Critical Care Guide: January 2009

Acne: A Basic Understanding

Statistics indicate that as high as 80% of the entire American population has ever had acne. Acne afflicts all genders, sexes and ages making it a universal skin disorder. As a form of skin disease, the good news is that acne is not transmittable.

Although acne is not contagious from person-to-person, it can spread to the whole face and can severely affect all the skin tissues that have pilosebaceous units. It is not true that acne just affects those going through puberty. Even infants or individuals who may be well over their forties, can develop this skin disorder. Acne infantilis is the term used for acne that grows on newborn babies, on the other hand acne rosacea is related to middle-aged people.

Acne has different classifications, according to the severity of the infection.

Comedo is the form where all severe acne cases originate. This is characterized by red swelling or small lesions on your skin. Whiteheads and blackheads are two forms of comedo. Conversely, blackhead is an open comedo. The coloration is due to the accumulation of dark skin pigments called melanin, plus hardened sebum and other skin debris and particles. This is the basic structure of whiteheads, however, the only difference is the coloration and these are deeply situated into the skin layers.

If you have sandpaper-like skin around the tissue of your mouth and on the surface of your forehead, chin and cheeks, you probably have papules. Pus-filled lesions are also termed as pustules.

Nodules on the other hand are similar with pustules. However, nodules are firmer and are larger acne growing deep in the skin. Inflammation may develop your pustules into containing semi-liquid or liquid materials composed of white blood cells (which are dead because of the acne-infecting bacteria named as Propionibacterium acnes), dead skin cells and active or inactive bacteria. This can result into more serious acne called cysts. In such situations, you may need the assistance of a skin dermatologist or physician.

What is the cause of acne? It is quite difficult to exactly determine what may have caused your acne infection as reasons differ case to case. Studies indicate that the skin disorder may be brought about by many factors, including poor diet, stress, weather elements, and hormone changes or may be genetically influenced.

Medically speaking, acne starts from the formation of hardened sebum, or the oily substance secreted to the skin through the sebaceous glands. This then will be permeated with acne-infecting bacteria, which in return will trigger the immune system to release white blood cells to obstruct the attack of the bacteria. As this happens, dead white blood cells and bacteria will accumulate in the hair follicles mixed with skin debris and dead skin particles, which then will inflame the lesions.

Most mild case acne may be treated with over the counter acne medications. They are generally topical drugs, which you apply on your skin for acne treatment. They may come in the form of soaps, lotions, gels and creams. Conversely, systematic acne medications are taken orally. The most common of which are the antibiotics.

Knowing that you are not the only one inflicted with acne at some point in life or another helps in that there will always be new research and new products coming on stream. Continue to read up on acne research and help your fight against it.

Kathelene Capelle is a writer for beauty tips and advice. Her blog includes useful information on acne remedy, natural skin care, natural remedies for skin care and anti-aging. She also provides step-by-step recipes for skin care that you can easily prepare from ingredients right out from your kitchen. Get updated on tips and resources at http://www.acne-and-skin-care.com

10 Things to Find Out Before Joining a Health Club

If you are serious about getting the best results you can when it comes to improving your physical fitness, then joining a quality health club is probably going to be important for you. The number of people who successfully reach their fitness goals by utilizing a health club is far greater than those who are successful on their own.

This isn't to say that you can't do it on your own, but be pre-warned that going it on your own is a lot more difficult than you may think. If you want to get physically fit without joining a club, as a minimum, you should plan on hiring a personal trainer, at least to get you started. Also, you will need to invest in some home exercise equipment. The cost of a trainer and quality home equipment can require an investment that would allow you to join a good health club for several years.

Believe me when I tell that I'm not trying to convince you not to do your own thing. I have all my own equipment. But keep in mind that I also have an advanced degree in exercise physiology and many years experience coaching others on what needs to be done and how to do it. And, to be honest, if there was a good health club close by, I would join it in a flash. For me, the closest good health club is about 60 miles away. My investment in good quality equipment cost me about $5000. That would pay for quite a few years of health club membership.

So, chances a good that you should consider joining a good health club to help you meet your fitness goals. If this is the case, here are some of the most important things you need to consider when evaluating a health club before you join.

1.Health Screenings ? Find out if the club performs a health screening before you begin your membership. Ideally, a certified fitness professional should give you a submax fitness test to determine your current cardiovascular fitness. They should also ask you questions about your medical history and conduct tests for flexibility. Getting this information will help the staff evaluate your capabilities and design a safe and effective exercise routine that will help you achieve your desired results.

2.Qualified, certified fitness instructors ? The instructors should be certified through a national exercise organization such as ACE or ACSM. Some of the organizations have certifications for special needs groups like seniors or people with arthritis. If you fit into a special group, check to see if any of the staff at the club you're interested in has the certifications that will be most beneficial to you. And check their credentials. There are a lot of certificate mills out there that give out certifications for a few dollars and don't require any testing to insure the applicants are knowledgeable or have practical experience.

There should be certified staff members available to answer questions and show you how to use any of the equipment. They should also be available to help you set up your initial exercise program and guide you in any modifications you need to make as you progress.

3.Service Oriented ? When you first go to a club to check it out, see what kind of feeling you get from the staff. Do they seem interested in you and your exercise goals or are they just trying to sign you up for the most expensive package they can talk you in to? Staff members should be willing and able to answer any questions you have about various programs, etc. And they should encourage you to use the facility, not just try to get you to sign up.

4.Try before you buy ? The facility should allow you a try out period before committing to a membership. Look for a club that allows you to try out the facility for at least 2 weeks (there may be a fee for this). At the very least, they should offer you a free day pass so you can see how you feel using the facility.

5.Members of the facility ? Check out the kind of people who are using the facility. Ask yourself if these are the kind of people you want to be exercising next to. If you are a baby boomer and most of the people you see in the facility are 20 something, you may not be comfortable working out with them as your peers. If you like everything else about the facility but you're not sure the other members fit your comfort profile, make a point of visiting the facility when you are most likely to use it. You will probably find that the demographics of many clubs change depending on when you go there.

6.Close to home or work ? If a club isn't convenient for you to get to, you aren't going to use it regularly. If you don't exercise regularly, you will be defeating your purpose. The club I joined when I was living in Chicago was a national chain. One of the big reasons I joined this particular club was that they had multiple facilities within 5 minutes of both my home and my office. It was very convenient for me to go to either club, so I used the facilities all the time. That was a very good thing at the time, because I was training for triathlons which require a lot of training.

7.Types of Equipment ? Similar to location, if a facility doesn't have the kind of weight training and cardiovascular equipment you want to use, it's not going to be a good fit for you. When I was training for triathlons I needed a pool. Another selling point for the club I joined was that each of the facilities that were close for me also had a pool and an indoor running track that helped with winter training. Make sure that you know what kind of equipment you need to use and are comfortable with it. A club that has predominantly free weights isn't going to do you much good if you want to use machines.

8. Condition of Equipment ? Check to make sure all the equipment is clean and maintained. It won't do you much good to belong to a club where half the machines have signs saying they are out of service. And working out on dirty, smelly equipment can really put a damper on your training.

