Anti-aging, Disease Prevention, Weight Management
THE 12 ESSENTIAL SECRETS REVEALED
Available 1) as a download and kindle version for various gadgets 2) paperback
At last discover the 12 Essentials to anti-aging, disease prevention and weight management, using only tried and tested natural methods and remedies.
The latest findings combined with naturopathic know-how, blending modern research with traditional wisdom.
Read MoreArthritis suffers – baths are therapeutic.
Most people have stopped having baths or even had their bathtubs removed, as most people have a “quick shower”. They are considered cleaner, more cost effect, time saving and showers take up far less space. So plenty of reasons to take a shower. However, you are missing out on an extremely therapeutic tool especially if you have arthritis. Baths can be used to de-stress your life and treat various conditions especially painful . Most people are too busy getting ready for to work in the morning so showers are the only answer. After a particularly hard day at work with aches and pains especially from arthrits, its good to relax in a warm bath, especially if you have trouble sleeping.
Read More14 Essential Oils that can help with Arthritis Pain and Inflammation
These 14 essential oils have been chosen for their
- pain relieving abilities
- anti-inflammatory properties
- versatility all the oils can be used for other ailments too
- and affordability, all the oils are very affordable and last a long time
Essential oils are absorbed directly into the blood stream, by-passing the digestive system. They have been used for centuries with some amazing results. Make sure you buy a 100% pure essential oils, they are highly concentrated therapeutic oils and for this reason only a few drops are needed in a base. In other words they must be diluted into bath tubs, massage oils, body lotions or creams. They are very effective in helping with all manner of problems, from inflammation, pain, calming the nervous system, improving digestion, encouraging repair and so much more, all with wonderful aromas. Introducing you to 14 essential oils that are simple to use.
Some safety rules first
1) Never take essential oils internally
2) Avoid the eyes and mucous membranes.
3) Do not use essential oils undiluted on the skin
4) Do not use any if you are pregnant or suffer from epilepsy or high/low blood pressure.
5) Half and dose for the elderly, convalescent and young.
6) Essential oils can be used singly or as a mixture, a good number is a blend of three or less.
Dose – generally anything from 3 to 4 drops in 10mls (2 teaspoons) of body oil, cream or body lotion.
Basil essential oil – uplifting tonic This oil is a wonderful nerve tonic, an excellent essential oil for all sorts of digestive ailments, and helps arthritis and rheumatism, muscle spasm and gout.
Do not use if you are pregnant
Cedar wood essential oil – warming, soothing This oil can help to decongest the lymph system, helps to unblock arteries by breaking down fat deposits, and improves poor circulation. Cedar oil can help to reduce fluid retention.
Avoid if you are pregnant and do not use on children.
Clove Bud essential oil – analgesic (anti pain) Helps to relieve toothache very effectively, place 1 drop undiluted (in the mouth only) on the pain, until you manage to get to the dentist. This oil can also be added to carrier oils and lotions or a bath to help with joint pain. This is a powerful essential oil so use with care.
Eucalyptus – respiratory, lungs It is used for all sorts of breathing problems, such as asthma, bronchitis, congestion, sinuses. Excellent for urinary infections, and cystitis, also reduces fluid retention. Good for herpes, cuts, and wound healing. Eases muscle aches and rheumatism.
Caution Eucalyptus should not be used if you have high blood pressure or suffer from epilepsy and can be fatal if ingested.
Fennel essential oil – lymph, fluid retention For lymphatic decongestant, helps to reduce cellulite, cleansing oils for all systems. It relieves constipation, flatulence and nausea. Can help reduce fluid retention, reduce weight and help curb appetite. It can improve a poor circulation. A really good oil for menopause as it encourages the production of oestrogen. Also regulates the menstrual cycle. Do not use on children.
Frankincense essential oil also known as Boswellia Frankincense essential oil is good for relieving muscle aches and pain. It also helps to lessen the pain caused by rheumatism. Beneficial in helping anxiety, asthma, bronchitis, stress, cough, scars & stretch marks.
Geranium essential oil – balancing Reduces fluid retention, balances hormones, will help to reduce hot flushes, (for a more peaceful night). Helpful for varicose veins and haemorrhoids (piles), helps to stop bleeding. It will ease anxiety, depression, and nervous tension. It helps to balance all skin types. It is a good hormonal balancer for women menopause and PMS. Aids digestion, jaundice, gastritis, colitis, cleans digestive system of mucus, and liver tonic. Aids poor circulation, and stimulates lymphatic system.
Lavender – calm and relaxation This oil can help calm the digestive system. Reduces inflammation, relieves emotional stress, and anxiety. This oil is truly excellent for headaches, migraines, and insomnia. Helps heal wounds, bruises, burns, sunburn, acne, boils, eczema, and psoriasis.
Caution Lavender should not be used during the early stages of pregnancy. Use Lavender with caution if you have low blood pressure.
