Monday, September 10, 2012

Stop Heartburn with the Acid Reflux Diet

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Acid Reflux: Heal Yourself with Natural Remedies

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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Want to Look Younger and Healthier?

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Make Your Own Natural Remedies

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A Natural Acid Reflux Remedy: Apple Cider Vinegar

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The 5 Best Natural Breast Enlargement Herbs

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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Acid Reflux Natural Remedy: Positional Therapy

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Cheese Can Help Prevent Diabetes

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Hoodia: A Safe, Natural Appetite Suppressant

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8662218988061400865.post1390644423816528135..comments2012-09-01T03:52:50.791-04:00Caitlin MacKennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09478983840982006504noreply@blogger.comBlogger0125

Daily Glass of Wine "Is as Good as Drugs for Protecting Women's Thin Bones"

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Friday, September 7, 2012

Fight or Flight: How to Avoid Adrenal Fatigue and Weight Gain

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Natural Sunburn and bug Bite Relief from Your Kitchen

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Improve Your Digestion Naturally

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Two All-Natural Supplements for Depression

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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Why Is Insulin Resistance So Dangerous to Non-Diabetics?

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7 Ways to Avoid Bad Breath Naturally

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Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

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CoQ10: The Energy Antioxidant

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Using Oregano Oil for Common Problems

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What's Living in Your Body?

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How to Use Castor Oil for Hair Loss

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Woman Stuns Researchers by Overcoming Cancer with Turmeric Spice

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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Have More Energy, Think Clearly, Sleep Better

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Breast Enlargement Herbs: How to Make Them Even MORE Effective

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How to Create a Natural First-Aid Kit for Travel

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Home Remedies to Help You Sleep

Home Remedies to Help You Sleep Home Remedies to Help You Sleep

Before you ever learned about keeping your bedroom dark, cool, quiet and gadget-free, chances are someone (Hi, Mom!) told you some of their own theories about how to get the best sleep.

While we know that things like staying away from caffeine and exercise close to bedtime really do promote better zzz's, there's –unsurprisingly! — not much scientific evidence surrounding folk methods like drinking warm milk or counting sheep. Just because these home-grown sleep remedies continue to be passed down over the years doesn't mean they work!

So does Mom really know best when it comes to falling asleep fast? We asked Michael Decker, Ph.D., an associate professor at Georgia State University and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, to explain if your go-to method really works.

Lullabies

Soothing music before bedtime can really do the trick. A 2005 study found that older people who listened to 45 minutes of soft tunes before hitting the hay reported a 35 percent improvement in their sleep problems.

But it doesn't have to be Brahms, if that's not your style. As long as the music was soft and slow — around 60 to 80 beats per minute — it can spur physical changes known to promote sleep, like a slower heart rate and breathing, the BBC reported.

"We know that when a person closes their eyes they induce a certain frequency of brain waves," says Decker. Slow music may have a similar effect, he surmises, leading to sleep onset.

Warm Milk

It was once thought that a glass of warm milk at bedtime would help send you off to dreamland because of the tryptophan, The New York Times reported, but milk and other protein-rich foods actually block tryptophan's sleepiness-inducing effects. However, there might still be a psychological benefit to that warm milk, the Times concluded, calling it "as soothing as a favorite old blanket."

"There have been some studies showing that when infants receive warm milk before bed, they'll dream a little bit more," says Decker, but the results don't hold true in adults. "It may be one of those myths that because it happens in children, adults think it may be true for them, too," he explains. However, many adults are actually at least slightly lactose intolerant, he says, meaning a warm mlik at bedtime may just lead to discomfort.

Counting Sheep

If your goal is to bore yourself to sleep, you might try counting sheep, or counting backwards by multiples of three or any of a number of other counting-related mind-numbers. But a 2002 study found that imagining a more relaxing scene might be more effective.

The study observed 41 people with insomnia over a number of nights and asked them to try a variety of different sleep-inducing techniques, like counting sheep.

On the nights they were told to imagine relaxing scenes like a beach, a massage or a walk in the woods, they fell asleep an average of 20 minutes sooner than on the nights they were told to count sheep or were given no instructions, Mental Floss reported.

Decker agrees. "Counting sheep in and of itself may not help," but can act as a ritual that prepares us for sleep, making it not unlike meditation. Counting sheep — or more relaxing guided imagery — helps us "focus on something other than life's stressors," he says. "Thinking about a soothing environment may be more restful than the way you spent the last eight hours!"

