Herbal Beauty Tips

Consumers are turning to wholesome and therapeutic elements found in Mother Nature for skin care therapies and beauty treatments. There is an awareness of the potentially harmful effects associated with the long term use of synthetic chemicals found in many formulas. To name a few - 1,4-dioxane, a cancer causing contaminant found in cosmetic products; silicone emollients which coat the skin and trap anything beneath it - not allowing the skin to breathe; formaldehyde, cancer-causing vapor that can cause allergies, irritations to eyes, nose and throat, headaches and chronic fatigue.

Few people realize that skin is a ?dynamic tissue?. Up to 60% of the skin products that we apply are absorbed into our bloodstream! Cosmetics, lotions and creams are an important part of life but we need to be aware of the damage chemicals have on our system. The only way to correct this is to find something less harmful. Natural and organic herbal skin care is the answer - grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and genetically engineered seeds.

Vitamins
In the last few years many manufacturers have begun to add vitamins and antioxidants to their formulas. Look for vitamin A to assist in preventing roughness and dryness. C and E are the simplest forms of antioxidants and will help in the prevention of sun damage and in fighting premature wrinkles.

There is some evidence that vitamin C may pass through the skin?s top layer and heal tissue that has been damaged by a burn or an injury. A study recently showed that applying topical Vitamin C, 15 to 30 minutes after UV exposure, sunburn cells decreased and repair to the damage had begun. The one problem of this vitamin is that it is unstable when left open to the air. Research is continuing to optimize this but one consistent way is to use an anhydrous (no water) base cream.

Vitamin D interacts with sunlight to form in our bodies and is considered an antioxidant and an anticarcinogen. Although it can be toxic in large amounts, sunbathing won?t result in an overdose.

Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a soothing plant and the base of many natural cleansing formulas, offering exfoliation, moisturizing and protection. This ?miracle? plant dates back to the time of Cleopatra but was lost for years. It was rediscovered during the Second World War when it was used for treating burn victims. It is now used as an ingredient that will help with antiaging, in the healing of wounds and sun damaged tissue. Apply aloe gel several times a day and watch the redness of a sunburn disappear without peeling.

Topical use of a cream containing 0.5 percent aloe vera extract three times a day for four weeks shows a high cure rate of lesions in psoriasis patients. Further research suggests that this plant may have a mild analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect with no known adverse reactions. The problem of eczema can be addressed with specific ingredients such as aloe vera which provides soothing, cleansing and healing.

A great idea in using natural formulas is to do-it-yourself. To prepare an aloe vera home recipe, take the slippery part from inside the plant, puree in a blender and keep refrigerated. Apply a coat of the gel for 5 minutes and rinse. Over time watch for spots, acne and scars to disappear.

Jojoba Oil
Plant and animal species around the world were being identified and quickly outlawed for hunting and harvesting. The use of products derived from these sources was banned. The endangered sperm whale produced waxes that were greatly valued for their function in cosmetics. During the 60?s and 70?s a liquid wax (jojoba oil) found in the deserts of California, Arizona and Mexico was discovered by scientists. It not only replaced the prohibited wax from the sperm whale but appeared to actually be superior.

This jojoba oil is an excellent moisturizing agent and has spreading and lubricating properties. It leaves a rich non-oily velvety feel and enhances flexibility and suppleness. Studies done at the University of Michigan demonstrated that it is quickly absorbed. Because of this, pores and hair follicles remain open maintaining their proper functioning ability.

Applied directly and as often as required it is known to reduce wrinkles and bring relief to sensitive skin. The desert peoples of Southern California and Mexico had long been using it to treat rashes and cuts because of anti-bacterial qualities.

Many companies and name brands are introducing their all natural skin care lines and in many cases, samples are available to try out their product.

But you, the consumer, needs to realize that any product, natural or chemical based may have side effects. It is most important to read and study the information on your product of interest, know your skin type and what effect you want to achieve.

With so many choices in skin care and beauty products, it becomes confusing as to what is the best value for the money. No one has all the answers. But I do have the time to check out and make myself knowledgeble about what is out there. Many consumers are busy with other things and may not have the time to do the research. I attempt on my sites to give them some answers, or at least point them in the direction that will give them some answers. My sites are http://www.skin-care-n-cosmetics.com and http://www.perfume-n-cologne-shop.com

It is the belief of most parents that children are eating a relatively healthy diet, but if not, they throw up their hands and give up. Children are then plied with multivitamins. Though this is not a bad thing to do, many children think they are candy especially now that they come in gummi candy, gumballs, and cute animal and cartoon characters.

This is extremely serious because if they are with a kids reach, they could be taking more than you know about. If there is the remotest chance your child has ingested too many, immediately call Poison Control and get them to the emergency room.

If your child overdoses with multivitamins with iron your child could become seriously ill or die. All manner of medications must absolutely be kept out of the reach children. If you think your child needs them generic multivitamins are fine but for the most part, children get a lot of their vitamins in their diets.

If your child is either allergic to dairy products or won?t eat them, calcium will need to come from other sources. A consultation with your child?s pediatrician is important. One vitamin daily is all a child needs even if his diet has been questionable for that week.

The absorption of other vitamins could be blocked if there is too much of any one vitamin. For example, too much calcium can prevent the absorption of other vitamins such as iron. Healthy food choices are not a child?s priority you can expect to be giving your child vitamins well into their teens.

Before buying vitamins you should know that opinions about vitamins with iron for children vary greatly. One belief is that you should, in fact, be giving vitamins with iron. Another philosophy is that never should a child be given vitamins with iron in them.

In infancy my own child showed signs of iron deficiency as an infant. Always check with your child?s doctor; my child?s doctor put him on iron fortified vitamins and he is healthy now. A disease called Hemochromatosis is caused by too much iron in the blood.

The iron becomes unusable by the body and it is not washed out of the body easily. It is almost always a fatal disease and can cause serious health issues. Calcium helps build strong bones and muscles and is a very important part of your child?s diet.

Calcium is a mineral. Kids who eat ice cream, yogurt, and cheese or who drink milk usually get enough calcium from their diets. Some do not like dairy products, still others are allergic to them. Children can be assisted in getting what they need by consuming calcium fortified juices, cereals and vitamins.

Drinking fluoride treated tap water and bottled water and/or using fluoridated toothpaste is enough for most children. Your child should not be given fluoride supplements without checking with your pediatrician. Your child?s teeth could be permanently stained if they get too much fluoride.

This defeats entirely, the purpose of the treatment of water and the use of toothpaste meant to protect your child?s teeth. Infant multivitamins in liquid form is available and usually administered with an eye dropper.

The drops contain vitamins A, C, and D and may have added iron. Also they may have other vitamins and minerals such as thiamin, niacin, riboflavin and vitamin B-12. Chewable children?s vitamins are available in the forms of cartoon characters and/or animals. Now vitamins are available in gummi candy and gumballs.

Try buying gum ball vitamins or cartoon characters if your child is difficult about taking vitamins. Your child should always be supervised while he?s taking his vitamins. My son never gets to take his vitamins on his own, I give them to him.

He may or may not take it or he could take too many. Children?s vitamins could be a very good thing but too much of a good thing could be fatal. They should not be left in the reach of children. Eating what is right is not your child?s top priority so giving him vitamins may offset some of that.

Adjustments to child?s diet should always be discussed with your child?s pediatrician, it?s better to err on the side of caution. It?s fine to have fun shapes but your child could think they are candy and they should be kept out of reach of children or locked in a cabinet.

About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of products which includes Vitamin C and Herbal Supplements, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information.

If you are like many of the 20.9 million adults in the U.S. who are suffering from depression, you have probably debated the pros and cons of taking prescription antidepressants. While depression can often be combated with therapy alone, some professionals do recommend medication for certain cases. The right type and dosage of a prescription medication can sometimes meet with success for a patient, but many experience side effects that outweigh the benefits.

Side effects vary between the different types of antidepressant, but the most commonly prescribed medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft are all SSRIs, and often produce side effects such as sexual dysfunction, nausea, diarrhea and headaches, and in some cases thoughts of suicide. In order to avoid these, more and more people are deciding instead to explore natural remedies for depression.

Among those who know, St. John's Wort is almost unanimously agreed upon as the alternative treatment for depression. Many believe that it is more effective at treating depression than many prescription medications but with fewer risks. The active compounds in St. John's Wort help naturally reduce feelings of sadness, anxiety and worthlessness, and many who take it also report less exhaustion and fewer headaches. Best of all, this herb often produces no side effects, although some might experience sensitivity to sun or other minor side effects.

