How to wildcraft your own herbs

by Donna Rae (NaturalNews) Many people who are interested in natural and alternative health care want to become educated about the use of herbs as dietary supplements. Some take this interest further, and learn all they can about selecting the best herbs possible to make their own herbal preparations. Possibly the best herbs for any individual's needs are the herbs that grow in the local environment, and literally in one's own back yard. Harvesting one's own herbs from the local environment is called wildcrafting. Organic, wildcrafted herbs are possibly the best resources for herbs that can be obtained.

Why Wildcraft Your Own Herbs?

Wildcrafting your own herbs is probably best because you can be assured of the plant's freshness and potency. You know the herbs are organic. You know the exact location they came from. You have a good idea of the soil conditions in which the herb was grown. You know that the herbs were clean and free of debris when harvested because you are the person who cleaned them.

Another reason to wildcraft your own herbs is for a regular supply if there is ever a famine, an economic crisis, or even a commercial truck driver's strike, where shipping might become slowed for days or longer. In difficult and stressful times, immune systems become compromised and illnesses increase. Having your own, wildcrafted supply of herbs on hand prepares your family for emergencies.

How to Identify Herbs For Wildcrafting

One of the best resources available for identifying herbs and wild plants in any locality in the United States is the county extension office. Some states offer beautiful, picturesque websites full of photo images to help you identify various plants and "weeds." Most have brochures, handouts, and field guides which may be helpful to take on herb walks. Often attached to county extension offices are Master Gardener's clubs, which are run by volunteer plant enthusiasts. Some of these volunteers may be valuable resources as you learn how to identify and wildcraft your own herbs.

Another excellent resource for identifying herbs in the wild are books written by herbalists on the topic of foraging. Authors such as Stephen Harrod Buhner, Tom Brown, Jr., and Nancy J. Turner provide a wealth of information on the practice of foraging. When selecting resources, do your best to find material written for the area in which you live.

Drying and Storing Wildcrafted Herbs

The best time to wildcraft herbs is in the morning after the dew has dried or in the evening, in dry weather. Collect your wildcrafted herbs in carefully-labeled paper bags. It is very easy to get herbs confused, especially once they are dried. Clean the dirt and debris off of the plants once you get them home. You may dry your herbs outdoors in the shade, or indoors by making small bundles and hanging them upside down on a drying rack or from a cord or clothesline. Never dry herbs in direct sunlight, as they may lose some volatile oils in the process. Always label the herbs.

Dry the herbs until they crumble easily when touched. Storing herbs before they are completely dry can cause them to get moldy. Once your wildcrafted herbs are dry, store them in well-labeled glass jars with lids. They will last almost indefinitely if kept in a cool, dry place.

Sources:

http://www.naturalnews.com/032320_wildcrafted_herbs_foraging.html
The School of Natural Healing.com, "Herbalist Home Study Course" http://www.snh.cc/Herbalist_Program...
ESSM Extension Texas A & M University.edu, "Plants of Texas Rangelands: Viretual Herbarium" http://essmextension.tamu.edu/plant...
Home.earthlink.net, "The Low Tech Library: Foraging" http://home.earthlink.net/~stormwat...
Rewild.info, "Wildcrafting Herbs" http://www.rewild.info/fieldguide/i...

Although we use henna as a hair color, it has wonderful side benefits. It thickens hair, and leaves it silky and strong. But you have to buy pure henna (or henna mixed with plant extracts that are clearly labeled). And you must do a strand test first.

A strand test will tell you two critical things:

1)       whether you will like the final color, and

2)       how long to leave the henna on to get that color.

Because henna is often left on the hair for an hour or more, it would be wise to set aside a large chunk of time. Between the preparation of the henna, the strand test, the application, and the leave-in time, you might want to x out an afternoon for the project

Who Can Use Henna

The best heads for henna are brunettes and dark blonds. Hair that is naturally very dark will look smashing with red henna highlights.

Got gray? Contrary to popular opinion, you can get good results with henna. To go brunette, choose a henna that's been mixed with brown taken from safe plant powders like walnut, clove, and even a little Indigo. (But use common sense - if you're allergic to walnuts or sensitive to clove, don't use these products.) If you'd rather turn your gray hair blond, find henna that's been mixed with rhubarb root or other natural ingredients.

