Natural Sleep Remidies

Discount vitamins can give the first responders in our bodies the equipment they need to fight disease and aging by boosting our immune systems. So much depends upon this misunderstood, complex collection of organs and glands, yet most people take their immune system for granted. They don’t know they have low immunity until a problem breaks out elsewhere. The immune system is not only the dragon at the door battling all attackers, but the canary in the cage — the first system to be compromised when a person’s health takes a turn for the worst.

Our society depends upon first responders, like firefighters, police, and medical teams. They can’t respond to emergency without the proper tools, and neither can our immune systems. That means good nutrition. When human beings were still hunter-gatherers living in trees and caves, they had a more balanced diet; now much of the junk food people consume is actually harmful to the body. Stress, aging, prescription drugs, tobacco and alcohol, poor diet, too little sleep, and too much work all contribute to a weakened immune system. Plus every year brings new threats from bird flu and other emerging viruses until humanity is virtually under siege.

Now it’s time to reinforce the immune system with those important vitamins, amino acids, and enzymes that make a difference in the body. It’s never too late to begin a vitamin regimen for general good health, especially when multivitamins have become so common. Several recent studies have shown the benefits of adding supplements to the average diet to boost the immune system.

Vitamin D-3
The importance of Vitamin D in all its forms have been known for centuries, for as long as humans have consumed milk. In the Journal of Immunotherapy, 2000, Volume 23, scientists reported how Vitamin D-3 treatments in mice enhanced the immune system’s reaction toward tumors. Studies showed that Vitamin D-3 increased T-cell immune activity against tumors and lessened the chance of spreading to other tissue, or metastasis. In mice and humans, a tumor leads to an increase in a bone marrow cell called CD34, which naturally suppresses the effectiveness of healthy T-cells to fight the tumor. Vitamin D-3 give T-cells a boost, lowers CD34, and keeps the tumor from spreading. This is exactly the kind of help the immune system needs.

Enzymes
Enzymes are one of the least understood of proteins, but also one of the most important for healthy immunology. Enzymes catalyze chemical reactions in the body — they’re like the sewage system, treating substances entering the body. Because enzymes can be inhibited or accelerated by other substances and conditions, they can sometimes do more harm than good. A stomachache is a simple example of this, and a common remedy is taking an antacid, which attempts to inhibit digestive enzymes in the stomach. Telomerase is an interesting enzyme that’s been getting a lot of press. Found in stem cells, it allows cells to grow faster and live longer, and it’s one of the reasons that stem cells duplicate so quickly. Whether Telomerase is the Fountain of Youth or one of the reasons for rapid cancer growth is still being researched, but common enzymes are known to help eyesight, digestion, and cell regeneration.

Antioxidants
In both the human body and the lawn furniture, oxidation is a chemical process best avoided. There’s growing research that antioxidants help to protect virtually every cell in the human body, and we are discovering more and more antioxidants all the time. Alpha-lipoic acid is showing up more frequently in discount vitamins, because it reverses aging in cells. Melatonin protects the membrane cytoskeleton of red blood cells from structural changes due to oxidation. Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and beta-carotene all do their best to protect the cells that make up our most important senses, plus our skin and hair. Selenium has been shown to block cancer growth in the breast tissue of rodents. Alpha-lipoic acid even increases the retention of Vitamin E in the cells of older people, as one vitamin helps another.

Good Old Vitamins
Thiamine, Riboflavin, and Niacin are also known as Vitamins B1, B2, and B3, respectively. They help the body convert carbohydrates and fat into energy, while they promote proper function of the heart, nervous, and digestive systems. Vitamin B2 is needed to form red blood cells and antibodies, so it’s essential to the immune system. Riboflavin also helps prevent many types of eye diseases, including cataracts, which afflict many people in old age. Niacin is needed for a healthy liver and metabolism, and it aids in repairing cells and DNA. Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Omega 3 fatty acids are all popular supplements that help to maintain a healthy immune system.

The effect of garlic on the immune system has long been debated, but there’s no debate that garlic contains a natural antibiotic, anti-fungal agent called allicin. Calcium and Vitamins K and D are needed for good blood clotting and bone formation. A person could make a life-long study of dietary supplements and their uses, but the simplest way to start is with a good multivitamin from a reputable firm.

