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Pity the Poor Heart
2007-11-05 14:14:00
Pity the poor heart. It takes the blame for all sorts of upsets. Unrequited love leads to heartbreak. A person who is cruel is said to be heartless. And then there'sheartburn, which actually has nothing to do with your heart.The heat and pain of heartburn occur when your stomach releases acid up into your throat?this is called esophageal reflex." The resulting burning sensation and spasm occur next to, but not in, the heart. Heart burn can be caused by several things, but it most commonly happens when there is too much acid in your stomach or you have a hiatus hernia (when your stomach bulges up slightly into the diaphragm, causing belching). Drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and eating acidic foods all increase the likelihood of heartburn. However, rather than going through life shunning potlucks and Thai restaurants in fear of what you might accidentally eat, try using herbs to treat this condition.
More About: Body , Poor , Pity

Aromatherapy Discovery
2007-10-29 17:18:00
The term "aromatherapy" was first coined in the early part of the twentieth century by the French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé, who used this word to describe the medicinal use of essential oils. In actuality, however, aromatherapy was not a new practice even then; it had always been a part of herbalism. Many traditional remedies had multiple purposes ?a single potion often served as cosmetic, perfume and medicine. This is no surprise, since many aromatic herbs that are used as cosmetics are also medicinal.What makes aromatherapy different from herbalism is that it uses only the herbs that contain essential oils. These herbs are easy to identify because they are all fragrant. When you read an herb book, keep in mind that all the medicinal properties found in an herb are not necessarily contained in its essential oil. Most herbs are filled with other compounds in addition to essential oils. However, the essential oils are often responsible for an herb's antiseptic properties, and...
More About: Aromatherapy , Discovery , Mind , Thera

Fragrance Aromatherapy
2007-10-28 17:14:00
Fragrance captures the attention: the sweet smell of a rose, the enticing aroma of a freshly baked cinnamon apple cake, the appealing scent of a cup of warm peppermint tea, the pleasing fragrance of your favorite perfume. Just the word "aromatherapy" conjures up intriguing images, and with good reason. As much as we take our sense of smell for granted, fragrance affects us in a way that is both primal and provocative.When I first began giving tours through my herb garden in the early 1970s, I couldn't help but notice how each fragrant herb produced its own unique effect. I also observed that each group of visitors responded the same way to particular fragrances. Thelavender inevitably produced smiles, and everyone who sniffed it noticeably relaxed. Chamomile soothed the group even more?so much, in fact, that everyone began speaking much more softly. That is, until they reached thepeppermint bed, which sent them chattering a mile a minute!
More About: Aromatherapy , Mind , Fragrance , Thera

Stomach Grumbling?
2007-10-20 09:39:00
Have you ever noticed how the enticing smell of pizza or an herb bread baking in the oven sets your stomach grumbling? The aromas that make foods smell and taste so good also help your digestion even before you take the first bite! The aroma signals the brain, which relays a message to the digestive tract that food is on its way. The digestive tract responds by producing digestive fluids, even though the food hasn't hit your mouth yet. You can stimulate your appetite in a similar fashion, by making an aromatic tea ofanise or peppermint.
More About: Stomach , Eating , Mach

Appetite Loss
2007-10-16 06:45:00
Losing your appetite once in a while is no big deal. A few days of low appetite when you have a flu or fever is not a cause for concern. At such times, it is all right to give yourself a rest from eating so that your body can focus its energies on fighting the illness. And when you feel down emotionally you may not be in the mood to eat much?this is also okay and generally is not something to worry about. But if your appetite loss continues for more than a week or if it happens for no apparent reason, you should make efforts to figure out why you aren't interested in eating. If your problem is due to a simple illness, an herbal appetite stimulant should have your mouth watering and your stomach rumbling in no time at all. But if you lose your appetite as a result of a more serious condition, the underlying problem must be addressed. This will probably require professional help.Tips from Mother Nature
More About: Loss , Eating

Poor Diet
2007-10-13 17:36:00
Your natural immunity is lowered by emotional or physical stress, poor diet, smoking cigarettes and drinking too much alcohol. Of course, laughter and positive imagery can boost your immunity. Be on an immune alert when the chances of getting sick are high?say, when the kids go back to school or when you visit a foreign country. Also look out for a stressful situation on the horizon, such as school exams, a job change, a move or a legal battle. Even "good" stress, like a vacation or getting married, can lower your immune response. Useherbs at these times to bolster your immune system.
More About: Body , Diet , Poor

