best wellness center is in our kitchens, the best doctors are ourselves, and the best healthcare reform is our learning about the best and healthiest food to eat. Whole natural foods cooked or prepared in your kitchen is the one thing each individual can do every day to prevent and reverse illness. Everyone knows eating well is essential for health. Optimal health can be obtained through an understanding of how to select, cook and eat delicious natural whole foods.

Literally and figuratively, the simple solution to being healthy is right under our noses. Instead of allowing ourselves to be seduced by the food manufactures with their fake processed food, or falling prey to the drug manufactures with their drugs that only address the symptom of a problem, not the cause, and which have a myriad of side-effects, why not just eat well, everyday!

Mr. Snieckus says, “If you're truly passionate about your health, want to work at it everyday and believe in the ability of the human body to heal itself and healthy, you owe it to yourself to check out macrobiotics as a natural healing modality. I highly recommend this way of life based on personal experience. It truly is the greatest path to total health on the face of the planet where the average, every day person can become truly healthy."

David Snieckus, one of the nations leading macrobiotic experts has over 30 years experience helping thousands heal themselves using easy to comprehend tools and services. His new specialty, however, is assisting others in establishing a foundation of macrobiotics in their own home. This is done through a three day intensive program. Call for the no obligation outline and references at 617-964-2951 or for more information and more tips and testimonials please visit davidsnieckus.com

By David Snieckus

Natural Juices Not As Healthy As May Seem - Study

Natural juices are rich in fructose, unlike water or low fat milk, according to Dr. Richard Johnson from the University of Florida College of Medicine. Researchers believe that fructose may trigger obesity for humans.




Previous studies connected excessive drinking of soft drinks and fruit juices with a high risk of diabetes, blood pressure, or obesity, said Johnson. Glucose sends signals to the body to produce insulin, a hormBMI calculator, calorie counter, carbs counter, calorie calculator, diet planner, menu planner, workout planner, weight loss, weight loss tools, nutritional information, nutrition labelone that tells the brain when to stop eating and turns sugar into energy. Fructose does the opposite and causes resistance to insulin, said Johnson.Weight gain may appear when large amounts of fructose are consumed over a long period of time, according to Peter Havel, an endocrinologist at the University of California.

Some natural juices have larger amounts of sugar than sodas. For instance, apple juice has more fructose than a soda, said Havel. A cup of apple juice has twenty more calories than the same amount of soda, according to the Department of Agriculture Nutrient Data Laboratory.

High-fructose corn syrup or fructose may lead to high levels of uric acid in the body. Dr. Johnson and his research team showed in a previous study on lab mice that a high-fructose diet leads to insulin resistance and the body produces more uric acid. Glucose does not cause the same problems, said Johnson.

Too much natural juice may also increase the children's risk of bone fractures.

By Vicky Lynum

Herbal Home Remedy : Milk Thistle

You can easily use milk thistle as a herbal home remedy. The milk thistle is known as a versatile herb that has tonifying and restorative abilities and can help heal different ailments. In fact, it is best for nursing mothers and those with liver and gall bladder problems.

Milk thistle appears to have gotten its name as it was first used to help stimulate the flow of milk in nursing mothers. Its leaves have white streaks that run across them and this is said to symbolize milk flow. As a herbal home remedy, simply munch on the leaves much like you are eating spinach, if you want to increase milk flow or to help relieve menstrual problems.

For liver and gall bladder problems, look to the seeds. Milk thistle seeds contain a large amount of silymarin. They are used to combat the symptoms of liver disease. In fact, many herbalists say that it is helpful in treating cirrhosis of the liver as well. You can lower high cholesterol levels as well as reduce gall bladder inflammation with consuming milk thistle seeds.

Several research studies also reveal that milk thistle has some wonderful health benefits, including the fact that they contain many more antioxidants than even Vitamin E. These seeds can be used to help prevent damage to the tissues of the body due to free radicals.

The pretty flowers of milk thistle can be used as a herbal home remedy as well. The flowers may even be eaten before the flower blooms. The heads of the flowers are often treated much the same as artichokes and the heads are eaten to help stimulate the liver and digestive system.
Other than eating the plant raw, you can also prepare a herbal home remedy from milk thistle in a variety of ways for healing. You can use the seeds of the milk thistle to prepare a tincture by using 20-25 drops of the oil and combine it with water. This tincture can help treat liver and gall bladder issues.

For convenience, you can also consume capsules of milk thistle. Herbalists usually recommend a dosage of one or two 200mg capsules each day for gall bladder or liver ailments. If you take them before drinking alcohol, then you can help fight a hangover.

You can crush the seeds into a powder to use on skin ulcers or you can infuse the seeds to allow you to drink it in a tea. The infusion works well for treating gall bladder symptoms. They can be combined with lady’s mantle and St. John’s Wort to help in relieving the symptoms of PMS.

By Evelyn Lim

Do Traditional Hair Loss Remedies Have Any Relevance Today?

Could it be possible that our ancestors got it right with some of their traditional hair loss remedies? Folklore tells us they certainly went to great lengths to find solutions to thinning hair.
Although each culture had its own approach influenced by local conditions, there seem to have been many examples of common practices. Nettles, for example, formed an important element of traditional hair loss remedies throughout the world.




The samples outlined here have been sourced from the very informative work "Hair Loss Prevention Through Natural Remedies" by Peters et al. This book provides a wealth of information on this topic and can be easily purchased through Amazon or other good booksellers.

Rosemary Solution - this herb crops up frequently in herbal texts for its ability to cleanse the scalp and stimulate the hair root. Here is one recipe that features rosemary as its core ingredient.Recipe: boil rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock in water. Strain and use to wash hair daily.

Apple Cider Vinegar - this is mentioned often in folk remedies for hair loss. It is believed to exert a normalizing effect on the scalp's oil glands and has a strong cleansing effect.Method: Part hair into sections. Apply two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar directly to the scalp with a moistened cotton ball. Allow between fifteen minutes and three hours before shampooing.

Essential Oils - essential oils distilled from plants have long been recognized for their ability to improve scalp circulation and encourage cell generation. Amongst the most useful are cedarwood, clary sage, eucalyptus, lavender and rosemary.Method: mix ten drops of essential oil with one ounce of carrier oil (jojoba or olive oil). Massage it into the scalp for a minimum of fifteen minutes before shampooing.