9. Aerobics Room ? If there is any chance you might want to take some kind of aerobics class (dance, step, spin, etc.) you will want to be sure that the aerobics room has good ventilation and a shock absorbing floor. If you have never had shin splints let me tell you that a shock absorbing floor can make a big difference. And a room with poor ventilation cam really get stuffy when your breathing in everyone else's used up air.

10. Facility Temperature and Air Flow ? When you go for your initial visit to try out the facility, pay attention to the temperature and humidity in the facility. They should be at a comfortable level for you to work out. One of the problems with some facilities that have pools is that they don't have good separation between the pool area and the rest of the facility. This can cause some pretty high humidity, which can make working out very uncomfortable.

In a similar fashion, poor air flow within the facility can cause problems. You don't want to be working out in an area that smells like a men's locker room (sorry guys but I don't know what a women's locker room smells like so I have to use what I'm familiar with).

This may seem like a lot of things to find out about, but keep in mind that you are going to be paying a decent amount of money for the use of a good, quality facility. And, you will be spending a fair amount of time there if you are really serious about your fitness and health. It makes sense to make sure you will be happy and comfortable with this investment of time and money.

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Online fitness coach Tom Manfredi is the creator of the site fitness-after-50.com. He has a master's degree in exercise physiology and over 20 years of practical exercise experience.

This site is designed with the mature adult in mind. Learn more by going to fitness-after-50.com

The Search for Pure Hoodia Plant Extracts

The company which created a market for weight loss products with hoodia gordonii has not yet released their own product. That company is Phytopharm. Currently partnered with Unilever (makers of Slim Fast and other food products), Phytopharm has been conducting research and attempting to develop and market a product using pure hoodia plant extract for over ten years. They announced in late April of 2006 that they had just completed the first phase of a five phase clinical research program and still expect that several years will pass before their product is available.

In the meantime, media coverage, including reporters traveling to Africa to sample the hoodia gordonii plant, created a market for health supplement companies. If eating the pure hoodia plant would suppress the appetite, then products containing the plant in powdered form should accomplish the same thing. Weight loss products with hoodia gordonii are working for some people and not for others. This is true with many ?natural cures?, but a controversy is brewing over whether all of the products that claim to contain hoodia gordonii, actually do. At first, it appeared that this was an advertising gimmick created by companies whose products cost more, something to set them above the rest. Statements from a company that sells a product about other companies selling the same product are sometimes just sales pitches. But, in this case, it appears that there is evidence to support the statements.

The first step in chemical analysis was finding samples of the pure hoodia plant. Hoodia gordonii only grows in areas of southern Africa. It is not favored in botanical gardens or green houses because the blooms have such a strong smell. The smell has often been compared to rotting meat. Wild stands of hoodia gordonii have been protected from harvesting by the governments of southern Africa. Cultivation of hoodia gordonii has been difficult. These statements are made by not only the companies that are currently selling weight loss products with hoodia gordonii, but also by Phytopharm. The lack of sources of pure hoodia plant has led suppliers at some point in the manufacturing process to either substitute something else for hoodia gordonii or reduce the amount of the active ingredient to very low levels.

A non-profit organization called Hoodia gordonii.co.za, based in South Africa, attempts to inform consumers about which weight loss products with hoodia are genuine and which are fake. At this time they have had chemical analyses performed by Alkemists Pharmaceuticals on twelve different products which claim to contain pure hoodia plant in powdered form. According to these results, some of the products contain hoodia gordonii, some contain a small amount of hoodia gordonii and some contain no hoodia gordonii at all. In fact, one company is the subject of a possible class action suit.

Some of the questionable weight loss products with hoodia have appropriate CITES licenses for exporting hoodia gordonii and so one must assume that the error was made as early as the harvesting process. The government of South Africa was concerned that this might be a problem. Identification of the hoodia gordonii plant is apparently difficult, as there are 15 different species of hoodia, but only hoodia gordonii has been studied as an appetite suppressant. In order for consumers to find weight loss products with hoodia gordonii that is genuine, it may be necessary to look for companies which display chemical analysis reports or are certified by Hoodia gordonii.co.za.

For more information about the pure hoodia plant, visit the Hoodia Info Blog.

Patsy Hamilton is an editor of the Hoodia Info Blog. Visit us at http://hoodiainfo.blogspot.com

A Guide To Positive Imaging For Weight Loss

Have you ever imagined how visualization can play an important part in losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle that keeps it off.

Losing weight can be difficult for many people who use fad diets and pills to achieve their weight loss goals without letting their mind help in the process.

Visualization is a powerful technique that can help you make lasting lifestyle changes. Just by day dreaming, you can significantly improve your chances in achieving your goals.

Visualization is a great weight loss tool and its as simple as visualizing your body as you want your body to look like.

This mental image of yourself is then transferred to your subconscious mind, which in turn starts to work on your body, shaping it in accordance with your mental image thus reducing your weight.

This means that if you program your subconscious with a mental image of yourself as a slimmer person, through persistence your mind will accept this and aid your body to conform to this mental image.

Once your mind is programmed with the proper mental images, it will start to work in assisting you to losing weight. I can?t stress enough how important it is for you to believe in your visualization goals.

You have to let go of past dieting failures and refuse to entertain any negative images that come into your mind.

If you can visualize your body at its perfect weight and proportions, the subconscious mind will work to make it become a reality. It will then begin to positively reinforce your body into aiding the metabolism and eating habits.

Programming your mind into believing that you can lose weight, and to visualize yourself at your ideal weight is of the greatest importance.

Try to think of a different image of yourself, then let your subconscious do the work for you. If you think of your own body fat and being out of shape all the time, then the subconscious mind will find ways to make it so.

The subconscious looks after all of all your vital functions, it is the cause of all your good and bad habits, and also regulates muscle (the muscles are controlled by the subconscious) and body-fat composition on the body, and the latter is the one we are most interested in.

So please try to visualize your body as lean as you would like, and your mind will work on that image. The mind can be a great partner in losing weight.

Getting Rid of Bad Nutritional Habits

A bad habit is like second nature and is acquired over a long period of time. Bad habits are programmed into the subconscious and ?will power? alone will not get rid of it. Many try using all sorts of different ways to break it but without success.

Obesity is the result of bad nutritional habits and some of the causes are boredom, stress, tension and different complexes. Food becomes the substitution for these causes and before too long, obesity sets in. Most people become concerned that they?re obese, eat more and a vicious cycle is established.

The only way for lasting permanent weight loss is to break these bad habits and replace them with positive new ones, and the only way to do this is with visualization. Visualization puts you in charge of your subconscious where all these bad programs are stored.

All the will power in the world is not going to break these bad habits unless one has the help of their subconscious.

Relaxation

Relaxation the best way to reach the sub-conscious and will slow down the mind, turn off the exterior world so as to tune in to one?s inner self. The best times for these sessions are in the morning and late at night right, just before going to sleep.

Try performing two sessions, one in the afternoon (primary) and the other before going to sleep (secondary) but once a day is quite sufficient. Sessions usually last 20 minutes, which isn?t time consuming especially when taking in the benefits received.

When you begin your relaxation sessions, make sure you won?t be disturbed - lock the door, take the phone off the hook and loosen all clothing. Now find a comfortable position, whether it is lying down or sitting in a comfortable chair.