Junk in, Junk out
Common sense is integral part of the immune system, because protection starts with what we put into our mouths. Studies reported in Cancer Letters have shown that a diet rich in n-6 fatty acids (corn oil) promotes inflammation and the growth of tumors. Whereas a diet rich in fish oil, which contain lots of Omega 3 fatty acids and Vitamin E, slowed inflammation of the colon and other cancer-prone tissue. Hydrogenated cooking oils are now in such disfavor they’ve been banned from the city of New York. Whole books have been written on the dangers and empty calories found in refined sugar and refined flour, so there’s no need to go into that here. Suffice to say that no attempt to improve the immune system can survive a lousy, careless diet.

Almost every week and especially during flu season, we get treated to the usual articles stating that merely washing our hands more often will help us avoid the sniffles. It sounds simple — it is simple — but how many people heed these warnings? No, we’re more likely to stay out of drafts, when it’s been proven that drafts do not cause colds. Regular check-ups with a doctor, regular blood tests, getting the proper vaccines, and giving up bad habits — such as smoking — are all known to keep human beings healthier. Nobody even debates that anymore, but how many of us take these simple preventive steps to aid the immune system? Common sense goes hand in hand with being healthy.

When Dr. Linus Pauling reported that Vitamin C helped the immune system fight the common cold, it was big news in 1970. Almost forty years later, there is really no excuse for ignoring the beneficial effects of vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements. Multivitamins are sold all over town and the internet, often tailored to gender and age, so anyone can start a vitamin regimen with complete confidence. So take your discount vitamins, and give your immune system every break it deserves.

Freelance Writer
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/low-immunity-problems-start-a-discount-vitamin-regimen-114633.html

Earplugs

Owning a cat takes a little work but gives back a whole lot of pleasure in return. Here are some ideas on how to make your new kitty feel at home, while giving you peace of mind. It is a transition to own a new pet, so take it step by step and don’t be afraid.

If you have a small kitten, make sure to handle it a lot, gently showing it that you are someone it can trust. Put a ticking clock in where its bed is, the soothing sound mimics the mother cat’s heartbeat. If you are keeping the kitty in a separate room until it’s ready to acclimate to the household, make sure it has a soft pillow or cat bed to sleep in. A few toys are appreciated, too. Some great free toys are things like a cotton swab tied to a string and hung from a doorknob (supervise play with this item)or a milk jug ring (that plastic ring around the cap). At the pet store, buy super balls, a laser pointer and catnip mice then sit back and watch the show as kitty wears himself out, being a spring-loaded, furry ballet dancer, leaping in the air as he chases his “prey”. Find toys that are lightweight and throw them around a little, to show the kitty how to play. Kittens learn by watching their mothers, so they will also learn by watching their adopted human parent.

Establish an area for the cat’s litter box in a well ventilated, quiet place. Then, show the kitty where it is, taking your hand and play scratching the litter to show him it’s ok for him to use it. Again, cats learn from watching, and especially kittens need a little guidance sometimes. If the kitty relieves itself outside the box, don’t punish it, just put it into its cat box immediately. Show no anger, as this will scare the cat and make them fear you. Fear isn’t a good teacher, calm praise and encouragement is what you want. Make sure to address the problem as it happens for best results since cats have short memory spans and won’t correllate the accident with the cat box unless you quickly link the two together with corrective action (putting kitty in the box).

All my life, I have given my cats both wet and dry food. Ask your vet the proper amount to feed your cat, but make sure to get quality food that they like, not just anything cheap you see at the store. If you feed your cat quality food, they have a better chance of steering clear of health problems later. My vet told me that male cats can get crystals in their urinary tracts, which are painful and expensive to remove. To avoid that, don’t give kitty food with high magnesium in it. Read the ingredient labels. Having male cats myself, I avoid fish products and give them turkey, chicken or beef flavored canned foods. The ones with rice in them are good, too. Just like humans, vary the flavors of food you feed your cat somewhat. I buy a case of canned food and feed mine one can every day at the same time.

Save money on pet medicines by buying them online. You can take the kitty to the vet when he’s sick and buy the medicine there, but if it isn’t an emergency then by all means, research to find lower prices on pet meds like flea or parasite killing aids. My cat had tapeworms (they look like rice in the cats stool) so I found out what medicine the vet uses and located it on an internet pet store site. The medicine would’ve cost me over $30 if I’d bought it through the vet, but I got the exact, same kind for $15 online. It pays to research the safety of the medicine vets recommend, and make sure to follow the dosage instructions very carefully. Don’t dose your pet higher than listed in the instructions and don’t use dog medicines on cats unless the vet says it is ok to do so. Cats groom themselves, and if you use a topical medicine on a cat that is meant for a dog, it could potentially poison him when he cleans himself. It is better to be safe than sorry. Also, never give human medicine to pets, cats have different systems than we do. Don’t gamble on the life of your precious pet.

