Disability Benefits: November 2008

Chakra Meditation for Healing Chakra 3 Manipura (Solar Plexus) Chakra

3rd - Manipura (Solar Plexus) Chakra ~ FIRE ~ EMERALD GREEN

Focus your awareness at the Manipura (Solar Plexus) Chakra located just above your navel. From Sanskrit Manipura can be translated as ?City of Jewels.?

See a Whirling Ball of Fiery Emerald Green light pulsing with energy in this center. Its color represents ego and desire, or the Green Dragon.

This is your vital life force energy for empowerment and self esteem. Its nature is the strong emotional desire for power.

A balanced and healthy Manipura Chakra ensures a strong Digestive System. Its energy imbues you with a sense of empowerment and self esteem.

Emotional stagnation or blockage at your Solar Plexus Chakra emits an energy frequency that resonates with struggle and frustration in fulfilling one?s desires. Emotional issues of ambition and inhibition devour your present moment awareness and you suffer from rampant feelings of fear, guilt and doubt.

Related physical imbalances, include: Ulcers and Gallstones

Recite this Mantra six times aloud as you continue to focus your awareness at the Manipura Chakra. Remember to inhale and exhale fully as you recite the mantra.

I Open, I Desire, I Focus, I Flower

Recite this same mantra silently six times within yourself as you continue to focus your awareness at the Manipura Chakra. Remember to inhale and exhale fully as you recite the mantra.

I Open, I Desire, I Focus, I Flower

Sound the Seed Syllable RA (Keynote E in the C Major scale) while continuing to focus your awareness at your Manipura Chakra for five minutes.

Clear and Balance (4 minutes duration) by allowing images to naturally surface and melt away as blockages are cleared and balance restored in your Manipura Chakra.

E TONE - RA ------------------------

Conclude (1 minute duration) your visualization and recitation of the Seed Syllable RA by seeing your Manipura Chakra as a clear and vibrant whirling ball of Brilliant EMERALD GREEN Colored light pulsing with energy at this center.

Remember to inhale fully and exhale as you visualize your Manipura Chakra being clear, vibrantly alive and healthy.

You have completed the third cycle for clearing, balancing and charging your Rainbow Bridge.

As you become adept at working with your chakras you may gradually increase the time you focus your attention on each energy center. Initially your focus should be for no more than five minutes duration.

A regular practice of these exercises will result in an increased amplitude for each of your Major Chakras and give you the necessary stamina to dispel life obstacles. Increased amplitude of your energy centers will greatly enhance your vital life force and positively impact your health and longevity.

Your regular practice of these guided visualization and affirmation exercises is a conscious investment you can choose to make in building your personal power which will enable you to direct your spirit.

Please join me for my next article in this series as I guide you to Clear, Balance & Charge Your Fourth Chakra - Your Anahata or Heart Chakra. Relax and enjoy the journey through your Rainbow Bridge.

KG?S ENDNOTE: There are various systems of Color used to Clear, Balance and Charge your 7 Major Chakras or Energy Centers. The Colors I suggest you use in my Guide to Healing Your Rainbow Bridge are those I have used with good results for many years. It is how you feel during and after your focus and intention to Clear, Balance and Charge each of your 7 Major Chakras that is of most importance, not the Color!

Healing Your Rainbow Bridge - A Guided Chakra Meditation is a gentle and noninvasive holistic health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health and well-being. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG Stiles is a certified aromatic energy medicine practitioner in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. To learn about KG?s Chakra Oils visit: Chakra Oils To Assist You in Clearing, Balancing & Charging Your 7 Major Chakras Click to learn about KG?s CD, Healing Your Rainbow Bridge - A Guided Chakra Meditation KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315

Essential Oils Kit Part V

Whether you use aromatherapy as a stand alone or as a complementary first aid treatment there are several aromatic oils I'd like to recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit.

My recommendations include important details for you to consider when purchasing an oil, such as its Latin Name, Country of Origin, Method of Extraction and Part of the Plant Used. I also list the best oils to consider when creating a synergistic blend.

HELICHRYSUM ( Helichrysum italicum ) - Italian Everlasting, Immortelle Certified Organic, Steam Distilled Blossoms, Corsica.

Its highly regenerative nature is both warm and fragrant with a slight honey-like fragrance.

Keywords: DEEP HEALING & POWERFUL REGENERATION Helichrysum is highly regenerative and one of the strongest of all the anti-inflammatory essential oils known. A sacred and gentle healing oil use Helichrysum for tissue repair and healing.

Due to its gentle nature Helichrysum may be applied neat, without the use of a carrier oil, on injured or badly bruised tissue after an accident or injury and on areas of inflammation, pain and swelling.

Note: As with any aromatic oil applied neat if you should experience a skin reaction please dilute with a vegetable-based carrier oil such as Jojoba.

Helichrysum affects all levels of your being - body, mind, and spirit and emotions.

Its capacity for healing damaged tissues comes from its ability to actively remove cellular debris from areas of bruising and injury which are then reabsorbed into your blood, resulting in removal of discoloration and less pressure on nerves with subsequent pain relief.

Through enhancing circulation of your blood, lymph and nerve supply Helichrysum acts to aid mending of broken bones and support healthy skin and tissue.

Use it to fade old scars and adhesions and heal skin tissue.

I've had consistently good results blending Helichrysum with Vetiver to relieve heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat and panic attacks!

I've heard reports that Helichrysum may help reduce the risk of stroke.

Use Helichrysum to enhance any blend for chronic pain relief, including Fibromyalgia, arthritis, tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Helichrysum is a very supportive and comforting oil and enhances spiritual and personal growth. Try it in a meditation blend!

Helichrysum may be beneficial for resolving old emotional scars that retain active memory loops buried deeply within the subconscious mind, as well as resolve addictions and release coping strategies that no longer serve you!

Try a synergistic blend of Helichrysum with any of the following aromatic oils: Atlas Cedarwood, Himalayan Cedarwood, German Chamomile, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Myrrh, Neroli, Patchouli, Petitgrain, Frankincense, Rose Sandalwood, Spikenard and Vetiver

Please join me for Part VI in this series of articles to learn about the next essential oil I recommend you have in your aromatic first aid kit, LAVENDER ( Lavendula augustifolia ).

Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary and alternative health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.

KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years. During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury. Through her unique AromaTest? system KG formulates essential oil blends that heal.

Please note: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use organic, or ethically wild crafted oils whenever possible.

KG Stiles is a certified aromatherapist practicing in Ashland, OR USA PurePlant Essentials is her line of pure organic and ethically wild crafted essential oils. KG formulates aromatic oils for: colds and flu, insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, menopause, anti-aging, skin care and more. KG's DVD & book about her AromaTest system, Your Aromatic Signature ~ How to Formulate Blends that Heal, are scheduled for release in 2006. Click to see PurePlant Essentials Menu & Essential Oils Kits: Order Pure Organic & Wild Crafted Essential Oils Kit Click to order Deluxe Essential Oils Kit. KG invites you to Subscribe to Health Mastery Ezine to WIN FREE Aromatherapy Products. To learn more visit: Subscribe To Win Contact: KG Stiles at Springhill Wellness Center, 2520 Springhill Drive Ashland, OR USA (541) 941-7315

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha Latin names is Withania Somniferum and Ashwagandha common name is Indian Ginseng.

Ashwagandha belongs to the pepper family and is found in India and Africa. The roots and leaves of ashwagandha are used medicinally. The health applications for ashwagandha in traditional Indian and Ayurvedic medicine are extensive. Ayurveda is made up of two Sanskrit words, Ayu, which means life, and Veda, which means knowledge. For more than 1,000 years, ashwagandha has been highly prized as a treatment for impotence, stress, infertility and arthritis. The shoots and seeds of the plant are also used in India as food, and to thicken milk. In the West, researchers have focused on isolating the one or two active ingredients in each herb. In the ayurvedic tradition, however, the entire plant is used on the assumption that all the compounds in a plant are meant to work together. Because of it's wide range of activity on many different body systems, ashwagandha has long been reputed to be an overall tonic that can promote health and vitality, much like ginseng. Ashwagandha twigs have been chewed for cleaning teeth, and the smoke of the plant has been inhaled for relief of toothaches.

Uses of Ashwagandha:

Arthritis
Asthma
Bronchitis
Cancer
Candida
Fever
Inflammations
Nausea
Rheumatism
Mental function
Stress

In general, tonics such as Ashwagandha are believed to strengthen and fortify the body so that it is better able to withstand stressful situations. In other words, it helps the body to maintain it's equilibrium, even during difficult times.

Today, ashwagandha is included in many combination formulas to treat a variety of ills. It is being heavily promoted as an aphrodisiac. A natural anti-inflammatory agent, ashwagandha may help to reduce the discomfort associated with arthritis. Ashwagandha is said to be useful in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, ulcers, and scabies when applied topically. Compounds known as withanolides are believed to account for the multiple medicinal applications of ashwagandha. These molecules are steroidal and bear a resemblance, both in their action and appearance, to the active constituents of Asian ginseng, known as ginsenosides. The pharmacological activity of the roots is attributed to the presence of several alkaloids. Many biochemically heterogeneous alkaloids have been reported in the roots. In all, 13 Dragendorffpositive components have been obtained chromatographically. They include cuscohygrine, anahygrine, tropine, pseudotropine, anaferine, and isopelletierine.

