Get started immediately with a juicer from a local retailer. Better yet, invest on a more expensive juicer designed to juice leaves. These would be the twin gear juicers from Omega, Samson, or Greenpower . Use only organic produce because we want to avoid ingesting more pesticides. For beginners start with celery, spinach, green beans, or cauliflower. Notice fruits and underground vegetables were not included because the sugar contents in them will raise insulin levels. Then try kale, collard greens, cabbage (red or green), lettuces (romaine, red leaf, green), dandelion, or mustard greens. Be sure to thoroughly clean the vegetables with vinegar or citrus wash. Also rotate the produce so you body can absorb nutrients from a variety of vegetables.

People drink energy drinks to get a boost and then crash later on. Try a few ounces of fresh kale juice and notice long lasting energy all day. Sluggishness, fatigue, blood sugar imbalances, and weight issues benefit highly from consistent juicing. There are studies that show that drinking 2-4 oz. of kale juice for three months will bring cholesterol levels down to normal. With the many benefits of juicing vegetables, get started today. You will notice your body changing for the better because you are supplying concentrated nutrition as well as balancing pH levels with drinking vegetable juice. Best wishes to your health.

An allergic reaction happens when our bodies produce an immune response to a foreign substance that our bodies see as a threat. This is the bodies’ way of telling us that the substance is harmful and should be avoided. Some of us break out in rashes on the skin and some sneeze uncontrollably. Though when this happens on a daily basis and your body seems to hyper react to almost everything, it is not normal. Chronic allergies stem from an underlying imbalance in the system that could be corrected. I have personally suffered from this condition for over 20 years and have found ways that alleviated these allergies permanently.

When the immune is out of balance and constantly bombarded with toxins, allergic foods, and stress, it will cause your body to be hypersensitive to anything it is exposed to. Even a minute amount of dust in the air can cause a histamine response. Bringing the body back into balance and allowing the immune to respond properly is the only way to treat allergies naturally and permanently. The following are beginning steps to an allergy free life and also better health in general.  

1. Reduce Stress: The mind-body connection is stronger than what the western society gives it credit for. Emotional, physical and work stress impacts our health. Try to identify your life’s main stressors and reduce them as much as possible. Find time to relax and allow your body to recover from the fight or flight response of stress. Meditation, deep breathing, or listening to calming music is very effective.
2. Exercise: Physical activity is a way to reduce stress and allow the blood to flow. The human body was made to move and not sit at a cubicle for 10-12 hours a day. The goal is not to run a marathon or do cardio exercises for 2 hours straight. A good balance of having some cardio, flexibility training, and weight bearing activity each week would be good. Even just walking 20 minutes a day will change your health tremendously. So, dust off that yoga mat and take out those walking shoes. There is no formula that will work for everyone, but movement of any kind will help the immune strengthen.  
3. Consider food allergies: I never knew I was allergic to wheat & gluten until I was tested. Once I stopped eating wheat & gluten products, the itchy eyes and runny nose stopped. The inflammation these foods were causing on the body caused my immune to hyper-react to everything else. The most common allergic foods are: Wheat, gluten, soy, milk, and peanuts. Allergic foods take a toll on the body and can be the basis for more degenerative conditions like arthritis. Try avoiding a these foods on a rotating basis for a week each and see if there is a difference. Otherwise get tested by a trusted health practitioner.
4. Clean up your environment: Decrease toxic exposure from chemical cleaning products and skin care products. Everything we breathe and put on our skin goes into our blood streams. Irritants and chemicals are sources that cause immune responses. If there is mold in your house, pay someone to clean it up. Choose to live in a place that is not carpeted, otherwise vacuum with a heap filter frequently.
5. Drink clean water: Our bodies need clean water to keep things moving. Dehydration causes a buildup of toxins that further weakens our immune system. You should be drinking half your body weight in ounces. So if you weigh 100 pounds, drink 50 oz. of water every day. Don’t drink tap water. Drinking spring water is the best, but having reverse osmosis or ultra purified water would be good too.
6. Take probiotics: 80% of our immune lives in the digestive track. If the intestines are weak, constipated, or inflamed from a poor diet, probiotics will help balance the flora. Many of us have Candida or yeast overgrowth. Probiotics will begin to balance this condition.