Breathing Exercises

Focusing on the breath, whether it's as part of a pre-bed yoga sequence or just a tuned-in awareness, can also have meditation-like effects in preparing for bed, says Decker, like lowering the heart rate.

Warm Bath

Your body temp dips about two hours before bedtime, Health magazine reported, a natural change that "triggers our brain for sleep onset", says Decker. Soaking in a warm bath beforehand boosts your temperature temporarily, but results in a dramatic, rapid cooldown after you get out that relaxes you and eases you into sleep.

It's not necessarily the bath that lulls you to sleep, it's that resulting cooling of your body temperature, Decker emphasizes. Research shows that people who take a warm bath before bed not only fall asleep more quickly, but also report better quality of sleep, he says.

Alcohol

Many people swear by a drink to unwind at the end of the day, but alcohol before bed can actually disrupt your sleep. You'll be more likely to wake up more often in the early-morning hours, wake up and not be to fall back to sleep or have disturbing dreams. "As alcohol is metabolized by the liver, it has a disruptive effect," says Decker. It takes a few hours to metabolize, he says, so a drink with dinner shouldn't be a problem, but anything too close to bedtime can be counterproductive.

Get Out Of Bed

It sounds crazy — how will you ever get to sleep if you're not even in bed?! — but it works, says Decker.

"When a person stays in bed and they can't sleep, the bedroom can induce a certain level of anxiety," he says. "We say after 15 or 20 minutes, get out of bed, sit in another part of the house until you feel a little groggy, then go back to sleep," he says. "Staying in bed can condition you to become anxious in bed."

A small 2011 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that among the adults studied who reported trouble sleeping, those who spent less time in bed had better sleeping habits.

Original Article Here

Monday, September 3, 2012

Familiarizing Ourselves with Herbal Remedies

Familiarizing Ourselves to Herbal Remedies Herbal remedies are not-so-distant cousins of modern medical regimen.

A World Health Organisation (WHO) fact sheet on traditional medicine states that in some Asian and African countries, 80 per cent of the population depends on traditional medicine for their primary health care. It also states that herbal medicines are the most lucrative form of traditional medicine. More than 100 countries have regulations for herbal medicines. T&T is not among them. Naturopathic practitioner Dr Anna Maria Pouchet thinks that is why people tend to distrust natural products. Pouchet, who founded the Hope and Wellness Clinic and practices various forms of naturopathic medicine, agreed to speak to the T&T Guardian about herbal medicine, it’s uses, benefits and effects. “When people speak about herbalism you would think it’s witchcraft or folklore, but humans have used plants for food, oxygen, shelter and medicine for thousands of years,” said Pouchet. “We have evolved over time along with plants. Our health and well being are integrally and substantially entwined to the world we live in, especially the use of plants for food and medicine.” Pouchet said this is why the state of the environment has a profound impact on health and well being. She found it amazing that in less than 100 years the western world had evolved away from what “is inherently natural and instinctive,” such as herbs, to embrace a world she classified as “synthetic and instant.”She said herbal remedies worked in different ways.

“Some have a cumulative effect and work slowly over time to restore balance, while others can be used for short-term treatment and acute symptoms.” Pouchet explained. She said understanding how herbs work can be a challenge for some. “The world consists of thousands of plant species and it is a daunting task to find all the scientific evidence to understand them.” She said each plant species also has a myriad of constituents that have multiple beneficial actions on the human body. As an example she name the plant species Echinacea Purpurea. “Echinacea is known by most people as a remedy for the common cold but what most don’t realise are the additional benefits of using this herb, which include healthy growth of connective tissue, treatment of psoriasis, eczema, hives and other skin problems and even arthritis,” said Pouchet. She said, in comparison pharmaceuticals were generally man-made chemicals, some of which were patented from the active ingredients of plants.

Pouchet said these chemicals may have two or three active ingredients which work on suppressing or activating specific biochemical reactions in the body. “This is regardless of the other possible pathways which may use these active ingredients, creating a whole host of other problems. “For example, cholesterol lowering drugs such as statins have negative effects on the liver and muscular system in the body,” said Pouchet. Pouchet said though herbs were an effective and natural form of treatment that were generally safer, with fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals. Though she described herbs as inexpensive, she said every herb that was imported needed to be registered at a cost of around $700 by the Food and Drug administration. “It is also a long and drawn out process getting herbs in, even fish oils that have no side effects take a long time to be processed,” said Pouchet. She said this was hurting the population and forcing them into pharmaceutical drugs with no alternative. Pouchet said pharmaceuticals were in no way “bad.” “Pharmaceuticals have made an indelible mark in this world and will continue to play a profound role in saving lives,” she said.