More Detail About Ashwagandha

Lung Cancer Survival Rate

Several factors influence lung cancer survival rates. The type of cancer, the stage it is at when diagnosed, and the overall condition of the patient all play a role in determining survival. Cancer survival is usually expressed in terms of a five-year survival rate, which is the percentage of patients with cancer who survive at least five years after their cancer is diagnosed.

Studies have shown that five-year survival rates among non-small cell lung cancer patients vary by stage. Stage 0 patients have the best survival, of close to 50 percent at five years. Approximately one-quarter of stage II patients survive to five years, as compared to eight percent of stage III patients and only two percent of stage IV patients. In general, small cell lung cancer tends to proceed more rapidly to terminal disease. Ten to fifteen percent of patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer, and between one and two percent of those with extensive-stage cancer, survive to five years.

Estimates of cancer survival do not reflect current treatment advances that may lead to better chances of survival, because they are typically calculated for a five-year period that does not include the previous year. Further, each patient responds to treatment in a unique way; aggregate estimates do not account for individual factors that may improve or worsen the likelihood of survival.

The overall number of deaths in the United States from lung cancer rose throughout the 1980s, and began to drop for men in the 1990s. However, a similar decrease has not been observed among women. Over fifty thousand current and former smokers have been enrolled in the National Lung Screening Trial to find out if chest x-rays and CT scans taken before the onset of lung cancer symptoms may improve early diagnosis and therefore survival.

Lung Cancer provides detailed information on Asbestos Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer, Lung Cancer Stages, Lung Cancer Survival Rate and more. Lung Cancer is affiliated with Asbestos Exposure.

All in 1 Natural Medicinal Herb: Shilajit

Shilajit is one the important Ayurvedic compounds that rejuvenates the body. Shilajit is believe to be first discovered in Modern times by British Explorer Sir Martin Edward Stanley during 1870 ?the time when India and Nepal were part of the British Empire. It contains more than 85 minerals in ionic form and the active principle fulvic acid, humic acid, hippuric acid and benzopyrones. It is used to treat diabetes and various urinary problems. When combined with other herbs it enhances its effect.

It is believed to have beneficial effects on the kidneys, urinary system and reproductive organs. It is considered as an aphrodisiac that is used in the treatment of impotency and infertility of both men and women. In Sanskrit shilajit means ?feel like rock? as it has the power of a rock to reverse the process of aging. The Indian and ancient Chinese literature mentioned shilajit as Amrit and Fountain of Youth. It is widely used by the Indian yogis of Himalayan region to have the stamina and body structure of a youth. The ancient medical literature described shilajit as conqueror of mountains and destroyer of weakness. It is considered as an anecdote for anxiety and stress. Its regular intake promotes the movement of various minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium into the bones and tissues. The active principle in shilajit fulvic acid regenerates and prolongs the duration of essential nutrients in the cells. Fulvic acid restores electrical balance to damaged cells, neutralizes toxins and eliminates food poisoning in a short duration.

Shilajit prevents the release of histamine in the blood that helps in the prevention of various allergies in the body. Shilajit provides iron to the body that is necessary for the making of red blood cells (RBCs). It also acts as a stimulant for immune system. Shilajit enhances protein and nucleic acid metabolism that acts as a catalyst for the energy proving reactions. It is a strong kidney tonic and is also considered the best for sexual and spiritual power. It is commonly referred to as Indian Viagra. It enhances the effect of nitric oxide to produce as erection in males.

It has beneficial liver protecting effects that balances the cholesterol and sugar levels in the body. It acts as an adaptogenic agent that helps the body to cope with stress causing environment. Therefore, it is also considered as an anti-stress agent.

It improves the functioning of pancreas, increases the blood circulation and strengthens the digestive system. It is also used in the treatment of hypothyroidism as it controls the activity of thyroid gland.

In regional folk medicine, shilajit is a reputed rasayana believed to reverse the process of ageing and prolong life. It is also used to treat various conditions ranging from ulcers and asthma, to diabetes and rheumatism.

Over sixty years of clinical research have shown that shilajit has positive effects on humans. It improves memory and cognitive ability, reduces allergies and respiratory problems, reduces stress, and relieves digestive troubles. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and eliminates free radicals responsible for various health problems in the body. The research proves that shilajit increases immunity, physical strength, and endurance. Its regular intake returns the libido of individuals to the level of teenagers. It increases the live cell counts in the male reproductive system hormones.

In brief it can be said that shilajit is highly beneficial for general body health, strengthening of immune system, arthritis, hypertension, anti-aging, controlling blood sugar levels, improved brain functioning, obesity, bone and tissue healing, kidney problems, urinary tract problems and injury healing.

Shilajit is considered as the main component in ayurvedic medicines that aids the curing of various health problems.

More on Shilajit at http://www.ayurvediccure.com/shilajit.htm

http://www.ayurvediccure.com

Portal on Ayurveda and Ayurvedic medicines featuring Home Remedies, Benefits of Herbs, Uses of Various Herbs and Application, Alternative Remedies and Online Supplements Sale with Free Shipping.

Hypnotize Yourself For Anaesthesia: Your 10 Step Guide to Create Your Own Anaesthesia Today

There was a superb television delight on here in the UK entitled 'Hypno-Surgery' recently and it showed a man receiving hypno-surgery. That is, he had a hernia operation without any anaesthesia other than by using hypnosis.

Of course, it is a sensation because it is on television, however, these have been done for years. There are lots of filmed studies and masses of research that has been done using hypnosis alone when performing surgery.

Many ways have been used to alleviate pain over the years and I have experienced many myself and found hypnosis accompanied with a range of mind skills and tools to be by far the best way of overcoming and altering my response to it.

Can you remember a time when you had a paper cut and you did not realise that you had it until later on that day when you saw it with your own eyes? It was not until you saw it that it hurt and thought ?oooh that smarts a bit.? This is naturally occurring anaesthesia, the capacity which exists within us all.

One of the most basic methods for using your mind to create anaesthesia is called the glove anaesthesia method and today I want to share it with you for you to use as and when you like.

Important point here : You must only use this pain-control technique when you know the cause of any pain. Please also consult a doctor if the condition persists. Otherwise, use this technique for fun and to remind you of how amazing you and your brain really are.

Step One: Find a comfortable place where you will not be disturbed. Close your eyes. Get yourself relaxed.Focus on your breathing, let it be steady, deep and slow. Imagine relaxing all the muscles in your body one by one and really do take the time required to establish a nice relaxed physical state.

Use your imagination to imagine a favourite place, somewhere you feel safe and relaxed. Imagine that you can hear the sounds of that place, see the sights, feel the feelings that you would feel in that place. Use your conscious mind's awareness and focus on each of the muscles in your body and think the word soften into each of your muscles. Imagine them melting, softening and allow your mind to be peaceful.

Take a good few minutes to do this; indulge yourself.

Step Two: Develop a strong sense of purpose right now. Using your internal dialogue, remind yourself and tell yourself that you have the power and ability to be in control of any sensations in your body and mind. Because you really do. Tell yourself that You accept that you are in control of your own mind. Focus on and imagine the unlimited power of your mind, tell yourself that you can send numbing sensations into any part of your body. Develop a sense of belief in yourself and in the power of your own mind. Really encourage and empower yourself.

Imagine that these words of personal power and belief that you say to yourself are being delivered to the deepest depths of your mind. Imagine that they've been accepted on every level of your body and mind.

At this stage, also tell yourself that the word anaesthesia is your key trigger word for a conditioned response later on.

Step three: Now we begin to invoke the glove anaesthesia. Begin by concentrating upon your dominant hand, really focus on it to the exclusion of all else. Notice the tiniest of sensations within it. Begin to imagine that using your attention, your dominant hand is free of all feeling. This needs some time and concentration.

Maybe you can use your imagination to imagine that your hand is encased in ice. Truly imagine those feelings.

Separate your hand, in your mind, from the rest of your physical body. Think of it as detached from your physical being. Continue to focus your attention upon your hand and allow it to lose all feeling.

Using your internal dialogue again, tell yourself that your hand is becoming numb. No feeling at all. Inside your mind instruct your hand to go to sleep. Tell it to go to sleep. Be aware of all the unusual sensations that are in your hand as you focus upon it and keep all your focus and concentration upon it.

Tell yourself that every breath you take seems to cause your hand to become number, and number, until you just can't feel your hand at all. You just can't feel your hand at all because it is numb. No feeling. Numb. Tell yourself that with authority and belief.

Step Five: Now, you're going to transfer this lack of feeling to the part of your body that you desire to feel numb and have the anaesthesia in. So when you are sure that you have created the correct level of numbness in your hand you're going to raise your hand and place it upon the part of your body you want to feel numb.

