The Beauty Therapy

Aromatherapy Know the Power of Fragrances

2009-11-07T13:33:00.001+07:00

Aromatherapy is an ancient art that has been used for thousands of years as an aid to physical and emotional well being. Aromatherapy and its use can be traced back as far as the ancient Egyptians, who took advantage of essential oils therapeutic powers. Aromatherapy has also been used for a very long time in the Far East and China.

Effects of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is a branch of herbology and the study of aromatherapy may best be considered in these four areas of application:

Aesthetic - the effects essential oils have on the beauty of skin and hair.

Psycho - the effects aromas have on our moods and feeling; known as aromachology.

Holistic - the integration of the divine into the body, mind, and spirit.

Medical - the effects essential oils have in enhancing and maintaining a state of homeostasis.

Method of application

An essential oil is a liquid distilled from the leaves, stems, roots, flowers, or bark of a plant. Essential oils, which are used in Aromatherapy, are very concentrated, and therefore, they are usually diluted with carrier oil, such as almond oil. Essential oils, in their purest form, tend to be very expensive, because the amount of oil present in plants is extremely small. For example, 440 pounds of fresh lavender flowers yield only 2.5 pounds of essential oil of lavender. Aromatherapy and essential oils can be used for many purposes, such as to calm or rejuvenate the body and mind.

The use of aromatherapy can be seen as part of a lifestyle choice -- a lifestyle that allows for pleasure because a moment of pleasure is healing. Pleasure is described as a source of enjoyment. Why deny yourself the pleasure and the benefits of a feminine fragrance such as Rose from Morocco or Bulgaria?

By understanding how to apply aromatherapy in daily use, you can enjoy the scents and help to maintain a system of preventative care for you and your family's long-term well-being.

For more information, visit these sites: http://www.AromatherapyInfoCenter.com or http://www.PerfumeInfoCenter.com

Arthritis Hope With Bling Therapy & Ms. BB

2009-08-10T23:39:00.001+07:00

Daahling, Ms. BB hopes that you do not have a disease known as arthritis. However, if you are one of the millions who has been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteo Arthritis , or one of the many other types, you know that it is not only painful joints and physical restrictions, but also that arthritis takes a toll on your emotional well being..

Depression often sets in to those affected by arthritis as they struggle to learn how to continue with everyday activities that were once normal and easy to do. Things as simple as holding a glass, writing a letter, or taking a bath may now seem like major chores. Many arthritis patients wake up one morning and think they are partially paralyzed ~ only to be told by their doctor that they have morning stiffness.

The typical response is to accept conventional treatment that medical doctors so willingly prescribe. Unfortunately, most medications have serious side effects ~ side effects that can harm your vital organs while merely halting your symptoms temporarily while the disease itself progresses.

Now there is hope for treatment that does not have any damaging effects at all. On the contrary, it is guaranteed to have beautiful side effects. Gemstone Therapy is a treatment that can target both the arthritis patient's emotional and physical symptoms while making them look and feel simply gorgeous.

Michael Katz, author of Gemstone Energy Medicine, Healing Body, Mind, and Spirit, explains that you are a complex spiritual organism comprised of many dimensions, physical and nonphysical. Gemstone-sphere necklaces can directly affect all these dimensions. They are the easiest and most holistic way to experience the therapeutic benefits of gemstones.

Try placing a gemstone necklace around your neck and know that the stones' energies are radiating into your aura, which is an energetic reflection of your physical body and inner dimensions. Once inside, the energy will work to dissolve blockages ~ both physical and emotional.

The gemstones Mr. Katz suggests to use for Rheumatoid Arthritis are:

Agate ~ Agate nourishes your physical body to make you feel more grounded and comfortable.

Bloodstone ~ Bloodstone helps your body fight infection, removes toxins, and helps your cells absorb nutrients.

Carnelian ~ Carnelian's rays encourage your mind, emotions, and cells to release disharmony and disease, and supports positive emotions.

Indigo ~ Indigo helps bridge your intuition and your conscious awareness, freeing more of your mental energies.

Lavender ~ Lavender aligns your body, thereby releasing energy blockages to correct old issues.

So Daahling, if you have physical or emotional pain, or both, simply try a little Bling around your neck. Ms. BB promises it will not hurt, and will surely make you feel like the beautiful person you truly are!

Roxanna and Ms. BB have created http://BlingSpa.com featuring Gemstone Therapy, an alternative method of treating disease without harmful side effects. The Bling Spa also features exclusive Bling makeovers for you, your pets, and your home.

Also visit Ms. BB at http://BlingBlingMarketplace.com ~ where the In-Crowd shops.

Remember Daahling, A Bling A Day Keeps The Shrink Away

Please note: The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a licensed healthcare professional.

BREAKING NEWS: Medicare Part D Prescription Plan Announced

2009-05-18T19:33:00.001+07:00

On September 30th, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid(CMS) announced the details of Medicare Part D Precription Plan. Many people who suffer from chronic depression are disabled and depend upon Medicare for healthcare. This looks like an excellent progam for the disabled. It will be very helpful in covering antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, which are very expensive.

Mark McClellan, the Administer of CMS, announced that organizations offering Medicare prescription drug coverage ?will cover the vast majority of products commonly used.? He added that plans are covering ?88% of drugs used by seniors or those on disability?. More extensive information on formularies will be released during the first week of October.

McClellan urged beneficiaries to concentrate on comparing plans based on their own preferences about premiums, deductibles and other plan design features - and not to focus on the standard benefit required by the Medicare Modernization Act. That is because competition among plan sponsors has yielded an abundance of plans available to most seniors, many of which go beyond the standard minimum.

For example, potential enrollees in every state will be offered at least one plan with an annual deductible less than the $250 level in the standard benefit, and in many cases they can select a plan with no deductible. Many plans have flat drug copays rather than a percentage coinsurance. In addition, MA-PDs in all but nine states are offering some drug coverage through the Medicare drug benefit's coverage gap, which otherwise would require beneficiaries to pay for drugs themselves after reaching a certain level of drug costs.

I know that this information is critical to many of you. Obviously, those of you on Medicare will be receiving detailed information in the coming weeks. I hope that this quick reference to the overall details of the plan is helpful.

For those who suffer from chronic or recurrent depression that does not respond to antidepresants, the U.S. Food Drug Administration(FDA)just approved the first ever long term treatment option for depression: vagus nerve stimulation. You can learn more about this medical breakthrough procedure at http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com

There is a free newsletter to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments about this unique and effective treatment.

Charles Donovan is founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com web site and Bulletin. His book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

was exhibited at the 2005 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting in Atlanta( 20,000 psychiatrists). He was implanted with the device in the FDA investigation trial on April 4, 2001, The ninety-minute out patient procedure completely changed his life after 20 years of depression and countless antidepressant/antidepressant combinations, including ECT.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Treatment

2009-05-15T01:27:00.001+07:00

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is one of those common complaints nobody ever talks about. Studies show that it affects up to 30 % of the UK population. In the USA it rivals the common cold for the major cause of absenteeism in industry. Technically IBS is a functional disorder of the gut where the normal movement of the gut is hurried along or spasms occur. The main symptoms are diarrhoea -constipation - variable bowel habit -alternating diarrhoea and constipation -colicky abdominal pain, often relieved by passing wind or stools - bloating. Less frequently there may also be -heartburn - tiredness - back pain and rumbling in the tummy.

There is no organic cause for IBS but that doesn't mean it is all in the mind. IBS may be worse at times of stress. It is not hereditary but it may run in families perhaps because of a dietary or environmental link. It may be constitutional, meaning you have extra-sensitive gut muscles, or an overreaction to certain foods and chemicals. Women may find IBS worse after a period or after the menopause pointing to a link with oestrogen production. An estimated 25% of IBS cases are triggered by a bout of gastro-enteritis or food poisoning. IBS can be made worse with certain drugs, such as long-term antibiotics, which kill off the normal bacteria in the gut, codeine, laxatives and alcohol. Diagnosis can be a problem because symptoms vary. IBS is a disease of exclusion - in other words if you can rule out all other possibilities IBS is what you are left with.

TREATMENT

Treatment is aimed at alleviating the symptoms and the distress they produce. Reassurance and medical review help the patient to realise that although IBS is life- long it is not life threatening. Life-style changes such as reducing caffeine, alcohol and smoking all help. Diet can help if it's a high fibre one but the overuse of laxatives can make the situation worse. Treatment with connective tissue manipulation helps to reduce the tension around the gut, allowing the normal passage of stools through the system and more normal function to be restored.

http://www.londonphysiocentre.co.uk/irritable-bowel-syndrome.htm

Jacqueline is one of a few UK Physiotherapists combining Connective Tissue Manipulation, Manual Lymph Drainage, the MacKenzie Exercise Regime and Cranio-sacral Therapy in private practice. During the past four years she has successfully treated over 1,000 patients with spinal problems and a further 1,300 patients with other muscular skeletal problems in her Gillingham Physio Centre in Dorset. In order to offer her specialist techniques to a greater number of patients she started the London Physio Centre at 148 Harley Street. A Chartered and State Registered Physiotherapist, Jacqueline qualified at St Thomas's Hospital, London with additional emphasis in the treatment of backs and necks. She spent five years at the Leicester Royal Infirmary gaining experience in all branches of physiotherapy and became Senior Physiotherapist on the Medical Unit. In 1977 she created a private practice at the Leicester Clinic, eventually covering all orthopaedic, spinal and post-op physiotherapy.

Massage Therapy: Your Biggest Role

2009-05-12T15:57:00.001+07:00

Some people may be intimidated by the idea of getting a massage. Perhaps it is out of shyness- the thought of someone massaging your body while being naked is not something everyone is readily open to.

It's actually very simple really and is done all the time. You don't need to worry about anything because as professionals, massage therapists do this for a living and they will not try to intentionally make you feel any discomfort. On the contrary, the role of massage therapists is to reduce stress and improve circulation in your body amongst other benefits.

All your job is, is to lay down and let the massage therapist do their job. Let them focus. It's not wise to start a conversation with them during this process. Simply relax, and allow them to do their job. Feedback is another story though. Massage therapists are open to hearing any feedback you have for them either before or during the massage session.

Try to be helpful to them in ways that will allow them to optimally provide you the best massage experience possible. Try to allow yourself to enjoy the experience as well. Loosen up you body, and allow the massage therapist to work their magic.

Hurry onto the author's web site for good and useful content on massage therapy school insider news before the clock ticks twelve!

http://www.massagetherapistshop.com

The Healing Arts: 18 Things Healers Learn #9 You Work With the Unseen

2009-05-12T15:51:00.001+07:00

Everything that has come to be in this moment is a by-product of everything that has ever been. It?s inescapable. The future begins right here inside you, and it is based on the contributions of every human who has ever lived.

You could not be who you are, were it not for all that has come before you. Like the ocean wave that laps up onto the shore, you are the culmination of many forces meeting, affecting each other, and then moving on.

Wow, isn?t that deep! Perhaps an easier way to say it is at any one time, we only get to see an infinitesimally small portion of anything. So much has gone on to get to each instant it?s incredible! So much so that you get to wonder how we seem to know anything at all with the amazing limitations of our fleeting perception.

Tomorrow, this article will just be one of innumerable influences on your life. Perhaps it will have lasting value to you. Perhaps not. Who we are is a product of accumulated experiences just like that. Based on this, it would appear none of us would really be able to understand another because, on the surface, each of us is composed of moments that the others have not seen.

Yet we all know this is not the case. When someone teaches you a lesson of some sort, you are taking their experience of their moments and running it through the filter of your experience of your moments. Through that, based on a commonality drawn from symbols you can understand, you can then weave the experience into the fabric of your life.

As example, Moby Dick is a story of Captain Ahab?s obsession with a foe. We all can relate to the account of his experience because, in essence, we are ALL experiencing the same story; we?re just getting it through different symbols.

What Melville did was to take the personal story of a man?s obsession ? which exists in the ?unseen? as a universal drive ? and gave it physical character in the form of the written word; the ?seen?. The resulting book holds the history of a life that never was, as told through the mouth of someone who has never been. Still, we embrace the work and praise it for shedding light on areas of our psyche that have been hidden in shadows. Within his creation, we recognize ourselves.

Where did all this come from? Nowhere. Dollars to doughnuts, Melville was just immersed in telling a particular story, the universality of it came as a by-product.

Moby Dick is now something that is part of the psyche of everyone who has ever read it, yet none of us has ever seen the things happening that were described. The unwitnessed, however, has been seen in the mind?s eyes of the readers. And from that comes a bit of a miracle, for as an extension of that imagined experience comes something (seemingly) brand new. Just look at all the books that have been written about Melville and Moby Dick, each offering insights into the piece as well as life itself!

Whatever insights were gained have been around since before any of the books were ever written. If translated into languages that existed before Melville had been born, and read by the people of that time, chances are the universal message would still come through. That?s the unseen Melville worked with, and that?s what we?re working with. In every moment.

A metaphor is defined as ?One thing conceived as representing another; a symbol.? Healers, in order to be effective with all whom they are called to affect, understand that each of us are living out a metaphor for the experience of life.

Essentially, we are all experiencing the same thing, only through different metaphors that are determined by genetic, social, geographical, economic, spiritual, (and on and on) influences.

At its root, this is an attitude of inclusion rather than separation. It's knowing that whatever is seen by the other, if subject to a bit of translation, can be seen by you.

Still, it?s not that easy to either attain or maintain. That?s because sometimes the metaphor in front of you is so obscured by the difference in symbols that you?ve learned to embrace that, no, you really can?t ?get it.?

But if you work hard enough at it -- and that means allowing yourself to get in touch with what lives deepest inside of all of us; that we only wish to live -- then you have a universal common-ground from which to begin a healing moment with another being.

Russ Reina shares over 35 years of experience in the healing arts through his web site http://mauihealingartist.com. It is a potent resource for those wishing to deepen their abilities in connection and develop their powers as healers. For a powerful free tool to explore your inner world, please check out his adjunct site http://thestoryofthis.net

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

Definition and Interesting Features of Fibromyalgia

2009-05-05T19:48:00.001+07:00

Fibromyalgia is a neurological chronic condition that affects the musculoskeletal tissues of the body. The disorder is mostly responsible for inducing discomfort, pain and fatigue in the muscles, ligaments, tendons and in the areas surrounding the joints. People who suffer from fibromyalgia are constantly confronted with intense pain that tends to reoccur on a regular time basis. The pain caused by the disorder is felt deep inside the muscles and in certain points called trigger points. A common feature to all people with fibromyalgia is the location of the pain; to all patients fibromyalgia pain occurs in the same trigger points. Although people with fibromyalgia perceive the pain at different intensities, they claim to permanently feel a different level of pain in their soft muscular tissues.

An interesting aspect of fibromyalgia is that it can be very difficult to detect in some patients. The symptoms of fibromyalgia are common to many other conditions and therefore they can be misleading in establishing the appropriate diagnose. Although some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia may resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis, people with fibromyalgia seem to be in perfect health when they are examined by a physician, revealing no signs of muscular dysfunctions. Basic physical examinations and common laboratory tests usually don?t reveal the presence of fibromyalgia. This is due to the fact that pain, fatigue and discomfort are mentally induced to patients with fibromyalgia, as a consequence of abnormal activity of their nervous system. Although they show no physical abnormalities or dysfunctions, their experienced pain is real!

Abnormal brain activity is considered to be the main cause of fibromyalgia and there are two areas of the brain thought to be involved in the process. A high output of the mesencephalon (the upper region of the brain) accelerates the heart rate, increases blood pressure and raises the body temperature. People with fibromyalgia often experience sudden changes in body temperature and sometimes they sweat abundantly and even have fever. Also, a high activity of the mesencephalon is responsible for difficulties in falling asleep and inconstant sleep patterns. Most people who suffer from fibromyalgia have trouble sleeping and in some cases they even suffer from insomnia. Therefore, the cause for fibromyalgia lack of sleep is thought to be the abnormal activity of the mesencephalon. The permanent fatigue felt throughout the whole body by people with the disorder is amplified by inappropriate sleeping patterns, un-refreshing sleep or insomnia.

Another part of the brain that is considered to be responsible for inducing other fibromyalgia symptoms (anxiety, depression, lack of concentration, poor cognitive abilities, loss of short-term memory and confusion) is the cerebellum. A lower activity of the cerebellum is thought to be the cause of other fibromyalgia symptoms and the majority of people who suffer from the disorder reveal abnormal activity of both cerebellum and mesencephalon.

Fibromyalgia is considered to be a serious condition. Due to the chronic character of fibromyalgia, patients require ongoing treatment and therapy. If left untreated, fibromyalgia can cause other symptoms such as nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and swelling, vomiting, internal distress. Many people with fibromyalgia also seem to become depressed as the disorder develops and sometimes they even indulge in suicidal acts. Therefore, it is vital to spot the presence of fibromyalgia in time and appropriate measures must be taken in order to prevent further complications and undesirable effects.

So, if you want more information about fibromyalgia alternative therapy and especially for fibromyalgia treatment, please follow this link http://www.fibromyalgia-info-center.com.

How Does Energy Healing Work?

2009-04-28T19:42:00.001+07:00

Energy healing, a wonderful advancement on alternative therapy, is used to reduce stress and boost confidence and spiritual happiness. It is all associated with the magnetic channels of energies that surround our bodies. Energy healing regulates them and the results are marvelous. These therapies focus on removing clots formed by blocked energy channels from our body auras and charkas. It is non invasive and hence a preferred method of healing for many patients.

It is a spiritual approach to the inner self of a human. It then boosts harmony, clarity and alignment. Practitioners of natural therapy, study and practice for years before they are able to provide effective treatment to patients. They treat people through prayers and focus of mind. They then unfold the altered state of consciousness to clear the imbalances in the energy fields of our body. Techniques such as releasing, reframing, healing the memories, and self-forgiveness balance the aura by expanding it into wholeness.

Once all these imbalances and disturbances are cleared, the energy channels resume their task of integrating the body mind and soul to restore the mental health and wellness. Energy healing can also be performed from a distance also. Experts work from other continents, over telephones, to cure their patients suffering from mental imbalances.

Experts use the same technique of focusing to treat patients even from overseas. The level of their expertise is not measured from the distance they?ve covered in treating their patient?s energy field. It is thus possible to provide a highly effective distance energy healing treatment to a patient in a remote location, even thousands of miles away. One natural distance healing therapy over the telephone usually lasts from 30 to 90 minutes. One should take special care that this time is very precious and there should be no interruption or distortion during this session.

A few precautionary measures that should be taken care of during this session involve the following steps:
* Set a comfortable place to sit or lie down during the therapy session that is free of interruption.
* It is a good practice to keep the room slightly dim and light a candle just before the session starts.
* Metal effects the energy channels around your body so it is better not to keep any metal surface near your body during the session.
* The temperature of the room should be moderate. If it is cold then keep a blanket or sheet around.
* During the therapy it is best to just relax your mind or body as the task is carried out by the expert..

These tips should be followed in all kinds of energy healing sessions whether they are nearly performed or distant.

Alternative Medicine

Shopping Help For Aromatherapy Accessories

2009-04-24T12:57:00.001+07:00

My childhood memories of aromatherapy are restricted to the beautiful diffusers that my father bought for diffusing the essential oil aroma. Though they were largely clay pot diffusers, they looked attractive in varied colours and shapes.

Diffusers come in the category of aromatherapy accessories. Aromatherapy accessories include the whole range of storage boxes, bottles and jars, diffusers, burners, containers, dispensers etc. Essential oils and other aromatherapy products, being so precious (not exactly in price but in face value to the user), demand special concern in the form of aromatherapy accessories.

Storage box:

It is important to get the best storage boxes for storing your essential oils. Essential oils may get contaminated if exposed to too extreme temperatures. Similarly, direct sunlight is harmful for the aromatherapy products. The most common material used for preparation of storage boxes is alder wood. The boxes will be beautifully carved and given a natural wood finish. When shopping for storage boxes, check that it contain wooden dividers and brass clasp fittings. Also, decide the storage space before making the buying decision.

Bottles and jars:

Essential oils must be stored in dark amber or cobalt blue bottles. These are the best containers to prevent deterioration of the essential oils. Since essential oils are contaminated when exposed to direct sunlight, clear glass bottles are a strict no-no. Plastic bottles may be avoided, particularly when concentrated essential oils are to be stored. It is believed that the oil erodes the plastic and thus it gets deteriorated. The market today has large options for people shopping for bottles and jars. They are available in ranges of 5 ml to 10 ml. Bottles with beautiful designs can be purchased. Some manufacturers also offer the option to design on demand the bottles.

Electric diffusers:

Diffusers are one of the most popular aromatherapy accessories. They are available in a wide range from electric diffusers, nebulizers, fan diffusers, clay pot diffusers etc. They are a cleaner and more effective way of perfuming the environment. Electric diffusers can be left unattended too without the fear of it leading to fire, since there is no naked flame.

Dispensers:

Though dispensers and pipettes are only minor aromatherapy accessories, they are quite important. Use an ordinary dispenser and you have the danger of deteriorating your oils. When oil is dispensed from its container, a part of it is left on the pipette. It reacts with the oxygen outside and gets contaminated. When again the pipette is used, the contaminated oil contaminates the entire bottle of oil. So one must purchase the dispensers too with care.

In this way, we see that aromatherapy accessories have a large role to play in increasing longevity of your essential oils. So, take the same care when buying the aromatherapy accessories as when you buy the oils.

Bryan Josling is working with the Horticultural Research Station in Adelaide. He has also been involved with research on plants. To find Aromatherapy essential oils,Aromatherapy Accessories,essential oils wholesale visit http://www.ndaroma.com

Mesotherapy

2009-04-13T19:03:00.001+07:00

Everyone has a lot of extra fat and cellulite they would like to remove from their body. There are also a ton of options you can choose from for help. The options for weight loss products range from bars and shakes all the way to the surgical procedures like liposuction. The bars and shakes in many cases are bogus and do not really work and the surgical procedures do work for some things but not for others. The one thing that does work very well is mesotherapy. Not a whole lot of people are familiar with mesotherapy and that is what we want to clear up for those of you doing research on ways to lose fat.

Mesotherapy is a procedure that consists of injections of various medications and vitamins into the skin to break down the cellulite that has built up in the specific area. The main goal of mesotherapy is to sculpt one?s body, reduce their cellulite and to rejuvenate their skin. Cellulite is the major reason that we have found that people seek out this procedure. Cellulite is basically the bumpy and dimply texture of the skin caused by the hardened connective tissue that holds the cells of fat together. The basic idea is that the fat cells expand from the additional fat entering or water retention and the connective tissue called septae expands with it. The connective tissue solidifies and when the fat cells shrink or expand further the tissue holds the skin in place and that creates the dimples in the skin. There is a more scientific way to put it but that is the general principle.

Mesotherapy is used to do a bunch of things of which a few of them are get rid of fat clumps, improve blood flow to body parts, soften and eliminate cellulite as well as improve lymphatic drainage. These are some great things for both the person?s self image and the health of their body.

Mesotherapy is not a surgical procedure so there is not lag time between the procedure and the returning to work. There are no anesthesias?s to deal with nor any hospital stays to worry about. Continue to do your research and figure out if mesotherapy is for you.

Find more information about Mesotherapy and learn how Mesotherapy works.

How Is Depression Treated?

2009-04-12T17:57:00.001+07:00

More than eleven million people in the United States suffer from depression each year. This medical condition that affects the mind can have lasting effects such as a feeling of hopelessness, lack of ambition and an inability to focus. Depression can affect all age groups and genders, but is more prevalent in women. Consulting a mental help professional such as a psychiatrist is beneficial to obtain proper diagnosis and treatment. This condition can adversely affect school, home life and employment.

Most treatments will involve a combination of drug therapy and natural remedies for a fully balanced physical and emotional state. Medications will likely involve some form of antidepressant drug. The most commonly used types are: tricyclic, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOI?s, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRI?s. SSRI?s have become the most popular form for treating depression because of the lower risk of side effects. These drugs include names such as Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft.

Therapy is often prescribed with drug treatments to help a person come to terms with issues, symptoms and techniques for dealing with depression. These can be group or individual therapy sessions to talk about issues. Expression therapy such as dance, art or music can help articulate deep feelings and emotions. Relaxation techniques will assist in bringing focus and serenity. Yoga and meditation are ideal forms of this.

Changing lifestyle to promote a better self image and naturally adjust chemicals in the body has also proven helpful. Eating a well balanced diet and adding supplements such as fish oil, Zinc and B vitamins help regulate depression. Exercising several times each week is also valuable. Alternate treatments such as acupuncture and hypnosis may be beneficial to help alleviate symptoms of depression and melds the body, mind and spirit.

It is important to discuss all treatment options with your physician or psychiatrist to decide on the proper combinations. Each person has different levels of depression and a treatment plan should be customized to the individual. If using supplements or radically changing your diet; make sure to inform the doctor so those can be taken into consideration when developing a treatment plan.

Depression does not need to negatively affect a person?s life. With proper treatment, many depressed people live full, happy, successful lives. It is important to take action to help minimize depressive tendencies in order to allow a better sense of well being and peace. Using a combination of drug therapies and natural remedies will bring a balance to mind, body and spirit.

About The Author
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for http://www.depressionso.com. To learn more about depression treatments, visit http://www.depressionso.com/naturalantidepressants/.

Alternative Therapies for Fibromyalgia

2009-04-02T13:00:00.001+07:00

People seek alternative therapies for fibromyalgia for many reasons: a desire to avoid numerous prescription medications, the ineffectiveness of prescription medications, the number of unwanted side effects associated with them, or a desire for a more natural therapy for fibromyalgia are just a few.