Ginko Biloba is a natural ingredient that improves circulation in the brain, which often in turn improves memory and also alleviates some symptoms of depression. It is not as effective as St. John's Wort, but it can be taken in conjunction with other natural ingredients as an overall mood-booster.

Siberian Ginseng aids the balance of essential neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain. Taking Siberian Ginseng regularly can lead to improved feelings of general well-being.

Passion flower is another natural ingredient that can help treat depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. Passion flower is a natural salve that helps to calm and soothe. When it is combined with St. John's Wort, it can be very successful in treating depression naturally.

These and many other herbs are helpful in alleviating many of the symptoms of depression, and as with anything you put into your body, each person will react differently to them. It is important to allow a trial period in order to feel the effects of the natural medications, as some will take several weeks to take effect. As always, you should seek a doctor's advice before you decide to stop taking a prescription medication, and you should avoid combining prescription medications with natural medications. Hopefully, you will find a safe, healthy combination of natural ingredients helps you to feel consistently better over time.

Tess Thompson is a Homeopathic Practitioner, Reflexologist, Certified Aromatherapist, and Herbalist who contributes regularly to Native Remedies - where you can find All Natural Homeopathic and Herbal Remedies for treating depression naturally and natural remedies for depression.

The most obvious way around it is to use a good quality electric shaver. Usually this resolves the problem of cutting pimples and causing unnecessary pain and injury. However, you will need to follow a good skin care regime to remove the dead skin cells which build up on you skin, in order to promote healthy growth of new skin cells. We?ll discuss exfoliation later.

Make sure you use skin care products for sensitive skin when acne pimples are many and inflamed. It?s important to get the skin type right too. Dry, normal or oily skin, requires different approaches and in many cases there will be a couple of different skin types in any one individual.

For example, you may have a combination of dry and oily skin, or normal and oily skin. Usually with acne there is a component of oily skin ? the nose, forehead are often oily, while the cheeks and chin areas are either normal or dry. You will need to keep this in mind in order to effectively treat your acne and shave without causing additional problems.

There are some basic principles that all you men should know about their skin and how to best conquer the shaving process.

It sounds easy enough, hey just put some shaving gel on your face and using a razor, take it off again, simple, how hard could it be?

The problem is not that the act of shaving is in itself difficult, it?s not, but unfortunately the skin can very much be a problem. If shaving is not done correctly, you could end up looking a bloody mess and have blotchy irritated skin and that is not a good look with which to impress the girls.

To start with, young men, and for that matter even mature men don?t realise that the beard hairs grow in different directions? The key is not to shave against the direction of the growth. In order to get a close shave, it is very important that the preparation stage for shaving is done correctly if a close shave is desired.

Shaving against the growth of the hair will give you a closer shave, but you increase the risk of nicks and cuts many fold and if you have acne, this can get rather bloody.

So, here?s how to get it right from the start.

Before we start, shave in the shower. The warm water will open the facial pores soften both the stubbles and the skin and this promotes a better, closer shave. Also, there is less risk of nicks and cuts if your skin is warmed by the hot water in the shower.

Ok, let?s get stated:

Step 1 ? Use an exfoliant; this gets rid of dead skin cells, which lifts your stubble and gives a closer shave, leafing your skin smooth and looking well groomed.

Wildcrafted?s Skin Renewal Gel is perfect for this job, because the herbs and essential oils contained in this product help not only to remove dead skin cells, but also nourishes the skin and provides nutrients the skin can utilise.

Step 2 ? Prepare the canvas; use the Vitalising Shaving Gel. This product combines pre-shave oiling of the skin and a shaving cr?me. Not only do you provide lubrication so the razor glides easily over the skin, but the essential oils in this product have antiseptic properties, so you reduce the risk of infections in the event of nicks or cuts from shaving. This helps you to get a smooth shave and the lubricating oils prevent nicks and cuts. Once you have applied the Vitalising Shaving Gel to your face, work it into lather and then start shaving.

Step 3 ? Shaving; the best razor is one that lets you use a light stroke and you don?t need to push down too hard. Gillette?s M3 fits the bill, but there are other?s of similar quality. Using a brush to apply the Vitalising Shaving Gel will help lift the bristles and allow you to shave even closer, but your hands will do the job just fine.

If you use an electric shaver, it is still to your advantage to shave after you?ve had a shower, because the skin is warm, softer and the stubble are easier to shave off. Some of the newer electric shavers you can now use under the shower too ? so take advantage of that and use the benefits of the ?hot water?.

Step 4 ? Nicks and cuts? The Vitalising Shaving Gel, which leaves a residue on your skin even after you have finished shaving, contains essential oils which disinfect and help repair the skin. Just leave it on your face while you finish having a shower and then rinse it off.

Step 5 ? Moisturise. This is a must. After you have finished your shower, apply the Ginseng Hydrator specific for your skin type ? remember you may need to use more than one if you have two different skin types. If you have a shiny skin, use the Ginseng Hydrator for Oily skin, if it looks dry and or dull, use the Ginseng Hydrator for Dry skin, else use the one for Normal skin.

Step 6 ? Restore; once or twice a week, use a natural clay mask to help your skin heal from the taxing process of shaving. The Earth Medicine Facial Clay range contains soothing minerals and oils to calm shaving irritation. It also helps to remove toxins that build up in the skin, especially if you suffer from acne.

If you are using an electric razor, all the steps except for Step 3 still apply. Using an electric razor can cause your skin to be quite itchy and using a moisturiser that sooths the irritated skin is very important.

So there you have it. Shaving can be easy and painless, as long as you follow the steps above, you should not have any trouble getting your stubbles under control. Remember, use the shower to shave, it really does help immensely as well as save you time, and it helps you to do a better job.

About The Author

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Wildcrafted Herbal Products' natural skin care range is suitable for men and women and contains only pure, natural ingredients, formulated according to Naturopathic and Aromatherapy principles.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter ? it?s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.

? Copyright: Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2005

Herbs have been embraced for centuries. Herbal remedies offer solutions to many different types of symptoms in the body. From the common cold, to acne, toothache, and even baldness?herbs can enrich our overall well-being and appearance. For years many men and women have relied on herbal remedies to prevent premature hair loss and stress-induced hair loss. The following remedies are some of the most popular around the world:

Green Tea: Drink several cups a day, as this tea contains the enzyme 5 Alpha Reductase. What does it do? It converts male testosterone into DHT. Men who have pale pattern baldness swear by this natural remedy. Seeing is believing, what do you have to lost? Drink up. Cheers!

Ginko Biloba: By increasing circulation to the brain and skin?with this herb, you can deliver more well-needed nutrients to the hair?s natural follicles. Spread 120 - 160 mg of the dry extract onto the scalp in a period of three dosages.

Saw Palmetto: The hair loss Treatment of choice by males. It protects a man?s prostate from cancer and studies show it encourages hair growth. Take it in capsule form twice weekly. It?s most potent taken in its natural form (extracted from berries?not dried berries).

Stinging Nettle: Known to prevent hair loss, men rely on stinging nettle at the first sight of thinning, or slight balding. Take a capsule which contains 50-100 mg a day to keep hair loss away.

Pygeum: If used properly (60-500 mg per day in capsule form) the effects of Pygeum are much like those of green tea. Use this herb for treatment of male pattern hair loss or prostate problems.

He Shou Wu: Embraced by the Chinese, this herbal remedy has been known to reduce the effects of hair loss, as it?s been said to delay the process. This herb can be taken in tea-form or in a capsule.

Before scientists started creating hair loss topical ointments in laboratories, these herbal remedies were relied on by many men (maybe even an ancestor of yours!). While there are many sceptics, who say that herbal treatments are laughable, others beg to differ. What does it come down to? What works for some, may not work for others. Herbs are safe and practical if taken in their proper dosages. Perhaps this is why many men are eager to experiment with them. Inhairit some of these and other only high quality herbal ingredients in it?s unique formula designed to slow thinning hair.

Jen Carter is staff writer for Inhairit - a hair loss treatment program designed to slow thinning hair in men and women. Visit http://www.inhairit.com today.

When you think about what hot drinks you want to have at the morning, or for that matter, at any other time of the day, consider this: caffeine can seriously affect your health. Now it is no secret that some of the tea companies use caffeine in their products; you can of course choose those that don?t ? for example, let us take Wissotzky tea: Black tea has 60 - 70 mg of caffeine, Green tea has 15 - 20 mg while Herbal Tea would have no caffeine at all.

