The Diagnosis Behind Back Pain

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons in the post, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

The spine is made up of muscles, bones, and nerves… The spine is held together by disks, connective tissues, tendons, and ligaments. The elements combine to allow us to stand, yet tension is applied.

The lower back makes up the larger structure of bones and joints with the joints at the hips. Hip joints connect to the pelvis, joining with the elements listed above and with the vertebral column and finally connect to the sacrum. Larger bones join at the legs, which is where we get our support and strength to hold up the vertical column.

The bones thicken at the opposite side of the vertebral column, or spinal cord and continue up to the neck. Thicker joints start at this area and continue to join with thicker bones, which start to shrink and thin at the joints.

The larger group of bones is at the lower area and joins with the spine. At the small baseline and near the top structure these bones join and cause stress to the back. The legs are capable of moving, which additional stress is applied.

The stress continues to the lumbar spinal disk. This disk is affected by the stress as well. To give you an example, if you were to pick up a 2000-pound object, you would have the same amount of stress applied if you would have sit down on the couch.

At the top region of the back, we have muscles as well, which are shorter and helps us to maneuver the arms, as well as the cranium. Now, if you consider the elements spoken of in this article, you may wonder how it can cause back pain. The fact, when pulling up a tight pair of khakis, or trousers it can generate unusual tension.

The tension affects the lower and upper back, thus causing pain to arise. The reason behind this is that the higher muscles cannot counterweigh for the pressure group taking place at the lower region.

Back pain can emerge from the advantage we receive from the spinal column as well, such as the control over the body. The spine has a prime focus and that is to give us such control or advantage to stand, walk, run, and sit and so on. Due to this control we have however, if we were to pick up 20 pounds, it would be the same as applying around 200 pounds on the bones, muscles, and the spine.

Now, if you think about what I just said, you would see that as people we often take the spine for granted, yet the granted we take is present in the tendons, muscles, ligaments, etc, and because the stress we apply is greater than the spine can handle, injuries occur.

Sure, we all have to stand, sit, walk, move, and perform daily activities, yet as we do this we are applying stress to the spine, more so than we realize. In short, picking up a single cup of coffee is more weight than you realize.

When one considers the spine, they must also consider weight, depth and the distance end to end. Since the spine is made up of small and large bones, as well as thin and thick bones and joints, the vertebras in all areas exert its own degree of force and set limits on the lower and upper back.

As you can see, the pressure we apply daily to the spine gradually builds and causes lower and upper back pain. We still must consider inappropriate bending however, since twice; the weight is applied when one lifts heavy objects and fails to bend properly.

RealHeal Massage Oil is a natural, safe, effective blend of especially chosen aromatherapy oils well known for their healing, restorative and pain killing properties. It may be used for a wide range of injuries and physical trauma, as well as after childbirth and to assist with sport-related injury. RealHeal Massage Oil may also be used along with our natural RealHeal Tablets to assist the healing process internally and externally.

Use RealHeal Massage Oil to soothe and relieve pain and promote faster healing after surgery (including cosmetic surgery); after physical injury or trauma; to promote faster healing and disappearance of bruising; for relief from arthritis, rheumatism and all inflammatory joint and muscle conditions; for sore muscles related to exercise; to soothe and promote faster healing of sports injuries (including professional sports); reduce the need for prescription painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

Formulated by a clinical psychologist, RealHeal Massage Oil is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.

Enrich your life and the lives of others by learning Aromatherapy, Reflexology or Color/Crystal Therapy at the Alternative Healing Academy! Convenient and easy-to-handle payment plans are available! Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!
Technorati Tags: back pain, Spinal cord, stress, tension, Vertebral column

View the original article here

The Crystal Connection

Crystals are easier to work with than most of the hocus-pocus you may have heard about. They are a direct nature-link to the invisible, higher realms, and can rapidly help you develop your psychic abilities.

Developing your sensitivity to extend beyond the normal five senses is necessary to participate in the new dimension of exploration now upon us. Indeed, as we continue over the threshold of our physical world into a mental one, psychic ability may even become necessary to our very survival.

Everyone is equipped from the factory to do this, proven by the fact that we are only using an estimated three to five percent of our natural capabilities. You don’t have to be weird like me or have a near-death experience to awaken these qualities.

If you are new at this and want to give it a shot, go to one of the several crystal stores in the [Hawaiian] islands or find one of the 2,300 coast to coast near your home. Start with any plain, raw (unpolished) quartz crystal shard that you may be drawn to.

There is a saying about crystals: You will be drawn to the one that wants to be your friend. Crystals are never lost but they do find new friends when the time comes. In other words, one that you need to work with will be hard to lose and you will not be able to hold on to one that needs to go to someone else.

To trigger right-brained intuitive thought, simply hold the crystal in your non-dominant hand and study its tip. This works great when you are in a non-thought specific, day-dreaming mode. Vacations and lounging around a pool or on the beach are perfect times for this.

Crystals have a natural balancing and soothing effect, which explains some of their appeal. Humans know instinctively to go to the beach to soothe and balance themselves. Just like a puppy knows to eat grass when he is sick, humans instinctively know that the beach will make them feel better. The sandy beach is pure crystal silica, though less vibrant than larger pieces of quartz crystal.

The precise angle that natural quartz terminates in can be a key to unlock the mind. For those inclined to Jungian psychology, the natural quartz termination is like an archetype symbol to the unconscious. This specific angle, which is accurate within three decimal places, is also what causes quartz to aggravate its surface electrons, providing it with its special energy known as piezoelectricity.

To charge your crystal with the wisdom of a place, simply leave it there overnight. [If you are in Hawaii, preferably on black lava.] Then work with it in the above suggested manner, or leave it under your pillow for a few nights.

To avoid nightmares, pay attention to your na’au (gut feeling) toward the place that you have visited. Heiaus (sacred sites) are full of this information. Be thoughtful as to what may have gone on there. Caution: Do not disturb or take things from these places.

The closest thing in nature to quartz is the gray matter of the brain. When a crystal heats up in your hand or gives you chicken-skin, you are communicating with it, accessing its stored information or feeling its reaction to the environment.

The above is an excerpt from The Secrets & Mysteries of Hawaii by Pila of Hawaii, Pila Chiles.

Enrich your life and the lives of others by learning Aromatherapy, Reflexology or Color/Crystal Therapy at the Alternative Healing Academy! Convenient and easy-to-handle payment plans are available! Get 10% OFF of any course simply by liking our Facebook Page! After liking the page, click 'shop now' to get the discount. Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!
Healing with Crystals :: Amazon Healing with Crystals is an easy-to-follow introduction to using clear quartz crystals for personal and spiritual growth. The book describes

View the original article here

What Is Crohns Disease

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

What is Crohns Disease? Crohns is a multifaceted condition that affects your digestive tract from your mouth to your anus with inflammation and ulcers. Most commonly Crohns affects the lower small intestines and large intestines but it can affect other organ systems as well.

The symptoms of Crohns disease can come and go during your lifetime. The times they are gone are called remission and the times you have the symptoms is called relapse. There are many effective medications that affect and help the symptoms but at this time there is no cure. Interestingly there also is no known cause of the disease. When scientists are able to pinpoint the causative factors of a condition they usually are able to work toward better control or a cure but with Crohns there is no known cause or cure at this time.

Doctors do have several medication regimens that will help control the inflammation, pain and abdominal cramping.

When Crohns disease first appears there are usually shallow erosions in the intestinal walls. As the disease progresses the inflammatory response increases the size and depth of the erosions until they become ulcerations. Researchers believe that the cause is biological and not emotional. So people with specific types of personality are not more or less prone to this condition. There are several current theories about a causative factor such as low stomach acid, autoimmune or bacterial but there hasnt been conclusive evidence found that points to the cause of Crohns.

People with Crohns disease suffer from abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, weight loss, loss of appetite and possible obstruction, ulcerations and fistulas. People with the disease can also experience reddish tender skin nodules or inflammation of the joints (like arthritis), spine, eyes and liver.

The pain and swelling in the intestines can cause the intestines to empty frequently which can also cause cramping, pain and bleeding around the anus. Doctors will use barium enemas and x-ray of the small bowel as well as a colonoscopy to diagnose the problems with Crohns disease.

Once its diagnosed doctors will advice people to learn the foods that irritate their intestines and then to stay away from them. You may want to try an elimination diet where you eliminate most foods from your diet and then gradually reintroduce one food at a time to see what causes issues. Doctors will also prescribe medications to suppress the inflammation or the immune system such as steroid, antibiotics or surgery.