On this page, we look at some of the currently available alternative therapies for fibromyalgia and some of the natural products that have helped some patients obtain relief.

But before we do that, we will first cover conventional treatment for fibromyalgia.

These typically include sleep medications, muscle relaxers and pain relievers. Doctors may also prescribe anti-depressants, anticonvulsants and/or reuptake inhibitors. It is not uncommon to see reports of patients that take ten or more different prescription medications.

And despite all of this, people search for alternative therapies for fibromyalgia and grasp at anything that may give them relief.

Acupuncture and hypnosis are being studied as natural therapies for fibromyalgia relief. Scientists are doing research in an effort to learn why acupuncture is an effective natural therapy for fibromyalgia for some people.

Acupuncture is a form of traditional Chinese medicine that involves placing very thin needles in the skin at certain points throughout the body. Acupressure is a similar technique that does not involve needles, but applying pressure to those same points. It is sometimes recommended as one of the alternative therapies for fibromyalgia, because doctors do not understand exactly what causes the widespread daily pain that is the most common symptom of fibromyalgia.

And since conventional medications are often ineffective, may be addictive, and can cause numerous unwanted side effects, even doctors look to less conventional methods of treatment for the condition. As a natural therapy for fibromyalgia, acupuncture has been effective for some people and may be worth a try.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and pain management therapy are sometimes used as alternative treatments for fibromyalgia.

Rather than relieving the pain, these therapies focus on coping with the pain, learning to relax the muscles, reduce stress and avoid negative thinking patterns that may make the perception of the pain greater than it actually is. These alternative treatments for fibromyalgia focus on the mind-body connection and, in particular, how the mind can affect the body. Cognitive-behavioral and pain management therapies have been effective for some people.

Massage and chiropractic therapy are sometimes used as alternative treatments for fibromyalgia. Many people think of chiropractors as back doctors but, in actuality, misalignment of the vertebra may press on nerves and cause pain in other parts of the body, so chiropractic therapy has become a highly recommended form of treatment for all types of chronic pain and may be an effective natural therapy for fibromyalgia.

The effectiveness of massage as a natural therapy for fibromyalgia is questionable. Some patients report that deep muscle massage is actually uncomfortable and increases pain.

Yoga, meditation, prayer and biofeedback have all been used for alternative therapies for fibromyalgia with varying degrees of relief reported. Yoga, swimming and other forms of regular, low-impact physical exercise may accomplish several things as a part of natural therapy for fibromyalgia.

First, regular exercise increases muscular strength and endurance. Second, endorphins released by the brain during exercise are natural pain relievers and mood enhancers. And third, physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen supplies to the muscles. A lack of oxygen in the muscles is believed by some to be one of the causes of fibromyalgia pain.

As natural therapy for fibromyalgia, many people have tried herbs, botanicals and vitamin supplements. Proper nutrition is also important in good health. Unfortunately, chronic pain often leads to depression in many people and, subsequently, they forget or don?t care about eating right and taking care of themselves.

Some of the vitamins and minerals that may be considered as alternative therapies for fibromyalgia include B-complex, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. These recommendations are related to enhancing energy, mood and healthy joint function.

Sam-E is sometimes recommended as a natural therapy for fibromyalgia, but Sam-E can have unwanted side effects and should be used with care, as should St. John?s wort and kava for depression relief. None of these herbal, botanical and vitamin supplements which are sometimes recommended as alternative therapies for fibromyalgia can relieve pain, but there is one botanical product which often can.

The mangosteen is a fruit that grows only in areas of Southeast and Central Asia and was used traditionally by native peoples in these areas to treat a number of conditions including pain.

Laboratory studies and chemical evaluation has shown that the mangosteen contain analgesics, anti-inflammatory agents and Cox-2 inhibitors, all of which are pain relievers.

Many people who have tried mangosteen supplements or juice as a natural therapy for fibromyalgia have reported amazing results. Of the many alternative therapies for fibromyalgia, mangosteen is one of the few that can address many different symptoms, not only pain, but also depression, fatigue, sleeping problems and lack of energy.

Mike Leuthen is chief editor of http://www.restore-your-health.com, a free resource covering health conditions A to Z. Please visit us for more information on how to alleviate fibromyalgia.

Essential Oils have a Powerful Impact on Health

2009-03-30T13:25:00.001+07:00

An essential oil is a volatile, aromatic liquid that is generally distilled from the stems, leaves, flowers, roots, bark, or seeds of a plant. Containing the true essence of the plant, the essential oils are highly concentrated and far more potent than dried herbs.

The science of using essential oils is known as aromatherapy. This science is used for psychological and physical well being and for best results, only pure and natural oils should be used.

The origins of aromatherapy date back thousands of years. From documented uses by Napoleon, to references in the Bible, fragrant oils and spices have played a prominent role throughout world history.

Essential oils can be used in many different ways. The English model advocates massage by diluting small amounts of essential oil in a vegetable oil and massaging the body for the purpose of relaxation and relieving stress. The French model includes both ingestion and undiluted topical application. The French believe that taking the oils internally produces the best results. A common method to ingest the oil is to add a few drops of honey, a piece of bread, or in a small drop of vegetable oil. The German model focuses on inhalation. The effect of fragrance on the sense of smell can exert a strong effect on the brain and limbic system. Research has shown that some essential oils can increase oxygenation and activity in the brain.

By using a combination of these three methods, the use of essential oils can be versatile and powerful. In his book, Gary Young suggests that inhalation of essential oils will increase growth hormone secretion, induce weight loss, or balance mood and emotions. Topical applications can produce results with spinal or muscle injuries or defects. He says, The ability of an essential oil to act both on the mind and the body is what makes them truly unique among natural therapeutic agents. The fragrance of an essential oil can be very stimulating--both psychologically and physically. The fragrance of other essential oils may be calming and relaxing, helping to overcome anxiety or hyperactivity. On a physiological level, essential oils may stimulate immune function and regenerate damaged tissue. Essential oils may also combat infectious disease by killing viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens.

Dr. David Hill, a chiropractor who sees patients from all around the world seeking to receive the healing power of essential oils, says, I personally have seen the healing properties of essential oils used to treat cancer and many forms of autoimmune disease with spectacular results. For example, it has been discovered that the essential oils of sandalwood has tremendous effect on combating specific types of cancer. Others like frankincense, myrtle, and white fir have been shown to have an effect against specific forms of cancer. Essential oils can build the immune system, offer support to body organs, aid in digestion, and reduce inflammation, just to name a few.

Although essential oils are generally considered without risk, it is wise to respect their powers and become well versed in their use and safety. As beneficial as essential oils are, it is prudent to note the purity is as important as safety. According to Dr. Hill, Efficacy can only be fully realized when there is proper care given to protect the delicate chemical balance associated with essential oils during the distillation process.

Generally speaking, the essential oils that you find in department stores, and even health food stores, are of uncertain quality. When choosing an essential oil, be sure to select a guaranteed, therapeutic grade essential oil. In addition, select and use those oils whose scent you find particularly appealing. The whole principal of aromatherapy is that it should be a pleasurable experience. There will generally be more than one oil you can use for a particular purpose, so you should be able to find one you like.

Sources: Essential Oil Desk Reference, Third Edition by Gary Young, ND, compiled by Essential Science Publishing, http://www.essentialscience.net/ or 1-800-336-6308. Young Living's therapeutic grade essential oils and diffusers available at http://www.youngliving.org/ or 1-800-371-2928, code #703949.

Faye Durham is a former chemist and clinical research associate in the pharmaceutical industry. She has monitored clinical research trials involving the major diseases of our day, including heart disease, cancer, and lung disease. In her work with patients, she asked what can be done to prevent or delay the onset of the chronic diseases, associated with aging. Since most diseases have a life style component, she became interested in the effect of diet and emotions on health. About four years ago, she was introduced to aromatherapy and has become a true believer in its therapeutic benefits, as a holistic method of treatment. In her current career, she works as a researcher, writer, and independent distributor, focusing on nutrition and aromatherapy. You can reach Faye through the website at http://www.ryze.com/go/fdurham

Chronic Depression is the Leading Cause of Disability in the World

2009-03-29T19:58:00.001+07:00

According to the landmark Global Burden of Disease study, mental disorders are the second leading source of disease burden in established market economies and major depression alone ranked as the leading causes of disability. Major depression takes an enormous toll on functional status, productivity, and quality of life, and is associated with elevated risk of heart disease and suicide.

In addition, the rate of treatment for depression is increasing dramatically in the United States. The annual economic burden of depression in the U.S. (including direct care, mortality, and morbidity costs) has been estimated to total nearly $44 billion. This combination of increasing burden and cost has stimulated numerous investigations into population-based strategies to prevent the occurrence of major depression and to encourage more effective treatment of depression, thereby limiting its course and preventing its recurrence.

This growing body of literature around population-based strategies to improve the primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention of depression, and the increasing burden of this debilitating chronic condition, the Task Force on Community Preventive Services has endorsed this topic for review. A review of one aspect of treatment??collaborative? or ?shared care?, designed to improve the diagnosis and treatment of depression in the primary care setting, particularly within integrated systems of care?has been completed, a recommendation has been issued by the Task Force, and a full report on this work will be issued by year-end. The Task Force recommends collaborative care for treatment of adults 18 years of age or older, with major depression, on the basis of strong evidence of effectiveness in improving short-term treatment outcomes.

The earlier you can get adequate treatment for your depression, the better chances you have of a positive outcome. About 15% of the population do not respond to traditional antidepressants. The FDA has just approved the first ever long-term treatment option for chronic or recurrent depression: vagus nerve stimulation. This is a ninety minute outpatient procedure, which is unrelted to ECT or shock treatments. The therapy completely changed my life. You can learn more about this remarkable treatment at http://wwww.VagusNerveStimulator.com

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient's Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

The book was exhibited at the 2005 American Psychiatric Association's Annual Meeting, in Atlanta, GA. This was the largest gathering of psychiatrists in the world( 25,000 attendees). The book is available at Amazon.com and 24/7 at 1-888-VAGUS-88

Laser Therapy An Alternative for Vision Correction

2009-03-27T19:52:00.001+07:00

Conventional treatment for correcting eye vision problems would be either Contact Lenses, Eyeglasses or in the case of conditions such as Glaucoma, medication but what about Laser Therapy?

Laser Therapy for eye disorders has been around for about 30 years and can, if necessary be used to treat a variety of vision and eye problems.

Many people feel that Laser Therapy should be available as a first line therapy for conditions such as glaucoma however Laser Therapy is generally reserved for those not responding to or having difficulties with their medication.

Laser Therapy usually takes around 10 mins but is generally painless. As your vision may be blurry for a few hours you are unable to drive after laser therapy. A pressure check is done around 1 hour after receiving laser therapy and steroids may be given to reduce any inflammation.

Reshaping your cornea with Laser Therapy can help to correct short sightedness. The laser is focused on the center of the cornea and microscopic amounts are removed which has the effect of flattening the cornea and allowing light to correctly focus on the retina.

Another form of Laser Therapy called Photorefractive Keratectomy can be used to correct hyperopia of farsightedness. This Laser Therapy can also be used to correct astigmatism at the same time. The procedure may take around 20-30 minutes to complete.

The H-PRK laser therapy may not suit people with severe far sightedness as the result may be harder to predict and there is a greater likely hood of complications.

So will Laser Therapy take the place of Contact Lenses and Eyeglasses in the future? It might do but for now 60% of us use corrective lenses to help with our eyesight and when it come to changing your eye color, you cant beat Contact Lenses!

You can find out more about eye conditions, the methods of vision correction and the best deals available for contact lenses and sunglasses at http://www.ur-contact-lenses.com

Cost Of Mesotherapy

2009-03-26T14:44:00.001+07:00

The total cost of Mesotherapy depends on several factors and varies widely from one clinic to the other. Costs include consultation fees and treatment fees, which in turn depend on the level of expertise of the person providing treatment, the size and number of body areas to be treated, and the total number of treatment sessions needed.

The higher the certification of the individual providing treatment, the higher the cost usually is. A board-certified plastic surgeon will be more expensive than a nurse practitioner. Clinics with higher overhead will also be more expensive. It is best to consider at least a couple of options to determine the level of expertise and price range one is comfortable with.

In general, an initial consultation for a Mesotherapy treatment may cost between $50 and $500. During this consultation, a treatment plan is chalked out depending on whether the aim is to reduce cellulite, localized fat, or both.

Once the treatment plan is decided, a patient may undergo between four and ten treatment sessions. The total number of sessions depends on the type of treatment (cellulite reduction versus localized fat reduction), and area of the body that is being treated. For each area of the body being treated, such as the thighs or buttocks, one session may cost between $200 and $600. If the body area to be treated is the neck or eye, or face region, greater skill may be required and the cost accordingly goes up.

Because there are so many variables involved in the final bill for Mesotherapy, it is best to find out what costs are involved upfront. Mesotherapy is not covered by health insurance, and treatment costs can run into the thousands of dollars. Costs per injection session may not include drug and equipment costs. Certain treatments may also require follow-up after the initial injection treatment is completed, adding to the total cost.

Mesotherapy provides detailed information about mesotherapy, cost of mesotherapy, mesotherapy before and after, mesotherapy injections and more. Mesotherapy is the sister site of Mesothelioma Doctors Info.

Astigmatism Fully Explained

2009-03-25T13:07:00.001+07:00

Astigmatism is a common problem that affects the eyes. It means that the eye is slightly out of shape. Instead of being a round shape as most eyes are, it is actually more of an oval shape. There is not usually just one misalignment in most cases of astigmatism but two because there are generally two curves in the cornea, a steeper curve and a shallower curve. This means that the light does not focus on just one point in the eye. It can mean that the vision of the sufferer is not as clear as it should be and there are several effects that this can have.

Shortsightedness is quite common with those that suffer from astigmatism. This can also happen when the light in the eye does not get focused properly on the retina. This is because of the oval shape that is caused by the astigmatism not letting the light travel in a straight line to the back of the retina. The effect of this is that the sufferer has good vision when things are close to them but has problems when they are far away. When seeing things that are further away they are not in focus and appear blurred.

Another condition that can be caused by astigmatism is long-sightedness; this is the opposite of shortsightedness. This is caused by the same effect as shortsightedness when the light is not refracted directly on to the retina but actually goes behind it. This means that the sufferer has trouble seeing things that are close up but can see things more clearly when they are further away. Both of these conditions can result in blurred vision and can be a problem with astigmatism.

There are several ways that the doctor can diagnose astigmatism. It is most likely to be noticed when testing the eyes. The optometrist can also use corneal topography and refraction to test for this. Using glasses or lenses usually can correct astigmatism but there are also surgical solutions that can give a more permanent solution. Laser eye therapy can also be used to correct astigmatism. There is also a surgical solution that corrects the astigmatism, which is done by making a small incision to the front of the eye. The best person to advise you about your astigmatism is your optometrist. There is not always a single solution to every astigmatism and they can give you the best options for yours.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com He provides more eye surgery solutions, LASIK information and details on astigmatism and laser eye surgery that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

What is Mesothelioma? Is it a Type of Cancer?

2009-03-24T12:16:00.001+07:00

Mesothelioma is a disease where the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal. It is called the cancer of the mesothelium. They can damage the tissues and other organs of the body. They can also affect the other cells and spread throughout the body.

It was hard to find any information before the Internet era. Now, with the invention of Internet, information on anything can be achieved. Around 2000 cases of Mesothelioma are diagnosed in US alone. In the past 20 years mesothelioma cases have gone high. Mesothilioma mainly affects men than women and it gets riskier as people age.

How do people get Mesothelioma?

Asbestos is the main factor for this disease. People in factories who work under the asbestos roof or people who manufacture asbestos sheets or asbestos related products tend to get this disease. Around 70-80 percent cases for mesothelioma are because of asbestos. However, there are some cases where the person with mesotheliioma has no exposure to asbestos. The tiny particles or dust of the asbestos float in the air, and when they are inhaled, it leads to health problems. Exposure to asbestos also increases the possibility of lung cancer, and other cancers. Smoking as well as exposure to asbestos could lead to cancer in the air passageways.

Who can develop mesotheliioma?

The risk associated with asbestos was unknown for a long time. Millions of people have been exposed to this dust since 1800?s. But, nowadays, people wear protective equipment while working with asbestos related products. There have been cases where people who have worked with asbestos for many years as well as people who have worked for a very small time too have got this disease. Not all workers get this disease. Even, family members have the history of getting mesothelioma or other asbestos related disease. This could be because of the dust brought by the worker from his hair or clothes, so it is necessary that the worker at the factory take bath before leaving the workplace.

Symptoms: Mesothelioma usually occurs after 30 years of exposure to asbestos dust. Shortness of breath and chest pain is the first indication. Mesothelioma is treated by surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy etc.

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn615.html

Extreme Relaxation

2009-03-23T10:23:00.001+07:00

I can just imagine lying on my stomach, listening to soothing music, and falling into a deep relaxation. As a college student, I often find myself stressed out over all the assignments I have to complete in school. Massage is supposed to relieve anxiety and so I decided to experience it for myself. It seems like there are so many different kinds of massage that at first I felt lost in a world of leisure. A Swedish massage uses long fluid strokes of different pressures over the body, while toning the muscles and improving flexibility and circulation. I thought this sounded very soothing. Sports massages are specialized Swedish massages that help athletes keep their muscles and tissue in good condition and relax from stressful training. A medical massage is a Swedish massage geared toward a certain trouble area. Thai massage incorporates yoga with a light massage by stretching with gentle pressures. Reflexology is an ancient Chinese technique that uses pressure points in the hands, feet, and ears to restore energy flow in the body. It is supposed to flush the body of toxins, relax the muscles and stimulate internal organs. I know after a long day of classes I could use some extra energy and stimulation. I knew my body and mind could use a break from school, but I needed to do some research so that I knew what to expect when I went to the massage studio.

To prepare, I did some research on what to expect from a massage. As I started to search, I was overwhelmed by an array of rules and regulations. It is the job of the therapist to ask the client some standard questions to help the therapist understand the body of his or her client. They will ask why you are getting a massage and for some background information about your physical condition, medical history, lifestyle, stress levels, and if you are already experiencing pain in a specific area. They should discuss with you health goals that massage can help you achieve. It is also appropriate to ask about the certification of the therapist and the training they went through. I was then prepared to ask many questions during each massage.

One type of massage that I decided to experience was just a general relaxation massage. I went to The Pilates Wellness Center where my instructor, Tatiana, suggested that I should get a massage in their new studio to relax my muscles after a strenuous workout. Tatiana works me hard and afterwards I could often use some pampering. My therapist?s name was Lorraine and she was very willing to answer all of my questions and help me with my project. After my workout, Lorraine led me to the massage room. To start, she asked me the standard questions that I was prepared for from my research. She told me about her certification through the Florida State Massage Therapy Association as well as the training she is continuously going through. Therapists are required to take classes that add up to 24 credits every two years. They are under a strict regimen to continuously be up to the standards. Lorraine explained that I should take off my clothes and get onto the table, under the blanket. To start, I was instructed to lie on my back and put a pillow underneath my knees. As part of Florida State Massage Regulations, she left the room while I undressed and got situated at the table. This situation was surprisingly not awkward. The therapist was very professional and made me feel comfortable with her. When she came back in I was ready and excited to have my first real massage. First she massaged my head, face, and ears because she was trying to get me to relax a little. The therapist wanted me to get used to her hands and style before she massaged my body. She told me the most beneficial massages for a client are when he or she does nothing and the therapist does everything. As she mentioned this, I realized how important the setting is for a successful massage. I was able to relax with the dimmed lights, comfortable table, and soothing music.

Next, Lorraine started on my shoulders, arms and upper body. She used a cream rather than an oil to keep it less messy. The cream was called BioTone that contained extracts of ivy, which relives soreness in the muscles. On my arms and legs, Lorraine used a technique she called ?stripping,? which is a firm stroking in one direction. This technique is beneficial because muscles are made up of many fibers and when the fibers are aligned it is easier for blood to flow through and oxygen to get to the muscles. This prevents cramping and tightness. My right hip was stiff so it needed some extra attention and forceful kneading. Lorraine explained that joints are susceptible to tightness because of the attachment of muscles to bone.

After my therapist had gone over my body once, she asked me to turn over. At first, she concentrated on my hamstrings because I have a lot of nerve tension that makes the backs of my legs very taut. It was slightly painful since the nerves are involved as well as the muscles; however, afterwards I felt much better. Lorraine then moved up to my gluteus muscles. She told me that butt muscles are often ignored in a massage but they are one of the most important and strained muscles we use. She left the blanket over me because she explained that one of the many regulations of being a therapist is that the client must be covered at all times with the exception of the part being worked on. It was a little weird having a butt massage but I definitely learned to enjoy it quickly. I never realized how important my gluteus muscles are because I use them for everything I do.

To end, my therapist worked on my back. She used a different technique called Swe-Thai, which incorporates Thai and Swedish massages. As I mentioned before, Thai massage uses different pressures while stretching and Swedish massage uses long strokes to elongate the muscles. She went up and down along my spine to alleviate tension. After 55 minutes, my massage was finished. I couldn?t get up from the table right away because I felt sleepy and extremely relaxed. Now twelve hours later after my tough workout with Tatiana, my muscles don?t feel as stressed out as usual. My body feels like paying $75 for a relaxation massage, which seemed standard in my research, was well worth it.

The second type of massage that I experienced was a sports/medical massage. I went to the same massage studio as I did for the first one. For some reason, over the past week my lower back had been hurting. When I went in and told Lorraine this I expected her to work mostly on my back. However, she explained to me that I was probably in pain because my hamstrings were tight. At first, it didn?t make sense to me that my back hurt because of tense hamstrings. My therapist explained that it is common for people with tight hamstrings to have sore gluteus and lower back muscles. I was nervous for her to tough my achy muscles but my therapist quickly put me into the relaxation mode by ?stripping? my whole body again and using some reflexology methods on my feet. Lorraine explained that reflexology is really a simple massage method. The feet, ears, and hands are all maps of the rest of the body. Certain points correlate to different parts of the body. Once the feet relax, the rest of the body follows. As I turned over, I knew the pain was coming, ouch!

The first technique my therapist used was a Thai massage. She stretched my legs out to allow her to ?work? my muscles. Then Lorraine went to work with a tough Swedish massage. She kneaded and ?stripped? my hamstrings and calves. I could tell that she was working hard and putting her whole body weight into the massage. There was definitely A LOT of pain while she was massaging me but I trusted her as a professional. She kneaded my muscles with a lot more force than in my first experience. After she finished my hamstrings, my therapist continued up to my gluteus muscles and then my lower back. She concentrated on this area until the massage was over. This is what made it more of a sports massage because Lorraine focused on a certain area to relieve pain rather than just relaxing all the muscles. Although my muscles felt tired and sore, my back felt much looser and under less pressure. This massage was very different but ultimately achieved the same goal, to relax my tense muscles.

For my last massage, I decided to go to a different place and have a whole new experience. I went to the Sanda Gane Day Spa for an aromatherapy massage at a price of $75. When I first got there, I was invited into a back room where massage patients are allowed to relax and talk to the therapist. My new therapist?s name was Cynthia. She sat down with me and we went through the standard question and answer session. She introduced me to three varieties of scents that I could choose from: citrus, floral, or spicy. Floral scents are used for soothing the senses, spicy for awakening them, and citrus somewhere in between. I thought citrus would be invigorating after a long and tiring day. Cynthia then left me in the sitting room while she prepared my massage therapy room. The waiting room was really dark and had a gorgeous fountain that was bright orange with steam rising from it. Beautiful bouquets of flowers were all around the room, which made me feel welcome in a new place. When my room was ready, Cynthia invited me back into the treatment room. She left me alone to prepare for the table while she got me a glass of water to keep me hydrated.

To my surprise, when I got on the table, the mattress was heated. It was very relaxing upon lying down because I didn?t get that chill when you first crawl under cold sheets. Cynthia came back in and I was eager to begin. I could instantly smell the citrus oils she was using. Since I was having an aromatherapy massage, my therapist used only Swedish massage techniques. For 50 minutes, I lay there while she used long, fluid strokes all over my body. I was so relaxed, I felt like I was going to fall into a deep sleep but the scented oils kept my senses awake. When she told me I was done, I was disappointed it was over. I felt utterly relaxed and completely loosened up. I don?t think I have ever felt better in my life.

I feel like all of my massages accomplished the goal I had set out for in the beginning. Both of my therapists were very professional and highly qualified. The sports massage had the longest lasting effect because the problem areas are targeted and worked out more intensely. I felt great after my first relaxation massage but a lot of the concentration was on learning about the techniques and Lorraine demonstrating them for me. The aromatherapy massage was less involved and more mechanical. I didn?t learn as much from the Day Spa as I did from the Wellness Center. If you are feeling pain in any particular area, I urge you to get a sports massage and share with the therapist any information you can give them. They will help you relieve the soreness in your muscles. The American Massage Therapy Association has a list of certified therapists on their website (www.amtamassage.org) to help you locate one in your area. If you are a typical student, who is just really stressed and cannot find a way to unwind, you should try any kind of relaxation massage. My whole body was suffering from the stressful effects of school. The massage helped my mind and body to be calm. Massage is an incredible experience and I recommend it to anyone who feels like the pressure of school has become overbearing and a threat to your wellness.

I am currently an undergraduate student at the University of Richmond. I am hoping to major in Mathematical Economics but in the meantime I am taking an array of courses, including this Expository Writing class.