When you do this, you'll transfer this numbness to that part of your body. So then go ahead and raise your hand and touch the part of your body you want to become cool and numb. Maybe imagine the numbness as a colour that you are spreading into that area. Maybe imagine that part of your body being filled with that colour and creating that numbness. Imagine all the sensations of numbness are being transferred into that part of your body. Release the numbness into that other part of your body.

Then spend some moments doing that properly and thoroughly now. As you do it, give yourself a time limit that this is going to last for. Naturally, you do not want that part of you to be numb forever. So make sure that you set yourself a time limit when your self-induced anaesthesia will end.

Step Six: Now that you have transferred the calming, soothing, numbing coolness, and you're physically feeling better and better in that area. Really enjoy the sensations and marvel at your own amazing self. Imagine coolness permeates the area. Imagine you experience wonderful relief in that area. Breathe deeply and relax completely.

Maybe even repeat a little mantra of support to your self at this point: Calm, cool, soothing, numbing sensations permeates the area. Better and better. Numbness. Relief. Numbness.? Use words that appeal to you the most.

Step Seven: When you have maintained the state and are sure that you feel really good. Say the word anaesthesia to yourself, so that each time you use this word in future occasions, when you have the right intention and conditions to do this again, saying the word will bring the resources of this session to make next time even better. Breathe deeply, embrace the sensations in your body and mind and repeat the word to yourself. Trust that each time you choose to use it in the future, it has a wonderful effect of enhancing and amplifying your control over your anaesthesia.

Step Eight: And it's time to focus the incredible power of your imagination by imagining yourself doing this even better next time. Imagine that you feel more and more in control of your own mind each time you do this. Experience the joy in this realisation. Create every detail of this future occasion in your mind, including your reaction and the reactions of others. And in so doing you communicate your desire to the levels of mind that will assist you in manifesting this natural anaesthesia better and better each time you do it. Each time you use that word when practising your anaesthesia, tell yourself it works more and more profoundly and powerfully.

Imagine yourself really feeling good about this and what you can do with the power of your own mind.

Spend a few moments quietly doing this.

Step Nine: When you have fully absorbed all you can from this wonderful experience, open your eyes and remember all that has been communicated.

Step Ten: Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the better and more thorough it is.

You may want to practice doing this on your arm. Prior to doing it, pinch your arm until it hurts to gauge what your pain tolerance level is in that arm. Then when you have it anaesthetised, test how different the sensations are.

Pretty cool eh?

Adam is the best selling author of 'The Secrets of Self-Hypnosis' please visit his website for a vast range of resources from the fields of hypnosis and to receive your amazing, free, instantly downloadable hypnosis session: http://www.adam-eason.com

5 Myths About Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer

Sara spends much of her summer near the beach. She lives in a mild climate and is very athletic. She loves to swim, bike and play games outdoors. Sara knows the dangers of the sun and so she opts for tanning salons to get her 'golden glow' while being sure to apply sunscreen every day before heading out.

Joseph lives in a cooler, northern climate. The summers can be very humid, but most of the year is mild or even below freezing during the harshest winter months. The beach has never been much of a draw for him and he spends most of his time doing indoor activities or at his job. Joseph doesn't worry about sunscreen and only had one sunburn that he can remember and that was when he was a child.

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Which of these examples do you most associate yourself with? Did you know that Sara and Joseph are both at risk of developing skin cancer? We have all heard the warnings about the dangers of sun exposure. We know all about the importance of wearing sunscreen and hats. But are YOU protected from skin cancer? Consider these myths and facts:

MYTH ONE: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun

20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to four hours in the sun. Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVB rays, 'The Skin Cancer Answer' states that UV-A penetrates more deeply into the skin than UV-B, can cause skin cancer, and may suppress the immune system.

MYTH TWO: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection

85 percent of UV rays can even make it through on cloudy days. That means you are equally at risk in the car, walking the dog or letting your children out to play at any time of year - even when you're not at the beach. Of course, you are usually less attired at the beach and so covering up is recommended even when wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water and should always be applied every two hours or after getting wet.

MYTH THREE: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will Protect You

Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that most people receive about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better care now will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage already done.

MYTH FOUR: Having a Tan Means You're More Protected

Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop cancer, but tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated tanning injures the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.

MYTH FIVE: You Can't get Burned on Overcast Days

Just because the sun is hidden by some cloud does not mean that you don't need protection from the harmful effects of the suns rays.

So how do you plan to protect your family this year? Some suggestions are to limit exposure to the sun - especially for infants. Examine your skin for early signs of damage. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours after that. Teach your children good safety habits and be sure you and they are covered up when outdoors. Have fun and be safe.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.

Emily Clark is editor at Lifestyle Health News and Medical Health News where you can find the most up-to-date advice and information on many medical, health and lifestyle topics.

Knock Knock Who's There?

Knock, Knock. . . Who's There?. . .Cancer

I have been told that each person's experience with cancer is different. Each approach to treatment is different. And each person's reaction to treatment is different.

It was summer of 2001 and I was driving home from having spent a nice weekend camping at the coast. While in the cab of my truck I experienced a startling pain in my left breast. I drew my right hand to the spot, testing for tenderness to touch. It didn't feel sore as a bruise would. But there was a lump.

By March of 2002, the lump felt more noticeable. A bit larger and harder to the touch. The lump moved about freely; it was not attached to anything, but I felt a deep concern, and an inexplicable need to have a doctor look at it.

On 3-11-02, I called the doctor's office and explained I felt I needed a mammogram as soon as possible. It had been a year since my last mammogram so I was due. My desire to have it done ASAP I could not explain except to say I felt deeply compelled to make the request. Following the mammogram several more tests were conducted.

On an April afternoon, on my way back to the office from a home visit with a client I received a call on my cell phone. It was my doctor. He asked me: Are you in a good place to hear some bad news? I pulled over and turned the engine off. The test results had come back positive for cancer.

My moments before, lucid world shut down. All doors closed on what had been, in an instant. My world was suddenly a world filled with delirium. What I said, or how I was able to respond at all is mostly a mystery to me. I recall thinking the sun seemed extraordinarily bright. I thought about the people on the street around me, going about their normal and rational activities and how I felt cut off from their reality. I know I spoke to my doctor while at the same time my silently screaming self was reeling.

My mother took me to the hospital on that cold and rainy Tuesday, the last day of April. It was dark out in the early morning hours. I signed in and registered. I had a mastectomy and left the hospital the next day.

My oncologist was a physician at a California Cancer Center, and it was at the Center where I was to have my chemo treatments. I remember dreading my first appointment--my first treatment. My mother, may God bless her, drove me to my first session. I walked into the Center, looked around, saw the people in the waiting room--the patients and their families...and fell apart.

Having been apprised of what chemo could do to a person, the side effects, I felt a little prepared for what might happen to me. But actually facing it...sharing that experience with others was heartrending and spirit-buckling at the same time.

My attitude, in the beginning, was one of defiance, anger, and disbelief. I felt vulnerable and helpless. I felt mortal. None of which felt comfortable.

But after a time, the feeding of those negative emotions began to take their toll on me mentally and physically. They were doing me no good. They only served to cripple my functioning. Rob me of any sanity I might yet be able to cull out of my changed life. I wanted peace and serenity back in my life. I wanted to feel and function as normal as I was able.

The tools to transform my existence into a satisfying experience were within my grasp. There are timeless moments. Many of them. And they blow about just as the wind blows autumn leaves, or scatters words in the skirts of a breeze. The routes of the pockets of timelessness move by no planned course. They just are; like the wind. And they can occur anytime. Any place. They are offered, and only by accepting them will I live them. It is so simple, really. Savor the brush of high emotion on the face of a dear one; allow my spirit to be carried with the wind as it courses through the trees; open myself to all that lives around me. On that walk I may take in the morning one of those pockets may be within my reach. The window of opportunity to reach out and grab hold can be as long as only a single breath. If I hesitate, I have lost that opportunity. I cannot say: I'm too busy now to enjoy that. I'll wait until the next time. There will not be a next time, for that particular moment. Each one is special and unique. For me, I do not hesitate-I grasp like a starving soul, at each moment.

And I have learned . . .

Each minute I draw breath something divine is happening, and somewhere else, something harrowing. Other beings are experiencing the most exciting moments of their lives. While on the flip side, other beings are suffering through their darkest hours. I will rarely be able to change or affect any of it. I know that it is true and when I am experiencing tough times, I recall that somewhere, someplace, the extraordinary is happening. The sublime. I draw on that. Picture it in my mind's eye and a peace suffuses my spirit.

Give thanks: It never hurts to do so, and it improves your attitude, gives you a brighter perspective on your outlook for the future.

I give thanks--thanks that God listened to my prayers and the prayers of others, and responded. Thanks that I can still enjoy things like I used to, with a childlike joy and awe. Thanks that life goes on and the world still turns. Thanks that the close friends I have now are the same ones I had before. Either they have good judgment, or I do, or both. It is a blessing! Thanks that though I feel more mortal than before, at the same moment, I feel more alive.