The variety of tastes is quite large: Raspberry Tea, Peach Tea, Nana Tea, Lemon Tea, Cherry Tea ? and most importantly ? no side effects. It may appear surprising that drinking something like tea should cause anything at all, yet it is important to know the facts. As turns out, caffeine may act upon our moods ? especially if you have a tendency towards depression ? be aware ? consuming caffeine may depress you even more.

To those of you with depression tendencies ? avoid caffeine at all cause! Especially when mixed with white sugar, it operates on the brain and may make you feel worse than you did before (brown sugar is better anyway). As you have surely by this time realized ? coffee may be your biggest enemy. Black coffee consists 150 mg of caffeine and Instant coffee 120 mg. If you?re a ?heavy drinker?, do the math. And let us not forget Coca Cola. This same drink that has conquered the world so fast is another host of caffeine. It is not in vain that caffeine is compared to drugs ? indeed, some of us are real Cola-addicts! (I confess, I used to be one myself)

Please, don?t be depressed by this, my intention in precisely the opposite one: my solution was simply not drinking it anymore. There are plenty of other delicious drinks that consist of herbs, and work to improve you daily nutrition. I know that simply refusing something you like may sound hard to do, yet it is quite simple when you try.

Our experts have made a research to find the best nutrition sources. Find the exclusive results only on Herbal tea and nutrition #1 website. More valuable nutrition content on Herbs and Nutrition on TiGilet.

Indigestion, insomnia and itching are very common ailments in everyday life. So common in fact that we don't even take them seriously and they tend to be left untreated. The problem is, when left untreated, they often blow up into something far more serious. So when one is feeling a little down and out due to these conditions and not up to getting dressed and going to the pharmacy to load up on medicine, there are a lot of home remedies that are easy and simple to make.

Itching

Itching can be caused by a lot of things. It may be due to allergies from food or plants, insect bites, stings, or even poor hygiene. You can either scratch away and leave scratch marks and wounds on your skin or you can try this. An old and trusted home remedy is using a weak carbolic acid lotion or mixing up a solution of bicarbonate of soda (commonly known as baking soda) and applying it over the itchy part.

Indigestion

Common home remedies for indigestion are peppermint and ginger. These are also popular in treating other digestion problems. Apple and tea are also used, as are Epsom salts. Another effective way to relieve indigestion is drinking the juice of a raw potato or an egg white. Cloves are also considered treatment for indigestion. Other herbs that help relieve the discomfort that comes with indigestion are meadowsweet and lavender. In traditional medicine, the use of feverfew, fennel and dill as cures for indigestion is common, as well as thyme and speedwell.

Insomnia

Insomnia, or the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, is very common from working individuals with hectic schedules to people in their old age. It is a nagging problem and can cause severe health and work-related side effects. Sleeping pills can be very scary and dangerous to take. So before popping the pill, here are a few tricks you can try.

A good and well-known cure for insomnia is very simple - honey. This can be taken in a lot of ways. One teaspoon of honey a night is actually enough to treat insomnia but this can also be taken in a lot of ways too. You can take it with cider vinegar. A popular mix is adding honey to milk with a little cinnamon or nutmeg and drinking this before going to bed. A strange but effective treatment is eating onions during bedtime. This is known to induce sleep. Using either stewed Spanish onions or the garden variety of onions will do. Two or three of them are taken. If you cannot stomach this, turning them into onion soup or onion jelly is a recommended alternative. Onion soup is simple. Onion jelly on the other hand is made by shredding onions and simmering them in a little stock until tender. And then the onions are added into a pot of boiling water with a squeeze of lemon. These are all cooked together.

Other sleep-inducing herbs were used in folk medicine. In the Middle Ages, hops were commonly used. In the earlier days, poppy and valerian were used, as well as woodruff and skullcap. Popular also were dill, peppermint and dandelion. Hawthorn and rosemary induce sleep and are old folk treatments for sleeplessness. Chamomile, lavender and lemon balm are famous for their relaxing effect and were regular cures for insomnia then and now.

Michael Russell

Your Independent Herbal guide.

Multi vitamins can provide a convenient way to take a variety of supplemental nutrients from a single product to prevent vitamin or mineral deficiencies, as well as to achieve higher intakes of beneficial nutrients.

In the current state of the vitamin and nutritional supplement industry it can be difficult to decide which supplements will provide real health protection and improvement benefits and which are simply me too products designed primarily to ride the wave of public interest in preventative health.

To understand the need to be informed about vitamin and nutritional supplements, you must understand the regulatory environment that currently exists in the vitamin supplement industry in the United States.

Do Vitamin Companies Regulate Themselves?

In October of 1994, President Clinton signed into law the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA).

The DSHEA was written to help empower Americans to make choices about their own preventative health care strategies.

Under the DSHEA it was decided that nutritional supplements would continue to be regulated as a food product rather than the more restrictive regulations that drugs fall under.

While this made vitamin and nutritional supplements widely available it also allowed nutritional supplement manufacturers to practically regulate themselves, since there was no agreed upon standard of good manufacturing practice (GMP) and no government pressure to be true to the label on their products.

It was't until March of 2003, nine years after the DSHEA became law, that the FDA proposed new regulations to require current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) in the manufacturing, packaging, and holding of nutritional supplements.

According to the FDA, this is what prompted the new regulation proposal:

In recent years, analyses of dietary supplements by a private sector laboratory suggest that a substantial number of dietary supplement products analyzed may not contain the amounts of dietary ingredients that would be expected to be found based on their product labels. For example...

Five of 18 soy and/or red clover-containing products were found to contain only 50 percent to 80 percent of the declared amounts of isoflavones.

Of 25 probiotic products tested, 8 contained less than 1 percent of the claimed number of live bacteria or the number of bacteria that would be expected to be found in such a product.

The proposed rule will, for the first time, establish standards to ensure that vitamin supplement ingredients are not adulterated with contaminants or impurities, and are labeled to accurately to reflect the active ingredients and other ingredients in the product.

The proposed new regulations will be phased in over the next three years so as not to disrupt the production of nutritional supplements.

While the DSHEA has helped ensure that dietary supplements remain easily accessible without excessive regulation, (doctors prescriptions, etc.), it also has created a wide open atmosphere for manufacturers who aren't yet in compliance with good manufacturing practices (at this time, GMP compliance is voluntary).

It's very easy for a supplement company to jump on the bandwagon of the latest fad and put together a product with little or no research and poor quality (and cheap!) ingredients, and then market it with over-blown, unsubstantiated claims and pure hype.

Some of the most common products that this formula is used for are weight loss, HGH (human growth hormone) and multi vitamins.

Supplement users are in the position of having to trust vitamin supplement manufacturers to regulate themselves. Although the dietary supplement industry has an excellent track record of safety, it's been verified by the independent product testing of consumerlab.com that some supplements do not contain what is stated on their label and are sometimes contaminated.

While some vitamin supplement manufacturers are working hard to meet the new FDA guidelines, not all are. At this time, you have to do your own research and take extra precautions to find high quality nutritional supplements.

Tips for Choosing Nutritional Supplements

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients work best when they're combined in a way that mimics nature as closely as possible. Look for nutritional supplements that have nutrients combined to make use of the natural synergy between them.

Companies willing to give a full disclosure and description of their ingredients have usually put more effort and research into their product. For example, instead of just saying Calcium the label should be more detailed like this: Calcium (from 2430 mg Citrate, Malate, Ester-C). This description indicates that higher quality ingredients and more up-to-date research was used for the supplement.

Verify that the supplement was produced at a pharmaceutical GMP (good manufacturing practices) facility. Since compliance to GMP standards is voluntary it's important to do your own research to verify that macro-biological testing is done at every stage of production.

(This issue shouldn't be taken lightly - as mentioned above, studies by Consumerlab.com have shown that some supplements don't have the true amount of ingredients as stated on the label, or may harbor toxic contaminants.)

Pharmaceutical grade supplements (sometimes called nutriceuticals) are made for professional use in the health care field by natural health care providers and consumers who want the best.

In the past decade pharmaceutical grade supplements have become more availableto the general public and this type of nutritional supplement will provide the health benefits that you're looking for, often for a very reasonable price.

Max Wardlow is the webmaster of advanced-vitamin-formulas.com where you'll find current information and resources on the best vitamin supplements and natural health supplements for many common health issues.

Obesity and overweight, weight reduction and weight management therapies, miracle weight loss pills are everywhere. Open the newspaper, switch on the T.V., pick up a magazine and you are sure to find ads and articles on the subject of weight loss and obesity.

