Monday, February 25, 2008

Tea Tree Oil Uses and Health Benefits



Tea tree oil uses and health benefits have come to the forefront, providing medicinal remedy to various health problems. In addition, the oil is also used as a skin treatment to thwart and reduce conditions associated with acne and other common skin–related problems.

Distilled from the leaves of the Meleleuca Alternifolia which is found in Australia, it has been used by the Aborigines since they first inhabited the country. Tea tree oil is known to have medicinal properties used to treat and prevent infections.

Here then are the many uses and health benefits of tea tree oil.

As a disinfectant, tea tree oil helps to dissipate bacteria, which is present in wounds and infections. It treats fungal diseases which affect animals as well as humans, and cleans the surface of wounds without causing damage to tissue.

Touted as a natural antiseptic, a bactericide, fungicide and anti-viral product with anesthetic qualities, tea tree Oil can be used daily on the skin. As mentioned at the outset, the Aborigines have used this oil to treat acne, rashes, dandruff, and fungal diseases, to name a few. This oil was also utilized in World War II, and was given to soldiers to carry in their kits in order to treat tropical infections and infected wounds.

As a skin treatment, tea tree oil is utilized to treat acne, reduce redness, swelling, and as mentioned earlier, dandruff. A few drops of tea tree oil added to shampoo can clear up the dandruff problem. In addition, because it has antiseptic and antibacterial ingredients, tea tree oil has been used to treat burns, cuts, and insect bites. The antifungal properties also make it suitable for treating athlete’s foot, as well as other diseases caused by fungi.

Due to its antiviral properties, there is some evidence that tea tree oil may be effective in treating infectious diseases such as colds, flue, shingles, and chicken pox. It has also been known to heal cold sores and warts.
One important note: Read the directions on the label, as use of tea tree oil should be limited to small drops. It’s that potent!

While tea tree oil uses and health benefits are clearly evident, check with your doctor first to ensure you are sensitive to this powerful oil. In addition, you may wish to research which creams and ointments contain the properties of tea tree oil in case you prefer to use it in its milder form.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Lose Weight & Get the Body You Deserve - Free Week of Food!

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Do You Make the Grade when It Comes to the ABCs of Multivitamins?


(ARA) – While the majority of Americans believe they are very or somewhat knowledgeable about multivitamins (67 percent), many do not know which vitamins and minerals are essential for the body or what vitamins and minerals are responsible for specific functions in the body, according to a survey released by the not-for-profit National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC).

When asked which vitamin or mineral is essential for calcium absorption in the body (Vitamin D), more than a third of those surveyed said they were not sure. Surprisingly, when asked to identify vitamins and minerals that are not essential, only 44 percent correctly recognized that arsenic – a poison – is not an essential nutrient.

“When it comes to ensuring people get the vitamins and minerals they need in their daily diet, we were concerned by their lack of knowledge – especially among women, who are more likely to take an active role in promoting their family’s health,” says Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, executive vice president of NWHRC. “We want people to have the knowledge and resources to understand what their bodies should have and to help them choose a multivitamin that fits their needs if they are not getting the right nutrients from their diet.”

In fact, about a quarter of Americans (24 percent) believe they get the vitamins and minerals they need by diet alone, but this is simply not the case – and although 51 percent of the individuals surveyed said they take a multivitamin, most of them do not know which vitamins and minerals are essential for their bodies.

Getting What the Body Needs

Taking a multivitamin is a simple step everyone can take to ensure they are getting the vitamins they need, if they are not getting the nutrients they need from their diet alone. And knowing those vitamins is half the challenge.

“People should know what vitamins and minerals their bodies need so they can make informed health decisions,” says Dr. Pamela Peeke, an internationally recognized physician, scientist and expert in the field of nutrition. “There are specially formulated multivitamins that have a balance of essential nutrients at recommended levels that work together to help people better customize their nutritional regimen.”

Many do not realize that multivitamin use can help promote and maintain good health, fill gaps in the diet and help bodies to function well.

The survey uncovered that 49 percent of Americans are very or somewhat concerned about LDL or bad cholesterol. “The good news is now there is a complete, daily multivitamin with phytosterols that is specifically designed to help lower LDL or bad cholesterol, which is a risk factor for heart disease – the number one killer of American women,” says Peeke.

To access more information about the survey and multivitamins, please visit www.healthywomen.org for simple nutrition tips, as well as important information about essential nutrients and multivitamins to help ensure that women and their families can make educated decisions about their nutrition needs.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Spring is Coming, Where is Your Body Going?