Hypnotherapy: Using the Power of The Mind to Heal

2009-03-22T16:40:00.001+07:00

New scientific studies are demonstrating that the chemical byproduct of thinking is found in every cell of the body and that the thoughts you think have a powerful effect on your immune system. This is good news for those who already use the power of the mind and positive thinking to help you heal your body. Now they have a scientific base for their work as well as empirical evidence.

Biofeedback, for example, is a treatment technique in which people are trained to improve their health by using signals from their own bodies. It is used by physical therapists to help stroke victims regain movement in paralyzed muscles and by psychologists to help tense and anxious clients learn to relax. No one questions its use anymore, because people have demonstrated clearly that by using biofeedback, they can lower their heart rate, lower their blood pressure, stop headaches and other pain and much more. They are using their mind and emotions to control physical symptoms.(This actually is a good definition of hypnosis).

Some researchers say that we are walking pharmacies, able to manufacture those chemicals our bodies need to prevent illness and/or restore us to wholeness. The scientists have further discovered that the chemicals produced by thinking are found in every cell in the human body, not just in brain cells. So if we can produce our own healing chemicals with the mind at a cellular level, what is the logical conclusion? Can we, using our thoughts, manufacture the chemicals that prevent illness or bring about a cure and distribute them to the cells?

From these and other findings and questions, a new focus of study has emerged, that of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). PNI is the study of the interactions between the mind, the nervous system and the immune system, and the relationship between behavior and health. In other words, science is discovering what the mystics have known all along. ? that thoughts create our reality. This is spoken of throughout sacred writings: ?As a man thinketh, so is he.?

Ponder it. Is there anything in existence that did not start as a thought before it became a reality? Depak Chopra says that if you want to know what you?ll be like in ten years, examine your thoughts today. You are creating your own reality, including the reality of health or illness by your thinking.

You can begin today to train your mind to think positive thoughts that result in an enhanced state of well being, which in turn improves the functioning of your immune system. Begin to think about those things for which you are grateful or that bring you joy instead of how angry you are at Aunt Mabel or worrying that you will catch the bird flu (or any of the dozens of ailments the news media warns you about). As you begin to be in control of your own thoughts and change them from negative to positive, you will begin to notice any number of lovely changes -- emotionally, physically, and mentally. And the good news is that thought is one thing that does not have to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

If you need medical care, by all means see your primary care physician. In the meantime, begin to change your thinking from negative to positive. If you need help changing your thinking, see a specialist in positive thought therapy ? a hypnotherapist.

Irene Conlan has a masters degree in nursing, a doctoral degree in metaphysics, is a certified hypnotherapist and an ordained minister. She practices holistic hypnotherapy and officiates at weddings in Scottsdale, Az and the Phoenix metropolitan area. She can be found at: http://www.thepowerzone.com (Hypnotherapy Downloads) http://www.yourscottsdalewedding.com (Scottsdale Weddings) http://your-scottsdale-wedding.com (Wedding Blog)

AntiAging Hypnosis: A Fountain of Youth?

2009-03-21T22:12:00.001+07:00

?You are only as old as you feel,? goes the popular saying. Have you ever encountered someone who is approaching or just passed a ?milestone,? birthday (40, 50, 60, etc.) and it seems like overnight he or she suddenly appears much older? The reach of the mind in regards to aging might be much more powerful than you suspect.

It is widely known that in less technologically advanced societies that a voodoo priest or medicine man can place a curse on someone which results in illness and sometimes death. The belief system is the mechanism by which this works. If the medicine man is confident in his ability to conjure up the spell and the victim is equally convinced, the victim?s mind makes the unconscious adjustments to alter the body in a negative way. We might find belief in such apparent superstitions to be laughable, but what belief systems do most of us buy into when it comes to getting older?

Basically, most of us expect to become stiff, forgetful and cranky with the passage of years. This message is reinforced by the myriad of pharmaceutical ads we are assaulted with on a daily basis which insist that functional life is not possible in our later life without their costly products. Yet is this true?

Much of what people fear about aging can be averted to a large degree by behaviors which we control. Feeling stiff? Is it age or the fact you don?t exercise on a regular basis? Feeling forgetful? Could it be that spending all of your spare time watching TV is not providing your brain with enough stimulation to remain vibrant and active? And a good mood is the result of taking care of your stress and making the effort to connect with others in a meaningful way.

This is not to say that the aging process is not a reality. Biologists tell us that our cells appear to be programmed with a certain life expectancy. It is also true that youth kind of gives us a pass, at least for awhile, on the consequences of unhealthy behaviors. Nonetheless, your choices as to attitude and behavior will largely determine if your golden years are a pleasant experience or not.

Hypnosis is an effective tool for changing attitude and behavior. If you want to look and feel younger you must first get past the cultural brainwashing that paints a picture of an inevitable decline over which you have no control. There are too many examples of individuals who shined in their later years like Michelangelo who did his best painting in his senior years to accept that idea. Set a positive intention to actually do something constructive along the lines of exercise, diet and proper hydration.

You may also wish to consider learning and practicing some type of mind/body practice like self-hypnosis or meditation to help you control stress. It is well-documented that continual stress creates negative changes in our physiology that can accelerate the aging process. Being able to enter a relaxed state of mind and body on a regular basis can actually reduce the wear and tear on your cells.

The various forms of meditation can enable you to enter this type of restorative state at will. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis have the added advantage in that you can also reprogram the behaviors and attitudes needed for a more youthful state while you relax.

James Malone, DCH, is a Certified Hypnotist from Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey who enjoys helping people overcome their fears and frustrations. He invites you to visit the New Jersey Hypnotist Web Site to learn more.

Stop Smoking Hypnotherapy Can This Work?

2009-03-17T14:11:00.001+07:00

If you?ve already tried a variety of the stop smoking aids, and you?ve tried quitting smoking without any help at all, you may think it?s just not meant to be. If you haven?t tried quit smoking hypnosis, you should take a minute to consider the possibility.

When the word ?hypnosis? is mentioned, many people immediately conjure up images of the comedic hypnotists that make unsuspecting participants quack like a duck or perform some other ridiculous action. Hypnosis stop smoking programs are serious help for those with a serious desire to quit smoking cigarettes.

There?s no doubt that suggestion is a powerful tool. If you doubt that, just think about the amount of money spent on advertising. While it?s not hypnosis in the purest sense of the word, there?s no doubt that advertising works because we are open to suggestion. This is the first major step before turning to hypnosis as quit smoking help ? you have to believe that hypnosis will work and open yourself to the power of suggestion.

Smoking cessation is undeniably difficult. One of the most common problems faced by those who seek out hypnotherapy seems to be the expectation that stop smoking help will be easy with hypnotherapy. The truth is that most who undergo hypnosis still report an occasional craving for a cigarette. There?s no doubt that stopping smoking isn?t easy, and there seems to be no stop smoking methods that work without the will power of the smoker. If you want to know how to stop smoking without ever facing any cravings for another cigarette, you?re looking for a magic cure ? unfortunately, it doesn?t seem to exist.

That?s not to say that hypnosis doesn?t work - quite the contrary. And there are those people who report that they never again have the desire to pick up another cigarette. Just don?t enter into a hypnosis program expecting perfect results. This, like all quit smoking products and programs, should be counted as one part of the overall plan.

Quit smoking support is another important factor, and you may very well get the needed support as part of the hypnosis program. There could be a group that meets periodically, or the hypnotist may be available for additional consultations at no cost over a specific period of time.

Cost is another factor that keeps some people from seeking out hypnosis. You?ll find that this isn?t a free stop smoking program, but it may not be as expensive as you think. You?ll find plenty of advertisements in most areas for around $100.

Despite what some people think, stop smoking hypnosis isn?t a magic cure. Regardless of what stop smoking programs you try, you?re likely going to experience some withdrawal and there will be times that cigarette smoking is appealing. But if you?re ready for help to stop smoking, hypnosis may very well be just the answer you?ve been searching for.

There?s no doubt that smoking is detrimental to your health, and that there are incredible benefits to quitting. Isn?t it time you considered hypnotherapy?

Steve Hill discusses the quit smoking process. Learn the facts before you decide which quit smoking product to buy. Read more no-hype stop smoking articles and information at: quit smoking.

Detox For Life

2009-03-15T19:03:00.001+07:00

The need to detoxify the body has become increasingly more important over the past 50 years. We live in an environment that is overflowing with dangerous chemicals. They have permeated our soils, our water supply, and the air that we breath. Even the best efforts to eliminate toxins from your household and work place have become more difficult, since there are over 75,000 synthetic chemicals registered with the EPA- most of which you aren?t even aware of.

Every year, more than 24 billion pounds of toxic substances are released into the environment, only a fraction of which have been tested for safety or how they interact with each other. At the same time, chronic degenerative diseases are on the rise. The CDC estimates that 1 out of 2 men and 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. 70 million American?s have been diagnosed with some form of cardiovascular disease and 16 million adults are suffering from asthma.

The link between the degenerative disease epidemic and the volume of toxic substances in our environment can no longer be ignored. In 2003, the Mt. Sanai School of Medicine tested 211 volunteers for possible contaminants and found an average of 91 pollutants in the volunteer?s blood samples. Of those 91 pollutants, an average of 53 were known carcinogens including PCBs, dioxins, pthalates, insecticides, pesticides and heavy metals. The group of volunteers included individuals who lived in a rural coastal community and had eaten organic foods for over 30 years.

So what can you do? Fortunately, there are a variety of detoxification methods available. I employ the following detoxification methods:

Far Infrared Sauna

Far Infrared (FIR) Saunas were invented in Japan and used almost exclusively there until the early 1980?s when Western practitioners discovered their success at detoxifying the body. FIR sauna?s use radiant energy instead of convectional heat and operate at a lower temperature than conventional saunas, ranging from 105 to 130 degrees.

FIR energy penetrates the body as much as 4.5 cm below the surface of the skin, reaching all layers of the dermis and subcutaneous fat. The energy is then converted to heat, causing the body to sweat, which removes toxic waste, including alcohol, nicotine, sodium, cholesterol, and certain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, arsenic, cadmium and aluminum.

In addition to the detox benefits, FIR heats up the body, causing your heart to beat harder and faster resulting in a safe cardiovascular workout. The heat also causes the peripheral blood vessels to dilate, stimulating circulation that delivers oxygen-rich blood to the cells and removes the waste. FIR has also been found useful as a treatment for pain, since it relaxes the muscles, reducing stress and tension.

Chelation Therapy

The accumulation of heavy metals in the body can lead to serious health concerns. Metals such as lead and aluminum can lead to neurological disorders, loss of balance, memory loss, lack of coordination and depression as well as attention deficit disorder and lowered IQ in children. Researchers are currently looking into the link between heavy metal toxicity and Alzheimer?s disease.

Chelation is the administration of a substance that binds with heavy metals in the body, forming salts that can then be excreted from the body. The chelator can be administered orally, intravaneously, rectally or topically on the skin. There are several different chelator substances, each of them tailored to bind to specific metals. Before deciding that chelation is for you, it is best to have your doctor test you for heavy metals. Once you?ve determined which heavy metals are present in your bloodstream, you can then determine the chelatation process that would be appropriate for your needs.

Body Cleanse

Body Cleanse, also known as Foot Detox, is a relaxing way to rid your body of toxins. It works by placing your feet in a basin of salted water containing an ion generator. A power supply attached to the ion generator delivers a small current (1.6 to 1.8 amps) creating positively and negatively charged ions in the water. The charged atoms act as a magnetic field, attracting oppositely charged particles in the body, drawing them out through osmosis. The charged particles target toxic substances within the body, attaching to them and then releasing them safely and painlessly into the water.

Lymphatic Therapy

The lymphatic system is a vital circulatory system and the body?s primary immune defense and waste eliminator. It is critical to managing the elimination of toxins from the body. The lymphatic system is comprised of over 600 ?collection? sites called lymph nodes and has a massive network of collecting vessels. The primary responsibilities of the lymphatic system are to carry disease-fighting material to cells attacked by germs, transport the dead germs away and supply the heart with protein-rich plasma. When this system is blocked, the body becomes defenseless against attacks by viruses, fungi, bacterium and other toxins.

Because the lymphatic system is not driven by the heart, there is no engine pumping fluid through the vessels. The lymphatic system relies on pressure generated by activity to move the toxin-laden lymph fluid out of the cells. Without sufficient movement, the waste can build up in the lymph system and health problems can ensue. I have found two methods extremely beneficial to detoxify the lymphatic system: Rebounder Therapy and Light Beam Generator.

Rebounder Therapy works by getting the body in motion to encourage the lymphatic system. Jumping up and down on a mini-trampoline is one of the best ways to compress the lymph vessels and move lymph fluid throughout the system, without causing high-impact stress on the musculo-skeletal system.

A Light Beam Generator (LBG) is a device that can assist the body in detoxifying the lymphatic system. LBG is a non-invasive technology that uses extremely low current and negatively charged light photons providing compatible frequencies to the blocked areas in the lymphatic system, resulting in the cells correcting their out-of-balance condition. Rapid movement of waste material within the cells occurs, greatly increasing the delivery of waste material to the organs responsible for body waste disposal.

Healthful Supplementation

Due to both the increased use of synthetic fertilizers and the over cultivation of farmland, the grains, fruits and vegetables grown on most farms today lack the important nutrients that the body requires. More and more, the soil is being depleted of vitamins, minerals and necessary nutrients due to man-made changes (i.e., construction of dams and absence of floods). Today, the food we eat probably has only 25% of the nutritional value that it had just 100 years ago. Because of this, we are sorely lacking in the vital nutrients that assist our bodies in detoxification.

Without the proper nutrients, the body cannot function at an optimal level and is powerless to fight off dietary carcinogens and repair damaged DNA. I recommend that all of my patients take a daily food-based multivitamin. It is both important and necessary to replenish the body with magnesium and potassium for heart health, selenium to reduce skin disease, iron to combat fatigue, colds and anemia, and folic acid to ward off cancer. In addition, I advise that the multivitamin be made from organic greens such as grasses, vegetables, sprouted grains, herbs to provide the maximum benefits.

In the 21st century we are faced with a degenerative disease epidemic. Each day, new chemicals are invented with the intention of making life easier, but these same chemicals are creating health problems that no one anticipated. It is imperative that you protect yourself from these dangerous toxins by detoxifying your body regularly. Don?t wait for a health ailment to arise to take action. Being proactive today can prevent problems down the line. Ask your doctor to evaluate your toxic body burden and discuss with him or her the right detoxification method for you. Ridding your body of the harmful substances will make you feel like a new person and protect your health from succumbing to degenerative disease.

Dr. Connealy, M.D., M.P.H. began private practice in 1986. In 1992 she founded her medical practice in California. Her practice is firmly based in the belief that strictly treating health problems with medications does not find the root cause of the illness. Dr. Connealy writes monthly columns for Coast and Health magazines, and is a weekly cohost on Frank Jordan?s ?Healthy, Wealthy and Wise? radio show. She routinely lectures and educates the public on health issues. Please visit http://www.perfectlyhealthy.net for product and more information

Maturing Well Instead of Aging Poorly

2009-03-15T12:44:00.001+07:00

One of the signs of aging is chronic pain and stiffness in various areas of the body and restrictions of various movements. By the time people reach their thirties, many have these restrictions. According to popular opinion and medical science, that is to be expected. Popular opinion and medical science don't say why it is to be expected, except perhaps to blame (without an illuminating explanation) our genes. While bodily changes are linked to our genetic destiny, there is another factor, one which is within our power to control.

This article provides an illuminating explanation as to why pain and restriction often appear with aging -- and what you can do about it. The illuminating explanation has to do with a common, seemingly innocuous condition underlying the movement restrictions of aging in nearly all persons -- the accumulation of muscular tension. By preventing tension from accumulating now, one can prevent the damage that leads to poor aging later; by eliminating accumulated tension, one can reclaim much of the physical grace and comfort one had years earlier.

THE OBVIOUS SIGN OF DECREPITUDE

How can you tell an aged person at a distance? It's by their posture, isn't it? Posture is a habitual way we have of moving and positioning ourselves, using the muscular system.

Much has been said in recent years about osteoporosis -- loss of bone density -- being responsible for changes of posture. While that is true in some cases and to varying degrees, muscular tensions have much more to do with the postural changes of aging than does osteoporosis. The posture of aging reveals muscular tensions that a person has accumulated and may have carried for years.

Along with postural changes, the mythology of aging has two key features: pains and stiffness.

Is it possible that chronic muscular tension alone can create the pains and stiffness of aging?

SOURCES OF PAIN AND STIFFNESS

When muscles get tight and stay tight, they cease to be elastic; they restrict movement. That sense of restriction is what people call stiffness, and it exists quite apart from the effects of arthritis.

Those same muscles, held tight for days, weeks, and years, get tired, sore, and prone to spasm. That feeling of muscle fatigue and soreness produces much of the chronic pain of aging. The effects of muscle tightness on joints is another factor that adds to pain and stiffness; tight muscles pull bones together at joints, creating pressure.

Most people are sore to the touch in one place or another -- not because they are old, but because they are tight, and their muscles, overworked.

The problem exists, however, not in the muscles themselves, but in the brain that controls them -- why is why massage and stretching provide only temporary relief. Muscles obey the brain, and if the brain says, contract, muscles contract -- massage and stretching notwithstanding.

There is nothing wrong with people's brains, however, and they don't need medication or a brain-scan; they need to learn -- or relearn -- to relax. They need to break their tension habits, formed over a lifetime.

People go through their lifetime of experiences doing either one of two things: tensing or relaxing. Think back to an earlier time in your life when you were in a new and possibly stressful situation -- one that you knew might last a while or that lasted longer than you expected. Notice how you feel when thinking about it. Are you tense, or relaxed? Can you tell? How were you, then? Did you manage your tension or did you turn your attention to more important things? Did you get used to your tension? If so, you probably lost some of your ability to relax. Over a lifetime, did you get more flexible, or more stiff? That's how you know, and that's one way a person's brain gets conditioned to maintain a level of tension.

Another way is through a physical injury. When we get hurt, we guard the injured part by pulling it in and out of action. The event of injury may make such an impression upon us that we may (and many people do) continue to guard the injured area in memory of the injury for decades. Thus forms a tension habit that leads to accumulated tension, pain, stiffness, and sometimes joint damage -- arthritis. Even without arthritis, accumulated tension adds drag to movement and makes it more difficult; people feel tired all the time, old.

Even physical fitness programs can lead to chronic tension. Many kinds of fitness training emphasize strength and firming (tightening) up. Rarely do they teach a person to relax. More often, they teach a person to stretch and warm up, which is not the same as teaching relaxation. So many fitness programs (or at least the way some people do them) cause them to form tension habits.

So, it's not so much our years as the tension habits we form over those years that determine whether we develop the pains and stiffness of aging and lose that part of our youthfulness.

A WAY BACK TO MORE YOUTHFUL COMFORT AND MOVEMENT

The pain and stiffness of aging start out as temporary tensions that become learned habits. Those habits can be unlearned.

The odd thing is that our tension often seems to be happening to us -- rather than something we are doing. Much of it exists below our threshold of consciousness. We're used to it; we don't notice it. So, the first step to breaking a tension habit is to become conscious of it. Only then can we stop tightening ourselves up.

Somatic exercises effectively break the tension habit. The word, somatic, means self-sensing and self- controlling -- the way you sense and control chewing. There are a number of systems of somatic exercises that accomplish this goal.

Somatic exercises improve posture, make you feel younger, improve flexibility, and ease or eliminate chronic pains. They pain spontaneous movement without pain possible, again.

The clinical form of Hanna Somatic Education clears up especially painful or persistent problems.

Either way, you gain freedom of spontaneous movement without pain, better coordination, more complete relaxation, and more strength guided and helped by the coaching of a somatic educator.

Improvements are stable and require minimal upkeep -- a few minutes of somatic exercises as part of ones daily regimen. Once a problem has been resolved, those exercises can keep you comfortable and supple for a lifetime.

So, if you thought pain and stiffness are the inevitable result of aging, consider the possibility that you can forestall or reverse those effects and decide whether it's worth the effort to you to do it.

Lawrence Gold, bio page
BRIEF:
Lawrence Gold served as Associate Instructor with the Novato Institute for Somatic Research and Training and for two years he was on staff at the Wellness and Rehabilitation Center of Watsonville Community Hospital, California.

He has written and published advanced handbooks of practice for professional practitioners and movement therapists, and self-care instructional programs for back pain and general health, for the general public.

Illustrated instructions for somatic exercises are found in The Magic of Somatics (For a free preview, send email to (POINT AND CLICK:) free preview

See also: Somatics : Reawakening the Mind's Control of Movement, Flexibility, and Health (Perseus Books); available in several languages.

EFT How Can It Help?

2009-03-12T20:53:00.001+07:00

EFT - Emotional Freedom Techniques can help many issues and problems. In fact there seems to be no limit to what EFT can assist with. You might accept that it can help psychological conditions but how can it help physical conditions? Well let me explain further.

Certainly if you consider any physical condition, no matter what it might be, there will always be a psychological element to it. For example take the painful and debilitating ailment known as arthritis. Most people would agree that it is both painful and restrictive.

Now because there is an element of expectancy about this condition, the expectancy being pain, a person will natural tense up because they expect to get a reminder of that pain. In other words they have already created a condition in their body of readiness for pain. If they tense the muscles and tendons of the body through this expectancy of pain then any normal pain or discomfort created by the arthritic condition of joints in the body is likely to seem greater than if the same surrounding muscles and tendons were relaxed.

Where EFT can help is in reducing the expectancy of pain and helping the person to relax psychologically which naturally leads to a physical relaxation too. From this any pain is likely to be more localised and smaller.

However that is just one possible explanation of how EFT might help the condition of arthritis. Many therapists believe that for every physical condition there most often is a psychological cause.

How often have we heard of someone having a psychological shock to their system such as going through a painful divorce, bereavement, loss of a job and or other stressful life event and then later on, maybe 6 months or a year later, they seem to develop a physical illness. This might eczema, tinnitus, IBS ME, FM or many other issues.

An enlightened therapist would view the psychological shock of some upsetting and stressful life event as being the cause of the physical issue. They would then use EFT to work on the psychological cause and in doing so the client would then be dealing with the cause and not the physical symptoms. This in turn may lead to a reduction or even total resolution of the physical symptoms.

EFT seems to be particularly effective because it is so easy to learn. It is also a very brief process and the positive effectives may be noticed almost immediately.

The great news about EFT is that because if its inbuilt flexibility it can be used for virtually any issue or problem.

Steven Harold
EFT Therapists

Common Aromatherapy Uses

2009-03-12T17:45:00.001+07:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hot Immersion Bath

2009-03-11T14:31:00.001+07:00

This bath can be taken from two to 15 minutes at a temperature from 36.60C to 400C. Generally this bath is started at 370C and the temperature is then gradually raised to the required level by adding hot water. Before entering the bath, the patient should drink cold water and also wet the head, neck and shoulders with cold water. A cold compress should be applied throughout the treatment. This bath can be advantageously employed in dropsy when there is excessive loss of tone of the heart and blood. This bath also relieves capillary bronchitis and bronchial pneumonia in children. It relieves congestation of the lungs and activates the blood vessels of the skin muscles. The bath should be terminated as soon as the skin becomes red.

In pneumonia and suppressed menstruation, the bath should be administered at 37.70C to 400C for about 30 to 45 minutes. This bath should be given when the menstruation is due and may be repeated for two to three days in succession. In dysmenorrhoea, this bath should be given at 380C to 44.40C for 15 minutes.

In chronic bronchitis a very hot bath taken for 5 to 7 minutes should be accompanied with rubbing and friction. This relieves congestion of the mucous membrane and provides immediate relief After the bath, oil should be applied to the skin if necessary.

The hot bath is a valuable treatment in chronic rheumatism and obesity. It gives immediate relief when there is pain due to stones in the gall bladder and the kidneys. The hot bath should not be taken in cases of organic diseases of the brain or spinal cord, nor in cases of cardiac weakness and cardiac hypertrophy.

To learn more about the energy principle in healing, please read:

Cost-free Miracle Asthma Cure
Overcome Type I Diabetes and Type II Diabetes Naturally
Alternative Treatments for Incurable Diseases made easy

Natural Alternative to HRT

2009-03-10T14:37:00.001+07:00

HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy aim is to restore oestrogen levels to a normal pre-menopausal state for menopausal women suffering from the signs and symptoms of oestrogen deficiency and it also postpones other consequences such as coronary heart disease and osteoporosis.

Hot flushes, profuse sweating especially at night, anxiety, feeling of suffocation, hot hands and feet, dizziness and faintness, headaches, backaches, irritability, an increase or lack of interest in sex, constipation, an increase in weight, depression and insomnia are all symptoms of the menopause.

Hormone replacement therapy has been linked with cancer of the uterus and women with kidney problems, headaches, migraines, asthma, heart disease, benign breast cysts, epilepsy and diabetes should not take Hormone replacement therapy. Hormone replacement therapy also restarts the menstrual cycle.

Many women do not want to take hormone replacement therapy because of the problems associated with it. The side effects of taking HRT by mouth can be nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and bloating. HRT patches can cause blistering, discoloration of the skin and hyperaemia. Studies in HRT have associated the prescription of HRT with an increase chance of developing breast cancer and cancer of the uterus.

