Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Heal Cavities, Naturally


The world is slowly waking up to the fact that, when you give the body what it needs, it can heal things we previously thought were impossible. A fine example of what is often deemed as an incurable health problem is dental cavities, but extensive research is now becoming more public about the true nature of tooth decay and the fact that there are proven remedies that can remedy it.
The lies perpetrated about tooth decay
According to the American Dental Association, the reason we have tooth decay is as follows:
"[Tooth decay] occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) such as milk, pop, raisins, cakes or candy are frequently left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay."
There are a few problems with this theory, including:
  • Groups of indigenous people who had fermentable carbohydrates stuck on their teeth all the timethat did not brush or floss were mostly or completely free of tooth decay.
  • Bacteria do not consume processed sugar or flour because of the lack of nutrients in them.
  • Foods that bacteria like to eat, such as milk, vegetables, meat, fish and fruit, are not commonly implicated in causes of tooth decay.
So if the modern explanation of tooth decay is not accurate, what is actually the cause of tooth decay?
What actually causes tooth decay
Tooth decay, as researched by Dr. Weston Price and other dental pioneers, boiled down to three factors:
  • Not enough minerals in the diet.
  • Not enough fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) in the diet.
  • Nutrients not being readily bioavailable, and your intestinal system not properly absorbing them.The presence of phytic acid largely influences this factor.
Over a period of time, if your diet lacks vitamins and minerals from a poor diet and/or contains high levels of phytates (from grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes), the blood chemistry and the ratio of calcium and phosphorous become out of balance, which results in minerals being pulled from bones, causing tooth and bone loss.
So, the long-standing belief that sugar causes tooth decay is true, but as a result of it depleting nutrients from the body, not because bacteria eat it and produce acid that ruins your teeth.
The food remedies that can heal cavities and tooth decay
In order to restore the ratio of calcium and phosphorus in our blood, and to enable minerals to bond to our teeth, it is not enough to just avoid eating too many sweet or processed foods. We must also eat health-building foods, containing copious amounts of minerals and vitamins that will build a glassy hard tooth structure.
Foods to focus on are:
  • Coconut oil, grass-fed meats, seafood and bone broths.
  • Organic raw and cooked vegetables (soups with bone broth are ideal).
  • Organ and gland meats, like liver.
Limit foods that are high in phytic acid, like grains, beans, nuts and seeds, as well as limiting processed food intake full of processed flours and sugars that upset blood sugar balance.
Supplements to consider are:
  • Fermented cod liver oil - very high in fat soluble vitamins A, D and K.
  • Magnesium - required to use calcium and phosphorous effectively.
  • Gelatin - if you don't have time to make bone broth, this is a good alternative and is great for gums and digestion.




source



healthy holistic living

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

A Fever Is A Good Thing, Don’t Suppress It

A low fever can actually benefit a person who becomes sick.  Researchers have attributed parental tendencies to over-treat by “fever phobia”–a fear that fever is harmful–which they say originated after the introduction of anti-fever drugs like Tylenol. In addressing this important concern of parents, it’s vital to understand that a fever serves to protect your body against infection and trauma in three major ways.

1. A fever stimulates your immune system into producing more white blood cells, antibodies, and a protein called interferon, all of which work to protect your body against harmful microorganisms.

2. By raising your body’s temperature a few degrees, a fever makes it harder for invading bacteria and viruses to survive and flourish. The higher your core body temperature is, the harder it is for harmful microorganisms to survive in your body.

3. A fever helps to shuttle iron to your liver so that it is not readily available to fuel the growth of invading bacteria.

Longstanding belief, and even parental instinct, may compel you to fight your child’s fever to ease the persistent crying and discomfort. But most experts say not to worry so much about treating your child’s fever. In fact, they say, for children older than six months old, having a fever may be a good thing.

“Fever is often a good sign of a robust immune system,” said Dr. Kathi Kemper, professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. “A fever in and of itself is not dangerous.”

fever child23 A Fever Is A Good Thing, Dont Suppress It

Instead, many experts said comforting a child through a fever is an effective way to help a child get over a fever faster.

“We always recommend supportive care,” said Dr. Estevan Garcia, vice chair for emergency medicine at Maimonedes Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. “Make sure they’re hydrated, make sure they’re eating and drinking.”

Simply rocking your child in your arms or trying to keep him or her quietly distracted helps.

The most common cause of a fever is a bacterial or viral infection, the vast majority of which your body’s self-healing mechanisms can conquer with proper rest and nutritional support. Heat stroke and poisoning can also cause fevers, more often in children than in adults.