When it comes to the question of whether or not to let your cat outside or not, it is a proven fact that indoor cats live longer lives than those who are permitted to go out. This is because there are a vast amount of dangers and illnesses outside that a free-roaming cat may encounter. Cars, cat-hating neighbors, dogs, diseases from other peoples’ pets, and of course, fleas top the list of hazards. We had cats as I grew up, all of whom went outdoors, and one by one, they died from things like leukemia, poisoning from a neighbor, hit by cars (we lost a few cats to cars), and one was trapped and came back with a mangled leg, that needed to be amputated. We lived on a peaceful, upscale street and still, all this happened. I cannot emphasize more strongly, indoor cats do live longer. As an adult, my cats have been indoors, and they have lived to 21 or more years old. Just get your indoor kitty a cat tree (kitty condo) or a scratching post and put it near the window so that he can bird-watch.

Protect your cat when you have guests over who are either rough with, or dislike cats. Put kitty in another room if you don’t want him manhandled by very young children, for example. If you have young children, make sure to show them very carefully and thoroughly to be gentle and kind to pets. Well-meaning kids may break a cat’s leg by picking it up wrong (one of my cats was a rescue who had this happen to him) so it pays to supervise your small child’s interaction with a new pet. This is for the protection of the child as well, as rough handling a cat can cause it to scratch! Cats are loving, but they must be treated with kindness, or their natural instinct is to protect themselves.

If you are going to be gone for a week or so, make sure you have a pet sitter or friend look in on your cat while you’re away. Put down a large amount of dry food and water for the cat, but make sure someone checks to make sure it hasn’t run out. My local pet sitters cost me $15 per day, a small price to pay for peace of mind when I’m away from my furry friends.

Having a pet is a committment and priveledge. Remember, your pet is going to be with you through thick and thin, so be there for him in sickness or health. Give them the same chance at having a happy and full life that you yourself deserve by giving him a forever home. If for any reason you are forced to part with a pet due to unforseen problems, be responsible about finding your pet a good home. Do for your pet what you would do for yourself. There are few circumstances that would warrant giving up a pet, so I advise you to keep your committment, no matter what. I live in a hurricane evacuation zone, and if I have to evacuate, my pets have a large pet cage in the car to be in, with a fan, so we can be together. If you are in a hurricane zone, preplan disasters by arming yourself with a foldable cage for the back of your car, a jug of water and food if you evacuate. Don’t ever leave your pet behind, because he may not be there when you come back. I had my three cats microchipped, in case somehow they got physically separated from me, they would be able to come home to me. Microchips carry the address of the owner, and authorities check strays to see if they have them so they are great investments.

Owning a pet teaches patience and responsibility. In return, you will be paid by unconditional love and acceptance.If you have any questions on cat care, contact your local chapter of the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) or your vet, and they usually will help you over the phone. In time, you and your pet will be more comfortable with one another. Until then, just take it slow, remember to be gentle and supportive, and you will have a special friend for life.

Carolyn McFann
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/useful-tips-on-caring-for-your-new-cat-or-kitten-126040.html

Sorrow and pain manifest when we are unaware of certain underlying realities. Maharshi Vasishtha while explaining to Lord Rama the cause of sorrow says that it is spiritual ignorance (Ajnana or Maya). This ignorance can be overcome via attainment of divine wisdom via the path of Yoga of Wisdom (Jnana Yoga). As per the scripture Yoga Vasishtha:

“AAYADHO VYAADHAYASHCHAIVA

DWAYA DUKHASYA KAARANAM.

TANNIVRITIHI SUKHAM VIDYAAT

TATKSHAYO MOKSHA UCHYATAY.”

MEANING: “This material world gives us to types of sorrows i.e. bodily and mental. They can be overcome via wisdom (Jnana) based austerities. Moksha or salvation is nothing but this overcoming of material sorrow in totality.”

Thus it is a spiritual law that salvation is attained only when all sorrows are destroyed lock, stock and barrel. Eternal spiritual bliss means destruction of all sorrows. Thus salvation and divine bliss (Ananda) are synonymous. If material sorrows are overcome totally salvation oriented divine bliss manifests in our psyche eternally. Many a times we see people attaining joy time and again in their life. They laugh, sing, dance, crack jokes etc and thus experience joy. The question asked is that is their inner state liberated? Meaning have they attained Mukti or salvation?