Cayenne Pepper Hair Tonic - the ability of this herb to irritate the skin, increase blood flow and stimulate cell division is well known.Recipe: mix four ounces of cayenne pepper with one pint of one hundred proof vodka or pure alcohol diluted with 20 percent distilled water. Let it stand for two weeks, shaking the mixture once each day. Strain through several layers of fine cloth until the mixture is free of pepper. Once or twice a day, rub a small amount onto the thinning areas of the scalp.

By Richard Mitchell

Coconut oil - Cosmetics and skin treatments

Coconut oil is excellent as a skin moisturiser. A study shows that extra virgin coconut oil is as effective and safe as mineral oil when used as a moisturiser, with absence of adverse reactions.

Although not suitable for use with condoms, coconut oil is an excellent, inexpensive lubricant for sexual intercourse. Before coconut oil is used as a sexual lubricant, however, it is recommended to do an allergy test.




Coconut oil can also help in healing Keratosis pilaris by moisturising the affected area. The coconut oil should be applied in the shower, and may cause the KP bumps to disappear.

In India and Sri Lanka, coconut oil is commonly used for styling hair, and cooling or soothing the head (stress relief). People of coastal districts of Karnataka and Kerala bathe in warm water after applying coconut oil all over the body and leaving it as is for an hour. It is suggested by elders that this ritual must be done at least once in a week, to keep body, skin, and hair healthy.

Free Body Detox at Home

Is it possible to do a body detox at home without having to purchase a system or spend money on juices and special drinks? Yes, there are several things you can do for yourself at home and that cost little or nothing. There are also things you can do at home that are in addition to the body detox program you are already doing.




Of course, the optimum time to start any detox program is when you have the time to focus on it. It's also best to do it when you can be alone or, at the minimum, when you have no other commitments or interruptions and can relax at home.

Why is it better to be able to stay at home and relax during a body detox? It is because many people are more emotional or experience moodiness during this time. Most people find it difficult to let go of tasty treats they have grown accustomed to. It is probably similar to trying to suddenly stop smoking.

A good idea is to plan your free detox for the weekend. You can begin your weekend with a relaxing Friday. Throughout the day eat a light diet and begin cutting out sodas, tea, coffee and other unhealthy items from your diet. You will need to drink a minimum of three liters of water during the day. When attempting to drink this much water it is easier to drink it un-chilled.

Skin Brushing

Skin brushing is another technique that is easy to do at home on your own. It will give you the same result as a spa treatment. Since your skin must be dry, brushing before a bath and before bed is the best and most relaxing time to do it.

What benefits do you get from skin brushing? It stimulates the lymphatic system and encourages the removal of toxins from your body.

Follow these instructions:

• Brush your feet, toes and soles and then the front and back of your legs, brushing upwards towards your hips.
• Brush your lower back using upward strokes. It might be difficult to reach, but do the best you can unless you have someone available to help.
• Brush your hands and arms, brushing towards your armpits.
• Brush across your shoulders and down the chest towards the heart.
• With downward strokes brush the back of your neck.
• Brushing in a circular and clockwise motion, brush your stomach area.
  

The next day begin your detox system, juice diet, fasting, etc as intended. You might want to keep a journal, carry out breathing exercises, and any other techniques to help increase the total effects of the detox.

Following your body detox you will notice some improvements in how you feel. A detox will refresh your digestive system and your other organs as well so that your body once again starts to process food properly. Your immune system will be revived and you will have more energy for exercising and feel better about yourself. Also, you will have fewer cravings for unhealthy foods. A body detox is a great boost to your entire system.

By Carol Stack

Natural Remedy For Heartburn

Common Problem It has been stated that up to 50% of people will suffer from heartburn at some time. The usual medical response is the prescription of the PPI (proton pump inhibitor) pill; but what if there was a natural remedy for heartburn?




Heartburn Symptoms If you’ve ever suffered with heartburn then you’ll know the symptoms all too well; burping, belching, bloating, flatulence, burning sensation etc. There’s nothing nice about heartburn. But what if there was a natural remedy for heartburn, a natural remedy that could address the underlying cause of heartburn and not simply mask the symptoms.

Usual Prescription Generally, GP’s would prescribe the PPI pill to treat heartburn. These drugs are used to control the amount of acid that your stomach produces. The most common reported adverse events associated with PPIs include headache, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea and constipation and bloating – some of the symptoms they are designed to alleviate!
The Circle Of Stress It’s a documented fact that higher levels of stress can cause heartburn. It’s a catch-22 situation though as the symptoms of heartburn can only cause you stress! How can you have the symptoms and not feel stressed by them? It’s a vicious circle that’s difficult to break with medical methods.

Natural Remedy For Heartburn Well, there is a natural remedy for heartburn. A remedy that doesn’t use Proton Pump Inghibitors. It’s a remedy that helps people to understand that heartburn is simply a condition that can easily be conquered - by anyone. It can put an end to the belching, bloating, flatulence, burning and all the other symptoms associated with heartburn.

By Mark Byrne

Home Remedies and Their Benefits

With so many products available on the commercial market to reduce cellulite many people opt to use household remedies to try and cure their afflictions. The skin diseases eczema, dandruff and cellulite affect many people. The use of over the counter products help reduce the problems but sometimes they do not work. This is when people turn to home remedies to see if can cure the ailment. This article will visit the different home remedies that exist to cure cellulite, eczema and dandruff.

Dandruff is a condition of the skin where shiny, silvery scales separate from the scalp and collect amidst the hair. This results in white flakes that can be seen in the hair. This can be extremely bothersome to some who are concerned with their appearance as it gives a sense of unhealthiness. A home remedy to cure dandruff is to shampoo the hair with beet root. The beet has been used for generations and is known for beneficial properties. The beet should be boiled in hot water and then massaged into the scalp like a shampoo. After a few uses of the beet root remedy, people should see results in a couple of days.




Eczema is a skin disease that affects different parts of the body. The conditions of eczema is itchy, easily irritated, flaky and dry skin. Small bumps usually appear and if scratched they leave a blemish on the skin. This skin condition affects many people and at times can result in very low self esteem, due to the appearance of the skin. A home remedy for eczema is the use of butter. Some people have seen extreme improvement in their skin by applying warm butter to the affected region. This wont work for everyone but the results are recorded by people who claim that this home remedy works.

