When you shower or wash in chlorinated water the heat from that water opens your pores allowing those chemical compounds to sink into your skin. In addition, breathing in the steaming chlorinated air can affect your lungs and bronchial tubes. Here are just some of the problems that chlorine in your water can cause.

• A higher risk of cancer
• problems with circulation
• lung and breathing problems
• increased asthma attacks
• thyroid problems due to blocked iodine receptors

In addition, to these life threatening problems chlorinated water in your shower or bath can also cause your hair to become rough and brittle and lose color, cause your skin to dry out and flake, and dry out the fluid in your eyes and cause eye irritations. Is it any wonder that our skin is prone to dryness and irritation in the winter, when we are more likely to turn our bathrooms into mini chlorine saunas? No.

While you can avoid drinking chlorinated water by filtering your water via your Brita pitcher, you are probably thinking that there is no way you can avoid that chlorinated water in your bath or shower. However, you couldn’t be more wrong. There are a variety of bath and shower filters on market today that you can use to reduce your risks from chlorinated water.

Benefits Of Chlorine Filters For Showers And Baths

Chlorine filters for showers and baths remove chlorine and other toxins from the water in your shower and bath. The benefits of these filters should be obvious. By filtering the chlorine out, the steam you are inhaling won’t cause irritation and damage to your bronchial tubes or to your lungs. It also means that there won’t be chlorine compounds coming out of your showerhead massager and pounding into your skin and your pores. You are better protected from all the hazards associated with continued chlorine exposure.

In addition, you will be reducing the drying effects of these chemicals on your hair and skin and in the long run end up saving money on all the beauty products you buy to try and mitigate the damage.

You may not be able to prevent the city from adding chlorine to the water supply, but you can help to protect your self from the damage that chlorine causes with a chlorine water filter. Save the chlorine for special occasions like the pool, it has no place in our every day lives.

Most people think of ginger as the spice that is used in baked goods or Asian soups for it’s wonderful almost woodsy flavor. But, people in other countries have not only used ginger as a spice in their food for centuries, but for its medicinal benefits as well. While some of the health benefits of ginger are well known throughout the world new benefits of this incredible spice is being discovered all of the time. Here are some of the health benefits and uses of ginger.

Ginger Tea For A Variety Of Ills

Ginger is a wonderful digestive aid and tea made with ginger is used to help digestion, ease menstrual cramps, and soothe stomach upset. Drinking a cup of ginger tea before going on a car trip can help prevent or ease motion sickness. Because ginger tea aids digestion scientists now think that it may actually aid in weight loss which makes sense since ginger is what is known as warm spice and may increase metabolism which aids in weight loss.

Inflammation And Pain Relief

Ginger also contains properties that make it helpful in reducing both inflammation and pain. People suffering from arthritis who eat food seasoned with ginger and drink ginger tea report a reduction in both joint pain and inflammation. This is important because it decreases their dependence on subscription and Over the counter drugs which often have negative side effects.

Studies also suggest that ginger can help prevent kidney damage for people who diabetes. This is extremely good news because this means that diabetics may well live longer healthier lives.

Ginger Fights Cancer

In studies done at the University of Michigan and the University of Minnesota it has been proven that ginger may well prevent or slow certain types of cancer. The University of Michigan study showed that when ginger powder was applied to ovarian cancer cells they induced the cells to die. While more studies need to be done this is good news for cancer researches and may help to reduce the incidents of ovarian cancer in our lifetime.

The study at the University of Minnesota was just as promising. This study showed that ginger could actually slow the growth of colon cancer. Again more studies need to be undertaken in this area, but further studies may find that the right amount ginger may well kill colon cancer cells as well. In addition, earlier studies suggest that colon cancer may have it’s start in poor digestion and since ginger aids digestion it just may help not only treat colon cancer, but prevent it as well.

Who could have guessed that that simple spice sitting in your kitchen cabinet could be so good for your health or have so many benefits. Maybe it’s time you took a new look at what ginger can do for you.

Suggested Reading: Ginger: Common Spice and Wonder Drug

People who sit in front of computers all day often underestimate the number of things they can do right in their own office to alleviate stress once the tension begins to rise. There’s no need to grit your teeth and bear it, because yoga poses to reduce anxiety can be done without leaving your desk.

The mountain pose – perhaps the most simple of all yoga positions – begins by standing with feet hip- width apart. Tuck your tailbone in slightly to align the hips and spine and open your chest while keeping your arms by your side, palms facing outward. Close your eyes and take a series of deep breaths, helping to coordinate your mind and body.

When you begin to feel the hours spent typing on a keyboard in your back and shoulders, try this simple stretch. Reach your right arm in front of you and cross it to the left over your chest. Hook your left arm over it until you feel a gentle pull, then bend the elbow of your right arm so that your hand is pointed toward the ceiling. Remain in this pose for however long you need, then repeat on the other side.

If you begin to feel like your back is hunched over, try standing or sitting on the edge of your seat and clasp your hands together at your lower back. Straighten your arms, then lift them upward until you feel your spine straighten, you may even get a very distinct sensation of your vertebrae coming into alignment and your shoulder blades come closer together.

Head rolls can alleviate neck discomfort during those long working days. Close your eyes and let your head drop toward your chest, rolling it in a full circle until you’re back in starting position. From there, roll it in the opposite direction. This can be a fluid movement or one in which you pause in positions that feel good to you, as you may be stretching muscles that you didn’t even realize were tense.

In order to maintain leg strength and tone even when working a desk job, try the aptly named chair pose. Stand with feet close together and lower your hips as if you are about to sit in a chair, but stopping halfway. Swing your arms upward so that your hands are pointing not quite to the ceiling. Hold this for as long as you can, because it’s a great way to keep the legs and core strong.

Author Information - Dahn Yoga is one of the largest yoga and tai chi companies in the world with its own unique style and brand of yoga. Dahn Yoga is rooted in the rich history of an ancient Asian mind-body practice, Sun Do, and in the wisdom of the Chun Bu Kyung.

Illnesses do not come upon us out of the blue. They are developed from small daily sins against Nature. When enough sins have accumulated, illness will suddenly appear. – Hippocrates

A few weeks back I wrote about the winter blues and how the seasons affect our moods and energy levels. At the time I couldn’t help but think about how so much of the solution comes from simply removing ourselves from the insulation of our homes and getting outside more. A disconnect from our planet can be making us moody, depressed, and unhealthy. We nature lovers talk a good game about how important it is to rediscover nature but most people cannot be bothered which what they perceive as “nominal” benefits. Being cooped us is making them moody and tired? Pft! They would rather get their energy boost from a can of Red Bull because they are simply too busy to go outside and commune with Mother Nature.

It got me thinking about how many health issues are directly related to a lack of connection to nature. I don’t mean something like the disconnect with our food chain, which makes us buy processed foods, which leads us to consume sugary crap and go down diabetes row. I was looking for more glaring instances… ala removing my wiggling toes from the loose soil of my garden and putting on shoes leads to this. Having a roof over our heads instead of the moon results in that. This curiosity led me to some further research, which then led me to a couple different books I hope to share here. The first is an amazing book called Earthing: The Most Important Health Discovery Ever?

This book essentially talks about the natural energy in our body and the natural energy that runs throughout our planet. More and more scientists from varied fields… geophysics, biophysics, electrophysiology, electrical engineering, medicine… are seeing how the electrical energy that emanates from the earth controls our own bodily frequencies. The book likens the earth’s control of our bodily energy to the way a conductor controls the cadence of an orchestra. It ensures a balanced, rhythmic flow. What happens to that flow when we remove ourselves from that energy by wearing insulated shoes and we spend all our time in buildings and in beds that disconnect us from the earth’s surface? The book likens this to a light bulb with a loose connection. We flicker, we shine weakly, our light may go out.

