Heliotherapy – Soaking Up the Sun

February 16, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Since ancient times natural light was considered to have a lot of positive physiological effects on the human body. Even the Father of Medicine Hippocrates made use of the sun’s rays in his naturopathic treatments for diseases. This practice is now known as Heliotherapy.

Heliotherapy is the method that makes use of the sun’s ultraviolet waves in order to enhance the production of nutrients and vitamins in the skin and the body. This would result to an elevated rate of metabolism that would assist the body in increasing its rate of creating multiple enzymes that is being used for tissue restoration. The process allows cells to rejuvenate and work together. This allows an increase in the pace rhythm of the blood flow which later on leads to an improvement of oxygen supply.

If this treatment is done consistently Heliotherapy can reduce the chance of prostrate breast cancer, osteoporosis, psoriasis and other skin diseases. This therapy can also be used as a natural antibiotic. As a stress reliever it works by relaxing tense muscles and promoting mood stability. It is also proven to help enhance the immune system. Heliotherapy can also assist in wound healing and can eliminate the microbes from the skin. It can help reduce the pain that is brought about by neuralgia and arthritis as well.

Heliotherapy is recommended especially for those who are experiencing symptoms of stress or hypertension. It is said to lower the chances for people to have breast cancer, osteoporosis, psoriasis, acne, prostrate cancer and many more.

You do not have to worry about sunburn when following this therapy due to the fact that the practice should only be done in small doses and is more advised to be done during early morning. All you need to do is get natural sunlight fifteen minutes a day preferably early in the morning before 9:00 am. The whole method is so simple yet you get so many benefits for it.

So if you are an early morning person, why not try heliotherapy to enhance your health and start relaxing in a stress free way.

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Yoga for Women

February 15, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

A woman leads a stressful life – compared to men, women are more exposed to health risks and emotional pressure which can cause their health to depreciate.  Aside from that, women also have to deal with hormonal changes which greatly influence a woman’s health. These hormonal changes are one of the reasons why women have to bear increased levels of emotional and mental stress and it is a fact that these distresses are already considered to be an illness and sign of physical weakness.

Pregnancy is also another stage in a woman’s life that can bring various changes in her health.  The different stages that a woman goes through also offer different problems in her health. For instance, menstrual problems and premenstrual syndrome are one of the most leading issues that are affecting a lot of women world wide.

Practicing yoga can greatly help you overcome the health problems that can come your way. Aside from that yoga can give you benefits that will help you become healthier making you overcome these obstacles easily.

For one, practicing yoga regularly can help minimize the negative effects of pregnancy such as nausea and sickness. The stretching poses of yoga will not only make you feel relaxed but it will also stretch your muscles for easy functioning.

If you put yoga in your daily routine, you can balance out your stress and depression which you can use in times of your menstrual periods. Yoga helps you strengthen your abdominal muscles which would give effective relief if you get menstrual cramps.

For pregnant women, the breathing techniques that you learn in yoga can also be helpful when you give birth since they will help you concentrate on the delivery of your baby.

  • Fish pose – this particular pose would be great for relaxing and it can help improve your breathing. This will help improve your nervous system and your responsiveness as well. It also helps strengthen the muscles in your neck and back.
  • Hero pose – this particular pose would be the best one to use if you only want to have a period of time for meditation
  • Cat pose – if you want to relax your muscles then you should do this yoga pose. Anyone can do this regardless of age and physical condition.

These are just three of the many yoga postures that women can do to help improve their health. For better tolerance and more strength to face every day stressors and dilemmas, start doing yoga regularly.

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Kahuna Massage – Relaxing the Hawaiian Way

February 12, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

If you are looking for a unique way to start relaxing then you should try the Kahuna Massage. This is an ancient Hawaiian massage that has been made based on the idea of “lomi lomi” or “the loving touch”. This type of massage is believed to have a connection between your hand, heart and soul. It is believed that you will feel a warm feeling of love all over your body with this massage.

The Kahuna massage is considered as a holistic healing method since it aims to regain the balance in your body. The massage can affect you not only physically but emotionally as well since the massage would be targeting your mind and your body.

This type of massage is considered to be very unique since the massage practitioner will not only be using their hands but also their elbows and forearms. You will find the massage practitioner moving around the massage table so that he or she can work on your whole body. As you can see, it does not use the usual isolated finger pressure in this form of massage. You will be feeling long pressure strokes in your body and the feeling can be very fantastic.