Weight loss and obesity are big business. Here are some factors that can make you rich if you happen to start a business related to weight management.

Two thirds of America is overweight. Out of that, 50 % are obese.

300.000 premature deaths are caused by obesity. Obesity is the fastest growing epidemic in the world.

The world is hurling towards obesity at galactic speeds. Only 50 years back obesity was hardly hear of. Nearly 45 % of the world population is obese or overweight in 2004.

Weight loss related business that you can start and become rich.

Opening a weight loss counseling Centre

Become a nutritionist

Sell some good weight loss MLM products from herbal pills to weighing machines

Start researching and writing about weight management.

Start a campaign to fight obesity and become well known in your community or even in your city or country as a lose weight advocate. This will help you in any business you are planning. Start a weight loss Super store with every conceivable weight management related products and books.

Not to leave the healthier people you can start an obesity prevention centre

Start specialized Child Obesity Counseling centre

This is only an illustrative list of the opportunity provided by an obese and overweight world to make millions. Just look around and you will find an opportunity to encash weight management as a business.

However, remember you yourself must look slim and be healthy to be a success in the weight loss business.

This article is copyright ? of R.G. Srinivasan a Certified Trainer, Small Business Consultant, Writer and Author. He is passionate about alternative therapies and holistic health. Check out his herbal health blog at http://globalhealthnetwork.tripod.com/herbalhealth for more on the subject of health and fitness.

Massage melts are a unique body product because they stay solid at room temperatures, but when applied directly to your skin, start to soften and melt due to body temperature. Their main purpose is to moisturize dry skin, as well as, relax and soothe tight muscles.

Essentially, massage bars are composed of natural butters and oils. Most recipes for this type of product call for the use of cocoa butter. Even though it has great moisturizing properties, I feel this butter produces too hard a product. Therefore, I recommend using such butters as shea and mango, which create a silkier, luxurious feeling to your melts.

For oils, I highly recommend using sweet almond and jojoba. Sweet almond oil is light and penetrates easily making it well-suited for dry skin conditions. Plus, it is effective on all skin types. Jojoba oil, which is not actually an oil but is a liquid wax, is similar in composition to the oil your skin secretes, which is known as sebum. Jojoba is a quickly absorbed oil that soothes the skin, as well as, extends the shelf life of other oils.

Other ?light? oils you can substitute, for the above, are apricot kernel, grapeseed, sunflower, safflower, or soybean. Rounding out the rest of the ingredients are beeswax, vitamin E, and essential and fragrance oils.

Beeswax helps formulations keep their shape, as well as, act as a humectant. Vitamin E oil protects your product from rancidity and is also a great natural antioxidant. Essential oils are natural ingredients that are the very essence of the plant itself. Extracted from the flowers, fruit, leaves, bark, and roots of the plant, the oils are used for scent and therapeutic purposes. A word of caution, due to their volatility, research any essential oil before use. Fragrance oils, though synthetic in nature, do provide an inexpensive and easy way to achieve a scent that might not be possible with essential oils.

Ingredients:
3 ? oz. of shea butter
3 ? oz. of beeswax
2 oz. of jojoba oil
2 oz. of sweet almond oil
? tsp. of Vitamin E

Equipment:
Mold(s) of your choice
1 digital cooking thermometer
2 Pyrex glass measuring cups
1 small digital postal scale
1 set of measuring aluminum spoons
Wax paper for measuring on the scale
Plastic wrap to cover Pyrex cups

Directions:
Step 1: Gather all equipment onto a clean, sterile surface. Place a sheet of wax paper over the small digital postal scale to measure out the shea butter and beeswax base. Place base in a Pyrex cup and cover with plastic wrap. Melt ingredients, completely, in the microwave.

Step 2: While the base is melting, use the second Pyrex cup for your jojoba, sweet almond, vitamin E, and essential/fragrance oils (if used). Mix, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside.

Step 3: Once the base has melted, mix thoroughly. Pour the Pyrex cup from step 2 into the base Pyrex cup, mix together, and pour into your mold(s). Set aside for a couple of hours to cool and set. When soft, transfer the melts to the fridge until they are really hard. They should just pop out of the molds easily. Massage into skin and let product become absorbed. Due to melting properties, keep unused portions out of direct sunlight and store in a cool place.

Note: If you plan on using essential and/or fragrance oils in your recipe, place a digital thermometer in the melted shea butter and beeswax base. Wait for the temperature to drop down to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything higher will burn off the fragrant oils. After the temperature has reached this point immediately dump your Pyrex cup from step 2 into the Pyrex cup with the base, mix quickly, and pour into your mold(s). Follow the rest of step 3 instructions.

Muscle Relief Essential Oil Blend
? tsp. of Eucalyptus
? tsp. of Peppermint (do not use if pregnant)
30 drops of Rosemary

Tropical Fragrance Oil Blend (Substitute shea butter with mango butter)
? tsp of Heliotrope fragrance oil
? tsp of Coconut Milk fragrance oil
30-50 drops of Tahitian Vanilla fragrance oil

All recipe ingredients, listed above, can be found by searching Google.com.

Mindy Schwartz is a writer for the handmade beauty industry, as well as, the owner of a handmade bath and body business called Grayson?s Apothecary of Beauty. For more information, go online to http://www.graysonsco.com.

It may come as a surprise but more than 60 million suffer from heartburn in the US alone. And the list is growing by the day. Heartburn is a problem that causes severe pain in the stomach and chest.

Any cure for heartburn must begin at home. The cure should be a combination of changes in diet and lifestyle coupled with medications if necessary. By looking for an early cure to heartburn you can avoid aggravating the problem, which could lead to much severe complications.

For effective cure first identify hat causes heartburn in you. Observe the things that you eat. Fatty and spicy food could be the cause of heartburn in some individuals. Tomatoes and citrus fruits also cause heartburn.

Follow the following regimen for a lasting cure to heartburn. If you are a smoker, quit smoking immediately.

Alcohol also can lead to heartburn. Therefore reduce intake of alcohol as much as possible. Do not eat heavy meals. Eat in small quantities more frequently and at regular intervals. Do not lay die immediately after a meal. There should be a gap of a minimum two hours after meals and your nap.

Raise your bed by about six inches on the side where you rest your head.

Drink lots and lots of water. If you are feeling very uncomfortable after a meal, take antacid or a soda as this will relieve you of gas and ease heartburn.

If you experience heartburn during the night or at any other time, take a tablespoon of baking soda and add cup of water and drink the mixture. This may not rid you of heartburn permanently but will cure you of heartburn for at least 24 hours.

You can also take antacids that are available across the counter. The antacids and gels should normally give you relief in about two weeks. However, if there is no relief even after two weeks then you need to consult a doctor. A qualified doctor or gastroenterologist would be able to cure you of heartburn by prescribing some medicines and a diet.

Following some simple exercise you can cure your heartburn effectively.

Go for a walk everyday. Swimming is also one of the effective ways for cleansing the body and curing your heartburn. Do mild exercises that lead you to sweating. Sweating helps you to lose calories and this in turn will help you to lose weight. Obesity is one of the prime causes of heartburn. So by following some simple steps you can find an effective cure for heartburn.

Venkata Ramana is the writer of Heartburn Cure blog. Read his informative reports about Heartburn Treatment and get rid of Heartburn forever!

Herbal remedies are a hot topic throughout magazines and other advertisements. We see St. John's Wort as a depression remedy, Echinacea to help ward off colds and chamomile to calm us down after a long, stressful day. Herbal preparations are popping up all over grocery stores shelves and your local pharmacy. There has been an influx of alternative practitioners that have sprung up in the last few years and even some doctors are prescribing herbal remedies to their patients.

What is herbal medicine? Herbal medicine is the use of herbs for their therapeutic or medicinal value. Some people call it plant or botanical medicine. This type of medicine is better used for keeping yourself in good shape so you do not get faced with a serious illness, even though there have been success stories of curing serious and chronic illnesses with plants. So what exactly are these plants called herbs? Herbs are plants or a plant part that has some sort of chemical substance that acts upon the body. Herbs can be taken in many different ways. They are found in capsules, teas, tinctures and other products like lotions and oils.

Believe it or not, the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind is herbal medicine. Before pharmacies ever existed, people used plants to cure and treat illnesses and injuries. Plants were one of the most important things to man millions of years ago. They helped feed him, shelter him, clothe him and provided healthcare. It is thought that people learned which plants were poisonous based on how the animals around them acted after eating the plant. Even today, according to the World Health Organization estimates, around eighty percent of the world's population, a whopping four billion people, uses herbal medicine for some form of their healthcare needs.