This book was everything I hoped to find and more. As I read it I couldn’t help but think about how many people have no concept of our electrical roots. Well, maybe they give it a little thought if they saw The Matrix movies. If you haven’t seen the movies, basically humans in the future are used as batteries for heat and electricity by sentient machines. Movie aside, it shows how we as humans are bioelectric in nature. The earth’s subtle ground currents and electrical potential rises and falls with the position of the sun. The intensity is more positive (energetic) during the day and less positive in the evening. The earth’s energy helps to regulate our own bodily energy. Our sleep patterns, our hormones, our health… all of it, is tied to this flow and regulation of energy. Without it, we are a flickering light bulb. Earlier humans instinctively knew this, even if they didn’t know what electricity was. Just think about all the ancient peoples, tribes, clans etc. that worshipped nature and viewed the earth as sacred. They knew it has a life force or an energy that they could tap into. They knew that they needed to maintain a connection with it. Earth worship is probably the oldest “religion” there is in fact. They knew something that we seem to have forgotten along the way or that we have been programmed to ignore.

The premise of this book is that a connection to the earth remedies an electrical instability and an electron deficiency we are not aware we have. Connecting to the earth is also not accomplished as many commonly think, by hiking, camping, and gardening to get closer to nature. Earthing is a term that actually means grounding. Grounding defined: to place on or cause to touch the ground. When our ancestors slept on the ground or walked barefoot, they were grounded, touching the earth. Earthing then means that we make it a practice to sit on the ground (not on a plastic chair), walk barefoot through dirt and grass, and also use conductive bed sheets and floor pads in our house. I had never even heard of such things before and now I totally want them!

The bed sheets and mats are linked by a wire to the grounding rod outside/under your home. I assume you must have grounded circuits for this to work though. The first place we moved into here in Ohio was so old that it did not have grounded circuits. Anyway, you ground yourself the same way you ground an appliance. Electricity always seeks the ground/earth (coincidence?) and with appliances you want to ground them to prevent yourself from getting shocked or electrocuted.. ala the electricity will go to the ground rather than go through you. Grounding yourself by earthing protects your bioelectrical circuitry, free electrons and stabilizing energy signals are transferred to your body, and it recharges and balances you. The sheets are obviously used to ground you to the earth while in your bed, so you don’t have to go sleep outside. The mats are for you to rest your feet on while you watch TV or for your feet or arms/hands while sitting at a desk/computer. You literally plug yourself into the healing powers of the earth.

Okay, so I just barely scratched the surface of all the wonderful info in this book. It has many, many real life examples of people who have healed themselves of various things with earthing… pain, inflammation and inflammatory disease, insomnia, low energy, stress, headaches, hormonal issues, and more. It discusses inflammation as a starting point for many diseases and also the well researched hypothesis that much of the disease in developed countries is due to ravaged immune systems. I completely agree and would have numerous reasons to cite for our poor immunity, vaccines, poor diet, no exercise, lack of sleep, etc but I would also add a lack of physical contact to the earth after reading this book. I envision the human race as having evolved with an umbilical cord that attaches us to our planet and we are carelessly severing that cord with our modern lifestyle. Sever that cord that tethers us to our planet and you are cut off from that nourishment and healing energy.

It was fascinating to read the personal story of one of the authors, Clinton Ober. He was the owner of a huge cable TV operation and worked for years in the installation of these systems. Working with electricity was a huge part of his life until he got very sick and he reevaluated his life and priorities. A sudden thought he had in Sedona about how much of the earth’s energy people wearing rubber shoes were missing lead him to a variety of personal experiments. He actually walked around with a voltmeter to see how his body was being affected by electrical energy in his home. When he would get close to a lamp or some other appliance, his EMF voltage would go up. At one point, while lying in bed he registered the highest EMF levels yet and he decided it must be due to all the wiring in the wall that this bed was up against. He immediately deduced that the electric fields were preventing him from getting sufficient sleep, which at this point was elusive unless he medicated first. With that knowledge he ran a ground wire out to a stake in his yard and fastened it to his bed with a metallic duct tape grid. He put the voltmeter on his chest and it zeroed out. The next thing he knew it was morning. He had fallen asleep with the voltmeter on his chest and this “event” was reproduced every night thereafter.

From there he asked friends if he could ground their beds and he was getting great reports, including one friend who was convinced that his arthritis pain was receding. He started remembering little tidbits from his childhood near a Native American reservation in Montana. The grandfather who dug a pit in the ground for his granddaughter to sleep in when she had a fever. The admonishment from a mother to her children that shoes will make you sick. He knew he was on to something and the book Earthing is the culmination of years of research spurred from a chance thought and a few experiments.

Also discussed is research into shoes and how they have been devastating for human health as well as the benefits animals get from being pastured or allowed to roam wild as opposed to confined in barns, coops, and outbuildings. Also the results of a study done on grounding as it relates to cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone and many studies have also linked it to weight gain issues. Grounding, as demonstrated in the study, returned Cortisol levels to a natural, normal rhythm. Ironically this study was initiated by a doctor who read about Earthing via a scientific journal and wanted to prove it was not possible to benefit from such a practice. He could not do so. Also studied was the impact of Earthing on inflammation and by extension heart disease as well as our ability to heal from cuts and wounds faster by Earthing.

I could go on much, much longer but this post has gotten large enough I think. I highly recommend Earthing for a great read. Even if you don’t end up trying it, I think the book has lots of food for thought and lots of great research into how the disconnect from our planet is hurting us. I hope to post more in the future as I try it myself.

So it goes to follow that if you use a negative-ion generator in your home you can benefit from the negative ions and the biochemical reaction they will create inside your body. Negative-ion generators also usually (from what I have seen) tend to be coupled with air purifiers. The air is cleaned of pollutants and allergens and it gets dosed with the happy molecules. I have been using air purifiers to do just that in my own home for well over a month now and have been VERY happy with the results.

I have two of the Permatech Ionizing Air Cleaners by Bionaire. With those we use Aer1 Ready Air Purifiers that get rid of germs and allergens. We have cleaner indoor air, it smells nice and clean in the house, allergens and germs are being filtered out, and optionally you can use the negative ion generator to fill the air with mood boosting negative ions. Typically I let the machine downstairs run for most of the day with the ion generator running for 3 to 4 hours in the morning. In the late evening I turn on the unit upstairs and we all breathe in fresh air while we sleep. They are slim units so we don’t worry about space. They have a washable pre-filter, which helps maximize filtration by the HEPA-Type filter, a filter service reminder, speed options, and a remote control. I can remember that I forgot to turn it on or off while I am sitting at my desk and just click the remote control to take care of that. Time to turn off the ionizer? Done in one click.

I think I have already seen a big improvement in my mood since using them but how to do verify something like that? Especially when you are also doing a variety of other things to combat moodiness as well. I can only say that I think they help. I KNOW they help with making the air cleaner and fresher though. We recently took a fake Christmas tree off the hands of some family members and it had been stored in their really musty basement. When we set it up at our house it stank to high heaven and made the whole house smell like rank basement. My first instinct was to break out the “birthday cake” soy candle and that worked only as long as it was lit, to mask the smell. Then I remembered (DUH!) that I could turn on the air purifier. Within 24 hours the smell was gone and I haven’t noticed it since. It was silly of me to forget because when we first moved to Ohio we were living in a 150 year old house and it smelled really old. My parents brought a similar but bigger air purifier into the house and within a few days all we smelled was clean air (no scent at all).