Original Article Here

Turning to Nature to Speed-up the Healing Process

Turning to Nature to Speed-up the Healing Process Healing can be further sped-up with the help of nature.

When most people hear the phrase “natural healing” they think of herbal remedies and ancient therapies. But there’s an even older, simpler source of healing that’s just outside your door: nature itself.

In a recent issue of the AARP bulletin, author Richard Louv quoted developmental psychologist Marti Erickson as saying that nature may be one of the best and most accessible stress-busters. Louv, author of the bestselling 2005 book, Last Child in the Woods, introduced the term, “nature-deficit disorder.” It’s not a medical diagnosis (at least not yet) but a description of the effect on children who spend most of their time immersed in technology rather than in nature.

In his article, Louv notes that “more time in nature — or in home, work or hospital environments enhanced through nature-based design” is linked with “reduction in stress and depression, faster healing time and less need for pain medication.” He cites a 2008 University of Michigan study where subjects’ memory performance and attention spans improved by 20 percent after an hour of interaction with nature; and a 2012 study at the University of Kansas that reported a 50-percent increase in creativity for subjects “steeped in nature” for a few days.

Will biking, hiking or strolling in the park cure major illnesses, mental or physical? No. But it can make a real difference in mood, motivation and physical comfort, overall. In other words, it can make us healthier.

Perhaps the one good thing about the current health-care-affordability crisis is the focus on preventive care. We know chronic stress can be life-threatening, and many of us live under that condition today. We also know that moderate levels of anxiety, depression, aches and pains caused by stress, inactivity and other modern habits can be alleviated by spending time walking, gardening and other low-impact outdoor activities. We know that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) that renders many people miserable during the winter months can be alleviated by use of natural-spectrum sun lamps, but how much better to put on some sunscreen and get moving out in the real thing?

And what about our kids, those who can’t sit still and those who sit around too much? Hanging around outdoors can help the former be a bit more calm and focused and give the latter incentive to move. (Even if they’re strolling with the phone to their ear, they’re moving, right?) With half of all American adults and a third of kids overweight, getting outdoors is probably the easiest way to alleviate that unhealthy condition. In a safe, green city like ours, it’s certainly the cheapest way.

You don’t even have to be on the move to benefit from Nature. It’s not by accident that the more attractive office complexes, universities and public buildings incorporate parks and water features, from ponds to fountains, in their landscapes. Check out the path-encircled Wildwood Nature Center pond on Sibley in Park Ridge, Oakton Community College’s pond or Axehead Lake, and any of the other parks in the area for a fast therapeutic break. Plants in the home can not only provide a calming effect, some, such as the peace lily, can actually clean the air of pollutants that aggravate allergies. Check out the Park Ridge Community Center display of air-cleaning plants.

Humans instinctively know how to help ourselves to natural healing found in greenery, fresh air and water. When we’re upset, we go for a walk around the block or take a bubble bath; remedies free of side effects of what experts call ATOD (alcohol, tobacco and other drugs).

Of course, any health problem, emotional or physical, should be diagnosed and modern medicine is often the solution. But try a little dose of nature at the same time, and see how much better you can feel.

It’s only natural.

Original Article Here

Bringing out Your Inner Beauty

Bringing out Your Inner BeautyLast year I received one of the best pieces of nutritional advice I’ve ever had. If you don’t understand the ingredients on the packaging, don’t eat what’s in it. Sounds obvious but I’d never looked at it like that before. Now, I check the ingredients and if it has more than three, back on the shelf it goes.

My new-found food philosophy hasn’t yet found its way into my beauty cabinet. Twice a day, I perform my daily ritual of applying at least ten different beauty products – from shampoo to SPF – and each product contains at least 20 ingredients that I can’t even pronounce, let alone understand what it is or does.

I’m not alone when it comes to my consumption of beauty products. According to a recent survey by QVC Beauty, British women spend an average of Dh248,000 on cosmetics in their lifetime and even the economic downturn has done little to curb our beauty obsession. In fact, if anything, it’s made us more discerning and demanding.

I, for one, have started questioning every product I buy. I want to know exactly what it can do for me, how I can get the most benefit from of it (is there a cream I can use under my eyes and on cracked heels?) and what exactly is lurking in my little pot of moisturiser.

Being aware of the ingredients in your beauty products can be a real eye opener. In a recent Aquarius poll, a worrying 34 per cent of readers admitted to not knowing what’s actually in their cosmetics.

