Commercials and the media today have us all in panic not to leave the house until we have slopped on layers of sun block, demonizing the sun as the biggest contributor to skin cancer, which actually is one of the many things that effectively fight cancer. I have often wondered what is in most sun blocks, and what else could it be doing to my body other than preventing a sun burn, which not always works. Much of this curiosity hit me after I had realized how permeable our skin is. I do understand that too much sun is not good, we do not want the skin to become burned, and if you are planning to be in the sun for long periods of time, it is very wise to use sun protection, but slopping on layers on sun block every time we leave the house concerns me.

The sun is the absolute best way our bodies receive the amount of vitamin D it needs to maintain optimal health. Sun block does more than prevent sun burn; it also prevents your skin from producing the very important vitamin D, which to me seems like a complete waste of sun exposure. The most natural skin care treatment one can receive is from the sun. The right amount of sun exposure is very critical for not just healthier skin, but a healthier immune system as well.

In just the past 10 years alone many scientists have been exploring vitamin D more and more rapidly, and are amazed how it affects the body. Some experts suggest that over 80% of children and adults are deficient in vitamin D, which deficiency in vitamin D causes the immune system to not do its job properly.

Vitamin D helps the body produce over 200 antimicrobial peptides that fight off infections such as Crohn’s disease. Vitamin D also helps prevent and treat many cancers such as lymphoma, lung, prostate, colon and skin cancer. Scientist and Doctors are beginning to discover more and more benefits of vitamin D, and are encouraging more so today than ever before, not just those who are deficient, but everyone to get their vitamin D levels checked 3-4 times a year.

You may live in an area where you cannot receive the right amount of vitamin D from the sun and are deficient. If this is the case you can take vitamin D supplements, but want to be careful you are receiving the right amount. When receiving vitamin D naturally from the sun the body self regulates the amount it needs through the skin. The body does not do this when taking vitamin D orally. Too much vitamin D can be harmful which is why it is very important to have your blood tested. The optimal level of vitamin D should be between 55-65 ng/ml. There are two different test available, 1, 25 (OH) D, and 25(OH) D. The 25 (OH) D which is also called 25-hydroxyvitamin D is most recommended by doctors as the better marker for vitamin D status.

Most important things to consider when wanting to obtain vitamin D naturally from the sun, is common sense, “don’t overdo it”! For the first few times being exposed to the sun limit yourself to about fifteen minutes or so, before protecting your skin from the sun’s rays, gradually build a tolerance. By midsummer you can spend nearly an entire day outside without getting sunburn, and of course if you are going to be exposed to extreme sun conditions for great lengths of time, then yes, protect your skin, whether it is wearing a hat, clothing, or using a natural sun screen, that is free from harmful chemicals.

Gentle, relaxing lymphatic massage can help you fight off illness and heal from injuries.  Despite its feather-light touch, it offers powerful benefits for your immune system.

If you knew that there was a gentle, safe, and relaxing technique that could

* help you heal from illness, injury and surgery;
* promote a healthy immune system;
* reduce inflammation;
* support the health of your entire body;
* and promote healthy, radiant skin

–would you do it?

I’m guessing you would!

That procedure is lymphatic massage- (also called lymphatic facilitation or manual lymphatic drainage). It increases lymph flow eight to ten times. This removes harmful substances from your tissues, nourishes tissues, reduces inflammation, and generally increases immune function.

Developed as a manual therapy in Europe, it has been well researched and used in hospitals and clinics for decades.

It can speed recovery from

* sprains, strains, and sore muscles
* acute injuries
* congestion due to allergies
* surgery
* wounds (as long as there is no infection present)
* congested sinuses
* acne
* headaches
* swollen ankles, puffy eyes, etc.
* allergies/allergic reactions
* toxic side effects of drugs administered for surgery or other medical purposes
* scarring.

It also helps people manage the symptoms of fibromyalgia and arthritis.

Skin Health
Lymphatic work to the face is a lovely, gentle, treatment that enhances skin health, thereby improving skin appearance.  Done regularly, it can keep skin looking healthier. Facial lymphatic work can also help improve acne.

Pre- and –Post-Surgical Support
More and more doctors—especially plastic surgeons–are becoming aware of the value of manual lymphatic drainage before and after surgery to help clients heal. Many plastic surgeons routinely recommend it for their cosmetic surgery patients. (Post-surgical treatment needs a doctor’s permission.)

