Banish Stress with Meditation

Meditation is a natural stress relieving activity involving specific breathing techniques. It helps to calm and focus the mind, as well as creates a sense of well-being.

There are several forms of meditation with many linked to spiritual or religions beliefs. Hinduism encompasses a number of types of meditation, which includes yoga. Buddhists attain a state of enlightenment through meditation. Many of the Jewish prayers are by their nature meditative. Christian religions use forms of meditation like the Catholics use of rosary beads.

Meditation does not have to be about a religious or spiritual journey. It is however a natural treatment for anxiety and stress that is accomplished by bringing the spirit, mind, and body into balance.

To use meditation effectively as a natural way to relieve stress, the person find a quiet place to practice it in. Although there are no hard and fast rules about the position of the body during meditation, the lotus position seems to be the position of preference for those using it as a natural stress reliever. To get into the lotus position, sit with your back straight, shoulders level and legs crossed and bent across the front of you with your feet tucked under the opposite calf and resting against your inner thigh. Some practitioners prefer to be sitting comfortably, without their legs crossed. The position you take is one of personal preference.

No matter what position is chosen for meditation, the spine should be kept straight. The position facilitates circulation and makes breathing in a slow, deep, rhythmic manner much easier. The breathing is essential to helping calm the mind.

Once a quiet place is found and the preferred position is assumed, you can begin using meditation as a natural stress relief. While some people prefer to meditate in silence, some prefer to chant or hum in order to clear their mind and block distractions and thought.

There are specific ways of breathing and focusing that some use to reach a relaxed meditative state. A popular method is to focus on each part of the body starting at the feet. Concentrate on each body part and give it permission to relax until you find that you are totally relaxed. When you begin to relax your body, take some very deep breaths. These breaths are called cleansing breaths and they help to carry more oxygen to the bloodstream and clear the mind. The breaths, after you take the cleansing breaths, should be taken in to the count of four and exhaled on the count of eight. These counts assist in focusing the mind and maintain the breathing rhythm.

Meditation has no limit on the number of rimes that you use it so you can use it whenever you feel the need to eliminate stress. Medication cannot be used as freely and often has side effects. It is common for people to use 20 – 30 minutes of meditation to relieve stress but the length of a meditation session is a personal preference.

Using meditation as a natural stress relief technique has been the subject of many studies. The studies found that meditation reduces the symptoms of stress. Not only does meditation reduce heart rate and blood pressure, it also increases positive brain waves. Stress-relieving medications do not do this. Although medication can temporarily reduce the feeling of stress, it does not actually eliminate the stress from your body.

Hospitals often incorporate meditation into the treatment of patients with chronic or terminal illnesses in order to reduce their stress. The reduction of stress allows the body to heal and high stress has been found to be a contributing factor to poor health. Dr. James Austin, a neurophysiologist from the University of Colorado stated in a 1999 report that meditation can actually reprogram the brain’s circuitry. Using imaging techniques and viewing the electrical activity in the brain have confirmed these findings.

The Mind-Body Medical Institute, affiliated with Harvard and other Boston hospitals, has found that meditation causes several physical and biochemical changes that are associated with relaxation. These changes include respiration, heart rate, blood pressure, brain chemistry and metabolism,

When confronted with the benefits of meditation, it is not surprising that meditation has such a large following of people that include it in their daily lives as a natural stress relief and to gain a sense of well-being.

Does Reiki Release Stress?

Stress can be extremely harmful to your physical and mental health. Just getting through your day can build your stress to an unhealthy level. Work, traffic jams, family life, and financial worries can all be stressful. Stress causes a broad range of problems like insomnia, headaches, irritability, and muscle aches that just add more stress to you. We all can live without the stress but life, being what it is, often brings us stress. You have two choices, you can live with the stress or you can take measures to minimize it. A great stress reliever is Reiki (pronounced Ray Key), which means Universal Life Energy in Japanese.

