Olive pain reliever

It appears to be true. New research suggests that extra-virgin olive oil contains a compound called oleocanthal that acts in the same way ibuprofen does to relieve pain. Scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia reported in the August 31, 2005 issue of the journal Nature that oleocanthal acts as a natural anti-inflammatory by inhibiting COX-2 enzymes in the same way ibuprofen does. COX-2 enzymes take part in the process of joint inflammation that can lead to arthritis pain

Breastfeeding protects against diabetes

This case control study compared the frequency and duration of breastfeeding between siblings where one sibling had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus and other siblings had not. The results showed that while there was no difference in breastfeeding rates among the two groups, the children with diabetes had a shorter duration of breastfeeding (3.3 vs. 4.6 months, p<0.001) and the diabetic group was exposed earlier to cow's milk. After controlling for other associated variables it was shown that a longer duration of breastfeeding was associated with a protective effect against diabetes. The authors concluded that a shorter breastfeeding interval may contribute to type 1 diabetes mellitus.

When is the Best Time to Sleep?

So many articles have been written about the fact that adults need about 8 hours of sleep per night. The fact is, that some people may need more or less. The real question should be, WHEN are you getting your sleep!

You can get a full 8 hours of sleep but if you went to bed at 2am and woke up at 10am, you will not be in tip top shape. Definitely not compared to if you slept at 10pm and woke up at 6am. It’s crucial to have not only the right amount of sleep, but to also sleep at the right time. The best time range to go to bed to help you wake up in great shape is between 9pm and midnight. This is for adults 18-45 years of age. Older people tend to sleep earlier than that due to their age and their lack of energy, which is normal. If you go to sleep later than midnight, even with the right amount of hours you need, it is still not optimal sleep for you.

Sleeping is filled with mysteries even to this day. We don’t really know truly why we sleep exactly, but it seems that when the sun goes down, we should go to sleep as well! Let me tell you, I’ve dealt with insomnia for years. I’ve had extremely odd sleeping patterns. I would go to bed at 1-2am because I was working so much, and even with adequate sleeping hours, I was always tired and out of energy throughout the day. So I changed my pattern. I decided to go to bed earlier, usually between 10pm and midnight, and by 6am, I would wake up on my own. That’s right, I don’t need an alarm clock anymore  Waking up when you want to wake up and not because you have to is a great feeling! To do that, you need to sleep at the right time.



To help you get adequate sleep, don’t do anything too physically or mentally strenuous at least 2 hours before your bed time. As well, don’t eat a relatively large meal close to your sleep time. Make sure you use your bed to sleep and not to watch TV. This will train your mind to associate your bedroom with sleep and nothing else. Leave your stress and worries at your bedroom door! Clear your thoughts and just enjoy your sleep. Try this and you will be surprised how early your eyes will open on their own. Also, you will notice an increase in your energy throughout your day, and while it’s normal to get tired by 8-9pm, that will only make it that much easier to fall asleep by 10-11pm.

To fix your sleeping cycle, either try to not sleep an entire night so that by early evening you will be so tired you will sleep earlier, or do an activity that requires a lot of mental or physical energy, so that you will be drained and needy of sleep to regenerate. Just like that, you can fix your sleeping issues. If I can do it, and I was a BIG insomniac for years, then you can to. When it comes to sleep, keep in mind that timing is everything

Do not take pills with COOL water

Do not take pills with cold water because there are chances that reactions may occur in your body
than hot or plain water,so it is good to take pills with out cold water.

Do not drink coffee TWICE a day

I enjoy drinking several cups of coffee a day, but I never really knew whether I should or should not drink this stuff. Is it bad for me, or is it good for me? Does it really have an effect, or do I think it has an effect? I know the latter can be true, as one of my former colleagues once said to feel much more awake after drinking a decaf (without knowing).

So to put an end to ignorance, I did some research. And it contradicts a little. So for your enjoyment, 5 reasons to drink coffee, and 5 to don’t drink it.

5 reasons to drink coffee

It heightens your senses
Coffee has several effects on your awareness, your senses and your mental capabilities. Albeit on a short term only, there are no lasting effects. Coffee contains caffeine, but is also known to stimulate the production of cortisone and adrenaline . These are hormones that prepare your body for a fight or flight response .
They make you very aware! But you can feel a little stressed out as well…

It protects against diabetes
Drinking coffee reduces the risk of getting diabetes mellitus type 2 . This is the type where body tissues become resistant to insulin. Obesity, among a lot of other factors, is currently a major cause for diabetes type 2.