According to Jeroen Proos, director and co-founder of natural beauty brand Human+Kind, there are ingredients commonly found in products consumers should be concerned about – a group of ingredients that include methyl, propyl, butyl and ethyl parabens are just a few. “These are known as preservatives and commonly used as inhibitors of microbial growth to extend the product’s shelf life,” he says. “Parabens are widely used despite being known to be toxic and causing allergic reactions and skin rashes.”

Aly Rahimtoola, owner of Herbline Essentials, recommends avoiding whitening agents and synthetic dyes. “Whitening agents, usually synthetic sun blocking agents or melanin inhibitors, can cause skin to become patchy, while synthetic dyes used in hair-colouring products can cause an adverse reaction.”

Jeroen is also keen to point out that some ingredients actually cause the problem they claim to fix. “Petrolatum is a mineral oil jelly and causes many problems,” he says. “It can promote sun damage and interferes with the body’s own natural moisturising mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping… therefore creating the problem that the product actually intended to prevent.”

Why make the change?

So how are a few bad ingredients going to harm you? Well, if you use multiple products daily – our poll revealed 94 per cent of readers use up to five products a day – you are exposing yourself to a lot of chemicals. According to British brand Neal’s Yard Remedies, over the past 50 years, tens of thousands of new chemicals have been developed, most of which have not been properly tested on humans and it’s perhaps no coincidence that over this time, incidences of eczema, allergies and cancers have greatly increased.

Megan Larsen, founder of Sodashi cosmetics says, “It’s been shown that around 60 per cent of what you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream. There are thousands of untested synthetic chemicals being used in consumer products with little or no understanding of the consequences to our health.” She further explains that more and more consumers are experiencing sensitivities to synthetic chemicals and are looking for chemical-free solutions.

With people opting for an all-round healthier lifestyle, it makes sense that the same rationale is applied to cosmetics. “Many people choose to consume organically produced food as they’re pesticide- and chemical-free. The same applies to skincare,” says Aly. “Using products made of 100 per cent natural ingredients is a beneficial choice for our skin and health in the long run.”

The chemical-free choice

So what are the chemical-free options and do they work? In recent years, there’s been an explosion of once-niche brands, which are now considered part of the mainstream beauty world. Neal’s Yard Remedies has several stores across the UAE and department store Harvey Nichols is home to a variety of organic and natural ranges including Sasy n Savy and Sodashi, while the Organic Foods & Café stocks holistic brands Dr Hauschka and A’Kin.

Spas in the UAE are also going au naturel, with many offering organic treatments. Cowshed offers its organic treatments at Sisters Beauty Lounge, while Thai Privilege Spa delivers a menu of treatments using its organic Eminence range. There are even all-organic spas cropping up. Zen Beauty Lounge in Jumeirah uses all toxin-free, natural and organic products. It offers treatments from threading and pedis, to massages and facials, but without the chemicals or the carbon footprint. It even creates products using all-natural ingredients, like strawberries and oatmeal.

The main issue natural and organic-certified products and treatments face is convincing consumers their products are just as effective as those loaded with synthetics: those same synthetics that contribute to the feel, smell and consistency of your luxury cream.

“As with any new regime, you may feel a difference in the way the product sits or feels on your skin, but it’s simply about getting used to it,” says Aly. Just as science is behind the latest miracle cream, Aly says that formulating natural and organic products also comes with its own mastery. “You need to know your natural ingredients and understand the causative factors that lead to ageing in the body… Then you can create products that are akin to the natural processes in the body, act as corrective and protective foods, and stimulate skin health,” he says. “They may feel different, but if formulated well, they are pleasant to use, effective and least likely to cause damage and premature ageing of the skin.”

After testing a range myself, I admit they’ve taken a little time to get used to, but they seem to be doing the job. The one issue I face, especially with organics, is that, because they are paraben-free, they don’t have as long a shelf life as synthetic products. This means keeping them fresh by storing in the fridge.

More than skin deep

It’s not just your skin that can reap the benefits. By supporting natural and organic brands, you’re also reducing your own carbon footprint. Not only are these brands’ farming methods and ingredient sourcing eco-conscious, but many also extend their greener values to include packaging and community-based projects.

Neal’s Yard Remedies follows a mantra of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ to have minimal impact on the environment. As well as supporting locally grown producers, all products come in 100 per cent recyclable glass bottles. Dr Hauschka runs various community projects – a shea butter cooperative in Burkino Faso and a rose cultivation project in Afghanistan. L’Occitane’s packaging is made from paper and cardboard sourced from sustainably managed forests.