Cellulite afflicts millions of women all over the world. Cellulite forms when the skin cells lose their rightness and gives the affected part of the body a dimply, orange peel skin look. This affects many women’s self esteem as they feel they are not as beautiful as before. One home remedy to cure cellulite is the use of coffee grounds. This method has been around for awhile and many women claim success with the use of the product. The Cellulite and Coffee Grounds combination works with the woman taking some warm coffee grounds and rubbing it on her skin. People have claimed to see results in a few weeks.

Commercial products serve their purpose in treating diseases and afflictions. However home remedies also hold a place in society. Many of these remedies have been proven to work and they cost a lot less than products that give the same results in stores. Conditions such as dandruff, eczema and cellulite are skin diseases that affect people all across America. The use of the home remedy has resulted in people seeing immediate results as a result of using these different methods.

By James Daltons

The Breathing Gurus Have Got It Wrong! Four Common Myths About Breathing

It seems like every time you read about a health issue in a magazine or website lately some alternative health guru is giving out breathing instructions. These can range from the totally ludicrous to the simply misinformed. Much breathing advice is a perfect example of misguided information that "sounds" right and gets repeated so many times that it takes on the ring of truth. This is how myths are formed.




The only thing true about common breathing beliefs is that breathing is indeed a marvellous healing tool - when done naturally and correctly. So it's especially sad that so much of what passes for sound advice can often do more harm than good. Here are four of the most common misconceptions about breathing:

"Deep breathing exercises are beneficial" Deep breathing is probably the most popular advice to be heard on this issue. Unfortunately, the way these exercises are described will only lead to hyperventilation, not improved health. The symptoms include dizziness, light-headedness, confusion, and nausea. And to imagine that this is the most common advice given to relieve panic attacks!

"We don't get enough oxygen" Shallow breathing high in the chest supposedly robs us of oxygen. But, fortunately, we get more than enough oxygen. In fact, we're more often oxygen saturated and what we really need is to slow down and get more carbon dioxide!

Users of the Buteyko Method have convincingly debunked the oxygen depletion myth by applying this principle in the treatment of asthma. Slow breathing to lower high blood pressure works on a similar basis that is clinically proven.

"Inhale to a count to 4, pause for 2 seconds, then exhale... (and all similar)" Typical breathing instructions include some variant of a counting procedure. Counting your breathing is counter-productive! Every benefit to be derived from healthy breathing demands total relaxation and there's no way to relax while counting. The same goes for following any type of external timekeeper.

"You must breathe with your abdomen" This is usually accompanied by an explanation that babies breathe naturally with their abdomen and that somewhere along the way we've been corrupted into breathing with our chests. This is one of those things that "seems" so convincing. Until you really think about it. The reason we don't breathe like babies any more is because we've developed into adults!

Most activities require chest breathing and the only time when abdominal breathing is appropriate is in a state of deep relaxation. Abdominal breathing, in fact, can be very beneficial but it follows naturally from a healthy and natural form of breathing.

You can easily find a lot more breathing silliness such as breathing through one nostril and out the other but these are absurdities that don't need comment. They mostly have to do with over-complication.

Complicated or exotic breathing methods may be great challenges for yoga or meditation but are unsuitable for most purposes. They can be especially off-putting for the uninitiated who could most benefit from an easy and rational breathing method.

Simple, healthy breathing comes naturally, despite what some say. Using a simple, natural form of breathing as described below while relaxing for 15 minutes a day is clinically proven to produce a wide range of important health benefits.




Natural, healthy breathing is slow and gentle. Easy does it!

"Deep breathing" is a dangerous and misleading description that usually does more harm than good. A better way to visualize healthy breathing is "slow and gentle". You should forget about getting more oxygen, which you don't need at rest, and focus on breathing more slowly. Slow breathing is the key to health. When you do slow breathing 10 breaths per minute is the absolute maximum and with practice you should be able to get down to 6 breaths a minute.
The second key word is "gently". Breathing gently helps slow you down, relaxes you and also prevents hyperventilation.

Timing is crucial - but don't count on it!

Your breathing pattern is just as important as the rate. You should exhale for approximately twice as long as you inhale. A short pause of a second or two between phases is natural. But there's absolutely no need to count or follow a timekeeper! It's simply not possible to relax deeply while counting or focusing on time. Staying relaxed is far more important than precision timing.

Besides, your internal clock can easily figure it close enough and keep you on the right cycle. Just internalise the formula: inhale, pause, exhale twice as long as inhale. It's easy!
The emphasis is obviously on exhaling. When you exhale relax into it totally and let the air pressure expel itself instead of using muscular force. If you do it right you should feel an incredible release of tension in your chest. This is what opens up blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.

Abdominal breathing - it's only natural

Abdominal breathing is very healthy while relaxing but it follows naturally as a result of slow and gentle breathing. For some people it comes quickly and easily; for others it takes longer. But to try to instill it right off the bat is to put the cart before the horse. It only disturbs the relaxation you need to benefit from this type of breathing in the first place.

So don't worry about abdominal breathing. Follow my easy breathing method for 15 minutes a day and you'll be breathing like a baby again without even realizing it. You'll also discover lower blood pressure, lower levels of stress and anxiety, improved sleep, better moods and any other of the many health benefits that come from the power that lies hidden in your breathing.

By David O'Hara

Food Sources-What Are You Really Eating?

Are you concerned about food sources? If you are not, you need to do more reading on the subject. You probably know about the tainted pet food from China and spinach E-coli scare, because it was diligently reported by all major news sources. Do you recognize these incidents as an isolated situation that once resolved will never occur again, or as a wake-up call? This is a wake-up call to American’s lackadaisical attitude toward demanding high standards for our food sources.




Fresh food consultant Edith Garett and Associates (www.edithgarret.com) reports there are 76 million cases of illness and 5,000 deaths per year due to food poisoning. While some of these food poisonings might be due to poor food storage and preparation, the recent mass recall of pet food and spinach is a major alarm to question and demand higher standards from food sources.
June 7, 2007, United Food Group recalled 445,000 pounds of ground beef contaminated with E-coli. Bacteria. There is E-coli—not necessarily the deadly strain—in about 84% of the beef on the shelves, according to a USDA study in 1995. E-coli Bacteria are normally killed by thorough cooking at temperatures of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Those who eat rare ground beef are therefore, more likely to become ill from E-coli Bacteria in ground beef.