For years, I have taken over the counter and prescription drugs to reduce the histamine from my allergies only to find that in two weeks I had to change to a different drug because the effects have worn out. I knew drugs were not the solution, so I began searching for a permanent solution to allergies and found that only lifestyle changes can have a long lasting effect on the allergies that I once suffered from. First avoiding irritants that are causing allergic responses and then building the immune up will help the body heal. If you are tired from feeling sick and not being able to breath, look for an alternative health care practitioner that could assist you with healing. Best wishes for your health.

Diet for Gout

Uric acid is formed as a byproduct of the body’s breakdown of proteins and other foods that contain purine like mushrooms and asparagus. The main source of protein is through meat so you should avoid meat as far as possible. This does not only include red meat – white meat can also contribute towards high uric acid levels. The body usually flushes out the uric acid through the kidneys so drinking plenty of water during the day will assist with this process. It is advisable to double your normal water intake and maintain this by drinking water with every meal and throughout the day. While all meat is a problem in gout, offals or meat from animal organs contribute towards high uric acid levels significantly. Also avoid alcohol, acidic foods like citrus fruits (lemon, orange and grapefruit) as well as tomatos.

Nutritional Supplements

The B-vitamins should be taken on a daily basis and you can use a vitamin-B complex tablet. This helps with the body’s breakdown of uric acid apart from just excreting it in the urine. Vitamin C and vitamin E suppments may also be useful but avoid large quantities of vitamin C.

Herbal Remedies for Gout

Celery seed extract is most often used for gout. It has a diuretic effect meaning that it encourages urine production which assists with passing out uric acid. Celery seed can be used in a tablet or capsule form and you should consult with a naturopath to find the most appropriate dosage for your condition and body weight. Other herbal remedies that may also be useful include yarrow, devil’s claw and burdock. These can be used as a herbal tea which should be drank once or twice a day.

Homeopathic Remedies

The two main homeopathic remedies that should be considered for gout is Bryonia alba or Rhus toxicodendron. These remedies should be used in a low potency on a daily basis, preferably a 6C or D12. You should start with Bryonia alba on a daily basis and if this is not effective, then opt for Rhus toxicodendron. Arnica montana 6C can be used if you are feeling any discomfort or pain and this can be used along with Urtica dioca 6C. For acute attacks, Arnica montana can be used in a lower potency, like a D6, many times during the day.

Avoid using herbal tinctures or homeopathic potencies in an alcohol base. The alcohol solvent may play a part in aggravating your gout.

Since the beginning of time there has been documentation found of using alternative medicine, the most well known of course, as it was freely available was using herbal remedies. Today this is no exception and herbal remedies are top of the alternative medicine list of treatments, with millions of pounds being spent annually on products.

However those who practised alternative medicine thousands of years ago didn’t always have it good and were not given the credence they deserved. In fact many were proclaimed as witches. Even today there are still some sceptical people who mistakenly think that herbal remedies and those who practise and prescribe them are nothing more than charlatans and some think that witchcraft still exists.

As medical practises and drugs became more refined we still didn’t lose the old ways, for example aspirin which is a leading painkiller was derived from the bark of the willow tree. Penicillin which has been claimed as a wonder drug and indeed saved many lives came from nothing more than mouldy bread. So conventional medicine isn’t really so different from the old ways of alternative medicine, indeed it is the base of it.

Today health care is a multi million business with scientists forever striving towards reaching cures for all kinds of illness and diseases which keep springing up. Although still widely used throughout the world alternative medicine is just a very small percentage, but has modern medicine got too confusing?

Today we tend to look at the symptoms and place too much importance on treating those alone rather than treating the person as a whole and taking other factors into account. If only the symptoms are treated the this leaves things wide open for them to return, however alternative medicine and therapies treat the underlying cause rather that the symptoms, which leads to the body being able to take care of itself by a stronger immune system.

Arguments for and against alternative medicine and therapies will continue, but one thing we should consider is that alternative medicine showed us the way for the drugs of today and is still around after thousands of years, something which lasts that long must tell us something.

How is acupuncture performed?

A session of acupuncture focuses on having very thin, ultra fine metal needles inserted into certain points along the body, the points at which the needles are inserted are chosen very carefully. In the UK there are roughly 3,000 practitioners of acupuncture; these include Doctors, physiotherapists and dentists.