Crohns disease will affect men and women equally. It appears to affect the Jewish population more and the Black Americans less than any other ethnic groups. The condition is often diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 30 but children can be affected as well as older adults.

The answer to what is Crohns disease is complex and varied. Although the symptoms are straight forward the reasons that people suffer from these symptoms isnt. Doctors continue to struggle to find a cure for this disease or ways to better manage the symptoms they experience.

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

PetAlive EQuine Joint Relief Relieves Stiff Joints and Sore Muscles in Horses

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

Homeopathic remedy relieves stiffness, sore muscles and joints in horses

EQuine Joint Relief is an FDA-registered natural remedy containing 100% homeopathic ingredients known for their ability to relieve stiff, sore muscles and joints as well as help maintain lubrication of joints. Taken internally, the ingredients in Equine Joint Relief help facilitate easy fluid movement and suppleness, while supporting healthy joints in horses. Presented in a convenient pillule form, the tiny granules are easy to administer.

Many of you know the Native Remedies range of herbal and homeopathic remedies for humans and have been using these remedies in your families for many years. You also know Michele Carelse, Native Remedies‘ resident Clinical Psychologist who has worked with experts in the field of natural health to formulate all of their remedies for a range of health conditions. As they grew to know and trust the Native Remedies range of natural remedies for children and adults, their customers began asking for solutions especially designed for their pets. As treasured members of their families, Native Remedies customers wanted their pets to have the same benefits and natural solutions as they had discovered in Native Remedies. In many cases, their natural remedies for humans were used with great effect for the pets in the family and, as time went on, they could no longer ignore the need for remedies especially designed and formulated for pets, with pet friendly doses and remedies which could be easily administered to dogs and cats. Out of this was born PetAlive – a range of herbal, homeopathic and nutraceutical remedies to help with a variety of ailments commonly experienced by pets.

How they differ from other natural pet health suppliers

As the market-leading brand of natural remedies for pets, PetAlive believes in a holistic approach to caring for your pets. That is why they not only sell safe and proven remedies; they also provide detailed information in their searchable Pet A-Z Health index for the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment recommendations for hundreds of pet health issues. PetAlive is distinctive because they employ what they call the PetAlive Difference and apply it to both creating their product lines, as well as in how they market and sell their remedies. They use the Full Spectrum Method of extraction to create their products. Many so-called natural remedies are manufactured using standardized extractions which – although often cited as being more scientific method – is not approved by the manufacturers of holistic medicines. To PetAlive, it makes little sense for companies to go the natural route, while being unable to guarantee that their product is free of contamination with chemicals known to be harmful to health! PetAlive utilizes a unique dual-modality approach to complete holistic wellness because they know that natural medicine works best in combination (herbal and homeopathic) for fast relief and long-term care. Their approach provides a complete solution by offering OTC homeopathic remedies for relief of symptoms as well as compound herbal remedies for complete support of your pet’s physical, emotional and mental well-being.

Understanding the Benefits of Herbal + Homeopathic Remedies for Pets

PetAlive promotes a dual modality approach to holistic wellness – as they know that natural medicine works best in combination (herbal and homeopathic) for fast-acting relief and long-term care of your pet. While each of their natural remedies works well on its own to address a specific body function or relieve a particular symptom, they believe that by combining their herbal and homeopathic remedies you will find a complete solution that is safe and highly effective. A complete solution for pet wellness combines these two types of remedies to combat physical, emotional or psychological health problem(s) and restore balance in the body to provide both quick symptomatic relief and improve body function for the long-term health of your pet.

You may have heard the term ‘standardized’ extract used in relation to herbal remedies, but do you know what this means? Many companies have begun manufacturing herbal remedies using a process of extraction whereby harsh chemicals are employed to extract the active ingredients of medicinal herbs. You will recognize these extracts by the usage of the words ‘standardized’ extract on the labels. This method of manufacturing is often cited as being more scientific and able to produce a superior product with controlled and guaranteed amounts of active ingredients in each product. Contrary to these claims, this process is not approved by the manufacturers of holistic medicines. One of the reasons is that the process of extracting so-called ‘active ingredients’ and isolating them from the rest of the herb is one that has resulted in an increase in side effects, as the herb in this way loses its natural ability to protect against side effects. In addition, many manufacturers use all parts of the plants to create standardized extracts, whereas herbalists know that only certain parts of some herbs should be used. It must also be added that this process of extraction requires the use of harsh chemicals and solvents, traces of which are difficult to remove completely from the final product. Unlike many so-called natural remedies manufactured according to the methods described above, at PetAlive, they avoid standardized extracts completely and use the Full Spectrum method of extraction, which is recommended by all the authoritative Materia Medica dealing with herbal medicine. This helps them to maintain the integrity, balance and therapeutic effect of herbs with the least risk of side effects or harm to your pet’s health!

You can read all of our testimonials HERE

Take a minute now and learn more about your pet’s health problems and challenges in our Pet-Health A-Z section!

PetAlive is so certain that you will be completely satisfied with their wonderful, natural products, that they offer a One Year unconditional money back guarantee. Simply try their products for at least 30 days. If you are not completely satisfied – for any reason – return the product to them within 1 year for a complete refund less shipping fees.

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

Healing Bruises

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

Ingredients:

* 3 teaspoons of dried Marigold flowers (Calendula officinalis)
* 1 cup boiled water

Directions:

Allow the flower heads to steep in the hot water for 5 minutes. Strain. Allow to cool. Wipe the bruised area with the decoction, then cover with a bandage.

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

Make Your Own Liquid Herbal Extracts & Syrups

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

Article written by Mountain Rose Herbs

While paying for the convenience of a manufactured herbal extract or syrup can be nice, we have found that the best medicines are those we make ourselves. In addition, for those of us that incorporate herbal medicine into our daily diet, the costs really begins to add up. Making your own extracts and syrups will save you hundreds of dollars. In addition, you can make extracts that meet the specific needs for yourself and your loved ones.

Herbal Tinctures

This recipe is the simplest way to make your own liquid herbal extracts in your own home.

1. Start with a clean jar that has a tight fitting lid and the herbs of your choice. If you can use fresh herbs, then fabulous! Fresh material is always preferred but availability is determined by your local bioregion, climate, etc and many quality herbs may not be available. If you cannot locate fresh materials, be sure to get good quality, organic herbs from a reputable supplier. Note: Try not to use powdered herbs; they will be difficult to filter out in the end and the debris will settle in your final product.

2. Chop the herbs finely – a blender or coffee grinder works well. Then place the materials in the glass jar with a tight fitting lid, such as a canning jar.

3. Pour a good and strong grain alcohol, brandy, or vodka over the herbs. Completely cover the herbal material, and leave 2-3 inches of alcohol above the herbs. 100 proof alcohol is recommended, but you can also use grain alcohol. When using grain alcohol, mix it with equal parts of purified water to create 50% alcohol to 50% water ratio. If you wish to avoid alcohol, then vegetable glycerin or vinegar may be used. When using vegetable glycerin, dilute it with equal parts of water. Although glycerin and vinegar are not as effective or strong as alcohol, they do create milder extracts that are suitable for children or those sensitive to alcohol. If using dried herbs you will need to add more alcohol over the next day or two as the dried herbs absorb and expand. A good ratio for dried material is about 1 part herb to 5 parts alcohol, and with fresh material 1 part herb to 3 parts alcohol.

4. Cover with a tight fitting lid, shake well, and place the jar in a dark place. Allow the mixture to soak and macerate for 4 to 6 weeks. Shake every few days to help the alcohol extract the active constituents from the herbs.

5. After 4 to 6 weeks strain the herbs. Use a large strainer lined with fine mesh cloth or cheesecloth. Make sure to tightly squeeze the material to extract every precious drop from the cloth. Funnel the material from your larger container into smaller bottles, preferably amber bottles and store your tinctures in a cool dark place. Your herbal tinctures will stay good for at least 3-5 years, if not indefinitely.

Herbal Syrups

Syrups are the tastiest and sweetest types of herbal medicine available, and they are loved by children and adults alike. Here are instructions for creating your own yummy syrups at home:

1. Simmer 2 ounces of herb in 1 quart of water over low heat until the mixture reduces down to 1 pint of liquid.

2. Strain the herbs from the liquid, and place the liquid back into the pot.

3. Add one cup of sweetener and warm over low heat until the sweetener and herbal liquid are completely mixed. Sweeteners used can be: honey, vegetable glycerin, agave nectar, maple syrup, or sugar. If using raw honey, be careful not to simmer or boil the syrup, as this will destroy some of the beneficial properties of the honey. In order to better preserve your syrup, 2 pints of honey may be used in place of the one cup of honey.