According to Proos, the natural and organic beauty industry globally is projected to reach $10 billion (Dh36.7 billion) by the end of 2012 and it’s not hard to see why. As consumers we are demanding more from our products. The industry has responded by upping its game with products that meet these goals but also do the job. Discover our favourites brands on the next page.

Organic spas

On the back of organic beauty brands, spas offering organic treatments are also now more popular and there’s even an all-organic spa here. Zen Beauty Lounge (www.zenbeautylounge.com) in Discovery Gardens is the first and only eco-friendly spa using all toxin-free, natural and organic products. They offer treatments from threading and pedis, to massages and facials, but without the chemicals or carbon footprint. They create their own products using all-natural ingredients, from avocadoes (great for hydration on skin and hair) to oatmeal (good for cleansing and softening skin). Organic skincare brand Cowshed offers its range of premium organic treatments at Sister’s Beauty Lounge, while Thai Privilege Spa delivers a menu of treatments using its organic Eminence range.

Know your labels

Deciphering what is organic can be a little tricky, so here’s a good guide to follow:

100 per cent organic – Products that are made entirely from certified-organic ingredientsOrganic  – Products that contain at least 95 per cent organic ingredientsMade with organic ingredients – Products that contain at least 75 per cent organic ingredients

Original Article Here

Sports Massage: Relaxing and Revitalizing Tired Muscles

If you're looking for a soothing experience, a sports massage treatment may not seem like it would do it for you. At least, not at first.

But if you want your circulation to increase and your cells to be nourished, consider a sports massage.

Metabolic waste is dispatched, and afterwards your muscle pain will diminish, as will your fatigue.

Sports massage is done vigorously, with the myofascia muscles as its targets. Its goal is to enhance movement before activity, during and after activity.

If you are looking for pre-rehab, an improvement in your performance, or better recovery from injury, sports massage may be the answer.

Whether you are going to be playing in a sports event, working in your garden, going for a run on your own or getting active with your friends, a sports massage is beneficial both before or after the activity.

A massage before being active will relax your muscles and enhance your frame of mind.

A massage afterward can help reduce delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS. Your increased circulation and waste removal will have you feeling better faster than you normally would.

An injury such as a muscle sprain or strain will respond well to sports massage. It can enhance regeneration of tissue, decrease scar tissue and shrink stretch marks.

Swelling is decreased while circulation is increased. Adhesions and scar tissue get broken down.

Repetitive motion causes repetitive stress on the body. Some muscles are overworked while others are not being used much.

This situation can lead to being less efficient in your movement. It can also result in an injury.

A massage therapist is trained to recognize imbalances showing up in your muscles, and can help to regain muscle balance.

Sports massage can increase a limited range of motion and joint flexibility. Muscles that are weakened, too tight or atrophied from lack of movement will benefit.

Muscles that are overworked or injured are relaxed. Cramps and spasms will ease.

Sports massage despite its name is not just for people playing sports. Chronic health conditions can benefit in significant ways.

Oxygen and nutrients are pumped into organs and tissues. This improves circulation.

Massage stimulates the lymph system, which strengthens the immune system.Endorphins are released by sports massage which reduces pain in the body.

Pain and stiffness from arthritis can be reduced. High blood pressure can be brought to a more healthy level.

Women with premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, experience fewer cramps with less intensity, and less fluid retention.

People with burn injuries experience less pain and itching. Their anxiety levels decrease. Children with asthma have better lung function and better air flow.

The possible benefits are numerous, in many arenas. Most people would feel better and experience better health from regular visits to a sports massage therapist.

Original Article Here

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Treating Childhood Illness with Natural Remedies

Treating Childhood Illness with Natural Remedies Treating Childhood Illness with Natural Remedies

The National Institutes of Health reports one in nine children use some form of complementary or alternative medicine. For example, a study published online on August 6 in the journal Pediatrics reported that children’s cough symptoms were less frequent and less severe after swallowing a spoonful of honey before bed. Parents reported that both they and their children slept through the night when the youngsters took a spoonful of honey.

“Honey may be nature’s safest over-the-counter cough and cold treatment and its most potent antibiotic,” notes Dr. Lawrence Rosen, New York-based pediatrician and co-author of the new book “Treatment Alternatives for Children: Reduce Serious Side Effects with Natural Equivalents to Conventional Remedies for Common Childhood Ailments.” Dr. Rosen adds, “Best of all, honey does not have the potentially dangerous side effects of conventional medications.”