Sitting may be preferable as you may fall asleep if you become too comfortable. You want to be conscious and not asleep in order to tap into your sub-conscious mind.

Try to exhale all the air from your lungs completely and then breathing in through the nose. Take ten seconds to fill the lungs with air (not to capacity, but comfortable) hold for ten seconds and then exhale slowly through the nose for another ten seconds.

Each one of these breathing cycles should last for 30 seconds, complete five cycles and after each cycle you will be feeling more and more relaxed.

If you are sitting, open your eyes and look straight ahead. If you are lying down, open your eyes and stare at the ceiling. After a few minutes, slowly close your eyes.

Having reaching this calm relaxed state start your visualizations. Put together images that power your emotions. Make them alive and colourful. Make the scenes as real as possible and imagine yourself as slim and toned the way you will look after successful weight loss.

Picture yourself ten weeks from now on the beach, walking briskly and confidently to your favourite spot, your breathing is normal and relaxed. You smile to yourself; you could keep walking like this for miles without feeling fatigued.

You lay your towel out and begin to take your clothes off revealing a firm, toned, well conditioned body. You have just bought a brand new swimming suit which just weeks before would have been lying in your closet waiting to be used.

Glancing around you notice the beach is busy, you catch the eye of someone of the opposite sex, they smile at you and you smile back. You walk confidently to the water and swim a couple of hundred yards with no problem or fatigue.

Or try this:

Visualize your family and friends complimenting you about how good your body looks and how slim you look. Try to view the scene as it is happening this instant - in the present, not in the future.

Using these visualizations you can construct in your mind any scene that desire. See yourself exercising, socializing, in the company of friends. Try and hear people complimenting you about your slim new body, and watch their admiring glances. Make the mental image as real as possible.

?Remember set a goal for your ideal weight
?You must want to lose weight
?Visualize yourself at your ideal weight
?Use positive images at every opportunity

Now that you are armed with this information practice these sessions on a daily basis and over a period of ten weeks you?ll be on your way to become a happier and leaner person.

Gary Matthews is the author of the popular fitness eBooks Maximum Weight Loss and Maximum Weight Gain. Please visit http://www.maximumfitness.com right now for your 'free' weight loss e-course.

The Hypocritical Oath

(With apologies to Patch Adams and any other medical practitioner who actually puts patient care before any other consideration.)

Many medical practitioners have sworn the Hippocratic oath since it was first proposed by Hippocrates, known as the father of modern medicine. Since that time, the oath has been changed by different societies to accommodate changing times, and, today, not all teaching schools require new doctors to swear to this oath. Below is an examination of one of the variants.

Para 1: I swear to fulfill, to the best of my ability and judgment, this covenant:

Fair enough, but do they really know what they are swearing to? Do you?

Para 2: I will respect the hard-won scientific gains of those physicians in whose steps I walk, and gladly share such knowledge as is mine with those who are to follow.

??in whose steps I walk,? that?s the problem. The medical industry is build brick upon brick of so called scientific evidence produced by individuals who claim advances in medical science. Well, it?s about time that it suffered from a double whammy Katrina/Wilma hurricane of Category 5+ magnitude. That?s what it?s going to take to get them to realize that the American Medical Association and the scientific method does not have all the answers and that the very basis of their scientific method is Herbalism, a practice the AMA seeks to step on.

As for sharing their knowledge, this is definitely a patchy affair. Some do, if they can get a research grant to enable them to write a paper for publication in a scientific journal. But, if a doctor working for a drug house produces scientific evidence for the efficacy of another approach or a less expensive drug, they can?t get their work published. Their over-riding need is to stay employed by the company whose principal goal is to find new ways of producing specialist drugs sold at exorbitant prices to increase their profits. Worse, these researchers have to sign secrecy contracts before they can be employed.

Para 3: I will apply, for the benefit of the sick, all measures which are required, avoiding those twin traps of overtreatment and therapeutic nihilism.

Ignoring the fact that the statement itself is grammatically incorrect (what else might they do in such a slipshod manner?), let us look at over-treatment and therapeutic nihilism: many children have been subjected to this phenomenon by doctor?s ignorance of a child?s condition. For example, epilepsy can be easily cured by naturopathic methods as practiced at John Hopkins School of Medicine and yet doctors throughout the world still prescribe drugs with horrendous side effects that do absolutely no good at all, i.e. they are therapeutically nihilistic and to use them is to over treat a condition for which there is a simple remedy.

The same applies to the treatment of gallstones. Gallstones are formed in the liver and only become apparent when they have moved into the gallbladder, becoming sufficiently calcified as to show up on X-Ray. There is a simply herbal remedy used for thousands of years that can relieve the problem in 24 hours painlessly and cheaply without surgical intervention. To subject patients to surgery is decidedly therapeutic nihilism in the extreme.

Para 4: I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug.

Doctors practicing modern medicine in America are taught that medicine is a science. Whatever part of their education is dedicated to ?warmth, sympathy, and understanding,? we have no idea, but it is patently obvious, if only from the limited amount of time a doctor gives each patient, that these three qualities are not practiced in the majority of cases. When did your doctor last give you the warmth of a hug of sympathy, or show any true understanding of how you are feeling?

Para 5: I will not be ashamed to say I know not, nor will I fail to call in my colleagues when the skills of another are needed for a patient's recovery.

The danger in this statement is that when a doctor does not know what a patient is suffering from, he rarely says so, frequently prescribing treatments for assumed conditions that the patient does not have. His alternative is applied by sending the patient to a specialist. If this isn?t passing the buck, what is? The problem then becomes the specialist, and we?ve known plenty of those who don?t have the answers either. Ask any rheumatologist, ?What causes the disease?? ?Aha,? he will confess, ?We really don?t know??

Para 6: I will respect the privacy of my patients, for their problems are not disclosed to me that the world may know. Most especially must I tread with care in matters of life and death. If it is given me to save a life, all thanks. But it may also be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.

?? play at God!? Now this does bring a smile to the face and a chuckle to the throat. The moment you step into a doctor?s office and ask his assistance, you are asking him to take responsibility for your health care. You, in that moment, are asking him to ?play at God?. Since when did a doctor acknowledge your own culpability and your own responsibility for your health? At that moment, all he/she can do is offer you drug therapy or surgery. As a member of the American Medical Association and the laws this organization has brought about, they can do nothing else. If this is not playing God, what is?

When you do accept responsibility for your own healthcare, does your doctor cooperate with you? Unlikely! When we have explained to our doctors that we don't want a particular drug, or have requested something that has helped us in the past, we have been turned down. Another example of the doctor playing God! We know our bodies and how they respond to medication, our doctors? do not and any treatment offered (albeit with the best of intentions) may not be appropriate for our bodies ? or yours. What happened to freedom of choice, a God-given right?

Para 7: I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick.

In America, health care is a business of massive proportions backed by the drug houses whose major interest is increasing the profits of shareholders. It does not matter what effect any medical treatment offered has on a ?person's family and economic stability?. Expensive tests will be performed regardless of whether they are needed or not due to the physicians? greater fear of being sued for damages. Medications will be prescribed, treatments recommended, all of which the patient, despite their familial and financial circumstances, will be expected to fund. Very few doctors under this regime take responsibility for such matters. If the treatment kills the patient, what then! It?s a well-known fact that doctors bury their mistakes, or, if they are discovered, get sued for millions of dollars thus increasing the cost of healthcare to the patient. Between them, the doctors and lawyers fleece the poor. Under these circumstances, can doctors really claim they ?care adequately for the sick??