Definitely not! The above inner state of man can never be called salvation or Mukti. The state of salvation is ceaseless, balanced, imperishable and uniform and it does not require an external cause to manifest it. This state does not ‘come’ from anywhere nor does it ‘go’ anywhere. It is not created due to an external factor nor is it destroyed by it. It is self manifesting and causeless. It is attained in totality, experienced in totality and exists eternally. It is omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent eternally. After attaining the true bliss of salvation no other bliss remains to be achieved. True salvation or Moksha is devoid of any desire, self fulfilling and infinite bliss in nature.

The previously mentioned material pleasures like watching TV, dancing in discos, drinking alcohol, drug addiction etc do not have the qualities of the true bliss of salvation. Material pleasures require external causes and mediums. It manifests due to a cause and when the cause is removed the pleasure too ends. Many a times even if the cause persists, the pleasure diminishes and leads to aversion. Material pleasures are fleeting because they ultimately lead to sorrow and strife. Today is someone is happy because of a certain cause/medium, later at some point in time he/she will definitely get pain precisely because of this very cause. Even if you get intense material pleasures yet your psyche is never satiated and hence begs for more and more. Material pleasures can never satiate us nor can they lead to complete contentment. How can it e called eternal bliss if it is plagued with discontent and lack of a sense of fulfillment? Even if someone is surrounded with innumerable pleasures, it takes only one undesirable event that makes him/her wallow in sorrow. Such a person’s smile is totally wiped off in a second and so does his previously overjoyed bosom experience pain. THUS IT IS CLEAR THAT THE BLISS OF SALVATION CAN NEVER BE COMPARED TO FLEETING MATERIAL SENSE PLEASURES.

Material pleasures are an exercise in futility because they are false and illusory in nature. Their experience is akin to sighting a mirage in a dessert. This illusory experience is the root cause of labeling material pleasures as lowly. True bliss can only be experienced at the soul level and that too without the influence of any external cause/object/event. It is only the bliss of salvation/liberation/Moksha that is true and eternal in the absolute sense. We are dealing with the subject of the illusory nature of fleeting sense pleasures so as to caution world humanity that we are all wasting our entire life span in amassing material pleasures and clinging on to them as though they are our very lifeline. Since our psyches are immersed in this delusion we fail to first even understand what absolute reality is let alone making sincere efforts to attain it. A deluded mind whose sole aim is to amass fleeting pleasures can never even think about the absolute reality. Thus how will it even think of attaining it? A deer in a dessert chases mirages in search of water to quench its thirst. Time and again it thinks ‘just a few feet of running and the water is mine’. Alas! It results in delusion and nothing but tiring delusion. The deer’s thirst thus remains unquenched. If this deer had only realized that this mirage is not a water pond but an illusion of its eyes, it would have instead endeavored to hunt for a real water area and could have quenched its thirst easily. But no! The lure of the mirage makes it run madly in that direction only to end its life without quenching its thirst. Similarly mankind is running after mirage like sense pleasures for his entire precious lifetime. Ultimately he dies discontented and devoid of satiation. Instead if he had realized that material pleasures are like illusory mirages he would have first tried to realize where he could find absolute eternal bliss and then would have made necessary efforts to attain it. It is in this sense that material pleasures are called illusory and fleeting like dessert mirages. True bliss lies not in amassing material pleasures but lies in the eternal bliss of the salvation. One should intensely work hard to attain true salvation since it is the true goal of all human lives.

Thus it is clear that sorrow after all is sorrow because material joy ultimately results in anguish only. It is only when the burning desire for fleeting material pleasures is overcome that eternal divine bliss can be attained. Hence the important question asked is: How does one attain this eternal bliss? An Indian scripture called YOGAVASISHTHA gives the answer:

“JNAANAANNIRDUKHATAAMAYTEE

JNAANAADANAANA SANKSHAYA.

JNAANAADEVA PARAASIDHIR

NAANYASYAADRAAM VASTUTAHA.”

MEANING: O Rama! Only divine wisdom can ward off all sorrow. Divine wisdom destroys spiritual ignorance. Divine wisdom leads us to or ultimate goal of life. There is no other way to do so.

Further elaboration says:

“PRAJNAAM VIJNAATA VIJNAYAM

SAMYAGA DARSHAN MAADHAYAHA.

NA DAHANTI VANAM VARSHAAM

SIKTAMAGNISHIKHAA IVA.”

MEANING: He is a realized saint who knows what is truly to be known with the help of his sacred hindsight (Viveka). Such a saint is never overcome by sorrow just like fire can never burn a forest which is wet with rain water.

WHAT EXACTLY IS DIVINE WISDOM OR TATTVA-JNANA?