A Light, Relaxing Touch
People are often surprised about how light lymphatic facilitation is. It doesn’t feel anything like a “normal” massage (which provides deeper pressure into the skin and muscles of the body).

That’s because this form of bodywork works with the lymphatic system, rather than the muscles, and over half of the lymph nodes and vessels are just underneath the skin.  A deep or heavy touch would close off, rather than encourage, lymphatic flow.

The feather-light strokes and soft, pumping action stimulate lymphatic flow, with powerful results both for general wellness and for specific conditions including inflammation, traumatic injuries such as strains and sprains, headaches, sinus issues, healing from surgery, osteoarthritis, skin conditions, and swelling from unresolved injuries such as ankle sprains.

Lymphatic facilitation is also deeply relaxing. This too helps boost immune function.

How It Works: the Lymph System
The lymph system is a critical part of our immune system, playing a crucial role in the body’s ability to heal from injury, ward off disease, and purify itself.  It includes a network of thin vessels, nodes, tissues, ducts, and organs (e.g. spleen, thymus, bone marrow) throughout your entire body.

The lymphatic system has three major functions:

* It removes excess fluids from body tissues.
* It defends the body against harmful micro-organisms.
* It absorbs fats and fat-soluble vitamins from the digestive system and transports them to the circulatory system.

The lymphatic system has no pumping mechanism (such as the heart has for arterial blood flow) and depends on muscle contraction through deep, abdominal breathing and exercise to move its fluid.

A sluggish lymphatic system can contribute to many health issues, including an increase in the frequency and severity of illnesses; joint pain; headaches; arthritis; fatigue; acne; slow healing of wounds; and swelling in extremities.

When the lymphatic drainage becomes impaired for some reason, lymphatic massage, with its ultra-light touch and pumping motion performed in the correct sequence and direction, can greatly increase lymphatic flow.  This helps the body remove toxins; brings white blood cells and nutrients to cells; and decreases inflammation.

Contraindications
As with all massage therapies, there are some contraindications. These include having a bacterial infection anywhere in the body, malignant tumors, thrombosis and major heart  or circulatory problems. Your therapist should screen you for these issues before giving you a lymphatic treatment.

Conclusion
Of course, you should always consult your medical doctor if you have or think you have a medical problem. But if you are basically healthy and seeking to enhance your health and healingFree Reprint Articles, lymphatic massage can be a valuable complement to your regular wellness program.

Yeast infections could come from lots of different types of microorganisms. In common cases it is well known as Candida albicans and if you do not treat it well, it can cause a lot of problems. Although the yeasts naturally live inside our body, sometimes they overgrow and can become a real health issue. That happens not because the yeast itself is a problem. It happens because there is an imbalance condition in our body and it is no longer able to fight the grown yeasts naturally.

Many natural cures are available for curing all types of yeast infections and one of the most popular is apple cider vinegar. But to be sure that it will work well for you, you have to make to sure to take it every day with no exceptions. Many people have problems with drinking concentrated vinegar because of its taste, but it does not necessary have to be that hard. Just dissolve a spoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and it is not so awful any more, and in time you will get used to the taste.

Apple cider vinegar helps our body performance back in balance. It is not only an excellent natural cure for candida infections, it helps to bring our body in an overall good condition. Many people (man and women) that have been drinking apple cider vinegar for years claim that they rarely ever get sick, let alone have a yeast infection. When you are able to drink apple cider vinegar and balance your body in this way, many good things can happen.

Apple cider vinegar may look to you as a simple cure, but you will definitely be surprised to see how well it works. You will very soon start to see the overall benefits that come from drinking a little bit of vinegar every day, and then you will make it a life long habit. It will help to keep the yeast infections from recurring again, and it will make you feel great overall.

As a tropical fruit pineapple contains a proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which could help in the digestion of protein. Pineapple also could prevent blood clot formation because of its bromelain content.

Pineapple is one of those foods that would bring pleasure to eat. A good, juicy ripe pineapple can satisfy a sweet craving as well as any chocolate bar. Besides the fact that pineapple is a delicious food, it also has many health benefits.

A cup of fresh pineapple chunks contains 73% of the manganese the body needs for the day. Manganese, a trace mineral, is needed to build bone and connective tissues. A latest study proven that a combination of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, and manganese offered significant improvement of symptoms for people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee.