All in all, we are pleased as punch to have these purifiers. I had high expectations, hoping it would be a mood booster AND clean the air but it works on all counts, I am pleased to say. When we finally get a dog (my daughter is allergic) we will see just how well they filter out allergens too.

Disclosure: I received a free air purifier from Bionaire and Aer1 Filters (click for a filter coupon), plus several free filters to review, all words and opinions are mine of course. Many thanks to them for their generosity!

Is exercise something you consider a necessary evil for staying healthy and fit? Is it more drudgery and duty than an eagerly anticipated activity? If so, you’re not alone – there are a lot of people who would rather go see the dentist than “exercise”. This is why New Year’s resolutions to exercise more don’t last past February more often than not. If it is something you hate to do or are grudgingly obligated to do then you are not likely to stick with it long term.

I think one of the things that prevented me from falling in love with exercise was the fact that I associated it with in home stationary bikes and aerobics via DVD or VHS. I personally can’t stand either of those things and yet that is what I grew up with. Dad rode a bike and mom did aerobics. Blah! Both of them were pretty active but that is not what I ended up associating with health and fitness. Riding a bike in the house or sweatin to the oldies is just not for me. It has to be something you love and are committed to. If you fall in love with exercising, you are far more likely to keep it up.

But how do you go about falling in love with exercise?

Here are some ideas…

Make It a Game

I use SparkPeople and Daily Mile to track fitness goals and workouts. Seeing what I have accomplished, earning points, or seeing myself at the top of the leaderboard give me incentive and they make me proud of my accomplishments. Its like a game.

Of course you can also literally  play a game. Some popular gaming systems have workout “games” that have been known to make dedicated “players” out of those who had trouble sticking to an exercise routine. Users say that the reasons why these games keep them interested are the variety (your workout varies each time, reducing the boredom associated with DVDs and videos) and user control. We have EA Sports Active here and I love the virtual running track. There are dance-based games as well, where you sweat and burn calories while having fun dancing. We really want to add Just Dance 3 to our collection.

Make It “You Time”

Oh heck yeah! My gym time 4 days a week is my “me time”. I get a much needed break from my children and I get out of the house. Since I am alone with my kids for much of the day and all of the evening this is soooo important to me. If you can merge your exercise routine with some much-needed time for yourself, you may find yourself looking forward to workouts. Maybe it’s outside in your yard/neighborhood, or in a local park, or the gym – the point is to tailor your workout to fit your personal needs so that it’s your thing, whether it’s time alone or time with others. My weekly water aerobics classes have lead me to make some great friends and develop my lacking social life a bit more. I love walking into the gym and catching up with the ladies.

Do Something You Like

There seems to be a misconception that you have to hate your exercise for it to be effective – sort of like eating your spinach as a kid. If it tastes/feels bad, it must be good for you. But there are so many fun options when it comes to exercising that there’s no excuse to hate what you’re doing!

Certainly, exercise is work and doesn’t always feel great right at the moment. But choosing an activity you love will help you keep it up even when it gets tough. Dancing, horseback riding, hiking, jumping rope, hula hooping, belly dancing, Pilates or Yoga classes, martial arts, etc. are all forms of exercise that can be so much fun you forget that they are work (and you’re more willing to push through when it does feel like work).

Log Your Progress

Write down how you feel as you progress. Do you have more energy? Are you running/walking faster? Are your muscles more toned? Have you lost weight? Keep notes on how you were when you started and throughout your progress. Looking at this list can be a boost and help you love your exercise routine because of what it’s doing for you.

Not only will you be doing something good for you, your kids will see exercise as something FUN and be more likely to pursue fitness themselves.

So, have you fallen in love with exercise? What are your tips?

Oil pulling was used to help prevent tooth decay, stop bleeding gums, ease bad breath, and help to heal a dry throat and mouth and chapped lips. Oil pulling also was used to help re anchor loose teeth and to help reduce gum disease as well as help to whiten and brighten teeth.

With the recent re surge of interest in ancient remedies for the treatment of various medical conditions Oil pulling has come to the attention of those seeking natural remedies for an assortment of medical and dental problems and there have even been several studies done to determine whether or not oil pulling can improve dental health and the findings have been extremely positive.

In several informal studies that were conducted oil pulling was shown to help reduce both plaque and gingivitis resulting in healthier gums and teeth. People who have tried oil pulling for 3-6 months have stated that they have had fewer cavities, loose teeth have firmed back up and they see less redness and swelling in their gums. While such testimonies are only anecdotal evidence that oil pulling is good for your dental health this evidence certainly carries weight in the absence of more scientific studies.

In addition, there have been few negative side effects reported either by the study subjects or those who have tried oil pulling on their own which means that there is every indication that oil pulling may be a safe way of treating a wide array of dental problems or simply keeping your dental health to begin with.

If you have been dealing with a build up of plaque, gingivitis, bad breath or just discolored or loose teeth that you might want to try oil pulling and see if it works for you.

How To Do Oil Pulling

First thing in the morning before eating or drinking anything pour a tablespoon of sesame seed oil, coconut oil, or olive oil into your mouth and swish it around for about 20 minutes. As you swish the oil will become thinner due to your saliva. Keep swishing. You will know when it is time to spit out the oil when it becomes whitish and once again begins to thicken from the germs and plague that is being pulled into the oil.

If you find that you cannot resist the urge to swallow spit the oil out and start again. It may take some practice until you can swish the oil long enough to complete the process.

After spitting the oil out rinse your mouth with warm salt water.

The oil will remove the plaque and other bacteria from your mouth and the warm salt water will help clear the oily feel that remains in your mouth. Over time your teeth should look whiter and your gums should look healthier. It can be done 1-2 times weekly with good results and even daily if you have problems, such as cavities or sore gums.

Oil pulling may not be for everyone but, it is a cheap and effective way to protect your dental health.

Related: Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing

The Coconut Oil Miracle

Here are a few suggestions:

Reduce Salt and Alcohol Consumption

That bloated feeling most women get during their monthly flow is due to water retention. You can reduce that bloated uncomfortable feeling by cutting back on your salt and alcohol intake starting about a week before your period is due. Both alcohol and salt makes the body retain water so by cutting back on these two items you can reduce the amount of fluid your body retains. You may also want to increase the amount of water you drink during this period as it will help to rinse the salt from your system faster than just reducing your salt intake alone.

Eating Healthy

While eating healthy regularly is good for your overall health, it is especially important to eat healthy immediately before and during your period. Some studies show that by increasing the amount of green leafy vegetables you eat during this time that feeling of constant tiredness is reduced and adding bananas and other sources of vitamin B to your diet may help to ease the cramping that occurs during this time.

Aroma Therapy Baths And That Hot Water Bottle

Many women find that when that cramping starts taking aroma therapy baths using either lavender or rose scented bath oils can help to reduce those muscle spasms that lead to those cramps and aching back and thighs and help to relax you overall. By relaxing your muscles you reduce that crampy feeling which results in your being able to sleep and function with less pain. Using a hot water bottle or heating pad can also reduce those cramps and ease some of your menstrual discomfort. If you want a greener option than a hot water bottle go with a Warmables heat pack. The outer shell is cloth and the inside is filled with recycled cherry pits!