During the first consultation with a therapist you will be given a full medical examination, you will be asked about your lifestyle in general, your diet, sleeping habits and the symptoms that you are experiencing. While all these are pretty standard assessments, the practitioner will then go onto more unusual methods of diagnosis.

One of the methods will be asking to look at the colour and texture of your tongue; they will also take hold of your wrists and begin to feel your pulse in different areas on the wrist. The acupuncturist is able to tell a lot from the feel of the pulse in your wrist, they are able to gain information about the internal organs and the state they are in.

The acupuncturist will have studied for many years on this form of diagnosis alone; along with this the acupuncturist may feel for pulses on different parts of your body in order to make a full diagnosis of your problem.

Following the thorough examination and diagnosis the acupuncturist will then go on to inform you of what to expect from the treatment they will perform. Depending on the area which is to be treated, you could be asked to undress and lie down or sit up on a table; the acupuncturist will then begin to insert the small needles along the points needed.

Needles can vary in length and thickness and they can be of different sizes, while the needles are being inserted you shouldn’t feel any pain although you might feel a little soreness or tingling in the area.

Different types of acupuncture

The majority of acupuncturists use the traditional method of performing the treatment; however some will also use electrical methods to stimulate the needles once in place. Laser acupuncture and acupressure can also be used.

Are there any side effects to acupuncture treatment?

When performed by a qualified acupuncturist, acupuncture is considered to be relatively safe; however there can be a little soreness or drowsiness during the actual treatment although this is often described as a pleasant feeling rather than a painful one.

Very occasionally there might be a little bruising in the area where the needles were inserted; there could also be a very small amount of bleeding where the needles were placed into the skin, especially if they were near small blood vessels.

If you are considering taking alternative medicine or therapy then you should of course give it some thought, learn as much as you can on the subject and take advice from your Doctor. This is especially so if you are thinking of dropping any current treatments you may be having in favour of alternative ones.

Having said this taking alternative treatment alongside any existing medication prescribed is the best course of action providing your Doctor or health care worker agrees. There can be many benefits to going the alternative way; here are just some of them.

Alternative medicine can bring about a feeling of being in charge of your own life and medical aspects. It can make you think you are doing instead of being told to do. However, it is essential that you find out as much information about your particular illness and what alternative medicine can do for you before making any decisions.

If you are seriously considering taking the step into alternative medicine for a serious illness then it is important that you work with your Doctor every step of the way by informing them of any treatment or medication that you may have started, which is considered to be alternative medicine.

This is especially so if you are going to continue taking medication and treatment prescribed by your Doctor or hospital. Many Doctors and hospitals are now giving more credence to alternative medicine and therapies, where once they would have turned their nose up at the idea, in fact some now use them alongside treatment as routine.

If you are going to be taking a treatment such as acupuncture then it is essential that you find a practitioner that has a license. While acupuncture done in the right hands can be very beneficial to your health, if performed wrongly it can have adverse effects on your health and make the initial problem much worse.

Do a little research online into the background of the particular type of treatment you are thinking of going for, a simple search using one of the webs popular search engines will give you access to a vast amount of information.

You should also look into the safety aspect of the type of treatment you are intending to use, for instance if you are thinking of trying herbal remedies then look into the pros and cons of taking herbal supplements.

Also take care where you buy them, there are a vast amount of online stores selling herbal remedies without the background to support their products. While herbal remedies are considered to be safe some of them do have side effects and are not to be taken in certain circumstances.

The essential oils can be extracted by a variety of means; popular ways of extraction include steam distillation, expression and pressing. The oils can then be used in many methods, the popular forms are inhalation, by the use of a vaporiser or massaged into the skin.

There are specialised trained aromatherapist, although there are also a wide range of ready mixed oils available in health food shops and chemists, these have been specially formulated using combinations of individual oils for a particular problem or area.

How does aromatherapy work?

In the case of inhalation the essential oils work by the sense of smell, the oils stimulate the receptors in the brain and trigger reactions. Studies have shown when using a brain scan that certain areas of the brain are affected by the sense of smell and this is how the oils target the persons system.

Certain components of the essential oils are also known to be absorbed through the skin; this takes them directly into the bloodstream and then goes onto having an influence over the person’s mental health, the nervous system and emotions.

