Archive for the 'Health & Fitness' Category

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At one time or another, many of us have accidents or surgery that can result in unsightly scars. The same can happen from difficult cases of acne. Even stretch marks from pregnancy or significant weight loss can leave permanent unsmooth textures on the skin. There are few treatments available beyond silicone patches, and these won’t work in all cases. If one is looking for a natural means to improve skin appearance as a wound heals, or to smooth old scars or stretch marks, scientific aromatherapy literature provides some formulas that may help.

There are a few primary essential oils used in skin care which offer their regenerative properties; these oils can be used in low concentrations, and are generally well-tolerated - certainly more so than many synthetic ingredients. The most important of these may be Helichrysum italicum, also known as Everlasting oil. This wonderful oil is distilled from the daisy-like flowers of the herb. It has a lovely earthy aroma and, despite it’s apparent expense, works in very low concentrations (only a few drops per tablespoon of your total blend). Helichrysum is strongly anti-inflammatory and contains powerful regenerative molecules unique to this oil only.

Helichrysum essential oil is the cornerstone for many blends for healing the skin, and is the only one necessary for supporting currently healing skin damage - it should be used at appropriate concentrations with Rosehip Seed and Hazelnut oils, as mentioned later in this article. As noted by well-known aromatherapists Kurt Schnaubelt, “The triple unsaturated fatty acids (of Rosehip Seed oil) strengthen the cell membranes and, combined with the regnerative qualities of Everlasting oil (Helichrysum), heal wounds with minimal or no scarring”.

Lavender essential oil the most commonly used aromatic oil due to it’s pleasant, soothing aroma and broad range of healing effects. Lavender is also included in many skin care blends as it also contains ketone molecules which stimulate tissue regeneration. The specific type of lavender oil is distilled from the flowers of the Lavendula angustifolia species. Lavender, also like helichrsum, is an anti-inflammatory, and is generally thought to bring synergy to essential oil blends. It can be included to almost any skin care blend to enhance the effects and aroma.

The essential oil distilled from the leaves of common Sage is included in blends where the wounds are old - where the healing happened some time ago and has left some unsightly scarring. This can work on keloid scars, acne scars, etc., though application need be regular and should continue for 3 to 6 months. The sage oil is included in essence to break up the scar tissue and to stimulate regeneration with it’s powerful components. Sage oil should be used with great care and in small amounts. While it is called for in formulas for stretch marks, it should only be use after pregnancy, and not during by expectant mothers.

Rosemary is the final essential oil we’ll cover here for skin healing and scar treatment. Rosemary of the Verbenone chemotype (rather than Cineol, which does not have the same properties) contains regenerative ketones like Lavender and Helichrysum, plus has the added benefit of stimulating the skin’s metabolic process. This oil can bring greater circulation to skin tissues, delivering nutrients and eliminating cellular waste and toxins.

Finally, these essential oils need to be diluted carrier oils, which are seed or nut oils made up of fatty acids. These oils help the skin absorb the essential oils, and provide important nutritive oils to help the skin heal and look its best. The most important is Rosehip Seed oil, cold-pressed from Rosehip Seeds native to mountainous regions of South America. In addition to its unsaturated fatty acids, this oil contains natural vitamin A compounds similar in effect to the pharmaceutical preparation Retin-A but without the over drying or redness that often accompanies its use. Hazelnut oil is also a wonderful carrier well tolerated by all skin types; its gentle astringent qualites prevent the skin from feeling oil upon application.

Now for the recipes. For effective wound healing of recent cuts and scrapes (and has been used successfully on surgical incisions), to 1 ounce Hazelnut oil and 1 ounce Rosehip seed oil add 1 milliliter of Helichrysum essential oil and 1 milliliter of Lavender essential oil - apply twice a day for 7 to 10 days. For older scars from wounds or acne, including keloid scars, replace the Lavender in the previous recipe with Sage essential oil. Apply regularly for 3 to 6 months. For the healing of stretch marks, post partum, use 1 ounce Rosehip seed and 1 ounce Hazelnut oil with 1 milliliter Sage essential oil and 2 milliliters with Rosemary Verbenone essential oil; again use for 3 to 6 months.

So there is a few effective combinations of natural botanical ingredients that can support certain skin care conditions. Many, many more skin care formulas are available when blending essential oils - with many oils able to aid with very particular situations. If needed, a little research should go a long way in helping you find what you need. And as always with aromatherapy oils, go slowly, pay attention to your body’s reactions and remember that increasing concentrations of the essential oils will not make a more effective blend. Be safe and enjoy.

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Are you one of those people that do everything right and still don’t feel like you’re gaining muscles as fast as you would like? You work out well at the gym and eat a lot of protein and quality foods, but it just doesn’t come to you. Where’s your muscular body? If you’ve really ticked off your list and you honestly can say that your attempt to gain is sincere, there might be another aspect to it that you’ve missed.

Sleep.

By giving your body a full nights sleep you give it the base it needs to be able to build stronger muscles. Examine your sleeping patterns; do you have a deep sleep or one that is light with interruptions? Is it easy for you to fall asleep or do you toss and turn for hours? Do you feel rested when you wake up or do you take hours to get going?

Most of the bodily growth is happening while we are sleeping and this includes muscle growth. Look at the kids; you might sometimes think they grew an inch while sleeping and this is not so far from the truth. They sleep a lot more than adults and it is during these valuable hours that their bodies grow the most.

40 minutes into your sleep the body starts to raise the number of growth hormones in the body, including testosterone which is the main hormone for muscle growth. The energy that’s been provided to the body is then being used to renew the cells and to increase the number to give it the ability to handle the new activity level it’s been facing during the day.