Using citrus candles or incense can also lighten that dark mood that some women feel while going through their monthly period. Lifting your mood can actually make you feel better not just emotionally but physically as well.

Mild Exercise

While the last thing you want to do when feeling achy and moody is exercise, you really should force yourself into doing some mild exercise during this time. Walking or swimming may actually reduce your back and headaches and give you more energy as well. Exercising in the days before your period is thought by many experts to actually reduce menstrual symptoms and duration. I find it to be true in my experience. After I started exercising 4-5 days a week my periods decreased in duration by more than a whole day.

By combining some or all of these suggestions you can reduce much of that menstrual pain and discomfort if not all of it. This will allow you to continue with your normal activities and leave you feeling more comfortable than you thought possible.

Related: Alternative and Natural Menstrual Products

I have been researching the winter blues quite a bit lately. The official name is Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. I have become convinced that I have become a victim of this disorder ever since I moved to Ohio from Arizona five years ago. There are many signs. When the days get shorter and darker many people get anxious, depressed, become socially withdrawn, have a hard time functioning at work, lose momentum and motivation, oversleep, can’t concentrate, gain weight, and develop a craving for carbs and sugary foods. These symptoms could be just mildly irritating in some and very drastic for others. I noticed a problem a couple years ago when it seemed like half the year I had absolutely no ambition or drive. I was prone to overeating, getting sick, and being generally moody and depressed. The past two winters in particular were BAD. My marriage almost imploded two years in a row and I knew come spring that I had to do something the following year. To address this I kicked off a new exercise regime that spring and that has done wonders for me (still going strong!) but with the disappearance of the light this fall and the return of my lack of motivation I knew I had to do something more. I suspect that I might be one of the 9-10% of the population that doesn’t do well with shorter days and less sunlight. I get the winter blues.

Now that I know what it is and have taken steps to remedy it, I am amazed that I didn’t catch onto this earlier. Instead of spending an entire day wasting time away on the computer bemoaning my lack of motivation I am much better served by taking a seat in front of a sunny window and reading for a few hours in the direct sunlight. Spending an afternoon in that seemingly lazy pursuit energizes me and gives me motivation to get busy the rest of the day and into the night. Taking a walk in the sun for 30 minutes each day… its like an energy infusion.

After reading the Winter Blues: Everything You Need to Know to Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder (which is excellent BTW), I decided to outline a plan and hopefully beat this thing. I have had plenty of days that have started out bad but when I follow the advice in the book I can turn it around. I am pretty confident that if I stay on top of it, I can sail through it this year.

Here are some of the ways we can keep the winter blues at bay:

• On sunny days spend at least 30 minutes outside.
• If you can’t go outside, spend as much time as you can next to a sunny window.
• If you can’t go outside or hang next to a window, use a light therapy box.
• Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day.
• Rather than letting the cold weather keep you indoors, bundle up for winter and get outside as often as you can, even if it is cloudy.
• Vacation in the winter, ideally in a sunny place.
• Increase your protein and reduce carbs, which are more likely to make you tired and lethargic.
• Consider nutrient density in your diet and food choices. Avoid empty calories.
• Stay away from added sugar.
• Use St. John’s Wort as a natural and herbal antidepressant and give it several weeks to work.
• Limit alcohol (yes, even that Egg Nog).
• Reduce stress.
• Do not let yourself oversleep.
• Fill the air with negative ions (see below).
• Accept that you have a handicap in the winter and be kind to yourself!

All of the above things can be done with minimal planning and work. It usually just requires you to be mindful of how your needs increase in the winter. You have to accept that you need a little more TLC in the winter and concentrate on nourishing your mind and body. A vacation might be prohibitive due to cost but things like St. John’s Wort and nourishing foods shouldn’t be to hard to get. I plan to buy a light therapy box before winter kicks into high gear and I have already been using a Permatech Ionizing Air Cleaner by Bionaire at home, both downstairs and upstairs. It cleans and purifies the air so we are less likely to get sick AND it releases negative ions. There have been some studies done at Columbia that showed how patients with SAD who sat in front of a negative ion generator for 30 minutes each morning had as much positive effect on depression as sitting in front of a light box, also a proven therapy.

For the science behind SAD, light therapy, and negative ions read Winter Blues. It is by far the best source of info on all of this that I have read thus far, though it does tend to get quite technical and scientific in explaining all of it.

Do you suffer from the winter blues? How are you going to tackle it this year?

Much of the information you find about staying healthy around Halloween addresses what you can do beforehand… aka keep kids away from the candy. You see advice to have the Great Pumpkin come and trade the candy for books and toys or you forgo trick or treating and make healthier treats yourself. That is actually great advice. Halloween candy is actually terribly bad for your kid’s health. Those are just the facts. It is loaded with immune suppressing sugar and other junkie ingredients like artificial dyes. Consuming all that candy is literally putting their immune systems under attack and during a time when they are already vulnerable… allergy season, fewer sunlight hours, and cold and flu bugs rearing their ugly heads.

But avoiding the candy is not always possible because they could get it at school or from other kids. It also sets up the concept of forbidden fruit. I would rather teach my kids to avoid it when they can but also teach them how to take care of their bodies after they have had a lapse in judgement. Giving them insight into how their body works when we eat junk and how we can nurture ourselves in the aftermath is just as important in my mind as teaching them about healthy eating. After all, I know I shouldn’t drink much alcohol or eat those candy cane flavored chocolates that abound this time of year, but I do. Instead of beating myself up when I want the bad I have to learn how to balance it with the good and take care of myself when my healthy habits take a detour.

It helps that we don’t allow too much candy to make its way home. We give the kids small buckets or lunch bags (much smaller than typical treat bags) and when they are filled, we go home. Doing it this way mitigates some of the damage hopefully. The second thing we usually do after Halloween is tell the kids to eat up the candy. No, we don’t let them eat 5 pieces each day and extend the immune suppressing abilities of all that junk. It’s best to get it gone and start the healing. My kids typically don’t eat all of it that night so the next day most of it magically disappears (works for younger kids) or I buy them out. Give me the rest of that candy and I will take you to a movie, deal?

Here are some other ways that we give our family an immunity boost after gorging on candy. These tips work for Halloween or any candy centric holiday (ie Valentines and Easter).

Broth – Once that candy is gone we go into a week long spree of nourishing, broth based soups that are heavy on the veggies, garlic, onions, and ginger. My crock pot and my dutch oven get used daily for at least a week.

Hydration – The drink of choice after Halloween is good old fashioned water and I make sure it is alkaline as well. No natural juice or sweetened teas right now, just water.

Fermented Drinks – After a week of mostly water we reintroduce fermented drinks like water kefir and dairy kefir, which enhance immunity with their live cultures. We mostly make our own but their are also some good ones from Lifeway. Their Pumpkin Spice and Cranberry Crème Brulee are a good way to mix kefir with holiday cheer.

Garlic - It has strong antiviral and antibacterial properties and can help ward of illness. I will often use an entire bulb in our soups after we have had excessive candy exposure.

No White Stuff- Sugar is one of the white things to be avoided but also white rice and flour. This week my hubby made pancakes with coconut flour and quinoa flour and he also made an apple pie with quinoa flour. We have gotten in the habit of using substitutes in our baking and cooking but it can be especially important not to eat any more of the white stuff after a candy binge.

Ginger - Ginger warms you up so fast you think you might be having a hot flash. That is of course why it works so well. It raises your body temperature and fights off viruses and prevents them from replicating. It is also anti-inflammatory and it supports our immune system.