4. At this point, you may add a flavoring extract or fruit concentrate if you wish to flavor it. Lemon juice may be added for sore or tickly throats, or brandy can be added as a relaxant and preservative.

5. Remove from heat, bottle (preferably in amber glass bottles), and place in refrigerator. Your herbal syrup will last for several weeks to months within the refrigerator.

Voila! You have now made your own remarkable medicinal herbal medicines for a fraction of the price you would have paid at the store. Enjoy!

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

Using Natural Remedies for Constipation

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

There are two basic types of constipation – organic and functional. Organic constipation is a result of some physical change, obstruction, or distortion in your colon. This type of constipation needs immediate attention from a doctor.

This article only covers Functional Constipation. This type of constipation is a result of not following a proper diet, drinking enough fluids, having good emotional health and not having a good lifestyle – a lifestyle that promotes good movement of digested foods through the intestines and colon.

Even though there are many definitions for constipation, constipation is simply a condition where the fecal matter traveling through your colon remains too long in your colon before traveling out the rectum.

Constipation is a symptom and not a disease. It is a condition that tells you your colon is not working properly or that you have some underlying gastrointestinal disease you are not aware of.

Constipation may be a warning that your diet and lifestyle are causing an imbalance in your body. It is a symptom that many people ignore or that many people try to eliminate by using unnatural and oftentimes dangerous drugstore laxatives.

Drugstore laxatives should be avoided when you have constipation. They can become habit-forming, damage your colon, and have nasty side effects if used too long. They sometimes have the tendency of creating the problem you are trying relieve – constipation.

To keep your body in chemical balance, it is important to use only natural remedies for constipation. Natural remedies such as herbs and foods bring into the colon those nutrients that can build up your colon and reactivate your natural peristaltic action.

As you use natural remedies, keep in mind that one particular remedy may not work for you. You may have to try a different remedy or increase dosage of the one you are using. If you supply what your body needs by using a specific remedy, then you will get results from using that remedy.

Experimenting is part of finding out what remedy is best for you. There are many different natural remedies you can choose from. Look on the internet for “natural remedies for constipation” and you will find many listings.

Keep in mind that most remedies should be used only for a short time, two to four days and not longer than 2 weeks. They should only be used for the time needed to clear your constipation. This might be just 4 or 5 times or sometimes it may take several weeks.

There are some herbal combinations that can be used for longer duration. These combinations can improve your colon’s health and get your bowels moving again.

If you have constipation, the natural balance and function of your colon has been affected. But, natural remedies can bring you colon back into balance.

About the Author

Constipation And Hemorrhoids, Alexander Sviridov is a practicing proctologist. More information about hemorroids symptoms and ways of treatment you will find here http://www.hemorroids-treatment.net

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

Tips for Treating and Preventing Acne

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

No one likes to see acne staring back at him or her from the mirror. Treating acne so it disappears fast and better yet preventing future breakouts is what every teen dreams of doing. Here are some tips for treating and preventing acne that are based on the causes of acne.

Washing your face with a mild soap and warm water twice a day is the single most important thing you can do for your face. Acne is caused by excess oil clogging the pores of your face so getting rid of the oil are going to help prevent pimples.

Avoid makeup that contains oil, you do not want to add oil to your face; you want to get rid of oil that is on it.

Unclog pores by using a pore strip or mask that will pull the blackheads out of the pores. Never squeeze a pimple or blackhead; doing so will only make your acne worse.

Check labels of skin care products and if you find alcohol among the ingredients do not buy it. Alcohol will dry out your face and irritate the skin. Irritation is one cause of acne.

Remove excess oil and dead skin cells with an exfoliate.

Picking, squeezing and generally messing around with the acne on your face is a big no no. Leave the acne alone.

Avoid the sun; most skin care medications are sun sensitive so wear a sun block.

Use a fresh razor every time; prepare your face for shaving by softening the beard. Use sensitive shaving gels and lotions. Limit your shaving to when you absolutely must shave. Do not shave too close.

Choose oil-free makeup and skin care products or water based products. Do not go to sleep wearing makeup.

Good diet is essential to healthy skin. Fruits and vegetables and plenty of water is what the skin needs to heal quicker and prevent bacteria from grabbing hold of your skin.

Water is used to remove dead skin cells and to unblock pores, so drink up!

Look for and use natural skin care products to avoid irritants in many commercial products that can cause skin acne.

Exercise can actually help acne by improving blood flow to the skin, which will help support the healing process.

Above all, be patient if you are following the tips above, your skin should show some improvement very soon.

Remember acne happens to everyone. If you find yourself with a particular bad case of acne, do something about it. Make strides to follow home remedies, or find the time to seek proper medical advice. Get recommendations from friends about what works for them.

We Recommend:

MediAc is a safe, non-addictive, FDA-registered natural acne remedy containing homeopathic ingredients selected to temporarily treat symptoms of acne vulgaris including blackheads on the face and body. Healthy skin is one of the best defenses against the formation of embarrassing pimples, pustules, and boils. This remedy helps fight off bacteria that causes pimples and blackheads. By addressing skin health at a cellular level via underlying tissue and sebaceous glands of the skin, MediAc improves problem skin without troublesome side effects, promoting skin health and renewal. It also improves the appearance of bumps and flaky, irritated skin temporarily. This remedy is taken internally, and stimulates the natural healing forces of the body from within to address and prevent acne and blackheads as a natural acne remedy. Presented in small dissolvable tablets, MediAc is easy to ingest and hassle-free with no artificial colors or preservatives, and no side effects.

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

Nutrition, Alternative Health Products and Depression: Don't Feed the Black Dog!

Most of us have encountered depression in our lives - if not personally, then through the experience of a close friend or family member. With the advances in our understanding of the neurobiological basis for severe clinical depression, most people are unaware that mild and moderate depression (which is still quite painful to live through) actually has many natural remedies, alternative health products, herbs and nutritional supplements available to help get people back to normal functioning. Today we look at the top ways you can avoid 'feeding the black dog', with nutritional advice for those suffering from depression.

Stay Steady

Keeping your blood sugar steady is one of the keys to avoiding the little mood peaks and massive dips that you sometimes find in depression. Choose foods that are as natural as possible and low GI as natural remedies for depression.

Watch Your Protein

Research has found that your CNS serotonin levels are suppressed in response to excessive protein consumption. This doesn't mean you have to follow a low-protein diet while taking your alternative health products and nutritional supplements for depression - just make sure you stay within the recommended daily intake.

B-Vitamins

If you are a smoker or drinker, you probably have low B-vitamin levels. While these little molecules are found in abundance in all sorts of everyday food products (not just the ones that we consider to be the healthiest, either), B-vitamins can be destroyed by alcohol, refined sugar, caffeine and nicotine. Kick the addictive habits and ensure that you get enough B-vitamins in your diet.

Potential Food Allergies

Food allergies have the potential to give us low-level, chronic symptoms that health professionals find it hard to diagnose or put their finger on. Try an allergen-eliminating diet for a time - cut out dairy for a fortnight, wheat for a fortnight, etc, and see if your mood is affected.

Addictive Habits!

There are many, many foods and substances that are common in our society which also contribute to depression by creating little serotonin highs, followed by a crash and a decreased sensitivity to the neurotransmitter such that we need more and more of it. These include alcohol, caffeine (from coffee, tea and cola), as well as refined sugars.

Thyroid Support

There are quite a few amino acid supplements, herbs and other natural remedies that help support your thyroid function - hypothyroidism can be a major cause of depression. If you have too little thyroid hormone, your metabolism is slowed... this lack of physical energy usually has a flow-on effect in your life and makes you feel ineffective, out of control and worthless, but can all be fixed with just a little hormone.

Alpha and Omega

Low omega-3 fatty acid levels have been linked to post partum depression in women. According to David Kyle, the US director of the Mother and Child Foundation, several studies back up the idea that improving your intake of nutritional supplements, herbs and alternative health products with omega-3 fatty acids can help keep the black dog at bay.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST POPULAR website advertising companies on the web. Learn more about Alternative Health Products.

Natural Health Holistic Therapies and Healing Remedies Online - A Path to Alternative Health Part 1

Part 1 of 2

Where can I find sites that offer valuable free Natural health care information and resources online?

There are many great sites with free health information available. The Health Holistic sites found online can help to educate you on Natural health and how to learn about the benefits of holistic therapies such as Herbal remedies, Homeopathic remedies and other Natural remedies online.