Many different alternative therapies such as acupuncture, oriental and homeopathy may have some sort of herbal component to them. Pharmaceutical companies use herbal components in some of their products as well. As an example, aspirin contains white willow bark. These companies know that plants have been in use for millions of years and that there must be a reason why, so they conduct large full-scale tests to see if they can use them in their products. One of the major areas that the pharmaceutical companies are looking at is the rainforest, as there are thousands of plants that have not yet been discovered. When there is destruction to the rainforest areas, we may never know if we have lost a plant that was a cure for a disease.

People are becoming more interested in herbs as medicines, because they feel these are safer alternatives to a lot of the pharmaceutical drugs which have so many side effects. The truth is, though, plants are powerful medicines and need to be respected as such. Before taking any herbal medicine, it is important to check with your doctor or herbalist; because some herbs can interfere with medicines you may currently be taking. Also, not all plants medicines may be right for your particular condition.

Herbal medicine will most likely be around for a long time, as long as we don't destroy all the plants!

Michael Russell

Your Independent Herbal guide.

In a separate article in this series we looked at some of the most popular herbal hair loss remedies for ingestion. Here we'll expand that theme to include some potentially useful herbal remedies for external use.

Aloe vera - some Indian tribes of Mexico attribute their thick, healthy hair to regular use of aloe vera gel which they rub into the scalp and hair each night. Herbalists believe that the herb activates the production of nitric oxide and contains an enzyme known as superoxide dismutane. Some experts feel that these two substances combine to stimulate hair regrowth in those suffering from male pattern type baldness.

Onion (Allium cepa) - this has a high sulfur content that is believed to have hair-healing properties. Some herbalists believe that rubbing the scalp with half an onion before washing hair encourages hair growth.

Red pepper (Capiscum) - a popular folk remedy that involves the application of a red pepper poultice to the scalp to act as a skin irritant. This draws blood and nutrients to the scalp and encourages the release of histimines to stimulate cell division and hair regrowth.

Safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorious) - Eastern health practitioners believe that safflower oil applied to the scalp acts as a vasolidator that dilates blood vessels. This allows more blood to deliver nutrients to the hair follicle thus creating an environment conducive to hair regrowth.

To find out more about these and other herbal hair loss remedies, please visit the site listed below.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the http://www.myhairlossadvisor.com website that provides information and guidance to those suffering from premature hair loss. Please go to Herbal Hair Loss Remedies to find out more about the issues covered in this article.

Over weight troubles many a people in this world for it can invariably lead to serious health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular issues, sleep apnea, depression, and osteoarthritis. The only way out of this problem is to rein in the increasing weights by following a healthy diet, supplemented by some good weight loss pills and a stringent fitness regime. Mostly, it is this combination that works for most people. But, this article concentrates on the weight loss pill - herbal phentermine ? and answers few common queries that most people tend to ask in an attempt to understand more about the drug. Hope you doubt also features in the answers below.

What is Herbal Phentermine?

Herbal Phentermine is a No Prescription Phentermine that is quite safe and natural. It is found to evoke few or no side effects in the user?s body. It achieves results by suppressing appetite and increasing metabolism, thereby burning away those extra calories.

What are the ingredients of herbal phentermine?

The standard ingredients of herbal phentermine are Acetyl L-Carnitine, Camellia Sinensis, Green Tea, Acid, Piper Nigrum, Bioperine, Alpha Lipoic, and Biotin.

What is the prescribed dosage of herbal phentermine?

One tablet in the morning and in the afternoon. If you develop any discomfort, reduce the dosage to one.

Are the results of herbal phentermine temporary?

To an extent, yes! While taking herbal phentermine, you won?t feel that much hungry, which often takes one to the level of craving for food. But, once the herbal phentermine intake is stopped, chances are there that the user may go back to the old habit of eating too much as the body again starts to respond to victuals like it used to before. Hence, if you stop herbal phentermine after losing some weight, better learn to control your instincts that beg for a stomach full every day.

What are the advantages of herbal phentermine?

The major plus with herbal phentermine is that it is free from harmful chemicals or compounds such as Citrus aurantium or Ephedrine. It is one of the safest natural diet pills available today.

We have made the most comprehensive research to find the best diet pills. Check it out on the Weight loss pills research. Find all about diets on http://www.911dietplans.com

Willpower From Popping a Pill? Well, Yes!

Appetite suppressant supplements are one of the most popular diet pills marketed and purchased today. Why is that you ask? Well, they actually help a lot of people to get back in line after periods of binging such as the holidays, by helping to decrease appetite and get back into a normal, healthy eating routine in order to lose weight or even just to prevent over eating.

Appetite suppressants are usually designed to help suppress certain hormones or even parts of the brain associated with appetite. They actually help suppress the receptors that carry hunger signals to the hypothalamus, the center of your brain which controls appetite. How do they do this? Well, it depends on the type of supplement you choose.

Hoodia Gordonii - The Latest Fad in Weight Loss and Hunger Control

Some supplements such as the much touted natural hunger suppressor Hoodia Gordonii, are said to contain an actual molecule named P57 that actually copies the effects of glucose in the brain and helps to prolong feelings of fullness and prevent hunger from even beginning in the first place.

Results with Hoodia have been mixed, but the general consensus is that it is a pretty good natural appetite suppressant and has worked to help people reduce their caloric intake and therefore lose weight with less effort and hunger than if they did not take the supplement.

The Less Talked About, But Perhaps More Multifunctional Appetite Suppressant - Herbal Phentermine

Another diet pill that acts as an appetite suppressant, but also doubles as a fat burner and thermogenic calorie optimizer (meaning it helps the body to burn more calories faster, and utilize them properly rather than converting them to fat and extra weight), is natural Fen-Phen, or herbal Phentermine.

Remember Fen-Phen and all of the negative publicity it received after causing several health complications and even deaths? It was pulled from the market, but its dramatic effects on weightloss and appetite control could not be forgotten.

Herbal companies came up with an herbal alternative to Fen-Phen, most of the time dubbed herbal phentermine or something to that effect, which was a safe and comparable supplement to the now FDA banned Fen-Phen. If you find a good herbal phentermine, you will find your cravings reduced and an overall decrease in appetite wihtout the jitters. It also helps to increase your energy levels, unlike Hoodia which is primarily used as a straight appetite suppressant. Herbal phentermine is also non addictive, unlike its prescription counterpart.

Supplements containing a high fiber content can also help to stimulate a feeling of fullness since fiber expands in your stomach, helping create and sustain the feeling of fullness as well as helping to sustain healthy blood sugar levels longer. If you drink plenty of water, this helps fiber to expand in your stomach.

The only thing I don't like about supplements with fiber or just taking fiber to control appetite is that if you take too much fiber, it can actually have a constipating effect rather than a cleansing effect. Fiber must be taken with caution and careful measurement - or must not be taken at all and instead incorporated into the foods you eat on a daily basis.

Whichever appetite control supplement you end up choosing, make sure it is made with high quality and purity standards - this way you get what you pay for and are not disappointed in the results you attain. One thing is for sure, appetite suppressing supplements are a great way to go to get yourself back on track and on your way to a healthy, sleek physique!

Visit DietingMagazine Appetite Suppressant and Diet Pill Reviews for more information on the most successful products in appetite suppression and weight loss. Danna Schneider is the founder of Dieting Magazine Diet Reviews and Information

Ayurveda is a holistic healing science which comprises of two words, Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge or science. So the literal meaning of the word Ayurveda is the science of life. Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life.

Ayurveda aims at making a happy, healthy and peaceful society. The two most important aims of Ayurveda are:

+ To maintain the health of an healthy people
+ To cure the diseases of sick people

Ayurveda is a medical science practiced in India since time immemorial and is generally known today as the Indian System of Medicine. The way Allopathic or Western medicine is practiced all over the world today. Similarly Ayurveda was practiced and recognized not only in India, but also in other Eastern countries. Ayurveda is a well - developed and completely refined medical science of antiquity and it will not be an exaggeration to call it the 'Science of Life'.

Ayurveda deals with subjects like treatment of diseases (Roga - chikitsa), diet & behavioral regimen (Ahara - vihara), daily regimen (Dinacharya). Seasonal regimen (Ritucharya) and such. In a nut shell, it contains the complete knowledge of physical as well as mental diseases, methods of treatment and prevention of diseases, and equally important, methods of protection and preservation of general health.