When you’re missing out on a good nights sleep, your body is not able to do the transit from work-mode to relax-mode. In this way you slow down the building up process that happens naturally while in the relaxed state.

If you find that you have problems going to sleep or having a light sleep, there are different things that can aid you in this. First of all, don’t stress out about it, if you’re worrying too much about not being able to sleep, this will be what really hinders you from falling asleep. Take your time in the evenings to wind down from all that has happened during the day, have some calming herbal tea, like chamomile or peppermint, or have a cup of warm milk.

More ways to relax can be to listen to some calm music, reading a good book or spending some time with a pet. There are also a lot of relaxing exercises, such as hypnosis, on the market that can be helpful to bring you into sleep. Find what works for you.

When you have a meal an hour or so before going to bed with a high amount of protein, you give your body the nutrition it needs to build muscles while resting. Make sure you don’t eat just before going to bed since this might decrease the quality of your sleep. Let your body digest the food properly and then you can rest and let it do its work.

Find ways that works for you. By taking sleeping medication you might fall asleep easier, but it actually makes the sleep less deep and if you’re taking it every night your body will adjust to it and there’s even a risk of getting dependent on them.

There are many ways to relax and to give yourself the sleep your body needs. With a good rest you will be able to see an increased muscle gain without having to work out harder at all. Sometimes it’s just that easy.

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Even though Coca-Cola’s “secret formula” is about 120 years old, they still are looking to push the boundaries of food and beverages can do for you. And if they can make a few bucks helping you get healthy, why not? Coca-Cola can be found in almost every country on the planet and is especially thirsty for the lucrative Chinese market. In order to be more Chinese, they are looking into the ancient system of Chinese herbal medicines.

Coca-Cola Now Based in Beijing

In October of 2007, Coca-Cola announced grand plans for its Beijing operations, their aim to incorporate the modern taste and convenience of Coca-Cola with traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Their plan is to have many combinations of these herb powders mixed into the Coca-Cola, bringing, what Coke’s vice president and chief scientific officer says, “the insights and benefits of traditional Chinese herbal medicines to consumers all over the world.”

In 2004 the Beijing operation was opened in order to start research on how to make healthier Coke. Chinese herbal medicine contains the knowledge while Coke itself contains the marketing power and the money. In this way, Coca-Cola hopes to not only promote holistic health, but corner the market in it. As well.

Is This A Good Idea Or Not?

Whilst the combining of Chinese herbal medicines into Coca-Cola is theoretically possible, the combination would make taking the Chinese herbal medicines more palatable. It is hoped that the cost of the Chinese herbal medicine-formulated Coca-Cola can reduce the price of the medicines currently available.

It is widely known that most Chinese herbal medicines are distributed not as raw botanicals, but as a concentrated powder form made from extractions of the raw material. This not only makes the medicine last longer, but makes it easy to mix in water, applesauce or tea. Since the powders are already used in liquids to administer, why not mix it into Coca-Cola?

The question is whether the Chinese herbal medicines powders will still be as effective in the planned line up of Coke drinks than taken as it is now. Coke plans to do a lot more research before putting any drinks on the market. Unlike most governments, Coca-Cola has the money for intensive research.

Coke aren’t just limiting production of a new Chinese herbal medicine drink line to just fizzy soft drinks. They are also investigating the possibility of marketing ready made teas, bottled water, juices and energy drinks. Coca-Cola knows that people are becoming more health conscious and the likelihood that future trends may turn them from carbonated soft drinks altogether. Could it be that Coke is looking to survive with the help of Chinese herbal medicine.?

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Do you know someone who is looking to learn more about the well-known Chinese martial art of Tai Chi? If you are, have you been wondering how you could help to contribute? If you have been, you may want to think about getting that person, whether it be a close friend or relative, a Tai Chi book. Tai Chi books can be very helpful to those who are looking to learn more about Tai Chi or for those who are interested in participating Tai Chi.

Have you, yourself, purchased a Tai Chi book before? If you haven’t done so, you may not know that Tai Chi books come in a number of different formats. While many of these books, regardless of their format, aim to educate readers on the art of Tai Chi, many do so in different ways. For instance, there are Tai Chi books that focus on the history of Tai Chi or the benefits of practicing Tai Chi and there are other Tai Chi books that outline numerous Tai Chi moves. It is also important to note that there are many Tai Chi books that do both, show you Tai Chi and educate you on it.

One of the many reasons why you should think about getting a Tai Chi book for someone that you know is because they are educational. A large number of individuals are interested in taking Tai Chi because it is has become popular over the past few years. Despite that popularity, a number of people who are interested in practicing Tai Chi are unfamiliar with the history of Tai Chi or the importance of it. While it is possible to learn Tai Chi without knowing the history or benefits of it, knowing this important information can make Tai Chi all that more exciting.

Despite being a popular form of a Chinese martial art; a Chinese martial art that is practiced all around the world, Tai Chi is not for everyone. If you know someone who is interested in taking Tai Chi lessons, but has actually yet to do so, a Tai Chi book may be a great gift. A large number of Tai Chi books have sample Tai Chi forms, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to complete those forms. This information should prove very helpful to a hopeful Tai Chi participant. It will let your friend or family member know whether or not Tai Chi is really for them.

Tai Chi books are available for purchase from a number of different locations, including those located on and offline. It is also important to note that Tai Chi books are available in a wide range of different prices. This is ideal because being able to purchase a Tai Chi book for a reasonable price means that you really don’t need a reason to give a Tai Chi book as a gift. With the ability to being able to purchase a Tai Chi book for around five or ten dollars, you could give a Tai Chi book as a gift just because. What better gifts are there?

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