Parents concerned about the overuse of antibiotics and other prescription medicines are in search of treatment alternatives that address common childhood health concerns without exposing children to chemical cocktails. “Treatment Alternatives for Children” offers side-by-side comparisons between conventional and alternative treatment options for nearly 100 common childhood illnesses including:

Cranberries which are often used to treat urinary tract infections may also offer protection against heart disease, cancer and other diseases.  Aloe provides topical relief for skin problems such as minor burns or sunburns. It can also help heal cuts, blisters, and open sores. Taken internally, aloe soothes the digestive tract.  Ginger, known to settle an upset stomach, provides relief from nausea and indigestion. Ginger is an antibacterial, antifungal, and antihistamine, so it is helpful in treating colds and allergies. It is an anti-inflammatory, so it may also treat symptoms of arthritis.

Co-author Jeff Cohen has a keen interest in holistic medicine. He first felt the need for an alternative to prescription treatment when his son was diagnosed with seasonal allergies. Cohen turned to his children’s pediatrician, Dr. Rosen. “Rather than immediately prescribing a potentially harmful drug, I seriously consider each child’s unique situation and the safest, most effective solution,” explained Dr. Rosen. He added, “Often, this prescription is all-natural and can be found in your kitchen cabinet.” Impressed by the effectiveness of these holistic solutions, Cohen teamed with Dr. Rosen to publish “Treatment Alternatives for Children.”

This new book is an easily accessible reference guide that helps parents find natural solutions to nearly 100 childhood ailments. Health concerns addressed include asthma, ADHD, autism, dehydration, the flu, swimmer’s ear, burns, bug bites, stomach aches, growing pains, and more. Treatment alternatives include herbal, nutritional, homeopathic, and mind-body remedies and the authors provide side-by-side comparisons of the conventional remedy and the treatment alternative. Dr. Rosen documents the science behind his recommendations so parents can rest assured they are treating their children with safe and effective alternatives to conventional medicines.

Each ailment is discussed in-depth and includes:

The generic and common brand names of each treatmentActive ingredientsHow each treatment works including dosage, where applicableTreatment efficiency and timingCommon mild and rare side effects

The book also includes helpful top ten treatment lists, including Ten Spice Rack Resources, Ten Curative Foods and Beverages, and Ten Healing Herbs and Plants, all supported by the most current scientific research.

The authors report that their book is endorsed by household name medical professionals including Dr. Alan Greene and Dr. Bob Sears, with a forward by Deirdre Imus, Treatment Alternatives for Children is revolutionary, taking a look at the health of the “whole child” and encompassing both a pediatrician’s and parent’s perspectives. The book is a contemporary resource for parents seeking natural remedies for the health of their children.  

Original Article Here

Medical Marijuana as an Alternative for Pain Control

Medcal Marijuana as an Alternative to Analgesics Marijuana as Analgesics

One in eight people with the painful condition fibromyalgia self-medicate with pot and other cannabis products, according to a new Canadian study.

"That is not unusual behavior, in general, for people with chronic medical illnesses for which we don't have great treatments," said Dr. Igor Grant, who heads the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California and was not involved in the study.

"People start looking around, they look for other types of remedies, because they need the help," he told Reuters Health.

The question is if self-medicating with cannabis is really helpful for people with fibromyalgia, researchers say.

Marijuana has been shown to ease certain types of pain in patients with HIV and other conditions. But Grant said he doesn't know of any research showing the drug can relieve the pain associated with fibromyalgia.

And the question of whether it helps fibromyalgia sufferers regain some of their daily functions, such as housekeeping or working, remains up in the air, too.

"We don't want to just see pain reduction, but an improvement in function," said Peter Ste-Marie, a pain researcher at McGill University in Montreal, who worked on the new study. "If it's not helping them get back into a daily life pattern, is it helping them?"

People with fibromyalgia typically experience pain in their joints and muscles and may also suffer from frequent headaches and fatigue.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about two percent of adults have fibromyalgia, which remains a mystery to scientists.

The condition can be treated with physical therapy, antidepressants, pain medications and other approaches, although none of them is a cure.

To see how many people turn to marijuana, Ste-Marie and his colleagues collected information from the medical records of 457 patients who came to the pain unit at McGill University Health Center. Their findings are published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research.

All of the patients had been referred to the clinic for fibromyalgia symptoms, although only 302 of the patients were confirmed to have fibromyalgia as their primary diagnosis.

About 10 percent said they smoked marijuana for medical purposes and another three percent had a prescription for a synthetic form of the active chemical in the cannabis plant.

"The popular knowledge of marijuana being available for pain would tend to demonstrate why 10 percent of patients would give it a try," said Ste-Marie.