Henna Color Choices

The reds are the most used, have the least amount of additives, and - if they are pure (read the label, research the Internet, join a henna forum) are completely safe. The browns and blonds are fun, too.

Henna does not lighten hair. It won't lift the color, like commercial dyes can do. So you must get a shade that somewhat matches your own, or is darker. Brunettes can easily go red, blonds can go brunette or red. But there's no way a brunette can go blond.

A Few Words of Caution

Do not use henna over commercially colored hair. It's safest to wait at least 2 months after a commercial dye job, before using henna. Some women have had no problems waiting only 1 month, but again, that's what the strand test is for.

About a week or so before you're planning to henna, use a clarifying shampoo. That will help strip out the old color.

Be sure you're buying a brand of henna that does not contain metallic salts. These are extremely unhealthy. They may be labeled on the box as compound henna dye, or they may not be listed at all.

How can you tell if your henna contains metallic salts if they're not listed in the ingredients? If your strand test leaves your hair swatch brittle or dried-out, or if the color "takes" very quickly, that probably means it contains metallic salts. Don't use it.

Black henna is alright to use as long as it's made with Indigo. Avoid PPD Black Henna, as it contains Para-Phenylenediamine - a dye - which is extremely harmful.

What to Buy

The safest henna is body-art quality henna. But there are also many well-known, well-used, safe and ethically labeled packaged hair hennas. Just use common sense: If there are ingredients listed that you are unfamiliar with, write them down, go home, and run them through your search engine.

Henna does not have a long shelf life. Don't buy it and then keep it around forever - it will lose its potency. You can seal it and freeze it, though, and it will last at least a year.

Now for the Fun

Many women consider the preparation of henna to be a ritual. The plant-based dye looks like a green powder, and has a peculiar fragrance, kind of like hay. The odor goes away in a day or so.

Assuming you have a box of pure red henna, empty it into a glass or plastic bowl. If you've bought it in bulk, use about 1 cup. Never use metal utensils, bowls, or even hairclips when mixing and applying.

Now, boil up some water. Pour the boiling water into the henna, a little at a time. Stir. Keep doing this until you get a paste consistency. Add a couple of pre-beaten eggs if you want, to keep the consistency sticky. Many women add a half cup of strong coffee to tone down the red a little. If you add coffee, use less boiling water. You don't want the mixture to end up drippy.

Put a cream or oil around your hairline to keep the henna from coloring your ears and forehead. And don't forget the gloves (or you'll also get red hands!).

Apply the paste to clean, dry hair. If it's your first henna treatment, saturate the hair completely. Then wrap it all up with either a plastic bag or some plastic wrap. On top of all that, you might want to wrap a towel, just so you don't frighten the children. Some women use a heated towel. Here's why you absolutely must have done the strand test: It's the only way to know how long to leave the henna on your head. It could be anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours or more.

When the timer rings, hit the shower. The whole process is messy, so don't make neatness an issue or you'll go nuts. Rinse the henna out - no need to shampoo. Finish with an organic, non-animal tested conditioner. Your color should last for 2 or 3 months, except for root growth.

And you're done. There will be a lot of clean-up involved, but you'll have awesome, silky, strong, healthy red hair. (Or whatever color you choose.) Once you start using henna, you might find you love it so much you'll never go back to anything else.

Some may say that washing your hair every day is necessary, but many stylists and professionals actually recommend not washing your hair every day, because shampoo can strip the hair of its natural oils.