To combat the symptoms and health problems associated with the menopause keep meals simple, eat little and often, avoid processed and refined foods, keep to natural whole foods such as fruit and vegetable, consume plenty of fibre, cut down on fat, wheat, rhubarb chocolate, eat plenty of calcium rich food such as Soya beans, sardines, turnips, peanuts, salmon, walnuts, sunflower seeds, dried beans and green vegetables, eat plenty of vitamin D foods such as sardines, herring, salmon, tuna, fish liver oils, liver and eggs will be beneficial and eat plenty of Soya products such as tofu, Soya milk, tempeh. Increase exercise, try to mineralise stress by relaxation methods such as yoga and meditation and try to give up smoking.

Phytoestrol and evening primrose oil are both good supplements to help with the symptoms of the menopause. Phytoestrol offers the benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) but without the associated risks. It is a natural product made from potent plant hormones that mimic oestrogen. Evening primrose oil can help with pre-menstrual syndrome by reducing sugar cravings, low moods and emotional symptoms, breast tenderness and swelling. Evening primrose oil contains hormone-building blocks that can aid in the balancing of hormones.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from HRT.

Bone mineral complex Boron Copper Evening primrose oil Fish Oil Flaxseed oil Folic Acid Magnesium Manganese Multivitamin and multiminerals Silica Soya Strontium Vitamin B12 Vitamin B6 Vitamin C Vitamin D Vitamin K Zinc

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

Massage Oil for Massage Therapy

2009-03-09T01:06:00.001+07:00

Massage oil is a great addition to any massage experience. It enhances not only the relaxing nature of the massage therapy session, but also adds to the healing benefits of the massage.

The use of massage oil is not a new idea. Homer, Plato, Socrates ? all of these men referenced the use of massage oil as an aid for pain relief in their writings. Today, pain relief is one reason for using massage oil. Others include the facilitation of more gliding massage, skin nourishment, and the promotion of good health in general.

How do you choose a massage oil for massage therapy? First, choose an oil that is cold-pressed or expeller-pressed. Both of these have had the least amount of processing and will last longest. Prevent them from spoiling by keeping them in a cool place and adding 300 IUs of vitamin E per pint of oil monthly. In addition, essential oils, or oils that are distilled from various plants, roots, or seeds) can be added. Seek the aid of a professional to advise on a good combination.

Some oils to choose from for massage therapy include:

* Sweet almond oil ? Anti-inflammatory, light, and good for most skin types, especially dry skin.

* Apricot kernel oil ? Reduces stress, provides balance, and good for all skin types, especially prematurely aging skin.

* Avocado oil ? This is a heavy oil best diluted at a rate of 10% in a lighter oil.

* Borage oil ? Good for eczema and psoriasis, it penetrates, regenerates, and stimulates.

* Castor oil ? A thick sticky oil good for drawing out toxins and for use on scar tissue. Best used in a poultice.

* Coconut oil ? A thick, heavy oil that should be warmed before use. Good for cracked skin.

* Emu oil ? Anti-inflammatory and used for arthritis, sore muscles, bruising, and eczema. May block pores.

* Grapeseed oil ? Non-allergenic and good for all types of skin. * Jojoba oil ? A penetrating, anti-bacterial oil for eczema and acne.

* Kukui nut oil ? Anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory that is light and has a slight warming effect.

* Olive oil ? Has a warming effect and relieves stiffness.

Different skin types will fare better with different types of oil. As such, it will be a good idea to experiment with different kinds for massage therapy. If one doesn't work, try another. Also, some may personally prefer the smell or the effects of one massage oil to another. The selection of massage oils is pretty wide; so there is bound to be a preferred one for just about anybody.

Caroline Colby publishes information, tips and resources on Massage Therapy. Her site includes information on shiatsu massage, foot massage, massage techniques, massage oil, massage chairs and other massage equipment. For more details and latest news updates, please visit http://www.Massage-Therapy-Central.com

The Myth of Magnetic Healing

2009-03-08T02:09:00.001+07:00

Magnetic therapy or magnotherapy is an alternative medicine that cures certain medical disorders by exposing the body to magnetic fields. Although mainstream medical science pooh-poohs the claims made by magnotherapy and have stamped it as a pseudoscience, ardent proponents say that magnet therapy works in a non-invasive way to cure many painful conditions, primarily back disorders, arthritis and joint aches. Magnetic fields from permanent magnets are said to speed up the healing process of the body and relieve pains.

As people started looking for more and more cost-effective and holistic healing practices, a simple yet effective technique was found to be practiced in Germany, Japan and Israel. The principle behind this therapy is fairly simple. The powerful magnetic fields of a magnet stimulate the magnetic fields in the human body thus improving circulation and promoting healing. This paves the way to general good health.

Magnet therapy is most effective when used in conjunction with other forms of alternative healing therapies like acupuncture or acutouch. Magnets are placed at pressure points to relieve soreness. Magnets open up microscopic blood vessels and facilitate better blood flow. Conversely, magnets can also be used to change the direction of blood flow and thus prevent the spread of inflammation.

Magnetic products in the market come in various shapes, sizes and forms. The price varies from the nominal to very expensive depending on what kinds of materials are used. Magnets can be taped to the skin, worn as jewelry, inserted in shoes, or slept on as pillows or mattresses.

Some of the common ailments treated using magnetic therapy are insomnia, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, headaches, and backaches.

It is believed that magnets must be placed precisely in order to reap the full effect of the treatment. Hence it is advisable to undergo treatment under the guidance of a professional.

If you are using magnets to relieve pain induced by minor but persistent problems like arthritis or back aches, you may be advised to use a strip of magnet that generates a magnetic field of 300-500 gauss (that?s roughly 10 times stronger than the magnet on your refrigerator). Depending upon the intensity of the pain you are experiencing, you may need to wear the magnets for as little as five minutes or for as long as several hours every day over several weeks. A magnetic pillow is used to relieve neck pain and magnetic mattresses help patients suffering from insomnia.

Is magnet therapy really effective? While many advocates, including doctors, claim effective reduction of pain, there is no medical backing to the healing effects of magnets. On the other hand some of the most passionate supporters of the therapy include serious sportsmen who swear that they cannot go on playing their games without the aid of magnets. Some supporters even go so far as to claim that magnet therapy can fight infection and improve disorders of the central nervous system. There is some research that shows that magnets can indeed relieve pain. As for the rest, the healing powers of the magnet still lie in the realms of mystery.

Alternative Holistic Medicine

Which Acne Alternative Treatment Is Right For Your Acne?

2009-03-07T02:40:00.000+07:00

If you suffer from acne then you already know that there are hundreds of acne alternative treatments being sold in stores and online. In fact if you do a search for acne alternative treatments using the Internet you will find a myriad of websites that are stuffed full of testimonies from former acne sufferers who have used the latest zit and pimple treatments in order to eliminate their irritating skin blemishes. Unfortunately what these testimonies can't do for you is guarantee the elimination of your acne because every individual that has acne could very well need a different type of acne fighting solution. The actual proof is in the pudding so to speak. You won't know 100% for sure if an acne alternative treatment will cure your blackheads until you actually try it out on your acne.

For many consumers that have successfully eliminated their acne it only came after they had gone through a lineup consisting of acne topical treatments, a dose of pimple fighting antibiotics and in the most serious acne cases a prescribed treatment using Accutane. If these are considered the traditional methods of treating your acne then what about the alternative or nontraditional acne fighting solutions? Can they effectively prevent an acne outbreak from happening on your skin? Just like the routine ways of fighting zits, you won't know if an alternative method will work until you actually try it for yourself.

Before trying any alternative acne treatment it is highly recommended that you become an educated consumer. You can accomplish this task by asking around with your family and friends, chances are one of them is suffering from acne or has recently cured their acne outbreak. Check to see if they used any type of alternative means or methods to clear their skin up. If they did, then use that combination of prescribed treatment on your own acne to see if you can duplicate the same results. I'm sure you already know this, but traditional acne remedies are rather expensive. Fortunately many of the active acne fighting ingredients are the same in the cheaper alternative solutions. It may be worth it to experiment with the lesser priced creams and zit cleansing solutions in order to cure your acne at a reasonable price.

One aspiring method of alternative acne treatment involves the use of a naturopath. This professional specializes in the use of gentle cleaners made from herbs and vitamins to treat you acne. In fact, they have been known to clear up acne by prescribing a simple treatment plan consisting of regular dosages of Vitamin A, which is what the more expensive Accutane is derived from.

Another very promising method of alternate acne treatment focuses on the use of red and blue ultraviolet rays of light. This regiment of light therapy treatment can be done in the comfort of your own home with a laser that safely emits the required light rays. For a more powerful application you can seek outside help from a trained esthetician who specializes in using a more power light emitter too cure your acne.

The reality is even if traditional means of curing acne don't truly work on your eliminating your unsightly skin blemishes you don't have to despair. There are many different acne fighting alternative treatments that you can easily and safely try out to see which one is right for curing your zits and pimples.

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

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment Costs

2009-03-07T00:49:00.000+07:00

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen, enveloping many of the organs in the abdomen by a thin membrane of mesothelial cells, known as the peritoneum. It is caused due to exposure to asbestos. This tumor as a long lactation period and is often diagnosed 30-50 years after the exposure. Though currently no treatment is available for curing this disease, a timely diagnosis (depending upon the size of the tumor), may in improve the patients? quality of life. In some cases of early diagnosis, the treatments can result in extending the life of victim up to five years, in comparison to the normal lifespan of one year for a peritoneal mesothelioma patient. While the current survival rate for peritoneal mesothelioma patients is low, new peritoneal mesothelioma treatments are in development, and some show great promise. Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and/or surgery are the most common options available today for the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma.

The cost incurred in overall treatment of this tumor is almost the same as the cost involved in the treatment of other tumors. It is difficult to determine exact figures as there is variability in treatment plans, but cancer treatments can cost many thousands of dollars per month. Overall, cancer treatment, including peritoneal mesothelioma treatment, costs over $40 billion in the US each year. For a typical individual, who already has been victimized by this dreadful disease, the treatment costs can prove to very expensive and unaffordable. If you have been diagnosed and are suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma, it is advisable to consult a peritoneal mesothelioma lawyer, who can guide you as to your legal rights and how you can recover compensation from the party responsible for your exposure to asbestos. An expert lawyer can help you recover compensation for bills, lost wages, and punitive damages, which can go up to millions of dollars.

How Magnetic Therapy Can Help You

2009-03-06T21:34:00.001+07:00

Magnetic therapy has been in use for many thousands of years and it is still just as effective as it was when it was in use by ancient civilizations, such as the Ancient Greeks and Romans. This form of therapy has become more popular in recent years due to people's movement towards alternative medicine. This type of therapy is possibly more effective than it was previously since there have been many developments in the field since it was originally discovered.

One of the premium applications of magnetic therapy is magnetic jewelry that performs magnetic therapy while you are wearing it. This form of magnetic therapy can help you in various ways. Each different type of magnetic jewelry will provide you with different benefits, but certain beneficial attributes are common to them all. The potency of the beneficial effects corresponds to the length of time that the magnetic jewelry is worn. Therefore the longer you wear the jewelry, the more beneficial effects you will receive.

The magnetic therapy as provided by the magnetic jewelry will act as a pain relief for two reasons. Firstly, the magnets can help to stimulate the release of endorphins which are the natural pain killers of the body, which also help to stimulate the bodies healing process. The other means by which magnetic therapy can help with pain relief is that it can help to increase the rate of circulation, which can in turn help to flush away the toxins that may be a major cause of pain.

The magnetic therapy can also increase the level of oxygen in the blood stream that gets distributed within the body. This can help to increase your energy levels since the oxygen will be distributed to muscles and tissues. The increased level of oxygen can also help to increase your mental clarity and awareness. You are encouraged to wear your magnetic jewelry while you are sleeping so that you can increase the likelihood of having a long, deep sleep and waking up refreshed in the morning.

Magnetic necklaces can help to relieve pain caused by migraines and headaches, neck, back and shoulder pain as well as potentially relieving the pain caused by muscle spasms and lock jaw. Magnetic bracelets can help to relieve pain associated with, tennis elbow and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, tendonitis and bursitis, as well as helping to relieve the pains caused by arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Magnetic anklets can be of help when it comes to lowering the levels of pain associated with lower back and knee pain, spurs and inflammation in the legs and feet as well as helping to alleviate numbness of the legs. This is addition to the increase of mobility that the areas around the pieces of jewelry will experience. Not only do these pieces of magnetic jewelry give you amazing health benefits, they also look stylishly elegant and the ranges of styles that are available are sufficient to cater for anyone's requirements.

All magnetic jewelry information has been researched and written by Juliette Pickup
Health & Magnetic Jewelry

The Healing Arts: A Firetender's Lesson Part Five Power Used and Abused

2009-03-06T02:17:00.000+07:00

As each year went by, and the family became a bit more splintered, I witnessed much loss of tradition.

At my first Sundance all of the family members worked in unison--as I had witnessed in the Yuwipi Ceremonies--to get the specifics down as they had been passed on to them. Each successive Sundance--as Godfrey was unable to be present and took Unci with him, and then Phillip was killed in a car crash--seemed to have lost so many of the details that I had once thought were essential. Without many voices to guide me in the part that I was called on to play, I found myself learning to focus my intent on others, open my heart, and beckon the Spirit of Woptura to be present, even if I didn't have the words and had lost many of the details of the Sundance itself.

Spirit never ceased to appear at Sundance. It never ceased to affect the people. Regardless of the traditions and subtleties lost. The miracles never stopped. One individual came to dance with infected abscesses on his feet. His foot was turning black, over-the-borderline gangrenous. I lobbied long and hard for him to go to the hospital in Rapid City. He ignored me. He prayed hard and was able to walk by Tree Day, and then went on to complete the Dance, during which time his foot completely healed. I?m talking no scars!

There was something going on there that seemed to go beyond the words, the songs, the nuts and bolts of the rituals; as if just knowing the essence of the Spirit he was calling in was enough. It wasn't that particular Sundance that cured him, it was his intent to dance so that the people may live, strengthened by the intent of the others around him for the same thing.

Not too long after my last Sundance on Pine Ridge, and shortly after Unci blessed my Cannunpa -- a pipe I had taken a year to make myself as I was instructed -- I started doing prayer circles. I was full of myself. Impressed by my own knowledge, there was an element that I soon had to come to terms with that was living inside of me.

I wanted those people involved with me to know and experience how adept I was with what I was taught by the family. I came to recognize that my intent was geared toward making me look good. I began by using some prayers in Lakota that I had learned in the Yuwipi Ceremony. In one of them, I called on Inktomi (Ick-tomi), the Spider. Big mistake!

What followed was four days of what some would call psycho-kinetic phenomena: objects around me would spontaneously break, I experienced raindrops in sealed rooms, fire alarms would go off around me for no reason, even a computer started to spew out messages on its screen that were absolutely hauntingly specific to the people I was with; mean-spirited, isolated sentences dredged out from some deeply buried memory banks that supposedly had been erased by the prior owner. And those were just the outer phenomena!

At the same time, I was completely drunk with a feeling of power. But the cost was astronomical. I felt an uncomfortable presence about me, sometimes trying to get in me and stay. I literally felt hounded by the Spirits, as if the emotions of specific personalities would pass through me. I would suddenly find myself collapsing in abject fear, hilarious laughter, or hopeless tears, knowing full well, it had nothing to do with what I, myself, was experiencing in the moment.

I had crossed over into a lineage of spirits I really knew nothing about. My world had gone berserk. Nothing I had ever experienced in my life remotely resembled this. To be honest, I didn't even believe that such things happened.

I contacted the family, now back at Pine Ridge, and was told that Inktomi was only to be called upon by an experienced Wicasa Wakan (wi-cha-sha wa-con), Holy Man, for its medicine is so strong and unruly that only a person so trained and pure could handle it. It is Inktomi that is called upon during Yuwipi Ceremonies. I was in way over my head.

My only recourse was to return to the Cannunpa, even though I was scared to death of it. I prayed with it for help to undo what I had done. I did so more humbly than I had approached anything in my life. More than anything else, I was in fear that the people with whom I had done ceremony had been harmed. I had no idea what I had unleashed and upon whom.

In the final analysis, I had taken the incredible gifts I was offered by the family casually. For every action there is a reaction, and this white man had taken what was not his out of the context of its caretakers and tried to do with it what they do with it. No, it simply doesn't work that way, and the balance is struck within the context of the traditions that are violated, NOT in terms or experiences that make sense to the interloper.

After four days of parayer, the phenomena ceased. I came to realize that even separate from what I knew, separate from what I understood; there was a distinct Spirit that I called on that manifested in ways I could never have imagined. I had done things in a certain way and certain things had happened!

What I had also done was misuse my intent within the context of a Sacred Ceremony. I laid down my Cannunpa for years, and only picked it up again when I was willing to stake all I am and all I own on use of it for others, not myself.

For more information regarding sacred ceremony, refer to Yuwipi by William K. Powers, University of Nebraska Press, 1982.

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

Cleansing Toxins and Cellulite with Aromatherapy

2009-03-06T01:33:00.000+07:00

As women age, their bodies undergo many changes. Pregnancy, childbirth, and subsequently menopause subject the body to a lifetime of hormonal fluctuations, which affect the mind, body, and emotions. Along with all of these journeys that a woman endures over a lifetime a woman strives to maintain her physical appearance and the youthful figure that she once had as a young girl. Welcome to the battle of the bulge!

In this war zone you will combat the enemies of stress, hormones, junk food, and the effects of aging. However, don't give up! There are many weapons that have been given to you to help you overcome all of these tactics of defeat. Proper diet, exercise, natural herbs that have estrogen like properties, and whole organic foods will help keep your body nourished from the inside out.

There are many over the counter treatments, fad diets, exercise gadgets and prescription drugs that promise to help shed the pounds, tone the body, prevent wrinkles, remove the effects of hormonal imbalance or speed up the production of estrogen, and ultimately turn back the hands of time when the truth is that you don't have to fear growing old and you don't have to throw your youthful figure away either.

By living a life that removes stress, and has a diet full of wholesome rich organic foods, and by using the essential oils of herbs and plants you can treat many of the symptoms that appear before they become settled and evident in your life and appearance.

Aromatherapy is a wonderful weapon to combat stress, fatigue, aging, and it holds many beautifying effects for the skin, hair, and overall health. One of the most important aspects to maintaining your physical beauty and health is to detoxify the body of impurities regularly. Toxins will rob you of your beauty and slow down your body's ability to regenerate itself and maintain its optimum level of health and beauty.

There are many natural herbs that are highly effective in eliminating toxins and poisons from the body. One sign that you may need to cleanse your body, even if you have achieved your desired weight, is by the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is dimpled areas of collections of fat that lay underneath the skin. These spots usually collect around the hips, buttocks, and upper thighs. They have a strong resemblance to cottage cheese and most women would give anything to rid themselves of this look.

Aromatherapy offers many plants and herbs that have excellent results in removing the body of cellulite. Three of the most powerful herbs used to rid toxins and cellulite include Juniper, Grapefruit, and Fennel. A wonderful way to use these herbs is to make massage oil out of the essential oils and adding them to carrier oil. You can massage the oil directly onto the problem areas daily for maximum benefit. It is also recommended to drink a tea or herbal infusion made from these beneficial herbs. If you are new to Aromatherapy, always consult with an Aromatherapist before making edible teas or infusions and remember to always read the labels and safety instructions of essential oils before using them as well.

Additional information as well as other articles about Aromatherapy natural skin care.

Dreams and Depression: Was Sigmund Freud Correct?

2009-03-05T22:35:00.000+07:00

Sigmund Freud was one of the most influential people of the 20th century. He claimed that depression and anxiety are influenced by factors that affect us in childhood, and that interpreting dreams can lead us to the childhood causes. He felt that psychotherapy could make emotionally sick people heathy by getting them to understand that what happens in childhood can cause them to develop depression, anxiety and schizophrenia.

For 50 years, Freud was one of the most revered scientists on earth. Then scientists discovered neurotransmitters, chemicals that pass messages from one nerve to another. They found that people who hallucinate and are not able to think clearly are schizophrenic because their brains make too much dopamine or glutamate; that people are depressed because their brains make too little norepinephrine and serotonin; that people who shake with Parkinson?s disease do so because their brains make too little dopamine; and that people who lose their ability to reason and remember because they suffer from Alzheimer?s disease have too little acetyl choline. So now these diseases are treated with drugs that raise or lower brain levels of neurotransmitters. Drugs, like Mirapex, raise dopamine levels to treat Parkinson?s disease. Drugs such a Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft to raise brain levels of serotonin and treat depression. Modern psychiatrists know that you cannot treat chemical depression, schizophrenia or anxiety just with talking. You treat mental disorders with drugs to correct abnormal brain levels of neurotransmitters.

But wait a minute. Because today psychiatrists treat depression, anxiety and schizophrenia with drugs, doesn't mean that Freud was wrong. Psychiatrists cannot talk people out of mental disease, but new scientific marvels called pet scans, electroencephalograms, MRIs and so forth show why Freud was right. When you go to sleep at night, your eyes are still. After a while, your eyes dart from side to side rapidly. This is called Rapid Eye Movement sleep or REM for short, and during REM you have dreams. If you wake up, you can report your dreams, but if you try to remember your dream a few hours later, you usually can?t. During REM sleep, the part of your brain that governs emotions and visual imagery are activated, while the part of you brain associated with rational thought and reasoning are turned off. So dreams may uninhibit you so you can think about things that may be too painful to think about when you are awake. Or dreams may allow you to discover things about yourself that you would never tell directly to anyone, let alone your doctor.

So, 100 years after Freud published his Interpretation of Dreams, we can see that he may be right because dreams can be a clue to why we feel depressed, anxious and may reason poorly. But psychotherapy, by itself, has not been shown to be an effective treatment for most cases of depression, anxiety or schizophrenia. On the other hand, psychotherapy plus medication is more effective than medication alone to treat anxiety and depression. Psychotherapy can help people cope better with their problems and interpreting dreams can help them understand why they are what they are. Even though many theories proposed by Freud one hundred years ago appear to be wrong, Freud remains one of the most brilliant contributing intellectuals of the 20th century.

Read my Good Food Book FREE, with 100 healthful recipes.

Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at http://www.DrMirkin.com

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Looking For Effective Quit Smoking Aids?

2009-03-05T18:12:00.000+07:00

Are you looking for effective quit smoking aids? If so, you have landed on the right web page. In fact, waste no time in taking your first step towards a smoke free life. Finish reading this article and you will learn some of the most popular stop smoking methods.

So, let us begin with the study of various aspects and effects of smoking and nicotine on our bodies. Learn the ways to fight the habit and quit smoking to lead a healthy life once again.

In the beginning, cigarette cessation is typically difficult for us? So, we often need quit smoking aids to assist quitting smoking cigarettes. That is primarily due to the ?nicotine? in cigarettes. Yes, nicotine is one highly addictive drug because it enters our blood stream. It makes the smoker physically as well as psychologically dependent on cigarettes.

Not to mention, the smoker exhales secondhand smoke, which results in passive smoking of anyone nearby. This makes cigarette smoking dangerous for both the smokers as well as the people around them.

Beyond the full strength prescription drug Zyban, which is commonly used by heavy smokers, is nicotine replacement therapy and stop smoking hypnosis.

NRT: Nicotine Replacement Therapy. It is considered to be one of the most effective means for smokers to reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms. When the smoker decides to quit smoking forever, he/she is provided with small dosages of nicotine in the form of nicotine replacements. These replacements can be taken in the form of nicotine patches (Habitrol, Nicoderm, Nicotrol and Prostep), nicotine gums (Nicorette gum), nicotine inhalers or nicotine nasal sprays. Additionally, if you are in the habit of smoking your first cigarette within 30 minutes of waking up, you should also consider Commit Lozenges.

Most of these NRT medicines are available over-the-counter, but you should see your GP for professional advice prior to deciding on the best quit smoking aids.

Stop Smoking Hypnosis: On the other hand, some prefer stop smoking hypnosis to NRT. In review, a few studies prove that hypnosis techniques are more successful for total cigarette cessation than NRT. That is because they rely heavily on the positive results of quitting smoking and motivating a smoker for the good cause. These techniques are not about controlling the mind of smokers, which is a common myth when addressing stop smoking hypnosis programs.

NRT or Hypnosis? The decision lies with you. Visit a GP and decide which quit smoking aids will work best for you!

Loren Bailey is the webmaster and content advisor for Quit-Smoking-Patch.com and other health related web sites such as BuyBupropionHcl.com.

Ayurvedic Essential Oils for a Healing from Inside

2009-03-05T02:07:00.001+07:00

Ayurveda, the Indian stream of medical sciences, is considered to be gifted to people by God himself. Earlier restricted to the ancient scriptures, the science is now being researched upon to find cures to several ailments that afflict people. Ayurvedic essential oils are the pure essences of several herbs and plants that have been identified with medicinal qualities.

Ayurvedic treatment differs from the conventional cures in the sense that it aims at curing the sick rather than the sickness. It is considered that the person as a whole must be treated if one wants to find a potent cure of the sickness. The ayurvedic essential oils help a lot in healing the person from inside.

The herbs and plants used to prepare ayurvedic essential oils are mostly of Indian origin. The ancient scriptures have a mention of the qualities of each of the herb. Moreover, one can find the method of preparing the ayurvedic essential oils to keep the essence of herb intact.

The natural state of the body is considered at equilibrium. A healthy person enjoys equilibrium, wherein doshas, agni (digestive fire), dhatus (tissues), normal functioning of mala (waste products), cheerful state of atman (soul), sensory organs and mind are working well.

Doshas find a special mention in the ayurvedic studies. There are three types of doshas or faults within the body- vata, pitta, and kapha. When the functioning of these three doshas is impaired, then human body takes up diseases.