An age-old holistic technique, Reiki is used to reduce pain, improve general well being and enhance relaxation in individuals experiencing stress. Reiki refers to the energy or life force that flows through the hands of the Reiki practitioner to the recipient. Designed to tap into the body’s ability to heal and assists in giving the mind balance, Reiki is considered a natural healing treatment. The Reiki practitioner is a conduit through which the energy is transmitted to a recipient. Reiki practitioners also have the ability to treat themselves. The Reiki energy flows through the practitioner’s hands at a rate that depends on a several factors like the recipient’s openness to accept a change, the severity of the recipient’s ailment, etc.

Although Reiki may sound like it is religious or faith healing but it is not. Its effectiveness is not based on a belief system. Although Reiki by nature is spiritual and there are principles that encourage growth and spiritual empowerment, it does not conflict with religious beliefs. It matters not who you are or what your gender, nationality, financial status, religion, or intelligence is; Reiki is energy and vitality offered to anyone. Reiki can give sensations of coolness and warmth, tingling, numbness, throbbing, drowsiness, or itchiness but it does not hurt.

Reiki Masters can perform an attunement in which Reiki symbols are applied in an energetic placement for sequential actions to the recipient’s crown and palms. Each placement of the hand is given five minute to make sure that no body part is overlooked and all are given equal attention. A Reiki practitioner does not lose any of their own energy to the recipients of the treatment. They are simply assisting in opening up the recipient to energy, channeling the energy as it were. If the practitioner chooses to be mentally involved, it can clear a route to allow Reiki to flow effectively to the body part that most needs it.

Introducing Reiki into your life can help diminish stresses and can be a valuable asset in pain management. Practitioners hold Reiki in high regard because of the gift of balance and relaxation that it brings to the recipients. For stressed individuals, Reiki will help dissipate stress and emotional turmoil to help restore a balanced psyche. Reiki practitioners have special energy techniques that are utilized for distance healing. These treatments can be directed toward people or specific environments. Energy treatments can be sent with the intention of creating a calmer, more relaxing atmosphere for special events like family gatherings, job interviews, social events, etc. Those who practice Reiki and those that receive the treatments find Reiki very beneficial.

Yours Organically – Five Compelling Reasons to Buy Organic

These days many people are making smarter decisions when buying the foods they and their families consume. As people choose healthier lifestyles, organic food products are growing in popularity. All over the world, organic farmers are preserving our ecosystem by growing food the way naturally. Free of toxins, organically grown food has a natural, healthy, and great tasting food. Conventionally farming uses a fairly heavy load of pesticides and herbicides than organically grown food.

Here are five reasons why you should choose to buy organically grown foods.

Organic foods, free of preservatives, chemicals, and additives, taste better.

Buying organic foods helps in reducing dependence on all non-renewable resources.

The purchase of organic foods helps to support of healthy farmland and the family owned organic farms.

The production of organic foods helps to keep harmful chemicals out of our water tables and helps to protect everyone from having contact with them.

Parents can be comfortable knowing that organic food is safe for their children because it is free from harmful chemicals, such as pesticides, growth hormones, and herbicides.

The next time you are grocery shopping, give a lot of thought to how beneficial organically grown food can be for your whole family. Choose foods that were grown in the manner that nature intended as opposed to foods that have had a lot of harmful chemicals introduced to them. Why buy foods that have been covered with and grown in soil that has harmful chemicals? In today’s age of information, it is easier to increase your awareness about what you are putting in your body. Finding out how food crops are grown is so easy now allows people to make informed choices.

Spinach, apples, nectarines, grapes, pears, red raspberries, peaches, strawberries, potatoes, celery, and bell peppers are all terrific organic foods to buy. More organic food choices are being introduced to the market all the time. Currently there is a wide selection of organic foods that include cheese, yogurt, eggs, milk, ice cream, juice, soup, bread, meat, pasta, baby foods, and nuts.