'Swasthasya swasthya rakshanam aturasya vikara prashamanam'

This concept of giving as much importance to 'maintenance' of health than treatment has earned a place even in WHO (World Health Organization) as the 'only' appropriate definition of health amongst all medical sciences.

Health is the supreme foundation of virtue, wealth, enjoyment and salvation. So when fighting against diseases and premature death, man has drug as weapon. In the search of these drugs and preparing them in a variety way to suit the varied needs and tasted of man under varied circumstances there grew up the science of pharmacy and chemistry. It is firm belief of scholars of Ayurveda that human being is a part parcel of nature. Whatever material which constitutes the physical nature also contributes to the composition of human being.

Dravya Guna is a special and independent branch of Ayurveda which keeps its importance and existence separately. It deals with numerous drugs along with their wide range of therapeutic uses. The importance of this branch in today's globalising world is existing due to endurable effect and relatively safety.

Why Ayurveda?

For centuries together, Ayurveda has served a million of people by offering the complete medical therapy for a vast amount of acute as well as chronic diseases. Ayurveda, though neglected in the present scenario, has served as the origin of many minor alternative-healing therapies such as massage, Marma therapy, naturotherapy and many others.

Also, Ayurveda is the pioneer of the art of surgery, which has advanced at present as the curative therapy by using the most complex techniques. More than treating the diseases, Ayurveda firmly puts forward the theory to maintain health. For this purpose, Ayurveda has described in detail the daily regimen as well as seasonal regimen and ethical regimen.

For curing the diseases, Ayurveda insists on trapping the further development of disease right at its base, treating and eradicating the root cause of the ailment instead of satisfying the patient with symptomatic relief.

The thousands of simple prescriptions hidden and scattered throughout the ancient Ayurvedic Scriptures, still serve as home remedies for most of the common health problems even in the present times, irrespective of the vast change and increasing complexity in the life style of the people.

Ayurveda offers some excellent para surgical therapies, which serve the dual purpose of eradicating the chronic disease as well as avoiding the complex surgical procedures, such as KsharaKarma (Alkali Therapy), Agni Karma (Cauterization) and the procedures included in the Panchakarma therapy.

In contrary to the popular misbelief, Ayurveda is not a mere alternative therapy but a way of life, which, if followed religiously, can help one to attain a better physical, emotional, social and Spiritual life through which one can attain:

+ Dharma (One's duty towards one's own self and society)
+ Artha (Knowledge of all things and earning the required money)
+ Kama (Fulfilment of all the worldly desires)
+ Moksha (Salvation)

Dr. Dinesh Kacha, is a doctorate from GUJARAT AYURVEDA UNIVERSITY- a reputed and prestigious university of Ayurveda in World. He is a promising personality and provider of innovative drug discovery and developmental studies. As an experienced Specialist in the field of product development & formulation, his company has gained name in RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & FORMULATIONS OF AYURVEDIC REMEDIES.

He has a team of specialists and thus has advantage of co-ordination of best knowledge. He has tried to accommodate ancient knowledge of Ayurveda with today's modern science and has proved each of his products scientifically by lab testing and case study (on the bases of research, experiment and conclusion)

Experience is like a salt that not only makes dish mouth watery but healthy too and Dr. Dinesh has proved it very well. His years of experience and focused study has resulted in to a range of best effective products that effects -only positively. Also, Being a well-known consultant he has examined each reason of the disease and result of the product minutely.

Hemorrhoids are an embarassing and often painful problem to endure. They can make sitting for long periods nearly unbearable, and cause itching and burning, which makes for extreme discomfort in what seems like the most inconvenient times. So, how can you help your body heal itself and get rid of them for good?

Often thought of as a symptom of pregnancy and excess weight, hemorrhoids are actually formed a lot more easily than some may think. Bearing excessive weight incorrectly can strain you in all the wrong places faster than you think, and the likelihood hemorrhoids will form by moving heavy objects, extreme and prolonged constipation and general physical strain becomes much greater with age, as our bodies tend to weaken and become more susceptible to bend and break.

A hemorrhoid, by definition, is an itching or painful mass of dilated veins in swollen anal tissue. There are several ways you can relieve the physical discomfort of hemorrhoids - getting rid of them is a different story. You can relieve the pain and discomfort by practicing the following:

1.) The use of soothing astringent herbs topically directly on the affected area. Astringent herbs have an uncanny ability to help tighten and tone loose tissue, which is essentially what a hemorrhoid is, as well as to stop bleeding and help promote a soothing and cooling effect on contact. These astringent herbs can be found in some top shelf herbal hemorrhoid compounds. These herbs are also known to help strengthen blood vessels and keep vericose veins in check.

2.) Get up and move. Inactivity is one of the worst things for hemorrhoids.

3.) Stay regular. Eat your fiber to avoid constipation.

Now, how can you actually get rid of hemorrhoids, not just relieve the inconvenience and discomfort of the symptoms?

1.) In the most extreme and stubborn cases, surgery is one way to go.

2.) If you don't need surgery, you should be able to treat your hemorrhoids with a good natural hemorrhoid remedy that is specially formulated to get rid of hemorrhoids beginning internally, at the source of the problem. You will definitely feel and see a good oral remedy working pretty quickly. An oral remedy should contain some of the ingredients about to be discussed - the more it contains, the better, as these natural ingredients are the key to healing and eradicating your problem by targeting swelling, inflammation and poor vein health and circulation internally.

Ingredients in a natural hemorrhoid remedy may include:

1.) Vitamin E - The antioxidant action of this vitamin protects against further free radical damage and helps to quell inflammation internally.

2.) Horse Chestnut - This herbal ingredient helps to strengthen and tone veins and alleviate swelling.

3.) L-Arginine - Helps relax muscles and prevent muscle spasms.

4.) Oat Straw - Raises energy levels, acts as a mild antidepressant and supports an overly stressed digestive system by promoting regularity.

5.) Plantain - Relieves itching and burning.

6.) Red Sage - A Chinese herb used for stimulation of circulation. Lack of circulation causes and prolongs the severity of hemorrhoids.

There are other herbs, vitamins, minerals and natural compounds that may be used to help get rid of hemorrhoids, but those previously mentioned are some of the key players in hemorrhoid treatment. Finding yourself the right hemorrhoid remedy will definitely lead you to freedom from discomfort and pain - for good.

Visit How to Get Rid of Hemorrhoids for more information on an effective alternative to long term relief and treatment of hemorrhoids. Danna Schneider is the founder of Herbal-Therapeutics Effective Herbal Remedies.

By 1930, Dr. John R. Brinkley of Arkansas, Kansas had transplanted over 16,000 goat testicles into men who wanted to relive their youth. At $750 per procedure, he became a wealthy man. Needless to say, we would call his practice quackery at best.

The thing most people don't realize is that because of loopholes in the law, people can be legally duped in much the same way. You can take anything you want other than recognized poisons and illegal drugs, package it up and sell it as a food additive. The only restriction is that you cannot make claims of any medical benifit on the container itself. They can make as many claims as they want away from the container. As long as those claims are not made on the container itself, there is no regulation on the product in the United States.

One poor fellow that I saw in the emergency room had a terrible case of Rhus Dermatitis. That is the medical term for what is commonly called poison oak or poison ivy. He had started out getting a small area of rash on his arm. So, he went down to the local health food store and bought a poison ivy treatment.

After taking the 'cure' he proceeded to get profoundly worse. By the time I saw him he had a rash all over his body and was extremely miserable. I found the reason by carefully reading the bottle. The 'cure' was a naturopathic remedy that had poison ivy in it! How ridiculous is that?

The advertising that you see for some products makes it immediately obvious that the product is useless. Anyone trained in anatomy and physiology would know right away that the claims were false.

One good example is when the claims are contradictory. Rheumatoid arthritis and allergies are good examples of problems caused by overactive immune systems. Yet I have seen products claim that they not only help with allergies but they boost the immune system. You can't have it both ways folks.

The other thing that makes you go hmm... is when the advertising claims that the product causes specific physiologic changes in the body. Then they go on and claim that the product does not contain a drug. But, check the definition of a drug: 'A substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of a disease'. Clearly, if you are claiming that your product can be used to treat or prevent disease, you are talking about a drug. If you say that your substance does not contain a drug, then you can't say it is preventing or treating a disease. Here again, you can't have it both ways.