And I respond now: To my heart, my mind, my questing spirit. I don't let an opportunity slip past me to explore more of the world around me. More of the splendid wonders still wait to be discovered.

I reach out to others who might benefit from my experience. From my pain and my joy. I give them honesty, but do so with compassion.

I respond to my friends and family. They still need me, as I need them. That hasn't changed. It is what friends and family do for each other. I respond to my needs, be they medical, nutritional, health, physical, mental, emotional, occupational, or financial. I don't neglect them.

Life goes on: Lock the door, or leave it open. The world continues on, and life in whatever form it exists in goes on, too. I'm not going to change that. So I accept it with a smile. It can't hurt. And I will live it, every day, for as long as I am here.

The world around me is there for me--today. It is no different for every person on this globe, young or old or middle aged. This is my time and it is no less substantial than any life lived a lifetime ago, or a century ago.

I hope I live it well, honorably, and fully.

Kathy lives in Central California where she shares her life with her husband and furry family. She says, I work full time for a living, and write in order to live fully. She is also a weekly columnist for the publication Frank Talk, which is distributed in several counties in the tri-state area of Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri. Her fifth book, For the Spirit-Soul, is a collection of her short stories and poems and will be released soon.

One nevers gets over hearing the words, You have cancer. It is getting beyond that which enriches our world and gives new meaning to the very word LIFE.

Heal Your Acne the Proven and Natural Way

If you?re currently suffering from acne, you are not alone. Over 90% of people will have acne sometime in their lives. A high percentage of those will carry their acne condition into their adult lives.

Acne is mostly classified as a ?personal problem?, meaning that it can have effects in your personal life. It can have a major affect on dating, relationships, self esteem, and many other nuances that make you who you are. While I agree that it does have a huge affect in these areas, for adults it can also be what I call a ?professional problem?.

Since many people think that the only people who are constantly plagued by acne are teenagers, the thought of acne has been closely coupled with adolescence. When a professional business man or woman enters a room and is suffering from acne, he or she is looked upon as unprofessional, and all those traits that are normally associated with adolescence.

This is common human nature, and it is not your fault. While knowing it is not your fault provides very little comfort, you will be glad to know that there are things you can do to help your acne?right now!

Below is a small list of things that you can do to help rid yourself of acne. It is my philosophy that acne should be cured naturally, and believe me, there are definitely natural acne cures out there that work!

1.You should be using a chemical free skin cleanser every day. By cleaning your skin, you can help eliminate new blemishes from forming. Cleaning your skin every day is the best thing you can do to achieve healthy, acne free skin.

2.Try to keep your hair and hands off of your face. Both your hair and hands contain dirt and oils that can clog your pores and let bacteria grow. While this is not a cure for acne, keeping your pores clear will be instrumental in clearing your acne.

3.Drink lots of water, and eat a healthy diet. While there are no clear connections with acne to a person?s diet, your skin is the largest organ on your body and keeping your body healthy will naturally keep your skin healthy. Drinking lots of water will keep your skin hydrated while also flushing away toxins.

4.Don?t pick at your acne! Picking at your acne causes an unnecessary transfer of oils that may cause deeper acne lesions that may lead to scarring. The best way is to get your acne under control using a natural acne treatment every morning and every night.

There is a short list of things you can do to treat your acne. While these things may even clear your acne completely, you will find a bounty of free information on natural acne cures that will aid you in conquering your problem. You can find these solutions at http://natural-acne-cures.blogspot.com

Jonathan W. was a long time sufferer of bodily acne until he finally cured it using natural treatments. He reveals all about it on his blog: Natural Acne Cures. He also suffered from stretch marks created during growth spurts and from obesity. He has taken care of this issue and reveals how he resolved it at: Rid of Stretch Marks.

Passionflower

With its alien-looking flowers, egg-shaped fruit and wandering tendrils, passionflower is one of the most unusual plants you'll ever come across in the U.S. Known botanically as Passiflora incarnata, passionflower is native to the southeast and mid-south regions of the United States. This climbing vine that so entranced Spanish missionaries in the 1600s can grow 30 feet long, inhabiting fence rows, woodlands and backyards alike.

Traditional Medical Uses for Passionflower

Native Americans crushed passionflower's lobed leaves and applied them directly to the skin to ease bruises, cuts and other wounds. Infusions made from the leaves were used to treat ear infections, strengthen the blood and relieve stress. And until 1978, when the FDA pulled its support of the herb, it was included in many over-the-counter sleep aids.

Passionflower Today

In 1978, the FDA re-classified passionflower as a Class II herb, citing a lack of substantiated evidence that passionflower was effective as a sedative. But passionflower is still widely used in Europe where passionflower extract is frequently combined with extracts of other natural sedatives like valerian, chamomile and lemon balm.

Today's herbalists use passionflower as a digestive aid, as a stress-reducer and as an insomnia treatment. Passionflower can be used fresh but it's more frequently dried for use in pills, teas and extractions like tinctures and infusions.

Current Research

Though passionflower is widely used, it's not been widely studied. But the few studies that have been done are encouraging. A European study of people with generalized anxiety disorder found that passionflower was as effective as prescription medications as relieving anxiety.

And another study looking at treatments for congestive heart failure found that an extract of hawthorn and passionflower improved symptoms like shortness of breath.

Other unproven uses for passionflower include opiate detoxification, ADHD and seizures.

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

Recognize and Release Energy Vampires

Sometimes you meet someone and you feel very energized and connected with life. You feel joyous energy all around you in their presence. You want to spend more time with such people. And sometimes it also happens that you meet someone and immediately you feel drained, exhausted and confused. These are vampires who suck your life force because they are not connected with their inner light. They have to survive on other people?s light. This could be very draining on energy for you.

You cannot satisfy a vampire

The interesting thing to notice is ? You cannot satisfy a vampire. No matter how good you behave, how much you give of yourself, there is a black hole that is never satisfied, never happy, always hungry for more.

Vampire?s agenda

Vampires come in many packages. Some have their own body and others do not. One common thread you may notice is ? they cannot connect with the source of light within themselves. Their basic agenda is to consume your life force. Another name of this game is ? Psychic warfare.

The two energy centers they use to do their tricks

The two chakras that vampires commonly attack are solar plexus chakra and the third eye chakra. Solar plexus chakra is used for draining the life force and third eye chakra is used for draining the will force.

Signs felt in the body

1. Feelings of something just not being right.
2. Your gut feelings tells you that the feelings you get from it are not normal, or come from an external source.
3. Physical fatigue that cannot be explained by other means
4. Unexplained lack of concentration
5. Lately people tend to stay away from you
6. Things constantly going wrong

And there could be many more versions and variations of these signs of possible psychic energy interference.

Protect yourself from energy vampires

Your body has all the intelligence to guide you, protect you and tell you the difference between what?s right and what?s not right. Your gut, your stomach is the most accurate psychic on this planet. The challenge is to connect with this accuracy within. Just a little practice of this skill and you will be empowered for the rest of your life. Just be a little aware of your body. Where are you?

May be your feet touches the ground. Be aware of it.
May be your hand is holding the phone. Be aware of it.
May be you are sitting on a chair. Be aware of your butt.
And so on?simply being aware of your body, where are you?is the first step and a very powerful one to protect yourself from energy vampires.

May you be free from all energy vampires.

Love and Blessings, Satish Dholakia

http://www.chakramagic.com/
http://www.innercosmos.com/

Meet Master Healer Satish Dholakia

Healings are offered by Satish Dholakia, a dedicated spiritual healer - teacher and Master NLP practitioner from Mumbai, India. Not bound to any traditions or philosophies, he prefers to heal and teach from the spontaneous flow through him. Clairvoyant and Clairaudient since a child, he spent years in communion with the divine, sharing his psychic gifts with an open heart. Satish founded Inner Cosmos in Mumbai, India in 1991 currently offers energy healing classes and private sessions in Los Angeles, California. Group classes are offered internationally upon request.

Lavender: The Queen Of Herbs

Are you in love with lavender? If so, you're not alone, as lavender has become the most popular aromatic herb. In fact, in 1999, the queen of herbs was named as the year of lavender!

As one of the most loved aromatic herbs, lavender has been cultivated and used throughout the centuries. In ancient times, the Egyptians used lavender in incense and perfume and it was even used in the mummification process. The Arabs, Greeks and Romans used lavender as an offering to their gods.

Because of its tendency to render a better quality essential oil, true lavender -- which is found in the French and Mediterranean Alps, growing in altitudes of 6,000 feet -- is considered to be the most effective of these aromatic herbs.

Common Uses Of Lavender

As an essential oil in today's society, lavender is used, both internally and topically, for a number of conditions:

- Aromatic (a most popular fragrance)
- carminative (to relieve flatulence)
- antibacterial
- antiseptic
- nervine (to calm the nerves)
- expectorant
- stimulant
- cosmetic
- antispasmodic.