Industry specialist, Peter Kovacs recently issued this warning in the Washington Post, “The United States is sitting on a powder keg with uncontrolled importation and the distribution of low-quality food ingredients.” Mishandled U.S. foods and some that is altered genetically add to the threat.

Some consumers clearly understand the danger—among multiple lifestyles as natural food advocates—those people whom the majority view as granola and berry odd balls. They dress in natural fibers and eat only organic food. Some even take healthy food consumption a step further as they grow and compost foods in the backyard. Having had the privilege of growing up on a cattle ranch and having parents who believed in raising all their own food—it is alarming to me that the U.S. leaders (FDA) have become lackadaisical about demanding high standards for our food sources. It boils down to making high profits are more important than having high quality foods.

Nutraingredients-USA.com states: “Food safety has a new level of importance in 2007 and will underlie all food ingredient issues.” You, the consumer, need to demand that our food sources are required to adhere to high standards. While our leaders are complicit with big business and profits, you, the consumer, have the biggest weapon, if you do not buy the low-quality food products these big companies will go belly up in six months. What better way is there to demand what you deserve?

On the heels of tainted pet food and toothpaste from China, World Net daily reported June 7, 2007, 1 a.m. EDT, that new concern from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission as well as the Food and Drug Administration—toys, makeup, glazed pottery and other products contain significant amounts of lead.

I challenge you to protect your health—read every label, if you do not know what the word means (do not buy the product until you know the ingredient is safe). Last but not least—buy only organic food from organic farmers who began organic farming before 2000.

“Currently, up to 45 percent of U.S. corn is genetically engineered as is 85 percent of soybeans. It has been estimated that 70-75 percent of processed foods on supermarket shelves–from soda to soup, crackers to condiments–contain genetically engineered ingredients.”

By Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD

First Aid Homeopathy - Minor Bruises

Bruising is most likely to occur as part and parcel of a fall or minor mishap, such as stubbing your toe or accidentally hammering your finger during some routine DIY. However a serious accident can result in quite severe internal bruising and this would fall outside the remit of home prescribing and demand urgent, professional medical attention. Common symptoms of mild bruising can include any of the following: Pain and tenderness at the site of the blow or injury, swelling of the injured are, Localized, progressive discoloration of the skin that changes from red to purple and eventually to a rather lurid bluish-greenly-yellow in the last stages of healing.




Practical self-help - As long as the skin around the bruise hasn't been broken, apply an ice pack to ease pain and reduce inflammation. Bruises, where the skin hasn't been cut or grazed, can be greatly soothed by an application of Arnica cream. This reduces any pain and tenderness and also encourages the traumatized tissue to reabsorb blood, thereby speeding up the healing process. If a limb has been badly bruised, keeps it moving as much as possible in order to keep the blood circulating. Witch hazel has a very soothing, cooling effect on bruised skin. However, it is highly astringent and therefore may not be suitable for anyone with very sensitive skin.

By Andrew Selvaraj

Self-Medicating

I thought about titling this article "Aleve" because that was the reason I'm writing today. But, I decided the problem of people self-medicating themselves with what they think are harmless over-the-counter drugs is much more dangerous than one specific dangerous drug.

My friend Jerry, whom I've known now for 40 years, called me recently to explain why he had been out of touch for a while. It seems that Jerry had been in the hospital recovering from an apparent reaction to the OTC painkiller Aleve. He did what the average American does and picked up a bottle of the painkiller at his local drugstore. After taking recommended doses for about a week, Jerry began to have a pretty serious nosebleed. When the bleeding didn't stop, he headed to the Emergency Room. The bleeding stopped ONLY after he lost FOUR units of blood, a significant loss under any circumstance. A little more and he could have died. It's taken several weeks, but he's just now starting to regain strength.




Over the last few years, I've steered away from talking about symptoms and the risks associated with medicating away symptoms. Mine is a wellness practice and most of my clients come to me because they either want to get and stay healthy or they want to opt out of the "old way" of waiting until something's broke to try to fix it or mask its symptoms with drugs. But, when you see a friend critically injured or hear of someone killed by what is purported to be a harmless drug, it's hard NOT to speak out.

Just recently, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended stronger warnings on both prescription and over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen, more commonly referred to as NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. BUT, how many people EVER read the label warnings of over-the-counter drugs? My guess is a precious few.
Obviously, we live in a drug culture in America. We seek relief and comfort from a bottle.

Maybe, just maybe, it's time to consider a new way of thinking. One of the things I try to get folks to do is to realize that they were designed to be healthy and that design did not include a shortage of drugs or a surplus of defective or unnecessary parts. Once we realize that health is part of the design and that symptoms are our friend and are NOT to be ignored, we can start to approach health matters a little more rationally. Another, thing that we work on in my office is helping people become responsible for their own health and not relying so much on a doctor or drug manufacturer to make important health decisions for them.

If I could convince you to change one thing as a result of reading this article, it would be to learn more about your own body, how it works and how specific drugs are supposed to work and the risks (side effects) they carry. When you work to build health instead of simply avoiding disease, your health and your life will take on a whole new meaning.

If you know someone that routinely takes NSAIDs (or any pain medication) please forward this article to them. Encourage them to explore other options for dealing with their symptoms.

By Tim Langley

Body Building Supplements - Keeping It Real

The question of bodybuilding and performance-enhancing supplements has taken the sporting world by storm in recent months, but most of the controversy centers around highly-paid professional athletes and their use of banned substances.

For most body builders, the question about body building supplements is not whether they work well enough to make them worth the risk; it is whether they work at all. But there is such a wide variety of body building supplements available, and so many claims are being made for them, that saying none of them work is simply inaccurate.

There are, of course, as there always have been, charlatans selling products which promise to take pounds off overnight, but they remain in the stores just until enough disappointed consumers lodge false advertising complaints. The unfortunate thing about them is that those disappointed consumers will now cast a jaundiced eye on nutritional supplements which actually benefit people.

Understanding Claims Some body building supplements, in fact most of them, claim they will help you build muscle. What they usually do not say, because it seems so obvious to serious bodybuilders, is that they won’t build muscle unless the people taking them are actually doing strength training. But there are still consumers who buy them in the hopes of having their bodies start turning fat into muscle as soon as they swallow the supplement.