Drinking coffee reduces the risk up to 50% (when ingested at 7 cups a day), but it has a linear effect. So even a single cup of coffee a day, effectively reduces this risk a little.
It protects the brain
It won’t make you smarter, but studies have shown that caffeine has a positive impact on protecting from brain diseases. In this study  published by the Harvard School of Public Health a beneficial effect of caffeine was found for preventing Parkinson’s disease when consumed in moderate quantities, both for men and women. For women though, the effects needed more research (sorry…).
But it doesn’t stop at Parkinson’s, there are also benefits for preventing Alzheimer and mild memory and thinking problems  for older men (no women in the tests…sorry) in general. So for men: this might help!

It contains antioxidants
Antioxidants are your friends! In short, they prevent free radicals from causing cell damage. This cell damage is related to aging processes, but also to many forms of cancer. There also seem to be relations to Parkinson’s, Alzheimer, schizophrenia and other diseases of the brain.
And antioxidants prevent those free radicals from doing their destructive work. A certain antioxidant, methylpyridinium, has been found to specifically prevent colon cancer . Ain’t that great?

It makes and keeps you awake
Coffee, or better caffeine, doesn’t take away the need for sleep. It just postpones it a little, by making sure you don’t feel you need to sleep. That’s tricky, because your body is still in need of sleep, but you’re fooling your mind into not feeling that sensation.
But as long as you’re aware of this phenomenon, it can be very helpful at times. When you have to meet that deadline, or you have to drive that last half an hour to get home.

5 reasons not to drink coffee

It is addictive
Caffeine is a drug the body gets used to very quickly, this process is called tolerance adaptation. If taken in large enough quantities (900 – 1200mg a day) this can lead to a partial or full tolerance  in as quick as one to three weeks. An average cup of coffee contains 135mg of caffeine, so that’s 7 to 9 cups a day for an extended period of time.
When you stop ingesting caffeine, you get withdrawal symptoms. Among those symptoms are headaches, irritability and generally being unable to concentrate. These symptoms fade away fairly quickly too though. Usually within a couple of days. But most likely, you’ll have a new fix with a cup of coffee before that happens 

It disrupts sleeping patterns
While this can be a benefit (see the section above), when taken to extremes coffee (or caffeine actually) can result in serious sleeping disorders. Two of them are linked directly to the caffeine, but there are more that have a correlation. They are classified as psychiatric disorders .
It increases cholesterol
OK, usually it doesn’t. But when the coffee is made using the French Press  method, the coffee contains oils that increase LDL cholesterol levels (that’s the bad one ). This method of coffee making is popular among coffee lovers, as it has an authentic feel about it. But it is also commonly used among people that don’t drink coffee, as it’s a cheap way of being able to make coffee for guests.
It can cause headaches
Caffeine can both treat headaches or cause them. If you consume caffeine in certain levels (around 500mg a day), you are prone to withdrawal effects when reducing the amount. One of those effects is a headache. Coffee usually is the main source for caffeine ingestion, but there are many other sources , like tea, chocolate, soft drinks and a lot of pain relieving medicine!
The caffeine in those medicines, when used incorrectly or with too many other sources of caffeine, can lead to a phenomenon called rebound headaches . So if you suffer from headaches a lot, check your daily caffeine ingestion, you might take a tad too much.

It maintains unfair trade agreements with farmers
This may not be a health related issue, but an issue nevertheless. The raw material for coffee, the coffee beans, are mainly purchased from farmers in developing countries. Unfortunately there are a lot of small coffee farmers, selling to a limited group of companies buying coffee. And the prices and conditions they get are not very fair.
Thankfully there is an alternative with products that have been licensed by a Fair Trade organization. Fair Trade  (or Max Havelaar ) is a certificate that ensures that the coffee farmers have been paid a fair price for their product. This has many benefits for society in the developing countries, and it will only cost you a couple of cents extra.

My conclusion

I’ll be drinking my cups of coffee, but I’ll limit them to 3 or 4 a day. That gives me most of the benefits and keeps me clear of the potential downsides. Oh, and I’m drinking Fair Trade coffee whenever possible.

My health and Herbal Medical

Herbal Medicine can be practiced alone or in conjunction with other modalities, such as psychotherapy, nutritional therapy, and even pharmacological medications. As a Certified Clinical Herbalist, I have a wide variety of knowledge about herbs, their history, usages, and contraindications.
In my training, I learned about the history of herbology and different systems of holistic thinking -- European/folk, Oriental, Ayurvedic, Hebrew, Christian, Pythagorean, American Indian, United States, Scientific, Biochemical, Intuitive, Clinical, and Medical Herbology systems -- I am able to practice a highly effective, integrated method of herbal medicine that combines the clinical and scientific method with the traditional, holistic, and energetic approaches.