Answer these questions to figure out how often you should wash your hair:

• Is your hair oily or dry?
  Oil glands in the scalp produce sebum, which travels down the hair shaft to lubricate your hair and keep it healthy. Hair can get especially oily during puberty, when you’re going through your menstrual cycle, or if you’re taking certain hormones. People with oily hair should consider washing their hair daily or at least every other day. If your hair is dry, it may be a sign that it's damaged. Look for shampoos specifically formulated for dry hair, which will coat the hair shafts, fill in damaged areas, and help your hair look and feel smoother and more manageable. Try using our Frankincense and Myrrh for oily hair or for dry hair our Lavender and Tea Tree or Chamomile and Calendula Shampoo and Bath Bar.
• Do you process your hair?
  Chemical processing, such as perming, relaxing, bleaching, and coloring, as well as heat processing, like blow-drying, hot-curling, and flat-ironing, can make hair more fragile. Repeated wetting and drying can also weaken hair, so if your hair is damaged, you should consider washing it no more than every other day. Using coconut oil as a conditioner once a month can help to keep hair conditioned and moisturized.
• Is your hair short or long, curly or straight?
  Short hair and long, fine hair both get greasy fast because there's less surface area for the scalp’s natural oils to spread to, so it should be washed daily, or at least every other day. If you have curly, coiled, or coarse hair, it's more difficult for the oil to migrate down the shaft, so shampooing just once or twice a week can be enough.
• Do you use a lot of hair products?
  If you do, they can build up and make it easier for dirt, dust, and pollution to stick to your hair, so try to wash your hair every day. Regular washing will help prevent buildup and make your hair easier to style. Using a blend of rosemary and vinegar water can also help prevent buildup. This can be done once a week or once a month, depending on how many products you use.
• Do you have a scalp rash?
  Seborrheic dermatitis, aka dandruff, is caused by an overgrowth of yeast that feeds on scalp oils. In fact, the flakes that appear to be “dry” scalp are often yeast overgrowth. If you have a scalp rash, wash your hair daily to reduce both oils and yeast, and try a shampoo that contains pine tar.

Source:http://www.dailyglow.com/daily-hair-care/how-often-should-you-wash-your-hair.html?xid=nl_EverydayHealthEmotionalHealth_20110426

Skin conditions like acne and rosacea may cause red spots or red skin, as can skin rash or sunburn. Learn how an easy home remedy may help ease redness and stinging.

Various conditions can lead to irritated, red skin. Causes can range from a temporary sensitivity to a chronic skin problem. Common culprits of red skin or red spots include:

Dry skin
Sunburn
Rosacea
Acne
Allergic contact dermatitis
Eczema (atopic dermatitis)

Red skin may be bumpy or have an itchy, rash-like texture. For some people, particularly those with rosacea, redness may get worse by getting too hot or overly emotional.

Red skin can be hard to hide, but here are some simple home remedies you can try using ingredients you may already have on hand.

Home Remedy: How to Tone Down Red Skin

Fran E. Cook-Bolden, MD, a dermatologist and director of the Skin Specialty Group and the Ethnic Skin Specialty Group in New York City, suggests that you can manage red skin with:

• Honey
  
• Cucumber
  
• Chamomile tea bags (brewed)
  
• Aloe vera

For instance, Dr. Cook-Bolden suggests placing cucumber slices directly on any red spots to cool, soothe, and reduce redness. Want more relief? She recommends making a simple mask by blending a cucumber and a cup of oatmeal.

Another home remedy Cook-Bolden likes for soothing red skin is a clay mask. Mix water or pureed fruit with facial clay to create a thick paste. Apply the mixture to skin for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.

Note that if you have rosacea, it’s important to avoid all triggers that make the redness worse, says Cook-Bolden, including smoking, caffeine, and foods that are very hot or spicy.

Home Remedy: Reducing Inflammation

Red skin or red spots on the skin can also occur because of inflammation — due to skin that is too dry or is irritated by an allergen or acne.

Honey has natural anti-inflammatory properties, says Jeffrey Benabio, MD, a dermatologist with Kaiser Permanente Medical Group in San Diego, Calif. Try soothing skin with a honey mask. First rinse your skin with warm water, then apply honey liberally to red skin and leave it on for about 30 minutes before rinsing off. However, don’t use honey if your red skin is due to sunburn.

Oatmeal is another natural anti-inflammatory, says Dr. Benabio. An oatmeal bath is not only hydrating for dry skin, but can also reduce the inflammation that causes red skin.

If your skin is red because it's extremely dry, try making a mask out of a mashed avocado to moisturize it.