Para 8: I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.

Prevention is certainly better for the individual, but two factors are important here. Firstly, the patient goes to the doctor for treatment when they have become ill. The doctor does not prevent illness in his patient because he only becomes activated after the fact, not before. There are no provisions in America for any doctor to ensure that his patients do not become sick in the first place. Secondly, most medications the doctor prescribes do not prevent disease. Many, have side effects that cause other diseases, and can even cause death.

Para 9: I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

If we remember rightly, the majority of doctors earn significantly more money than the majority of people in their society. It has always been a prestigious profession from a financial perspective. Can anyone point us to a doctor who goes out of his way to ensure that his patients can prevent themselves from becoming ill, or a doctor who makes financial sacrifices of his own for the infirm? What ?special obligations? are being referred to here? Can anyone tell us?

Para 10: If I do not violate this oath, may I enjoy life and art, respected while I live and remembered with affection thereafter. May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help.

We think you would agree that the majority of doctors enjoy their lives and practice very little art in the diagnosis and treatment of disease whether they do or do not violate the Hippocratic oath.

We submit that the respect doctors receive is out of the fear their patients have of them, rather than for the treatment received.

??respect?? Now why should we respect someone who has a mind so shut that they actually go out of their way to deprive people of homeopathy, naturopathy, Herbalism, etc. Nope! They don?t deserve respect ? they do deserve derision.

??remembered with affection?? What a joke. We don?t think most patients know their physicians well enough to remember them at all given the amount of time their doctor allows them.

A very uplifting last statement to the final clause of the Hippocratic oath, but who do these people think they are kidding? The finest traditions of their calling died long ago. The AMA and the drug houses rule practicing medical professionals! They have no minds or wills of their own in the practice of modern medicine. We suspect many of them realize this after they have been in practice for several years. As for the use of the expression ?joy of healing?, we are staggered beyond belief at such arrogance. They heal no one; they simply help the individual?s body to heal itself. Now what could be more hypocritical than that?

The Hippocratic oath is the most hypocritical oath any doctor could take. Not only does it need updating, it needs to take into consideration all other medical practices that are in use today that DO bring relief to the suffering of millions without drugs or surgery. The original meaning, as postulated by Hippocrates, has become meaningless and we?re certain that he?s turning in his grave at what has happened to medical practice, certainly in the last sixty years.

BJ Day and Russ Miles are authors who often challenge conventional mistaken, if even widely accepted beliefs.

BJ Day retired from an active business life to take up writing as a retirment career a few years ago. BJ has recently been invited by Durban House Publishers to sign a three book deal as a writer of note. Expect to see BJ in print soon.

Russ Miles is author of the novel, For Sale By Owners:FSBO. A ?Seasoned Real Estate NAR? Broker,? disabled by Multiple Sclerosis, Russ writes books & articles on varied subjects. FOR SALE BY OWNERS:FSBO ISBN 0-595-28703-4,in trade paperback, is available by phone or Internet:1-800-Authors to order direct! Adobe e-book & hard cover editions also available at Amazon.com at Barnes and Noble and other fine booksellers.

What do you think? Questions, criticisms or comments can be addressed to bjjayd@gmail.com. For other items and Issues of interest, please visit http://MilesBooks.com

The Vitality of a Healthy Spleen

Recently we have all become victims of industrialisation. Everything about the way we are born, the way we live and the way we die has become mechanical. The food we eat is mechanically grown or manufactured in a lab. Pesticides and chemicals are everywhere, in our foods, in our air, in our body. They affect every organ which causes a breakdown in our digestive system, the liver cannot cope with the toxicity, the kidneys go into overload, and the spleen gives up because it can?t maintain the quality of the red blood cells any more.

Everything backs up in the colon and we have a pretty horrific scenario. Unfortunately, when the symptoms of this appear on the outside of the body deterioration is so far advanced that we are already into drastic measures.

So much of our ?dis-ease? stems from our emotions or taking on our ancestral patterns. Our conception and birth highlight the wound we have incarnated to deal with.

First of all we need to look at the colon. Different parts of the colon reflect different organs in the body. If doctors knew this they would never cut out these vital parts. The problem is that they have no idea there is an alternative. Keeping our colon clean is so important so that our organs can stay healthy. Stage 1 of the healing process is therefore to take Natural Balance and Natural Cleanse.

The Spleen

The next stage is to heal the main digestive organs of the body. The primary organ for the whole digestive system is the Spleen, which governs the thyroid and determines metabolic function.

The Spleen is so much more than anyone can ever imagine. It is the Spleen that allows us to live as spiritual beings in a physical body. Because we all have weak spleens we have lost that understanding and try to live only in the physical. But here is the dilemma: without our spirituality we are lost; we feel abandoned and therefore we reject the spiritual. So many people now are on a spiritual quest, looking for what they know is there, but have no idea where to start. My suggestion is that we all start with healing the Spleen.

The more I work with the Spleen the more I see what a gift it is to our humanity. In a metaphorical sense it is as if each of us has been handed a precious gift to keep us safe while we are incarnated in a physical body. We forget that we have this gift and it loses its efficiency because we don?t take care of it.

Western doctors don?t really know what it is for. But the Spleen is what keeps us healthy in our body, it helps to eliminate all the germs, viruses, moulds, parasites and other contaminants we breathe in. It keeps us grounded, focused and in the present moment. It is about awareness and bonding and nurturing. It nourishes us.

It?s been abandoned and abused for so long that in our generation we almost all have weak spleens. There is the one remedy I have come across in my search to heal the Spleen: an ancient herbal remedy called Maestro. Even thinking about this product makes my heart sing, my consciousness soar, my feet feel the ground beneath me and my spirit reach up to connect with the Universe. Maestro embodies all of these things. It is the most beautiful herbal remedy on the planet and it is being offered to us at a time when humanity most needs it, when the planet most needs it and when our fragile future most needs it.

Doctors of Oriental Medicine will recommend a diet that supports the Spleen which is also good, but it will still take a long time. Acupuncture is also good. But Maestro helps us change our ways. It brings us into our bodies and helps us to listen to ourselves.

We stop eating what is not good for us and start to feed ourselves nourishing food. We start to love our body and nurture it. When we do that we can stop taking care of ourselves and start to take care of the planet instead. We can fulfil our purpose on this planet because we are not afraid of the consequences of being ourselves. Our Spleen will take care of us.

I hope this makes some sense to you. We have this amazing organ that can change our lives. It makes sense to me of all the work that I do at those deep levels; why we are afraid, why we hold on, why we feel abandoned and unsupported. I think when we get to understand our Spleen we know that God is with us. (Not that I?m religious, but it is a good word, God, the Divine, the Universe) We have not been abandoned and we are being taken care of.