"There really is no miracle drug for fibromyalgia. We definitely understand that patients would try to find something else," he told Reuters Health.

The researchers couldn't tell from the study which of the patient had started smoked pot before their fibromyalgia developed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 40 percent of U.S. adults have tried marijuana at some point.

The study showed that pot smokers and non-users had the same rates of disability and unemployment. However, patients who had unstable mental illness or had a worrisome use of opioid pain medications were more likely to report using cannabis – a finding that raised concerns with Ste-Marie and his colleagues.

"Before saying herbal cannabis has a future in fibromyalgia, there are multiple things that need to be looked at," he said.

Original Article Here

Natural Ways to Bid Goodbye to Acne

Essential Safe Products (ESP), an online shop dedicated to helping families build healthier lifestyles free from harmful chemicals, is sharing an easy recipe for a natural acne treatment that uses safe, non-toxic ingredients found at local natural food stores.

Finding the cure for acne is no easy task. A simple online search pulls up hundreds of theories and treatments that claim to work, but do they really? A visit to the dermatologist ends up with a prescription for oral pills or topical treatments made with chemicals. While some of the treatments can work, there are those who prefer to find a safer and less-toxic treatment for acne that is also effective, which is where ESP comes in to help.

“I’ve had acne since I was a teenager and have used everything from medicines prescribed by my dermatologist to over the counter drugstore creams and washes. Nothing I have used in the past has helped cure my acne, until I tried my mom’s friend’s recipe. I was skeptical at first because it only called for four ingredients, but after trying it, I am now a firm believer. I honestly can’t remember the last time my skin looked this good, and it’s all natural!” says Hannah Helsabeck, CEO of ESP.

The recipe calls for only four ingredients—all free from harmful chemicals and easy to find at your local natural foods store.

Ingredients:

    Organic clementines or oranges    Organic lemon    Non-fat, plain organic yogurt    Pure Jojoba oil (often found at your local natural foods store)

Directions:

1.    Peel clementines or oranges and allow the peels to dry out until they are brownish in color. It may take anywhere from 5-10 days for the peels to turn brownish, depending on how thick the skin is.

2.    Once the skin has dried out and is brownish in color, finely grind peels in a food processor.

3.    Mix equal parts of ground peel with plain yogurt—just enough to create a face mask.

4.    Add fresh-squeezed lemon juice into the peel/yogurt mixture.

5.    Apply mixture onto face and allow it to dry for 15 to 20 minutes.

6.    Wash face with warm water.

7.    Place a drop or two of pure Jojoba oil on a cotton ball and apply to face.

8.    Repeat treatment twice a day.

“Within days of using the mask and Jojoba oil, my face cleared up…and it’s still clear. I couldn’t be happier. I’m confident this can help others!” says Hannah.

ESP’s website focuses on helping people make an easy and knowledgeable transition to a healthier lifestyle free from harmful chemicals. They sell a variety of chemical-free products ranging from kitchenware to bpa free bottlesand eco-friendly lunch gear. ESP also recognizes that avoiding exposure to harmful chemicals doesn’t stop at the household product level. What consumers eat and what they put onto their bodies can also contain harmful chemicals. For these reasons, ESP makes a conscious effort to educate others through their blog, Pinterest, and Facebook page on healthier eating habits, chemical industry updates, and natural remedies (like this one for acne).

Original Article Here

A Sweet Treat for Kid’s Cough

A Sweet Treat for Kid’s Cough Honey - a sweet treat to soothe a kid’s cough

A teaspoon or two of honey before bedtime can safely relieve the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection, they report. "The cough due to a viral [upper respiratory infection] is generally a self-limited disease," said study author Dr. Herman Avner Cohen, chairman of the Pediatric Community Ambulatory Care Clinic with Clalit Health Services in Petah-Tikva, Israel.

"However, parents often [want] some active intervention," Cohen said. This often leads to the use of over-the-counter cough medications, which are potentially dangerous because of the possibility of accidental overdose, he said.

For this reason, "honey may be a preferable treatment for the cough and sleep difficulty associated with childhood [upper respiratory infection]," said Cohen, who also hails from Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Israel's Tel-Aviv University.

"In light of our study, honey can be considered an effective and safe alternative, at least for those children over 1 year of age," he said.

Cohen's investigation, funded by the Israel Ambulatory Pediatric Association, the Materna Infant Nutrition Research Institute and the (for-profit) Honey Board of Israel, is published online Aug. 6 and in the September print issue of Pediatrics.

The authors pointed out that honey has long been appreciated for its antioxidant properties, derived from vitamin C and flavonoids among other sources. It is also known for its antimicrobial potential.