(ARA) – Warm weather will be here before you know it, but will your body be ready for the revealing clothing of summer when it’s time to pull them out of your closet? The best way to make sure you’re summer fit before the warm weather arrives is to start early. Now is the perfect time, and there are strategies to make reaching your diet goals easier than ever.

If you think that you have to entirely change your lifestyle to lose weight you are wrong. Let’s face it, we all have a lot of stuff to do and going to the gym for hours every day is not an appealing idea. Eating balanced meals and getting plenty of sleep is important, but diet tricks like the Pink Patch can help you lose weight and control your appetite, all while giving you the energy you need throughout the day.

The Pink Patch was formulated and designed with young women in mind to work with their busy, social lifestyle. The all-natural herbal ingredients will help increase your metabolic rate, curb food cravings, burn calories and accelerate weight loss. Simply apply the patch to your skin and it works throughout the day. Get your free sample of the pink patch now.

The Pink Patch contains only 100 percent natural herbal ingredients. Absorption of the ingredients is time released at a steady, safe delivery rate, thus eliminating the jitters and irritability associated with diet pills. This method eliminates the problem of swallowing a large pill or having to remember to take it at a specific time of day. It also avoids the incidence of gastrointestinal side effects because the ingredients do not pass through the GI tract.

The Pink Patch will help you feel more energized, healthier and help you lose weight. Don’t think it’s that easy? Try a free week’s supply by visiting www.ThePinkPatch.com. People who have used the Pink Patch benefit from:

* Burning 48 percent more fat
* All-day appetite control
* Having energy throughout the day
* Reduction of stubborn fat on your belly, hips, butt and thighs

Besides the benefit of appetite control, one of the key ingredients in the Pink Patch is a mood elevator 5-HTP that will help you maintain your diet control. You can forget about chocolate cravings, especially during your period. Relieve your stress when you have a big term paper to write, big project that could result in a promotion or even that all-important job interview. This additional ingredient helps you stay cool and in control.

Try a one-week supply of the Pink Patch free. Visit www.ThePinkPatch.com to learn more and start achieving your diet goals now.

Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc.

Friday, February 01, 2008

How to Reduce Your Risk of Cancer and Heart Disease


Cory Everson 6-Piece Walking Set

In today's world of technology when it comes to our health, it seems that we have grown accustom to taking drugs in order to heal our bodies. The scary part about this is the fact that drugs themselves can actually be the catalyst to creating even more health problems.

What needs to be talked about more is how we can lower the risk of many diseases today naturally, before they occur.

A study conducted by the, "Archives of Internal Medicine" showed that the amount of exercise we have in our daily lives is directly related to years lived without cardiovascular disease.

In fact walking just 30 minutes a day can lengthen our life by 1.3 years and add another 1.1 years of life without heart disease. This reflects the study of those with low activity levels to those who walked a minimum of 30 minutes per day.

Walking helps to prevent breast cancer. Walking 30 minutes per day can help to lower your risk by 30%. Walking 45 minutes per day can help to lower your risk by 45%.

Walking can help prevent and lower depressions, decrease the levels of bone loss and in fact, walking is just one of those things that pretty much help to decrease the risk of so many diseases, it's difficult to name them all.

Compare the differences between a river that is flowing at a steady speed to one that is stagnant and hardly flowing at all.

The river that has a steady flow is full of life. It is clear and refreshing. The fish, the frogs, and the turtles along with all other creatures living in the water are thriving as the water is fully aerated and fresh.

The river that is stagnant. Well, you can imagine the smell and the look of the water and the surroundings. A stagnating river is dying as are all living things within it. A stagnant river is slowly becoming more and more polluted due to the inability of movement which over time can cause the river to die.

This is a good illustration of how our bodies work. When we incorporate daily exercise in our lives, we are helping our bodies rid itself of many things that will cause it to stagnate.

Walking increases our blood flow as our hearts beat faster. This activity promotes a healthy flow of fluids throughout our bodies and increases the ability to the remove harmful toxins that build up in our bodies and promote disease.

Every day you do not walk, think about the stagnant river. Think of how that river water smells and how the water looks. Think of the dead fish and the rotting plants. Think of how that river is slowing dying.

Perhaps knowing that your river of life is growing stagnant inside you without a daily walk will be a motivating factor in helping you to find the time and energy to add it into your routine.

In the beginning, you may only be able to walk a few minutes per day. Take it slow and add more time to your walks as you build up the strength and endurance to do so.