A fever can actually help anyone who is sick . When you get a fever, the body is basically doing it's part in eliminating  bacteria, bugs and  viruses.  And contrary to what parents may believe, the body can function very efficiently at temperatures as high as 100.5 degrees.

A fever cannot cause brain damage unless it reaches 107.6 degrees Farenheit (42 degrees Celsius) and stays there for an extended period of time. Since your brain has a built-in thermostat that does not allow your core temperature to rise above 106 degrees Farenheit (41.1 C) during an infectious process, it’s virtually impossible to experience brain damage from a fever caused by a bacterial or viral infection. The majority of fevers don’t reach 105 (40.5 C) degrees. The highest temperature that I have encountered thus far has been 104.5 degrees Farenheit (40 C) in a 6-year old boy who had suffered a heat stroke.

A small percentage of children can sometimes experience short-lived seizures when they have a fever, called a febrile seizure. These seizures are caused by a rapid increase in body temperature, not by a specific temperature. There’s no need to worry if your child experiences a febrile seizure, as they end quickly and do not leave after-effects.

Although it is usually best to allow a fever to run its course and to rely on your own self-healing mechanisms to get you well, it is recommended by most health pracitioners that you seek medical attention for fevers that are accompanied by:

  • Difficulty breathing
  • Vomiting
  • A stiff neck
  • A persistent cough that lasts more than a week
  • Unexplained heaviness or weakness in your legs or arms
  • Unexplained irritability, confusion, listlessness, and any other behaviour that is out of character for you or your child

If none of the above symptoms are present, a fever is best treated by getting plenty of rest, drinking plenty of healthy liquids and eating lightly.  Many holistic practitioners even reccommned increasing your core temperature by taking a hot bath in baking soda and epsom salt to help detoxify the body and get sweat glands cleaned out and working properly.  Once you reach the point where you are sweating profusely, rinse off in tepid to warm water and go straight to bed.  By increasing the body's core body temperature it helps fight off the illness and increase antibodies.  The epsom salt and baking soda bath will help relax so that you can sleep and thefever will usually break within 8 -12 hours.  
Please be aware that though the risk is very slight, there are potential negative effects to taking anti-fever medications, especially in little ones, so heed all warnings on labels and stay vigilant with symptoms.
 


source:


Prevent Disease

Friday, January 24, 2014

Diabetic Neuropathy: Cause, Risk Factors, Types and Symptoms


neuropathy.jpg
Having elevated blood sugar can damage our body’s nerves over time.
Diabetic neuropathy is the generic term for all diabetes-related nerve damage disorders. These disorders can affect our peripheral and autonomic nervous systems.
Peripheral nerves lie outside our brain and spinal cord. They extend through the limbs and to many sensory organs. Autonomic nerves control body movements that take place automatically such as heart beats, gland activity, and the workings of our intestines.
The most important thing to remember about diabetic neuropathy is that the best prevention, and primary means of slowing nerve damage progression, is good blood glucose control. However, about half of those who have diabetes develop neuropathy, and disciplined blood sugar monitoring does not guarantee immunity.

Cause and Risk Factors

There is constant interaction between our blood vessels and our nerves – the health of one affects the health of the other – and glucose levels affect the functioning of both. We know that blood carries oxygen and nutrients to our nerves, and high blood sugar weakens blood vessel walls, impairing blood circulation. Elevated glucose also diminishes our nerves’ capacity to transmit signals.
Some other factors influence the development of diabetic neuropathy:
  • Genetics. Thanks to our genetic inheritance some of us are more susceptible to nerve damage than others.
  • Inflammation. Our immune system can mistake parts of our body for foreign organisms and attack them. This is called an autoimmune response, and it can cause our nerves to become inflamed. Chronic inflammation leads to nerve damage.
  • Years having diabetes. Symptoms of neuropathy are most common in individuals who have had diabetes 25 years or more.
  • Kidney problems. One complication of diabetes is kidney damage. Less effective kidneys may mean more toxins in the bloodstream, and toxins contribute to nerve injury.
  • Alcohol abuse and smoking. Alcohol can wreak havoc on blood sugar levels, increasing the risk of neuropathy. Smoking is known to reduce blood flow in our extremities by narrowing and hardening the arteries.