It has also been used to prevent some childhood infections and to soothe temper tantrums in children. The most common uses of lavender are to: treat burns (from minor to scalding), eczema, grazes, cuts, inflammation, dermatitis, headaches, migraines, fainting, nausea, insomnia, bacterial infections, boils, acne, arthritis and rheumatism. As a germicidal agent, lavender oil is non-toxic.

It contains linalool and linalool acetate which play important roles in the healing process.

Calming Effect Of Lavender

Both humans and animals, when inhaling lavender, experience a sedative effect that closely favors the calming effect of the geranium and peppermint plants. This is probably the reason why these aromatic herbs are favored for a variety of uses from treating depression and sleep disorders to treating premenstrual syndrome.

Lavender beauty and bath products, to be used for external purposes only, are often available in gift baskets. A wonderful gift for any occasion, lavender is sure to be appreciated by all who receive it. In addition to its use in aromatherapy products and treatments, lavender may be used to specifically treat depression.

The Gift Of Lavender

Lavender is a popular gift item that can be purchased separately or in a gift basket. Most of the aromatherapy gifts are made with essential oil and dried lavender buds. Examples of these are bar soap, bath bomb fizzers, bath crystals, bath oil beads, closet or drawer sachets, hand and body lotions, sleep pillows and soothing herbal sea salts. Beauty products that contain lavender range from body sprays and hair care products to a variety of skin care products. All of the above products mentioned are used for the sole purpose of creating a sense of peace and to promote relaxation.

Lavender Trivia

Did you know that lavender is also used in home cleaning products?

Throughout history, lavender has found its way into the homes of many historical figures. Queen Victoria insisted that her furniture and floors be cleaned with lavender to freshen up the rooms in her castle. Queen Elizabeth I of England enjoyed drinking lavender tea as a way to relieve her migraines and other maladies. During World War I, nurses treated injured soldiers by washing their wounds with an antiseptic wash that contained lavender.

Cooking With Lavender

Lavender is an amazingly versatile herb that is also used for cooking -- not only at home, but also in many upscale restaurants. A member of the mint family, lavender flowers are wonderful flavor enhancers that can also add to the appearance of the food. Lavender flowers and leaves can be used freshly cut; their buds and stems can be dried before use.

It is best to use lavender with other herbs, such as fennel, oregano and savory, and it can also be used with its other mint cousins (rosemary, sage and thyme). Lavender has an extremely powerful aroma, so it must be used sparingly or the recipe will have a bitter taste, and you'll feel like you are eating perfume. The next time you're cooking up a storm, add a sprig of lavender to the pot and enjoy!

Visit Aromatherapy to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer, visit his website at Articles for authors.

Massage Therapy and Repetitive Strain Injuries

There is no question that conservative therapy is the best option for those suffering with a Repetitive Strain Injury. From Trigger Finger to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, conservative therapy produces the best results, limited side effects (if any), quicker results and long-lasting relief.

There are many types of conservative treatments that provide a variety of positive benefits to the user. Massage Therapy is a terrific conservative treatment that provides good results by itself, and even greater results when combined with a stretch and exercise routine.

Massage is used to help relax and lengthen tight, restrictive muscles, break down scar tissue in injured muscles, reduce adhesions on affected tendons at their point of attachment to the muscle or to the bone, remove toxins from muscles and increase overall circulation and nutrient delivery to the associated tissues. All of these wonderful benefits help overworked muscles to relax and injured muscles to recover. The problem is this. Massage Therapy does not correct the muscle imbalances causing the Repetitive Strain Injury. Massage Therapy can greatly assist the rehabilitation / treatment process, but once a muscle has been injured and has atrophied to any significant degree, or a muscle has gone into a state of chronic hypertonicity, other therapeutic elements must be added to the treatment regimen in order to completely eliminate the Repetitive Strain Injury.

An integral part of treating Repetitive Strain Injuries is the implementation of a stretch and exercise routine specifically designed to create structural integrity and muscle balance where the injury exists. If the injury is Tennis Elbow, there must be an equality of strength between the wrist and elbow flexors, wrist and elbow extensors, and wrist and forearm pronators and supinators. By creating strong flexible muscles surrounding the specific joint, that joint will no longer be highly susceptible to Repetitive Strain Injuries.

The integration of Massage Therapy, stretches, exercises and hydrotherapy is a highly effective treatment protocol for many types of injuries. An example of a treatment sequence for a ?chronic injury', no matter the affected area, should follow along these lines:

Hydrotherapy Heat - Heat to increase circulation to the area, making the soft tissues relaxed and pliable.

Massage Phase-I ? Specific massage treatment utilizing Trigger Point Release techniques to release muscle spasm and Transverse Friction Massage to break down adhesions.

Stretch ? Stretch overly restrictive tissues to increase their length and reduce their compression of underlying tissues.

Exercise ? Perform strengthening exercises for the affected tissues in order to reduce tensile strain on the injured area, heal micro-tears and increase healing nutrients to the injured area. Strong muscles create stability and prevent future reoccurrence of micro-tears to a previously affected area.

Massage Phase-II ? Perform light Petrissage and Effleurage towards the heart to remove the toxins created from undergoing Trigger Point Release, Transverse Friction Massage, stretches and exercises.

Hydrotherapy Cold ? Cool the injured tissues in an elongated position as to not lose range-of-motion (ROM) of the affected tissues and to further remove toxins from the area.

Massage Therapy and the involvement of the techniques listed above are very effective in eliminating chronic Repetitive Strain Injuries. Any one element by itself is OK, but by implementing several sound conservative techniques, the success rate of the treatment increases dramatically. Remember, when injuries are present, choose the ?Conservative Alternative?.

Jeff P. Anliker, LMT, is a Therapist and Inventor of Therapeutic Exercise Products that are utilized by Corporations, Consumers and Medical Facilities around the world for the prevention and rehabilitation of repetitive strain injuries. repetitive-strain.com

Conquer Acne but Leave the Spots Alone

Acne is the bugbear of the majority of teenagers and a number of adults too. In the U.S.A. alone, 17 million people suffer from acne.

I wish I?d known that comforting statistic when I was a teenager!

It begins when you?re a teenager and your body begins to produce the hormone androgen. This causes the over-stimulation of oil glands which in turn block pores and then, hey presto, a spot appears.

There are many ?cures? on the market some are good and work, some work only very temporarily and others just have pretty packaging.

If you had acne, it made you feel miserable and you?ve gotten rid of it, then all credit to you.

But this article goes out to all those people who can?t get rid of their acne and who are destined to suffer it for the majority of their schooldays.

I know how it feels because I was one of them.

Fact is, the majority of damage that acne does is psychological. Cries of ?spotty? and ?pizza face? at school don?t help and although eradicating the spots on the outside would cure this problem, it won?t cure the problem on the inside.

If you suffer from acne, the best thing to do is realise that it?s up to you whether you get upset about it or not.

When you can get through the day without feelings of paranoia, if you can build up your self-esteem even though you don?t like what you see in the mirror, then you have really conquered acne.

No one can change how you feel on the inside and you and only you control your thoughts and therefore your feelings.

So hold your head up high, realise you are a beautiful (or handsome) person, whether your hormones are playing havoc with you or not, and truly wipe the acne problem from your life!

Rosa Dawson is the writer and owner of http://www.preventingacne.info the complete resource for the acne sufferer

Hypnosis A NonIntrusive Therapy

These days many people resort to Hypnosis as a therapy for many different issues. Hypnosis as a therapy is a process in which the patient and the therapist cooperate for the benefit of the client.

For many years hypnosis had an unsavory reputation in the public mind and in the medical profession. This was largely due to hypnosis being associated with the theater or music halls. Hypnotists would select members of the audience, put them in a trance and then persuade them to act out or confess to unconscious longings or fears. Although hypnosis is still used as an entertainment tool it is being reevaluated and is seen by many as a useful technique that has a place in a wide range of medical, psychological and investigative pursuits.

Hypnotherapy combines both art and science. Franz Anton Mesmer back in the late 1700s believed that man could redistribute the quasimagnetic fluid to bring about healing. Not long after that James Braid a Scottish surgeon working Manchester England created the term hypnosis.

The term hypnosis actually is derived from the Greek word sleep but the individual under hypnosis is not asleep or unconscious and is in fact more alert than ever.

Today hypnosis has developed into a well-respected practice and is used by certified hypnotherapists, doctors, psychologists and law enforcement. It is used for a variety of reasons for example pain control, stress related disorders, anesthesia, psychotherapy and memory recall. The management of a wide range of phobic anxiety and other psychological disorders can also be aided by the use of hypnotism.

The practice of hypnotism is safe and can be extremely helpful in area where there are not many other effective treatments other than drugs. Things such as stress reduction, sexual problems, phobias, insomnia, stopping smoking, weight loss and lack of motivation. Hypnotherapy has also been found useful in areas of law and it has sometimes been the only way that vital pieces of evidence have been discovered.