What makes this Hawaiian massage unique is the fact that you will be treated in a tranquil and serene environment. You will find that most spas would set up an ambiance of aromatherapy candles, soft lighting and soothing music for this type of massage.

The massage is said to be very beneficial in regards to the way you would look at your life. It can absorb negative feelings from the body and can help you think positively. This will also help you meditate and focus on the best things in life.

You can also benefit from the healing properties of the massage. The Kahuna massage can help improve your digestive, respiratory and immune systems. The massage lets your body’s energy flow and will make your figure feel more flexible after.

If you need a release from everyday stress then get a Kahuna massage treatment and let the wonderful feeling of peace and calm surround you.

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The Essence of Lavender

February 8, 2010 By marie Leave a Comment

Most spas prefer to use lavender when it comes to aromatherapy because it is a perfect way to make a person relax. The lavender is a very fragrant herb that is very aromatic especially when dried or converted to oil.

Lavender has a lot of medical properties. It can give you relief from bug bites, stings and itchy skin due to its analgesic properties. The lavender is also effective when it comes to the treatment of acne, scabies and athlete’s foot because of its antiseptic quality.

Respiratory conditions can also be treated with the help of lavender. Bronchitis, congestion from colds and flu and even sinusitis can be treated by adding a few drops of lavender oil to a bowl of steamy hot water and then making the person breathe the vapors.

If you need instant relief from headaches or sinus, then you can dab lavender oil on each eyebrow and each cheek.

Lavender can not only affect you physically but psychologically as well. The smell of lavender can be used to treat anxiety and get rid of exhaustion. The smell is also considered to be an effective treatment when it comes to getting some sleep. All you have to do is to place the lavender by your pillow.

A lot of alternative therapies like acupuncture and chiropractic and massage treatments use lavender oil because it helps the patient respond positively to the therapy which calls for better and more satisfying results.

There are some precautions that you have to take in mind though when it comes to using lavender. It is safe to put undiluted lavender oil in the body compared to other herbal oils but it is important that you avoid getting the oil in your eyes, lips, nose or other mucous membranes since it can irritate the said body parts. Lavender oil should not be used in open wounds as well.

With its relaxing scent, it is no wonder why a lot of companies use it for their creams, lotions and perfumes products. If you are longing for some relaxation and relief then you should use lavender to give you immediate peace and calm.

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Add Calisthenics in your Daily Routine

December 1, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

There are a lot of ways to lose weight and stay fit and doing calisthenics is one of them. Calisthenics exercises can significantly help improve your overall fitness, strength and physique. In fact, calisthenics originated from the Greek words “kalos” meaning beauty and “thenos” meaning strength.

Calisthenics involve a number of simple movements that are performed without the use of weights or other equipments. In this exercise, your body weight is being used for resistance. Calisthenics provide you an efficient and balanced exercise program promoting resistance, flexibility, vigor, agility and coordination. Common examples of calisthenics are sit-ups or crunches, squats, jumping jacks, and arm and knee rotation.

Your calisthenics routine should be followed carefully. This is because calisthenics exercises increases the metabolic rate of your body and should therefore be done continuously in a smooth flow from one exercise to the other.

Take note that a three minute break should be done between each exercise. Basic repetitions are done five times and as you get used to the exercise pattern it is advised that you increase the number of repetitions.

Always start slowly and exercise according to what your stamina can take. It is best to exercise according to your energy level for the day. Always begin with the core exercises and do the advanced ones later.

Calisthenics must be practiced in a clean place where the flooring is level. A padded floor mat will definitely be helpful. Good ventilation and lightning will help raise your energy levels as well.

To make it more fun, you can do your calisthenics workout while playing music and follow the rhythm.

Take note that if you feel any form of discomfort such as dizziness or shortness of breath, you should stop exercising and take a rest for a while.

There are a lot of advantages when it comes to doing calisthenics. They can be done anywhere and they are effective workouts for any age group. There is no need for weights or equipments which means it is a cheaper alternative to going to the gym.

So if you want to condition your body in a natural way, then you should add calisthenics to your daily routine and get the benefits of staying fit and getting strong.