Nutritional Value:

Pineapple’s nutrients include calcium, potassium, fiber ,and vitamin c It is low in fat and cholesterol. Vitamin c is the body’s primary water soluble antioxidant, against free radicals that attack and damage normal cells. It is also a good source of vitamin B1, vitamin B6, copper and dietary fiber.

Pineapple juice also relives sore throats and bronchitis. However, it should not be used by those with Hemophilia or by those with diseases of the kidneys and liver. It can be useful for heart patients but it seems to reduce the time taken to coagulate the blood which is not good for those with kidney and liver disease.

Pineapples provide an ample supply of vitamin C too, a commonly known antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage and boosts the immune system. Vitamin C helps build and repair bodily tissue and promotes wound healing. The body uses vitamin C to help metabolize fats and cholesterol, absorb iron, and synthesize amino acids and collagen. Collagen is one of the primary building blocks of skin, cartilage and bones. Vitamin C also decreases the severity of colds and infections.

Pineapple is high in anti-oxidants. A very good source of vitamin C, pineapple offers your body an excellent protection against free-radicals, substances that attack healthy cells. A build up of free-radicals can lead to atherosclerosis and diabetic heart disease, an increase in asthma attacks and an increased risk of developing certain cancers, such as colon cancer. Free-radicals have also been shown to accentuate the problems associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.This fruits if high in fibre content which helps in easy bowel movement.Pineapple helps in curing stomach problems as diarrhoea.It is used in beauty industry to remove warts.

Pineapple has been thought good for heart conditions and indeed should not be used by people with haemophilia or by those with diseases of the kidneys and liver. This is because it seems to reduce the time taken to coagulate the blood – which is why it can be useful for heart patients.

Pineapple is good for your gums: Furthermore, due to its high vitamin C content, pineapples are good for your oral health as well. Vitamin C can reduce your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. Besides increasing the ability of connective tissue to repair itself, vitamin C also increases the body’s ability to fight invading bacteria and other toxins that contribute to gum disease. Periodontal disease, which destroys gum tissue and underlying jaw bones, has been linked to heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

Breastfeeding is the act of naturally feeding an infant with milk produced in the mother’s breast. This has unlimited amounts of benefits for the baby not only breast milk is healthier but the action of feeding the child is a moment of love in which the baby learns to bond, smell and caress with the mother as she gives nourishment and affection. Without a doubt breast milk is the best food for a newborn, nothing comes even closer to provide all the nutrients that the baby will need later in life. Breast milk is much easier to digest then any formula in the market, at the same time it provides protection against infections, prevents future food allergies, helps the growth of healthy teeth, and most important it improves brain development. Studies had shown that breastfed babies are more intelligent than formula fed babies.

However, many mothers stop breastfeeding after the third or fourth month switching to formula and later to cow’s milk, this certainly robs the baby of the special qualities that breast milk offers. Infants that stop nursing before the forth month are at risk of developing asthma, food and respiratory allergies, intestinal bacteria, and oral weaknesses (poor teeth development).

Sometimes a mother can not breastfed her baby due to a number of reasons, such as, low quality of milk, breast pain, infection, etc. That’s when herbs come into play, many midwifes have used them for years to improve quality and quantity of milk, to fight infection and much more, take a look at the following conditions and the natural ways to treat them.

Low quality or quantity of milk

Low quality of milk can be cause by medications or a poor diet, many antibiotics contaminate the milk and a diet high in caffeine may cause colics and sleeping problems for the baby it is very important the the mother keeps eating a well balance diet after giving birth, and preferably foods with no traces of pesticides these poisons become highly concentrated in the milk.

The use of a breast pump may inhibit the production of milk, lowering the amount available to the baby, this gives the false idea that the infant should be change to formula in order for him to be satisfied, when in fact the problem is the quantity of milk that the mother is producing.

Herbs can help with both of these common problems.

We recommend

- Eat alfalfa or take it in capsules, it stimulates lactation, improves quality and quantity of milk.

- Chaste tree Increases flow of milk, by affecting pituitary’s prolactin secretion.

- Chinese use an herb called codonopsis to increase lactation and strengthen the blood.

- Goat’s rue this herb is been used by midwifes for hundreds of years to improve breast milk production by as much as 50 %.

- Vervain encourages milk secretion and flow, it also increases absorption of nutrients from food and helps with postpartum depression.

- Milk thistle promotes production of milk and decreases pesticide residues in breast and milk.