Four Types of Neuropathy and Symptoms

Not everyone with diabetic neuropathy experiences symptoms, and damage that occurs over time may not trigger symptoms until the injury is significant.
1. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common type of diabetic nerve damage. It may cause numbness or pain in the toes, feet, legs, hands, or arms. Other names for peripheral neuropathy are sensorimotor neuropathy and distal symmetric neuropathy. Symptoms include:
  • Numbness, or lack of sensitivity to pain/temperature
  • Burning, tingling, or prickling sensations
  • Cramps and sharp pain
  • High sensitivity to touch
  • Reduced coordination and balance
2. Autonomic neuropathy damages nerves that regulate blood sugar, blood pressure, and heart rate, and may cause problems in several organs. Symptoms include:
  • Hypoglycemia unawareness (not realizing your blood sugar levels are low)
  • Drop in blood pressure after sitting or standing; increased heart rate
  • Constipation; gastroparesis (stomach empties too slowly); trouble swallowing
  • Bladder infections (bladder does not empty fully), incontinence, and sexual performance issues
  • Sweat gland malfunction (no sweating, or profuse sweating)
  • The eyes' pupils become less responsive to light changes; poor night vision
3. Proximal neuropathy, or diabetic amyotrophy, involves sudden pain in the hips, thighs, legs, or buttocks—typically felt on one side of the body. Proximal nerve damage is more common in diabetic seniors and those with type 2 diabetes. It is also called Radiculoplexus neuropathy. Symptoms may improve over time and include:
  • Severe hip, leg, thigh, and buttock pain
  • Weakened or atrophied thigh muscles
  • Trouble standing from a seated position
  • Possible abdominal swelling; weight loss
4. Focal or mononeuropathy affects certain nerves, usually in the head, leg, or torso. It is more common in older adults with diabetes, tends to appear suddenly, and is quite painful. However, focal neuropathy typically improves on its own—although improvement is slow—and seldom results in long-term damage. Symptoms include:
  • Double vision, problems focusing, an ache behind one eye
  • Bell’s palsy (paralysis on one side of the face)
  • Severe pelvic or lower back pain
  • Front thigh pain; pain at the inside of a foot or the outside of a shin
  • Chest, stomach, or side pain
  • Intense abdominal or chest pain (can be mistaken for appendicitis/heart attack)
If you believe you are having problems with diabetic neuropathy, there is help!  While diet and exercise play important roles, there are also herbal blends that are proven to help repair nerve damage.  Call KISST Organics at 308-254-5373 to schedule an appointment to access your symptoms.



adapted from:


8 Foods For Healthy Digestion


Friday, January 10, 2014

Raw Vegan Creamy “Pistachio Ice Cream” Kale Smoothie

 

  • 1 cup curly green kale leaves (about 3 large leaves)
  • 2 ripe bananas - fresh or frozen
  • 2 cups ice (a little less ice if using frozen bananas)
  • 1/2 cup filtered water
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • 1/3 cup chopped pitted dates or 3 Tbsp raw agave nectar or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp pure alcohol-free vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp finely minced ginger
  • pinch of Celtic sea salt
Throw all of the ingredients in your high speed blender and puree until smooth and creamy. YUMMO!

 

source:


Healthy blender recipes

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Is Sitting Killing You? Nine Things You Can Do To Change It


"Sitting," says Dr. James Levine, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic who has researched the dangers of a sedentary life for the last 15 years, "is the new smoking." Levine's studies have shown that sitting around—as many of us do for both work and pleasure—is bad for your health. Spending more than just 6 hours a day on your backside drives up blood pressure and places you at a greater risk for diabetes, obesity, depression, and some types of cancer. People who already have chronic illnesses see an increase in their symptoms. And that's just for starters.

Think you're out of danger if you go to the gym regularly? Think again: The usual guidelines for regular exercise simply aren't enough to counteract the dangers of all the sitting we do. And we do a lot of it: Americans average 9.5 hours on our collective butts per day. That's a lot of smoking.

So maybe it's possible to limit our time on the couch. But when you make your living sitting at a desk, what's to be done?

The answer is NEAT—nonexercise activity thermogenesis. In other words, getting up and moving around, at an easy pace, as often as possible, for as long as possible. NEAT used to be far more interwoven into our lives: Walk to the post office. Walk down the hall to confer with a coworker. Walk to the market and walk back with the groceries. These days? Not so much: Technology allows us to do almost everything from the comfort of a chair.

 
 
 
This may help to explain why we're getting so much heavier than the Americans just a few generations back, even as we have become more and more obsessed with fitness. Our grandparents certainly didn't have a big-box gym on every corner. As a group, in fact, people probably got less formal exercise than we get today.