Home Remedy: Soothing Sunburn

If your skin is red from a sunburn, Cook-Bolden recommends easing the sting and redness with a mixture of gel from an aloe vera plant, white vinegar, and cider vinegar. She also suggests using these natural home remedy options to soothe sunburned skin:

• Yogurt
  
• Lavender oil (lavender oil is something that should be in every home-also good for burns, cuts, bug bites, chiggers, and more!)
  
• Cooled tea (chamomile is particularly soothing)
  
• Cucumber slices

Cook-Bolden is also a proponent of coconut oil. Coconut oil can help to reduce red skin caused by sun exposure thanks to its antioxidant properties, she says. "Pure virgin coconut oil is the best formulation for sunburn and, although its exact mechanism of action is unknown, it has been extensively used in ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system."

It is thought that coconut oil gets absorbed into the skin and the cell structure of the connective tissues, limiting the damage excessive sun exposure can cause. This protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, she says. Coconut oil also has antibacterial properties that benefit the skin. However, it should not be used as a substitute for a good sunscreen.

If your red skin persists, it's a good idea to get evaluated by a dermatologist who can determine if you need a prescription treatment or to make lifestyle changes. But to soothe red skin that's simply irritated, dry, or sunburned, a home remedy may well be a quick and easy solution to restore calm to your complexion.

Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/home-remedies-for-red-skin.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthSkinandBeauty_20110413

But coloring is not the only gray hair treatment available. Dyed hair requires regular touch-ups and can be expensive to maintain; if covering up the grays doesn’t appeal to you, then it’s time to abandon the old and embrace the new — a fresh and flattering gray hairstyle.

What’s really important to remember, says Maurice Dadoun, creative director of the Melrose Place Fekkai Salon on Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, is that hair is probably your greatest accessory. Take this opportunity to really change your style.

If you want to keep your natural gray hair color, he suggests getting a fresh, new look. “You have to have a modern style,” says Dadoun. “It could be graphic, edgy, or modern, but it cannot be something simple.” Without style, gray hair color can make you look older, he warns.

Enhancing Gray Hair Color

You have options to brighten gray hair without resorting to coloring it, says Sharon Dorram, co-founder of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Downtown salon in New York City. You can opt to blend in other shades with the gray — either highlights or lowlights, depending on your natural color.

What’s most important is to balance hair color with your skin color and eye color. If you don’t, the hair color will be off.

Gray Hairstyles: Get the Right Look for You

Part of the allure of going gray is no more worrying about touching up roots and repairing the damage done by dye. With the right gray hairstyle and products, maintenance can be kept to a minimum.

Making it shine. When hair goes gray, its shine and texture are both affected. Dorram says gray hair can look dull because it doesn’t reflect light. Also, gray strands come in a little thicker, frizzier, and coarser. “That’s why grey hair strands stick out,” says Dadoun.

Both experts have recommendations for gray hair shampoos, the starting point for great gray hair treatment. In addition to their respective salons’ own brands, other gray hair shampoos to consider are Nexus Dualiste and Avon’s Lotus Shield.

If you have fine hair, Dorram says, use a volumizing shampoo and skip the conditioner, which can weigh hair down.

Styling tips. For gray hair that looks glam, it’s all about the style, and that often depends on texture.

·With fine hair in particular, keep it short. Fine hair that’s allowed to grow long will end up looking unhealthy, says Dorram. Dadoun suggests an above-the-shoulder length for all women who want to stay gray — in his opinion, even if your hair has good texture, wearing it long will age you. Protect your strands by using a low setting on your hair dryer, and don’t ever pull hair.

·If you have curly hair, don’t try to fight it. Use a shea butter shampoo, style hair while it is still wet, and let it dry naturally. Use a finishing product with olive oil to give the curl definition and shine.

·If you have thick hair, Dadoun says, don’t wash too frequently — if you wash too often, your hair will become brittle and dry. Shampooing once a week is fine. A shea butter-based shampoo is good for thick hair, he says. “The concentration of shea is so rich; you feel intense moisturizing.”