At this point before understanding the true nature of divine wisdom it is important to know as to what exactly is the root cause of the manifestation of sorrow and strife? Actually at the root level all creatures are blissful (Ananda) in nature. Thus it is clear that a definite cause exists which creates sorrow, pain, anguish etc. This too has been dealt with in YOGAVASISHTHA:

“DEHA DUKHA VIDURVYAADHI

MAADHYAAKHAM MAANASAAMAYAM.

MAURKHYA MOOLAY HATAY VIDYAA

TATTVAJNAANAY PAREEKSHYAHA.”

MEANING: Bodily pain is called Vyaadhee and mental anguish is called Aaadhee. Both of them are Maurkhya i.e. are created from spiritual ignorance or Ajnaana. Thus they can be destroyed only via spiritual/divine wisdom.

The fundamental cause of all material sorrows of the world put together is none other than spiritual ignorance (Avidya). Just as lack of light results in darkness and vice versa, in the same way lack of divine wisdom leads to spiritual ignorance and vice versa. Divine wisdom helps us attain eternal bliss, peace etc and spiritual ignorance results in pain, sorrow etc.

For eons together it has been proved beyond doubt that sorrow is the creation of ignorance or spiritual darkness. This priceless truth has been accepted by great thinkers, saints, scholars etc of the entire world at all times. In this manner none should doubt this age old truth proclaimed by all great souls of the world. One of them called Chanakya says: There is no other greater foe of mankind apart from spiritual ignorance. The great philosopher Plato says: It is better to remain unborn instead of remaining a spiritually ignorant being because ignorance is the root cause of all our miseries. The great bard of Avon, William Shakespeare writes: Spiritual ignorance is equivalent to darkness.

The root cause of all life’s distortions, sorrowful experiences, problems, discontent etc is spiritual ignorance of man’s psyche. It is the greatest enemy of entire mankind. It is solely due to ignorance that man finds himself in a demeaned/downfallen state like other creatures. Lack of divine wisdom leads to diminishing of ones discriminative faculty (Viveka) and thus our minds remain steeped in sorrow and anguish. Spiritual ignorance induces man to make wrong decisions in life by veiling the true goal of human life. Thus he executes undesirable acts and weaves a net of misery and pain for himself. Thus in order to ward off sorrow if one understands its underlying cause, one can overcome it and thus one can dispel strife and pain lock, stock and barrel in our day to day lives. The result will be bliss and only bliss on a permanent footing. SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE CAN BE DISPELLED ONLY VIA DIVINE WISDOM. COLD CAN BE DESTROYED BY ITS OPPOSITE FIRE ONLY. DARKNESS CAN BE DESTROYED ONLY BY LIGHT. THUS IT IS THE RIGHTEOUS DUTY OF ALL MANKIND TO TREAD ON THAT PATH WHICH AIDS IN THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR SPIRITUAL IGNORANCE SO AS TO MANIFEST DIVINE WISDOM IN OUR SOUL.

What exactly is the true nature of knowledge? Mere information about the material world and its objects cannot be called knowledge. True knowledge is that which helps man realize God whose nature is infinite, eternal bliss. Knowledge means understanding ones true self and its relationship with the world. Man should know the difference behind desirable and undesirable actions and thus he should follow the path of Truth after renouncing unwholesome activities. The definition of knowledge cannot be limited to merely undergoing school, university etc education, that help us earn money and solve day to day problems. Knowledge is that which not only gives us a deep understanding of life-death, bondage-liberation, action-inaction and truth-falsehood but that it also helps us in imbibing that which is apt and renouncing unwholesome activities for both material and spiritual gains.

Spiritual ignorance is the root cause of our unwholesome actions. All the joys and sorrows of the world are but the results/fruits of our past actions. It is but natural that unwholesome actions are executed under the influence of spiritual ignorance and thus man gets penalized in the form of sorrow, pain, strife etc. Apart from this righteous actions carried out with the sense of doer-ship (‘I’ eat, ‘I’ sleep etc) no doubt gives joy but this joy is transient because it later gets converted to sorrow. Thus it is action (Karma) that gives bondage and hence pain to mankind.

Yuga Rishi Shriram Sharma Acharya
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-help-articles/what-exactly-is-the-root-source-of-sorrowstrife-112389.html

Just a few minutes a day of this simple breathing exercise will bring you better health, more energy and longer life!

We all know that the human body can go more than a month without food and several days without water… but how long can we survive without air? Without oxygen, we’d be brain-dead within minutes! Yet most of us take our breathing for granted.

Did you know that the brain uses more than three quarters of the oxygen taken in? Without efficient respiration, the human body becomes oxygen-starved: we become sluggish, unable to concentrate, easily fatigued, and slow to react.