And remember to discuss your new walking routine with your doctor if you have any doubts as to whether it is something you personally can do.

The Healing Power Of Oils

"When essential oils are used to attack a bacteria which has invaded our bodies, they are selective because they are imbued with God's intelligence. They know which are the bad guys and which are the good ones so that when they have killed off the bacteria causing the sickness, the good bacteria are still alive to serve us. Healing and dealing with bacterial illness with God's medicines leaves our immune systems stronger after the illness than before, thus working toward the prevention of future disease. This is quite unlike antibiotics that weaken us and encourage the contraction of future diseases". (Healing Oils of the Bible, Dr. David Stewart, PhD. p. 20-21)

As I see it, there are two types of people: those that get sick frequently, and those that rarely do. What makes the difference? I am convinced that it has to do with how strong our immune systems are. If our immune system is strong, we have lots of good guys that can easily kill off all the germs and viruses (the bad guys) that are constantly trying to attack us. So, if that is the case, it stands to reason that we simply need to concentrate on building up our immune systems. One of the ways to build up our immune system is by using therapeutic-grade essential oils and products enhanced by these oils. We should opt to use these instead of antibiotics, OTC and prescription drugs, as well as shampoos, soaps, skin-care products, deodorants, detergents, multipurpose cleansers, etc. that are filled with toxins and, therefore, make our bodies toxic and weaken our immune systems.

Andrew Weil, MD., states the following,

"I expect that essential oils may someday prove a vital weapon in the fight against strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Lavender, thyme, and tea-tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oils have been used for centuries as antiseptics; their chemical compounds appear to kill microbes on contact."

Of course, Big Pharma will fight all the way to not allow the media to advertise these oils. Afterall, why would they want us all to be healthy? The money comes from people being sick and going to the doctor and asking for prescriptions for drugs, vaccines and antibiotics that are advertised heavily on TV. These drugs and antibiotics have so many side-effects that they really don't help you get better. Many people KNOW these things have a ton of side-effects that will cause them to need another drug, another antibiotic, but they don't think that there is anything else that can really help them actually get better. They think that it is their fate to be on drugs for the rest of their life, but this is far from the truth. Living a healthy lifestyle, which will enhance their immune system, will help get rid of a myriad of health diseases and prevent future dis-eases.

According to D. Gary Young, ND, there has not been a single bacteria or virus tested that has been able to survive in the presence of therapeutic-grade essential oils! That is so amazing to me. It sure beats the results of antibiotics! When we are prescribed antibiotics, our body goes crazy. It's like we are taking a gun and just shooting randomly killing not only the bad guys that are hurting us, but also all the good soldiers that are trying to help us get better. Wouldn't it be better to actually use something that will ONLY concentrate on killing the viruses and germs, and that will actually help the good flora in our intestines flourish? Wouldn't it be better to use therapeutic-grade essential oils and products that are enhanced with these oils, instead of a bunch of antibiotics, vaccines, OTC and prescription drugs?

Unfortunately, over 90% of the essential oils sold in the U.S are adulterated. "Adulterated and mislabeled oils present dangers for consumers", say the authors of the Essential Oils Desk Reference (EODR). "Adulterated oils that are cut with synthetic extenders can be very detrimental, causing rashes, burning, and skin irritations." (EODR, third edition, p. 11). And not only that, "they are devoid of any therapeutic effects". So, make sure you don't simply run to the nearest healthstore and buy essential oils. Make sure you do your research and know the company from which you are going to purchase your oils. Make sure they guarantee only the highest standards in their oils. Make sure all their oils are AFNOR approved. That will guarantee that you are getting therapeutic-grade oils.

I want to end by telling you a bit about my family's experience with therapeutic-grade oils. My family has stopped using antibiotics, OTC and prescription drugs for over a year now, and we have also stopped vaccinating our kids. We believe that these things are actually toxic to our bodies, and that is why at our home we will only use therapeutic-grade essential oils and products enhanced by these oils. We are so much healthier now because of this and we are able to ward off all sorts of germs, viruses and others things that are in the air we breathe.

People all around us are getting sick with the flu and cold, but we stand strong. Some germs may get through our shield and start to get us down, but, since our immune systems are strong, our body starts fighting immediately, and the symptoms are very mild and short-lived. Thank God we have found the power of therapeutic-grade essential oils. They have changed our life completely!

Mirdza Hayden
Committed to Helping People Lead Healthier Lifestyles
http://www.MirdzasHealthSite.com

Mirdza Hayden - EzineArticles Expert Author