Without the conveniences of e-mail and other labor-saving technologies, day-to-day lives simply required more movement 50 or 100 years ago. And since even slow walking can more than double your metabolic rate compared with sitting, you can see how being just a little more active during your day can make a huge difference to your weight and health.

Still don't think walking "counts" as exercise? A 2004 study of the Amish—a modern agrarian culture that shuns post-industrial revolution technology—indicates that as a group, they're remarkably healthy: Cancer rates are far lower than those of the country at large, and obesity is almost nonexistent, despite a conspicuous lack of treadmills and weights in their communities, and a diet rich in meat, pie, refined sugar, and other fattening foods. Their apparent secret? High amounts of NEAT: Amish women take about 14,000 steps a day, and Amish men are up around 18,000—something on the order of 8 miles a day.

I'm not suggesting we dispense with all technology and live like the Amish. But I am saying we need to figure out ways to make our own NEAT. You've may have heard this fitness tidbit before and dismissed it as impractical. Who has time for all that walking?

The surprising answer: You do. Even if you don't want to spring for a treadmill-desk (they do exist!), there are lots of ways to sneak more easy, focus-building, nonsweaty NEAT into your life. Here are a few:

1. Walk and talk.

As a culture, we conduct most of our business and social affairs from a seated position: in restaurants, boardrooms, and coffee shops. Whenever possible, find ways to turn these into walking meetings—especially when you're meeting one-on-one: Offer to stroll in the park or around the block rather than sitting down and eating something you probably don't need. You'll eat less, move more, and probably even think better: Walking can help your ideas flow.

2. Go mobile.

Many of us who grew up with desktops and wall phones are still stuck to the idea that we have to be stuck while using mobile devices like cell phones and laptops. So we sit at a desk while chatting on our cell phone or working away on a laptop. Whenever you're on the phone, take it as an opportunity to walk—or at least stand. Most people feel—and sound—more engaged when they're on their feet, so you'll make a better impression on the phone if you're up and about anyway. And change locations with your laptop whenever possible: Take it to a park, a cafe, another room in your house.

3. Take a microbreak.

One of the reasons it's so tough to maintain good posture at a desk is that your ligaments and other soft tissues start to deform after about 20 minutes in the same position, gradually giving your body a permanently chair-shaped appearance. Fight this tendency with 1- to 5-minute breaks for every 20 minutes you're at work: Stretch, breathe, focus your eyes on a distant object. You'll come back to work refreshed and recommitted.

4. Steal a workout.

This falls under the no-brainer category: Grab the first parking spot you see in the lot (the farther away from the door, the better) rather than circling for 10 minutes looking for the perfect one. Take the stairs, not the elevator. And stay off the human conveyor belt at the airport, too: You're going to be stuck on a plane for 6 hours anyway—do you really need less activity? Whenever there's a choice—walk. This may seem like novice advice, but it can make a huge difference in the number of calories you burn in a given day.

5. Miss your stop ... on purpose.

If you use public transportation, try getting off a stop before or a stop after the one most convenient to your destination. You'll be able to squeeze in 10 or 15 minutes of pleasant walking—and maybe get to know your neighborhood a little better at the same time.

6. Go for Face Time (not the app).

I'm lucky that my profession requires me to see people face-to-face: It's hard to diagnose a torn meniscus or a separated shoulder over e-mail. But many people can go through their workday without ever actually interacting with their closest coworkers. They text the guy down the hall, they e-mail blast to their most valuable clients. Nothing wrong with convenience. But if you've got a question for Linda, and she's right down the hall, take the 3-minute break and go see her. Chances are you'll communicate better anyway.

7. Get less efficient.

In the movie Wall-E, the people of the future live on Barc-o-lounger-shaped scooter-chairs that zip them from place to place, dispensing a never-ending stream of soft drinks into their big-gulp-size cups. It's not too far off from where we appear to be headed right now. Efficiency, it seems, is killing us. One novel solution is to get a little inefficient on purpose: Set up your work station so you have to reach for things rather than keeping them within an arm's reach. Put the file cabinet and wastebasket a ways away so you have to walk over to them (or at least practice your free throw). Reaching, stretching, extending, and of course, walking feel great, especially when you've been stuck in the chair all morning.