Vata is identified with the cosmic element of air and ether, which regulates all types of movements. The person with a vata nature is likely to be ill with diseases of the neurological system, particularly the motor functions. Elderly people are more likely to have vata disorders. For the correction of vata dosha, ayurvedic essential oils will be very helpful. The ayurvedic essential oils used will be moist, calming, and warm to successfully cure the disorder. Some of the important essential oils used to treat vata imbalances are bergamont, orange, sandalwood, turmeric, frankincence, vetivert, camphor oils etc. Essential oils clear blocked passages of the body. They are also beneficial to prevent dryness of skin and loss of water in the body tissues.

Another dosha is of the pitta type. Agni or heat forms the primary constituent of pitta. Maintaining body heat is the primary responsibility of pitta. Hence, Pitta is responsible for metabolic process in the organ and tissue systems, in addition to the cellular metabolism. One can identify persons of the pitta type by their sharpness, prompt action and their intellectual capacity. Diseases of the digestive and metabolic systems largely affect the pitta type people, which is visible more during the middle ages. Ayurvedic essential oils that help in treating pitta disorders must have a cooling effect to let excessive heat out of the body. The essential ayurvedic oil must be essentially dry. The ayurvedic essential oils that best suit this type of imbalances are sandalwood, jasmine, lavender, neroli, tea tree oils.

The last type of dosha is kapha. Kapha is made up of earth and water. The body form and structure, inclusive of fluids, fats, muscles, bones etc. come under kapha. Respiratory system is more prone to kapha imbalances, which results into phlegmatic disorders. Such disorders are mostly visible in the children who may complain of chest pain or problems in breathing. Ayurvedic essential oils help healing these disorders. The essential ayurvedic oils used to treat kapha disorders will be opposite to the ones used in pitta disorders. This is because kapha has cold qualities unlike pitta, which is concerned with heat. Therefore, the ayurvedic oils will be light, warm and dry.

Ayurveda aspire to bring the person back to its normal natural state, by facilitating healing from inside. Ayurvedic essential oils further this object of ayurveda by using the pure essence of herbs and plants.

Bryan Josling is working with the Horticultural Research Station in Adelaide. He has also been involved with research on plants. To find Aromatherapy essential oils, essential massage oils, essential oils wholesale visit http://www.ndaroma.com.

Healing Arts: The Most Revealing Interview of Ram Dass You'll Ever Read

2009-03-04T02:27:00.001+07:00

At wits end about any number of my personal life dysfunctions, one Friday night I decided to go see a video at Maui Booksellers, a tiny little bookstore in Wailuku, on Maui. That night, they were showing a movie called Fierce Grace, a documentary about Ram Dass, an icon of American spirituality for my generation, the Baby-Boomers.

With about 10 people in the store and about a half-hour before show time, the door opens and a wheelchair comes through. In the wheelchair sits Ram Dass himself, followed by just three people who weren?t so much attending to him as being with him.

The owners of the bookstore, obviously honored by his unplanned presence, graciously welcomed him and introduced themselves and then left their guest to their patrons. I wasn?t surprised to see only a couple of people approach him; I barely knew what to do or what I wanted to do.

But what did startle me was the degree of veneration that they bestowed on him. It was as if an other-than-human had entered the room.

Now Ram Dass, to me, has always been one of the most wondrous of human beings. Some people, like The Beatles, for example, are the embodiment of what those of their generation are experiencing. The Beatles put the experience to music, while Ram Dass placed the experience into a spiritual context. And yet, by his words and actions, he stayed completely human in the doing.

In the 1960s, as Richard Alpert, a professor at Harvard, he and his colleague, Timothy Leary, were fired from their positions for experiments with psychedelics that involved students. Whereas Leary went on to greater depths of psychedelia, Alpert went to India where he met his Guru. He came back as Baba Ram Dass (Servant of God).

Since then, as the author of such seminal books as Be Here Now, Grist for the Mill,The Only Dance There Is, Miracle of Love, a collection of reminiscences of his guru, and most recently, ?Still Here? ? which speaks of his spiritual struggles surrounding his 1996 stroke ? and as a peripatetic lecturer, he has embodied perhaps one of the West?s best conceptual bridges to understanding Eastern thought and ways of being.

In the process, continually and more explicitly as time went on, he reported the truth of his experience with an honesty that left him with nowhere to hide. That is exactly the way he wanted it.

So as I noticed others around me exhibiting what I interpreted as deferential behavior, I wondered ? since, after all, most know him only at a distance through mass gatherings ? what is it like to be the center of such reverential focus? And how does he, who spent a good chunk of his life being the one with nothing to hide, handle it?

Naturally, I didn?t ask at that time. But I did want to connect. I was lucky; I happened to have finished assembling a portfolio of my photo images that very morning. So, in a small void between visitors, I sat down next to him and invited him to leaf through the portfolio and pick a picture for himself, if he liked one.

Just so there?s no illusion, clearly, it was a bribe so I?d get to spend time with him.

For about 10 minutes we sat there, small comments passing back and forth; just little curiosities, nothing about nothing, really. He chose an image, I gave it to him, thanked him for his life, and went on to watch the video, glancing over my shoulder now and again to see how he responded to himself.

Actually, that?s not quite accurate. I began by asking permission to show him my work and then babbled on for what had to be a full minute on why I could accept him as Teacher. It was because of a time, pretty much at the peak of his guruship (for want of a better word), that he gathered his key followers together and instructed them to get on with their lives and quit following him because he didn?t know anything.

I was being double the kiss-ass of anyone I observed. I just had a prop, an excuse, and a slightly more open window of time to interpose words. And then, in my illusion, I convinced myself that I was meeting him as an equal.

Once a month there is a gathering of people that centers around Ram Dass at a private location here on Maui. I began going. It includes Kirtan (yoga chants), music, sometimes poetry, a short talk by Ram Dass, and a potluck feast.

Each time I?d go, I?d manage to spend a little time with him. I noticed a few key people who attended to him. They all maintained an attentive distance. I asked if he had anyone to talk to about some of the deeper conflicts surrounding his stroke. Since I had been a paramedic for 12 years, of course I would be just the person to talk with if it ever came up. I made sure he knew that.

He declined.

Another time, I just hovered nearby while he, balancing a plate of food on one leg, braced by his stroked arm within the confines of the wheelchair arms, spoke with one after another of people on line to be with him. This after a good 2? hours of singing and chanting. In my view, he was clearly pretty tired and needed respite and some food, and when the plate was brought to him, I expected the people in the room to give him a bit of a pause while he refreshed. They didn?t.

Since I ?knew? what he needed, I wanted to intervene. But I didn?t. I just watched. What I kept noticing was, there would be a break between people, he?d pick up a fork and begin to eat, and then, someone else would come up. He?d graciously put his fork down, stop eating and converse. This repeated itself time and again.

At one point, noticing that he hadn?t drunk anything, I found his glass of water on the floor out of his reach. In a pause, I picked it up, handed it to him and went back to my position as a sort of silent guardian. He took a few sips, and put the glass down on the empty chair next to him. Sure enough, someone came up, took the glass off the chair, put it down out of reach, sat down on the chair and began talking.

Somehow, I got the idea people didn?t see him for who he is ? a man who had a stroke and by no means had the stamina they assumed. I felt protective. My curiosity and arrogance grew. I was feeling astonished that I seemed to be the only one in the room who was truly looking out for him.

Later on that week, I decided ? using this magazine (Voice of Choices) as a cloak of legitimacy ? I could ask him for an interview. So I put together a couple of samples of the magazine and included the questions I was really curious about:

Are you still pissing people off and are those around you bold enough to challenge you when you do it?

Have you been actively setting new limits and boundaries on how you wish to be treated by others since you?ve been stroked, or is it more in the realm of an acceptance thing for you?

Do you ever feel the loneliness of not being seen for who you really are?

May as well ask, then ? who are you, really?

What is it that people are asking of you today that they weren?t asking of you pre-stroke?

I hand-delivered the package to his home. The next Kirtan, I could not just relax and be myself around him. I had an agenda driving me. Very off balance, I found myself waiting on line to see him, dropping out of it to get centered, getting back on again, and then stepping away when I saw his food come.

A couple of times, after someone moved his glass out of range again, I moved it back to within his reach and then stepped away while he ate. At one point, he motioned me to come over.

I reintroduced myself to him, assuming he might not remember who I was ? falsely ? and without any subtlety or restraint, just blurted out, ?Did you get the package I left you??

He nodded yes, and went back to his food as the room of about 50 people chanted and sang. Being in his presence, finally, I relaxed and just sat with him, silent. Content. After all, I was getting to hang out with a legend of my time.

At first becalmed, it didn?t take me long to get fidgety because I had that agenda going. Right at the point of the music and voices coming to a very enthralling crescendo, when it looked like he was entering another phase of ecstasy, I clumsily leaned over.

I saw I had broken his flow, but, still, he leaned over to meet me. Putting my mouth close to his ear and speaking out loudly, as if he were deaf, I asked, ?Could I have the interview??

At first, he looked up at me with a glint of, not anger, but more like annoyance like at that pesky mosquito. Then, he took in a breath, sat back in his chair and, motioning me to sit back in mine next to him, swept his hand lovingly over the scene of people, hearts and souls a-singing.

Smiling at me, Ram Dass said these words: ?This is it!?

I sat back and settled into the space that I was part of. For what had to have been a full minute, I swear, I just sat there with him, empty. I may have even been breathing.

Then, remembering the business at hand, I leaned over close to his ear, and with much more subtlety in my voice this time, and maybe even a little softer, I asked him: ?Can I quote you on that??

He wrapped his arm around me and, embracing me close and pulsating, he laughed.

It was then that I realized I hadn?t really met Ram Dass,

I had met me. And that, I believe, is his point.

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

Healthy Aromatherapy?

2009-03-03T22:30:00.000+07:00

You know what aromatherapy is, right?

It's the use of essential oils (extracts or essences) from flowers, herbs, and trees to achieve health, vitality and rejuvenation of the body, mind and spirit.

Citrus is a mood enhancer. Lavender has been found to correspond with slower heart rate, lower blood pressure and it helps decrease muscle tension.

But, is inhaling toxic waste good for you?

That's what you're doing if your aromatherapy candles are made of paraffin.

Paraffin is a byproduct of the petroleum industry. Burning paraffin emits high levels of toxic chemicals including acetone and lead benzene, the same as from your vehicle's tail pipe.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that both of those are known human carcinogens. A carcinogen is a cancer-causing substance, in case you weren't sure.

That hardly sounds healthy, does it?

Respiratory illness doesn't feel good.

You know that thick black soot you see in the jar when you burn a paraffin candle in a jar? When you burn paraffin, you're breathing that, too. When there's no jar, guess where it goes? Into the air.

Those microscopic particles - smaller than 2.5 microns - are recognized by the EPA as responsible for aggravating respiratory illnesses.

That hardly sounds healthy either.

Aromatherapy and Soy Are A Natural Fit

Soy candles are made from soybeans which are a renewable resource. Soy wax is a clean burning, non toxic wax that does not produce black soot. It's environmentally friendly and safe for you, your children and pets to breathe.

Inhaling toxic waste isn't aromatherapy. Please only purchase aromatherapy candles if they are made of pure soy wax.

Peter G. Browne
www.Soy-Simple.com

Hypnosis Cd For Faster and Effective Results

2009-03-03T17:55:00.001+07:00

You know it is said that there is a correlation between the energy and effort we put into something and what we get out of it. I am sure that many people can relate to this rule if life.

Although some people seem to find some things easy, and are often called a 'natural' at some skill, most people have to make some effort in order to achieve the results they want.

If you want to achieve a better body, whether that is a slimmer body or a more defined body you might decide to go to a gym to achieve this. You know and accept that you will only achieve your goal if you make the effort. Some people have to put in more effort than others but everyone has to take action to achieve in order to get that slimmer or more defined body.

Now some people will make the effort of attending the gym but unfortunately will then not give the necessary attention and focus to what they are doing when they are there. They may lift a few weights, they may go on the stationary bicycle but then cut down on the number of repetitions they know they should do. They may perform the exercises half-heartedly. They eventually realise that what they are doing is not having any affect on their body and they decide to stop altogether.

So here is an example of how minimal effort will lead to minimal results and disappointment.

The same can be true of using any self hypnosis cd. Although you can relax when listening to your hypnosis cd, there will be suggestions for you to think about the issues you want to resolve. You might call these suggestions 'mental exercises'. Once again the rule of what you put in as far as effort is concerned can equal what you get out of it.

Although you can achieve and release various blocks to your success by just allowing the suggestions to flow over you, it can be a good idea to do more. So listen to your chosen hypnosis cd and for the first few playings of it, let the words wash over you. On subsequent playings of your hypnosis cd decide to participate more.

In other words listen to the suggestions and particularly where you are encouraged to think about past events and how you would like to be in the future and actively do the exercises.

Now with any effective hypnosis cd there will be a number of suggested mental exercises. You don't have to do all of them during one sitting. You can choose to make the effort for different exercises every time you listen to the hypnosis cd. This way you will get the most out of hypnosis.

Remember always that the effort you put in is really going to be proportional to what you get out of anything... including your hypnosis cd.

Steven Harold
Effective Hypnosis Cd

Essential Oils To Ease The Heat

2009-03-02T22:45:00.001+07:00

Summer in Houston?Tis the season for trips to the beach, picnics in the park, and enjoying the great outdoors. There is also a price to be paid for our summertime frolics. Too much fun in the sun can cause sunburn; too many barbecues can upset the stomach; and pesky flying insects abound.

Aromatherapy is the fun and holistic use of plant essential oils to treat and balance the body, mind and spirit. These oils are a natural way to minimize the effects of our Houston summer. A few ways that E/O are helpful are in skin care, cooling off, pesky critters, indigestion and the general malaise of the constant heat. I?ll first introduce you to the oils you can use for some summer complaints. Later in the article I?ll talk about specifics for applying the oils to your body.

Skin Care? Sunburn is a common problem for outdoor enthusiasts. Lavender oil is by far the most versatile essential oil in an aromatherapist?s first aid kit. It is also the best oil to use for any problem with the skin such as burns, irritations or insect bites. It is one of the few oil?s which can be used directly on the skin, or neat. For serious burns you can create a blend of oils by adding to the lavender a few drops of blue chamomile oil for it?s soothing effect (it?s expensive, but well worth the investment). Geranium oil is a cell regenerator and a few drops makes a nice addition to your blend. It is a good idea to hydrate the body first with cool water, and apply the essential oils in a moisturizer. I usually blend my oils together in the palm of my hand, add the moisturizer and smooth over my body. This treatment can be repeated up to four times a day, depending on the seriousness of the burn.

Insect bites and repellent?Mosquitoes are a nuisance through much of the year in our fair city. I find a drop or two of lavender oil on the bite with a gentle caress will ease the itching and discomfort. For flea or chigger bites I add blue chamomile to create a blend and apply neat.

Repelling mosquitoes is more difficult. There are two oils which can be used to ward of the frisky pests?citronella and garlic. The challenge here is not to offend your neighbors. I put 20 drops of citronella oil and 20 drops of emulsifier in a 4 oz spray bottle and add water. Shake well before spraying. This solution has worked well for me in the jungles of Mexico and the Amazon (the natives there are not so finicky about aroma as the natives of Montrose). The garlic solution is more potent. Current research recommends 1% garlic oil as a repellent (this solution also kills 100% of larvae with in 24 hours, even in standing water). Of course you smell like a pizzeria, but the industrial chemical alternatives aren?t much more attractive.

Cooling Off?One of the lovely effects of peppermint oil is its cooling of the skin. A cool bath with a few drops of peppermint oil creates a welcome change to the hot and sticky weather. A word of caution, peppermint oil is stimulating. Applications in the evening may inhibit a good nights rest. That?s why I suggest a few drops in a bath as opposed to the traditional 20 drops of oil per bath.

The constant heat can generate headaches. A simple treatment is to use peppermint oil, either a drop, neat on each temple or in cool compress over the forehead. If using a compress be careful of the eyes as peppermint oil can cause stinging.

Indigestion?All the holiday picnics with their barbecues, sauces, potato chips and homemade ice cream can take their toll on the digestive system. A simple remedy is to put one drop of peppermint oil on the tip of the tongue. The flavor will explode in the mouth. This is the only internal Aromatherapy treatment I recommend. Essential oils are highly concentrated and dangerous for internal use. Please respect the use of these oils. A blend of peppermint, lavender and marjoram oils massaged into the stomach area will alleviate some of the discomforts of over-indulgence.

Summertime Malaise?The oppressive heat can drain our physical strength, agitate tempers or plain just give us those summertime blues. A group of essential oils called the euphoric?s are a great way to beat the heat. These oils work through the limbic system to release endorphins, which generate a sense of well being. I work with grapefruit and bergamot oils (less expensive) as well as rose, jasmine and melissa (these are rare and precious and expensive). When coupled with the water of a bath these oils work to balance the emotions and comfort the soul.

Here are some simple terms for using aromatherapy in your home:

Neat means using the E/O directly on the skin. Many of the oils are too strong for straight applications to the body. Use E/O neat only when directed.

An emulsifier means a solution which allows the E/O to dissolve thoroughly so it can be added to water. A cup of warm, whole milk is a natural emulsifier or they can be purchased at any health-food market. In the bath this ensures that the oils distribute evenly on the surface of the water to envelope your body as you submerge into the tub.

A compress is a cloth soaked in cool or warm water.

A carrier is any oil, lotion or base that is used to blend the E/O?s together.

Here are some simple rules for creating your own home remedies:

I use high quality oils for treatments. These recipes are designed for the potency of this grade of essential oils. I use oils from Source ?Vital and Aroma Vera. Many other brands of oils available in health-food stores and boutiques are of a lesser quality. I suggest you spend the extra money to ensure quality and potency for you E/O blends.

For a massage oil or lotion you can use 20 drops of E/O per 1 oz of carrier. For severe sunburn you can use up to 50 drops of E/O per 1 oz of carrier.

For a bath you can add 20 drops of E/O to an emulsifier.

These simple guidelines can help you to use the most potent form of plant energy we have for treating the human condition. Remember to handle all essential oils with respect and they can, in turn, contribute health, balance and well being to your life. For more information about aromatherapy I use the books Aromatherapy An A?Z, by Patricia Davis and The Aromatherapy Workbook by Marcel Lavabre.

Aromatherapy Blends:

Relaxation:
Lavender--5
Tangerine--10
Blue Chamomile?2
Marjoram?2
Valerian Root?1

Energizing Blend:
Peppermint?4
Rosemary?10
Sage?2
Eucalyptus?2
Basil?2

Euphoric Blend:
Grapefruit?10
Melissa?2
Rose?2
Jasmine?2
Linden Blossom?2
Neroli?2

Sacred Blend:
Frankincense?4
Myrrh?2
Cedarwood Himalayan?10
Patchouli?2
Sandalwood?2

Analgesic Blend:
Melissa?1
Rosemary?8
Eucalyptus?2
Wintergreen?4
Birch?3
Juniper?2

Lymph Drainage:
Sage?2
Cypress?3
Juniper?3
Pine?10
Geranium--2

May the summer treat you with pleasure and gentleness.

Alan Davidson is the co-author of Healing the Heart of the World with Prince Charles, Carolyn Myss, John Gray, and Neal Donald Walsch. Alan, a Registered Massage Therapist since 1988, is the owner and director of Essential Touch Therapies in Houston, Texas. He has a B.S. from University of Houston, Downtown, with an emphasis on psychology, sociology, philosophy, and religion. Alan is fascinated with the intersection of bodywork, psychology, ritual, and spiritual practice. Having taught massage, meditation, yoga, and human transformation since 1990 he is currently on the teaching staff at NiaMoves Studio. Alan wholeheartedly believes, ?Life is for the fun of it!? Alan can be reached at http://www.throughyourbody.com

SAD

2009-03-02T16:47:00.001+07:00

Did you know that the weather could affect people's moods? Most people will understand how sometimes the rain can bring your spirits down, and a warm sunny day can lift them right up again. But for some the effect of the weather can be much more severe.

S.A.D or Seasonal Affective Disorder affects around half a million people in Europe, with numbers rising annually. It is a mood disorder specifically relating to the winter months and some health experts believe this is down to the number of daylight hours being shorter than that of the summer.

Unfortunately sufferers often go undiagnosed for many years and it is not recognised until consecutive bouts of the illness over a period if several winters each with the same or similar symptoms. Recognising these symptoms may help sufferers seek treatment.

Symptoms of S.A.D can be a combination of factors these can include -

Disturbed sleep patterns - sleeping more than usual, finding it hard to wake up or waking early in the morning and being tired early evening.

Anxiety - feeling anxious and unable to cope well under pressure or tolerate stressful situations.

Lethargy - feeling tired and restless, often feeling unable to carry out daily activities.

Mood Changes - sudden lows or highs can occur for some sufferers.

Loss of Libido and Social Disinterest - Physical contact and intimacy can lose interest for sufferers, not wanting any closeness with friends or partner. This can also be seen reflecting in social behavioural changes i.e. not wanting to mix in social circles with friends, loss of interest in going out and interacting with others.

Eating habits - habits can change dramatically from the norm, either over or under eating can become a problem with sudden weight loss or gain.

Treating S.A.D varies for each Health Authority, the complexity of the symptoms and the severity of the disease. Many people ignore the symptoms and do not seek medical advice, whilst some sufferers chose to go for warmer climates during the winter months. Expensive travelling however is not an option for many sufferers and medical help is often needed.

Experts in Mood disorders have shown that one of the most effective ways in which to help relieve the symptoms of SAD is through light therapy, this usually comes in the shape of a box containing a very powerful and specialised light, patients can sit for up to 1-2 hours a day and let the light penetrate their eyes. These light systems can be bought for treatment for use in the home.

However some health authorities do not use light therapy as a treatment for the disease, and other treatments are recommended. Non-sedative anti-depressants can help control moods and help alleviate symptoms whilst for others counselling is a good option. Sufferers do not always require the same treatment and it is therefore always recommended to consult your doctor for a full diagnosis and prescribed the right medication.

If you have concerns or are a sufferer of S.A.D you may find some of the following links of interest.

OUTSIDE IN
http://www.outsidein.co.uk/sadinfo.htm

NOSAD
http://www.nosad.org/

National Mental health Associationhttp://www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/27.cfm

Cerianwen has been writing since before she can remember, she is an author, artist and critic with interests in mental health. As a Bipolar sufferer she leads a group dealing with mental health issues and is currently creating a zine for sufferers, friends, family and those who wish to know more about mental illness and its affects on day to day living. Cerianwen is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

How Can Magnetic Therapy Relieve Sciatica ?

2009-03-02T01:19:00.001+07:00

What is Sciatica?

The longest nerve in your body, the sciatic nerve runs from your pelvis through your hip area and buttocks and down each leg. It divides into the tibial and peroneal nerves at the level of your knees. The sciatic nerve controls many of the muscles in your lower legs and provides feeling to your thighs, legs and feet.

The term sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the path of this nerve, from your back into your buttock and leg. The discomfort can range from mild to incapacitating, and may be accompanied by tingling, numbness or muscle weakness. Rather than a disorder in and of itself sciatica is a symptom of another problem that puts pressure on the nerve.

What are the signs and symptoms of Sciatica?

Pain that radiates from your lower (lumbar) spine to your buttock and down the back of your leg is the hallmark of sciatica. You may feel the discomfort almost anywhere along the nerve pathway, but it's especially likely to follow one of these routes:
?From your lower back to your knee.
?From the mid buttock to the outside of your calf, the top of your foot and into the space between your last two toes.
?From the inside of your calf to your inner ankle and sole.

The pain can vary widely, from a mild ache to a sharp, burning sensation or excruciating discomfort. Sometimes it may feel like a jolt or electric shock. Sciatic pain often starts gradually and intensifies over time. It's likely to be worse when you sit, cough or sneeze. Usually only one lower extremity is affected.

In addition to pain, you may also experience:
?Numbness or muscle weakness along the nerve pathway in your leg or foot. In some cases, you may have pain in one part of your leg and numbness in another.
?Tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling. This occurs most commonly in your toes or part of your foot.
?A loss of bladder or bowel control. This is a sign of cauda equina syndrome, a rare but serious condition that requires emergency care. If you experience either of these symptoms, seek medical help immediately.

Magnetic therapy for sciatica.

Sciatica can resolve by itself but this can take many weeks or even months. You can however quite rapidly reduce the symptoms of sciatica with magnets. As with all magnetic therapy treatments, the magnets have to be placed as close to the area of pain as possible, this will be the lower (lumbar) region of the back. Even though you may have pain down your legs or in your buttocks the cause is still in the lower back. When you treat the back area and the sciatica resolves then the pain running down the leg and buttocks will also dissipate.

There are really only 2 magnetic therapy devices that are effective in treating sciatica:

1.A magnetic therapy back strap or support. The functional straps and supports can be placed directly over the area of pain. If the sciatica is very low in the back then a narrow strap will be more practical and altogether more comfortable than a wide support, as it fits snugly around the hip area and will stay over the compressed nerve. A wider support is effective if the sciatic pain is higher and nearer to the waist area. As with all magnets the straps/supports need to be worn for 24 hours and 7 days a week until the pain has gone.

2.A Magnetic therapy pillow pad. If for any reason what so ever you cannot wear a back belt or support the only alternative is to use a pad placed under your back in bed at night. It can also be used during the day when sitting or lying down (even in the car). You will not have 24 hours 7 day a week exposure to the magnets but if you cannot wear a strap this is an acceptable alternative as long as it is used every might when the body is at its most receptive to magnetic healing.