Elderberry - This amazing herb is an anti-viral and it helps to fight viruses by warming your body temperature. It also has strong antioxidant properties that boost the immune system. You can make your own or you can buy it in the form of Sambucol.

Exercise – Mom and Dad go the gym but the kiddos need an extra dose of exercise after all that candy to. This is easily accomplished with neighborhood walks (most evenings for a couple weeks) and hiking at our nearby park system on the weekends. Exercise really boosts our immune system.

Plenty of Rest – After an event like Halloween we send the kids to bed earlier so they can get plenty of rest… their little bodies need it. All week long they are required to hit the sack an hour earlier than usual and this gives their immune system a chance to recover from the shock of all that sugar. Just wake a kid up for school the day after Halloween and see how much the extra rest was needed. A child after a sugar binge can be downright terrifying.

How will you keep your kids healthy AFTER Halloween?

Related: Cold School Remedies for Winter Illness

Quite some time ago I got in the habit of drinking alkalized water as much as I possibly could. I was first introduced to the concept somewhere along my journey with cancer. Even mainstream doctors these days are acknowledging that cancer thrives in an acidic body and acid does a number on our cells in general. How can we expect our our body to remain healthy when we give our cells (the building blocks) an acid bath with acidic foods and water? You can’t… hence the reason behind eating lots of alkaline forming foods and making sure our water is treated so that it is also alkaline. Drinking alkaline water helps boost your immune system, it increases your blood oxygen levels and it helps prevent acid related diseases… cancer, candida, psoriasis, gout, high blood pressure, ulcers… let’s face it LOTS of disorders and diseases stem from an acid body. For more info I discussed this issue in my pH Miracle review and the wonderful book Crazy, Sexy, Diet has good info on it too.

Anyway, I started treating my water with pH booster drops to make it alkaline. You can get systems that work with your tap but those were horrendously pricey and would not allow for me to treat water when away from home. The drops also add up when you consistently buy them and you have lots of plastic bottles to deal with. So it was on my to-do list to look into some sort of portable product that will alkalize water. My mom actually beat me to it and bought one. She had great success with hers and I became convinced I needed one as well. She compared the pH level of the bottled water she was buying to the treated from her tap and she was amazed. The bottled stuff is way acidic! I don’t know why that surprises me but it did.

Lucky me was able to get my hot little hands on an Alkamate from Healthier Living 4 You. It is a spiffy stainless steel, portable alkalizer that has an amazing filter inside it. When you take the filter out and give it a little shake you’ve got a little Maraca thing going on. It has 13 unique minerals including Maifanshi stone, Muyu Jade, special clay, Tourmaline, nano silver, Kaolin earth, and others. It has two filters actually… one that stays in the inside the bottle always and one that needs changing after one year’s use. It does an amazing job of  removing many common contaminants and adding essential minerals to the water. It is definitely a keeper in my book.

Getting started was easy enough. I boiled some water and ran it through the alkalizer, letting it sit for 15 minutes. Then for subsequent use I just pour in some tap water or Brita filtered water and let it process for 15 minutes. When done the water tastes AMAZING. It just is just so tasty I can’t get over it. Way better than tap and even bottled water. I think I have noticed a difference in energy levels to, when I take it to the gym or for a hike/walk.

This past weekend I filtered water for the gym and for a 2.25 mile 10TV Commit to Be Fit hike. It took awhile to filter water for everyone that morning but it is so worth it in my opinion. I also did a test using pH strips to see if it really did the job or if it is hype. The pH strips do not lie. My tap water straight out of the faucet is acidic… although not nearly as bad as the bottled water my mom bought. After treatment in the Alkamate it was in alkaline territory. A+

It comes with a sleek, black carrying bag so that it is easy to take along with you. Just stick it in your purse and then you can filter water at restaurants, drinking fountains, etc. Most times I filter the water and take it with me in one of my other bottles but if I am going to be gone for an extended period of time I will be sure to take it along.

For more info check out Healthier Living 4 You and many thanks to them for sending me the Alkamate to review.

Cinnamon oil is 90% comprised of a pale yellow oily liquid called eugenol. This makes it antiseptic and antibacterial. This is also what is responsible for its reviving effects and immune boosting properties. The peppery, spicy aroma of cinnamon is perfect for helping to restore anyone who is feeling cold, weak, or tired. It has a stimulating effect on our mind and body and is thus effective in treating stress too. So how can you go beyond using cinnamon in your apple recipe to using it therapeutically?

Cinnamon oil is the most common way to utilize cinnamon but you might want to test a small section of your skin before you go whole hog, because it is some strong stuff and can cause irritation. You also should not use it while pregnant.

The essential oil can be placed in a carrier oil and then be massaged into the skin for help with digestive problems like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation and diarrhea. You can also put it on a warm compress for the abdomen. Since it is stimulating it can also be used on the extremities to improve circulation. Put some in a foot bath to revive tired or numb feet.

Use it as a room fragrance for a mood boost and to fumigate the room against infectants and illnesses. Cinnamon paired with a citrus scent like lemon or sweet orange smells divine! Cinnamon oil, tea tree oil, and lemon oil would make a great antiviral combo to go inside your vaporizer and hep fight against germs and bugs.

Inevitably when the germs start to make thier way into the house this fall and winter think about giving this medicinal herb a try. Enjoy!

Related: The Healing Power of Cloves

Awhile back I posted about how to make your own natural first aid kit. At the time I kept thinking it would be really awesome if someone offered a ready made product like this and surprise I recently found one. NaturoKits is offering naturopathic first aid kits with a nice collection of natural remedies for common ailments and accidents. This kit doesn’t have bandages and bandaids but those are easy to take care of on your own… the real meat in any first aid kit is the remedies and medicines.

The one you see above was graciously sent to me by NaturoKits and it is their Basic Kit. It has the following remedies:

Activated Charcoal – Intestinal upset – diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, and gas
Apis 30c – Stings
Arnica 30c – Bruising and muscle soreness
Calendula Succus – Burns, cuts, scrapes
Cantharis 30C – Burns and sunburns
Crisis Calm – Anxiety, irritability, fear, worry, grief, loss, and nervousness
Hypericum 30c – Nerve Pain
Ledum 30c – Bug bites and stings
Wild Weed Salve – Soothing itchy skin, chapped skin, minor cuts, and scrapes

It is full of flower essences, homeopathic remedies, botanical (herbal) medicines, and dietary supplements. All of these remedies come in a nice canvas tote bag and full instructions for each remedy, which it advises you to read over BEFORE you actually need anything from the kit.

The creators of the kit are actually naturopathic physicians and moms and they filled it what they consider to be the essentials. The ingredients merely aid your own body in the healing process, not interfere with it like so many conventional medications do. I haven’t had the need to actually use anything from the kit yet but I am happy to have it on hand just in case.

Check out there website to purchase kits or buy via Amazon. Enjoy!

When you think of helping the environment picking the right gym gear is not usually the first thing that comes to mind, but eco friendly gym gear can be a big step towards living a greener existence. Just think about how many people go to gyms each day. Each of those people might be packing a big bag full of stuff that they will use while they are there. It really adds up.

I have gym gear on the brain quite often now. Since joining a gym in March it has become a very big part of my routine. Devoting several hours a week to the gym has been a huge change for me (since I was mostly a walker/hiker before) and part of that change is needing to have the proper stuff to bring with me and hope I can keep the impact of new stuff down. Lots of the gym gear you see is made from plastic, even the clothing. While I may not be able to avoid all plastic and other planet-cringing materials, I like to think that you can keep it to a minimum with some careful planning. It also goes to follow that someone who cares about planetary health will also want items that are healthier on a personal level too. The exercise industry has sprung onto the green living bandwagon with aplomb, generating a whole host of eco-friendly equipment and gear that can be used by those who want to integrate green living into every aspect of their lives.