Alternative health sites promote a Holistic approach to therapy and treatment with respect to the individuals needs.The goal of the natural Healing sites found online is to not only provide a one stop source to find and buy the most effective healing remedies, therapies and products but to allow their visitors to express what their own experiences have been with personal health issues.

To allow you to share what health promoting techniques have been a benefit for their family and for themselves on the path to optimal wellness.Most Health blogs and sites invite you to participate and voice your opinions on the topics of Holistic Health care, alternative medicine treatment and the healing benefits you have received through the use of natural holistic healing remedies.

There are also Holistic health forums online where you can share your experience with any natural holistic healing remedy that you have found beneficial to you, your family and your pets.

What does these sites have to offer you as far as Holistic health information about remedies and alternative health resources that will help educate you and your family?

The best Alternative health sites provide you resources to buy natural holistic healing remedies online as well as providing links to other helpful natural health and Alternative medicine sites.

You will often find valuable information on these sites including articles on natural remedies, supplements and holistic therapies.

Many health sites offer info on common health issues such as IBS, Arthritis and High blood Pressure which can be lowered naturally with remedies. Some offer natural remedy relief for the aggravation of kidney stones, Gout, depression and remedy reports that show natural low cost ways to relieve many symptoms with every day items.

In part 2 we will look at what some of the best Natural Health sites have to offer online.

For more info on Holistic Healing and Natural Healing remedies visit http://www.holistichealingsite.com/, We offer you valuable information and reports on safe and affordable natural remedies for relief of common ailments. You will find articles on Alternative medicine, Home remedies and tips on how to help your family and pets live a healthy lifestyle with a holistic approach to natural health care. Please visit us now!

Natural Health Remedy For Better Living

Natural health remedy actually holds a simple and effective solution to improving health. No matter how well people have built their professional work credentials, those people still know very little about how the human body works. Many are unsure about the links between their health and certain diseases, which is why they are easily panicked by the diagnosis of certain diseases and are always obedient to doctor's instructions regarding the treatment. But with a little diligence digging up information about available options for both orthodox and alternative treatments, they can start building their own understanding of their health conditions. Armed with this information, they might be more confident in trying out a natural health remedy and treatment solution.

Background

With conventional medical treatments, many principles and methods are in contradiction as new discoveries and results of relevant research emerge. On the other hand, Western medicine is now recognizing the real benefits of drug-free natural health remedies. Medicine is now recognizing the impact of natural healing methods to diseases and overall well-being. Today, these remedies are used alongside conventional medical treatment as an adjunctive or complementary form of therapy. This only shows that natural health remedies can intercede and help people recover from their illnesses and achieve better health.

Regarding natural health and remedies

When conventional medical treatment fails to deliver its promised benefits, most people turn to alternative treatments to find solutions to their health problems. Natural health remedy is arguably the simplest among the available options of alternative treatment. This system of self-care basically involves the restoration of wellness and health using medicinal plants, diet, nutrient supplements and healthy lifestyle habits. With absolutely no form of drugs used, this treatment option appeals to the natural recuperative powers of the human body, restoring normal organ system functions and stimulating and strengthening the immune system to initiate natural healing processes. This way, it also builds stronger defenses for the body to fight the harmful effects of pathogens, diseases and other health-threatening elements.

Natural health practices

Natural health practitioners believe that through certain restrictive practices, the body can regain its control over diseases and health. Such practices include naturopathy, hygienic practices, herbalism, support of self-care sources like books, e-books and journals, healthy dieting and vitamin and nutrient supplements. These therapeutic and preventive health care practices oppose the continued reliance on professional caregivers and standard medical practices to achieve self-sufficiency in managing health and diseases.

How it works

It takes a long time for the human body to succumb to diseases and break down. Similarly, it takes time for healing to occur. natural health remedy practices believes the principle that the body must be viewed as a whole and that healing will only be achieved with a holistic approach to treatment. In believing that health is directly linked to the inter-relations of organ functions, it uses multiple strategies to promote health from the smallest cells to the whole body systems. This is the way to achieve a synergistic healing effect. This explains why natural health remedies tend to deliver more permanent health benefits than just delivering relief to diseases.

Impact of natural remedies on conventional medical treatments

Natural health remedy is seen as a solid and safe solution to achieving better health. It helps cure and prevent common diseases without the risks of side-effects, which can threaten health. Today, the well documented and scientifically proven effective remedies of natural and holistic healing approaches are slowly replacing commonly prescribed drugs.

Want to find out more about natural remedies, then visit Elaine Schulstad's site on how to choose the best natural health remedy for your needs.

Looking For an Alternative Health Magazine But Feel Confused by the Array?

People in their droves are turning their backs on the manipulative medical and pharmaceutical markets and are starting to take control of their own health. It's a turning point for the world. As you take control of your own health, so you influence the greater world.

With the booming of the natural and alternative health market, you could be forgiven for being confused. There seem to be so many modalities. Some do this, some do that. Some are hands on (and so could be worrying for the nervous), some are hands off.

There's homeopathy, massage, naturopathy, kinesiology, herbalism, flower essences, acupuncture, Chinese medicine, Bowan therapy, chiropractic, hypnotherapy, the list is endless.

You may never have heard of many of them. And some of them cross over.

By subscribing to an alternative health magazine, even if it does specialise, will mean that you'll get a better understanding of what that modality can do and if you are attracted to it.

Knowledge is power! You can't make up your mind about where to go with your health care, without knowing something about the various options.

So what should you look for in an informative alternative health magazine? Apart from the modality speciality of the author, wider areas should also be discussed, such as diet. And the emerging truth about some of the risks with conventional medical tests and treatments.

With medicine and drugs dominating the western health care system for decades, you have never been given options to explore. They ruled with an iron hand.

Now things are changing. It's a new century, a new age, a new awareness. People are demanding to know the truth. And to their right to choose.

When you're looking for an alternative health magazine which specialises, check out it also covers other areas of natural health, such as diet. It should sometimes bring in experts to discuss various options and what to avoid.

I have heard that some doctors don't believe diet has a direct impact on health. Don't, for one moment, believe them! Diet is all important. For example, Westin A. Price (1870-1948), a Cleveland dentist looked for the causes of dental decay and physical degeneration that he observed in his dental practice. He went searching for people with fine teeth and good health. He found them the world over in isolated human groups, including villages in Switzerland, Gaelic communities in the Outer Hebrides, Eskimos and Indians of North America, and other remote locations.

A good alternative health magazine will explore some of the common areas of conventional health care, particularly the controversial ones, such as vaccination. And will often give their specialty slant on them.

Many alternative health magazines are free to subscribe to and appear regularly. Regular magazines are a good idea, as it helps to keep you on track. With the best will in the world, you'll be influenced by the media, your family, friends and colleagues, who may not yet have started to explore their health rights and options.

When you're new to exploring something, you're in a vulnerable position and can be easily influenced. Stay true to your feelings and keep looking and learning!

If you liked this article, then I invite you to sign up for my free, weekly ezine on how to improve your health and that of your family, including pets, naturally. Included is a complementary ebook on how to naturally treat some common ailments at home, visit http://www.twolegsandfour.com.au

Marketing Alternative Health Therapies - The Benefit of Presentation Speaking Skills

In marketing alternative health therapies, presentation speaking skills are extremely important if you are using audio-visual means of marketing, running a teleconference or even addressing a live audience. Learning the speaking skills that will hold your audience is an important part of internet marketing if you intend to include these techniques as part of your promotional strategy. Nobody will stay with a presentation if you are stumbling over words or are unable to emphasis the right points at the correct times.

Here are some ways in which you improve your presentation speaking skills when marketing alternative health therapies even if you are among those proverbially 'unaccustomed to public speaking'.

1. Know Your Material

You should make yourself completely familiar with what you are about to say. Never start off believing that you know your subject so well that you can 'wing it'. Think of wedding speeches you have heard, and of those that impressed you and those that didn't.

How about those where the best man read his speech out from endless sheets of paper, his face more often looking down than at his audience. Did that impress you? No, of course it didn't, so that is lesson 1. Use notes with banner points or headings by all means, but do not read your presentation from the written material. You will quickly lose their interest, and when that happens you are beat.

So learn your presentation beforehand. Practice it time and again until you can present it with the aid of only one sheet of paper containing headings upon which you can expand from what you have learned. No 'winging it' from the headings, but expanding on the facts that you have memorized. Once your audience starts murmuring, then you have lost it.

There is a large variety of alternative health therapies available to the public, and their presentation can generate a great deal of interest if you learn how to do it in an interesting and compelling fashion.

2. Know your Audience

You should not only know your material, but also your audience. You should understand what they know already so you don't bore them with basic material. If possible get to know the individuals, but if that is not possible you could include a small alternative health questionnaire or survey prior to the presentation: in fact along with the order form or registration form.