TIP: Did you know that tight bras may stop the milk production and cause plugged ducts?.

- Cumin helps increase milk production.

- Caraway, aniseed, dill, and fennel promote flow of best milk. It can be taken in form of teas or infusion.

- If you are prone to chills while breastfeeding and have poor quality of milk use calcarea.

Engorgement

Breast engorgement is a very common problem that start affecting the mother in the first two or three weeks after delivery and is more annoying to women with poor skin elasticity. Engorgement is due to milk excessively filling the breast together with blood and fluid retention in the same area.

Usually the breast feels full, hard, tight, tender, painful, the breast feels hot to the touch and a fever may develop, the baby may have a hard time to latch on and suck.

We recommend

- Take a handful of Confrey leaves and steam them for a few minutes wrapped in a gauze and placed on the breast are very helpful relieving engorgement.

- Take the homeopathic remedy Belladonna 6X.

- Soak a towel in hot water and place it on the breast ten minutes before feeding.

- Poke root reduces swollen breast and pain. Use under doctor supervision.

- Elder is used to reduce swelling of engorged breast.

- Chamomile help control inflamed breast.

- Give your baby frequent feeds on both breast 10 to 15 minutes each.

- Use a pump to extract milk between feedings to control engorgement.

- Massage the breast while feeding to help milk flow easily.

- Mix 2 quarts of boiling water.

- tsp. of vitex berries. 2 tsp. of blessed thistle leaves. 1 tsp. of nettle leaves. 1/2 tsp. fenugreek seed. 1/2 tsp. anise seed. Let it steep for 30 minutes, strain and drink 2 cups a day.

- Bryonia reduces swollen and hard breasts.

- Pulsatilla and calcarea is very helpful reducing the size and hardness of engorged breasts.

- When the production of milk is excessive and produces engorgement a cold compress using peppermint oil should be used.

- A compress of marshmallow and slippery elm often reduces engorgement.

Plugged duct

This is a problem that occurs when the baby does not empty the breast completely on each feeding, the milk remaining in the duct hardens and blocks the duct eventually plugging it. Tight bras can cause plugged ducts as well. If the breast feels sore
it might be a sign of plugged ducts. A plugged duct should be taking care of as soon as possible, if not so it can develop into Mastitis.

We recommend

- Castor oil helps with inflammation and pain.

- Elder is used to reduce swelling of plugged breast ducts.

- Queen’s delight Clears congestion of lymphatic vessels, stimulates white blood cells to react to infection.

- Check your nipples everyday, if you see dry milk on them or dark dots remove them with a cotton and warm water and feed your child as soon a s possible from that breast.

- Place the baby in different positions every time, this will ensure that all ducts are being used.

- Place hot towels on the breast or run hot water over them in the shower.

- Massage the breast in the direction of the nipple to try to get the milk to come out. Mastitis

Mastitis is a condition that results when a plugged duct becomes infected, the breast swells due to a bacteria that enters through tinny cracks on the nipples. The breast infected with mastitis becomes red and painful with pus secretion other symptoms are fever, fatigue, vomiting or nausea.

We recommend

- Take poke root this helps mastitis. Use under doctor supervision.

- Queen’s delight Clears congestion of lymphatic vessels, stimulates white blood cells to react to infection.

- Place hot towels on the breast or run hot water over them in the shower.

- Elder is used to reduce swelling of breast infected with mastitis.

- Rest as much as you can.

- Drink lots of water or alfalfa juice.

- Coat your nipples with breast milk after feeding.

- There are antibiotics that are safe for nursing mothers and their babies, see your doctor if your case is very severe. However we recommend that you try to avoid antibiotic as much as you can.

- Wash your hands before and after feeding, to prevent bacteria contamination.

- Dandelion is very helpful and popular herb to treat mastitis.

- The chinese use gentian to cure mastitis.

- Madder root is useful in relieving mastitis.

Cracked nipples

Cracked nipples can develop when the baby is being position wrongly or by using damp breast pads. The nipple becomes irritated, redBusiness Management Articles, and painful in some cases bleeding may develop.

- Calendula cream will soothe and encourage the healing of cracked nipples and is safe for the baby to swallow.

- The homeopathic remedy called chamomilla helps heal cracked nipples.

- The homeopathic remedy called pulsatilla helps heal cracked nipples.

- Sulfur is also helpful for cracked nipples.

- Apply vitamin E to sore and cracked nipples.