Female Care

The term “essential oil” refers to any volatile fragrant liquid extracted from a botanical source. But the actual extraction methods vary and fall into 1 of these 4 categories:

• Distillation
• Expression
• Enfleurage
• Carbon Dioxide Extraction

Distillation of Essential Oils

Distillation of essential oils dates back to at least 3000 BC and today’s essential oils are produced using a distillation method that has remained virtually unchanged for the past 1100 years. Distillation simply involves heating a material until steam is produced then allowing the steam to re-condense in a separate chamber. After the re-condensed steam cools, the essential oils are simply skimmed off and bottled. Essential oils produced by distillation include lavender, mint, rosemary and tea tree. Continue reading »

Native Americans and settlers harvested the seed pods of the evening primrose plant to treat bruises, hemorrhoids, stomach aches and sore throats. Today, evening primrose is used for a wide variety of health problems.

Modern research has unveiled the therapeutic power contained in the seed oil of this plant. The omega-6 fatty acid, called GLA, possesses anti inflammatory and other healing action.

The GLA found in evening primrose makes it a valuable healer. When taken, the body converts GLA, which helps to regulate various bodily functions. Cell membranes rely on GLA to survive. Continue reading »

Headaches and migraines can be caused by any number of factors but they all have one thing in common – without an effective cure they can bring your life to a grinding and painful halt. This guide is meant for those who don’t wish to take prescription or over the counter drugs and would rather use natural remedies and healing techniques to cure their headaches.

Care should always be taken when looking at homeopathic or any other alternative remedies to ensure that they won’t interact with medication you are currently taking and, of course, to make sure they have the desired effect. However, what works for one person won’t necessarily work for the next so experiment to find the best cure for you.
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Yoga is not mysterious.  It is made up of different poses and postures that almost anyone can complete safely and effectively.   The benefits of yoga include improved posture, more flexibility, and relaxation overall.

To ease into yoga, beginners can use the following instructions as a springboard to jump into practice.  Intermediate and advanced yoga participants can use the following to brush up on the foundation of practice.

Mountain Pose

Breathing: Inhale arms up, palms touch, and exhale hands down over the chest.

Alignment: The toes and ankles should touch gently.  Engage the abs, left the chest, leave shoulders down and back away from the ears, and keep the hands in prayer over the heart. Continue reading »

Phytochemicals are the future for healthy living. Many people get phytonutrients every day and don’t even know it. Our parents and their parents always said, “Eat your vegetables! They are good for you.” But no one really knew why, until now.

We now know that the active substances in fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes help prevent disease and cancer. The very substances that are responsible for their color, flavor and disease resistance help keep us healthy.

How simplistic is that? That natural food– not processed, enriched with chemicals, steroids or artificial anything– is what we need to eat to remain as healthy as possible. Back to nature equals back to simplicity. We need to slow down and weed our gardens.

Our fast-paced lives have developed into fast-paced eating, which leads to foods that are, essentially, unhealthy. You can help counteract unhealthy foods by eating fresh produce. And unlike vitamins and minerals, phytochemicals do not appear to diminish when subjected to cooking or processing. Continue reading »

Acupressure is one of the oldest, most widely studied, and for many people most effective, forms of alternative medicine and natural healing.  Acupressure works by activating points on the body, called acupressure points (sometimes referred to as potent points) which are particularly sensitive to the bioelectrical impulses throughout the body.

Acupressure points are those spots on the skin that are particularly sensitive to these bioelectrical impulses and those spots where these impulses are conducted readily and flow freely.

Eastern cultures traditionally viewed these points as the junctures of pathways which carry the energy the Chinese refer to as chi, and that the Japanese called ki.  Scientists in the west have mapped this system and proven that it exists through the use of sensitive electrical equipment.

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Ginseng has been in use as a dietary supplement for up to 7,000 years. It has proven to be effective for a number of different purposes: to stimulate the immune system, treat male impotence, improve memory, enhance athletic performance, strengthen the adrenal glands, improve the circulation of blood, ease withdrawal from cocaine, aid recovery from stress, protect against the dangers of radiation exposure and increase longevity.

Throughout Asia it has been used for centuries to combat weakness and provide the body with extra energy. Native American Indians considered Ginseng to be one of their most sacred herbs. They used it to treat stomach and bronchial disorders as well as asthma. The Indians also used Ginseng as an added ingredient in other herbal remedies in order to gain a more potent effect from them.

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It is important for everyone to eat a balanced, wholesome diet, and diet and lifestyle considerations are an important cornerstone of any natural or alternative medicine program.   What goes into your body has a powerful and profound impact on its health, and just about every practitioner of alternative, traditional or natural health care stresses the importance of a healthy diet to healthy living.

The important factors in finding the right dietary zone for your body are:

• carbohydrates, such as breads, legumes, vegetables, whole grains, etc.
• proteins, such as beef, chicken, dairy products, seafood, etc.
• fats, such as butter, oil and nuts

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The goji berry has long been known to traditional cultures, and it has long played an important role in traditional medicine. Native to the Himalayan region, the goji berry is tough and well suited for the harsh environment it calls home.

The natives of the Himalayan region were perhaps the first to discover the healing power of the goji berry, and it has long had an honored part in the world of traditional Chinese and Oriental medicine.
One of the most powerful effects of the goji berry seems to be on the aging process. This tiny red fruit may have an important role to play in reducing many of the most serious degenerative effects of aging on the body.

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Aromatherapy is one of those alternative medicine terms that many people have heard, but that few understand completely. Simply put, aromatherapy is the name given to using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, to boost a person’s physical, psychological and spiritual well being.

The term essential oil is encountered often in discussion of aromatherapy, so it is important to understand just what an essential oil really is. Essential oils are the pure essence of the plant, and these oils have been determined to have benefits on both the psychological and the physical well being of patients who have tried them. Continue reading »