Ask a few questions about their previous experience and knowledge of energy work, life coaching, astrology or spiritual counseling, and then you will know where to pitch your presentation.

Many professional telemarketers carry out a brief survey of their audience before starting by asking a selected few to say who they are what they do, and judge their audience from the reaction to what these people say. They can then pitch their presentation from that, but they are professionals and you are not expected to be able to do that. Or perhaps you can, because you, too, are a professional in what you do.

However, the main point here is that the better you know your audience then the better you will be able to target your speaking skills to them. You won't bore them with what they already know, and equally will not be way over their heads which will be equally self-defeating.

3. Present Examples

Present some examples or tell some stories about how others have benefited from your method of healing. Get them to relate their own experience if possible, but give your audience something concrete with which to relate. People react better to real life examples than to promises or claims, so use these where possible. That is one of the fundamental rules of presentation speaking skills, and if you can persuade somebody who has benefited from alternative health therapies to relate their experience, then you could have a winning presentation.

4. Keep it Lighthearted

Try not to appear too pompous or serious when making your presentation: alternative health therapies are more easily sold to the public if they do not make outlandish claims, and if they are presented in a lighthearted fashion. Try to introduce humor along with your examples, such as the guy who spent more money on nicotine patches than on cigarettes till he stopped smoking after two sessions with a hypnotherapist: better if you can name him (with his permission) or even introduce him to your audience.

Good presentation speaking skills will enable you to make a point without seeming fixated on it, and to present alternative energy healing, for example, as a viable alternative health therapy without getting too technical. People don't like to be blinded by science and will accept energy heeling if presented in simple language.

One of the secrets to marketing alternative health therapies is to hone your presentation speaking skills to the point that your audience not only believe what you say, but are swayed by your common-sense arguments and light-hearted informal way of speaking without always reading from your notes: then they will believe you know your subject and that they can trust their health to your hands.

Then you will have achieved your objective and can start working on your next presentation of alternative health therapies in which you are involved.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, 'Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide'

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Do you want more information on how to use presentation speaking skills to promote your alternative health business? check out http://kwestiv-healers-business-success-toolbox.com where you will also learn how to market your own products to sell to your customers.

What Acne Alternative Treatments Work?

If you suffer from acne then you will have heard that there are many acne alternative treatments available to use in successfully eliminating your acne, zits and cysts. In this article you will learn what these acne alternative treatments involve, and how well they combat acne lesions. I mean, there is a vast amount of information on literally thousands of websites about these acne alternative treatments, so I hope I will save you lots of time by giving you a good summary of them all.

The first acne alternative treatment you may try, assuming you have already done the conventional route without success (namely, antibiotics, Accutane, cleansers etc), is to use vitamins, minerals and other supplements in the hope that they will help clear your skin. Often stated as being effective is Zinc, Vitamin E and Vitamin A. However, do not fall for all the hype surrounding supplements curing acne, as in reality they will only make a small difference to how clear your skin is. When treating acne, pimples, whiteheads and blackheads you need to make other changes to your lifestyle, rather than just relying on supplements.

The most effective means to clearing your acne that doctors do not recognize or recommend due to lack of scientific data, yet which through thousands of testimonials proves to be a valid acne alternative treatment, is dietary changes. Known pustule and cyst causing foods are vegetable oil and sugar, and cutting these out of your diet for just a few days often produces fantastic clear ups. One thing is for sure, if you want acne breakouts then simply drink down half a glass of vegetable oil and your wish will come true. The best anti-acne diet is actually an anti-inflammation diet, and only a few simple changes to what you eat are necessary to follow this acne clearing diet plan.

Highly recommended by those in the natural health community is for an acne sufferer to see a Naturopath. These are professional alternative healers who treat the body holistically and often provide great relief from conditions like acne. Rather than rely on chemical treatments like Accutane or other conventional acne treatments like antibiotics and acid cleansers, they use natural means to resolving even the worst cases of acne. As well as recommending supplements and diet changes, they will often look for other deep rooted reasons for your acne, such as liver problems or a dirty colon, and provide an acne alternative treatment plan.

In fact, a dirty colon is often the cause of acne, as it disrupts the digestion process and can inhibit the absorption of vital nutrients, with a deficiency in nutrients being a cause of acne, blemishes, pimples or cysts. There are some expensive colon cleansing supplements on the market that you will often find while searching, but cheaper ones do the job just as well. Liver cleansing is a protocol you will need professional help with and requires more than just a liver cleansing supplement to complete the job, so if you plan to do this then you should visit a Naturopath.

There are other cleansing and detoxification procedures, such as kidney cleansing and parasite cleansing, but the main ones are colon and liver cleanses. Doing these, as well as changing your diet to an anti-inflammation diet and taking a few regular supplements like Vitamin E and Vitamin C, are incredibly powerful acne alternative treatments, and should be done at the same time for the best results.

For more information on acne alternative treatments visit my website.

David Rambai has written a free e-course for you called "Acne Cure Secrets"...which can be found at www.mrxacne.com.

The Benefits of Green Tea

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

Green Tea Contains The Following:

Tannins – A group of simple and complex phenol, polyphenol, and flavonoid compounds. Produced by plants, all of the tannins are relatively resistant to digestion or fermentation. All tannins act as astringents, shrinking tissues and contracting structural proteins in the skin and mucosa.

What Does This Do For You?

Having a cup of green tea after a meal can aid in digestion. Green tea has been used for thousand of years in Asia as a digestive.

Catechins – Catechins are a category of polyphenols. In green tea, catechins are present in significant quantities, more specifically; epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG makes up about 10-50% of the total catechin content and appears to be the most powerful of the catechins – with antioxidant activity about 25-100 times more potent than vitamins C and E.

A cup of green tea may provide 10-40mg of polyphenols and has antioxidant activity greater than a serving of broccoli, spinach, carrots or strawberries.

What Else Does This Do For You?

Well having a powerful anti-oxidant coursing through your system after a heavy workout is just what you need to curb free radical damage.

Flavonoids – Flavonoids are plant pigments, and are the brightly colored chemical constituents found in most fresh fruits and vegetables.

Obviously your workouts will suffer if you are sick.

Theanine – An amino acid that produces tranquilizing effects in the brain, theanine is a unique amino acid found in the leaves seneca. Theanine is quite different from the polyphenol and catechin antioxidants for which green tea is typically consumed.

I can personally attest to the good feelings you get after a couple cups of green tea. It leaves you with a peaceful feeling without compromising motivation and mental activity.

Bodybuilding & Fitness Uses

Pre-workout – Green tea is a great alternative to the ECA stack. Yeah I know nothing beats the ECA stack but hear me out. A number of people, including myself do not like how the ECA stack makes us feel.

I get jittery and easily angered for some reason. The green tea is great because it does have some caffeine and the Theanine really relaxes you mentally but lets you perform physically.

Cutting – Research suggests that supplementing with green tea can raise your resting metabolic rate by 3%. In order to get this benefit you must have about 3 glasses a day. If you have a bmi of 2000 or so that means 60 extra calories a day. Why do you see so few obese Asians. Its not the kung-fu. It’s the green tea!

All About Tea

All teas come from the same source. The tea plant is a member of the Camellia family (Camellia sinensis). Black tea, oolong tea, and green tea are all derivatives of this one plant.

It is the way the tea is prepared that determines its color. After the tea plant is picked, it is fermented, and then heated to stop the fermentation process. This fermentation process is responsible for the caffeine content of the tea. The longer it is fermented the more caffeine the tea will have.

Green tea has the least amount of caffeine of all the teas because it is the least fermented. The reason why green tea has the most health benefits is because a longer fermentation process destroys many of the beneficial substances in the tea plant. That is why chugging your Lipton tea is not even remotely comparable to having a cup of green tea (Lipton is made from black tea).

For more information visit: Avatrim – Avatrim ingredients are clinically proven to help you lose weight. Avatrim’s advanced ephedrine free formula is powered by a revolutionary blend of green tea and other potent thermogenic compounds clinically proven to increase the body’s metabolic rate and energy expenditure to help promote reductions in weight and body fat.

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

The Pentacle of Healing

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

By Selena Fox, Circle Magazine

Healing is a journey from illenss to wellness. Helaing is rebalancing and renewing. Healing is transformational and multidimensional.

The multidimensionality of healing is also known as holistic. Holsitic healing recognizes that restoring well being includes more than treating phsyical disease. When there is physical illness, other dimensions of self and life also are impacted, inclduing mood, thinking, activity, and soul.