Dadoun also recommends that women who want to use products to enhance gray hair color talk to their hairdresser about the right choices to make.

Special treatments. Dorram says vitamin E oil, available at your local drugstore, will improve the shine and health of damaged gray hair. If your hair is really damaged, she suggests leaving it on overnight. Apply the vitamin E oil to your hair, wrap your hair up with a bandana, and then go to sleep. In the morning, wash the oil out.

Dorram also recommends a conditioner called Phytobaume by Phyto: “It’s natural and has no harsh agents — you’ll see good results. I love their detangler.”

Dadoun says the outer covering, or cuticle, of gray hair is very porous. This means gray hair can attract pollution which may turn hair yellow or orange. To keep hair perfectly silver gray, use purple or violet-colored products to take out the yellow and an apple cider shampoo on occasion to rebalance the hair’s natural pH. Dadoun also recommends taking vitamins B6 and B12 and fish oils, which are good for the skin and hair.

Growing Out Dyed Hair

If you’ve colored your hair in the past, but are ready to go natural, you have options. Dorram suggests using highlights or lowlights to blend with your natural hair color, an option that won’t give you roots. Dadoun suggests taking a more drastic step: Cut your hair off — the only way to really remove color. You’ll also want that new style to go with your “new” shade.
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/how-to-enhance-gray-hair.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthSkinandBeauty_20110420

NC bill threatens to criminalize naturopaths, homeopaths, herbalists, midwives, aromatherapists as felons

by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer, Natural News 

Alternative health practitioners in North Carolina (NC) and their patients need your help to defeat a stealth bill that flew under the radar of most everyone in the natural health community. Senate Bill 31, which clarifies the penalties for the "unauthorized practice of medicine," essentially criminalizes the practice of unlicensed forms of medicine, which includes the work of many naturopaths, homeopaths, herbalists, aromatherapists, and even some midwives in the state. The bill was adopted by a judiciary committee in early March, and it recently passed the NC Senate. Now, the NC House is set to vote on the bill tonight, and unless NC governor Bev Perdue vetoes it, the practice of natural medicine for many in NC may soon become a more severe criminal offense.

SB 31 states that anyone who practices medicine or surgery without having been first "licensed and registered to do so" will be guilty of a Class I felony. Class I felonies in NC are the least severe kinds of felonies, but they do include things like burning crosses on private or public property, and sexually exploiting children. So if passed, SB 31 will essentially make those who practice alternative medicine without an official, state-sanctioned license and permit, criminals of the likes of sexual predators and cross burners.

You can read the short bill for yourself at the following link:
http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2011/Bills/Senate/PDF/S31v2.pdf

Proponents of the bill say it fixes a loophole in the current law that classifies out-of-state practitioners who practice without a license as Class I felons, while in-state practitioners who practice without a license are only guilty of a Class I misdemeanor. But what the bill actually appears to do is make it even harder for alternative practitioners who literally cannot be licensed in NC because their work is not "approved," to practice at all. After all, who is going to be willing to provide alternative medical services for consenting patients when doing so makes them a felon?

SB 31 is really just another way to target alternative practitioners and reign in the practice of medicine to only that which has been approved by the government overlords. And the timeline for defeating this bill is very short. Alternative practitioners in NC, and those who safely and successfully use their services, need your help now to successfully defeat this bill.

Citizens for Healthcare Freedom (CHF), a nonprofit health freedom organization in NC, says the bill is "not in the interest of the citizens of North Carolina" because it affects many alternative practitioners who will be put out of business if it passes. The vast majority of these practitioners have been practicing for years, and they have helped thousands of patients over the years using methods not officially sanctioned by state medical boards http://www.ncchf.org/2011/03/29/opposition-to-sb31-action-alert/

The NC House is set to debate and vote on SB 31 at 7:00 pm tonight. And whether or not you live in NC, this bill contributes to setting a precedent of intolerance for natural and alternative medicine, so it is important to oppose it regardless of whether or not you live in NC.

You can reach the NC House to oppose the bill by calling (919) 733-7928.

You can reach Governor Bev Perdue's Washington DC office to oppose the bill by calling (202) 624-5833.