If you have ever felt that you have a problem that is all in the head or in fact your own doctor has felt that way then hypnotherapy could be the ideal solution. If your head created the problem then it can be used to treat it.

There are a few people who cannot be hypnotized to a depth that will be helpful and these are the feeble-minded, the insane and the senile. And, as it does take mind power to hypnotize, very young children who have not developed sufficient mind power are not good subjects.

People who are helped by hypnotherapy will see changes rapidly. A person does not have to work hard for hypnotherapy to be effective as it is a natural state of mind. In fact with hypnotherapy the harder you try the more you fail. So the rule is do not try to be hypnotized just remain passive and let it happen.

Hypnotherapy is a great way to unlock the potential of the subconscious mind and can be taught to use alone, at will and without complicated procedure.

After hypnosis most people feel wonderfully warm and relaxed.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Hypnosis

Hypnotize Yourself For Anaesthesia: Your 10 Step Guide to Create Your Own Anaesthesia Today

One of the most basic methods for using your mind to create anaesthesia is called the glove anaesthesia method and today I want to share it with you for you to use as and when you like.

Take a good few minutes to do this; indulge yourself.

At this stage, also tell yourself that the word anaesthesia is your key trigger word for a conditioned response later on.

Maybe you can use your imagination to imagine that your hand is encased in ice. Truly imagine those feelings.

Imagine yourself really feeling good about this and what you can do with the power of your own mind.

Spend a few moments quietly doing this.

Step Nine: When you have fully absorbed all you can from this wonderful experience, open your eyes and remember all that has been communicated.

Step Ten: Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the better and more thorough it is.

Pretty cool eh?

Cleansing Diets

One of the most common cleansing diets is a detox diet. This is a diet that will release the toxins in the body that have been stored in the fat cells and will allow the body to excrete them and cleanse your body.

Why use a cleansing diet? This is used to eliminate toxins and other contaminants from the body. The main purposes of doing this is to:

Improve health
Feel more energetic
Improve immunity
Improve your mental condition
Aid in digestion
Help with weight loss

There are various ways to do this.

You can do a complete fast. This would entail not eating or drinking at all. Just drink water. This would be not eating or drinking anything but water Just drink water and juice-the same as above accept you would be adding juice Eat certain foods-some diets will consist of just vegetables and fruits others will be just liquids. There are many variations on this. Use herbs: Herbal cleansing has been used since ancient times. Certain herbs are used as cleansing medicines to release and excrete toxins from the body. Reduce calories: Some cleansing diets are used to reduce calories and aid in weight loss. The most common diet is one composed mainly of fruits and vegetables. Preferably these should be raw, unmodified and unprocessed. More water is recommended and complete absence of alchahol.

However cleansing diets are not without side effects. If done rapidly the toxins can be released into the bloodstream more quickly than the body can get rid of them. This condition is known as Herxheimer reaction.

This can result in:

? Headaches
? Muscle pain
? Weakness
? Insomnia
? Irritability

Herxheimer reaction: this is the name given to the body?s condition when detoxification is occurring too rapidly and the body is not being given enough time to excrete the toxins. Some detox diets will produce this effect. This often leads to people abandoning their cleansing diets thinking that the diet is making them more sick. In actual fact if they continue with their diet the symptoms diminish and they will feel healthier.

Here are some ways that people have tried to lessen the symptoms of Herxheimer reaction:

? Drinking as much pure water as they can-this in effect will help the body flush out any toxins.

? Taking more exercise-this will improve circulation and help the body work more efficiently. This could help the body work more efficiently and excrete the toxins faster.

? Getting more sunlight
? Detox baths
? Excessive sweating-with saunas, baths and use of herbs
? Avoiding refined processed foods and toxic environmental chemicals
? Aromatherapy oils are used to help aches and pains brought on by rapid detoxification

Cleansing diets have been used from ancient times and can often help you to improve your health and make you feel better. Some people do these diets on a regular basis others more seldom. However you want to do these diets you should exercise care and possibly consult your doctor before commencing on one as sometimes side effects can be severe. If you have any underlying disease especially metabolic ones such as diabetes then it is very necessary to consult your Doctor before trying any type of cleansing diets.

Zach Thompson is a Glyconutrients Consultant. His clients range from pro athletes and actresses, to cancer patients and children with Learning Disabilities. Learn the truth about nutritional supplements at: http://nutritionalreview.com/79.php

Mesothelioma Treatment Costs

The costs of treating malignant mesothelioma are extremely high; estimates range from $150,000 to over $ 1 million. The most commonly used anti-cancer drugs used to treat malignant mesothelioma are Alimta? and cisplatin. The combined cost of these drugs for one treatment cycle is approximately $4,100; multiple treatment cycles may be required, and a cure is not assured. In fact, even with aggressive treatment, the median survival of a patient after diagnosis with malignant mesothelioma is between one and two years.

Some mesothelioma treatment costs may be covered by health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. However, many people may not have health insurance or be eligible for Medicaid or Medicare. Information on sources of financial assistance can be obtained from the social services units of hospitals, the Cancer Information Network and the American Cancer Society.

When occupational exposure to asbestos can be proven, patients with malignant mesothelioma may be able to seek damages from former employers through lawsuits. While there is a current cap of $1.1 million on the total amount that can be awarded to a single individual in a mesothelioma lawsuit, this cap is considered insufficient by some mesothelioma treatment advocates. They say that better diagnostic tests, combined with the availability of more effective treatment, means more people with malignant mesothelioma are diagnosed at a younger age and live longer. Increased survival is associated with increased treatment costs.

Some novel mesothelioma treatment options are being investigated in clinical trials. These include more affordable options such as immunotherapy, or expensive options such as gene therapy. In gene therapy, specific materials injected into the patient attack the genes in cancer cells, ultimately killing them. A single session of gene therapy may cost between $150,000 and $950,000. Clinical trials may cover some costs of treatment. However, certain trials only enroll people who have been recently diagnosed and who have not begun any other type of treatment.

Mesothelioma Symptoms provides detailed information on Advanced Mesothelioma Symptoms, Clinical Mesothelioma Symptoms, Mesothelioma Diagnosis: An Introduction, Mesothelioma Stomach Symptoms and more. Mesothelioma Symptoms is affiliated with Pleural Mesothelioma Information.

Quick And Fast Acne TreatmentsWill It Solve Your Acne Problems?

Ever run into that situation where you absolutely must get rid of an acne breakout as soon as possible? I'm talking about that zit or pimple that shows up hours before prom starts or the morning of your wedding day or on the day of your first big job interview. Situations such as those just mentioned are stressful enough without the added excitement of a skin blemish developing at the worst possible moment.

Unfortunately there is no 1 or 2 hour cure for acne. Oh sure, you can camouflage or hide your acne with a healthy dosage of makeup but that's only a temporary solution which will work to help you out of your short term jam but what about actually eliminating the acne blemish itself? Since there is no short cut or golden path to getting rid of acne you will have to rely on a variety of home acne remedies and for the worst cases of acne perhaps even laser acne treatment.

For many of these home remedies and zit treatments the actual elimination of your acne and skin blemishes will take place over time and sadly not overnight. The good news is if you're patient you will start to see some excellent results and your acne will disappear in a few short weeks, sometimes even in a few days.

In the event that you do see some acne solutions that make claims of curing your acne within a day or heaven forbid within a few hours you should probably be cautious in regards to using them. Chances are good that they have a stronger then normal dosage of acne fighting chemicals which could actually harm your skin instead of eliminating any pimples, zits or blackheads you may be suffering from as a result of a skin blemish outbreak.

The quick acne treatments on the market may be able to clear your acne up quickly but for long term results and hopefully permanent results you need to focus on acne treatment products and solutions that are designed with the intent to eliminate acne for good. One other thing to consider when debating whether or not to undergo the use of quick acne treatments is the higher cost for their treatments and solutions. If you truly need to get rid of an annoying zit or pimple in the shortest amount of time then perhaps the quick acne fighting solutions are for you but remember they only cure acne for a short time period.

Acne is a skin blemish condition that can cause you some grief for a short amount of time but if you purchase the right long term acne fighting solution that fits your skin needs then you will be able to win the fight against acne and all of the zits, pimples and blackheads that come with it.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Clear-Skin-Solutions.com He provides more acne clearing solutions, remedies and quick acne treatments that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Preparing for a Healthy Future: An Interview

Interviewer: We read in the news regularly now about how social security and Medicare benefits will be drastically reduced for the tens of millions of ?baby boomers,? and too many people know from personal experience right now how expensive conventional health care is, to a point where many can?t afford what they need. How does Oriental medicine fit into this scenario?

Kitty: Well, people have always tried to stay healthy; Ralph Waldo Emerson, a 19th century American philosopher summed it up this way: ?Health is the first wealth. What?s different today is that our conventional health care system is so technology driven, and while many of its tests and procedures are useful, they are also so expensive that its benefits are becoming of little value to the millions of people who can?t afford them. So it?s important for people today to know about the ancient Chinese doctors and philosophers who knew that people of their time ? like people today ? needed an affordable, natural way to stay healthy to be able to live the best life possible. Their successful methods and treatments, thankfully, are still available today in what?s being called Oriental medicine.