Organic foods refer to the manner that the food is grown and produced. Crops grown organically rely on nutrient rich soil that will produce strong plants capable of withstanding pests and diseases. There are standards throughout the world that organic farmers must meet in order to have their products certified as organic. For those raising livestock, the use of growth hormones and antibiotics are not allowed so natural preventative measures must be taken to ensure healthy livestock. It is also forbidden to use genetically modified organisms in the production of organic foods.

When it comes to the labeling of food, the USDA allows for only three categories:

100% Organic – Food that is pure and only has 100% organic ingredients.

Organic Made – Food that has a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and the other 5% may contain no genetically modified organisms and adhere to other stringent restrictions.

Made With Organic Ingredients – Food that has a minimum of 70% organic ingredients and the other 30% may contain no genetically modified organisms and adhere to other stringent restrictions.

The USDA has strict regulations pertaining to organic food labeling. For organic food to be labeled “organic”, the food must be made from no less than 95% organic ingredients. No food with less than 70% organic ingredients is not allowed to make the claim that it is in any way organic on the package front although it can, on the side panel, list organically grown ingredients.

Cost of purchasing organic foods is the major barrier for a lot of consumers. Growing and producing food without chemicals is more costly than using toxins to prevent disease and pests. As more and more varieties of organic food finds its way into supermarkets, the prices are becoming more competitive. The burning question that you must ask yourself is “What is your health, and the health of the environment, worth?”

Ten Teas with Natural Healing Properties

Research continues to show that drinking tea has amazing health benefits. The antioxidants in tea help combat both cancer and the body’s aging process. Some teas contain Vitamin C, which helps to fight colds and illnesses. The reduction of plaque on teeth is caused by the polyphones found in some teas. These polyphones increase the movement of the stomach’s digestive juices and that aids digestion. Teas have a multitude of healing properties.

The ten teas with natural healing properties listed below are worth trying. There are four types of teas made from the tea plant. All other teas are derived from other plants.

White Tea – White tea is made from young leaves still covered in a fine down. This type of tea is not fermented or cured but is steamed and then sun dried. Reputed to help battle cancer, white tea contains a high concentration of catechins. The brewed tea appears to be a silver-whitish color due to the down from the leaves. Its fresh flavor and sweet aroma has a sweet aroma and light flavor is notable. Varieties of white tea are Jasmine Silver Needle, Silver Needle, and White Peony.

Green Tea – There is a multitude of health properties are attributed to the wide variety green tea. Jasmine Dragon Pearl, Jasmine Green Tea, Roasted Japanese Green Tea, and Green Peony Tea are popular green tea varieties. Green tea is known to have high mineral and nutrient values. Once the green tea leaves are picked, hot air is used to dry them. Care is taken not to allow the leaves to ferment and the leaves are rolled to break up the structure of the leaf. Teas not fermented have a greater number of vitamins and nutrients than teas that have been fermented. Vitamin C and fluoride are two of the naturally occurring substances found in green tea leaves. Vitamin C boasts the immune system naturally and promotes good health while fluoride prevents tooth decay and strengthens bones.

Oolong Tea – Oolong tea is a brown tea that is noted for containing properties that aid digestion and lower cholesterol levels. Oolong tea has a full-bodied, robust taste. The name is self-descriptive since oolong means semi-fermented. The tea leave are left to ferment until they begin to wither. Oolong tea offers a fruity aroma with a sweet aftertaste. Ice Peak Oolong Tea, Jasmine Oolong Tea, WUYI Rock Tea and Hairy Crab Oolong Tea are Oolong tea varieties.

Black Tea – The most popular teas in the western part of the world are black tea blends. Black tea is used in English teas. After the leaves are picked, the leaves go through full fermentation that makes the leaves darken to almost black. Black tea can taste different, too. It can be flowery, fruity, and spicy or even have a nutty taste. Black tea, which contains antioxidants, is known for lowering the risk of stroke and helps reduce clotting of the arteries. Black tea varieties include Black Tea, Rose Black Tea, English Breakfast Black Tea and Earl Grey Black Tea.