But we can change that by simply improving our respiration. Just five to ten minutes practice of this qigong/chi kung diaphragmatic breathing exercise will do wonders for your mind and body. Here’s how:

1. Assume a comfortable position, sitting or lying down, or even standing up.

2. Make sure your back is straight, not ramrod rigid, but straight in a relaxed way: Your shoulders should not be tense but slightly slumped forward, with your chest slightly caved in. Likewise, your chin shouldn’t be thrust forward; instead it should be drawn slightly inward, so that your head is aligned with the rest of your spine.
3. Inhale fully by pulling down the diaphragm muscle that sits just below the rib cage. This will allow your lungs to expand to its fullest capacity.

   When you inhale, breathe in slowly and evenly through the nose, visualizing filling your abdomen full of air, as you expand your abdomen outward.

   Sometimes it helps to lie down and put a book on your stomach for visual feedback. Or, if you are sitting or standing, place your hand on your abdomen and feel it expand when you breathe in.

4. Next, pause a moment before exhaling, again slowly and evenly through your nose. As you breathe out, let your abdomen flatten out. This should be natural, not forced.
5. Pause for another moment before repeating the cycle again.

And that’s it — a simple breathing exercise that most children do automatically, and adults should always practice to extend their health and longevity. Diaphragmatic respiration is just one of many qigong (a.k.a. chi kung) breathing techniques that can bring you many health benefits:

• greater mental clarity and alertness;

• reduces stress, more relaxation
• more energy and vitality, and less fatigue
• nourishes, cleanses and detoxifies the body
• improves concentration, focus, and memory
• facilitates digestion and elimination
• better organ function, cardiovascular functions
• strengthens immune system
• better circulation
• aids in cell repair and regeneration
• improves overall health and well-being
• promotes anti-aging and longevity

Other breathing techniques can also help with weight reduction, faster reflexes, sleep reduction, pain management, treatments of particular diseases and disorders, such as hypertension, asthma and bronchitis, migraines, heart conditions… and much more.

Feel a headache coming? Just take five minutes to breathe it away! Your headache will begin to diminish in just a few minutes of practicing the 5-step breathing exercise just outlined.

Headaches are usually caused by too much tension. Arteries and capillaries carrying oxygenated blood become constricted and the oxygen-starved brain signals with a headache. When you practice qigong yogic breathing techniques you signal to the brain that it’s time to relax and increase circulation, thereby increasing your oxygen intake.

Short on energy? Easily fatigued or sluggish? Now you can increase your work efficiency in just five minutes of qigong, right at your seat of work. Literally, just take a breather, and you’ll be well rested and ready to work at your fullest capacity in no time!

If you are new to qigong and not accustomed to deep respiration, you may find that your diaphragm and abdominal muscles may feel sore at first. That’s because the muscles are not accustomed to the exercise.

Keep your practice brief, no longer than a few minutes at a time. Then gradually increase until it becomes natural and unconscious.

Try it. This breathing exercise is only one of many literally life-giving breathing techniques practiced in qigong meditation — rich in oxygen, rich in life.

H. Wei Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/wellness-articles/a-5step-breathing-exercise-to-better-health-more-energy-longer-life-213728.html

any natural aid or remedies that could be help
….I’ve always had dificulty sleeping and i’m trying to to replace the over the counter sleep aids I use with somethings natural. I’ve been reading about two diffrent products tonight (as I sit here at 3am wide awake)… Valerian Root and Melatonin. Both safe and apparently effective. But I don’t know which to get…

here are some tips that should be useful:

-do not eat 2-3h before bed
-drink a chammomile tea before bed
-do anything that relaxez you before sleeping (ex. bubble bath, reading a book, listening to music…)
-do not watch TV or spend time in front of the comp at least and hour before bed
-cut on stimulants (sugar, caffeine…)
-do not think of anything stressful or exciting before bed

Growing old is a condition that most people are not happy about. This is particularly true of women. There are women who wish that the lines on their faces would disappear, there are others who are concerned with bringing back the vitality that youth offers. The ability to move around and do work with that spring in the step is something that most miss with the passing years.

There is a school of thought that says that when hormonal changes turn down the inner thermostat in our body, aging occurs. So then if the hormone levels are replaced to those of a young healthy adult it would restart our brain, so to speak and the cell receptor sensitizers would do the needful.

One of the reasons for depression, mood swings, fatigue, loss of memory and weight loss that has no explanation, is that there is an imbalance between the estrogen and progesterone levels. There are over-the-counter medicines available to correct this imbalance like soy products and creams that provide the extra hormones when absorbed by the skin.