Interviewer: Based on what you?ve written in other articles on the BIOM website, it seems like the old adage, ?An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? applies to how Oriental medicine works. And since it seems like people, in general, have moved away from the belief that ?technology? will fix all of our problems, what does Oriental medicine offer in way of ?prevention??

Kitty: Developing a ?preventive? mindset is the first step, and the catalyst for taking that step is the situation you mentioned: existing systems that we?ve become dependent on are not as dependable as we thought they were. It?s similar to the way we depend on the grocery store to have the food we need. It?s a great convenience that none of us want to do without, but because it?s so convenient we have forgotten how to grow food in our own gardens. Oriental medicine is built upon ?common sense? ? a sense which isn?t so ?common? anymore. The way I practice Oriental medicine helps people learn how to get back in touch with that sense, while at the same time rebuilding their resistance to disease.

Interviewer: What do you tell young people about maintaining and protecting their health?

Kitty: Kids feel like they?re immortal, and that?s a wonderful feeling; a testimony to the power of health that runs through them. This feeling of immortality is also a danger because the habits and attitudes young people form today, directly affect their health in middle and later years of life. I find that Oriental medicine benefits people most when they?re still young and strong. And children are most likely to reap the benefits of Oriental medicine if their parents understand the basics of 5 Element Diet and Nutrition, and what used to be called ?physical education,' and in Oriental medicine, we call Chi Kung.

Interviewer: So you?re basically suggesting that people need to think ?outside-the-box,? because Oriental medicine is so different from the conventional medicine they?ve been relying on since they were children?

Kitty: Considering that ?the box? is disintegrating (as represented by the skyrocketing cost of conventional medicine, and the unwinding of the Social Security and Medicare systems), the affordability and effectiveness of Oriental medicine should be part of everyone?s set of health care options.

It?s time to open up to new possibilities to make sure you get the health care you need.

Kitty Bradshaw is a licensed acupuncturist, with an advanced clinical degree in Oriental Medicine. Studying and working with Oriental Medicine since 1986, Kitty combines Traditional Oriental Medicine with Taoist healing methods to offer healing possibilities beyond the level of standard health care. Her deep understanding of Chinese medical herbs, combined with her intuitive abilities to diagnose and treat difficult problems, has helped many people regain and maintain their health.

For a FREE phone consultation to find out how Oriental Medicine can work for you, go to http://www.biom.net to contact Kitty and sign-up for BIOM's complimentary newsletter.

Hair Removal All About Waxing For Hair Removal

Some of us have problem of hair loss, while a majority wants to get rid of hair from different places on the body. it may the bikini are, or the thin hair line over the upper lip, or hair on the chest and back of men, or hair on legs, and armpits. Everybody wants to know about the method that will help remove hair for a long time without undergoing much trouble. Let us take a brief look at the methods of hair removal.

Waxing- One of the oldest and most common methods for hair removal is waxing. Waxing can be done both with cold wax and hot wax and now with waxing kits available in the market, you can wax yourself at home. In hot waxing, hot wax is spread on the skin, covered with a strip of cloth, allowed to dry and pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth. This pulls away most of the hair from the hair shaft. This method may be painful and you must take care of the temperature of hot wax, and skin irritation after waxing. Waxing can also cause folliculititis, ingrown hair a, scars and hyperpigmentation.

You can wax any part of the body, small or big in size, except the bikini area. If you are taking oral Vitamin A derivative pills such as Isotretnoin, you need to avoid waxing till your doctor advises. It also applies to topical applications of Vitamin A derivative creams. All these products dry the skin and there is a possibility of hurting the skin while waxing. You should avoid waxing if you have irritated skin, broken sun burnt or bruised. Waxing should be performed on healthy skin only.

Waxing removes hair from the root of the shaft and removes a large quantity of hair at a time. It takes about two weeks for hair to grow. With repetitive waxing of hair, you can expect less hair because of permanent damage to the hair follicle.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

C.D.Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. You can visit Doctor Good Skin for more information about how to have good skin. If you love solving quizzes on personality, relationships and career, you can try hundreds of them at Fun Quiz Cards. For sending free animated flash ecards and greeting cards on topics such as holidays, birthday, love, friendship, family, expressions, celebrations, etc. please visit http://www.ecarduniverse.com/

Acne Treatment Regime For Severe Acne

This kind of acne requires intensive treatment over a period. Your doctor will treat you with combination therapy to control and cure the acne while trying to take care that minimum scars form. The treatment regimen for severe acne may include physical as well as oral and topical treatments. The options ay include- Isotretinoin, Oral antibiotics, Oral contraceptives for female patients, Injecting corticosteroid in the lesion and Surgical procedure. Let us look at them.

Isotretinoin: Isotretinoin is one of the most potent treatments fore severe form of acne which has not responded well to other therapies. Isotretinoin is the best treatment option for cystic acne. Isotretinoin is a form of Vitamin A. The normal course of Isotretinoin is one or two pills a day for up to twenty weeks. Your dermatologist best decides this. Isotretinoin should never be taken without medical supervision. Isotretinoin is one of the best options because it helps treat all the four factors of acne formation- excess oil, clogged pores, inflammation and the bacteria P.acnes. Isotretinoin can also have many side effects.

Side effects of Isotretinoin - For women, it is very important to be in constant contact with their doctor because Isotretinoin can cause damage to developing foetus. It cannot only never be given during pregnancy but before the treatment begins all possibilities of pregnancy have to be eliminated. Please talk to your doctor in detail and follow his/her instructions very strictly. The other side effects of Isotretinoin may include joint pains, headaches, nausea, depression and others. You must not miss your appointment with your doctor while taking Isotretinoin.

Oral antibiotics - broad spectrum antibiotics can reduce the bacteria P.acnes substantially. With reduction in the population of this bacterium inflammation reduces. The choice of the antibiotic is best left to your doctor. The antibiotic may include drugs such as - tetracycline, erythromycin, doxycycline etc.

Oral contraceptives for female patients- overactive sebaceous glands produce more sebum and are one of the main causes of acne. Some oral contraceptives can reduce the production of excessive sebum. These drugs can be taken only under medical supervision. Sometimes, you may have to consult gynecologist for which your doctor will advise you.

Injecting corticosteroid in the lesion - a great help in preparing for a social event, in this treatment a mild steroid is injected in the cyst. The steroid reduces the acne substantially with in few days. This treatment also prevents scarring as it reduces the possibility of bursting of a cyst and dries it totally.

Surgical procedure- your doctor may find it necessary to cut open the acne and drain it. It is done with sterile equipment and needs skill. Acne patients should not do draining of acne.

The author C.D.Mohatta writes articles on skin problems, skin treatments and skin care. You can visit http://www.doctorgoodskin.com/ for more information about how to have good skin. The author also writes for free animated screen savers and desktop wallpapers at http://www.screene.com/ on topics like nature, spirituality, motivation, love, holidays, animals, etc. You can downlaod as many free wallpapers as you wish from here.

Colon Cleaning UV Light a Concept

Colon Cancer is a killer and about the only way to prevent it from killing you early in life is to detect it in the beginning stages in order to treat it. There are many foods you can eat to keep your colon working well and keep out the bad bacteria build up. Eating right and staying away from vices can help you prevent colon cancer. Here is a concept, which may help kill unwanted harmful bacteria in the colon. This idea stems from the new advances and innovations of UV light to clean water. The only problem is how do you get light where the catch phrase says; ?. . . Where the Sun Don?t Shine,? well here is a thought that perhaps some savvy science major, academic or innovative medical entrepreneur might want to look into?

UV Light is being used to kill bacteria in water filtration applications. It works so well many sewer treatment plants are using huge units to clear bacteria out of the water prior to allowing it to re-enter the ground water, river or ocean. Hospitals have also used UV light to kill bacteria; there are indeed so many applications for such technologies. Perhaps we ought to look into a small marble sized battery operated UV light Device. One, which can be ingested to clean out unwanted bacteria in the stomach and potentially prevent cancer as well. The small marble size device will pass thru the entire system into the stool, cleaning as it goes. Then the patient can merely eat some yogurt and other various things to put the good bacteria back into the system. I propose that the marble sized unit UV light flash a the best cycle for good bacteria and/or the worst cycle for bad bacteria. Ranges near or at 5-8 Hz.

There are many super small batteries, which can be used and the unit could be as small as an M & M candy or could be ingested with many of these little guys at a time on a relatively empty stomach. It will clean out the stomach, small intestines, large intestines and the colon using this UV light. It could be a very simple process and very inexpensive. Although it may not sound all too pretty the units could be used over and over again, by washing them in a set of small plastic containers and shaking them up. Similar to the old contact lenses; Saline solution and/or rubbing alcohol and then rinsing, turn them on and re-use or trade back into the doctors office for official service, recharging of batteries and complete sterilization. If you would like a more complete report on my idea, contact me.