Body building supplements, like all nutritional supplements, are meant to be used in conjunction with a person’s diet, to compensate for any nutrients in which the diet may be deficient. Some body builders, for example, do not eat enough protein because most protein sources contain fat.

Yet, without sufficient protein, their bodies cannot build new muscle. So, to ensure that they are getting adequate amounts of protein, they take body building supplements containing protein and creatine. There are several types of body building supplements with protein.

Types Of Protein Supplements Whey protein body building supplements are ideal because they contain all the essential amino acids which the body needs but can’t produce, and they are highly absorbable. Casein protein has a high concentration of glutamine, which speeds recovery. Soy protein also has all the essential amino acids, but does contain isoflavones, which are very weak plant estrogens.

Protein body building supplements, and all other varieties, are good for maintaining your nutritional balance when you take them in the recommended amounts. More is not better, and can even be harmful. As with all dietary supplements, you should practice moderation.

You can also find more info on Body Building Products and Body Building Routines. Bigbodybuildingtips.com is a comprehensive resource to got body building tips.

By Judy Wellsworth

Herbal Effectiveness

As noted above, there have been scientific studies which show that certain plant products can cure or prevent certain diseases. The gold standard for pharmaceutical testing is repeated, large-scale, randomized, double-blind tests. Some plant products or pharmaceutical drugs derived from them are incorporated into mainstream medicine. To recoup the considerable costs of testing to the regulatory standards, the substances are patented by pharmaceutical companies and sold for high profit. Pharmaceutical firms argue that the regulations protect public safety. Cynics point out that they have a secondary effect of setting a high financial barrier to competition.




Most herbal traditions have accumulated knowledge without modern scientific controls to distinguish between the placebo effect, the body's natural ability to heal itself, and the actual benefits of the herbs themselves. Many herbs have shown positive results in in-vitro, animal model or small-scale clinical tests. The few randomized, double-blind tests that receive attention in mainstream medical publications are often questioned on methodological grounds or interpretation. Studies tend to carry more weight if they are performed in the same country as the medical scientists evaluating them. Likewise, studies published in wide circulation magazines such as JAMA receive more consideration than those published in specialized herbal journals. Fortunately there is now much scientific research into the action and effectiveness of herbal remedies and many are justifying their traditional use. High quality trials involving proper controls and double blind methods are being increasingly carried out, with many useful results.

Herbalists tend to use parts of plants, such as the roots or leaves but not isolate particular phytochemicals. They argue that the synergy of the combined substances enhances the efficacy and dilutes toxicity. Western medicine on the other hand prefers single ingredients on the grounds that dosage can be more easily quantified. Dosage is in general an outstanding issue for herbal treatments: while most conventional medicines are heavily tested to determine the most effective and safest dosages (especially in relation to things like body weight, drug interactions, etc.), there are few established dosage standards for various herbal treatments on the market. Furthermore, herbal medicines taken in whole form cannot generally guarantee a consistent dosage or drug quality (since certain samples may contain more or less of a given active ingredient).

The issue of regulation is an area of continuing controversy in the EU and USA. On one end of the spectrum, some herbalists and consumers maintain that traditional remedies that have a long history of use do not require the level of safety testing as xenobiotics or single ingredients in an artificially concentrated form. On the other hand, others are in favor of legally enforced quality standards, safety testing and prescription by a qualified practitioner.

Some professional herbalist organizations have made statements calling for a category of regulation for herbal products. Yet others agree with the need for more quality testing but believe it can be managed through reputation without government intervention. Clearly the full debate involves issues of politics, economics and the role of government that are beyond the scope of this article.

Legislation To Benefit Home Oxygen Therapy Patients Introduced By U.S. Senators

The Home Oxygen Patient Protection (HOPP) Act was introduced last month by U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Jack Reed (D-RI). This bipartisan legislation was introduced to reverse the effects of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act. That Act required that Medicare recipients being administered home oxygen therapy must purchase the equipment after 36 months, creating an unnecessary burden for the patient. The Senators were applauded for introducing the legislation by the Council for Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC). The CQRC is a coalition of leading home oxygen therapy providers and manufacturers who provide equipment and services to oxygen therapy patients.




There are over 1 million Medicare patients receiving some form of oxygen therapy in the United States. Most individuals receiving oxygen therapy have been diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the 4th leading cause of death in the United States. The average home oxygen therapy patient is a 73 year-old woman with COPD. The major risk factor for COPD is smoking, with over 75% of COPD deaths being smoking related.

Senators Reed and Roberts led the way to change the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act. "The current regulations place an undue burden on patients, many of whom are elderly, and removes the important patient-provider relationship that has long been established in the field of oxygen therapy." commented Sen. Reed. The CORC believes that capping home oxygen benefits at 36 months and forcing ownership of the equipment on the patient creates an additional an unnecessary burden for oxygen therapy patients. Peter Kelly, Chairman of the CQRC remarks, "As providers who deliver cost-effective, life-enhancing care, we encourage other lawmakers in Washington to support this legislation, which provides one of America's most vulnerable populations with the stability and continuity of care they deserve."

Home oxygen therapy has proven over the years to be a cost-effective treatment method for combating COPD and other respiratory illnesses. When you compare the average cost per day of home oxygen therapy, $7.62, to the average cost per day for hospitalization for COPD, $4,606, the savings from Home oxygen therapy are obvious.

"Home oxygen therapy helps to provide comfort to sufferers of chronic respiratory illness by allowing them to receive treatment in their homes", stated Sen. Reed. Sen. Reed concluded by remarking "It is essential that those suffering from these conditions receive the best care available without the additional and potentially life-threatening burden of trying to repair and maintain their oxygen equipment".

By Chuck Jaymes

Revealed - Acne Homemade Remedies

You don’t need to be told that you have acne if you really have it. This is because you can see it for yourself and you obviously do not like if that way. Acne, like blackheads make you have spots on your face. If you have acne and do not like it that way, do not worry because there are people out there with acne and are looking for solution to it just like you.




In this article, I wIll show you how to get rid of acnes using what you have at your fingertips. I call it home made remedies for acnes. This is because the first thing you need to do is right there where you live. I mean in your compound and even in your kitchen.

In case you don’t know what acne is , it’s a skin disease that is caused by inflammation of the sebaceous glands it is common in adolescents. It is mainly made up of pimples and blackheads, especially on the face and neck, which if not properly treated may leave scars.