It has also been found that free radicals are becoming increasingly dangerous to our health. Free radicals are defined as unstable renegade molecules of oxygen. When these collide with other tissues in our body they cause a burst of light. Then they look for other molecules to combine with them and gain some stability. The free radicals which are good for you will help your body fight to keep itself healthy and keep the muscle tone smooth. These muscles, in turn, keep your internal organs working properly.

On the same note, an excess of these free radicals tend to run wild and cause damage to healthy and unhealthy areas of the body. This is where the incidence of problems like cancer and heart diseases come up. In defense of these attacks by excess of free radicals, the concept of antioxidants has come up. These have proved to be an effective shield against these free radicals.

Antioxidants are seen to alter cancer growth and do the job of anticarcinogens. They work on the principle of donating an electron to the free radical and helping it convert to a relatively harmless molecule. It protects against damage to blood vessel membranes which in turn ensures a good supply of blood to the heart and the brain thereby preventing problems.

Antioxidants can be found in fruits, vegetables and grains. Among the many antioxidants, some of the important ones are Lycopene, Lypoic, Xanthones, Dopamine and Carnosine. Lycopene is found in tomatoes and is needed by the adrenal and prostrate glands, the liver, colon and the testes and it is effective in protecting the digestive tracts from cancer.

Lypoic can quench the free radicals found in water and fat cells. It is an acid and aids converting carbohydrates into energy and antioxidants by breaking down sugars.

Xanthones is a bitter compound that has very strong antioxidant effects on the person’s nervous system. It is useful in treating depression, is able to reduce the appetite and take care of other obsessions. Here a series of hormonal reactions leads to the release of dopamine that exists in the brain’s pleasure centers. Dopamine is an energizing neurotransmitter that aids reduction in appetite and stimulates the pituitary gland. This gland’s job is to release the growth hormone and works to improve the immune system. There is an incidence of motor dysfunction that comes with aging and blueberries are considered a good source of dopamine which plays an important part in decreasing the rate of aging.

And finally, Carnosine found in the muscle tissues, the brain and the lens of the human eye is a natural antioxidant and an important amino acid. It can protect cell membranes and structures and works to cope with stress reduction, hyperactivity, muscle fatigue and improves sleep patterns.

Karina Jacobsen
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/anti-aging-vitamins-85039.html

There are many reasons why there are different types of vitamin and mineral supplements offered in over-the-counter forms. People might choose to take additional vitamins and minerals because they are involved in sports, or have a specific skin care problem that they need to rectify as soon as possible.

The types of vitamin and mineral supplements that are available in sports nutrition might include nutrients for all areas of the body. Bodybuilders and weight-lifters require certain types of vitamin and mineral supplements to grow muscle and find that growth hormones in pill form will make that happen. These weight lifters might also supplement their diet with amino acids, creatine, anabolic, cell volumizers, protein, and other sports supplements to give their body the refined textures that they need to be competitive in the bodybuilding challenges.

There are many age groups that are concerned with skin care and the types of vitamin and mineral supplements that they might focus on could be used for an acne treatment, anti-aging barrier and to help reduce wrinkles forming on their faces, or they might use different types of vitamin and mineral supplements to repair stretch marks after the birth of a baby or after they have dropped a lot of weight.

There are many types of vitamin and mineral supplements that will help in treating hives and rashes on the body. These lotions and creams are trusted because they are natural and manufactured for treating that specific ailment. Other types of vitamin and mineral supplements might be used to help people in their nail care problems, and moistures that contain all types of vitamin and mineral supplements can help improve a wide variety of body area.

Aloe is one of the many types of vitamin and mineral supplements that people use throughout their life. They may have an aloe plant in their home that they use specifically to treat burns, or they might use this supplement in addition to a sun-block agent to keep skin moist and supplement after sun exposure.

There are many types of vitamin and mineral supplements that make fine additions to medicine cabinet supplies to treat bronchial and throat irritations. Some of these vitamins are used to treat headaches, and cough and others are offered specifically in a children’s formula to handle irritations through the use of lozenges that are made with many types of vitamin and mineral supplements.

These types of vitamin and mineral supplements come in handy when you are fighting the flu, or when you need to help a child with their nasal congestion. Some of the types of vitamin and mineral supplements are offered in cherry, grape and elderberry flavors to make them taste better.

For people that suffer from anxiety, high blood pressure and stress, there are types of vitamin and mineral supplements that will treat those problems quite adequately. Some of these types of vitamins and mineral supplements will help people achieve rest and help them to relax. Others are considered Natural Sleep Aids, and will also help people in their weight control programs.