Birth Trauma

In Chinese medicine the Spleen is the primary organ of digestion. The spleen helps us to adapt to our environment so it is a key organ from a very early age helping the foetus and newborn adapt to very new surroundings. If there is trauma around conception and birth the Spleen is compromised. It is the organ of nourishment and nurturing and ideally the first contact a baby has with its mother is to attach to her breast. If a baby is allowed to follow its own self-attachment process then true nourishment can take place for both the mother and the baby.

In most cases this is not allowed to happen as the baby is taken away from the mother to be washed and weighed and eventually placed on the breast by an outsider. The self-attachment process supplies the set of skills where a baby knows its needs are met - adaptation, nourishment, and support. These are the key functions of the Spleen. If our needs are not met on any level we develop cravings and addiction; these are also signs of a weak Spleen.

Mental Health

A strong digestive system derives nourishment from good food to support our body's needs. The first step towards a strong digestion is strengthening and supporting the Spleen. A strong Spleen allows us to have clearer mental and thinking processes and in turn our thinking processes affect our digestive system.

A strong Spleen is also able to tolerate the levels of toxicity we encounter in our daily lives, and eliminate them. Numerous viruses, moulds, bacteria, and parasites which find their way into our organs, including the brain, because of weak spleens would simply be passed through if the Spleen was functioning optimally. Chinese medicine includes the pancreas with the spleen and considers that diabetes is the yin manifestation of schizophrenia. Whilst we feel that we can live with the highs and lows of diabetes, living with schizophrenia and the more aggressive highs and lows is less tolerable.

Emotional Health

Our Spleen suffers at an emotional level too and if there is little joy and happiness in our life this is likely to be an indication of a weak spleen. On an emotional level we must have our needs met, and adaptation, nourishment and support can be seen as being kinder to ourselves and supporting our needs for deeper levels of fulfilment. Also a Spleen likes to live in a grounded body as it is the Earth element in Oriental medicine. It is a very spiritual organ and without connectedness to Mother Earth it cannot find its spiritual expression.

The Ancient Herbal Remedies

I have included the above three conditions because many people consider them only on an emotional level or treat them medically with drugs or use alternatives such as vitamins and minerals, aromatherapy etc. They all have a very real physiology and are noticeably improved with the use of our herbs.

All the herbs balance and support each other and it is important to have a knowledgeable practitioner guiding you. Often these disorders are accompanied by chronic constipation which has severe depressing effect on the Spleen so a thorough understanding of the background and history of each person is essential so that individual doses can be prescribed. Maestro and Natural Restore support the body; Natural Balance and Natural Cleanse, clean out the body.

Natural Balance is the cleansing program. It loosens impacted faecal matter and helps to clear and tonify the colon. It also cleans out inherited metal from mother's dental work and current metals from the cells as well as all sorts of unwanted organisms that are living in the impacted faecal matter. By cleansing the digestive organs, Natural Balance helps improve blood quality, as evidenced by live blood microscopy analysis.

Natural Cleanse kills off residues of old toxins including viruses, parasites, moulds, fungi, candida, yeasts. It has a broad spectrum application against parasites rather than simply working on a few. There are over a thousand different parasites and it is sometimes impossible to diagnose which particular one is the invader. With Natural Cleanse we don't need to know and there are probably many varieties present at one time.

Maestro enhances the work of both Natural Balance and Natural Cleanse. Maestro is in the superherb category, (they all are but this is my personal favourite.) It strengthens all the digestive organs particularly the Spleen - the main organ of digestion - and squeezes toxic matter out of them. It brings up a lot of old issues that people think have cleared but may have simply moved out of the organ that was troubling them into another. So they think their liver problem has gone, but it has just quietly moved.

For instance, a person may start using Maestro and find their asthma returns after a 40 year absence ? they need large doses of Natural Balance and Natural Cleanse to push it through and completely out of the body. People with chronic fatigue need Maestro because the Spleen is always implicated in CF. This is also the key organ for anyone who has nourishment issues or eating disorders, thyroid problems, ADD, or ADHD, metabolism etc. It is very beneficial for balancing hormones.

Natural Restore (available in UK during early 2007) repairs and rebuilds the system. We take it as a thick, delicious liquid which can be mixed with hot water and made into a revitalising, alkaline drink. It boosts the immune system and balances blood sugar levels. It contains honey, molasses and bee pollen amongst other key support herbs and appropriately nourishes the spleen.

Often those with nourishment issues on an emotional level find Natural Restore hard to take. They react against food which provides total nourishment because the body feels it does not deserve or does not allow itself to receive it. When we allow ourselves to let go (Natural Balance), we can then allow ourselves to receive (Natural Restore). (Chinese medicine - Metal Element - about how we value ourselves.)

Preparation

The entire herbal program is organic and made of the freshest herbs available. These herbs have been formulated in such a way that they benefit all body types. The Chinese categorize body types into Hot, Cold, Warm, and Damp. Hot and Warm people need cooling food and Cold people need warming food. Damp people need drying food. The manner in which this is achieved in the herbal preparations is to combine the herbs that help one body type with the antidote so that another body type will not suffer toxic effects. In this way the herbs suit everyone.

There is no-one who will not benefit from taking these herbs. We need to restore the health which we are intended to have and let go of the belief that we can tolerate ill-health. We do not need to go through this process alone. We are here to help you find your way.

Phylipa Delglyn Resources For Life Birth Trauma Practitioner/Allergy Therapist ?Through the Shadow? Workshop Facilitator

Phylipa grew up in a British colonial family steeped in Asian esoteric philosophy. As a teenager she attended classes in Acupressure and Chinese Philosophy which led to a life of exploring natural healing and spiritual wisdom, raising her four children holistically, and training in different modalities. She is a practitioner of Allergy Therapy, Pre and Peri Natal Birth Trauma, Holographic Repatterning and the Quantum Xrroid. In addition to this she is a Human Design Analyst and a Reiki Master.

Treat Aches and Pains With Essential Oils

It?s a long time since Frankincense and Myrrh came to the fore in the Bible, but these two things are becoming popular once more. This time as essential oils used to treat common aches and pains.

This time, however, their names have been changed to the botanical versions. I think this is to let everyone know the plant species they come from. These are Boswellia carteri for Frankincense, and Commiphora myrrha for Myrrh.

Both oils are derived from the resins that exude from the plants when they are damaged, and are now the main ingredients of some aromatherapy-based creams.

A brief check of want the respective oils can do shows the basis for using them together in this way.

Frankincense essential oil tones the skin, eases pain and numbness, while the aroma calms stress and tension.

Myrrh essential oil fights inflammation, helps healing and kills infections.

Together Frankincense and Myrrh or Boswellia and Commiphora give you the best of both worlds ? fight infection, ease pain and inflammation, and promote healing. And, at the same time their aromas help sooth and calm your anxious mind. (Remember the two-pronged attack of aromatherapy oils I mentioned before.)

And, there are few, if any, side effects or untoward problems with rubbing them into your skin. Neither is toxic when diluted in a cream.

So there you have it. A useful, healing cream with little chance of side effects that can help treat aches and pains of all types, including arthritis and rheumatism. And all by combining two essential oils from the aromatherapy range, oils that have been around for thousands of years.

They aren?t alone either. Other essential oils are used to treat pain by adding them to warm baths, hot compresses or massaging them into the affected areas. Part of their action is the relaxation, calmness and soothing tensions associated with their use. But these two aromatherapy oils have direct actions on damaged and painful parts as well.