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Hair Care Tips

December 1, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

Everyone has a bad hair day. Did you know that your hair is actually the body’s barometer that indicates whether you are in good health or not? Here are two hair types that do not only look bad but indicates that you have bad hygiene or poor health:

Dry Hair

Dry hair makes you look dull and is very difficult to control after shampooing. Oftentimes, dry hair comes with split ends. This happens because the oil glands are inactive making your hair rough, thin and brittle. To avoid this, you will have to give more care and nourishment to your hair.

One thing you can do to get rid of dry hair is to use coconut milk. Get a cup of coconut milk and add two tablespoons of gram flour then apply the mixture to your scalp and massage gently. After five minutes, rinse your hair. Do this twice a week.

Another remedy is to add a teaspoon of lavender oil to coconut oil and heat the mixture for a few seconds. Massage the mixture to your scalp at night and then shampoo your hair the following morning. Do this twice a week and you will have soft and shiny hair.

Oily Hair

When you have oily hair it means that there is excess secretion done by the oil glands of your scalp. Oily hair becomes sticky even after you shampoo and this makes your hair more susceptible to dust and dirt. Basically all you need to do to get rid of oily hair is to do frequent washing with mild shampoo but there are other home remedies that you can use as well.

One way to deal with only hair is to mix one teaspoon of Aloe vera gel and one tablespoon of lemon juice with one fourth shampoo and use this mixture regularly.

You can also boil two tablespoons of mint in one and a half glass of water for 20 minutes. After that, you have to strain the mixture and mix it with the shampoo that you regularly use. Do this on alternative days. This mixture will help absorb the excess oil from the scalp.

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Lower your Temperature – How to get Rid of Fever

December 1, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

Fever is a very common ailment that everyone goes through. This is because fever is an underlying medical condition. But it does not mean that fever is always a bad thing – sometimes you have fever because it is an indication that your body is fighting off viruses and bacteria.

The number one symptom of fever is the rise in body temperature. Hallucination, irritation and confusion accompany high fever. Other symptoms include dehydration, sweating, headache, lack of appetite, muscle aches, burning eyes, general weakness, and shivering.

If you have fever here are some home remedies and tips that you can do in order to get relief and get rid of your fever instantly:

  • If you have mild fever, you should lie on a bed and completely cover yourself with a blanket for 20 minutes so that you can sweat it out. Stay in bed as much as possible.

  • Drink a lot of water so that you can replace the fluid loss. This will also help bring down your body temperature.

  • When it comes to eating, it is best that you go with liquid food over solid food or eat those that are easily digestible. Examples of these are boiled or steamed vegetables, soup and yogurt. Heavy foods such as fast food, chicken, fish, raw foods and fried foods should be avoided completely. It is best to avoid eating solid foods until the fever is gone.

  • Soak 25 raisins in half a cup of water and then crush them in the water. Strain and discard the skin. Add a teaspoon of lime juice to the water to enhance the taste. Take the mixture twice daily in order to get rid of the fever.

  • Take a teaspoon of honey and add two to three drops of ginger juice. This will help get rid of your fever as fast as possible.

  • Orange is an excellent fever relief food. Orange juice gives you energy, increases your urinary output ands promotes resistance against infections which helps hasten your recovery.

  • It would also help to keep hot water battles on the feet and against the sides of your body.

  • To help bring down your body temperature you can use potatoes and put them on your forehead, chest and stomach.
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The Wonders You Can Get from Sage

November 27, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

Sage is a very well known herb that is a native to the Mediterranean area. Sage can be grown as a kitchen plant due to its value as a cooking herb for its peppery flavor which is widely used in meats, stuffing, sauces, cheese and even drinks. Sage can also be grown as an ornamental plant due to its attractive gray like leaves and blue to purplish flowers.

But Sage is also commonly grown due to its health and medicinal value. In fact the Latin name for Sage is “Sylvia” which means “to heal”. The Egyptians used Sage as a fertility drug while the Chinese valued sage tea as a stimulating tonic in ancient times. Today, a lot of ailments and illnesses are identified and considered to be relieved by this herb.

Sage Tea is the most common form of using the herb for healing. You can relieve sore throats and coughs by gargling on it. When drank in small repeated doses, Sage tea becomes a good remedy for nervous conditions, weak digestions and fevers with deliriums. Sage tea is also identified to help treat joint pain, headaches and kidney or liver complaints.