Lemon essential oil – cleansing and detoxifying Lemon will counter-act acidity in the whole body which in turn with help with all sorts of painful conditions like – arthritis, gout or rheumatism, which cause pain and inflammation of the joints. This oil encourages the decongestion of the liver and gall bladder and helps to cleanse the circulation.
Caution Lemon is a photo-sensitizer (increases the skins reaction to sunlight making it more likely to burn) so it should not be used when exposed to sunlight or tanning beds. Avoid sunbathing for 12 hours after application. Lemon should not be directly inhaled as in a steam bath as described earlier.
Lemongrass essential oil – revitalizing tonicAn essential oil that has a feel that is fresh and clean. Boosts the immune system, and speeds up convalescence especially after a viral infection. Effective for toning muscles, relieves tired aching legs, and eliminates lactic acid.
Palmarosa essential oil – cleansing Antiseptic (intestinal-internal), antifungal, anti-viral, powerful bactericidal-large spectrum (most germs, E.coli), cellular stimulant, hydrating, cools body, tonic (nervous and uterine). This essential oil has excellent skin care properties and is also used to relieve stiff and sore muscles. It calms the mind, yet has an uplifting affect it is used to counter physical and nervous exhaustion, stress -related problems and nervousness. It is most useful during convalescence, aiding the digestive system, and helping to clear intestinal infection.
Peppermint essential oil – cooling and pain relieving This essential oil can be used to clear the head and ease headaches, helps pain in general. Peppermint oil is well known for calming any digestive problems. It is an effective anti-spasmodic. It is excellent for general muscular aches and pains.
Rosemary essential oil – stimulating and restorative It is a rich, fortifying, and warming essential oil. Well known for its circulatory stimulating properties and for toning muscles. Rubbed into the joints it will ease pain and help gout. Helps reduce cellulite, relieves digestive problems, and fatigue. Rosemary is excellent for detoxifying and aiding the liver and gall bladder. Helps to normalize cholesterol levels, and is really good for fluid retention.
Caution Rosemary has antispasmodic properties and should not be used during pregnancy or if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy.
Tea tree essential oil – anti-bacterial, anti-fungalThis essential oil is amazingly versatile it is a must for your medicine cabinet. It is non-toxic and due to its versatility can be used for so many different things. Arthritis and painful joints, muscle aches, acne, age spots, athlete’s foot, boils, burns, catarrh, bronchitis, sinus problems, colds, flu, sore throat, corns, cystitis, thrush, and vaginal discharge, dandruff, fungal infections, immune system booster, itching (from insect bites, chicken pox, etc), herpes, cold sores, mouth ulcers, sweaty and smelly feet, urinary tract infections, and warts.
Cayenne Oil – for pain relief of muscles and joints
Sonia Jones from the Haven Spa, Health Clinic and Fitness Center
Cayenne contains a plant chemical called capsaicin, it has the ability to block chemical messages in our bodies called substance P, that transmit the sensation of pain. The herb’s pain relieving properties can be preserved in an oil or body cream, and is applied externally, to help stiff, painful joints and muscles.
If you made your own cayenne oil you can use on your joints or on your salad.
How to make the infused oil – 250grms of hot powdered cayenne to 500ml of cold pressed (extra virgin) olive oil. Place the very hot cayenne powder and the oil into a large airtight jar and stand in a warm place (not hot and not in sunlight) for 2 weeks, shaking the content daily. Strain and squeeze out the remaining oil. Take the strained infused oil and add another 250grms of cayenne powder making sure the oil completely covers the powder and place again in a warm place for another 2 weeks, shaking daily, then strain once again. Store the strained oil in an airtight dark glass bottle in a dark, cool place. This oil can be rubbed into stiff, painful joints and muscles. This infused oil is very hot, so never use on broken skin and always remember to wash your hands after use. Cayenne used topically increases blood flow to joints and muscles reducing pain and speeding up healing.
Store this oil in the refrigerator for up to a year. However keep a small amount at room temperature for immediate use.
Read MoreOsteoporosis, what you need to know?
20th October is International Osteoporosis Day
Mention the word osteoporosis and the first thing you think of is calcium supplements, dairy products and menopausal women. Both men and women get osteoporosis and not always when they reach old age. Our bone density peaks at the age of 35ish. So we need to think about our bone density before our 50s. We recently saw a guy of 35 who had painful osteoporosis.
In Asian countries especially in China the incidence of osteoporosis is much more unusual. Things are changing though as more people in China start adopting a more Western style diet. The highest consumption of dairy products and calcium supplements is in the US yet they have one of the highest incidences of osteoporosis! This disease costs the US in excess of 11 billion dollars a year. Over the last 30 to 50 years the incidence of osteoporosis has increased dramatically.
Just for a moment think about the cows that produce the gallons of calcium rich milk for dairy products. However, when was the last time you saw them pop down the shops for a calcium tablet? Or indeed buying a pint of milk to supplement their diet? ePreventing osteoporosis is not just a simple matter – of getting cow’s milk or taking some cheap calcium carbonate tablets. Absorbing and utilizing calcium in these forms is extremely difficult, especially as we age.