It just goes to show that aromatherapy really does have a place in modern treatments.

So, welcome back to Frankincense and Myrrh. You?ve probably never been away.

James Brunton has a range of booklets and articles to show you how effective all kinds of alternative therapies can be. He is giving away a Tips booklet on supplements just for signing up to his free newsletter at http://www.healthexplored.com

Acupuncture for High Blood Pressure ? A New Treatment That Works

Since times immemorial, Acupuncture is a unique treatment for reducing high blood pressure in human beings. High blood pressure refers to a situation where blood starts exerting pressure against the walls of arteries, veins and also the chambers of the heart. Over a specified time period, this heavy rush of blood starts damaging the lining of the blood vessels. It can also lead to arteriosclerosis, meaning hardening of the arteries.

Symptoms of high blood pressure

High blood pressure symptoms are often acute in human beings. They include sudden dizziness, flushed faces, nervousness, severe headaches, restlessness, difficult breathing, nose bleeding, insomnia, intestinal complaints, depression, short temper and emotional instability. The diagnosis of high blood pressure is done when the normal pressure tends to repeatedly rise. The other physical symptoms of high blood pressure includes constant tendency to urinate, decrease in eye vision and muscle weakness.

Electro-acupuncture treatments

Acupuncture combined with electric stimulation or electro-acupuncture can lower elevations of blood pressure in human beings. When the research was conducted for the first time, acupuncture needles were inserted on the inside of the forearm just above the wrist, but to no avail. Researchers then started adding electric stimulation to the needles, which means that electric would start flowing from the needles to the body. While high frequency of stimulation had no effect, low frequencies of electro stimulation reduced blood pressure effectively.

A thorough research on acupuncture shows that the inserted needles excites brain cells, causing them to release neurotransmitters that always heighten the heart?s activities. To cure high blood pressure, acupuncture inserts needles on certain points on the wrist, forearm or leg, to excite the opioid chemicals in the brain and reduce excitatory responses of the cardiovascular systems. This eventual decrease in heart activity and need for oxygen can lower blood pressure to a great extent. It also promotes in the healing of other heart-related conditions like myocardial ischemia and hypertensions.

Other acupuncture treatments to reduce high blood pressure

While you are undergoing acupuncture treatments for curing high blood pressure, you can also use herbs like Tian Ma [Gastrodia Rhizome, Xia Ku Cao [Prunella and Shan Zha to reduce high blood pressure. You should inject the juices of these herbs into your blood to achieve better results.

A unique and natural acupuncture treatment for high blood pressure also include pressing of the skin on the back of your hand in between the thumb and index finger.

Find all about acupuncture and high blood pressure only on acupuncture for high blood pressure and much more. All about acupuncture on LeanderNet - http://www.leandernet.com

Asbestos And Mesothelioma Connection

Asbestos are primarily known as the substance which causes the deadly disease Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer in which the internal organs of patients become surrounded by a cancerous coating of cells. Asbestos describes any of a group of fibrous metamorphic minerals of the hydrous magnesium silicate chemical family.

These fibers are often used in cement during construction and though they have been banned in construction in the United States today, their presence at construction sites world wide five and six decades ago are causing medical and legal problems today. Asbestos can take five or six decades to fully display their deadly potential and thus many of the construction workers who absorbed the dangerous chemical in the 1950;s and 1960;s while working, are just now experiencing the effects of the disease. Hence, many of the lawsuits that are being filed for Mesothelioma have to do with the intake of asbestos at construction plants in the 1950?s and the 1960?s.

Currently, these asbestos cause a disease for which there is no cure; however, due to the amount of attention that this disease is getting, many top scientists and researchers worldwide are working to develop a cure for the disease. Like many cancers, without continued support and attention, research and funding are not possible.

To find out information on mesothelioma lawsuits canada visit http://www.whatismesothelioma.ca

Reiki HandsOnHealing

Anyone feeling or seeing an injury to his or her body will have the instant reaction of putting one or both hands on that area. How many times have you seen someone put their hand over their mouth after saying the wrong thing? When watching a movie containing a scene that you do not like seeing, is not putting your hands over your eyes your first thought? Hands can protect, and hands can heal.

In the biology textbooks that I have read it is stated that humans do not have instincts. It may not be instinctive, but beginning in childhood we put our hands where it hurts on ourselves and on others. Do you remember your mom or dad gently holding your finger that you had dropped something on it? When your heart is hurting does it not ease some of the pain to receive a hug from someone? When pain is involved, the natural reaction is to put hands on the location of the pain, which is hands-on-healing.

All throughout history, some people have seemed to have more of a natural healing ability through their hands then others. It was only natural that the system Mikao Usui developed would involve the placing of hands on another who is ill. I once met a registered nurse that friends and patients would gravitate to because there was something healing about her presence and touch. Some people are natural healers and those people when connected to the vibrations of love and harmony of universal energy by a qualified Reiki teacher increase the healing that happens by their touch.

The difference between what flows from a various individual's hands once connect to Reiki is his or her ability to receive, which is based on their level of consciousness. A person cannot receive more than the level they can reach, which is determined by the level at which they resonate. Higher resonating comes through techniques and self-realization, not tools or Reiki symbols.

The hands of any person feel more healing once that person has been connected to Reiki. I am referring to a connection made possible by a Reiki Shihan (teacher) and not knowledge that has been obtained through books or videos. Knowledge can cure, but healing is a natural process that requires energy in some form.

Hands-on-healing, not the system called Reiki Ryoho, over the centuries has been called many things, such as the "royal touch" in ancient Europe. Unfortunately, at one time it was called by names that ended in selected people being burned at the stake. The mystery of healing being promoted and assisted by human touch is something that has no clear rules or explanations. The mysteries surrounding hands-on-healing are closely related to the mysteries of the heart.

We know a person who has been connected to Reiki easily does hands-on-healing because the vibrations of love and harmony of universal energy balance and surround with harmony. We have also learned energy can neither be created nor destroyed, but changes form. That well from which all forms of energy come creates more mystery. Mystery is one of the things that surrounds the form of energy called Reiki, but it is the embracing of mystery that many wise men and women throughout the centuries have said enriches our lives.

Information was passed to me by the research of one of my Reiki Shihans (teachers), Richard Rivard, that Mikao Usui being a bit shy of cash would rent his dojo (school) to at least two of his students to use one evening a week. One of those students was practicing a hands- on-healing technique prior to Mikao Usui connected him to Reiki, and another held a medical doctorate. That shows that from the time Mikao Usui practiced and taught Reiki Ryoho many people recognizing the strength of the unique form of energy blended it into areas in which they were already skilled. The blending of Reiki into other practices with the intent to enhance the other practice is a common event. Reiki being a form of universal energy automatically shows that nothing can enhance it, but it can easily enhance anything else in life, in a positive way.