Remember, when contacting government officials to express your thoughts, always be respectful, but firm in your discourse. Clearly and succinctly express opposition to SB 31 on the grounds that it further erodes health freedom in NC by criminalizing those who practice alternative medicine. Also, urge support for the CHF Consumer Health Freedom Act, which establishes the freedom to practice alternative medicine without criminal penalty http://www.ncchf.org/2011/03/29/opposition-to-sb31-action-alert/
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/031953_medical_practice_licensing.html

By Eleanor Roberts, PhD

Medically reviewed by Christine Wilmsen Craig, MD

Healthy nails should be semi-transparent, light pink, and intact, possibly with a white lunula (“little moon”) just above the cuticle.

While individual nails may on occasion get small white lines or dots, called leukonychia (nothing to worry about), or maybe an infection by bacteria, virus, or fungus (all of which should get treated), an underlying illness somewhere else in your body can also cause changes in nail health and their appearance. Nail care includes watching out for these key changes.

Decoding Nail Color Changes

The following nail changes are connected to a variety of health conditions:

White nail syndrome. The whole nail will appear cloudy or white. This change in nail health could indicate heart disease, renal failure, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, diabetes, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Terry’s nails. The nail will look mostly white and grainy with a pink or perhaps red strip at the top because of an increase in connective tissue and a decrease in blood supply in the nail bed. This change in nail health can be found in 80 percent of patients with liver cirrhosis, as well as in patients with congestive heart failure, hyperthyroidism, malnutrition, diabetes, or HIV.

Muehrcke’s nails. Abnormal blood flood in the nail bed will make the nails appear as if they have horizontal (often paired) white lines, most often in the second, third, and fourth fingers. The lines disappear if the nail is pressed and blood is squeezed out of the nail bed blood vessels. Because this problem occurs in the nail bed, it will not progress up as the nail grows. Problems associated with this are hypoalbuminemia, liver disease, malnutrition, and nephrotic syndrome; it is also a side effect of chemotherapy.

Half-and-half nails, also known as Lindsay’s nails. The bottom half of the nail appears white while the top half is a darker pink-brown. This is because there is swelling in the nail bed at the bottom and increased melanin (a type of skin pigment) production at the top. Chronic renal disease or HIV could be the cause of this condition.

Mee’s line. Horizontal white lines appear in the nail, caused by microscopic fragmentation of the nail after growth has been disrupted. Mee’s lines could indicate heart failure, Hodgkin disease, renal failure, system-wide infection, or poisoning by arsenic, thallium, or other heavy metals.

Splinter hemorrhages. These thin, dark red or brown vertical lines in the nail bed look like splinters beneath the nail, hence the name. Possible causes include cirrhosis, mitral stenosis, oral contraceptive use, pregnancy, peptic ulcer disease, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, and trauma. A classic association is with subacute bacterial endocarditis (infection of the heart valves).

Yellow nail syndrome. In this rare condition, nails appear yellowish-orange and thicken and curve into the cuticle. It is associated with lymphedema (impaired lymphatic drainage), pleural effusions, and bronchiectasis.

Blue nail. Blue nails — either the lunula or the whole nail — could indicate Wilson’s disease, argyria (silver poisoning), or quinacrine therapy (used to treat lupus and other health conditions).

Red lunula. Lunulas that appear red could indicate alopecia areata (hair loss), carbon monoxide poisoning, cardiac failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic urticaria (hives), cirrhosis, collagen vascular disease, oral prednisone treatment, or psoriasis.

Vertical brown streaks. These are common among people with dark skin; however, they can indicate melanoma and should be checked by a doctor. A benign nevus (overgrowth of cells) or chemical staining (including from some nail polishes) could also be the cause.

Nail Texture Changes

Apart from the odd bump or small lines, nails are normally fairly smooth. But texture can change if there is a problem elsewhere in the body:

Beau’s line. When there is a disruption in nail growth, a deep horizontal groove can appear. This could indicate peripheral artery disease, pemphigus (a skin disease), psoriasis, Raynaud’s disease, systemic infection, or trauma.