As a preistess, psychotherapist, and counselor, I serve as both a catalyst and a guide in doing healing wiork with others. Drawing from my background in Wiccan spirituality and Paganism, and my Psychology studies and practive over the past thirty-five years, I have developed a holistic framework that I call the Pentacle of Healing. The Pentacle is a five-pointed interlaced Pentagram within a Circle. Each of the five points of the Pentagram represetns a dimension of healing, and the Circle represents the harmonious integration and functioning of these dimensions.

I use the Pentacle of Helaing framework for assessment as well as for considering treatment options. I share here some of the questions to ask in working with each healing dimension. I also include several examples of healing modalities that might be used in treating problems in each.

Physical:

The Physical dimension of Healing, associated with the Element of Earth, pertains to both the physical body and the physical environment. How well does your physical body function? How clean is it? How balanced and aligned is your posture? What foods, beverages, medicines, and other things do you consume? What lotions, soaps, fragrances, and other substances do you put on or around your body? How clean and confortable are the clothes that you wear? What toxins are you exposed to at home, in your neighborhood, at work, and other places you frequent? How strong is your immune system? Physical healing modalities inlcude improving nutrition, taking medicines, getting vaccinations, internal and external cleansing of the mody, massage, decluttering living and working spaces, and reducing or eliminating exposure to toxins.

Mental:

The Mental dimension of Healing, associated with the element of Air, pertains to the mind and cognition. How well is your mind functioning? How good is your memory? How well do you listen, focus attention, and absorb information? How healthy is your self-talk? What do take into your mind? What studies are you engaged in? What kinds of things do you read and view in print, online, and in the mass media? What do you talk about to others? Mental healing modalities include journaling, cousneling, repeating affirmations, reading thought-provoking works, sloving and engaging in other types of mental exercises, and education.

Behavioral:

The Behavioral dimension of Healing, associated with the element of Fire, pertains to actions and lifestyle. How healthy is your lifestyle? What habits are enhancing your well being? What haboits are destructive? How well do you manage stress? What is your balance between work and play? How much time do you spend with others and how much do you spend alone? What is the quality of time you have for yourself? What quanitity and quality of sleep do you get each night? Behavioral healing modalities include walking, stretching, dancing, swimming, other types of exercise, time management, creative _expression, travel, hobbies, career development, volunteer service, and stress management exercises.

Emotional:

The Emotional dimension of Healing, associated with the Element of Water, pertains to feelings and relationships. How emotionally fit and mature are you? How healthy are your relationships with others? How happy are you? Whjat upsets you? How do you process anger and frustration? How do you deal with sadness and loss? What do you fear? How honest are you with others? What do you trust, feel close to, and call on in times of need? Who calls on you? What are doing to improve you emotional and social well being? Emotional healing modalities include gestalt therapy, rational-emotive therapy, music therapy, art therapy, laugh therapy, other expressive forms of psychotherapy, peer counseling, emotive journaling, and support groups.

Spiritual:

The Spiritual dimension of Healing, assoicated with the Element of Spirit, pertains to the soul and sacred forces. How healthy is your spiritual life? What is religion, spirituality, or philosophy and how does it help you? What form(s) of the Divine do you honor and connect with? What type of spiritual practices do you engage in and how often? What affiliations fo you have with the spiritual communities, groups and paths? What places are sacred to you and how often do you visit? How do you work with intuition and spiritual guidance in your life? In what ways are you developing spiritually? Spiitual healing modalities inlcude meditaiton, ritual, prayer, altar work, sacred site pilgrimages, spiritual studies, vision questions, divination, dream exploration, and spiritual healing work.

The Circle that surrounds and connects the five points of the Pentagram in this model signifies an integrative approach to hesaling and wellness. It is important that approaches selected for various dimesntions of healing, as well as healer and health care professionals guiding those approaches, work in harmony with the one needing healing, in order to restor ebalance to each dimenstion as well as the whole.

http://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.html

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

What Are Omega 3s?

by Warren Matthews of Xtend-Life

Omega 3 fatty acids are a group of polyunsaturated fatty acids essential for our good health. They are needed for the membranes of all our body cells, encompassing not only heart and brain function, but they also play an important role in the normal function of our eyes, our nervous system, our kidneys, and our liver. In fact all our body systems!

Other functions of Omega 3 include the contraction of muscles and the dilation/constriction of blood vessels, blood health, and inflammatory processes.

There are many types of omega 3s, but the most important ones for health are DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid). These are long-chain, highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) of the omega-3 family. DHA is the most complex of the Omega 3 fatty acids and it has what is known as a 22 carbon molecules and 6 double bond molecules.

I know that this might sound like a foreign language for many readers but I mention it because it is important. Important…because many fish oils are higher in EPA than DHA (Unlike the Xtend-Life Omega 3 which is high in DHA)!

DHA in particular is a building block for tissue in the brain, nervous system, and retina of the eye. It helps with forming neural transmitters, such as phosphatidylserine, which is important for brain function.

So, why are Omega 3s important?

Well, in simple terms EPA only has 20 carbon molecules and 5 double bonds. So, if your body needs more DHA than EPA (which is normally the case) it is very difficult for it to convert the EPA to the DHA as it has to ‘manufacture’ 2 additional carbon bonds and an extra double bond!

Theoretically it can do this but studies show that the conversion is minimal. On the other hand it is easy for the body to convert DHA to EPA if it is needed. This follows sound logic as it is easier to ‘drop’ molecules off than ‘add’ them!

Omega 3’s which contain DHA and EPA is only found in fish or algae. The Omega 3 which is present in plant and nut oils (flax seed, inchi etc) is called Alpha Linolenic Acid (ALA).

Although as again like EPA to DHA it is theoretically possible for your body to ultimately convert ALA to DHA you would not have to rely on it! Why? Because ALA has even less carbon molecules than EPA at just 18. So, your body would first have to convert it to EPA and then to DHA.

In reality that just doesn’t happen to any appreciable extent.

So, as there is little DHA available in the average diet, direct consumption from a highly concentrated pure source is the best way to get what the body needs on a daily basis. Xtend-Life’s Omega 3 DHA is one of the few pure products available that achieves this.

Why is DHA important for proper brain and eye function?

* Depletion of DHA level in the brain due to insufficient dietary intake of omega-3 has been found to result in impaired learning ability.

* One of the highest body concentrations of DHA is found in the outer segments of the retina.

Omega 3s are important for brain and eye function and are found at cellular level in the grey matter. DHA is actually the most abundant essential fatty acid in the brain and retina, comprising 40% of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the brain, and 60% of the PUFAs in the retina.

50% of the weight of the membrane is composed of DHA. It helps to maintain the fragile highly fluid microenvironment within the phospholipid components of the grey matter. It is also known to significantly contribute to many basic properties of cell membranes in the nervous system, including elasticity, permeability, and interactions with key regulatory proteins.

These mechanisms together support electrical signalling and ultimate brain function such as learning ability and memory.

How can we benefit from Omega 3 as we age?

Elevated levels of DHA have been able to slow the loss of brain cells as we age.

As we age we face an increased risk of nutritional deficiency and pronounced cell degeneration. Our body’s finds it harder to naturally replace lost nutrients as we age and a decline in many essential processes is often seen, such as in both short- and long-term memory, reduced motor skills, and failing sight, potentially leading to Alzhiemer’s disease, dementia, and vision problems, to name just a few possibilities.

* Reduced levels of Omega 3s have been observed in blood samples from Alzheimer’s patients and those suffering from other forms of dementia. (Gunma National University Medical Department, Japan).

Because of the importance Omega 3 (and specifically DHA) has in neurological and nerve health, it is considered essential for all of us to keep up a regular daily intake in order to help prevent degeneration, or aid current problems.

Just to give you a couple of examples….

* Studies of average 75 year old age groups show that those with high blood levels of DHA are more than 40% less likely to develop dementia, including Alzheimer’s.

* In a subsequent study Patients taking DHA showed a 65 percent improvement in dementia symptoms. In cases where dementia was already set in, and DHA levels were increased, patient symptoms also improved. (Gunma National University Medical Department, Japan).

Depression

Depression is a wide-spread problem and lack of DHA is thought to be a contributory factor, along with reduced mental and physical exercise. It is likely that susceptible individuals do poorly if DHA is deficient in their diets.

* Studies have found that major depression is associated with low blood levels of DHA and that low DHA levels increase neural cell death via depletion in the cerebral cortex of severely depressed patients. (Studies from the University of Iowa, USA.)