Linda Polansky
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/types-of-vitamin-and-mineral-supplements-121603.html

Fatigue is a condition wherein a person experiences exhaustion and lack of energy possibly due to sleep deficiency, infection or overexertion. Since this is a fairly normal and common condition, most adults have experienced fatigue at least once in their lifetime. However, a person who continues to suffer from severe fatigue for an extended period of time of at least six months maybe affected by a more serious condition known as chronic fatigue.

Most people who are afflicted with chronic fatigue usually suffer from a more serious condition, which includes fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue immunodeficiency syndrome, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

In order for us to know how to beat chronic fatigue, we first need to look into what causes this condition. Here are the most common reasons why people suffer from chronic fatigue:

Infections

Some viral and bacterial infection could cause chronic fatigue. Most athletes are more susceptible to such a condition when suffering from an infection as a result of heavy training and exertion. However, chronic fatigue usually disappears once the infection is fully cured or treated.

Over-training

People who put their minds and bodies to the extreme usually suffer from chronic fatigue. Since athletes endure rigorous training and practice, they are the ones who usually experience chronic fatigue due to over training and exertion.

Depression and anxiety

Some experts link chronic fatigue to psychological disorders. Thus, people who suffer from severe anxiety and depression are the ones who are also stricken by chronic fatigue.

Dehydration

Many people do not pay attention to their daily water intake because they are not aware that dehydration could have long-term side effects, such as chronic fatigue, on their bodies and even their performance.

Eating disorders

The likelihood for people who have eating disorders, such as bulimia and anorexia, of suffering from chronic fatigue in the future is very high. Lack of proper nutrition is one of the causes of chronic fatigue, and people with anorexia and bulimia surely have inadequate supply of vitamins and minerals in their bodies.

Now that you know the common causes of fatigue, we should now start discussing the ways in which we could beat chronic fatigue. Follow the tips enumerated below and you will surely be able to manage such debilitating and long-lasting fatigue symptoms:

Eat a balanced and healthy diet

Food that is high in sugar and fat usually makes us feel sluggish and lethargic. Hence, prolonged intake of food that is high in sugar and fat could eventually result in the development of chronic fatigue and other serious diseases.

If you want to stay healthy and energetic, you need to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. To ensure that you have a steady supply of energy through the day, do not skip breakfast. Instead of eating three full meals, go for small but frequent eating.

Live a stress-free life

Figures from a research group in Sweden found that there is a close connection between stress and development of chronic fatigue later in life. Thus, if you don’t want to suffer from chronic fatigue in the future, you need to bring your stress levels down.

One of the ways to beat stress is to look for what is causing it. Marital or family problems could stress you out, so you need to find a way to remedy your problem with your mother, wife, husband or children.

For many people, work is their major stressor. Proper time management, ability to delegate tasks properly, and learning to deal with difficult colleagues are surefire ways to manage your stress from work. If you feel that you can no longer manage stress alone, you can solicit the help of your family, friends, or even a counselor.

Exercise regularly

Couch potatoes and people with sedentary lifestyles often develop chronic fatigue. Your body, particularly your heart, needs regular physical activities to make them perform at their peak. Moreover, exercise could help increase your energy levels naturally, because it aids in proper circulation.

Exercise does not only help in relieving tension, it also aids in releasing endorphins, a feel-good chemical, which generally reduces stress, increase pleasure and lessen pain.

Try alternative and natural remedies

You should not be afraid to try new things that could help you relax and make your body more energetic and stronger. Treat yourself to reflexology massage to help you relax and improve blood circulation.

If you are a little adventurous, you can try acupuncture. This is an ancient medical science practiced in China and the orient. Acupuncture helps in improving the flow of your chi and increase mental and physical strength.

Meditation and aromatherapy are good ways to bring your stress levels down. These methods could also give you inner peace and help you relax after a demanding day.

Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/tips-on-overcoming-chronic-fatigue-symptoms-93440.html

So for about 6-8 months I have had trouble sleeping through the night. I fall asleep just fine but I wake up 2-6 times. It is such an inconvenience because I am tired EVERY day. The doctor suggested melatonin but it didn’t help and I have tried a few over the counter sleep aids. I am not stessed out or anything. Anyone have similar issues and a solution?

"Top 10 Foods for a Good Night’s Sleep"

1) Bananas
2) Chamomile tea
3) Warm milk
4) Honey
5) Potatoes
6) Oatmeal
7) Almonds
Flaxseeds
9) Whole-wheat bread
10) Turkey