Many psychotherapists understand the value of herbs. In the United States, the most well-known psychotherapist and herbalist is probably Stephen Harrod Buhner, award-winning author of over 10 books on herbal medicine, including Plant Spirit Healing, Sacred Plant Medicine, and The Lost Language of Plants.

During my education and experience with herbal medicine, I have learned the uses for more than 300 Eastern and Western herbs, including traditional folk uses of each herb plus modern scientific research documenting their therapeutic effectiveness and safety, and any potential side effects, contraindications, or drug interactions. A large portion of my 630 page book, Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health is devoted to discussing the use of herbal medicine and mental health.

The Art of Herbal Medicine

The practice of herbal medicine goes by many different names. Sometimes called herbology, botanical medicine or herbalism; in Europe, it’s referred to as phytotherapy. The therapeutic use of herbs is a practice that relies on the synergistic and curative properties of plants for their therapeutic or medicinal value.

Phytodrugs are mixtures of compounds extracted from one or more plants. Many phytoremedies have a wide range of benefits without the undesirable side effects of pharmaceutical drugs, and are therefore appropriate for long term use with chronic illnesses. For example, plant extracts from hypericum perforatum (commonly called St John's wort) are routinely used for treating mild to moderately severe depressive disorders.

The art of prescribing herbal medicine is difficult to learn in a scholastic setting. The study of herbs and their uses takes dedication and practice. Because herbs are powerful interactive substances, they should always be taken under the guidance of a qualified health practitioner. Additionally, I always advise consulting with your doctor and/or psychiatrist before using any herbal medicine, even over the counter preparations. I recommend consulting with your doctor before making any changes in your health regimen. Additionally, I often refer clients to other practitioners, such as medical doctors, psychiatrists, and other health professionals.

Where I Received My Herbology Training and Educational Experience

I was fortunate to receive my training and certification in Clinical Herbology from the Natural Healing Institute in San Diego, California. My training and educational experience taught me how useful herbal medicine can be for mental health. I often refer clients who are interested in herbal medicine to other herbalists who specialize in specific areas of herbology, such as Traditional Chinese Medicine. By doing this, my clients always receive the best possible care.

Natural, Effective Remedies for Colds and Flu

Few people make it through the winter without a scratchy throat and an annoying runny nose. You can’t very well hold your breath all winter, but you can put your immune system in top-notch form to fight colds and flu by employing a variety of natural methods for hastening recovery and easing symptoms, such as herbal remedies, water therapy and supplements


Common Causes

The reasons many of us get winter colds and flu are numerous: One, we’re indoors with other people while windows and doors are closed. Two, viruses causing most respiratory infections are always mutating, and our immune systems have trouble handling these ever-changing germs. Three, viruses can survive on non-porous surfaces for hours. If you turn a door handle recently touched by a sneezing, sniffling person, then lift a hand to your nose, you’ve infected yourself. Four, some respiratory viruses, notably influenza, become airborne when someone coughs. You only need to inhale three tiny viruses to become sick.

Several families of viruses cause colds. This viral mafia produces runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and cough. Though symptoms are usually mild and gone within a week, colds produce rampant absenteeism from work and school.            

Influenza is not as common as colds, and vaccines can help prevent the infection. Two main types of influenza viruses — A and B — cause most cases of the flu. Influenza viruses spread in the air and via direct contact. Flu symptoms are usually dramatic, with sudden onset of chills, fever and muscle aches. Nasal congestion is not as marked, but the cough can take weeks or even months to resolve.

Take the Waters       

When you come down with a cold or the flu, your respiratory tract works hard to expel the invading viruses along a veritable “Slip ’n Slide” of mucus. Rather than drying those mucus secretions with an over-the-counter antihistamine, it’s better to accelerate the healing process by thinning them, thus making it easier to expel them.

The best way to thin mucus secretions is to add water to your system by drinking warm liquids, especially herbal teas and soup broth. If you have access to a steam shower, use it. If not, bring a quart-size pot of water to a boil, remove it from the stove and place your face a comfortable distance from the steam, then cover your head with a towel. Inhale through your nose if you’re stuffy, or through your mouth for chest congestion.

You can augment the power of steam by adding a handful of decongesting, antimicrobial herbs to the boiled water, then covering the pot and allowing them to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Herbalist Mindy Green, co-author of Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art, recommends using eucalyptus, thyme, rosemary or peppermint leaves.