Reiki Ryoho differs in varying degrees from other hands-on-healing techniques. Hard training including the study of many textbooks and written tests are things few Reiki teachers find necessary. Reading books written by those that have researched or experienced some area of Reiki helps to expand our view, but a person cannot be connected without the assistance of a qualified Reiki Shihan (teacher). Another of my Reiki Shihans, Rev. Hyakuten Inamoto, also a Japanese Buddhist monk, explained how teaching Reiki is like pointing a finger to the moon. Once the student sees the moon and knows where it is he or she no longer has need of the finger. In the way Reiki developed once it left Japan and linked to the new age movement the finger transformed into the numerous Reiki symbols that various teachers felt were needed to show the overwhelming number of ways the vibrations of love and harmony can bring balance. Some teachers even incorporated materials and rituals used in other healing modalities. The mysterious form of universal energy that needs nothing but a body that has been opened to it and a mind that is disciplined is not always easy for some people to accept. Perhaps we have become much to accepting of things being new and improved.

Another of the things that separates the spiritual practice of Reiki Ryoho from other hands-on-healing practices is that it can be used in creating a better life. Not better as in learning a skill for an income, but better is learning how to allow balance and harmony to flow into all areas of life. Reiki Ryoho is an effective way to raise spirituality and create a positive life. The mind is the master so daily practice is best to keep the mind in balance so that Reiki can flow smoothing out those bumps that are around you. Reiki flowing quietly into all of every day life is what I so embrace about the styles Gendai Reiki-ho and Komyo Reiki, which I practice. I have found wherever I am and whatever I am doing if I connect to the light (Reiki) and allow it to flow into what is happening at that time, everything simply works more smoothly. Summer in the USA means insects, and when connecting I have fewer negative interactions. Reiki cannot be directed, but a person studying Reiki learns how to connect to person, place or event even over time and distance and allow Reiki to flow. When my hands touch anyone or anything the connection is immediately made and Reiki flows if needed.

One of the unique things about Reiki is that it flows only as much as needed. If you rub an area of your skin that will soon show dark purple or swell it will feel better, but if you continue to rub for an unreasonable length of time, you will cause irritation. Reiki will not irritate, when the cells have received all they can hold at that time it stop flowing. If no cells are in need of energy, it does not flow. I believe everyone can always use extra energy because of all the trillions of activities going on in the mind and body.

Reiki Ryoho is also practiced by flowing through the eyes, breath, soles of feet and emanating from the whole self. Because of this if a person's hands are not available to be used Reiki can still flow bringing balance, surrounding with harmony and healing.

Hiroshi Doi another of my Reiki Shihans (teachers) and a member of the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, the original society created in Japan, said "Usui-Sensei said of Reiki, "It is love, harmony and healing energy. Universal energy which is the essence of all existence is Reiki."

I have always enjoyed the motto of Komyo Reiki Kai, "Go placidly in the midst of praise or blame." Reiki Shihans such as myself must ask money in exchange for our time because most creditors do not accept hands on healing for payment, we began our journey with the understanding the spiritual practice of Reiki Ryoho is not a skill leading to fame or fortune. The mystery that surrounds Reiki Ryoho I like to equate to that which surrounds our central nervous system. My spinal cord and brain were damaged in an accident. Oh the stories I could tell about how awesome I have found the unique energy called Reiki to be.

I have learned no one can give specific explanations for the lack of movement or sudden unexplained movements associate with central nervous system damage. Medical doctors, who I highly respect, know certain symptoms indicate damage in certain areas, but the answers to all those specific whys remain mysteries. Anyone that has not experienced central nervous system damage or studied it can at times become very annoyed because person X's limitations or actions do not fit in the file they hold that explains the workings of nerves. Those people having only read or heard about Reiki can react in the same way to the mysterious form of universal energy. There are many things in this life that as humans we cannot know everything about or master. That is not a problem when you reflect on the origins of Usui Reiki Ryoho; "today/now there is no anger or fretful worry, we give thanks and do our work with diligence, and we are kind to all".

The love and harmony that comes from Usui Reiki Ryoho goes beyond hand-on-healing.

Roberta R. Barnes, Gendai Reiki-ho and Komyo Reiki Shihan (master teacher) and Herbalist teaches and gives Reiki sessions in her Natural Healing & Learning Center nestled in a certified wildlife habitat in Maine USA. Roberta Barnes also teaches meditation and raising awareness through connectin with nature, and offer herbal consulting and guided journeys into the past for healing and discovery. mosre can be learned about Roberta Barnes and her practice at her website http://www.naturalhealinglearning.com

Acne Scars ? Is There Hope?

It is estimated that eighty percent of people between the ages of fourteen and twenty suffer from acne. For most of us, acne is a short-lived annoyance during certain periods of our lives. Unfortunately, for some people acne is painful long after the pimples have been treated. Scarring from acne is most common for those who have suffered from severe acne, but scarring can affect anyone who has experienced acne.

If you are one of the millions of people living with acne scars, there?s good news. There are many options available to diminish these unseemly blemishes. All of these techniques work to restore the normal, healthy appearance of scarred skin; it may not always be possible to get rid of all acne scars, but with the right treatment for you, no one will ever know you were scarred. Acne scar treatments vary in their approaches depending on the severity of your scarring and your budget. You should discuss all of the available options, costs, and side effects with your dermatologist.

Before we talk about the treatments available, we should take a look at why acne can cause scarring. The primary reason for any kind of scar is tissue damage. When body tissue is damaged, our body tries to heal and protect it from infection. In the case of acne, dead skin cells block the body?s pores, preventing the secretion of natural oils in the skin. This creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow, which irritates the skin and causes acne. When acne is aggravated due to harsh scrubbing or other forms of physical attention, it further aggravates the condition and harms the sensitive skin tissue. When the skin finally is able to heal, a scar is left behind.

One of the most popular acne scar treatment techniques is injecting collagen under the surface of the scarred skin. Collagen puffs out the skin and evens out the scarred area, making acne less noticeable. Another important acne scar treatment technique is what is called autologous fat transfer. This process makes use of your own body?s fat. Fat is taken from another part of your body and is injected into the affected part, filling up the scar. This technique requires repeated applications because the fat is eventually absorbed into the body, making the scar noticeable once again. Your dermatologist may suggest you try laser treatments or dermabrasion. Both of these techniques are very effective. In the most extreme cases, skin grafting and skin surgery may be considered.

Keep in mind that these are only a small number of the options available for acne scar treatment.

Sarah Cannon, writer and webmaster, makes it easy to quickly and easily find the latest news and resources on

Selenium May Help to Prevent Prostate Cancer

According to a federally sponsored study, published by a Stanford University urologist, men with abnormally low levels of Selenium in their blood are four to five times more likely to develop prostate cancer. Selenium is a trace element that is supplied in certain foods and supplements.

The study suggests that making a point of eating Selenium-rich foods, such as Brazil nuts and tuna, or taking a Selenium supplement, may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Supplementation is especially useful for older men, as Selenium blood content has been found to decrease with patient age.

Although there are no solid statistics regarding exactly how greatly levels of Selenium in the blood are improved by supplementation, the head researcher of this study, James D. Brooks, MD is decidedly optimistic about the subject. He believes that supplementation has the potential to be of great benefit in preventing prostate cancer, but goes on to comment that more precise research is needed in order to discern exact statistics on the extent of those benefits.

Overall, the researchers who conducted this study believe that they have made some very interesting discoveries, and that increasing levels of Selenium in the blood can significantly reduce a patient's risk of developing the most common form of cancer affecting men.