Avoiding viruses
2007-10-10 17:34:00
Avoiding viruses, bacteria and the like is nearly impossible in the modern world. Potential infections are everywhere, and new ones spring up all the time, or at least find their way beyond previously insurmountable geographic and biological barriers. You can almost hear some of those exotic viruses singing, "It's a small, small world."You have probably noticed how often I talk about the importance of building up your immune system. This is because your general health is based on your ability to fend off disease. I'm not just speaking about the common cold, flu viruses and allergies. As our understanding of immunity increases, so does the list of serious immune-related diseases, among them psoriasis, asthma, multiple sclerosis, cancer, Epstein-Barr virus and chronic fatigue syndrome. Even arteriosclerosis and chronic infections like nephritis and colitis may belong on this list. With some conditions, such as allergies and asthma, the problem is not that your immune system is suppr...
More About: Health , Viruses

Water Retention
2007-09-20 17:31:00
Water retention may sound like a simple enough problem to remedy?just take a diuretic to eliminate the excess water. But water retention can be a symptom of a serious heart or kidney problem. And leaky capillary walls, malnutrition, bacterial toxins and hormone changes such as PMS can also be the cause of this problem. If your body is retaining water, be sure to see a doctor and find out exactly what is causing this problem before trying to treat it.If a simple diuretic will solve your problem, dandelion and corn silk are two of the best choices?these are some of the safest diuretics ever to grow in the wild. And they also counter some of the negative effects of commercial diuretics. Most pharmaceutical diuretics pull potassium out of the body, creating a harmful imbalance that requires you to takepotassium supplements. But dandelion and corn silk contain high amounts of potassium and even help the body retain this important mineral. Studies have shown that dandelion is as effective...
More About: Health , Water , Retention

Excellent sources of protein
2007-09-18 18:26:00
Excellent sources of protein:Grains: Brown rice, oats (CEREAL, OATMEAL, GRANOLA), millet, corn, barley, bulghur and wheat (WHOLE WHEAT BREAD, PASTAS, CEREALS, FLOUR, ETC.) FYI: Corn isn't a vegetable, it's actually a grain.Legumes: Green peas, lentils, chick peas, alfalfa sprouts, mung beans, and beans of all kinds (kidney, navy, lima, soy) and products made from them like tofu, textured vegetable protein - TVP - tempeh, soy milks) peanuts, etc.Greens: Broccoli, collards, spinach, etc.Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, cashews, walnuts, filberts, pistachios, pecans, macadamias and nut butters made from these. Sunflower seeds are a good source as well as sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds.Fish: Fish offers an abundance of health benefits (essential fatty acids, protein) and are a good alternative to meat and poultry. But be careful and watch which types of fish you eat. Some contain high levels of mercury that can wreak havoc on the body. Salmon and tuna have the lowest levels. Please note that ...
More About: Diet , Protein , Sources , Eating , Excellent

Eat Pork Now ! Gasy Yet?
2007-09-18 18:24:00
It it first started , we were bombarded with ad campaigns practically begging us to drink milk, eat beef and fry up some pork. Tell the 70-80% of African-Americans and Asian-Americans that are lactose intolerant that milk does a body good or the more than 50% of the adult population that's lactose intolerant. What about the overweight gentleman who keeps telling his doctor "all I had was a cheeseburger and fries today, I don't know why I'm overweight." Pork may not kill you, but all the sodium in it might. Think about the last time you ate a piece of cheese, drank a glass of milk or had a piece of meat - how did you feel afterwards? My guess is, gas-y, crampy, heavy, bloated, a sudden urge to go to the bathroom or just really tired. The list of wrongs with meat and dairy far outweigh the rights.Ever wonder why so many people have a tough time losing weight even though they don't seem to be eating much? Cheese, milk, ice cream and egg yolks - they're all fat. Meat products conta...
More About: Diet , Eating

A new Appraoch to Weight Loss
2007-09-18 18:22:00
ByShelly MorganI love fruits and vegetables. There, I said it. I love them. They are a major part of my breakfast, lunch and dinner meals as well as the only part of my snack selection. Processed foods scare me and I even get a little weird about eating even the healthiest foods, like whole grain cereals, out of a box. Call me a freak, but my weight is well below the American average, as is my cholesterol, blood pressure and BMI (body mass index). I'm not tooting my own horn, believe me, I have my vices - but diet has always been important to me from a very young age. While my older sister and younger brother were grabbing boxes of Cookie Crisp and Captain Crunch off the shelves, I was busy reading the nutrition information on muselix and kashi boxes. I preferred muselix. The snacks my siblings wanted included Oreo's and Neapolitan ice cream while I opted for fresh fruit salad topped with walnuts and a sprinkle of cinnamon. O.K., so I was 8 - big deal - I was just very aware of wh...
More About: Weight Loss , Weight , Loss , Weigh