So what eco friendly options can you find to replace the mainstream gym bag and its contents?

The Eco Friendly Gym Bag – If you walk down the isle of a Wal-Mart or a Target to find a gym bag you will like end up with some sort of polyester (from plastic) gym bag. I have avoided this issue by just making do with a reuseable shopping bag I already had. I think it is made of some poly material but it is not new. If I do decide to get another one at some point I already have my eye on one made from recycled materials… this one from Gaiam. To hold wet things like swim suits you could get a wet bag like is used for diapers but I have just opted to wrap my wet stuff in my towel and hang it when I get home.

Organic Towels – If you have any beach towels at home you can just grab one of those to use after some pool time. If not you may want to check into organic beach towels like these from DreamSacks. They are made from bamboo and cotton. If you need something smaller, perhaps for yoga or the treadmill, a small hand towel from your towel closet will work or you can get a microfiber towel or one of these small bamboo gym towels.

Sustainable Workout Clothes – Workout clothing that is ‘environmentally conscious’ is widely available now; all it takes is a little research.  Keep your eye out for workout clothes made from organic and natural fibers OR recycled materials which are great for removing moisture. A minimal amount of synthetic fibers is preferred but sometimes you need something that wicks better than natural fibers and that is where recycled synthetics come in. Just be aware that synthetic fibers can become really stinky over time.

If you want to take it a step further, check into the businesses that sell or produce the products and make certain that they have sustainable business models and/or fair labor practices that correlate with your own world view.  Patagonia and Gaiam are two companies that are known for their eco-friendly practices and ideals. I love these Gaiam workout tanks and capri style yoga pants, which is what I wear. They’re organic!

Eco Gym Shoes – Footwear is another area where you can choose eco-friendly products.  The same ideals as those expressed in workout clothing apply, make sure that the products and company fit with your ecological ideals. One that comes to mind is the Green Silence. It is made with soy-based inks and recycled materials. The packaging is also 100% post-consumer recycled. I have read numerous reviews of them and all have been favorable. I also really like barefoot shoes and wrote a whole post about those and Okabashi recycled flip-flops for the gym showers and locker room.

Eco Water Bottles – It’s not cool to drink out of disposable plastic bottles so the best choice will obviously be to get a good reusable bottle. I love my glass water bottles but those aren’t very practical for the gym IMO. Since I already have it I usually use my Intak Thermos but this bamboo water bottle or the Klean Kanteen Stainless/Bamboo bottle would be awesome for the gym.

Other Stuff - Wood Earbuds and Eco Yoga Mats.

And if you really want to green your gym experience write a letter to management or chat them up while you are there about using green cleaners to sanitize the machines and wash the towels or using less chlorine in the pool. If their customers consistently make these demands they may just rise to the challenge.

How do YOU green your workout routine?

Every day there is more research being released about the dangers of soy in the diet, and if you aren’t already concerned about what has been discovered, the newest research will have you looking at soy in a whole new (and not necessarily good) way. I have long stayed away from soy but sadly in March I started eating some soy and did not even realize it… the results of this little oops have been a complete nightmare, but more on that later…

A Short History of Soy

Soy is a rather mundane plant that has recently seen an eye-popping increase in popularity. While soy farming originated in China back in 1100 BC, it was not grown for humans, but for animal feed and to help build up the fertility of the soil in between other harvests. In fact, soy beans were not considered fit to eat (for humans) until the Chinese discovered a way to ferment them; a process that made them digestible.

Today you’ll see that soy – fermented soy – is part of Asian diets in things like natto, miso, tamari and tempeh. Even so, Asians eat approximately 10-20 grams of soy on any given day. That is the equivalent of two+ teaspoons of soy (and fermented soy at that), and what they do consume is used mostly as a condiment to sprinkle on or add to other dishes, like soup. Interestingly enough, there is good reason to believe that the large amounts of soy recommended to Americans by soy manufactures (about ten times of the amount of soy found in the Japanese diet) can actually be harmful to your body.

Soy – Just What Your Body Doesn’t Need

So just what is the problem with soy? Well, for one thing soy is higher in phytoestrogens than most any other known food. A phytoestrogen is a plant-based estrogen that mimics the estrogen created by the human body (large amounts in women, smaller amounts in men). While there have been studies done to ‘prove’ that the phytoestrogens are good for you, the truth is that most of the studies conducted were financed and ordered by the soy manufactures, and independent researchers have show that phytoestrogens consumed by humans who are already producing estrogen, can be dangerous to many of the body’s systems.

In fact, there is suspicion that the increasing numbers of breast cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, infertility and low libido may be related to the increase in phytoestrogens. Interestingly enough each of these conditions is known to stem from unopposed estrogen (or estrogen dominance) in the body, and we’re starting our children off early by having them consume soy formula.

A frightening fact is that if a baby consumes the recommended amount of soy formula in a day, they are ingesting the equivalent of four birth controls worth of estrogen every day. This fact alone may very well account for the increasing number of young girls entering puberty before the age of ten.

Soy is Goitrogenic

A not well-known danger of soy is that it is goitrogenic, or thyroid suppressing. A goitrogen works by preventing your thyroid from getting the amount of iodine it needs, eventually leading to thyroid failure. Once the thyroid starts to fail you gain weight, begin having mood swings, get cold and tired easily and start having problems remembering details. It can turn into a right nightmare, and is not something that you want to play around with.

Soy Contains Phytates

A Phytate is an enzyme inhibitor that blocks mineral absorption at the level of the digestive tract. Phytates can be found (naturally) in all grains, seeds, nuts and legumes, all of which either need to be processed, shelled, soaked or in some other way processed in order to make them digestible, but soy contains such a high amount of phytates that it is nearly impossible to get rid of them. In fact, the only way to make soy digestible for humans is to ferment it. Fermented soy products include miso, tempeh, natto or soy sauce (tamari).

Soy Contains Trypsin Inhibitors

As if the concerns listed above weren’t enough, soy is also high in trypsin inhibitors. Trypsin is a digestive enzyme that enables us to digest protein. Without it eating protein produces all sorts of side effects such as diarrhea, bleeding and stomach cramps.

So What is the Solution? It would be very easy to say that soy should be banned as a food product, but maybe we should take a leaf from the Asian’s book and treat soy not as a staple of our diets, but as a condiment that can be eaten in small amounts, but otherwise avoided so as not to open ourselves up to the multitude of problems that too much soy in a diet can cause.

So what has my experience been? Well I found out first hand about how soy is goitrogenic. In March I did two new things… I joined a gym and started eating eating a pre-workout protein bar. I picked some up initially just to try and loved the way they tasted. I wasn’t looking for performance enhancement just something that would be good fuel for morning workouts because I struggle to have an appetite for breakfast. Eating nothing until after 2:00 PM is not a good idea anyway but eating nothing and then working out for 2 hours seemed like a really bad idea. Since I don’t usually eat much processed food other than some Chobani pineapple yogurt it never even occurred to me to read the ingredients list. I eat whole, fresh foods so I never have to! Even so, it was a total bonehead thing for me to do.