Perhaps you don’t have acne and you think this is not about you. I want you to think about that friend of yours or that close friend next door. what if you have acne? I’ve got good news for you and the good news is that I’ll show you in this few lines how to get rid of it.

This is how to do it, getting rid of acne using home made remedy is as easy as to put together a slicing lemon. The astringent features present in this fruit made it great acne home made remedy. All you have to do is rub a slice of lemon on your skin before you retire to bed at night and see how it looks like in the next day.

In the same vein, you can use tomatoes in the same way. So also is garlic which can be applied directly to the spots and even pimples. Another thing, to treat skin condition, like acne, scrapes and even cuts, you can make use of fruit juice.

Let me tell you this in a jiffy. Black heads are a major cause of acne. Consequently, to control black head is one easy way of preventing acne. To kill black heads on your face, the simple thing to do is rub toothpaste on your face and rinse twice a day. Remember, it is the paste and not the gel. It’s as simple as that!

By Owaduge Olumide

Acid Reflux Medications

There are a number of medications that are used to treat acid reflux. Some are over the counter antacids and others are prescription drugs. If over-the-counter medications are not treating your symptoms then you should consult a physician.





Antacids neutralize the digestive acids and are for mild symptoms of acid reflux. If you are going to use antacids, take them for relief of occasional instances of heartburn or acid reflux. Most antacids are available over the counter without a prescription as they are the first drugs recommended to relieve mild symptoms of acid reflux.

All antacids rely on three main ingredients. Those ingredients are magnesium, calcium, or aluminum. Magnesium salts come in the form of magnesium carbonate, magnesium trisilicate and magnesium hydroxide. Milk of Magnesia is magnesium hydroxide. There is a major side effect of magnesium salts and that is diarrhea. Magnesium salts combined with aluminum will prevent this unwanted side effect. Products containing both magnesium salts and aluminum are Mylanta and Maalox.

Calcium is another treatment used to counteract the symptoms of acid reflux. Calcium carbonate is contained in such products as Tums and Alka Seltzer. Calcium is a fast acting antacid that can cause constipation. Taking calcium carbonate for quite a long time can lead to kidney failure. This is rare though.

Aluminum salts are available in products such as Amphogel and Alternagel. Constipation is a side effect of taking aluminum salts. People that take large amounts of antacids are at risk to eventually develop osteoporosis, which is a progressive loss of bone density or thinning of the bone tissue, thereby increasing vulnerability to fractures. However, regular exercise along with vitamin and mineral supplements can reduce or even reverse the loss of bone density. Osteoporosis can also result from hormone deficiency, dietary deficiency or disease.

Liquid antacids generally work faster than tablets. The liquids are also more potent than tablets. Continued long time usage of antacids will increase the risk of kidney stones.

Some Prescription medications act as Receptor Antagonists, or H2 blockers. These drugs inhibit the production of stomach acid. When there is less acid in the stomach, there is a reduced chance of it agitating up into the esophagus. Some popular H2 blockers include Zantax and Pepcid AC. H2 blockers are available in different strengths. These particular drugs are available from over-the-counter strength to prescription strength.

Other Prescription medications such as Prilosec and Prevacid are proton pump inhibitors. They work to reduce acid in the stomach. This type of remedy alters the stomach’s natural processes for acid production and regulation. It is sometimes necessary to do so for relief, but it is important to investigate alternative remedies for acid reflux symptom relief.

Whatever method of therapy you select, always consult your doctor!

By Tom Houser

Health Benefit of Green Tea - Cholesterol Reduction

Hundreds of millions of people drink tea worldwide, making it the second most consumed drink. Studies are now suggesting that green tea has numerous advantages for the body. One green tea feature that is being touted by a lot of people is its ability to reduce cholesterol levels. Here are the various study results that reveal the health benefit of green tea.




Research shows that the catechin polyphenol in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is the component that reduces the levels of LDL, also known as bad cholesterol. Aside from reducing cholesterol levels, drinking green tea also raises the levels of the good cholesterol known as HDL. The health benefit of green tea is apparent in one population-based study. It found that men who drink green tea are more likely to have lower levels of total cholesterol compared to those who do not drink green tea.

Studies have also shown the health benefit of green tea when it comes to the reduction of LDL levels. One study revealed that in male smokers, green tea had a considerable effect on their levels of harmful cholesterol. The study showed that the male smokers who drank green tea considerably lowered their blood levels of bad cholesterol.

A clinical trial also showed the health benefit of green tea in reducing LDL cholesterol. The researchers conducted a study using green tea extract enriched with theaflavin. The study involved men and women who had high cholesterol levels. The participants were randomly selected to receive soft gel capsule or a placebo. The capsule was an extract that contained catechins from green tea. The trial results revealed that participants, who were already on a low-fat diet during the course of the 12-week trial, were able to reduce their LDL cholesterol by 16 percent.

The following findings from various other studies further demonstrate the health benefit of green tea:

• Green tea polyphenols in green tea may prevent cholesterol from being absorbed in the intestines
• Polyphenols limit the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet
• Epicatechins, also found in green tea, can help in the rapid excretion of bile salts and fatty acids that contain cholesterol

The health benefit of green tea in reducing cholesterol is also evident in the way the effects of drinking green tea is linked to the paradox involving French people and their love for fat-rich diets. Researchers were for a long time confused why French people managed to keep their rate of heart diseases lower than Americans. It was later discovered that red wine had something to do with the lesser occurrence of heart diseases in French people. Red wine was found to contain a substance called resveratrol, which is a polyphenol that regulates the adverse results of smoking and a fatty diet.

In an earlier study, researchers were able to determine that EGCG is even more potent as resveratrol. This is also considered as the reason why there is a low heart disease rate among Japanese men, despite the fact that roughly 75 percent of them are smokers.

By Patricia Hammond

Risks and benefits

A common misconception about herbalism and the use of "natural" products in general, is that "natural" equals safe. However many plants have chemical defence mechanisms against predators that can have adverse or lethal effects on humans. Examples are poison hemlock and nightshade, which can be deadly, although they are not sold as herbs. Herbs can also have undesirable side-effects just as pharmaceutical products can. These problems are exacerbated by lack of control over dosage and purity. Furthermore, if given in conjunction with drugs, there is danger of 'summation', where the herb and the drug have similar actions and add together to make an 'overdose'. In animals, there are other dangers. There may be residues in food from farm animals (e.g. eggs, milk, meat) or danger of 'doping' in competition animals. The latter may also apply to human athletes.