* In a 1995 multicenter European study in Italy, 494 elderly persons treated for six months with 90mg per day DHA showed marked improvement in apathy and social withdrawal symptoms. (Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, USA)

What about Omega 3 / DHA during pregnancy? Is it safe?

Overwhelming evidence for the benefits of DHA comes from reviews of some 50 initial, and many subsequent studies, all concluding that higher DHA concentrations in pregnant mothers translates into better brain, cognitive and visual functioning during growing years, and also better post-natal health for the mother.

During fetal development the placenta selectively takes up DHA to supply some 70% of energy devoted to brain development in the fetus, with DHA making up 30% of the brain and 50% of the retinal structure. However, since baby depends on the mother for its supply of DHA, omega-3 deficiencies in the mother can lead to DHA deficiency in the infant brain. This is an important fact because DHA needs actually double during these months, due to the periods of intense nerve cell development during growth spurts in the womb.

Supplementing DHA in the mother’s diet improves infant developmental outcomes, including:

* eye-hand coordination
* motor skills
* attention span

One study has even shown that higher maternal DHA levels are associated with more mature sleep patterns in newborn infants.

DHA has also been shown to play a part in maternal well-being. Supplementation with DHA can increase the length of pregnancy by up to six days, helping mothers carry to a healthy or full term. Additionally, research suggests that adequate levels of DHA in the diet may play a role in helping a mother’s emotional well-being after birth, helping to prevent post-natal depression.

What about Omega 3 for my children?

Research into the effects of omega 3s and in particular DHA on child and infant development has been at the forefront of the latest beneficial findings.

Research shows that DHA boosts a baby’s brain development and is good for children of all ages. As mentioned above, unborn babies benefit from DHA during pregnancy, with studies of those babies upon reaching age 4 confirming a marked increase in a child’s general IQ!

Additionally, this same research shows:

* From Newborns to 6 months infants tend to benefit from better hand-eye coordination (as compared at 2 years of age).

* From 6 months to 2 years DHA may jumpstart the production of hormones crucial for essential brain development and the increased growth needs of the infant.

* From 2 to 5 years it has been noted that low levels of DHA in children have been linked to an increased risk of ADHD, vision problems, and depression.

The Bottom Line…

I don’t think that anyone would disagree that Omega 3 fish oils, particularly the DHA component is a nutrient that everyone should take on a daily basis.

There are many fish oils on the market but few of them have all the following parameters.

* High DHA percentage
* Ester form for better bio-availability.
* Single sustainable fish source
* Molecularly distilled
* Concentrated for better value for money.
* Environmentally-friendly

But…our Xtend-Life Omega 3 DHA meets all these parameters. It has one of the highest natural DHA contents, is from a pure fish source, is further purified to ensure absolutely no contamination, and is provided to you in an ester form.

The reason we convert our fish oil into an ester form is so that the oil is in a ‘ready to use’ format for your body, immediately upon ingestion. Oil in triglyceride form has to be converted into esters by the body before it can be utilized. Many people, may not be able to do this conversion efficiently, so our product allows the Omega 3s to go straight to where they are needed.

The fish we use is called Hoki and is harvested from the pristine Southern Ocean of New Zealand. Although it is naturally free of contaminants (such as mercury, a common contaminant in other products) we still run it through a purification/distillation process

If you factor in the amount of DHA in the Xtend-Life Omega 3 and do comparisons with other products you will find that our oil is competitive and indeed affordable. I would suggest that you join the loyalty program so you will save 10% and also get free shipping for 4 bottles or more.

In good health,

Warren Matthews

Enrich your life and the lives of others by learning Aromatherapy, Reflexology or Color/Crystal Therapy at the Alternative Healing Academy! Convenient and easy-to-handle payment plans are available! Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

What Is Hypnosis for Children

If you enjoy this post, please share it using the buttons to your right >>, or email it to a friend, we'd really appreciate it! You can also get natural health articles delivered free by email or RSS - AND get a free mini-course on the Healing Art of Reflexology!

Hypnotherapy is the process of using hypnosis to treat any disease, addiction or disorders. Currently, hypnosis are used for children to overcome any anxiety, fear or other issues that can affect them as they grow. Most of children, respond to hypnotherapy pretty well, which is why this technique is pretty much getting attention and used by experts to resolve juvenile concerns.

Hypnotherapy is attributed on resolving bedwetting, thumb sucking, eating problems and other problems. It is even attributed in releasing stress and pressure children experienced. They say that children can be hypnotized as early as 3, but children above age 5 are found to be more responsive to hypnosis.

Actually all people can benefit from hypnosis. There are pregnant women suing this to reduce early morning sickness and nausea. It can even be used during labor so that the pain would not be that painful.

A hypnotherapy technique mostly used for children would be the blow away technique. In this technique or method, the children are induced into a hypnotic state asking to blow away any negative feelings. Other techniques would include relaxation and mental images which is somehow related to a daydream or a childs fantasy.

The number of sessions needed by a child depends on the development and progress that can be seen. But on the average, 4 to 8 session are needed to make positive changes. The changes brought by hypnotherapy can be permanent. Not until, there are negative forces or influences that the child can feel. This would bring the effects of the session to rubble. If this cases or situations ever occur, then there would be reinforcement or back up sessions to help the child strengthen the positive traits that were built-up in the past.

Children with the following problems can be helped by hypnosis:

- Children in pain, like those who are undergoing treatment for cancer.
- Children who is often anxious and breathes quickly and shows faster heart rate.
- Children who have been wetting their bed at night time.
- Children with asthma.
- Children with different problems or disorders like ADHD or parents who are undergoing separation or divorce.

Not giving attention to the childrens difficulties eventually led the students to fail in their schoolwork, lack if focus and ability to concentrate and social withdrawal. How they relate with the family members and the friends also change. These behavioural problems, like fear and anxieties, tend to show through their mannerisms. It could manifest with twitching, hair pulling, nail biting, asthma attacks, etc.

Most people had the impression that when somebody undergoes hypnosis they do not know what they are doing. When children undergo hypnotherapy sessions, the expert hypnotists make sure that the children know what they are saying to them and what they are going to do is actually for their benefit.

Hypnosis is also effective because it uses three elements that reverberate on the individual. The three most important elements of hypnosis are relaxation, increased concentration and focus on the goal. When all of these elements worked together, the results can be very positive.

Although it is still not that popular among pediatricians, it is starting to gain trust. According to a study written by Michael Castleman, it cited that Johns Hopkins is recognizing hypnosis for children something valuable for addressing problems like migraines or headaches, anxiousness, bed-wetting and pain.

Free Health Ebook For You...     Simply Right Click and choose Save As to save to your desktop!  More FREE Natural Health, Wellness and Pet Ebooks at Remedies4.com!

View the original article here

Why Doctors Don't Use Natural Cures

The American government controls the medical industry and decides what is taught in medical schools and practiced in regulated medical fields. As a result, all licensed medical professionals have the same general background of information on which to draw in their practice.

This also means that important information not available within the confines of the medical education are missing throughout the field. As Kevin Trudeau explains in his book Natural Cures, medical professionals and doctors in America do not recommend or prescribe natural cures for the simple reason that pharmaceutical companies and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have prevented natural remedies from entering the system.

The FDA passed a regulation stating that only drugs and pharmaceuticals can cure, prevent, or treat a disease. As a system designed to protect the public from harm, the FDA can only regulate products with homogeneous consistency. Since natural cures cannot be created and duplicated in lab environments, this regulation only applies to pharmaceutical drugs that can be patented. As a result, medical schools and educational institutions can only teach pharmaceutical drugs as a cure and treatment to disease, leaving no room to educate medical students and professionals on the benefits of naturally occurring remedies and cures.

This means that most doctors have learned in an environment inundated with pharmaceuticals and have little to no knowledge of alternative medicines, natural cures, or natural remedies. Although some doctors decide of their own accord to pursue more education on alternative medicine, most assume that their background on pharmaceuticals is sufficient enough to treat and cure the general public. Natural Cures not only discusses the limited knowledge of the American medical industry on the subjects of natural cures, but also gives consumers and doctors direct access to alternative natural treatments for ailments.

Besides having limited access to information regarding natural cures, doctors have unlimited access to the perks and privileges associated with the pharmaceutical industry. Not only are pharmaceuticals readily available, they are easy to handle, and easy to prescribe. Each drug has a defined set of rules on how a doctor should administer dosage to the patient, making pharmaceuticals easy to regulate and navigate by both the doctor and the patient.

Some natural remedies and cures require more knowledge and require the patient to assume responsibility and control over the administration of the cure. Not to mention, natural remedies don't come with the meal, vacation, and monetary perks doctors have come to associate with pharmaceutical companies and representatives. Although most doctors have little or nothing to do with the such monetary gains now, they still have little knowledge about medicines outside of the pharmaceutical industry.