There are many foods that contain calcium in a form that that is easier to digest, breakdown and absorb correctly. Foods like almonds, sesame seeds (tahini), green vegetables especially the darker ones, natural plain yogurts (much easier to digest that milk), the grain millet and many more. These foods are nutritious and contain the other nutrients needed for utilization of calcium.
In order to prevent or treat osteoporosis there are several dietary strategies that need to be taken into consideration. The body uses calcium reserves from the bones to neutralize an acidic environment that has been encouraged by the average Western type diet. So the more acid forming foods you eat the more the body uses calcium from the bones as a buffer this acidity. The foods and drinks that can cause acidity are alcohol, meat, sugar, wheat, rye, tea, coffee, soda, or artificial sweeteners. There are also compounds in certain foods and drinks that hinder the absorption of minerals like calcium and other minerals that calcium relies on for absorption. Compounds found in wheat, coffee, and tea.
I am not suggesting for a minute you need to give up your glass of wine or become a vegetarian. However, you do need to cut down on the amount of acid forming foods and drinks in favour of more alkaline forming foods and drinks like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains; quinoa, millet and brown rice to maintain a better balance. These foods are also rich in calcium and the co-nutrients. Maintaining a better alkaline acid balance will cut down the need for the body to use your calcium reserves from your bones.
As for supplements you will need to avoid calcium carbonate buy other forms of calcium, read the label carefully it will tell you what type of calcium it is. Also check the label to see how much magnesium if any and vitamin D your calcium tablets contain, start taking magnesium supplements 400mg with your calcium supplement.
If you take antacids, this can have a detrimental effect on calcium breakdown and absorption as antacids generally lower acidity levels or prevent so much from being produced. Either way this has a knock-on effect. Getting regular exercise is important. Get out in the open as much as possible, if only for short periods of time to get UV rays, this will help the body to manufacture vitamin D. Here I am not necessarily suggesting you sunbathe, I mean maybe a 30 minute walk.
Read MoreCan Herbal Medicine Help Arthritis?
Medicinally, herbs (spices) are any plants or plant parts that are used in a therapeutic way. Herbal medicine is the art and science of using plants for promoting health and preventing and/or treating illness. It has endured over the centuries as the world’s primary form of medicine (today 75% of the population), since the beginning of time. There is written evidence that is more than 5000 years old!
Most pharmaceutical drugs are single chemical entities that are highly refined and are often synthesized. In contrast, herbal medicines are prepared from living or dried plants and contain hundreds to thousands of interrelated compounds. Science is beginning to demonstrate that the safety and effectiveness of herbs is often related to the synergy of its many constituents. Modern medicine is brash, bold and fast in contrast herbal medicine is understated, profound, and slow acting.
The focus of the herbalist (and many other practices like acupuncture or naturopathy) is to treat people as individuals irrespective of the name of the disease or syndrome they have been labeled with. The practitioner has to figure out how they will encourage that person’s innate healing power through the use of such interventions as herbs, diet and lifestyle.
In contrast focus of conventional physicians is to attack diseases using strong chemicals that are difficult for the body to process, or through the removal of organs. Not only does this ignore the unique makeup of the individual, but many patients under conventional care suffer from side-effects that are as bad as the condition being treated. The philosophical difference between herbalists and conventional physicians has profound significance. I firmly believe that we should have choices and if you choose medication that is fine. However, if you are someone who is seeking a different approach herbal medicine can help, as long as they discuss nutritional changes with you.
Like all Alternative treatments herbal medicine can be used in three different ways
1) to help prevent disease
2) to help treat disease like arthritis
3) to maximize your general health
Take arthritis for instance – the success of herbal treatment always depends upon a variety of factors including how long the condition has existed, the severity of the condition, the dosage and mode of administration of the herb/s and how diligently treatment plans are followed.
Most herbs sold as dietary supplements are very safe. When used appropriately, the majority of herbs used by practitioners have no adverse side-effects. A review of the traditional and scientific literature worldwide demonstrates that serious side-effects from the use of herbal medicines are rare. Bear in mind some people have adverse reactions to peanuts!
If you decide to self prescribe then read product labels very carefully, most manufacturers provide appropriate information. If they don’t, then don’t buy their product.
Most visits to an herbalist begin with a consultation about your past and current health history, your dietary and lifestyle practices, or other factors related to your health issue, like family history. The herbalist, then with your involvement, will develop a comprehensive herbal and lifestyle program that addresses your specific health problems.
Various herbal traditions have developed worldwide. In the West there are a number of different traditions which include folklore herbal practices, clinical Western herbal medicine, naturopathic medicine, practitioners of Ayurveda or Chinese medicine and numerous Native American herbal traditions.
All of these disciplines look at treating the causes and not just the symptoms, improving the quality of your life.
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