Pitting. Small, pinpoint depressions can appear in the nails when there are problems in nail plate layering. This is seen in 10 to 50 percent of people with psoriasis. It can also be caused by alopecia areata, pemphigus, a type of arthritis called Reiter’s syndrome, and sarcoidosis. 

Nail Shape Changes

A wide range of health issues can cause the shape of the nails to change, sometimes radically:

Spoon shaped nails (koilonychias). The nails curl up at the edges and become whiter, fragile, and concave. This can have a variety of causes, including iron deficiency anemia, hemochromatosis, hypothyroidism, malnutrition, nail trauma, constant exposure to petroleum-based solvents, Raynaud’s disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Clubbed nails or clubbing. The soft tissue around the nail and fingertip becomes enlarged, and the nails become thicker, harder, shinier, and shaped like a bulb, while the flesh below the cuticle gets spongy. Clubbing is usually caused by low oxygen levels in the blood and is associated with lung and heart conditions such chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, congestive heart failure, and congenital heart disease. It is also seen with liver disease and inflammatory bowel diseases, and can signify cancer, most commonly of the lung and lung lining.

Nail Separation

Certain medical conditions can cause nails to lift off the nail bed:

Onycholysis. If the nail separates from the nail bed starting at the top portion of the nail, it can signal medical problems including anemia, certain types of cancer, connective tissue disorders, fungal infection, psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, syphilis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and most commonly, trauma. It can also occur with hyperthyroidism, with the fourth and fifth nails possibly becoming brown.

Onychomadesis. The nail separates from the nail bed starting from the base, and usually results in complete loss of the nail. Causes include fungal infection, Raynaud’s disease, chemical damage, frostbite, hand-foot-mouth disease, poor nutrition, febrile illness, and vascular disease, though the most common cause is also trauma.

If your nails start to look different to you in any of the ways described above, consider it a sign to call your doctor.

Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/skin-and-beauty/beauty/what-your-nails-say-about-you.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthSkinandBeauty_20110401

Eat Right to Ease PMS

Though you may be craving chocolate, reach for veggies instead to quell PMS symptoms.

By Linda Knittel

When it comes to soothing premenstrual symptoms (PMS), the best medicine may be found in your kitchen. Studies have shown that a number of foods can actually eliminate the mood swings, bloating, blemishes, breast tenderness, and fatigue that often precede menstruation. "The majority of PMS symptoms are the result of an imbalance in hormones, such that there is too much estrogen in the body when compared to the amount of progesterone," says Beth Burch, N.D., of Emerita for Health Women's Institute in Portland, Oregon.

To combat this disparity, many experts believe that women should consume more foods that help balance hormones, such as soy, vegetables and fruit, and nuts and seeds. According to a study appearing in Obstetrics and Gynecology (February 2000), a low-fat, vegetarian diet that included legumes and whole grains increased the sex hormone-binding globulin in the blood, which keeps hormones in check and therefore many PMS symptoms at bay. Also, the fiber found in many vegetables and fruits helps to flush excess hormones from the body. Complex carbohydrates like whole grains can also boost serotonin levels in the brain, which helps to keep mood elevated even during those difficult days prior to one's period.

For many women excess estrogen also causes breast tenderness and bloating the week before menstruation. In those instances the isoflavones found in soy-based foods such as tofu bind to estrogen receptors and block the body's own estrogen from causing such symptoms.

Numerous clinical trials have also shown that both magnesium and calcium play crucial roles in the prevention of PMS symptoms. For example, consuming 200 mg of magnesium daily (which is slightly more than a cup of cooked spinach) was found to reduce the bloating, weight gain, and breast tenderness (Journal of Women's Health, November 1998). Other magnesium-rich foods include peanut butter, lima beans, kale, and nuts. Another study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (December 1999) showed a daily dose of 1,200 mg of calcium (found in spinach, broccoli, and soymilk) cut food cravings and mood swings, most likely because calcium enhances the brain's processing of serotonin.

Burch adds that avoiding certain foods is also important. For instance, refined carbohydrates and sugar-filled foods, such as breads and desserts, disrupt blood-sugar levels causing fatigue and mood swings. Also, sodium contributes to bloating and breast tenderness, while non-organic dairy products and meats contain hormones that can cause inflammation and thus worsen cramps and bloating.