Chamomile Tea – A member of the sunflower, the chamomile plant often gets used to make chamomile tea. A floral tea with a fruity taste, camomile tea is known for helping aid with toothaches, insomnia, muscle cramps, and can help reduce the swelling of skin irritations.

Rosebud Tea – Another floral tea is rosebud tea made from the dried rosebuds. The tea’s aroma is sweet and floral while the flavor is sweet and light. It is common for people to brew rosebud tea with other teas. Rosebud tea aids in circulation, reduces bloating, and can help to relieve menstrual cramps.

Wild Holy Tea – Wild Holy tea is bitter tasting and is usually used as a detoxifier. In addition, it has been shown to help with circulation, obesity, and control blood pressure.

Chrysanthemum Tea – The sweet taste and floral aroma of chrysanthemum tea makes it a tea to enjoy while relaxing. Known to cool the body from a fever, chrysanthemum tea is also know to help people recover from a cold and provide protection for the liver.

Red Tea – A product of South Africa and rich in antioxidants, red tea has no caffeine. Research has proven that red tea helps to reduce irritability, headaches, hypertension, nervous tension, and insomnia. It also helps to give the immune system a boost. Red tea is offered in many varieties including Organic Cape Red Tea, Florida Orange Red Tea, Organic Green Summer Red Tea and Organic Green Red Tea.

Yerba Mate – A popular drink in South America, Yerba Mate is a very pungent infused beverage that is sweetened with honey or sugar. The ground yerba leaves are mixed with spices and brewed in a gourd and the liquid is drunk through a straw. This tea boasts high levels of minerals and vitamins. Well documented, its health benefits include being an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant, and a weight loss aid.

Flax and Its Natural Healing Properties

From the beginning of recorded history, flax plants have been a source of food and fiber for clothing. Larger than a sesame seed, a flax seed has a smooth, shiny hard shell. The color of the shell ranges from a reddish brown to amber. When ground, the seeds are crunchy but not hard and easily absorbed by the body. Made into oil, flaxseed’s nutty flavor is enhanced. An omega-3 fatty acid contained in flaxseed oil also is being researched to determine if it reduces the risks of many conditions including stroke, hypertension, and some cancers. In addition, it may also help some skin ailments, inflammatory disorders and immune disorders. Flaxseed oil is a heart healthy oil.

Flaxseed contains lignin, which is a fiber. Lignin is a natural chemical that is similar to human estrogen. In the digestive tract, bacteria convert lignin into an estrogen-like substance that is considered to have anti-tumor properties. This substance may also assist in reducing free radical activity.

Research has shown that three tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily slowed the progression of prostate cancer in men. Similar research showed that one flaxseed muffin a day slowed tumor growth among women with breast cancer. Although it is too early to say that flaxseed is a cure for cancer, indications are that it may help to prevent tumors. It should be noted that too much flaxseed can increase the spread of cancer cells so maintaining a balance and not overdoing is key. Eating an ounce of ground flaxseed daily is beneficial for postmenopausal women because ingesting the flaxseed causes the body to handle estrogen differently. Although it helps protect against breast cancer, it doesn’t affect normal bone maintenance. Preliminary research findings are that flaxseed reduces, by about six percent, the total cholesterol of women not taking a hormone replacement therapy.

Flax’s benefits can extend to women struggling to get pregnant. Promotion of ovulation and extending the progesterone that is dominant during the second half of the cycle are attributable to flax’s properties. The chance of conception improves when there is consistency in ovulation.

Pre-menopausal symptoms like sleep difficulties, headaches, breast cysts, heavy bleeding, fluid retention, and anxiety are lessened by the use of flaxseed. Flaxseed helps the hormonal balance to normal.

Health heart? Flax is credited to be healthy for your heart. Flaxseed contains essential fatty acids that are important for the membrane of cells, blood pressure regulation and several other functions. Omega-3 acid may lower total blood cholesterol and reduce blood clotting diminishing the risk of heart attack. Flaxseed is attributed to lower the bad cholesterol known as LDL.