Kevin Trudeau's Natural Cures provides doctors and consumers with the information they need to cure diseases and problems without the side effects and manipulation of drugs and drug companies. Doctors now have the opportunity to learn about the natural remedies and cures used by other professionals around the world and gain the knowledge the FDA denied them throughout their education.

Albert Milligan, is a writer and editor of internet articles. If you would like to find out more about the FDA, drug companies and natural cures visit [http://www.naturalcures.ws] we are giving away two free books on this topic.

Yoga - An Alternative Exercise

Yoga was first experimented with in the US in the 1960's and has steadily grown in popularity since. Approximately 30 million Americans practice Hatha yoga. Like many of the other alternative medicines, yoga promotes a whole-body approach to health and exercise. Unlike traditional medical practices yoga is a physical and mental discipline that uses posture-related techniques that involve gentle stretching, breath control and meditation. As patients delve more and more into the alternative medicine fields to cure their health problems the followers of acupuncture, chiropractic, meditation and yoga are growing at a rapid speed.

Yoga originated in India around 3300 BC. Much like many other practices in India, yoga is associated with philosophies of Hinduis, Buddhism and Jainism. Yoga has several meanings which are derived from Sanskrit, all of which can be correlated to traditional or modern day yoga, "to control", "to unite", "contemplation", and "absorption". The major branches of yoga include Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. Traditionally yoga was a ritual discipline of concentration with a goal of improving health to achieve Moksha, which is a release from worldly suffering.

Hatha yoga is the most commonly practiced type of yoga in US. Hatha yoga is what typical Americans refer to as yoga is used for mental and physical health. Americans consider yoga an alternative to exercise. Yoga is mental and spiritual well being brought about through physical postures and poses. It involves a connection between the mind and body through breathing. Yoga strengthens the muscles and stretches the body in order to calm the mind. Yoga is a great way to improve flexibility and decrease physical discomfort in the body.

Due to high stress levels in people's lives, many turn to yoga to reduce this stress. Yoga is known for reducing stress and increased relaxation of both mind and body. However it has many other health benefits as well. Yoga has been known to help with people who suffer from lower back pain. Due to specific poses, yoga strengthens and stretches muscles, which can be effected by injuries. In addition people who suffer from high anxiety have seen improved results from yoga based on it's calming of the mind and spirit.

Now a days you can find classes for all different types of yoga and for people of all different ages. Most people who turn to yoga are either looking for a gentler way to exercise or a more holistic and spiritual way to reduce stress and relax. Try a beginners yoga class to see if this alternative exercise is right for you.

Graduated with a BA in exercise science and have worked in the medical field since. My focus is alternative medicine however all aspects of health interest me. Check out my health website! http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Yoga.html

Will Alternative Medicine Replace Conventional Medicine One Day?

Nowadays, people are losing confidence on allopathic medicine. It is no longer the panacea people once perceived and been accustomed to. Questions now haunt conventional medical practices as the public's primary concern shifted to protecting their family's lives and their own.

The attention has turned towards alternative medicine - which is gaining reputation in the field of health care. It has become the benchmark as conventional medicine fails to produce satisfactory results.

Television and other forms of media continue to endorse medications that guarantee to alleviate and contain known diseases. Moreover, advertisements entice the public by allowing strangers to give dubious testimonials on a certain drug.

Magazine ads do the same. Some drug's side effects are mentioned but appear to be carelessly explained and examined.

These effects resulted in a deviation of norm as people choose alternative medicine. Here are some examples of the adverse side effects of Premarin, the popular hormone replacement therapy:

* Migraine headache

* Chest pain

* Confusion of the mind and memory problems

* Lower extremities swelling

These consequences during menopause could easily be remedied by consulting an herbalist. A combination of black cohosh and dong quai offers a safe treatment in this period in life.

The general public is conditioned to use traditional allopathic, also known as Western medicine, which concentrates on the ailment and drug prescription. Alternative medicine on the other hand targets the root of discomfort consequently curing the entire body.

As a result, people tend to do extra research on a prescribed medicine for it may present worse conditions than the occurring illness. Because of these side effects, people are looking for a safer, more natural, and better approach to good health.

Alternative medicine is becoming one of the mainstream solutions for better health. It is now prescribed by most allopathic doctors to cure sickness and diseases.

The medical profession is beginning to be aware of the positive contributions made to good health by herbs, yoga, acupuncture, massage therapy, and holistic living. As years pass by, alternative medicine is expected to present better and safer approaches to health care.

Author Lenox Smith has a website with a great compilation of information on alternative health care medicine. Visit his website at: http://onalternativemedicines.com

The Benefits of Holistic Treatments

Feeling under the weather? Doctor can't find anything wrong?

Quite often someone will go to a conventional doctor with an array of symptoms, but no health issue will be diagnosed, so the patient will continue to put up with these symptoms for months and even years.

However symptoms are the body's 'cry for help' and working with the body and it's signals can bring it back to a healthy state, without the side effects of prescriptive drugs, and an understanding of the body and why these symptoms are occurring is the first step to health and well being.

The main questions which need to be addressed are:

Which conditions led to these feelings?

Why is the body staying in this weakened state?

How to restore the body to optimum health?

How to ensure the body remains at this optimum level?

And the best way of answering these questions is with a professional health screening.

Once you've had a screening then a variety of natural and alternative health practices can be prescribed either alongside, or instead of, conventional medicine.

For instance hypnotherapy can be very successful changing habits, overcoming anxiety, losing weight, defeating depression, and has been used for centuries, to help cure a range of mental and physical ailments.

Similarly acupuncture is a very effective treatment for arthritis, rheumatism, osteoporosis, chronic pain, digestive problems, whilst also being an extremely successful method of giving up smoking. The acupuncture needles are very fine, sterile and disposable, and this ancient Chinese practice focuses on specific areas of the body relating to internal organs.

So if you've had a niggling illness for a while and don't know where to turn I would definitely recommend taking that leap and explore natural or alternative medicines and treatments.

As its name suggests, Natural Practices is dedicated to Holistic principles; helping people return to optimum health naturally without the use of prescriptive drugs and their possible side effects. We are a practice based in Cheshire offering a wide range of holistic treatments such as colonic hydrotherapy, fertility treatments and body screening.

The Difference in Alternative Health

The traditional Western ways in medical treatment is to find out the symptoms and match them to a disease name then offer the corresponding treatment for that disease. However, the alternative health approach will employ upon systematic conditions which will try to find out the root cause of the problems and attempt to rectify it. The practitioner of this kind will have an open mind and try to research beyond the symptoms to figure out the roots and causes. For example in Chinese medicine they utilize 'patterns' for diagnosis and treatment. If you are ill a Western diagnosis will depend on the signs and symptoms you are presenting with, however the Chinese medicine practitioner will come up with a diagnosis based on how you got ill, the factors that allowed you to get ill, and your signs and symptoms. In other words this is how we talk about alternative health being Holistic or looking at the whole body-wholism.

Alternative health can be the best treatment method for many illnesses, where of course Western medicine can be the best for other illnesses. For example, pain can be managed well by these tactics without any addictive drugs. The severity of the problem caused will decide upon the treatment method and the length of time needed to treat. The transition will be very smooth and safe if it is alternative health approach. There are millions of herbs and natural medicines available having the potential to treat almost all diseases, and practitioners have adequate education to use the right treatments for these diseases. The internet is a great place to find information regarding the treatment procedures and their side effects. Although contacting a local practitioner can get you a full consultation on what could be needed.

Some benefits of Alternative Medicine:

The treatment procedures are completely non-invasive.
Alternative health medicines do not employ any kind of chemicals. It is due to this reason, they are completely safe to consume.
Need for surgery is eliminated here.
The patients can stick to herbs and supplements even on a long term basis.
Alternative treatments have been shown to reduce medications needed, saving cost and chemicals ingested.

What are the risks involved?

There can be problems if the patients encounter with unskilled practioner.
Certain patients will be allergic to herbal treatment. If allergic products are used, it will complicate the entire issue. Make sure to tell your practitioner any allergies you have.
People should not employ any alternative health procedure on their own. Trained practitioners should be consulted with.

Alternative medicine is becoming more integrated with Western healthcare and has ability to compliment the treatment of many conditions. Everyone should do some research and find a qualified practitioner near them.

Sean is a Chinese and Western Herbalist and formulates for Dimmak Herbs. Visit their website to find Chinese herbal remedies, herbal remedies, and herbal supplements.