When magnetic therapy is used in-conjunction with deep penetrating massage and cold/ice therapy, the symptoms of sciatica can be resolved in just a few days. Massage will relax the muscles that have gone into spasm around the trapped nerve, the cold or ice will help reduce the inflammation and heat around the injury and both of these will prepare the tissues and muscles, so that the magnetic field can penetrate more quickly into the damaged area. Massage and ice therapy can be used 3-4 times a day for approximately 10 minutes at a time.

Debbie Shimadry is qualified magnetic therapist and pain nurse specialist. She appears on several BBC radio stations as an expert guest on magnetic therapy and is also the managing director of leading magnetic therapy company worldofmagnets.co.uk. To find out more on how magnetic therapy can help you, visit magnetictherapyfacts.org.

Finding a GayAffirming Psychotherapist

2009-03-01T22:33:00.001+07:00

A lesbian, bisexual, transgendered* or gay man can find themselves in a therapist's office for the same reasons that bring anyone in for help. But it can be difficult for someone in the GLBTG community to find an affirming, supportive therapist.

The position of the American Psychological Association is that homosexuality is NOT a psychological disorder. Research also has shown that psychotherapeutic treatment to change sexual orientation does not work. Nor is it ethical for a professional to approach a GLBTG client with the intention of trying to change their sexual/affectional orientation. That having been said, how do you screen for an appropriate therapist if you are gay?

*The transgendered (or transsexual) client may have special needs in therapy, an important one being to get help in the process of sex reassignment and to have support in the decisions they will make about their gender.

SOME PREDISPOSING FACTORS:

As a prospective therapy client, you can keep these factors in the back of your mind as you are interviewing or screening your therapist. It has been shown that therapists who are the most likely to hold unfavorable attitudes toward the GLBTG client tend to:

1. Have less contact with gay men and Lesbians in their own personal lives;
2. See their colleagues and peers as also having these negative attitudes;
3. Be male;
4. Be more likely to come from rural backgrounds in their adolescence;
5. Be more religious;
6. Be older and less educated;
7. Be more likely to adhere to traditional sex roles;
8. Be less liberal about sex in general or have more guilt or negativity about sex;
9. Be authoritarian in that they see the world in a rigid, black and white fashion.

THE SEARCH: When looking for a GLBTG affirming therapist:

1. Ask your friends for recommendations!
2. Look in any local gay newspapers, newsletters, or directories for therapists;
3. When looking in the yellow pages or mainstream advertising, see if they list GENDER ISSUES, OR ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLES or mention that they are GLBGT supportive;
4. Look on bulletin boards in any Women's Centers, bookstores, or alternative organizations;
5. Call your local GLBTG organizations (e.g., a nearby college) for recommendations;
6. Go on line.

THE PHONE CALL:

When it is time to set up an appointment with a prospective therapist, you may want to ask these questions or make these comments directly:

1. You might ask directly if the therapist is gay friendly. If they are, they will usually know what this means and will respond with a yes;

2. Approaching from another angle, you might ask them about their approach to changing sexual orientation. (Any attempt to present a treatment or therapy here may indicate that the therapist believes you can be cured);

3. You could ask about their professional background and see if they've worked somewhere that might indicate a liberal bias, like a Woman's Shelter, Rape Crisis Center, or AIDS Counseling Center;

4. You could ask about their professional affiliations. The American Psychological Association (APA) has a division focusing on GLBTG issues and so do other professional organizations;

5. If the therapist is asking about your life situation, notice the choices he/she makes in her inquiries. Are you asked about your husband or wife, or does she/he use inclusive words like, partner, significant other, etc;

6. If you are a woman and refer to your partner as she, or he if you are a man, can you notice any bias in the therapists voice or response or subsequent questions;

7. Ask whether he or she has any GLBTC clients, or has worked with this population in the past;

8. Simply tell her that you are gay or transgendered (or are wondering) and are looking for a supportive therapist.

9. Ask the therapist how s/he views Alternative Lifestyles;

10. It is not a good idea to ask the therapist about her own sexual orientation over the phone. Unfortunately, this is a matter of safety....because of the possibility of harrassment, the therapist may not feel comfortable with this.

STARTING THERAPY:

Once you have made your appointment, the screening process is not over. Feel free to discontinue therapy at any time you feel you are being discriminated against in any way. Some things to look for are:

1. Responses that suggest your therapist doesn't want you to be gay. Too much emphasis on your sexual orientation when you do not present it as an issue.

2. Any unfounded feedback about sexual orientation being a result of some type of pathology: distant father, controlling mother, broken home, etc. This sounds like you need to be cured. (And, by the way, there is no evidence to suggest that sexual orientation is the result of any such pathology).

3. Any reference to programs that focus on changing one's sexual orientation. Even if it's...Have you heard of......

4. The liberal response which suggests that lesbians and gay men, bi's and TG's are just like everybody else. As if being a Lesbian, for example, has no meaning.

5. The inadequate response from the therapist in taking a full history, or asking about your relationship, etc. In other words, avoiding the issue.

6. You will pick up on more subtle cues from your therapist. Just trust your instincts and how you feel. Look for things such as surprise when you say you've been in a gay relationship for some duration, or you have had no trauma in your life, or you like being gay.

7. At any point in your therapy, feel free to discuss your concerns with your therapist. If he or she seems open and willing to take a look at his/her biases, you may opt to stay. However, it is crucial that you believe your therapist to be affirming and supportive. Don't hesitate to find somebody who is.

Jennifer J. Sowle, PhD is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is also an AASECT Certified Sex Educator and Sex Therapist. Dr. Sowle has a private psychological practice in Northern Michigan.

Dr. Sowle?s website, http://here-to-listen.com, is an informational site which explores psychological issues like: Depression, Anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Eating Disorders. She also gives information on Relationships, such as conflict resolution, managing family finances, communication techniques, divorce, parenting, and sexuality. She helps in talking to your children about sex and sexual abuse and also addresses stress, anger management, and gay and lesbian issues.

Two regular features: ?Ask Dr. J.? and ?Can This Relationship Be Saved?? change frequently. The Advice Blog keeps you up to date on these changing features and gives a heads up to new information coming up on the site.

Treating Diseases by Color Diet

2009-03-01T19:42:00.001+07:00

A correct and balanced diet is essential during the treatment of diseases through chromotherapy. The patients should take food items with analogous colouring. The various colours contained in different food items are:

Red: Beets, radish, red cabbage, tomatoes, watercress, most red-skinned fruits,red berries and water melon.

Orange: Orange-skinned vegetables and fruits such as carrot, orange, apricot, mango, peach and pappaya.

Violet: Egg plant, berries, black carrot and purple grapes.

Yellow: Lime and lemon, sweet lime, grapes, pumpkin, melon, banana, mango, yellow apple and guava.

Purple: Foods having both blue and violet colouring.

Green: Most of the green vegetables and fruits such as gourds, spinach, plantain, lettuce, pea, green mango, gooseberry, pears, beans, etc.

Blue: Blue plum, blue beans, blue grapes, etc.

Contraindications

There are some important contraindications to colour treatment which should be borne in mind while adopting this mode of cure. For instance, the red colour would be injurious in a naturally inflammatory condition of the system, and in case of persons with feverish and excitable temperament. If the red light is employed for too long and frequently, it may produce dangerous fevers. The danger can be obviated by using the red light for a few minutes at a time or by placing a wet bandage over the head.

Similarly, yellow should not be used when the nerves are very active or irritable. Yellow or orange reddish tones may prove injurious in fevers, acute inflammations, delirium, diarrhoea, neuralgia, palpitation of the heart and any condition of over- excitement.

In cases of paralysis, chronic rheumatism, gout, consumption and in all cold, pale and dormant conditions of the system, blue, indigo and violet may prove too cooling and constricting and should be avoided.

To learn more about the energy principle in healing, please read:

Cost-free Miracle Asthma Cure
Overcome Type I Diabetes and Type II Diabetes Naturally
Alternative Treatments for Incurable Diseases made easy

The Power of Ice

2009-03-01T15:59:00.001+07:00

Using ice to treat injuries is one of the oldest methods of pain control. Proven to be safe and effective at reducing swelling, relieving pain and decreasing muscle spasms, ice therapy is an easy self-care technique that anyone can administer. Every mother knows to put ice on a bruised knee after a soccer game or on a teething toddler?s tender gums. But do you really know how ice works?

Cold therapy, also known as cryotherapy, works on the principle of heat exchange. This occurs when you place a cooler object in direct contact with an object of warmer temperature, such as ice against skin. The cooler object will absorb the heat of the warmer object. Why is this important when it comes to cold therapy?

After an injury, blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells are damaged. The cells around the injury increase their metabolism in an effort to consume more oxygen. When all of the oxygen is used up, the cells die. Also, the damaged blood vessels cannot remove waste. Blood cells and fluid seep into spaces around the muscle, resulting in swelling and bruising. When ice is applied, it lowers the temperature of the damaged tissue through heat exchange and constricts local blood vessels. This slows metabolism and the consumption of oxygen, therefore reducing the rate of cell damage and decreasing fluid build-up. Ice can also numb nerve endings. This stops the transfer of impulses to the brain that register as pain.

Most therapists and doctors advise not to use heat right after an injury, as this will have the opposite effect of ice. Heat increases blood flow and relaxes muscles. It?s good for easing tight muscles, but will only increase the pain and swelling of an injury by accelerating metabolism.

When it comes to cooling devices, different effects will result due to the device?s ability to exchange heat. Crushed ice packs do a better job at cooling the body than chemical or gel packs, because they last longer and are able to draw four times the amount of heat out of tissue. The important difference is that ice packs undergo phase change, allowing them to last longer at an even temperature, creating a more effective treatment. Most chemical or one-time-use packs and gel packs do not undergo phase change. They quickly loose their ability to transfer heat, limiting their effectiveness to reduce swelling. Their short duration of cold is not long enough to produce numbness, also reducing their ability to relieve pain.

Cold therapy should always be used as soon as possible after an injury occurs and continued for the following 48 hours at 15 to 20 minute intervals. Remember ? if you hurt yourself, you need to ice!

This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment or consultation. Always consult with your physician in the event of a serious injury.

About The Author

Louise Roach is the editor of an on-line health and fitness newsletter. She has been instrumental in the research, testing and development of SnowPack, a patented cold therapy that exhibits the same qualities as ice. Her injury prevention and treatment articles have been published on running, walking and fitness websites.

For more information visit: http://www.snowpackusa.com or NewsFlash*SnowPack at: http://home.netcom.com/~newsflash. Louise Roach can be reached at: info@snowpackusa.com

The Benefits of Colon Hydrotherapy

2009-02-27T12:49:00.003+07:00

Underlying almost all diseases and ailments are some form of bowel disorder! All unwell people have bowel problems and all unwell people are tired ... toxic laden. It's like a sewer system; if the system gets blocked, the body remains soaking up its own toxic waste which is only conducive to disease development.

You may have heard of it as colonic irrigation and also as colonic therapy or most commonly, colonics. The use of colon hydrotherapy is to cleanse, stimulate and rejuvenate the digestive system. A healthy colon is essential for optimal health and wellbeing of the entire body. It is also an important addition to a detoxification program.

I've heard of colon hydrotherapy years ago when England's Princess Diana famously embraced it and until recently, I poo-pooed the mere thought (excuse the pun!) But I can now confidently encourage everyone to do it. You may ask why would anyone want - let alone pay - to have this done.

The human body is designed to be a self-cleansing organism. Unfortunately however, the modern lifestyle often makes it difficult for the bowel to perform its natural functions efficiently.

Well, colonic therapists agree that stress combined with a sedentary, modern lifestyle often makes it difficult for the bowel to perform its natural functions efficiently and is responsible for most of what ails us.

In fact, it was just such a lifestyle that prompted me to try colon hydrotherapy. I've been feeling increasingly bloated and my various skin problems were not improving. On top of that, my visits to the throne as my father so quaintly refers to his daily constitutional, has diminished in frequency to where I could barely remember when the last time was!

Gross, I know, but that is just the problem! We're all so puritan with our Victorian upbringings that shamed us all into thinking that normal human body functions were somehow dirty!

I know that the more irregular my bowel movements became, the more I stuck my head in the sand and only heard all the other people who complained about their bowels or rather the lack of any movement. On the other hand, there's my darling husband! As regular as clockwork. I thought he had some form of dysentery - that's how regular he was compared to me!

I bravely made an appointment with a well-known colon hydrotherapist in Brisbane and set off, not knowing quite what to expect.

Before the procedure, I had a long chat with the therapist about my medical history and lifestyle. The usual colon hydrotherapy treatment lasts about 45 minutes. Modesty is preserved at all times. During the treatment itself, you are fully covered, wearing a gown, and a sheet is placed from the waist down to maintain dignity.

In the therapists' own words, it is probably one of the most vulnerable situations most people will find themselves in and she handled it with great sensitivity and no fuss!

Most people need a series of treatments, not just one - three to six colonics are usually recommended to successfully clean six feet of large intestine often referred to as the bowel or colon. In my case I've completed 4 sessions and will now go every change of season. The procedure is assisted by a full abdominal massage, which is done by the therapist using her hands, who by the way, stays at your side throughout the entire procedure.

After each colonic treatment I noticed my skin improving. The huge boil-like acne that I've endured for years, have virtually disappeared and all that remains are scar tissue. My visits are more regular, at least daily and whilst for some that doesn't sound like much, for me it is a whole new world! Provided I drink 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day - and what a hard habit that is to acquire!

I also noticed a flatter stomach and my favorite one of all a clear mind and head. A clean body will promote a clear mind, good thoughts and actions, attracting like-minded people to you.

I chose this therapy to strengthen my immune system and get rid of the increasing heaviness that I experienced. But also because poisons from the colon can weaken and stress the heart, cause skin blemishes, paleness, psoriasis, liver spots, wrinkles and other facial conditions, irritate the lungs and cause foul breath, disturb mental function and cause senility, cause joint pain and stiffness, cause muscle weakness and severe fatigue.

And most of all, it robs you of your youth, ruin your health, and cause you to become old long before your time!

Specific conditions which respond particularly well to colon hydrotherapy are chronic or acute constipation; indigestion; gas; fatigue, especially chronic fatigue syndrome; headaches; depression; stress and nervousness; allergies; lung disorders, including asthma; skin problems, including acne, eczema and psoriasis. Colonics also stimulate the liver, kidneys, and lymphatic system to dump toxins.

If you already feel healthy and are interested in maintaining health and promoting longevity, colon hydrotherapy can help with increasing energy, maintaining proper weight and preventing disease.

Go on, try it!

Lizette le Clus-Fox is an ardent advocate for a holistic approach to health and runs http://www.wellnessthoughts.com and her ezine Wellness Thoughts provides regular in-depth information. To learn more about colon hydrotherapy visit her web site today!

Aromatherapy How Far Does It Go?

2009-02-27T12:49:00.001+07:00

Aromatherapy has been a part of human history for centuries past. It dates back to the Egyptian times when essential oils where extracted from plants by soaking them for a while and then filtering out the oils through a linen bag. Some records have it that the procedure now known as aromatherapy was used by Hippocrates and other historic Egyptian physicians. But it did not become general knowledge until late in the 1920s when the French scientist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse first used the procedure in treating the wounded of World War I. The term 'Aromatherapy' was coined by this scientist. After continuous researching, he discovered that certain essential oils have different healing properties. He went ahead to classify these plant essential oils into groups like antiseptic, stimulating, calming, antitoxic, etc based on their healing properties.

However, aromatherapy has come along way from that starting point. Interest has been increasing in this area of holistic healing with many users claiming that aromatherapy encourages stress relief and self-healing. One, therefore wonders, how does aromatherapy works and how far can it realistically go with self-healing and emotional/mental uplifting.

Basically, with aromatherapy, aroma-rich oils are extracted from specific plants. These oils are mixed with other materials like alcohol, oils, lotions etc to give the desired effects on the body. These formulated oils are then applied to the body by either massaging them into the skin, inhaling though air disbursement or pouring into bath water for a soothing and calming effect on the body.

When massaged to the skin, it is believed that the oils are absorbed into the body through the pores on the skin and then directly into the blood stream. The oils are believed to be lipophilic in nature, making it easy to gain entrance into body cells to exert their healing effects. Oils in the bath water seem to follow this pattern too, except that the effect of the oil water mixture tend to add an extra soothing and relaxing feeling to the body. This would be understood better if you think about what a cool shower does to a tired body on a hot afternoon.

When inhaled, the aroma of the oils is believed to activate cells in the nose, sending sensory signals to the limbic system of the brain. This is the part of the brain that takes care of higher sensory functions like emotion, thinking and intelligence.

This would give you a clue into how aromatherapy works. It is believed by practitioners that it can be used emotionally to invigorate, calm and relieve stress and physically to help treat or alleviate certain conditions by stimulating the body's immune system, the nervous system or the circulatory system.

Although, not much scientific evidence is available to support the claims, aromatherapy practitioners believe that aromatherapy can be applied to a wide array of therapeutic treatments including physical and mental conditions, burns, infections, depression, sleep deprivation and high blood pressure.

The best advice is that, aromatherapy should be seen as an adjunct to the normal body healing system. It should be used to complement the body's immune function, but not as a replacement for professional medical attention especially in people with evident signs and symptoms of a medical condition. Aromatherapy could be well effective in uplifting moods, relieving stress and perhaps invigorating the mind, but the therapeutic powers of these plant oils should probably not be over stretched beyond these limits.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Aromatherapy

Alternative Healing with Cold Lasers

2009-02-27T12:39:00.001+07:00

Have you heard the buzz about using cold lasers for healing countless ailments? Cold lasers are being used by Doctors, Dentists, Acupuncturists, DO?s, Oral Surgeons, Veterinarians, Chiropractors and the list goes on. Treatment with cold laser therapy is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing segments of alternative medicine.

The first cold lasers were used over 30 years ago. In Europe, Asia and Canada cold lasers have been used routinely for about 20 years and yet in America they are relatively new to mainstream medicine. Why is this? Just 3 short years ago the United States FDA started to give clearance to cold lasers for use in specific areas. For example the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), neck and shoulder pain, and other pain treatment applications.

Additional names that are often used interchangeably with cold laser are: low level laser (LLT), photobiostimulation laser, photobiomodulation laser , biostimulating laser, bioregulating laser, soliton laser and soft laser. Until a consensus is reached, the two most important names to remember are cold laser and low level laser, which is often used interchangeably with low level laser therapy (LLLT).

Why is it called a cold laser? A laser that utilizes a diode that is 500 mW or less is called a cold laser because it does not produce enough thermal output to heat the tissue being treated. A variety of cold lasers are available on the market with different power outputs and different wavelengths. Common diode power outputs include: 5 mW, 30 mW, 50 mW, 100 mW, 200 mW and 500 mW. The higher the power output, generally the shorter the treatment.

Is there a difference between a laser and an LED? Yes, it is an important difference, which comes down to coherence and depth of penetration. A cold laser uses coherent, polarized light that is highly focused and columnated, allowing it to travel in a straight line for long distances or to penetrate into the deeper layers of the body. The light from LED?s is monochromatic, non coherent light, which is useful for treatment of superficial tissues such as wounds and skin conditions. In comparative studies, lasers have been shown to be more effective and faster working. Some of the most effective and versatile lasers on the market utilize both laser and LED light output.

Is cold laser therapy scientifically well documented? LLLT will naturally not work on anything, however due to the fact that it treats at a cellular level, it is successful at treating an astounding level of conditions. Some research has failed to demonstrate effect in several indications, however proper treatment is dependant upon numerous factors including dosage, diagnosis, frequency of treatment and treatment technique. More than 2500 research reports are published and more than 100 double-blind positive studies confirm the clinical effect of cold laser therapy. Over 90% of the 370 studies revealed in the limited LLLT dental literature alone verify the clinical value of cold laser therapy.

For a good selection of cold lasers offering a variety of power outputs visit http://quantum-healing-lasers.com and also check out the section on frequently asked questions.

About The Author
Kalon Prensky has been an alternative health practitioner for over 15 years. He is dedicated to teaching alternative modes of healing including modes of preventive medicine, and complimentary medicine. On his website Quantum-Healing-Lasers.com he provides a large selection of cold lasers for home and professional use, along with extensive research studies and information about cold laser applications from pain to smoking cessation.

Mesotherapy Treatment

2009-02-27T00:34:00.001+07:00

Mesotherapy is used to treat several conditions, including cellulite, localized fat deposits, facial and neck wrinkles, acne, hair loss and stretch marks. Injections of various natural or synthetic compounds are introduced with a tiny needle into the mesoderm, or layer of fatty and connective tissue immediately below the skin. Most people are able to tolerate the slight pain felt during an injection. For people with a low pain threshold, injections can be given under local anesthesia.

Mesotherapy is thought to improve the appearance of cellulite, or superficial fat deposits, through several complementary mechanisms. Fat cells are broken down, new fat is prevented from forming, damaged connective tissue that creates the dimpling effect is broken down, and blood circulation is improved. The end result is a smoothening of the skin.

To treat more localized fat deposits, such as love handles, a compound called phosphatidlycholine is commonly injected. This compound is a ?good? fat that is naturally produced by the body. When injected into an area with excess fat, it acts by stimulating the removal of stored fat, and blocking the deposition of newly formed fat.

Mesolifts, or facelifts using Mesotherapy, involve the injection of vitamins below facial and neck skin. These vitamins are thought to stimulate the formation of collagen and elastin, two proteins make skin elastic and firm, and to also improve skin circulation. Similar treatments can be used for other parts of the body where the skin can develop wrinkles or may sag, such as the neck and hands.

The benefits of Mesotherapy include minimal invasiveness and no recovery time. Since very small amounts of drugs or other substances are injected, the potential for side effects may be substantially reduced. However, like any other treatment, Mesotherapy can have side effects. Bruising, allergies and infection are some possible side effects.

New Approach Prevents Skin Cancer Using Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

2009-02-25T00:54:00.001+07:00

Every year there are more new cases of skin cancer than breast, prostate, lung and colon cancers combined. One in 5 Americans will get skin cancer in their lifetime. 90% of skin cancers are caused by excessive sun exposure, yet fewer than 33 percent of adults, adolescents, and children routinely use sun protection.

Cancer prevention and early detection techniques could eliminate up to 100,000 cancer cases and 60,000 US cancer deaths each year. New technologies in the evaluation and treatment of sun damaged skin could have a positive impact on changing these statistics.

The same sunny weather that attracts so many tourists and new residents to the sun-belt also increases the risk of skin cancer. The effects of chronic sun exposure result in superficial sun spots that are visible and also invisible changes that occur under the skin?s surface. Ultraviolet photography and photodynamic therapy (PDT) are two recent developments that should help in the early detection and treatment of both types of pre-cancerous skin lesions.

Early Detection with UV Photography Ultraviolet (UV) photography offers a very useful screening tool to help the skilled physician detect sun damaged skin that may not be visible upon a routine examination. Visual inspection can only detect changes on the skin?s surface, but damage due to sun exposure occurs beneath the outer layer of skin,

The UV camera briefly shines ultraviolet light on the face. UV light is able to penetrate 1.5-2.0 millimeters under the visible dead layer of skin and focus on the actual living portion where sun damage originates. The advantage to the doctor and the patient is that this technology allows for much earlier detection of skin problems before they develop into pre-cancers that are visible on the skins surface. After finishing the treatment plan, the doctor should take another UV photo to verify the treatment efficacy. UV photography also helps evaluate other skin conditions including acne, oil balance, hydration, inflammation, growths, fungi, pH, and thin skin due to reduced collagen which makes it an ideal tool to evaluate all problem skin.

After the damage to the deeper layers of skin, superficial signs of sun damage may eventually appear on the surface. The most common surface lesion is known as actinic keratoses (AK). AKs usually appear as rough or scaly patches. They may also flake, crust, and may temporarily disappear and then return.

An AK is most likely to appear on the face, ears, scalp, neck, backs of the hands and forearms, shoulders, and lips - the parts of the body most often exposed to sunshine. The scaly patch may be light or dark, tan, pink, red, or a combination of these?or the same color as your skin.

It is estimated that 10-20% of untreated AKs will develop into squamous cell cancers. If treated early, almost all AKs can be eliminated without becoming skin cancers. If you have AKs, it indicates that you have sustained sun damage and have a higher risk for developing all types of skin cancer - not just squamous cell carcinoma.

The more keratoses a person has, the greater the chance that one or more may turn into skin cancer. People may also have up to 10 times as many subclinical (invisible) lesions as visible, surface lesions. These invisible lesions were undetectable until the development of the UV camera.

Treatment options The most common treatment options for AKs have traditionally involved topical ointment 5-FU (Effudex), laser resurfacing, or chemical peels. To avoid the prolonged recovery period and possible scarring associated with these techniques, photodynamic therapy has been developed.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is the treatment of choice for the invisible deeper sun damage as well as the visible pre-cancerous AK lesions. PDT involves a two step process that has been proven effective in clinical testing. This treatment cleared 100% of the AKs in 2/3 of the patients after one treatment.

The first step is the application of a topical solution called Levulan. Abnormal cells have a much greater affinity for the solution and absorb it while the healthy cells do not. The solution is left on for an incubation period lasting anywhere from 15 minutes to 18 hours.

The second step of PDT is to apply a concentrated light source to activate the chemical reaction which destroys the abnormal cells. Since the solution is absorbed only in the damaged cells, the healthy cells are not affected. This process can cause a mild burning sensation during the treatment. Usually, this improves immediately after treatment and ends within 24 hours.