Some researchers have suggested that the proximity of the nerve fibers that control coughing with the nerve fibers that control sweetness may empower sweet substances with a natural ability to suppress coughing.

Still others believe the syrupy thickness of honey, alongside its ability to cause salivation (and thereby throat lubrication), are key characteristics that might explain its potential as an anti-coughing intervention.

To test honey's therapeutic potential, Cohen and his colleagues focused on 300 children between the ages of 1 and 5, all of whom had been diagnosed with upper respiratory infections.

The children, who were brought in to one of six pediatric clinics in Israel, had been ill for seven days or less and all suffered from night-time coughing and runny noses. None had signs of asthma or pneumonia.

The children were randomly given one of four possible treatments a half hour before bed: roughly two teaspoons of eucalyptus honey, citrus honey or libiatae honey, or an extract that tasted and looked like honey but contained none.

Based on parents' responses to a survey completed the day before treatment and the day after, the research team found that while all the children showed improvement in terms of sleep quality and coughing severity, those who received honey fared significantly better than those who consumed the non-honey extract.

The authors thereby concluded that honey might be a "preferable treatment" to relieve the kinds of symptoms that typify childhood upper respiratory infection.

As an expert on the subject of honey as a potential treatment for respiratory infection, Dr. Ian Paul, a professor of pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine, was not surprised by the findings.

"My study in 2007 was the first paper ever to show that honey was an effective alternative to over-the-counter cold and cough medicines," he noted. "In fact, we found that honey was the best treatment and provided the most relief."

The bottom line for parents is that the common medicines that many families use are "not very effective, if at all, and there's potential for side effects," said Paul, who is also a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' committee on drugs. "Whereas honey for children over the age of 1 is both safe and highly effective."  

Original Article Here

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Freezing the Freshest Harvest

Jul 23, 2012 Posted by Adam Sutherland on Jul 23, 2012

Fresh indeed is best, however, we have to face the fact that it just isn't practical to hit the market or supermarket to grab the freshest harvest every time we prepare food.

Frozen foods such as fruit and vegetables are generally preserved with their nutrients intact so one can say they that frozen fruit and vegetables are "almost as fresh" as when they are when purchased directly from the supermarket.

For practical reasons, trips to the grocery stores and markets are best done once a week. This saves gas, time and effort and helps preserve nutrients that are lost when produce sits on the market shelves or in your fridge for too long.

Yes, fresh is certainly the best option but in a world of convenience and fast food it really gets down to one's lifestyle as to the nutritional choices one needs to make when considering what to cook or eat for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

There's only so many frozen dinners one should eat as they are not as nutritional for you as eating fresh produce.  So what's the answer?  Being conscious of the nutritional value of fresh versus frozen food will help you to balance the need to eat fresh food at least a couple of times a week.

There's also a time limit to freezing certain foods as they continue to lose nutritional goodness over time, a helpful guide is provided below for your convenience.

PS – Don't forget to label or write the date on your frozen food so you can keep an eye on frozen foods that should be thrown out rather than consumed.

A Battle between Fresh and Frozen Fresh Veggies

Our world today is that of convenience and fast moving.  From frozen to fresh, from long life to packaged, our forefathers could only have imagined the types of foods we see today.

When it comes to nutrition, our predecessors sure had the upper hand.  However, is this true in all cases?  There is much confusion in the nutritional value of one aspect of our life of convenience – fresh v frozen.   Fresh is always best, however, there are times when frozen can actually take the lead.

When it comes to vegetables, the longer the produce lies on the shelf, the more nutrients they tend to lose.  It is therefore more nutritionally sound to consume vegetables the moment they are harvested.  In the era of farming, this is exactly what they did, benefitting from the process of the cycle of harvest to plate.  Many of us now enjoy city living so this is not always practical.  The cycle of harvest to plate now has a middle man by the name of supermarket where produce lies on the shelf often without even a look in.  The longer they are ignored, the more nutrients are lost.

Frozen fruits and vegetables are harvested at the peak of their season, blanched and are then snap frozen preserving the nutrients at the same time.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are best eaten at first pick. A home grown vegetable patch is the best option of all.  You know exactly when they are picked and what synthetic chemicals, if any have been used.  Markets are another way to get your fresh vegetables with reassurance they have not been kept in store rooms therefore protecting their nutrient content. 

The following is a guide to freezing food:

Red Meat – 12 months

Poultry – six months

Pork – six months

Vegetables – six months

Seafood – three months

Original Article Here

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