I won’t name the bar specifically since it really doesn’t matter. I have since found out that 95% of those workout/health bars are loaded with soy, as was the one I was eating. I started out eating 1 bar 3 days a week and then I started eating them daily. By the end of month two I noticed my hair was falling out. Not little strands here and there but alarming chunks. I also noticed that I had 3 consecutive and supremely awful menstrual cycles. My periods are usually very uneventful. I don’t even get cramps so I had no idea what was going on but then toward the end of the third month was looking over my SparkPeople menus from previous months and found that my symptoms coincided with my joining the gym and eating those bars. It was a light bulb moment.. thank you SparkPeople! They deserve a separate post.

Anyway, I immediately went to the ingredients listing on the bars  and saw the soy. Case solved… I had been eating daily doses of unfermented soy and the plant estrogens were wreaking havoc on my body. But what exactly did they do? Well, I went to the doctor and had some blood drawn. The results were not good. I had become hypothyroid and they wanted me to take medication pronto. The goitrogenic soy combined with 3 weekly chlorine baths in the gym pool (chlorine blocks iodine receptors in the thyroid gland) had led my thyroid to malfunction.

Now I must disclose that hypothyroidism is rampant in my family… my father and older brother have it but I think a healthy diet kept it at bay for me until I royally screwed up. I have since read dozens and dozens of articles that link soy consumption to thyroid problems so I feel confident that is was the major culprit. Plus I felt great before the soy experience. Now I am kind of unsure of my next move. What I want to do is ride this out for awhile and see if a healthy diet can reverse the issue but frankly the thought of losing any more hair scares me. I tried the medication they gave me with much anxiety but stopped taking it after it made me all flushed and gave me a rash. And it made me tired which I never felt beforehand and that is what supposed to be what hypothyroidism does. Confusing much? Pharma meds and I don’t get along well and never have.

Read my follow-up to this post here with Natural Ways to Improve Thyroid Function. I also tell you about another soy caused health problem.

Recommended Reading:

The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America’s Favorite Health Food

But what do we do when we end up getting burned anyway? It happens.

Well, there are some natural ways to reduce skin damage and help soothe your irritated skin. You can buy a couple products that claim to soothe sunburned skin but the two front runners.. Burt’s Bees After Sun Soother and Kiss My Face Sun Soother both scored a moderate hazard on EWG’s safety database (5,3). Depending on how rarely you need to use products like these that may be acceptable.. or not. You can also make your own using a couple natural remedies and since the ingredients are so useful to have on hand anyway… why not?

* Take a cool shower, air dry a bit and then rub coconut oil on the burned areas to seal in moisture.

* Hydrate with lots of water and fresh juices and use cool compresses.

* Mix a couple drops of Lavender essential oil with plain yogurt and rub on the affected area.

* Apply cool cucumber slices.

* Apply cooled chamomile tea compresses.

* Spray skin with vinegar and tea tree oil.

* Mix together Aloe Vera, coconut oil, and Vitamin E oil and rub on skin.

* Mix Aloe Vera with about 10 drops of peppermint oil and use a spray bottle to apply to skin.

Aloe Vera is a super powerful healing ingredient, and coconut oil and vitamin E will help moisturize, soothe, and heal. Peppermint and Chamomile help soothe as well. It is best to use products on your skin that you could also eat if you wanted to, organic too.

What do you do to soothe sunburned skin?

It first goes into how the author was badly injured while roller blading and how he could not run anymore without great pain. Not being able to run, when you are a runner is hard to explain but it is kind of like a druggie not be able to get his drugs. Bad analogy I know but running gives you an all natural high that has no equal. Run in the morning and you can be riding a natural high all day long. Its an amazing mood booster.

Anyway the author found that he was able to run again by running barefoot. The book contains all the research he has done on this subject since and he makes quite a compelling case. Right from the beginning many natural parents opt to buy their babies soft sole shoes because so many pediatricians tell us that it is better for foot health if their feet can feel and grip the surfaces they are walking on. We see first hand how they walk like Frankenstein when we put heavy, clunky shoes on them. Yes, they eventually learn. We all do. But there is certainly some compelling evidence for why barefoot is better.

Now that said I am not running barefoot now. I still prefer some sort of shoes so I jumped on the minimal shoes bandwagon and got some shoes that are as close to barefoot as you can get while still having the outer protection of a shoe. It hadn’t escaped my notice how popular these types of shoes are getting either. The primal/paleo diet crowd have been fans for awhile and their idea is that barefoot shoes bring us closer to the caveman days. One of the primal blogs I read has a header photo of the blogger wearing the shoes I opted to get… Vibram Five Fingers sprint shoes, in bright blue.

Yes, they look a little strange but they are VERY comfortable. You can hike in them, run in them, swim in them… just about anything. You feel close to being barefoot and yet they are sturdy and offer a lot of protection. Many other runner’s have stopped me to ask me if I am having knee pain wearing shoes with no support but I just explain that my feet are meant to be natural shock absorbers. Our feet have lots nerve endings, fewer only then our hands and genitals, and the reason for that is because they sense our environment and automatically make needed adjustments so that we step with care. Shoes can mess that all up and even weaken our feet because we aren’t using them the way we should be.

My husband laughed when I bought these shoes and then purchased a second pair of Shape-ups for himself. He laughed even harder when he saw me wearing them to the gym (yeah they look kind of silly, I admit that) but now he has been dropping hints that the Shape-Ups aren’t so great for his own workouts. If only I were a “told you so” kinda gal. And they do get a lot of attention at the gym and from other runner’s but its good attention.

This book has a lot of good info in it and it supports the general idea that we really do have a super computer (our body) at our disposal that can help us take each step in a healthy and safe way. But we are putting padded shoes on our super computer consoles kind of like putting boxing gloves on before we type. It makes a good case for barefoot running and just going barefoot more often in general… adults, kids, even the elderly who seem to have balance issues as they get older. Also has information on the spiritual and sensual aspects of going barefoot as well as exercises to get you ready and advice on cold weather running (think snow on the ground). There is something for everyone. I highly recommend it.

Old Wisdom for a New World

Many folks are afraid to dig in and try to use natural remedies because they still find it all very mysterious. Using leaves, flowers, roots, or dried herbs to heal what ails them still sounds so much like Hocus Pocus and it scares them a bit. The ingredients sounds so exotic and hard to find and they have no idea what a tincture is so why bother right?

It is actually MUCH easier to get started than you think. You don’t even have to be very knowledgeable or brave… you just have to start somewhere and start learning. Herbal remedies are easy, natural, inexpensive in relation to pharma meds, and they are very effective for a broad range or ailments and complaints. Considering all the help they can provide it amazing how much fewer side effects they have when compared to the miracle pills you get at the doctor. The laundry list of side effects you hear about during pharma commercials is downright scary and you just don’t have all that with herbal remedies. Not only do they work to cure what ails you they can actually enhance your health and strengthen your immune system, not just cover up unsavory symptoms. Best of all you can turn your kitchen into your very own apothecary and and use natural ingredients to help with everything from indigestion to menstrual cramps.

After doing a bit of research you will start to make a list of the herbs you want to track down and use in your home brewing. Herbs need special care if you want them to last so store them in a cool, dark place, preferably in dark glass or ceramic containers. If you bought them in plastic make sure to remedy that immediately. I like this Libby set of herb jars but they would need to be stored in a dark place. You could easily find small jars just like these at a flea market, estate auction, or yard sale. They may not match but that will just help you identify the ones you need faster.

Techniques of Herbal Medicine

Tincture – Herbs soaked in alcohol to make an extract.

Infusion – A drink (can be hot or cold) made with leaves, flower, or herbs.