Following the treatment, most patients experience mild swelling, redness, and a peeling of the AK lesions and the surrounding tissue. Patients choosing a more aggressive treatment will experience more peeling and/or crusting of the damaged skin that resolves within in one or two weeks. The doctor can easily control the severity of these reactions by limiting the incubation period and the amount of exposure to the light source.

Patients not willing to experience a prolonged recovery time after the procedure may choose a more mild treatment and return to work after a day or two. The tradeoff is that they will require more treatments to achieve the same clinical results.

In addition to eliminating AKs and the subsurface skin damage, PDT has also been effective in improving the appearance of the skin by greatly reducing moderate to severe acne (including cystic acne), reducing color splotches, lessening the fine lines, and decreasing pore size.

Anyone who currently has, has had, or wants to prevent AKs or pre-cancerous skin lesions should be evaluated and treated using UV photography and photodynamic therapy (PDT).? Once a person has been successfully treated using this approach, it is recommended they return for a yearly follow up to prevent future problems.

William Nelson, NMD is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor and a member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. Dr. Nelson specializes in treating problem skin, reducing cellulite, and obesity by combining the latest medical advances with safe, non-invasive natural therapies to improve the looks and the health of his clients. Dr. Nelson is accepting new patients in his Scottsdale. He can be reached at (480) 612-5048. http://www.iclearacne.com

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Should be Used Early in Treatment when Traditional Antidepressants Fail

2009-02-25T00:46:00.001+07:00

Lifetime Prevalence of Depression and the Age-of-Onset Report Distributions of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM) in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication

The paragraph title sounds complicated, but the study conclusions are critical and simple to understand. Lifetime prevalence estimates are as follows: anxiety disorders, 28.8%; mood disorders, 20.8%; impulse-control disorders, 24.8%; substance use disorders, 14.6%; any disorder, 46.4%. Median age of onset is much earlier for anxiety (11 years) and impulse-control (11 years) disorders than for substance use (20 years) and mood (30 years) disorders. Half of all lifetime cases start by age 14 years and three fourths by age 24 years. Later onsets are mostly of comorbid conditions, with estimated lifetime risk of any disorder at age 75 years (50.8%) only slightly higher than observed lifetime prevalence (46.4%).

Lifetime prevalence estimates are higher in recent cohorts than in earlier cohorts and have fairly stable intercohort differences across the life course that vary in substantively plausible ways among sociodemographic subgroups.

Conclusions: About half of Americans will meet the criteria for a DSM-IV disorder sometime in their life, with first onset usually in childhood or adolescence. Interventions aimed at prevention or early treatment need to focus on youth and young adults. The earlier the disease is treated, the better chance for a successful recovery. If traditional antidepressants do not provide adequate relief from depression , vagus nerve stimulation therapy is a powerful yet relatively simple procedure.

Sources: Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (Dr Kessler; Mss Demler and Walters; and Mr Jin); Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Ms Berglund); and Section on Developmental Genetic Epidemiology, National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, Md (Dr Merikangas).

Learn more about vagus nerve stimulation at www.VagusNerveStimulator.com

Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial for vagus nerve stimulation and depression. He testified to the Panel at the Advisory Meeting on June 15th. After 25 years of chronic depression, vagus nerve stimulation completely cured his chronic depression. The author is so grateful and humbled by this remarkable device. Learn more at his website: http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com There is a free newsletter to keep you up-to-date.

Are You Fed Up Of Feeling Exhausted? Use Aromatherapy And Be More Energetic

2009-02-20T22:26:00.001+07:00

With the pace of life today, people are just far too busy. What with working the 9-5 job, keeping up with children's activities, and trying to juggle everything all at once, it is amazing that anyone gets any sleep at all. Lack of sleep is so prevalent, that studies show that over 80 percent of Americans are not getting enough rest. It is essential to get enough sleep each night so that your body is able to to heal itself. Whether your illnesses are physical and affecting your body, or of your mind, and playing havoc with your emotions, or if they are spiritual and holding back your spiritual growth, it is very important that you take the time to rest every night.

Children and teenagers are also not getting adequate sleep every night. Because of the high demands placed on school children these days, finding the time to get the sleep and rest they need is falling down the list of priorities.

Not getting enough sleep is damaging to everyone and its effects on you personally need to be taken seriously. Apart from being grumpy, moody, and agitated, not getting sufficient sleep can lower body functions and bring about sickness. Your immune system may become slow or sluggish and hence its not working at its optimum level, thereby allowing various colds and flu to come and infect the body.

Your performance at work and school also suffer when you're not getting a good amount of sleep. Some studies have shown that inadequate sleep will alter the body's natural hormones and speed up the aging process. Along with those factors, when your body feels tired, you don't often have the energy to exercise. Therefore as your lifestyle becomes more sedentary, and you suffer from lack of sleep, your metabolism eventually slows down and and this causes weight gain.

There are various reasons why people sometimes find it difficult to fall asleep. Some of the reasons include fear, stress, anxiety, too much caffeine, medications, depression or physical pain. When you suffer from any of these conditions, you can often feel trapped in a never-ending cycle. First, you need to go to work or school, yet you don't have the energy to keep awake and focused. If you're not getting the proper rest required then you're not able to function at your optimum level. You spend your days feeling exhausted, just waiting for night to come. Then, when nighttime come, you can't fall asleep, so the cycle continues. Breaking this cycle is essential so that you have sufficient energy to not only get through your day but also to enjoy the things you want to do.

One way of breaking this cycle is to use some aromatherapy oils. You take these to help stimulate your mind and increase your energy levels throughout the day. Initially, you can make your own inhaling oil from Juniper, Peppermint, and Geranium. This herbal formula can be mixed and placed on the end of an inhalant tube. It will stimulate the mind and body by increasing blood flow and promoting self-awareness.

If you want to know more about aromatherapy to help you sleep and have more energy, click over to Sally?s site http://www.guide2aromatherapy.com where you?ll find more information about aromatherapy oil burners

Mesotherapy vs. Cellulite For A Knockout

2009-02-19T10:53:00.001+07:00

In the battle to look good, there?s a cosmetic treatment that is going a few rounds with cellulite and small fatty deposits. Mesotherapy is knocking out fat and rejuvenating skin in people who give it a try. Chances are you?re doing everything that you can to cut away cellulite and small fatty deposits. You?re watching what you eat. You?re using creams and lotions. But, nothing is working, right? Well, that?s because cellulite is the heavy-hitting problem facing men and women alike. It is one of the hardest cosmetic problems to get rid of!

Gweneth Lowe is the mother of two children. She has been in the ring with fat for about five years. She works out in a gym three times a week for an hour. Still, she could not get rid of the fat in her problem area. Her thighs. 10 sessions with mesotherapy has given her the relief she?s been working out for. Lowe says, ?I?ve lost about three inches from my hips. My thighs have shrunk. I?m down to a dress size 6 and loving it!?

Lowe gained her weight and cellulite after having babies. However, doctors believe cellulite and small fatty deposits affects more than 90% of post-puberty women. Wow, I bet you can?t believe it affects so many people! We don?t have any accurate data on the number of men who suffer from it. Men just don?t complain about it as much as women. Cellulite and small fatty deposits are seen as a ?ladies problem.? You can find the extra fat most commonly on the butt, hips, and legs. Overweight people are not the only ones affected by it. Skinny people can have cellulite and small fatty deposits as well.

You?ll definitely know cellulite when you see it. It gives the surface of the skin a lumpy often-dimpled affect. Cellulite forms due to water retention in fat cells. The fat cells are surrounded by tissue. The tissue hardens forming a sclerosis. The result is the cottage cheese appearance on the outward layer of the skin. And fatty deposits form because of genetics. It?s not your fault you have them. Mesotherapy helps to get rid of the fat to sculpt your body where it?s needed.

More and more physicians are putting their money on mesotherapy as a viable means to fight cellulite and excess fat. Mesotherapy has been used in France for years. Dr. Michel Pistor invented it in 1952. However, the treatments popularity is just now coming to the forefront as a safe and effective cosmetic treatment. And it is used in dozens of countries by thousands of trained practitioners.

You may be wondering exactly how does mesotherapy work? It?s quite easy. Let?s look at the procedure.

The treatment sessions take only a few minutes. However, you may need several injections over the course of several weeks. Fortunately, the needle that is used is tiny. Doctors? estimate that four to ten sessions is enough to block your ability to store fat and stimulates your ability to burn it up. The drugs are injected into the middle layer of the skin called the mesoderm. That?s where mesotherapy gets its name.

The drugs work together to break down fat faster than any other method. A licensed practitioner puts medication and vitamins into the middle layer of the skin using microinjections. The medicine helps to reshape the body. A single mesotherapy session can cost as much as $500 because of the amount of drugs that are used. The treatment uses drugs that are commonly used for asthma and high blood pressure.

Vitamins and supplements are also used to knock out the fat. Two drugs in particular are already approved by the FDA for use in other procedures. One of the medications is an asthma drug called aminophylline. A cardiac drug called Isopreteranol is also used on a widespread basis. Here?s two other commonly used medications that are injected into your system. They?re called phosphatidylcholine and sodium deoxycholate..

As I mentioned, you may have to go through at least three to five sessions before you see any results. The number of treatments depends on several factors including, the severity of the condition and the cause of the problem. Mesotherapy helps to improve the body in many ways. It improves blood flow to the area that?s being treated. It dissolves excess fat deposits, removes hardened tissue and improves lymphatic drainage.

Now that you know how mesotherapy works, you?re probably wondering how safe is it? It?s safe according to the doctors and researchers who have trained in it. However some doctors are concerned about the concoction of drugs that are used together to eat away at the cellulite and small fatty deposits. Some say that the Food and Drug Administration should approve all the drugs that are used for use together. So far, they are approved for use apart. And a medical doctor is licensed to use medications as he/she sees fit.

A second concern is what happens to the fatty acids if they are not burned off? Where are they going? The ideal situation is for the fatty acids to burn off. However, a problem could arise if the fatty acids go directly into other tissue. This could lead to damage in the other tissue increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Fortunately, none of these concerns have materialized despite hundreds of millions of treatments done around the globe. No wonder- for people like Gweneth Lowe the benefits far outweigh the concerns. She says, ?I?m just happy to get rid of the excess fat. I eat right. I see my doctor on a regular basis for checkups. I?m happy with the results.? You could be too! Mesotherapy gives you a viable option if you want to get rid of cellulite and small fatty deposits.

About The Author

Dr. Barry Lycka is an internationally known cosmetic dermatologist and surgeon who practices in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada where he has worked from 1989. Recently, Dr. Lycka was chosen as Alberta's Dream Makeover Doctor. For more information you can visit his website at http://www.BarryLyckaMD.com.

Quick Tips to Resolving Depression with Hypnosis Cds

2009-02-19T10:43:00.001+07:00

Depression is often a sign that something is wrong in our lives. This being the case it can also be a call to action, which for one reason or another you are unable or unwilling to take.

Gaining perspective and reducing stress and anxiety can put you in a better and more resourceful state to resolve the problem(s) in your life that previously may have seemed overwhelming.

Managing your life by utilising the following quick tips :-

1) Talk to a friend, family member or other help body about how you feel and the problems in your life.

2) Don't be afraid to let others know that you are finding things difficult at the moment. Keeping matters to yourself only adds to your burden.

3) Tell people how they can help you. Often people will give help but it is not what you really need. Tell them and their offers of assistance will be more appropriate.

4) It is best not to make life-changing decisions such as changing jobs or moving home while you are feeling depressed. If you can, put them off... unless delaying them adds to your depression. Of course for some people moving jobs or home may be the resolution to the depression.

5) If you have any anger, bitterness, resentment or frustration towards anyone, the only person that these emotions are hurting is you. If you can, decide to let them go.

6) Engage others in conversation. Shop assistants, bank clerks, meter readers are all human and it can make their day if you ask how they are and it will also help you.

7) Find some volunteer work to do. It does not have to be much. It can be just helping the elderly neighbour mow their lawn or giving them some plants for their garden. Their happiness and joy at receiving your help will come back to you.

8) Wear brighter clothes. Surround yourself with vibrant colours. Colour has the power to change our moods so use them.

9) Keep a diary of how you have felt each day and particularly write down your successes no matter how minor they might seem to be.

10) Forgive yourself. Don't beat yourself up with negative self talk or put yourself down in front of others. Remember that you are doing the best you can with what you have.

11) Use humour in a positive way. Don't put yourself or others down through humour. Use humour to help and not to be an underhand way to harm.

12) Allow yourself to cry. Give yourself permission to have a good cry. It will release much more than you realise.

13) Draw up a plan of action and cross off each action point as you do it. It will give you a great feeling of getting something and help your motivation.

14) Get into new healthy habits and routines. Decide which days to exercise on or do some other activity and stick to it.

15) Introduce something new into your life. This might be a new hobby or joining an evening class to learn a new skill.

16) When someone praises you or gives you a compliment just say 'thank you'. You will then allow your self esteem to accept a useful boost.

17) Listen to some uplifting music when you want to feel more energetic and choose some relaxing music when you want to unwind.

18) Take a break. Get away from your home even if it is for a few days. You can make an excuse to visit a distant friend if you cannot afford to pay for accommodation.

19) Sing or hum a favourite song of yours. Do it out loud when you are doing some activity.

20) Tidy one part of your home that has been neglected for some time like that draw fill of papers of that cupboard.

21) Pull the curtains back more and clean your windows to allow as much light as possible into your home.

These tips can help you feel better and more in control.

For anything other than mild temporary depression please seek your doctor's advice.

Steven A. Harold
Clinical Hypnotherapist
Resolve Depression with Hypnosis Cds

The Healing Arts: A Firetender's Lesson Part One Surrender and the Sweat Lodge

2009-02-19T10:31:00.001+07:00

Will we see you at Sundance this year?

The words took me by surprise. I had neither anticipated nor sought them out. As I stammered Uh, well, uh...sure in response, I had a rush of fear because I knew that this was not a question or a request, it was a directive. And the directive was not from this man called Godfrey; it was from Spirit.

About a month and a half earlier, in 1990, after a ten-year involvement in various Twelve-Step programs based on Alcoholics Anonymous, I had come to an unusual realization. For the first time in my life, I found myself expressing a desire to have a Teacher that would help facilitate my spiritual path.

I was never one to follow anyone in my life. I knew that following wasn't what it all was about. I had no idea what such a Teacher would look like. I simply longed to be able to sit at the feet of someone of flesh and blood for a change who could perhaps model what a well-rounded relationship with Spirit was, perhaps just talk to me about such things...who knew? The gist of it was that I was tired of having my spirituality so deep inside me that it had no form.

Within two weeks of expressing that intention in my prayers, I was at a local coffee shop and saw a makeshift poster announcing a Cannunpa (Cha-nupa) Ceremony, a ceremony with the Sacred Pipe by a Lakota family, who was in town. With no particular investment, I went to the address, only to find that it was at the home of a friend.

I found myself in a circle with about twenty people, and quietly watched the proceedings. Curious. The family was named Chips; a mother and her three sons, with a couple of assistants. It was all very simple. The eldest brother, Charles, led the ceremony after talking a little bit about their lives on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He said nothing at all astounding or earth-shaking, and I suppose what I appreciated most was that he seemed very aware, and happy to be alive.

He said they were there doing healing ceremonies for the sick, that they had been invited, or sponsored by a local family, with whom they would be staying for a month or so. He spoke of the Yuwipi ceremony where Spirit comes through his younger brother, Godfrey, and directs the people seeking healing. Through Yuwipi, Spirit tells them what they need to do in order to restore their health.

Having been involved in conventional medicine for sixteen years, and having had my own deeply Spiritual experiences with life and death, I was more than curious; I was determined to be a part of what they had to offer. In my typical way, after we had all prayed and shared the Pipe and most of the attendees had left, I lingered and queried as to what it would take to be a part of a ceremony. Of course I thought I might be able to step right in, and of course what I found was that such sacred things are not spectator sports.

After a couple of weeks of maintaining contact with my friends--and, embarrassed as I am about it, lobbying to be a part--I was told that the family would be asked if I could attend an Inipi, better known as a purification or sweat lodge. I was told that there, Godfrey would know my heart and only then would I be invited to get more involved. Or not.

The Twelve Steps had taught me about surrender, and even with all my enthusiasm, I knew that the best I could do was to open myself up completely to what was happening and leave the rest up to powers greater than myself. So that's what I did. After a while I was invited to an Inipi, and then another and another, until I did four nights in a row. My world was rocked.

I went through what felt like the successive stages of a human being's spiritual development. There was little thought during the ceremony itself. In the midst of the ancient songs and drumming and prayers and heat and fear and relief and sweat and pain and expansion, contraction, deaths and rebirths, it felt as if my insides were re-ordered--every part of me. I had been brought from the visceral experience of the first person looking up and perceiving the moon in wonder to the expression of humanity that I was on that fourth day of ceremony in 1990.

Next: Intention in action.

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

The Many Uses and Benefits of Aromatherapy

2009-02-19T01:16:00.001+07:00

If you always wondered what aromatherapy means, all you need to do is look at the name again. It is the treatment of the body and the mind by the use of scents and essential oils derived from plants. And to be specific these plants are known as being aromatic, hence the first part of the name. The second part is self explanatory.

Aromatherapy is very effective in making you feel good mentally and physically by the way it affects your senses. What you see, touch, and feel affects you in your daily life either in a positive, negative or even a neutral way. Aromatherapy slots in as a positive influence as it treats your mind and body through your sense of smell restoring and promoting balance when you need it most. Your sense of feeling is the other part of the senses influenced by aromatherapy as essential oils are also absorbed through your skin during massage or while bathing in water containing essential oils.

So, for example, if you feel stressed, plants like lavender will help you to relax. If you breath the lavender scent it will sooth you. So will the oils when absorbed through the skin either through massage or when you have a bath. If you feel low in energy essences like mint will give you that extra stimulus to make you spring back into action. Again these oils can be breathed in, used during massage or while bathing. They act as stimuli on the brain provoking a reaction in your chemical make up through your sense of smell and through the skin.

Aromatherapy has become the alternative medicine of choice for the busy society we live in. It is a beneficial because the oils and scents are pure and natural. It is an alternative that has been around too long for it to have any kind of side effect that the general population would find harmful. But of course you cannot legislate for substances you might be allergic to even ones that are considered benign.

And it is not only a kind of alternative medicine but is also used quite widely as an alternative for cosmetics and it is a very good replacement because the essences of aromatic plants are completely natural and as discussed not harmful to most people. In fact the benefits of aromatherapy covers not only us humans but animals as well. Essential oils such as niaouli, eucalyptus and tea tree are being credited by dog owners as being effective in combating the common colds of our best friend.

In conclusion aromatherapy has been shown to be a very effective replacement for treatments of the body and mind. It has been practiced from ancient times to cure various ailments and is still to this day very popular to treat these same ailments as well as curing newer ailments of our times like stress and anxiety. It is also widely used as natural beauty treatment alternative. Even cats and dogs like the effects of aromatherapy so it is sure to be here to stay and perhaps you will find it to have even more beneficial uses in the future.

Graham Grant is the editor of Aroma Therapy Best Guide a website totally dedicated to aromatherapy. For more articles and information please find out more at http://aromatherapy-best-guide.info

Wrinkle Therapy

2009-02-17T18:34:00.001+07:00

When we were young, the word wrinkles and fine lines doesn?t seem to cross our mind at all. Because at that time, our skin still have intact collagen framework thus making it remains moisturized and elastic at most of the time. However, as one ages, our skin seems to lose its elasticity and develop more and more fine lines and wrinkles. These happen as the effect of the wear down of our skin collagen support, along with our daily facial expression and environmental exposure.

To treat this aging skin effect, you can go for wrinkle therapy to reduce the wrinkle effect. Wrinkle therapy is actually a treatment for your skin by providing nutrients or vitamins that your skin needs. Some of the examples are botox injection, Collagen injection, applying anti-wrinkle creams and etc.

Botox is actually a highly purified preparation of botulinum toxin A. Commonly used in aesthetic industry for injection, Botox acts by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles and so paralyzing the muscles. It is only injected in a very small amount into certain muscles to reduce the effect of wrinkles.

Besides Botox, you can opt for Collagen injection. Collagen is a formation of protein which forms a network of fibers that provides a framework for the growth of cells and blood vessels. By injecting collagen, you can get plumper and smoother appearance.

Though can provide effective and fast result, you should be cautious on choosing the wrinkle therapies. Make sure that you explain your health condition thoroughly to the physician before undergoing any sort of treatment. This is to make sure that your body would not falsely react to the treatment and cause any unwanted result. Usually, prior to subscribing any wrinkle therapy to you, your doctor will conduct some health screening to find out suitable type of therapy and whether or not your condition allow for such treatment.

Other than Botox and Collagen injection, there are also anti wrinkle cream that offers gradual skin texture improvement. This option is generally more cost effective and widely available in the market. You can easily get them without any doctor prescription. However, anti wrinkle cream is not as effective as botox or collagen injection because they work only on the skin surface and difficult to penetrate to the skin. So, the effect for this treatment may take more of your time.

Jerrick Foo has been researching and developing all dry skin care the purpose of offering men and women safe, dry skin care tips. He have created Dry Skin Care Guide to share his 10 years of combined expertise with you. Visit http://www.dry-skin-care-guide.com for essential skin care tips.

EFT Emotional Freedom Techniques What is It?

2009-02-17T18:14:00.001+07:00

EFT - Emotional Freedom Techniques was developed by Gary Craig. He, attended a course on TFT - Thought Field Therapy (Dr. Roger Callaghan) and wanted to simply what he discovered to make the process as easy as possible to use but without detracting from its effectiveness.

What is EFT?

EFT is a technique which involves the stimulation of various acupuncture points whilst connecting to (thinking or talking about) the issue that the person wants to resolve.

In order to understand the principals beyond EFT it is useful to start off with an understanding of acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been used for thousands of years in China as a method of helping people overcome physical, psychological and emotional problems and issues. The underlying idea of acupuncture is this: -

1) The body has a number meridian lines contained within the body.

2) Along the meridian lines flows energy which is called 'Chi' (pronounced chee)

3) The ends and beginnings and parts in between of each of the meridian lines (acupuncture points) are close enough to the surface of the body for them to be affected by physical manipulation.

4) If a person has an particular issue, an experienced acupuncturist will know which meridian lines will have a blockage in them relevant to the issue, will know the acupuncture points appropriate to use for the resolution of that issue.

5) Acupuncture needles, which are very thin and hollow, can be inserted in appropriate acupuncture points to deliberately help the flow of energy through a particular meridian line.

6) With the blockage in the flow of Chi gone the issue goes or improves as well.

Now acupressure is the manipulation of those same acupuncture points on the body but instead of using acupuncture needles, the fingers and thumbs are used instead. Forms of acupressure that you might have experienced before are reflexology or shiatsu.

With EFT, instead of using needles or pressure on the acupuncture points, a series of light tapping with the fingers is used. The tapping can be done by the person with the issue for themselves or a practitioner can do the tapping for them.

Now at the same time the person is asked to repeat a sentence which describes the issue. The idea behind this is that the person stays connected to the issue (by repeating the description of the problem). At the end of one round of tapping on various acupuncture points, the strength of the issue is checked with the person. Of the issue is still present more rounds of EFT (tapping) will be used.

One round of EFT takes only around 60-90 seconds and the majority of people who have experienced EFT report a decrease in the strength of the issue.

With EFT being a process that anyone can use on themselves, it can be a very useful tool to help anyone deal with any issue whether physical, psychological or emotional.

The great news about EFT is that you do not have to have your belief system involved. You do not have to believe in EFT for it to be effective. All you do need is maybe a sense of curiosity and willingness to do it. As the rewards are high, the loss of that old issue, thousands of people have become regular EFT users and there are many EFT practitioners in the UK and worldwide now available to help people quickly.

Steven Harold
EFT Practitioner London

Why Too Much Sleep Can be a Form of Insomnia (yes really!)

2009-02-15T16:52:00.001+07:00

Have you ever had the experience of sleeping for over eight hours and feeling tired and lethargic the next day? In fact it?s just as bad as not having enough sleep isn?t it?

So what happened?

You?ve had too much sleep. More exactly most of that sleep was probably light sleep. Yes you were asleep for a long time but the quality of your sleep was lacking. The deep sleep stage 4 which restores and revitalizes your body was absent.

The body tries to achieve the rest it needs. If it can?t find it in eight hours sleep, it will try for longer (if it?s allowed to) If your sleep system is damaged, you will cycle between REM and the lighter stages of sleep, missing out on the deeper stages. This is one of the least understood aspects of insomnia.

Most people think of insomnia as not being able to fall asleep, or not being able to stay asleep and that?s quite true. But the inability to have quality sleep is just as debilitating. More so because it goes unrecognised.

So how can we make sure the sleep we do get is quality sleep?

We have to ?reset? our body clock (circadian rhythm) If this is out of sync, we will continue to struggle through the day.

Stress releases various hormones which can negatively impact on our sleep. Practice relaxation and your sleep quality will improve.

Another important way to reset the circadian rhythm is to ensure we go to bed at the same time each night. This can be nearly impossible for shift workers and this is why many shift workers have such poor quality sleep.

Bright Light Therapy (also called phototherapy). This can also help shift workers. It?s very important for our eyes to absorb enough light when we wake up. Bright light therapy can replace natural sunlight for those doing shift work, or for those that live in countries with extremely short days in the winter.

Bright light boxes can emit very bright light which causes the melatonin in the body to fall, thus making us feel wide awake and full of energy. It may be worth investing in one of these if you have to start your ?day? in the middle of the night or even on dark overcast mornings.