8. Leverage your TV time.

I personally don't know anyone who admits to watching more than an hour of television a day—but with the national average up around 5 hours, I know they're out there. TV time can be invaluable for stretching, floor Pilates, and yoga postures. No need to make it super intense: Restorative postures are great, especially if you're winding down before bed. You'll sleep better, burn a few calories, and shave some time off your sitting hours for the day. And you'll relieve a little of the guilt from your favorite guilty pleasure.

9. Include the family.

This applies to any fitness venture: a better diet, a more stringent workout program, a more active lifestyle. Don't go it alone. Make sure everyone near you—especially your family—knows that you're trying to get more activity into your day, and include them as much as you can in the effort. Take a walk around the block instead of a trip to get fast food; play mini-golf instead of going to the movies; choose Twister instead of video games.

It's OK if you're not a superathletic family—you don't have to shoot hoops and shag fly balls every night. But the more incidentally active your family activities can be, the better. And you'll be instilling the importance of regular movement into your kids' lives—and that's a pretty important gift.
 
 
Source:
 
 
Mind body green

Sunday, January 5, 2014

6 Natural Alternatives to Ibuprofen

Seeking a natural alternative to ibuprofen is not just for those who prefer natural remedies to conventional medicines. For many people it is something they are passionate about because of the many concerns that have been voiced linking ibuprofen to things like heart disease, circulatory problems, and gastrointestinal conditions. Fears have also been raised with regard to bleeding and/or perforation of the gut and the intestinal tract


There's no reason that anyone subjected to pain should have to suffer it unaided. The only thing to be careful of is that if the pain is repetitive, the underlying cause should be diagnosed by a medical practitioner. Just treating the symptom may mean delaying a diagnosis that could have significant impact on your general health.

The Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen through Herbal Medicine
Long before modern medical science came into being, mankind has dealing with pain via natural means. Many of these natural herbal remedies have borne the test of time, and are still being used today by those who belong to the herbal remedy school. In terms of a holistic health lifestyle, these natural alternatives to ibuprofen, and any other manufactured pain relief treatments, are more in keeping with holistic ideals, so let's take a look at some of them now.
Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 1 - White Willow Bark
White Willow Bark is an herbal remedy that stretches back in time, over 2000 years. It is gathered from the bark of various species of willow trees and has been used in many herbal medicine cultures, including that of the ancient Chinese, and Romans. As well as being used to treat lower back pain, osteoarthritis and other conditions including bursitis and tendinitis, it can also be used as a natural headache relief medicine.
White Willow Bark contains a natural chemical known as Salicin. Aspirin, which contains Acetylsalicylic Acid, was modeled on Salicin when it was first engineered back in the 1800s. Although it is not as fast acting as aspirin, the effects of White Willow Bark may have a longer lasting effect.
Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 2 - Cats Claw
Cat's Claw is so named because of its resemblance to... yes - you've got it... a cat's claw! It's a thorny vine that is known to climb as high as 100 feet, and it's the bark and the root of the plant that are used to make the herbal medication. The plant is found in South and Central America, but mostly in the rainforests of the Amazon. The majority of Cat's Claw that is sold here in the USA is imported from Peru.
Research indicates that Cat's Claw may be able to stimulate the immune system. Because of this it is advisable not to take it if you are on medication to suppress your immune system function. Cat's Claw contains an anti-inflammatory agent that prohibits the manufacture of a hormone known as prostaglandin, a hormone which is in part responsible for pain and inflammation. It also contains antioxidants.
The research carried out to date also suggests that Cat's Claw can be taken to relax smooth muscles, to dilate blood vessels (thus helping to lower hypertension), and as a natural Diuretic, to help the body to lose excess water. It is often taken by people who suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee.
It can be purchased in capsule form, or in its natural form, when it is used to make a tea or tincture.
Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 3 - Boswellia
Boswellia is also known as Indian frankincense. It comes from the Boswell Serrata tree which grows in India and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Traditionally, it has been used in resin format to treat chronic inflammatory conditions, as well as a number of other disorders. These include:
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Inflammatory bowel disorders
  • Asthma
The reason that Boswellia may be able to assist with arthritic symptoms is that it contains Boswellic Acid which is believed to improve the blood flow to the joints, thus preventing white blood cells from entering and causing inflammation.
Today, Boswellia can be bought in the form of a cream for topical application, a resin as previously mentioned, or in tablet form. When used to treat arthritis, it is believed that it may be able to prevent cartilage loss.
Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 4 - Capsaicin
Capsaicin is an ingredient of the Chili Pepper. It is made into a cream that can then be applied topically to any painful area (not the eyes). When we experience pain, a substance known as substance "P" carries pain signals to the brain. Capsaicin is able to interfere with this process. It can be purchased in different grades of strength, and upon initial application can cause some localized stinging or burning, which then quickly subsides. After several applications, (it should be applied 3 to 4 times per day), these sensations are no longer felt.
Because Capsaicin comes from Chili Peppers, certain precautions should be made, such as washing your hands thoroughly after applying it, and keeping it away from your eyes, and from children too.
As well as being available in cream or ointment format, it is also available in patches.
Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 5 - Curcumin
Curcumin is an ingredient that comes from the herb known as Turmeric. It comes from India, where it has a long history of being used in Ayurvedic medicine. It works in a similar way to Capsaicin in as much as it blocks the transmission of substance "P", but it's also credited with the ability to block certain proteins that cause inflammation.
It is used to treat arthritic pain but has many other capabilities too according to an article published in Natural News. It is the most medically researched natural herb and it still undergoing tests.
Natural Alternative to Ibuprofen # 6 - Essential Oils Essential oils have the ability to combat one of the most common forms of pain - that of the headache - essential oils are a natural headache relief.
Many headaches, such as tension headaches, are a symptom of stress or bad lifestyle, and massaging essential oils into the scalp and temples can be an effective, natural, remedy. They work on two levels - three in actual fact, if you take the massaging process into account as well.
In the first instance, they work on a natural chemical level. In the second instance, they work on the sensory level, through your sense of smell. In the third instance, when applied through light finger massage (rather than being poured into a bath in which you then soak for 20 or 30 minutes), the massage itself helps to relieve tension. There are many  essential oils to consider. My personal preference includes:

  • Peppermint-great as an overall stimulant/muscle relaxer and one that can readily be applied to children and can also be taken internally when used in Therapeutic grade.
  • Roman Chamomile - great as a muscle relaxant
  • Lavender - an excellent sensory calmer/relaxer as well as wonderful natural pain reliever.  One of the best suggestions for dealing with painful burns.
  • Clary Sage - lowers heart rate and blood pressure, reducing stress and tension
  • Wintergreen - many of the pain relieving ointments on the market contain wintergreen.  It is a pretty robust sensory stimulant and works well on muscular aches and pains and joint pain as well.
To use essential oils:
Pour six to eight drops of essential oil into a hot bath. Soak for 20 minutes.  Essential oils are very powerful - for best results, do not use them if you're pregnant.
Depending on the essential oil, they can be applied to the skin neet (straight) or diluted with your favorite carrier oil.  Almond oil is my oil of choice.  If you are not sure, dilute with a carrier oil.  Massage 2 or 3 drops of essential oil with 1/2 teaspoon of almond oil.  Apply to affected area (avoiding eyes and mucus membranes).  Also apply to the bottoms of the feet.
For headaches, massage into the scalp using fingertips and applying vigorous friction to circulate fresh blood and stimulate nerve endings around the tense area.




adapted from 



healthy holistic living

Fruit Rx Veggie Instead of Prescriptions


Saturday, January 4, 2014

Gluten Intolerance


Gluten intolerance, also called gluten sensitivity or Celiac Disease- when it's in its most severe form- can have symptoms that range from no symptoms to life threatening or debilitating chronic health problems and anywhere in between. Often, these symptoms are not consistent from person to person and this is part of what makes gluten testing or Diagnosing Gluten Sensitivity so difficult for medical professionals.


According to Dr. Amy Myers the following are 10 signs of gluten intolerance:
    1. Digestive issues such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, and even constipation. I see the constipation particularly in children after eating gluten.2. Keratosis pilaris, also known as "chicken skin" on the back of your arms. This tends be as a result of a fatty acid deficiency and vitamin A deficiency secondary to fat-malabsorption caused by gluten damaging the gut.
    3. Fatigue, brain fog, or feeling tired after eating a meal that contains gluten.
    4. Diagnosis of an autoimmune disease such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, lupus, psoriasis, scleroderma or multiple sclerosis.
    5. Neurologic symptoms such as dizziness or feeling of being off balance
    6. Hormone imbalances such as PMS, PCOS, or unexplained infertility.
    7. Migraine headaches.
    8. Diagnosis of chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia. These diagnoses simply indicate your conventional doctor cannot pinpoint the cause of your fatigue or pain.
    9. Inflammation, swelling, or pain in your joints such as fingers, knees, or hips.
    10. Mood issues such as anxiety, depression, mood swings, and ADD.


source:


healthy holistic living