Flaxseed has a pleasant taste and; sprinkled on cooked vegetables, cereals or salads; adds flavor. Flaxseed oil tends to be pricey but tastes great!

Some hints on how to add flaxseed to your diet are:

The body merely eliminates whole seeds so they need to be cracked or ground before eating them. The seeds do not store well and tend to lose their nutritional value and taste so grind them right before you intend to use them. There are two colors of flaxseed, however they both have the same nutritional value.

When baking bread or pancakes, mix wheat flour with flaxseed flour. Bread made with flaxseed is advertised as being lower in carbohydrates.

Many bakeries, including those is grocery stores, usually have a decent selection of muffins, breads, cereals, and breakfast bars.

The oil tends to go rancid fairly quickly so it is packaged in dark colored glass bottles to give it a bit longer shelf life. Pay attention to the expiration date and keep it refrigerated. It will keep well for just a few months. Cold-pressed flaxseed oil more expensive but has no more benefit that regular flaxseed oil.

Do not use flaxseed oil for frying. It is not suitable for that purpose.

If you are pregnant or are breast feeding, avoid eating much flax.

Some people may experience an allergic reaction to flaxseed.

Eat foods that have flaxseed in them to get the full benefits.

Apple Cider Vinegar – Remedies for Common Ailments

The saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is actually supported to some extent by the results of research. Apples are one of the most healthy and available fruits to eat. They contain necessary vitamins and minerals like magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorous, and calcium. In addition to all of this, ripe fresh apples are used to make apple cider vinegar.

There are many benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar. It helps to break down phlegm, fat, and mucous which improves the function and overall health of kidneys, liver and bladder. Apple cider vinegar also helps to stabilize blood pressure by thinning the blood. Taking apple cider vinegar assists the process of digestion, assimilation of nutrients into the body, and elimination. It also is helpful in ridding your body of toxins that can harm you.

Taking two tablespoons of cider vinegar mixed with water just before a meal is said to prevent an upset stomach and diarrhea. The potassium found in apple cider vinegar is beneficial in reducing the symptoms of allergies and the common cold. Healthy teeth and bones, as well as the prevention of some hair loss, requires a well balanced diet that includes potassium.

Apple cider vinegar can be added to your diet in many ways. Drinking it in its liquid form is believed to be the best way however some people refuse to drink it due to the acidic taste. Using it to make salad dressings or making mayonnaise gives more variety to the ways that it can be added to your diet. Another way to add it is in the place of white vinegar sprinkled on fries and chips. The taste can be combated with the addition of honey when used as a hot or cold beverage.

Blisters, acne, and boils can all signal the bodies rejection of toxins and apple cider vinegar can help with the detoxification process to reduce those symptoms. Your body’s ability to cleanse blood and clot properly is assisted by drinking it. Joint pain and inflammation are reduced when a hot compress of apple cider vinegar is applied. Adding apple cider vinegar to your diet helps with ailments like cancer, muscle cramps, nosebleeds, gallstones, hay fever, kidney stones, ear discharge, diarrhea, and fatigue. Although research does not prove it, anecdotal evidence is that it also helps reduce the effects of depression.

The use of apple cider vinegar is one of the latest weight loss fads. Available in tablet form, apple cider vinegar can be easily added, as a supplement, to your weight loss program. Before embarking on weight loss, consult you doctor to find out the safest way for you to go about it. Said to reduce hunger, increase metabolism, and generate energy; these things can be added to the long list of the benefits of apple cider vinegar. Because it is safe, even over-weight children can add it to their diet. To suppress your appetite and boost your metabolism, it is suggested that you eat an apple about 30 minutes before a meal.

Risk of bone loss is more prevalent for postmenopausal women and an apple cider vinegar supplement helps build bone mass by adding magnesium, calcium, and , silicone to your body.