But, you may say, what I am taking is just plant parts. When my father was in pharmacy school in the 1950's, virtually all drugs were made by collecting plants and mixing them in certain ways to prepare drugs. Now, people do the same thing, but they are able to sell them as food aditives because they make no claims about their properties 'on the container'.

Having said that, I have nothing against people using herbal remedies. In fact I'm all for it. But it is important to understand what that entails.

Let's look at an example. Digoxin. This drug once was commonly prescribed for heart problems. You don't see it as much any more because safer and more effective drugs have been found for most heart conditions.

Digitalis comes from the foxglove plant. Foxgloves are a beautiful flower found in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. My wife can remember people being paid to go out and harvest them so that drug companies could get digoxin from them.

Digoxin is rather peculiar because there is a very narrow range of the drug that can be safely taken. Take too little and it does nothing. Take too much and it can actually kill you.

Furthermore, different plants have different amounts of the drug. It depends on what type of soil the plant grew in. How much sun it got. Even if there were any insects or animals that had nibbled on it. The part of the plant that you tested would also reveal that there were vastly different amounts of the drug in the leaves as compared to the roots.

A good example of that is rhubarb. The leaves are poisonous. The stems are good in pies.

Unfortunately, the guinea pigs I had as a kid found out the hard way. But, I did have a nice funeral for them.

It might surprise you that in a recent study, a large percentage of the herbal remedies sold did not even contain the parts of the plant that had been shown to be useful!

My advice? First of all get yourself a good reference. There is one book that should be in the library of everyone planning to use an herbal remedy and every doctor too for that matter. That is the PDR for Herbal Medicine.

This book lists every herbal medicine that is know to have a real medicinal effect. It also tells you potential side effects, what part of the plant has the active ingredient and what the medicinal effect it.

Once you know what you want to use, the next step is obtaining it. The best method is to grow your own so you know exactly what you are getting. That way you can make sure the plant is healthy and you are using the part of the plant that will help you and not harm you.

If you cannot grow your own, the next best thing is to do a bit of research and find a company that is known for its integrity and quality control. Then stick with them.

Finally, make sure your doctor knows what you are taking. There is some possibility that your herbal medicine may interact or interfere with any medication that you are being prescribed.

With the proper knowledge and a good source, you should be getting some good benifit from your herbal medication. But, beware of the claims of those other products.

Dr. Ron McCluskey is an emergency room physician with over twenty years experience treating all types of medical problems. A firm believer in natural remedies, he also hates it when people get burned by rip-off artists. Eight Steps to Health is your best resource for getting straight answers for your health care needs.

The traditional use of many indigenous and exotic medicinal plants is the subject of important drug research. There is usually a trend in the usage of a certain plant. If a plant has been used in a specific way for a specific purpose for a long time and this recipe is replicated in different geographical areas, there is a need to take a closer look at it Ethnobotany is a rapidly growing industry that helps drug researches focus on often-used herbs first and what diseases they can successfully cure. Many modern disorders and old conditions have been matched with certain plants used in tropics and developing nations however, there has not been any strong medical claims that herbal plants have been clinically proven to absolutely cure or effectively treat these diseases.

Eighty percent of the world's population is estimated by the World Health Organization to still depend mainly on herbal treatments for their primary health care. Most indigenous people are credited with the discovery of the medicinal uses of more than three-quarters of the plant-derived medicines that we use today. Yet, most of the evolved drugs developed by large companies are still out of the financial reach of the working classes and the poor in who live in developing nations and in the rainforest areas. The sad truth is, pharmaceutical drugs are not exactly getting any cheaper. People in the Third World like the tuktuk driver who earns the equivalent of $40 U.S. monthly to support a family of five can no longer afford the sophisticated drugs and yet still has to face the same maladies as people in developed nations do.

It is natural, then, to turn to plant-based medicines and concoctions because they are often the most available and fitting treatments for a wide diversity of health problems experienced by most of the world's populations. Usually, these populations cultivate wild medicinal plants in and around their homes. In their village, there is a shared knowledge on how to go about treating common fevers, infections, respiratory problems, stomach troubles, body pain and even snake bites. People in tropical forests and in many of the poorer parts of the world have long ago learned to use the plants growing in their backyards as their primary health care system. Some archaeologists have even discovered the remains of dried plants used as medicine at sites in South America that date back to 8000 B.C.

In the upper regions of the Amazon alone, at least 1,200 species of trees and herbs have been used create drogas do cert?o or wilderness drugs to treat common illnesses in these regions today. So many of these drugs have proven to be amazingly effective, yet most of them still await scientific research and validation. True, many of them would rather pop a convenient aspirin or two for a simple headache instead of going through the tedious motions to harvesting some leaves, roots, or bark out of the still-dangerous forest before finally boiling it all into a headache remedy. Still, they have little choice in the matter as even aspirin is unavailable and still far too expensive for some village and forest dwellers.

If you are thinking about going the herbal route to treat an ailment, remember that just because traditional herbal medicine and remedies are often used by indigenous people, they are in no way intended to replace conventional medicine and drugs completely. Many people rely on herbal remedies mainly because of socioeconomic factors or simple unavailability of modern medicine.

It is never advisable to just use herbs and replace or avoid proper medical care altogether. Balance is important. Conventional medicine and traditional medicine should ideally complement each other for your benefit. One system does not substitute the other.

Always seek the advice and help of your health care professional if you are interested in a natural remedy no matter how unremarkable your condition may be. There are already many doctors with practical medical backgrounds as well as education and experience with traditional medicine. It is crucial that you and your doctor verify both conventional and complementary products and therapies. This is also true for future herbal supplements and recommendations that you plan to take. There are many books on natural medicine and there are plenty of good sites on the internet as well where you can do some research on your own.

Also, always remember that many medicinal plants have biological properties and active chemicals that should be treated with care and respect. Just because they are natural, it does not mean they are absolutely safe - some plants can be poisonous if taken in the wrong amounts. Some herbs DO have side effects and most have little research on them about their appropriate dosage and contraindications to drugs that your doctor has prescribed.

Michael Russell

Your Independent Herbal guide.

For anyone suffering coughing fits (or listening to them) these natural cough remedies may help. Natural remedies include treatment for allergies, herbs, essential oils and vaporizers.

Coughs may be caused by a number of factors including allergies, vial infections and chemical infections. If there is a fever present, it may be caused by an allergy to milk.

In order to find out if you have an allergy, you can perform a pulse test on yourself ? after drinking milk, take your pulse at 15, 30 and 60 minutes and if your pulse rises by more tan 10 beats per minute, you may have an allergy.

If you have trouble sleeping, steam vaporizers may help with sleep at night.

Essential oils including black pepper, cardamom, cedar wood, cypress, Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus radiata, frankincense, Helichrysium, lemon, peppermint, pine, rosemary and sandalwood may all help. These oils may be diffused into a room, inhaled or applied as a rub.

Herbs may be very helpful including: English plantain, licorice, thyme, sweet chestnut and comfrey.

A mixture of ginger, honey and lemon as a hot mixture may be just as beneficial in place of cough syrup. Make it up as a tea by first boiling some water and pouring it into a small thermos (about a litre or a quart). To this add some grated ginger and then four tablespoons each of lemon and honey.

A moderate a moderate amount of exercise is always beneficial for natural cough remedies. ? don?t overdo it, particularly if the cough is in conjunction with a cold or fever.

If the cough persists, consult your health care practitioner.

Paul Newland is a health writer, sports training consultant and martial arts instructor and manages the Global-Longevity.com website. He is the author of numerous health information books and guides, including the Wellness Report, The Ultimate Antioxidant Report, The Selenium Report, The Ultimate Nutrient Guide and The Essential Fatty Acid Report and The Ultimate Sports Nutrition Guide - available Free (for a limited time) through Global-Longevity.com

The simple, garden-variety lemon is very much understated. Lemons are very common and we see them everywhere. We use them to make lemonade, mix them into our drinks to add a little zing, they remove hard stains, are an all-around deodorizer and air freshener and we use them in our cooking as both an ingredient and garnish. Maybe we should stop and take another look at this yellow wonder because it may change what you think of it. When the world gives you lemons, there's a whole lot more you can make with them than just lemonade.

In traditional medicine, the lemon is widely known for its healing powers and is used in many different ways. In fact, the lemon is so powerful that it was used by the Romans as their cure for all types of poison.