German researchers also shared that sage can help reduce 50% of sweating that is brought on by menopause, fever and night swears. This is done through sage leaf infusion or dry sage leaf extract.

Sage has also been identified as a good herb for the memory and senses. Rosemary sage in particular has been identified to have the ability to help improve a person’s memory and brain function. People who take sage oil have improved when it comes to word recall making Sage a promising treatment for Alzheimer’s.

Taking Sage is also a good way to cure your problems when it comes to digestion. This is because Sage has bitter compounds that can stimulate intestinal mobility, secretions, bile flow and the pancreas.

Take note that you must not use Sage in excessive amounts. You can actually overdose on sage since it large doses can be toxic. Women who are pregnant or nursing and those who are prone to epileptic fits are not advised to use sage as a medication.

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How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

November 27, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

There is no doubt that mosquitoes are annoying insects that will bite you every chance they can get. Not only do they get to keep on pestering you and sucking your blood but their bites can be very itchy as well.

You may not know it but there are a lot of things that you can do in order to avoid being pestered by mosquitoes and even gnats. Here are some tips:

  • Mosquitoes are known to stay away from people who have a high amount of Thiamine or Vitamin B1 in their systems. You can get Thiamine form foods like fish, sunflower seeds, brewer’s yeast, and Brazil nuts. If you know that you will be going to an area that is infested by these annoying insect it has been advised that you eat or take a supplement of Vitamin B1 an hour before you reach your destination.

  • If you have an aloe vera plant you can break off the stems and use the juice to rub on the uncovered areas of your body as protection against not only mosquitoes but other insects as well. Rubbing fresh parsley on the exposed parts of your body also works as well. Eucalyptus oil will work as well.

  • Studies have shown that mosquitoes barely bite on people who do not consume white sugar and those who do not drink alcoholic beverages. So if you do not want to be pestered by mosquitoes and even gnats – you may consider going sugar and alcohol free on your diet.

  • It is also best to keep dry since mosquitoes are very attracted to wet and damp clothes. If you have wet clothing in the room make sure to dry it outside of the house. Some studies also reveal that mosquitoes are attracted to the color blue.

  • Garlic has been considered as one of the best ways to get rid of mosquitoes. In an experiment done wherein garlic extracts were tested on five different species of mosquitoes, none of them survived. You can rub garlic all over your exposed body parts but people refrain from doing so due to the stench it causes.
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Natural Prevention and Cure for Influenza

November 26, 2009 By marie Leave a Comment

In our surroundings, there are thousands of viruses present in the air. Everyday, these viruses are threatening our health and well-being. The most common illness that every person may experience that is caused by these viruses is influenza or flu. The flu virus may be passed on from one person to another by sneezing or even handshaking.

Individuals who have weaker body resistance are often the usual sufferers of influenza. That is why it is important for everyone to strengthen its body resistance to prevent from experiencing the effects of flu virus. When a person gets influenza, the throat, nose, and lungs’ bronchial tubes are affected. Although there are flu vaccines available in the market today, we cannot always rely on these because of the constant mutation of the viruses. That is why we need to have natural defense against these viruses.

The most common home remedy and prevention for flu is to take Vitamin C because this helps boosts the body’s immune system. When you feel a little throat and chest pain or perhaps your lips and mouth are dry and you are feeling very thirsty, do not ignore this. This are symptoms that a person is about to have flu. If you feel this symptoms, then you should take bryonia.

If you are already having flu, a cup of tea made up of garlic and gingerroot are very useful to relieve you from the condition. Tea made up of gingerroot is very effective in fighting common colds. However, if you are feeling severe coldness due to flu, you can take one tablespoon of honey along with ¼ tablespoon of cinnamon powder daily for about 3 days. This can help in clearing your sinuses and curing chronic colds and cough.

Another great home remedy for influenza is to boil ginger powder and inhale its steam. You can also use eucalyptus leaves for this purpose. The good thing about eucalyptus leaves is that it has a soothing menthol effect when you inhale the steam.

In these times of financial crises, getting sick is very expensive. That is why it is important to utilize the natural herbs and ingredients that can be found in our kitchen and backyard for prevention and cure of common influenza.

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