Vitamin C, vitamin E, Vitamin A, B2 and B6, Vitamin P and beta-carotene are found in apple cider vinegar. These minerals and vitamins boost your metabolism, reduce LDL cholesterol, help to stabilize blood pressure at a healthy level, and reduce your body’s water retention. Memory, concentration, circulation, regulation of body temperature, and energy levels are all aided by apple cider vinegar.

Sometimes taking antibiotics or changing diet can cause a yeast imbalance that apple cider vinegar may help. A douche mixture consisting of two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per quart of lukewarm water will help the ph balance be restored. Apply this twice daily until you have no symptoms left.

The addition of an apple a day to healthy diet can be very beneficial for your body. Failing that, using apple cider vinegar as a supplement can provide your body with a multitude of benefits. One cautionary note about storage is that the acid will corrode metal so do not use a metal container for storage.

Aloe Vera – Nature’s Healing Agent

A popular succulent houseplant, Aloe Vera is a member of the onion and lily family. References to it have been traced back as far as the Roman, Greek and Egyptian ages; as well as being found in early Chinese and Indian cultures.

When I was a child, my mother used to break off a piece of the large Aloe Vera plant in our living room and rub the oozing gel onto our various scrapes and burns. It was her cure-all for minor wounds.

The Aloe’s gel comes from the center of the leaves. When the plant is being used as a laxative, the juice is drained from just beneath the outer layer of the leaves. Yellow and bitter, it is dried to form dark brown aloe granules.

For centuries, the Aloe’s gel has been applied topically to soothe and heal minor skin irritations, burns and wounds. As a drink for internal use, Aloe is used to treat a multitude of conditions. Ulcers, constipation, diabetes, arthritis, coughs, and headaches are just a few of the reasons that people add Aloe Vera drink to their diet. Taken internally, Aloe Vera can have some side effects, such as electrolyte imbalances, diarrhea, and pain.

There has been a great deal of research into whether Aloe Vera gel influences healing when ingested. Although there is not enough data to substantiate that it does, there is data supporting its healing powers when applied topically to the skin irritants. One of the other things that there is evidence that it helps is minor vaginal irritations.

A few things about Aloe Vera that are good to keep in mind are:

Ingestion of Aloe Vera gel has not been proven effective in any treatment.

The FDA has approved the use of Aloe latex in laxatives sold over the counter.

Despite the claims of many beauty companies, Skin care products that contain Aloe Vera have not been proven effective.

Many names have been applied to the Aloe Vera. These names include Medicine Plant, Burn Plant, Wand of Heaven and Plant of Life. It is said that Cleopatra’s used Aloe Vera in her daily beauty regime. Alexander the Great is reputed to have used Aloe Vera on the wounds of his soldiers.

For the best results, Aloe Vera should be used fresh from the plant. Although it doesn’t store well, it can be purchased as a preserved product. Used topically, Aloe Vera has been found to effective in treating mouth sores or cold sores.

Patients suffering from a variety of severe skin diseases have had beneficial results from the use of Aloe Vera. It hydrates and rejuvenates the skin. Aloe Vera is absorbed by the skin and stimulating the cells called fibroblasts which results in cell regeneration. Collagen and elastic fibers so necessary to smoother younger looking skin are produced by fibroblasts.

In Britain, it is estimated that over 12 million people suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The symptoms include:

Heartburn

A swollen abdomen

Alternating between diarrhea and constipation

Unpleasant tastes in your mouth

A suppressed appetite

Gas and belching, accompanied with rumbling in the bowel region

Stomach pains occurring frequently and in the lower abdomen

A general feeling of lethargy and depression

Aloe Vera works gently and naturally within the intestinal tract and helps to break down impacted food residues, as well as assisting to flush the bowels out. Once the bowels are flushed, the discomfort from bloating diminishes easing stress. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is exacerbated by stress so the alleviation of stress dramatically impacts on the patient. Diet is a key part of keeping Irritable Bowel Syndrome in check since some foods trigger attacks. Seeking out professional help at the earliest symptoms is the wisest course of action.