Although the lemon is often thought of as acidic, it is very effective in curing many digestion problems when mixed with hot water, including biliousness, nausea, heartburn, disorders of the lower intestines like constipation and worm infestations. It is even known to relieve hiccups. Water plus a few lemons becomes lemon juice. Lemon juice, when taken regularly in the morning, acts as a tonic to the liver and stimulates it to produce bile making it ready to digest the day's food. It is also thought to help dissolve gall stones. Because of its high vitamin C content, it is thought to help prevent and treat many infections, hastens wound healing and temper down high fever. Lemon juice also relieves symptoms of asthma, tonsillitis and sore throat.

Lemon is also a diuretic. This means it is good for people with urinary tract infections and high uric acid problems, such as those with arthritis or rheumatism because it helps flush out all the toxins and bad bacteria. When lemon is mixed with coffee, it is thought to help treat malaria. This concoction is also effective for headaches.

When externally applied, lemon juice that is poured onto a small piece of cotton wool and gently applied to the nostrils could stop epistaxis (more commonly known as nose bleeds) although this may sting a bit. This too when massaged gently into gums may also stop gum bleeding. Lemon juice with glycerin is effective when used on the lips to treat chapping. This may be a little strange but lemon juice applied on your skin can also help prevent sunburn.

Lemons are also used as balms in highly concentrated forms. Some may know them as cure-alls. Lemon balms are known for their ability to break fevers by encouraging the patient's body to perspire. Because of this, lemon balms are recommended for all fevers, no matter what the cause. Lemon balms are also popular treatments for cough and colds, even hay fever. Balms are also used in the treatment of flatulence and other digestive conditions. Menstrual cramps are relieved by lemon balms, as are dizziness, headaches and high blood pressure.

Psychologically, lemon balm is used to lift people's spirits, especially those who are undergoing menopause and are depressed, because it will calm anxieties, clear their minds and center their focus. It also supposedly improves memory storage and recall.

Michael Russell

Your Independent Herbal guide.

Reviews of the Best Diets for a Lifetime of Weight Control

It seems everyone has a different opinion of dieting and which diets really work versus the short term weight loss diets. By short term weight loss , this refers to the phenomena where every pound that was lost comes right back on due to sheer hunger after starving your body for so long. Starvation diets are definitely not the way to go, but there are some excellent lower calorie diets that will leave you far from starving - and keep the pounds off for a lifetime.

Gone are the days of extreme starvation diets when an all vegetable or all fruit regimen were the rage to take pounds off quickly. Also gone are the extreme protein or carb diets. The straight Atkins approach has been booted in favor of more balanced high protein, low carb eating habits that emphasize carb monitoring and favoring healthy, high fiber carbohydrates over simple or refined carbs that offer little staying value since they burn off quickly and induce feelings of further hunger.

Interestingly, advocation of a low calorie diet has been around quite a while, it's only recently gained more media exposure since some modern popular diets such as the Zone diet and perhaps the more slyly marketed South Beach Diet have put forth a low calorie menu with about 1200 calories per day in the typical meal plan. What's even more interesting is that it is a scientifically proven fact that people who consume a low calorie diet consistently have much longer life spans, less disease and general illness, and tend to experience less psychological issues such as depression and anxiety.

Although the benefits of low calorie diets are known, the American philosophy of portion overload and bang for your buck still seems to be sticking around. Take for example, McDonalds Super Size options. Or the new Burger King Super Sized Giant Breakfast Sandwich. Hardly an exercise in moderation. And yet people still continue to buy these products because of the perception of value.

What many people forget when buying these types of products is the health sacrifices they are making for the sake of a perceived value. Problem is, it doesn't feel so good after it's all been eaten. Indisgestion, sluggishness, mental fog and other unsavory side effects are sure to come when we overeat. Not to say it's not okay to do it once in a while - we all do! These types of eating habits as a lifestyle are sure to lead to excessive weight gain, heart problems, other diseases, and feelings of despair and food reliance.

Sometimes the most difficult period of adjustment in dieting and losing weight is dwindling down your calorie intake fairly quickly. This is where a good appetite suppressing herb or supplement can really help. As long as you can get over that initial hump, you can usually do the rest fairly painlessly, since your body would have been adjusted to the lower calorie regimen for a few weeks.

What to Do When You've Over Indulged

If you really feel the need to over do it, you may want to try a good carb blocking supplement or fat burner that helps to burn off excessive caloric intake during these times. This trick may be especially helpful around the holidays when there seem to be carbs and fats lurking around every corner and the temptation to indulge is overwhelming. Another good trick to making the most out of your meals, and assuring your brain registers fullness with less food is to eat slowly, and chew your food 35-50 times before swallowing. This is a surefire way, even on its own, to reduce calorie intake and induces feelings of fullness faster.

One of the hands-down best diets today is the Zone Diet, by the famed Dr. Barry Sears. The now famous diet book and lifestyle came into the spotlight after it was well publicized that one of our favorite Friends Jennifer Anniston, and some of her castmates and other high profile Hollywood celebs, followed this diet lifestyle and achieved great success in both weight loss and maintenance. The Zone way of life preaches smart carb and fat consumption, a moderation of refined carbs, a low calorie menu, and moderate exercise.

The South Beach Diet is very similar to this, but featured a little more diverse and easily prepared menu with items that are readily available at the grocery store. The South Beach Diet even spawned it's own line of snack bars by Kraft that can be meal replacements, pre-made South Beach meals, and some other food products that are in line with the calorie and nutrient ratios recommended in their books. This diet plan is one of the most highly reviewed and talked about diets on the market today.

Body For Life is also another excellently reviewed, high quality and successful lifetime diet. I actually have friends that have seen great success with this system. They say they are not hungry and do not feel deprived. The other pro of this diet is that it gives you one well deserved day off per week. On this day off, you may eat what you like, but not gorge yourself.

The day off tends to really take the edge off of a diet and make it feel less restrictive. Let's face it - we all love food, and we like to celebrate the taste and abundance of food once in a while! Realistically, you could probably take a day off once every week to two weeks on any diet plan - you just need to choose your day wisely, and make sure the days off don't become too often of an occurrence.

The bottom line is that moderation is key, and that is what the three diets discussed promote, in one way or another. Moderation, common sense and smart food and dietary supplement selection will clear the path for a lifetime of physical fitness and health.

Visit Diet Reviews for more information on different diet methods, supplements and technology. Danna Schneider is the webmaster of Dieting Magazine Monthly Diet Updates

In his book, The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy Salvatore Battaglia estimates that only 5% of all essential oils are produced specifically for the aromatherapy market. And the folks at Amrita tell us that the vast majority of essential oils are grown and produced for the food, perfume or pharmaceutical industries. Unfortunately, these industries focus more on a stable, predictable yield than the botanical purity of their oils. So how do you know you're getting a quality product? Here are some things to look for:

• Botanical Purity--If you?re new to aromatherapy, it?s important to realize that the words ?aromatherapy? and ?essential oil? don?t guarantee that you?re getting a botanical product. Potpourri oils, for example, are usually synthetic fragrance products not intended for use on the body. Authentic essential oil will be labeled with botanical information stating both the common plant name and the official botanical nomenclature.

• Specialization--Whether you buy at your local health food store or directly from an essential oil producer you should look for oils marketed specifically for use in aromatherapy. Though they?re almost certainly going to be more expensive, these oils are produced with their therapeutic qualities in mind.

• Opaque Containers--Opaque containers protect your oils from damaging UV rays. Most essential oils are sold in amber or dark blue glass bottles but aluminum bottles are growing in popularity. Bottles should have tight-fitting hard plastic lids?essential oils should never be sold with permeable rubber bulb-droppers already attached.

• GC Testing--If you're purchasing in bulk, especially if you?re purchasing directly from a grower, your supplier should make GC (gas chromatography) test results available. CG is a standard test--if a supplier balks at sending you this information or acts offended by your request, look for another supplier.

• Full-Disclosure Labels--To assure that you?re buying from a supplier who knows what he?s doing, I recommend only purchasing oils labeled with the following:
  • Common Name (for example, Peppermint)
  • Botanical Name (for example, Mentha piperita)
  • Plant Part Used (for example, Leaves)
  • Country of Origin (for example, USA)
  • Extraction Method (for example, Distilled)
  • Lot Number (or production date)

Unfortunately, adulteration, dilution and outright fraud are far more common that many people realize. Buying from a reputable company (and as far up the supply chain as possible) is one of the best ways to protect your investment.

Lisa Barger is a traditional naturopath specializing in natural health education. To learn more about Ms. Barger's belief in Empowerment through Education or to take a free online natural health class see her website, http://www.LisaBarger.com