Lance Winslow

Advanced Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma symptoms tend to develop gradually, and earlier symptoms are often confused for illnesses that are more amenable to treatment. For example, the cough, difficulty breathing, and chest pain experienced in pleural mesothelioma is often seen in lung infections such as pneumonia. Typically, once symptoms are more pronounced the cancer is fairly advanced and treatment becomes less effective.

In advanced pleural mesothelioma, chest pain and pain under the ribcage may become more pronounced; back pain may also be present. Coughing may be present; blood may also be coughed up. Hoarseness and swelling of the face and arms may be seen. Patients may also experience muscle weakness and sensory loss. In advanced peritoneal mesothelioma, abdominal symptoms become more pronounced. These include a swelling or lump in the abdomen, abdominal distension due to a collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity, abdominal pain, constipation due to bowel obstruction, nausea and vomiting, and appetite loss. If there is a lot of abdominal fluid, breathing may become increasingly difficult. The feet may become swollen. In advanced pericardial mesothelioma, coughing, worsening breathlessness, palpitations and chest pain may be experienced.

In all types of malignant mesothelioma, generalized symptoms such as fever, unexplained weight loss and fatigue are usually present. Patients with advanced mesothelioma are usually offered palliative treatment to reduce the discomfort from their symptoms. Pleural or abdominal fluid collections may be drained, and substances that prevent further formation and collection of fluid may be placed in the pleural or abdominal cavities. Surgery or radiotherapy may reduce some of the obstructive symptoms, and radiotherapy may be used to reduce pain. One or more anti-cancer drugs may also be used. A number of clinical trials are ongoing to find better ways to provide symptomatic relief to people with advanced malignant mesothelioma.

Fasting for Acne... Hmm

I will never forget the day a friend mentioned the use of a fast to me as a means of getting rid of my acne.

I owe that guy for giving me my life back-literally.

Now, just as he helped me a few years back, Friends, allow me to introduce you to what has been coined by Philippus Paracelsus as ?the greatest remedy-the physician within?. This is a fast and for acne, it works.

What is a Fast?

Quite simply, a fast is simply abstinence from solid food for a considerable length of time in the aim of giving the digestive organs a rest. Not to mistaken for starvation, this practice greatly benefits our overall health and is by far a greater cure of our ills-both physical and mental-than all of the drugs of the medical fraternity combined.

There are many types of fasts and for treating acne (and dare I say any health problem-at least in their early and un-fatal stages), they are all quite effective.

They include:

1. The complete water fast: This, admittedly, should be conducted with extreme caution or in a specialized sanitarium if undertaken more than 3 days.

2. The Juice Fast: This is much easier for the general populace and can be undergone as long as you feel like it.

3. The Fruit Fast: This, well, is really not a fast per se?but when one lives exclusively on SEASONAL ORGANIC fruits for days on end?meaning mono meals (2 at the most ) of only one kind of fruit say Apples in Fall, Melons in summer for a week plus, you will be bound to see the benefits.

How to Fast

Being radical in nature, fasting must be undertaken with care, however from my experience with it, here are a few tips to hopefully get you started.

1. Prepare yourself for a fast by gradually tapering off of acid-forming aka ?junk foods and commence to consuming raw and cooked fruits and veggies to begin a milder cleansing process as these items are the best intestinal brooms for the colon.

2. Every now and again, 3 hours after supper and say an hour or so before retiring to sleep, drink an herbal tea laxative such as ?Smooth Move Herbal Tea? during this preparatory stage.

3. Drink 1-2 quarts of unflavored lemonade in the mornings to balance the chemical reactions within the body and to restore it to an alkaline state.

4. Be mentally prepared for the task ahead of fasting.

5. Take things a little easier while fasting or on a mono-diet of fruit.

6. Avoid using microwaves at all costs-can?t go into detail as that is another subject, however, TRUST me. You want to exclude the use of this so-called convenience device not only while fasting put permanently.

7. Taper off a water fast by using the second type (juice fasting) for a few days, then gradually going to the third (mono-fruit fasting), then afterwards you could (like I do most of the time) simply stick to tons of fruit as the core of your diet or include properly cooked roots, steamed or raw leafy vegetables.

Whatever you do, just please don?t go back to eating the old junk stuff. To explain why in a nutshell, here are two quotes: ?You are what you eat? and ?Let your foods be your medicine??

Other tips to augment these dietetic suggestions are of course proper hygiene which includes making sure we change our pillow-cases daily, use only one towel (or paper towels) for our faces, steering clear of harsh acne medications (I just use plain cool water and facial massaging) and keeping dirty fingers off the face.

I really think options 2 and especially 3 as ways for treating acne (in regards to the types of a fast) are quite easy for any and everyone to do. So why not give it a shot? I can confidently say fasting-just like it did for me-can and will work wonders for your skin and overall health.

Here?s to a clearer skin naturally.

Foras Aje is an independent health researcher and founder of Bodyhealthsoul.com

For more information on Acne Treatment stop by his website today.

Acupuncture Needles

Acupuncture, a procedure that invites healing through stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin, evolved out of Chinese medicine over 2500 years ago. There are a variety of approaches to diagnosis and treatment in American acupuncture that incorporates medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The most studied mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points employs penetration of the skin by thin needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.

It is believed that the earliest acupuncture needles were sharp pieces of bone or flint called bian stones. Early acupuncture needles were made from iron, copper, bronze, and even silver or gold. During the Iron and Bronze Ages, metal acupuncture needles began to surface. However, it is not unusual for contemporary acupuncturists to employ gold acupuncture needles to treat certain ailments.

The needles employed by acupuncturists today are stainless steel, solid (unlike standard needles used for drawing blood which are hollow) and vary in size or width gauge. Acupuncture needles consist of a stainless steel shaft and a handle made out of copper or steel. There are nine types of needles used in acupuncture; however, only six are commonly used.

Needles are inserted at points from 15 to 90 degrees in relation to the skin?s surface. Once the needle has been inserted there are a variety of techniques that aid in the stimulation and sensation. The technique used by the acupuncturist will depend on the ailment that is being treated. Acupuncture is essentially pain-less, some people may experience a slight pinch as the needle is inserted. Once inserted, the needles remain in place for approximately 20-30 minutes.

On March 29, 1996, the Food and Drug Administration bestowed the Class 2 status of medical tools to acupuncture needles. Acupuncture needles were previously listed under Class 3, or experimental devices. The change of classification means that needles used for acupuncture will be subject to FDA approval to ensure quality control and single use only labeling. Most significant, the ruling could make acupuncture treatments eligible for coverage under insurance policies which exclude alternative medicine.

The FDA ruling indicates that acupuncture is a safe and effective medical treatment. Because modern acupuncture needles are disposable and used only once, there is no risk of transmitting infections from one person to another.

Betty Durden is a staff writer for The National Directory of Acupuncture Specialists located at http://www.acupuncture-treatment-specialists.com/

Micro Dermabrasion Hurting Skin to Heal it?

Acne is an upsetting condition that can be sometimes very difficult to clear, its treatment usually involving the application to the skin of a multitude of cleansers and other potions in a long process of trial and error that can be extremely frustrating for the patient. Clear skin, when it is finally achieved, is thus a thing to be cherished by most former sufferers, and most certainly not something to be taken lightly. So while there is little doubt that recovered acne patients will view their often scarred skin with disappointment, many are unwilling to risk its hard won clarity by trying scar reducing techniques, such as micro dermabrasion, chemical peels or laser treatment. And while medical advances are improving these techniques all the time ? micro dermabrasion, for example, was developed as a gentler form of more traditional dermabrasion ? those with delicate skin would be wise to carefully weigh up the possible advantages of receiving treatment with the possible risks.

Many former acne patients value the current health of their skin so highly that they do not wish to compromise it by engaging in a treatment that might improve the look of their skin further for fear that they might find themselves plummeting back to the bad old days. Acne is a condition that can be painful both physically and psychologically, resulting in scars to self-esteem and confidence as well as to the skin, and is something that no recovered sufferer wishes to revisit. But while it is understandable that patients wish to preserve the clarity of their skin, the fear that micro dermabrasion, for instance, will result in a resurgence of acne is unfounded. Acne is caused specifically by the body?s overproduction of sebum, and this is not something that dermabrasion machines will induce.

But micro dermabrasion is not foolproof, and can give poor results. Though this treatment is gentler than the use of dermabrasion machines, which require the use of local anaesthetics and can leave skin quite raw, it can sometimes yield disappointing results. These kinds of treatments are also expensive, an important aspect to the patient who has probably already spend large sums of money on curing their acne problem. Many patients prefer to use home dermabrasion kits, which are not only cheaper, but leave the patient in control of their treatment. This can be an ideal way to try out this type of treatment, to better decide whether it is appropriate for them.

Find out more about Acne as well as Acne Scar Removal and adult acne, acne skin care products, the best acne treatments and more at Peter?s website, Acne All Gone.

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