There is a danger that herbal remedies will be used in place of other medical treatments which have been scientifically tested for safety and efficacy, resulting in the development or worsening of a medical condition which could have been better prevented or treated. There is also a danger that an herbal remedy may itself cause harm which is unanticipated due to a lack of a full understanding of its composition and biochemical effects.

In the UK, the profession's governing bodies such as The College of Phytotherapy Practitioners and The National Institute of Medical Herbalists offer membership, education and certification. A qualified Herbalist will have studied for four years and passed exams in botanical and medical subjects. He or she will be expected to have the required knowledge to prescribe and dispense herbs tailored to the individual, taking into account their medical history and any other medication.

Essential oils

Extraction of volatile liquid plant materials and other aromatic compounds from plants gives essential oils. These plant oils may be used internally in some forms of herbal medicine as well as in aromatherapy and generally for their perfume, although their medicinal use as a natural treatment (alternative medicine) has proved highly efficacious in the treatment of headache and muscle pain, joint pain and certain skin diseases

The Secrets of Honey

I have regularly taken a mixture of organic honey and organic cider vinegar in a glass of hot water every morning for years. Not only is it a very pleasant warming drink but also it gives you the energy that you cannot get from your morning tea or coffee.

The value of honey as a beneficial medicinal aid has been known for centuries but it is only in modern times that the folk remedy of using honey has a scientific explanation.

Honey is produced in most countries of the world by honeybees from the nectar of flowers. Honey is sweeter than table sugar and has a distinctive flavor. It is accepted by today’s scientists as having medicinal properties. The sugar content does not produce any side effects on diabetic patients if taken in the right dosage.

A word of caution - according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey honey frequently contains dormant endospores of the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can be dangerous to infants as their digestive excretions are non-acidic. In certain cases honey may be toxic to adults, but it is rarely encountered.




However, did you know that a mixture of honey and cinnamon can help cure many diseases in adults?

These ancient Indian honey and cinnamon curatives have been handed down from generation to generation and, under modern scientific investigation are proving to be effective in aiding many health problems.

Arthritis
A paste of one part honey to two parts warm water, with a small teaspoon of cinnamon powder added, can be rubbed onto the afflicted joints of the body and massaged in. This should reduce the pain within a minute or two. A cup of hot water with two spoonfuls of honey and one spoonful of cinnamon powder taken morning and night is said to cure chronic arthritis if taken regularly.

Bad Breath
To keep breath sweet throughout the day, gargle with 1 teaspoon of honey and cinnamon powder mixed in hot water.

Bladder Infections
To destroy the germs in the bladder take 2 tablespoons of cinnamon powder and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of luke warm water.

Cancer
Research has revealed that advanced cancer of the stomach and bones can be alleviated if a mixture of 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder is taken 3 times a day for 3 months.

Cholesterol
To reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours, drink a cup of 2 tablespoons of honey and 3 teaspoons of cinnamon powder mixed in 16 ounces of tea water, 3 times a day. Common Colds

To help clear the sinuses and relieve cold symptoms, take 1 tablespoon luke warm honey mixed with ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder daily for 3 days.

Hair Loss
Apply a paste of hot olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder rubbed into the hair and left for 15 minutes before washing out.

Heart Diseases
A paste of honey and cinnamon powder spread onto bread instead of jam and eaten regularly reduces cholesterol and can prevent heart attacks. For those people who have already suffered a heart attack, following the above advice can help prevent another one.

It has been reported that in America and Canada the arteries and veins of elderly nursing home patients have been revitalized using this treatment.

Immune System
Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts and the daily use of honey and cinnamon powder strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks. Constant use of honey strengthens the white blood corpuscles.

Indigestion
Cinnamon powder sprinkled on 2 tablespoons of honey, taken before food, relieves acidity and helps digest the heaviest of meals

Infertility
To cure impotence, take 2 tablespoons of honey before going to bed. In China, Japan and countries in the Far East, women who have not conceived have for centuries taken cinnamon powder to strengthen the uterus.

A pinch of cinnamon powder in ½ teaspoon of honey rubbed onto the gums at frequent intervals throughout the day so that it dissolves and enters the body, can also help women to conceive.

Influenza
A scientist in Spain has proved that honey contains a natural ingredient which has the ability to kill influenza germs.

Longevity
Make a tea with 4 spoonfuls of honey, 1 spoonful of cinnamon powder, and 3 cups of water. Drink ¼ cup 3-4 times daily to arrest the ravages of old age, keep the skin soft and increase lifespan.

Spots and Pimples
Apply a paste of 3 tablespoons honey, 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder to the aggravated area before bed. Wash off in the morning.

Skin Infections
Equal parts of honey and cinnamon powder can cure eczema, ringworm and all types of skin infections.

Toothache
To stop toothache, apply a paste of 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder and 5 teaspoons of honey 3 times daily to the affected tooth.

Upset Tummy
Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomach ache and also stomach ulcers. Studies in India and Japan have shown that this will also relieve the stomach of gas.

Weight Loss
Drink a glass of honey and cinnamon powder in hot water in the morning before anything else and ½ hour before eating. Also drink this at night before bed. If taken regularly this should reduce the weight of even the most obese people. This drink does not allow fat to accumulate in the body.

By Jacqueline Lloyd

Vacuuming Boosts Health - If you Believe It

If you have a career that requires some physical labor, realize that you are getting some exercise and feel good about that. A new study shows that understanding the exercise benefits of your daily routine makes them even better.

Housework is Exercise

Researchers did a little experiment with some hotel housekeepers. They told some housekeepers about the exercise benefits of their job and gave them specific examples. After all, changing sheets, vacuuming, cleaning floors, etc. can be quite a workout. A second group of hotel housekeepers were not informed about their professions physical activity benefits.

After about 10 weeks, the researchers evaluated the physical health of the study participants. Those that were informed about exercise benefits had small but real improvements in body weight, BMI and blood pressure. This is different spin on the placebo effect – believing that something his helping actually makes it help more.




The Power of the Placebo Effect

Many studies before have demonstrated the power, positive and negative, of the placebo effect. For example, subjects exposed to fake poison ivy develop real rashes (negative effect) and subjects given fake knee surgeries report improvements in pain and have less swelling (positive effect). Data suggests that somewhere between 60-90% of all drug therapies rely, at least partly, on the placebo effect.