Having enough light in the mornings also elevates our core body temperature and even our moods. If you?re lucky enough to live in a sunny climate, make sure you take advantage of this.

Too much sleep as well as being potentially unhealthy is a big time waster. Improve the quality of your sleep to sleep better and have more time to yourself during the day.

Are you sleeping too much but still feeling tired? You need quality sleep, not more sleep. Visit http://www.insomnia-connection.com/too-much-sleep.html your resource for good sleep advice and articles. Sign on for our newsletter and receive 2 books absolutely free! Wendy Owen is a health researcher and author.

Massage Therapy for Senior Citizens

2009-02-14T00:54:00.001+07:00

Massage therapy can offer senior citizens a number of benefits that will greatly improve their sense of health and wellbeing. As the population continues to age, it is important to consider ways that we can work to improve the lives of those affected by the passing of time. A number of studies have shown that massage therapy can have a direct impact in managing the effects of aging. It has also shown promise in bringing comfort to those suffering from arthritis and other physical ailments.

As people age, they naturally become less active. This lack of physical activity can lead to the onset of other conditions which, if not dealt with, can greatly reduce their quality of life. The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) has been promoting the use of massage therapy for some time now. According to a recent study, there is a general awareness of massage therapy but a lack of understanding of its direct benefits.

In the case of senior citizens, there are a number of benefits that be derived from therapeutic massage. According to the Touch Research Institute, it is extremely useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's patients, as it can facilitate relaxation and communication. In the case of arthritis sufferers, it can greatly assist in pain management and help increase range of motion. It also triggers natural joint lubrication, which is extremely important for those suffering from arthritis.

Massage therapy has also shown promise by helping to increase strength and muscle coordination. It can also greatly improve one's posture by reducing muscle tension, which has the added benefit of assisting seniors with a higher quality of rest. Massage has also been known to boost one's natural energy levels, along with their mental awareness. Study after study has shown that there is a place for massage therapy within the health care community.

More and more people are becoming aware of the benefits of massage therapy. In an age where the common approach to pain management has been dominated by the interests of the pharmaceutical industry, massage therapy has shown to be an effective and natural solution to the ailments associated with process of aging. If you or a loved one are interested in learning more about the benefits of therapeutic massage, please visit the website mentioned below.

Stephanie Macintosh is a certified massage therapist based in Portland. When she is not busy with her growing practice, she writes for massagetherapy101.com ? an insightful website with information about the benefits of Massage Therapy, Massage Techniques, Massage Equipment and more.

Tired? Cold Hands and Feet? Do Contrast Hydrotherapy in Your Shower

2009-02-12T03:43:00.001+07:00

Waking up tired and expecting to be revived in minutes does not seem realistic; especially for those who aren't addicted to the most common drug: caffeine.

Want to wake up without caffeine? Or just wake up in general?

Take a Contrast Shower. That will do it. Not only will it wake you up, but it will wake others in the house as you let out a wail once the cold water hits you.

It's not that bad.

How did I stumble across this crazy natural treatment for fatigue and lethary? It was prescribed to me by my naturopathic medical doctor years ago. I did it and it worked amazingly.

Who cannot take a contrast shower? If you are asthmatic, have active autoimmune disease, inflammation, cardiovascular issues, pregnant, temperature insensitive, weak feeling or otherwise do not feel that you should, do not take a contrast shower. Seek the advice of your physician if you have any questions about the safety of this procedure.

How does one take a contrast shower:

Drag out of bed
Get into the shower and turn the water as hot as you like. Hotter the better as the blood flow is stronger - obviously don't burn yourself. Hot water for about 3 minutes.
You may wash during this time - may as well as you're likely late to work.
At the 3 minute mark, I turn the water up higher for a brief moment until I'm just begging for a cool down. Then turn the nob.
Turn the shower all the way to cold for 30 seconds
Then turn it back to as hot as you can for another 3 minutes.
Then repeat cold for 30 seconds
Then hot for 3 minutes
Then end with cold for 30 seconds.
Basically 3 sets of 3 minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

That's it! You're done! How do you think it sounds? You going to do it?!

Let me say a bit more.

When you get really hot water on you for 3 minutes, you do crave cold. I recommend that you have something colorful in the shower to stare at while you're getting blasted with cold water. Reminds me of the tropics. Or close your eyes while in the cold water part and imagine you're walking down the beach gazing at palm trees.

An easy way to ease into the cold part is to only put your head into the water. Once your head has adjusted, let the water go down your back. Ease into it. You'll get it.

When you finish with cold for the last time, you end up extremely hot and sweating. This is a good sign that you did the procedure correctly. Why do you sweat? Your body does not want you cold. When ending with cold for 30 seconds, your surface temperature gets cold because the blood rushes away. As soon as you stop the cold, your blood comes screaming back in to warm you. This sudden rush of blood makes you hot.

The trick is not keeping the cold on for too long and making sure you have the hot water on long enough. If you have the cold water on for say 1 minute and hot water on for 1 minute, you're going to be cold. So make sure you do the 3 sets of 3 minutes hot and 30 seconds cold.

If you want, do what I do - just do one set. I don't have time every day for a 10 minute procedure so I cut it short. I still feel super charged afterwards.

Enjoy it! It really does make you feel refreshed, full of energy and hot as heck after you are done.

I'll get into the mechanics of hot cold showers and also why they are beneficial - besides just feeling good afterwards.

An important note that needs to be addressed is what hot water does to chlorine. Chlorine is a gas and when hot becomes very volatile. Chlorine is a lung-irritant and destroys proteins. Proteins are everywhere - your hair, eyes, skin, inside you. I say inside you as one typical shower in chlorinated water is equivalent to drinking 8 cups of chlorinated water. If you are asthmatic, have acne, winter skin, dry eyes, dandruff, eczema or other skin conditions, I highly recommend getting a shower chlorine filter.

Questions, ask the med student!

In health,

Ben

Benjamin Lynch has a BS degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington. Currently, he is obtaining his doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University. Visit Ben's natural health product store, HealthE Goods where one can use our free health information service where one may ask specific health questions. We provide physician-grade non-prescription natural health products. Wholesale spa products are available to all that qualify. Do visit our Healthy Lifestyle and Wellness Blog. We are here to help serve the public with proper health information and effective products. Products described in the article are available at HealthE Goods.

The Depression Diet ? Feel Better Naturally Without Gaining Weight!

2009-02-12T00:18:00.001+07:00

Depression is a serious illness that affects millions of Americans. Although many patients must manage their depression with medication and therapy, a good percentage of individuals with mild and moderate depression can successfully manage their symptoms with diet and exercise. This does not mean that their depression is ?imaginary?. It just means that some individuals can manage their depression naturally, without the unpleasant side-effects of anti-depressant drugs. If you have depressive symptoms, check with your doctor and then try the depression diet and see if it lightens your mood!

The Depression Diet

Step 1

See your doctor first! I cannot stress this enough. Many serious medical conditions cause serious depressive symptoms. Here are some common illnesses that cause depression in many individuals. If you have an underlying medical disorder, like diabetes, it is imperative that you alert your doctor, so he/she can manage both illnesses together.

This is not an exhaustive list. A medical evaluation is always an important part of your diagnosis. Ask for a complete blood panel and a thyroid test. People with chronic disease have a much higher risk of developing depressive symptoms, so it is important to rule out other physical disease. Many medications have depressive side effects. Birth control pills, sleeping pills, and high blood pressure medication have all been shown to cause depression in some individuals. Alcohol, tobacco, and recreational drug use can also generate depressive symptoms.

? Thyroid disorders
? Epilepsy
? Diabetes
? Multiple sclerosis
? Stroke or Brain trauma
? Lyme disease
? Syphilis
? Huntington's disease
? Parkinson's disease
? Cancer of the pancreas
? Chemical Exposure
? Physical Trauma
? Childbirth/Pregnancy (post-partum depression)

Step 2

Start taking depression-targeted vitamins. Take a multi-vitamin every day, and invest in a good B-vitamin supplement. B vitamins have been clinically proven to help alleviate mild depressive symptoms, and those who are B vitamin deficient often show symptoms of depression as a side effect. Vitamin B9 (folic acid) may be the most important of all these vitamins. Up to 38% of people with depression have low folate levels and those with very low levels are usually the most depressed. Clinical research has shown that depressed individulas are usually deficient in nutrients essential for general health. Some good natural supplements for depression include:

?St John?s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herbal supplement that has shown great promise in relieving depression. European studies have shown success with anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and nerve pain. This herb is widely prescribed in Europe, and is available as a dietary supplement in the United States. St John?s Wort can interfere with the action of some prescription medications, so check with your doctor before taking this supplement. ?Omega-3 fatty acids, are naturally present in fish, nuts, whole grains, beans and other seeds. They are also readily available in supplement form. These fatty acids play a crucial role in the function of serotonin and dopamine, two of the most important ?mood? chemicals in the brain.

?Vitamin C has been shown to help the body metabolize other nutrients essential for boosting immune function and fighting depression. It has also been shown to alleviate the dry mouth associated with prescription anti-depression medication.!

?All B vitamins, including folic acid, are absolutely essential for the treatment and management of depression. Eat your leafy greens, and take a B supplement!

Step 3

Switch to depression-fighting foods, avoid caffeine, sweets, and all white flour. All of these boost insulin blood levels, and caffeine suppresses serotonin; an essential brain chemical for the treatment of depression. Do not purchase ice cream, cakes, or other sugary treats. If you have to force yourself to go out and get them, you?ll eat these ?bad? foods less often. Here are some foods that can help you fight depression and feel better!

?Eat protein three times a day (sausage, eggs, chicken, tofu, beef, cheese, lamb, cottage cheese, nuts)

?Eat only complex carbohydrates and fruit (beans, fruits, vegetables, whole wheat bread)

?Drink lots and LOTS of water! This seems like the easiest thing to do, but so few Americans get enough water every day. If you drink soda, coffee, and other diuretics, you must increase your water intake. Even mild dehydration can cause fatigue, depression, irritability, and muscle pain.

Step 4

Exercise! Simple exercise, even just walking outside 30 minutes a day, has been shown to have a tremendous impact on depressive symptoms. Some people can manage mild and moderate depression with exercise and diet alone. Syd Baumel, the author of ?Dealing With Depression Naturally?, has said that, ?Basically? being physically active and being depressed are very largely mutually incompatible.?

In 2005, the journal of Biological Psychiatry published a study that showed certain foods and supplements treat depression even better than some prescription medications. Even if you are already on prescription medication, healthy eating and adding anti-depression supplements may greatly enhance your mood, and help stabilize mood swings and depression.

Sources: The Mayo Clinic, The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, News Target

Christine P Silva, BA, CRTP, lives in California with her husband, two children, and three spoiled cats. She earned her undergraduate degree from San Jose State University, and her advanced accounting certificate and California tax registration from Cosumnes River College. She is the founder of the Sacramento Volunteer Tax Preparation Clinic, a free service offering tax assistance to low income and Spanish-speaking taxpayers.

Massages: The Magic Touch

2009-02-12T00:11:00.001+07:00

Millions all over the world have benefited in one way, shape, or form from massage therapy. Isn't high time that you jump on the band wagon? Massages provide more than just a relaxing session to soothe your muscles and relax your soles, but to provide healthful benefits as well such as improved circulation, etc.

Men and women alike use massage services regularly because they find it improves their overall happiness and adds that extra bounce in their step when they are at work or in their personal lives. There is something very powerful about the human touch. And when it's a trained touch, the effects are that much more startling.

When going to a massage parlor make sure that you give it some forethought. Try and list some of the things that you enjoy about a massage such as which parts of your body you enjoy a massage at, and also what pressures you enjoy as well. Some people enjoy a more firm massage in certain parts of their body, while others are inclined towards softer, more feathery touches.

Try and get references for some good massage therapists through your professional and personal network. Ask them to describe their experience and see if they recommend anyone in particular. You could always walk into a massage place and take any random person, or you can ask by name if you are familiar with anyone either through personal contact or by reputation.

Homedics massager pertinent offerings and value-added services are available at my site.

http://www.massagetherapistshop.com

Aromatherapy Skin Care

2009-02-11T00:32:00.001+07:00

When there is easy way to do your aromatherapy skin care at home, why do you have to do it outside your house. You can save money and you can treat your skin properly. You will look fresh and your skin will be healthy although you do it at home.

The important message is that you must not careless with your skin. Although you feel you have complexion and glowing skin, you must understand that?s not forever. You still need to care your skin in order to be healthy because the longer you allow your skin to go without caring, the longer it will get damage. Well, aromatherapy skin care is a good choice.

Why do skins get damage? There are different causes, but generally your skin gets damaged because of allergic, make-up you wear and the sun exposure you endure or maybe stress. In order to control your skin, better you do your aromatherapy skin care since early age so your skin will last you a very long time.

You can do it at home using your aromatherapy skin care or other natural stuffs. Without leaving the comfort of your own home you can relax your body and mind, and also makes your skin better and healthy. Let go of stress. Stress can show up on your face, no matter how well you take care of your skin. Escape from everyday stress with these great home spa ideas that promise to rejuvenate, and renew your natural beauty.

Okay, here are a few tips of aromatherapy skin care that you might want to try at home:

- Use herbs or essential oils for a scent-sational soak in the tub that will melt away your worries and get you ready for your day of pampering.

- Use skin softener and lubricant of sweet almond oil for massage or otherwise applied to the skin. It contains vitamins A, B1, B2 and B6 and some vitamin.

- Steam your face before you do treatment to your facial skin by just standing in the shower for an extra minute or two. This will help to open your pores and improve the effectiveness of your chosen facial treatment.

- Cleanse your face to remove bacteria with aromatherapy skin care that give you natural herbal scent.

- After you are ready, put masker on your face. There is one great fruit masker for all skin types, the papaya facial. You can just mash up a fresh papaya and sieve into a bowl. Pat onto clean skin, leaving on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse with warm water, followed by cold water to close pores.

- To relieve puffiness, reduce fine lines and revitalize the sensitive skin around the eyes, you are suggested to use cold compresses. Anything cool will work well.

Everything is so easy. You can do all your aromatherapy for your skin care just from your house. This will be more convenience since you can order your aromatherapy stuff from the Internet. Life has spoilt you, isn?t it?

About The Author: Martha Carles knows aromatherapy very well. She has helped people with aromatherapy. You can visit her Website: MyAromatherapyGuide.com at http://www.myaromatherapyguide.com

Cerebral Palsy Causes Types and Treatment

2009-02-03T21:12:00.001+07:00

?Cerebral? is medical terminology for the brain. ?Palsy? means a disorder of movement or posture. So in simple terms, Cerebral Palsy (CP) describes a group of conditions where movement and posture are affected as a result of damage to one or more areas of the brain. Cerebral palsy is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination.

Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may also be present although every person with CP is affected in a different way:

Balance and coordination problems
Difficulty controlling and maintaining posture (help required to sit upright)
Epilepsy ? Up to one in three children with CP also have epilepsy.
Difficulty eating and drinking (swallowing) and talking
Learning difficulties

Cerebral Palsy is the most common childhood physical disability. Around one in every 400 children born in developed countries has CP. In the United States, it is estimated that some 764,000 children and adults exhibit one or more of the symptoms of Cerebral Palsy. Around 8,000 babies and infants are newly diagnosed with the condition each year. Despite medical advances, incidence has not declined over the last 60 years.

Often the exact cause of a child developing Cerebral Palsy is not known, but contributing factors can include infections such as meningitis, bleeding into the brain, pressure or blows to the head and lack of oxygen. These may have occurred before, during or after birth and the severity of the cause will affect the severity of the damage caused to the brain. For example, each minute that a baby is deprived of oxygen during a difficult delivery will increase the extent of brain damage caused.

Cerebral Palsy is classified into three main types; Spastic, Athetoid and Ataxic. Those with Spastic CP have muscles that are weak, tight or stiff making it difficult for the person to make controlled movements. Those with stiff or tight muscles will find it difficult to fully extend arms and legs, while those with weak muscles may be unable to stand unaided. Spastic Cerebral Palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all cerebral palsy cases.

Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is caused by damage to the cerebellum or basal ganglia. These two areas of the brain work in opposition to create smooth, coordinated movements as well as maintaining body posture. Damage to one or both of these areas creates an imbalance that may cause a child to develop involuntary, uncoordinated movements, especially in the face, arms, and trunk. Secondary problems with eating, speaking, picking up objects may also result from the imbalance. Approximately 10% of those with Cerebral Palsy are Athetoid.

Ataxic Cerebral Palsy is characterised by low muscle tone and poor coordination of movements. Ataxic children look very unsteady and shaky and have a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception. This is particularly apparent when walking which is unsteady and can resemble an intoxicated adult. Ataxic children can also suffer from shaky hands which make it difficult to hold a pencil and write.

Although Cerebral Palsy is not progressive (the brain damage does not get worse) and there is no cure (brain damage can not be repaired), tight, stiff or weak muscles will become increasingly so as the child gets older without therapy or treatment and in severe cases surgery. As a result, the child will inevitably become more dependant on their parent or carer and less able to lead any sort of independent life. Appropriate and regular therapy provided from an early age can significantly improve mobility and coordination abilities, independence and quality of life.

Sally Aspinall is founder and director of the Cerebral Palsy Physiotherapy Centre, the only centre of its kind in the UK providing therapy and treatment to cerebral palsy and brain injured children and adults from around the world. Sally can be contacted via the CPPC website or email sallyaspinall@cppcltd.co.uk

The Healing Arts: Exploring HeartConsciousness Part 6 Discover With Others

2009-02-03T13:01:00.001+07:00

Understanding the concept of filters can have a considerable affect on not only how you see your life, but also how you experience it at any one time. We have much more control over our reality than we usually give ourselves credit.

Try this. With others, go to a relatively quiet spot, in nature. Separate and find an isolated spot for yourself. Get comfortable and allow yourself to take in your environment. Experience sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Just breathe it all in. Notice how many different sensations compete for your attention.

Spend some time focusing on just one sense at a time. Pick a spot rich in variety. Start by scanning it, and then focus in on a particular piece. Zero-in on the tiniest part of what you?re observing. Practice doing this with a number of sights, shifting from wide-shot to close-up and extreme close-up. See just how selective and precise you can be? Do something similar with each of your senses.

Now, take in a few slow, deep breaths and shift your attention to your heart. Breathe in to it for a minute or so. Then, go back to the spot you were just focusing on. Through the filter of the consciousness of your heart this time, begin exploring what you had explored earlier.

Just taking the time away from everyday reality opens up so much more of you on its own. Slowing down works its own magic. But when you set your intention on ?seeing through the eyes of your heart,? a subtly richer world opens up to you as you learn to become more adept at recognizing and staying with that center. It may take a number of times to get the hang of it.

Oddly enough, I find myself beginning a session on heart-consciousness by offering an intellectual, head-centered start that acts as a bridge to the concept which acts as a bridge to the experience. This is what I am doing with this series ? going back and forth from the intellectual to experiential. On the plus side, as I mentioned before, it?s more a matter of placing someone in the position of remembering something that lives inside them rather than starting from scratch.

For me to ?teach? heart-centered consciousness, in person, however, it is best if I am there myself. The second I do make the choice to shift my consciousness, something interesting happens; I tend to shut up. It?s not that I don?t have the words, it?s that I don?t feel the drive to express them. Even in this moment, as I type I feel resistant to having to intellectualize and articulate what is essentially my present state of being.

After seemingly interminable times sitting at the edge of the prairie in silence with the Lakota, I would begin to feel ?attuned? to the person I was with in a connected way that did not require conversation. In so many ways, we just sat together experiencing the same thing (more on this kind of synchronization later). I would ?absorb? the concept by being near it.

That brings into play the power of exploring heart-consciousness with others. The more time I spent with the Lakota, the more present I became in the moment, and it had nothing to do with what I was taught. It is, conceptually, similar to the spark of life being passed from mother to offspring. In the presence of someone in this mode of consciousness, it becomes easier to access.

The Dalai Lama is a great example. In all the films I?ve seen of him, there are lines of people just waiting to be in his presence. He looks into each person?s eyes, connects, and without saying anything of any substance, is just there with the person, and then the next and then the next. He laughs a lot. They cry a lot. I fantasize that the laughter is about the irony of people traveling so far to be with him to encounter something that has always lived inside them!

Now that you?ve had a solitary experience of heart-consciousness, get together with one of the people with whom you have gone into nature. Go to a different spot. Sitting back to back, or within just a few feet of each other, repeat the sensory exercise that you just did solo. Do this silently for about fifteen minutes. Then, face each other and share your experiences.

You will find what you will find, and it?s not my role to lead you on, but let?s just say you will be getting a taste of how people in connection with their hearts come into better connection with themselves, and together more quickly can become in better connection with all things.

Our next installment will expand on the concepts of working with others.

(Permission is granted to reprint this article, unedited, provided proper attribution is made and the signature line -- the above resource paragraph -- is kept intact)

The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care

2009-02-03T07:26:00.001+07:00

There are many benefits of chiropractic care. If you are considering seeking out this type of treatment, there are many reasons why it can and should be done. Those that find themselves with problems with their body often do not realize that chiropractic care can often relieve these problems when other medicinal options will not. Often times, it is necessary to seek out the help of a chiropractor if relief will be found.

What Can They Do For Me?

There are many physical benefits to chiropractic care. Here are just a few of the things that can be made better in your life through chiropractic care.

? Decreased arthritis and pain in joints that have arthritis.
? Pain relief from all areas of the body, virtually.
? Reduction of pain in the back, legs, feet and knees through the relief of spinal pressure
? Less stiffness in the areas that are treated
? Less muscle spasms throughout the region
? You will be able to move better and more if you were restricted to begin with.
? Range of motion will increase.
? You have better coordination from taking that step to throwing that baseball.
? You have increased energy, self esteem and you just overall feel better

There are additional benefits of chiropractic care as well. When you realign the body as it should be, you relieve pressure throughout it. This often allows you body to begin to heal as it should again. For example, it can help your joints to heal, your tissues to heal and your pains to leave.

Some relief through chiropractic care is actually immediate. Often times, when you lay on a chiropractic table and the doctor works his magic you will get up feeling better. This is due to the fact that the doctor has the ability to realign joints and limbs that are not right now. That means that when he puts them back into place he can and he will provide you with a lot of immediate relief.

Other times, a chiropractic care treatment can leave you a bit sore and aching. This is due to the very same reasons. Consider the fact that your body has been out of line for so long that it is going to feel different and it may hurt a bit to fix it. Although your doctor will tell you what to expect from the chiropractic care treatment, it is a sure thing that benefits are likely if you need them.

Ideally, everyone should seek out a doctor for this type of treatment. Yet, this is not always the case. The benefits of chiropractic care should push more people into doing it because it can be so overwhelmingly beneficial to your body and your mind's well being.

Sandy Sizemore writes on many consumer related topics including health care. You can find lower back pain treatment and low back pain relief and more by visiting our health care website.

Aromatherapy Massage Oils

2009-02-02T21:58:00.001+07:00

If you?ve never used aromatherapy massage oils, you owe it to yourself to try it. You?re in for a totally unique experience. Whether you want a massage to relax or to rejuvenate or even to heal, using aromatherapy massage oils brings the body?s senses to new heights.

Aromatherapy has made steady gains in use and for good reason. Offering the perfect combination of mental and physical well being, there is no better way to take advantage of aromatherapy than to enjoy its fragrances in massage oils.

Our body?s different senses have been shown to have a direct affect on how we feel. For example, the nose is a very sensitive part of your body. Without it, you cannot taste or smell. Imagine your favorite foods. Now, imagine you cannot taste them. That is scary, everything you eat with no taste! How do you think that would affect your attitude throughout the day?

Studies have shown that the part of your nervous system that helps to control your emotions is connected directly to your nose. Lack of smell can cause symptoms ranging from depression to anxiety and this is only one of your senses. With the knowledge of how the mind depends on the feedback from your senses, the idea of aromatherapy exploded onto the scene.

One of the more popular types of aromatherapy is massage oil, because of the variety of uses to target specific issues. Aromatherapy massage oil treatments are unlike any other oils. Whether you are in need of relaxation or need something to perk you up, there is an aroma to fit the immediate needs. Aromatherapy massage combines two excellent methods to evoke your body?s response in whatever area you feel is needed.

There are so many different types and manufacturers of aromatherapy massage oils available, it would be a good idea to do your homework before using. For the best treatment ideas, it is always best to find and pay a certified therapist to ensure you understand how to get the most impact from aromatherapy massage. Especially, when using for the first time.

To explain a couple of different oils and fragrances we will start with Lavender essential oils. Lavender essential oils are one of the few oils that you can apply directly to your skin. It is said to have burn relief power. It is important to note that these oils should not hurt you, however, if this is your first time using essential oils never use them directly on your skin unless under safe direction. Other oils are required to be diluted before use with other base oils.

Another oil gaining in popularity is the Yland Ylang essential oil. Yland Ylang essential oils have very unique properties as well. It is said that these tropical plants have the power to both arouse and sooth the senses. It also goes by another name Cananga Odorata.

Adding aromatherapy massage oils to your therapy program is one experience everyone should try at least once. (Be careful they have been known to be addictive). With the combination of massage and a scented room to awaken your senses, you have the ultimate in relaxation and healing.

Sanji Gretta has been practicing aromatherapy for quite a while. His latest website Aromatherapy Source is designed to give novice aromatherapy practitioners a introduction to the wonderful world of aromatherapy. Visit Aromatherapy Source Now to find out more about Aromatherapy Massage Oils.