Syrup – An infusion sweetened with honey or sugar.

Tonic – a drink designed to energize or stimulate some part of the body or body system.

Compress – cloth soaked in some sort of herbal infusion that can then be pressed over an area of the body like a wound.

Poultice – a moist mass of plant materials (like leaves) or herbs pressed over a wound or affected area of the body.

Ointment – a cream infused with the juices or essential oils of plants and herbs.

Complimentary Therapies

Homeopathy – Treating individuals with highly diluted substances or compounds to trigger the body’s own natural system of healing.

Aromatherapy – Using aromatic essential oils and plant essences to alter a person’s mind, mood, cognitive function, or health.

Chinese Herbalism – A component of traditional Chinese medicine where herbs are used, often in conjunction with other techniques, such as acupuncture or massage.

Ayurveda – Herbs are used to help balance the doshas or energy types (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) and get rid of illness and disease by restoring that balance.

A good place to start your research would be The Herbal Home Remedy Book: Simple Recipes for Tinctures, Teas, Salves, Tonics, and Syrups. For more practical advice on natural healing I HIGHLY recommend this awesome ebook written by a talented mama and blogger called Herbal Nurturing. It rocks! And of course you all know I love the Wildcraft game that teaches you all about herbs while you play.

Ready to give it a try or are you already embracing the herbs? I would love to hear!

One of the first “alternative” healing methods that ever interested me was aromatherapy. I loved the idea that so many plants were actually a powerhouse of amazing properties and that you could use their very essence to tap into healing. The idea that one woman may decide to take a variety of drugs to help with headaches and another may look to flowers and leaves and get better results is kind of intoxicating. Unlike eating a plant or a flower aromatherapy revolves around inhaling the plant essence.

Aromatherapy oils are actually essential oils sourced from plants. You can get them highly concentrated or inside carrier oils where they are diluted. They range from lavender to lemon and everything in between and they offer a number of therapeutic benefits, cleaning help and even health benefits.

Ten Ways  to Add a Little Aromatherapy Magic to Your Home

1. A Homemade Water Diffuser and Room Freshener. Add six to eight drops of your favorite essential oil to a bowl of very hot water. You can then place the bowl on any table or counter where you need it. Another trick is to add the drops to a pan of boiling water or even to your shower. Choose your essential oils based on your mood or need. For example, if you want relaxation, lavender or neroli scents are ideal. If you’re looking to get rid of germs, try the antiseptic qualities of tea tree or juniper berry.

2. Room Deodorizer. Add a few drops of essential oils to water in a spray bottle and keep it handy in rooms that often need freshening, like the bathroom or kitchen. You can also spray freshen linens with lavender spray to help you relax or spray them with ylang ylang to make the mood more sensual.

3. A Closet Freshener. Add a few drops of essential oils to some pieces of cotton or wool cloth and place in drawers or on closet shelves, a little goes a long way. A cloth hankie is perfect for this. Lavender, cedar or sandalwood are nice choices.

4. Heat Diffuser. You can make use of your heating vent by placing a few drops of essential oils on a cotton ball or wool ball and place inside a heating vent or just in front of it. When your furnace kicks on the blower will help spread the scent throughout your home. You can get the same results putting a saucer of water and oils on top of your radiator. This is an easy way to use heat for disbursement without investing in aromatherapy gadgets or special diffusers.

5. Sinus Remedy. If you’re ill or struggling with congestion you can make your own steam inhalation remedy. Place eucalyptus oil, ginger oil, or tea tree oil in hot water. Put a towel over your head and lean over the water to trap the steam and breathe deeply.

6. Refrigerator Deodorizer. Place several drops of orange, mint or lemon oil in a bucket of warm water. With a clean sponge, use the water to clean out your refrigerator.

7. Counter Cleaner. Add lemon, thyme, or eucalyptus oil to equal parts distilled white vinegar and water. Use it to clean your kitchen and bathroom surfaces as you normally would.

8. Light bulb room freshener. Place a drop of your favorite oil on your light bulbs but make sure to do this when the bulbs are cold. When the bulb heats up after you turn it on, it will heat the oil and fill the room with scent. For increased energy and invigoration use grapefruit, peppermint, lemon, or black pepper.

9. Furniture polish. Add four to six drops of lemon essential oil to half a cup of olive oil. With a clean dry rag, use the oil to polish wood furniture.

10. Make aromatherapy compresses. A ginger infused compress can help with sore muscles or the onset of a cold. A chamomile compress works well on sunburns, rashes, sprains, and menstrual cramps.

Essential oils fill your home with fresh and natural scents and the healing powers of the plants they are sourced from. You can be sure you’re providing your loved ones with a safe environment free from harmful chemicals when you use aromatherapy oils to clean and deodorize your home, freshen it up, or comfort life’s bumps and bruises.

Recommended: The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

I am a worrier. BIG time. It started when I was a child and I worried about grades, tests, what people thought of me, giving speeches in my ministry school, ect. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that my father was a minister and an elder in our church and my mother was a full time missionary. It was drilled into me that any misstep on my part could mean I stumbled someone else and they would lose their everlasting inheritance. That is a lot of pressure for a kid and I became perpetually anxious. The one only wrinkle I have on my 33 year old face is a line between my eyebrows from frowning… or worrying.

Learning how stop worrying is something many of us wish we could do. And in truth, we can. Worry is inevitable in some situations, but many of us worry far more than we need to. Worry has simply become a habit and, like all habits, it can be broken.

Can Worrying Can Be Productive?

There are two types of worry. The first is the kind of worry that’s good for us, that makes sure we take care of things we need to, like turn off the coffee pot. The second kind of worry is just a waste of time and leads to mental exhaustion and stress – this is the kind of worry over things that we have no control over.

Think carefully about what you’re worrying about. Learning how not to worry means learning how to differentiate between the two types of worry. If it IS something you can do something about, make sure you take steps to do that. If you sit there doing nothing you’ll only keep worrying. If you know you’ve done all that you can, and there’s nothing more you can do, keep telling that to yourself to put it out of your mind. I usually get a burning sensation in my stomach and chest when I am worrying so that is a physical sign that I need to let it go. It also reminds me that worry and stress are bad for my health.

If I am driving downtown for instance and don’t know the place I need to go by memory (which I hate to do) I will feel that burning and I have to breathe deeply for a few moments and remind myself that if I cannot find the place I can turn around and go home. There is no reason I HAVE to be anxious if I can’t find the place.

When I am at home and I feel that sensation I will go in the bathroom, take off my shirt, and let the shower blast me with cold water for a few seconds. It gives me jolt, gets the blood pumping, and immediately snaps me out of my worry mode. Try it!

Catch Yourself When You’re Worrying

Many of us get carried away with worrying without even noticing! Sometimes we can be doing one thing and suddenly find our thoughts wandering, or we start looking up things on the internet related to our worry. Unless this is going to do something to solve a problem, it’s a waste of time.

But how do you catch yourself? It is going to take practice. If you find yourself worrying at work, put a post-it on your computer or your desk. It doesn’t have to say “stop worrying” – it could be as simple as a picture of a smiley face to remind you to take control of your thoughts again. You also need to be actively looking for worrying thoughts. You won’t always catch worry out quickly, but you’ll gradually catch yourself sooner and sooner.

Remember, learning how not to worry takes practice. At first you might not think that these strategies are working, but with practice you’ll find that taking your mind away from your worries is easier and easier.

How do you let go of worry?

Related article: 6 Natural Ways to Beat Stress