I know that some of you are thinking, ‘Why not just believe that watching TV while eating cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes are good for your health?' Well, lying to yourself is not the point but if you can truly convince yourself of that, maybe you'll minimize the damage.
It all boils down to the power of your own beliefs to control your biology. Are you a ‘glass half empty' or a ‘glass half full' person?

Reacting to Information

This question is going to become very relevant in a few short years. Genotyping studies, which I have discussed in the past, will soon allow people to get all their genes analyzed and determine what diseases they are at risk for so that they can take measure to minimize the chances of developing them.

In fact, just this week, such a genotyping study identified four new genes that put women at increased risk for breast cancer. These types of studies are growing at an accelerated pace with the advent of recent technologies.

Some people will look at increased odds of developing a disease very stressfully, and with the negative placebo effect, actually increase their chances of getting sick. Others will interpret the information as gaining control and use the positive placebo effect to increase their odds of health.
We must understand that our attitudes have a big impact on our outcomes. I'm talking about health and the placebo effect in this context but you can apply that truth to many areas of your life.

Focus on the Positive

The take away point is to focus on your health successes and the good you are doing. Focus on how much you do eat and sleep well and get some good physical activity and use the placebo effect to your advantage. Try to minimize the small setbacks but don't stress about them too much and allow the negative placebo effect work against you.

The other important point is to find health habits that you enjoy so that you can boost the positive effects even more. Don't try and stick to a health routine that you dislike. Enroll in a Yoga or Tai Chi Class if you can't stand the typical gym style work out. Experiment with different foods until you find some healthy choices you enjoy. Don't force yourself to eat broccoli if you really don't like it.

The more you work on finding an enjoyable healthy lifestyle the more positive emotions you create around that lifestyle and the better the benefit.

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Acidity And Your Longevity

On May 21, 2007, based on a recent research conducted by Dr. Steven Nissen at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the FDA expressed concern regarding the safety of AVANDIA, a pill widely prescribed by doctors to treat type 2 diabetes. The groundbreaking research findings suggested that the risk of a heart attack was increased 43 percent among those taking the drug, and that there was a 64 percent increased risk of dying from cardiovascular causes, compared with patients not taking the drug.

This is yet another strong testament to the dubious safety of many pharmaceutical drugs.
Putting aside the safety factor, pharmaceutical drugs are acidic, and therefore toxic by nature.
Each of your body cells has a different "half-life" of survival; meaning, it constantly dies and replaces itself throughout your whole lifespan. For example, your red blood cells die and replace themselves every 90 days or so, while your harder bone cells can take up to many years to die and to be replaced with new ones.

The health of your newly regenerated cells is dependent on the building materials you fed to their previous cells. In other words, if your previous cells were living in a toxic condition, the next-generation cells in your body may become much weaker. So healthy cells regenerate healthy cells, and unhealthy cells beget only inferior and weaker next-generation ones.
One of the most important functions of cells is to balance and regulate the acid-and-alkali level (pH) of your body. Your pH level is the best indicator of the conditions of your health. In fact, some medical experts believe that a balanced and regulated pH level precludes you from any disease.

The pH level of your body stands for power of hydrogen. A pH test measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in your body. The more positively charged hydrogen ions are present, the more acidic your body becomes; the fewer hydrogen ions present, the more alkaline your body is.

The pH scale ranges between one and fourteen. Seven is neutral. Anything below seven is acidic, while anything above seven is alkaline.

If your body is healthy, it should operate slightly alkaline. Deviations above or below a 7.30 - 7.40 pH range in your blood can signal potentially serious and even dangerous symptoms, forewarning you of a disease in process.




The pH of your blood, tissues and bodily fluids directly affects the state of your cellular health. When your pH levels are in proper balance, you will experience a high level of healthiness and wellness. This is because every metabolic and system function, including digestion, respiration, hormone release, neurotransmitter release and immunity, depends entirely on a balanced and regulated pH level. Hence, acid spells death, while alkali embraces life and longevity.

When your body is too acidic, your body's built-in defense mechanism may make different attempts to neutralize the excess. When all these attempts fail, the accumulated acid wastes will then begin to push themselves into different parts of your body, making deposits that will ultimately cause body pain. Are you experiencing regular body aches and pains? If you are, your body may have become too acidic, and hence toxic. Excess acidity may make your tissues and joints more hypersensitive and vulnerable to pain and outside influences. Your body aches and pain may have nothing to do with your age.

In addition, over acidity may also deplete the mineral reserves in your body, leading to minerals deficiency, thereby further depriving your body cells of the nutrient components necessary for optimum health and regeneration. Do you have frequent headaches? Yes, an Aspirin or a Tylenol may do the trick to make them go away temporarily, but the chemicals in the drug may also make your body become even more acidic, rendering your next episode of headache with more acute symptoms.

Furthermore, excess acid wastes will severely compromise cellular function in your body by shutting off oxygen and nutrient uptake, and disrupting cellular frequency for communication. This may lead to a complete metabolic and system breakdown, manifesting serious health problems in your body. Such overloads often adversely affect your filtration systems and elimination routes (your liver and kidneys), cells, and immune system in your body, leading to disease and even premature death.

As cells, tissues and organs in your body begin to die, morbid microforms, such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and yeast, begin to feed on the diseased areas. That produces potently toxic and acidic by-products that further compromise the pH level and create further malfunction in your body's bio-systems. As a result, your body may develop degenerative disease from the inside, especially when triggered by contributing factors from external circumstances, such as chemicals, drugs, pollutants, radiation, and trauma.

An acidic environment may often be the breeding ground for disease and tumor.
Unfortunately, no pharmaceutical drug can neutralize acids and increase the pH level in your body.

Why is that?
This is because all pharmaceuticals are acidic by nature, particularly antibiotics, because they are synthetic chemicals. It is therefore impossible to treat an acid condition in you with a pharmaceutical drug, which is another acid. That explains why any drug to treat symptoms of coughing, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, and skin rashes, is ineffective in the end because all these symptoms are merely manifestations of the excess acidity in your body. Eliminating the acidity of your body with a pharmaceutical drug is very much like giving you another poison when you accidentally drank one.

All pharmaceutical drugs are destructive, not nutritive. A longevity life should be a drug-free life, as much as possible.

By Stephen Lau