“One of the strongest temptations that man has to meet is upon the point of appetite. Between the mind and the body there is a mysterious and wonderful relation. They react upon each other. To keep the body in a healthy condition to develop its strength, that every part of the living machinery may act harmoniously, should be the first study of our life. To neglect the body is to neglect the mind and vice versa.”  Lift Him Up pp. 272-273

The relationship between psychological health and physical health has long been established. Even most medical doctors today warn against the dangers of mental stress that flows from overwork, chronic family conflict, unhealthy compensating or general maladjustment to the demands of life. This is old news.

In a recent conversation with Mike Adams of NaturalNews.com, he said:

"Cancer is a natural process that gets out of control. When you cut your skin and it begins to heal, those cells are involved in a cancer-like process. They know how to divide, grow and heal. But, they also know when to stop growing. Otherwise, you would end up with a giant growth out of your arm or wherever you cut yourself. The same is true when a woman is pregnant. The cells of the fetus are involved in a cancer-like process, a very rapid division and growth in an organized way."

Here is the fascinating piece: Cancerous tumors, when removed from the body, sometimes contain hair, teeth and organs.

They don't tell people that a cancer cell in the body tries to become a whole person. Think about that for a minute. After conception, you have a single, fertilized egg. If the conditions are right, it develops into a person. That is the way it is supposed to work. But, when you have a cancer tumor in the body, it "decides" it wants to be a whole person, too. It doesn't want to be a specialized cell, playing a small role in a larger body. It wants to be a whole body and it does not have any plans to stop dividing and spreading.

What to do with this information? Consider your life. Do you know who you are and what you stand for? Do you meander through life, confused and afraid to make strong decisions? Do you live in a house divided, with internal conflict eating at you day and night? When you lie down to sleep, are you at peace or are you harangued by stray thoughts that clutter your mind?

Good psychological health implies clear values, the ability to access a state of inner calm, healthy personal boundaries (knowing your limits, when to say yes vs. no) and a general, pervasive feeling of well-being and certainty in this uncertain world. These and other essential mental health resources are fundamental. Life requires them at a minimum. Those who do not naturally possess or consciously dev elop these essentials of healthy character are at a distinct disadvantage in the social realm. Are they also exposed to greater health risks? The most compelling logic suggests that, yes, they are.

Imagine for a moment that your mind and body, craving the clarity, calm and certainty that comes with solid mental health and a low-stress way of being, is just not getting what it needs. Lacking direction, it lives in a state of chronic confusion, conflict and anxiety. Doesn't it make sense that some part of you at some point takes matters into its own hands? Might that entail an attempt to develop new parts of you, given the current lack of resources?

“Satan comes to man with his temptations as an angel of light, as he came to Christ. He has been working to bring man into a condition of physical and moral weakness that he may overcome him with his temptations and then triumph over his ruin. And he has been successful in tempting man to indulge appetite, regardless of the result. He well knows that it is impossible for man to discharge his obligations to God and to his fellowmen while he impairs the faculties God has given him. The brain is the capital of the body. If the perceptive faculties become benumbed through intemperance of any kind, eternal things are not discerned.”—Review and Herald, Sept 8, 1874.

“The mind must be trained through daily tests to habits of fidelity, to a sense of the claims of right and duty above inclination and pleasure. Minds thus trained do not waver between right and wrong, as the reed trembles in the wind; but as soon as matters come before them, they discern at once that principle is involved, and they instinctively choose the right without long debating the matter. They are loyal because they have trained themselves in habits of faithfulness and truth.”--Testimonies to the Church 3 pg. 22

Learn to be clear, honest and certain. Know who you are and what you stand for. Develop effective communication skills and the capacity for inner peace. Give your mind and body what it needs and it won't have a reason to rebel.

About the author:
Mike Bundrant is a retired mental health counselor, NLP trainer and publisher of Healthy Times Newspaper.

Edited from source: http://www.naturalnews.com/031819_health_psychology.html