Jeremy Maddock is the webmaster of Immune Wellness, your source for high quality information about Selenium and other health products.

Learn How to Use Aromatherapy

The use of various essential oils made of liquid plant material and other aromatic substances for healing of the mind and body is called aromatherapy. The word was coined first by French perfumer Ren? Maurice Gattefoss?.He dedicated his life to researching different healing properties of essential oils. The use of aromatherapy is believed to bring pleasure, beauty and healing in the lives of those who use it.

The different materials used in Aromatherapy are:

?Essential oils: These are fragrant oils extracted from plants by distillation. They can also be fragrant oils extracted from plant material by any solvent extraction.

?Absolutes: These are fragrant oils which are extracted from flowers or delicate plant tissues through solvent or supercritical fluid extraction.

?Phytoncides: They are antimicrobial volatile organic compounds extracted from plants. Plants like onion, garlic, oak and pine trees etc give off phytoncides thus preventing them from rotting or being eaten by insects and animals. Phytoncides can reduce stress.

?Hydrosols: They are the water that remains after producing an essential oil via steam or water distillation e.g. Rose water. The plant matter used in essential oil distillation imparts a wonderful aroma to the water. Hydrosol offers therapeutic benefit.

?Infusions: Aqueous extracts of various plant materials.

?Carrier oils: They are cold-pressed vegetable oils derived from the fatty portions of the plant and are used to dilute essential oils for use on the skin.e.g.almond oil.

Aromatherapy for health benefits:

Aromatherapy is used for treatment and prevention of various health problems but is very essential that the right dosage and duration of application is given to the patient. In France, where it originated, some essential oils are administered by a physician as they are regulated as prescription drugs. Lavender is known to be the best known essential oil for aromatherapy, recommended by practitioners for treating wounds, to enhance memory, and helps in combating anxiety and insomnia. A lavender bath can help relax tired muscles and a tired mind. It's a wonderful way to relax before bedtime. Other popular scents are eucalyptus, bergamot, rose and jasmine.

Aromatherapy is now becoming one of the fastest growing fields in alternative and holistic medicine. They are even used in clinics and hospitals for relieving pain, for labor pain, for relieving pain caused during chemotherapy, and for the rehabilitation of cardiac patients.

Areas used:

Though aromatherapy is used in various other fields but it may be best known in these areas:

?Skin Care or Aesthetic ? Aromatherapy is best known for the effects these essential oils have on skin and hair care.

?Emotional or Psycho ? The aromas are known to have positive effects on our emotions, moods and feelings. This therapy is known as aromachology.

?Holistic or Spiritual Healing ? Brings spiritual healing with the body, mind and soul.

?Medical or Healing ? It can bring healing and helps in enhancing and maintaining good health.

Always remember that almost no essential oil should be applied neat or undiluted directly to your skin. Use 15 drops of the essential oil or synergistic blend to one ounce of carrier oil for best results. You can also use these oils in your laundry and also for dish washing. For e.g. use lemon Oil to the washer to remove greasy/oily smells.

By learning how to use these oils in your daily life you can enjoy leading a happy and healthy life. The use of Aromatherapy and or Essential Oils extends to Skin Care, Hair Care and other Personal Care Products, Health Care, Natural Healing, Candles, Incense, Potpourri and other Home Enhancements such as Air Fresheners.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises offers more detailed information about Aromatherapy at http://www.jam727.com/aromatherapy.htm Here you will find many other easy reading articles on a wide assortment of topics.

Normalizing Low Body Temperatures Often Critical to Restoring Good Health

Are you suffering from fatigue, migraines, PMS, hair loss, depression, inability to lose weight, muscle and joint aches, heat and/or cold intolerance, or other baffling symptoms that your doctor can?t explain? Fixing a low body temperature might quickly and easily solve your health problems.

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome (WTS) is a condition that causes symptoms characteristic of decreased thyroid system function. It is best identified by its reproducible and predictable response to a special thyroid hormone treatment protocol developed by E. Denis Wilson, MD. It is the cluster of often debilitating symptoms especially brought on by significant physical or emotional stress that can persist even after the stress has passed (due to a maladaptive slowing of the metabolism). It is characterized by a body temperature that runs, on average, below normal and routine thyroid blood tests are often in the normal range.

Symptoms can result when the average body temperature is less than 98.6 degrees (checked by mouth with a mercury thermometer); however, low temperatures classic for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome sufferers are 97.8 degrees or lower.

Virtually all of the chemical reactions that take place in our bodies are catalyzed by enzymes. Enzymes are proteins that are dependent upon their shape, or conformation, for their activity. When enzymes are too hot they are too loose; when they are too cold they are too tight, and in either extreme the enzymes are not the right shape and cannot function optimally. When the body temperature is too low, nearly all of the enzymes in the body function less effectively. This can cause a wide variety of complaints.

High fevers (107 degrees F) can cause brain damage and even death. Severe hypothermia (less than 90 degrees F) can also be a life-threatening medical emergency. A temperature of 100 degrees (1.4 degrees above 98.6) can produce familiar symptoms of fever. It is easy to see how mildly depressed temperatures (1 - 1.5 degrees below 98.6) can also produce a very characteristic set of symptoms. It is obvious that to function optimally, the body must be at the optimal temperature. Under conditions of severe physical or emotional stress, the body can slow down and the temperature can go down to conserve energy, as a coping mechanism. That's normal. But sometimes, the temperature can remain persistently low even after the stress has passed. That's not normal. Examples of severe stresses that can knock the body out of balance include childbirth (the number one cause), divorce, death of a loved one, job or family stress, and surgery or accidents.

The body temperature is regulated by the thyroid hormone system. The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to produce Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce T4 (thyroxine) which is the raw material used to make the active thyroid hormone T3. T4 is also converted to Reverse T3 (RT3) which is physiologically inactive. 80 percent of the active thyroid hormone T3 is produced outside the thyroid gland, in the periphery of the body. T4 is converted to T3 by an enzyme called 5' Deiodinase. This enzyme is inhibited by stress, acute and chronic illness, fasting, cortisol (steroid), and other things. Under stress and fasting, the body converts less T4 to T3 and more T4 to RT3 to conserve energy (with less T3, the cells of the body slow down). It is likely that the increased levels of RT3 that result can then further inhibit the conversion of T4 to T3, with even more T4 being converted to RT3, less to T3, and so on, with the body getting stuck in a vicious cycle, a sort of coping mechanism gone amuck.

Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is treated by using a special T3 therapy protocol developed by Dr. Wilson. With proper treatment patients can usually bring their temperatures up to normal. When the temperatures are normal the symptoms usually disappear. The hallmark of T3 therapy for Wilson's Temperature Syndrome is the resetting phenomenon. The temperature and symptoms usually remain improved even after the treatment has been discontinued. T3 therapy for WTS does not need to be taken for life. The T3 medicine that is on the market is instant release. T3 therapy is much more effective and better tolerated when the T3 is mixed with a sustained-release agent. The T3 preparation needs to be carefully made (compounded) by skilled and experienced pharmacists, and taken twice a day, every 12 hours.

More information about WTS can be found at http://www.WilsonsTemperatureSyndrome.com