Relax & Reclaim

"There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep." Homer- When was the last time you had a great (not just  good ) night's sleep? I mean, a sleep that makes you want to spring out of bed with a serious burst of energy? Been a while, huh? Fret no more my friends, I have discovered some helpful tips to help you get a better night's sleep. A typical great night's sleep usually involves falling asleep within 10 minutes of your head hitting the pillow. It's actually an atypical occurrence for most people.  A key factor in determining if you've had a great night's sleep is if you have pleasant or "sweet" dreams. If you've had nightmares or 'stressful' dreams then you're probably not getting "restful" sleep. Why is it so important to get quality sleep each and every night? Your body and your mind break down and get worn out from stress during the day.  The only time that your body and you...

What if there was no allergic rhinitis (hay fever)? What would your life be like without this condition? Did you know that at least 20% of the population in North America are affected by this condition each year? Once, long ago, it was rare to find someone with seasonal affected allergies... Steps to allergy relief The first step toward getting relief from allergic reactions (or overreactions) is to find the causes of your allergy and then make every effort to avoid them. However, even under the most ideal scenarios, this can be nearly impossible . Multiple allergens may have the potential to affect a person in the same manner (sneezing, coughing, itchiness, etc). You could literally be hunting down allergens for months to try isolating a single catalyst.  One approach is to tackle the allergens simultaneously by using inhibitors to stop the symptoms. This would require the use of either physician-prescribed or OTC (over the counter) medications. There are man...

Sure, you might think of basil as that delicious herb that takes your pasta and salads up a notch.  But basil does a lot more than just make your food taste great – it's packed with health benefits, some of which might surprise you! Acne and Clear Skin For anyone who’s dealt with acne, here’s something cool: basil has natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help keep your skin clear.  In fact, research shows that African wild basil oil can reduce acne lesions even more effectively than traditional treatments like benzoyl peroxide.  So, whether you use it as an essential oil or in skincare products, basil can be a secret weapon against acne. Stress Relief and Mood Boost Feeling frazzled? Basil has long been known as a natural mood booster. In ancient practices, people would chew a few basil leaves twice a day to help calm their minds and relieve stress.  You can try it too, either by sipping basil tea or using it as an aromatherapy oil. Some ...

Here's something you've probably heard of before.... Women's fitness goals are different from men's.... How different ? You may ask.  Just wait until you see what I'm going to show you.... Cerebral Influences Like most other meaningful activities, fitness starts between your ears. It's all in your mind. A fitness program or regimen starts out as an idea. It's even more than that as well. Your way of thinking also influences how you workout.  Here's a couple of examples for you: Most men work out to achieve a goal targeted toward a set of desired results. For example, a guy sees that women are attracted to a certain body type, they tend to focus on achieving that goal, for the purpose of attracting the babes. Now this doesn't mean that women don't do the same thing because we do. In fact, women are typically more "body-conscious" than their male counterparts.  What differs for each gender are the reasons for get...

One of the best ways to start out your new year is to make a self-assessment list. Don't focus on what you may have failed to accomplish in the last 12 months.  It's unimportant and can be self-defeating . Rather, look at where you want to be and use tiny steps to get there. I'll give you an example: Although there's always room for improvement, I see myself as somewhat content with my life the way things are. It is, of course difficult to think of anything else when there are real issues to be discussed. We all have to deal with problems from time to time. Whatever they may be, these challenges are all a part of growing up . Modern psychology has taught (or conditioned) us to "get in touch with our inner child". Hogwash. Here's a challenge: Try telling your mortgage lender that you missed last month's payment because you needed to explore your fascination with dollies, so you blew off making the payment. or Explain to your kids that there are no groce...

People want to be healthy and (hopefully) stay that way, but global healthcare costs are soaring. This has created a staggering number of people desperately seeking low-cost alternative treatment options. Alternative medicine has generated controversy in many medical academic circles.  mad scientist mixing concoction The Alternative Treatment Debate For some people, the very word "alternative" conjures up images of risky, unproven experimental treatments that are potentially hazardous to the general public. The most common methods of alternative or complementary therapies include herbs, supplements, and fringe therapies found outside of conventional medical applications.  Unusual concoctions come with the territory of "alternative treatments". However, some alternative methods unintentionally raise questions regarding their safety and effectiveness. Homeopathic techniques like acupressure, herbal tea methods , meditation , plant extract therapies  a...

Those of you that follow this blog regularly will probably recall my original "Basics Series".  I brought that series out for the benefit of my new readers who may have been unfamiliar with herbal therapies. The other parts, of course, are available via archives, table of contents (TOC), and internal blog search. Feel free to read and share them.  This brings me to my newest series which is simply titled "The Basics 2". My previous series was in three parts. I'm not sure if I'll make this series quite that long (or longer), but I wanted to provide you with some additional content on the subject. Once again, feel free to share and read.... Over the years, numerous medical professionals have come to recognize the therapeutic capabilities of commonly-used herbs to treat and prevent various illnesses. At one time, this was considered "fringe medicine" by a majority of medical professionals and was rejected in many scientific circles. Despite m...