What happens during a consultation with an aromatherapist?

An aromatherapist is not a Doctor and as such will not make a medical examination of the patient; they will however take a full history of your background and the problems that brought you to them. Once they have done this then they will set about putting together essential oils specifically aimed at the areas and problems you are having trouble in.

The aromatherapist will usually ask you to undress to your underwear and will then use the specially selected oils to perform a massage. Although the Swedish massage technique is the one which is most commonly used, there are several techniques which an aromatherapist can use.

How safe is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine and as with any medication there can be side effects. The most common side effect that you can have is during the treatment, this is a slight drowsiness.

On very rare occasions the essential oils used have been known to cause adverse reactions on the skin, these are usually in the form of a rash. Essential oils should always be very well diluted to avoid this reaction, however providing you get treatment from an aromatherapist this is very rarely a big problem.

In very rare cases where there is generally an underlying problem that the aromatherapist hasn’t been told about, oils can cause severe problems. This is usually problems with the breathing if you are asthmatic, aromatherapy also shouldn’t be used if you are recovering from surgery or if you suffer from epilepsy.

To be safe always visit a qualified aromatherapist for treatment and if you intend using oils at home then get the advice of the therapist first.

Colour healing relies on the use of colour as the name suggests, but colour can be used in a variety of ways, it can incorporate smell, sound and crystal healing. Included in the aura soma system are coloured essential oils, essences and pomanders, which all go towards you being able to take advantage of the visual and non visual effects that colour can bring.

The system relies on the energies from the herbs of the essential oils and the extracts along with the energy that is gotten from the crystals and gems.

The whole basis behind colour therapy is to give yourself a better understanding of yourself, which in turn improves and develops your inner spiritual wellbeing. This is essential if you wish to live a happy and healthier lifestyle free of illness and disease; those who follow traditional medicine believe that the person as a whole has to be considered.

Many of the illnesses and disease that people suffer could be alleviated or even banished if the person took care of their diet; lifestyle and mental health, according to many forms of alternative medicine; symptoms are the body’s natural warning system that something is wrong. However the symptoms alone shouldn’t be treated but the underlying cause has to be discovered.

The aura soma system will help you to get in touch and bring out your inner self, once you have made contact with your inner self then this in time will have positive effects on your outer body and changes in your health and the way you live will be seen.

How the system work and what does is involved?

The whole aim behind the system is to develop a state of perfect and lasting balance; this is achieved basically by colour therapy. On joining the aura soma system of colour therapy, you will be given advice by a trained aura soma practitioner about the significance of certain colours and the effect the have on the mind.

As aroma soma works on your spiritual and emotional well being they will aim to increase your sense of awareness about yourself and create a comfort zone around you. If you would like to know more about this relatively new form of alternative therapy there is plenty of information online to help you get started on the journey to rediscovering yourself.

Ayurveda is based on theories of illness and health and focuses on ways to prevent, treat and manage illness and problems. Being a total health care system it focuses on bringing together the mind, body and spirit and is thus classed by some as being a holistic form of medicine. The basis behind this theory is that if the mind and body is contented and happy then illness simply won’t exist.

While the main aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to prevent illness, it is also used to treat and deal with problems; these can be physical or mental problems with the aim behind it to cleanse the body of substances which have caused the illness or disease in the first place.

The major beliefs of Ayurvedic medicine

When it comes to health and disease those who practise Ayurvedic medicine look into many things when making a diagnosis regarding an illness or problem, they take into account the person’s lifestyle, attitude, health in the past and the world around them.

There is a belief that everything in the world whether it is living or not living affects us and is joined. Within every human there are elements that are contained in the universe and when first born everyone is in harmony with the universe. It is when there becomes an unbalance with the body and the universe, either physically, emotionally or a combination that illness shows.

Therefore illness and disease only occurs if there is disharmony within the person’s environment, while if there is harmony then the mind and body will be as one and the health will remain good.

The person’s constitution

The person’s constitution is taken into account in this form of alternative medicine, it refers to the person’s general state of health and how susceptible they are to illness and disease. The person’s constitution is made up of physical and physiological characteristics, these are influenced by such things as the body’s digestive system and how they are able to get rid of waste matter.

The constitution is made up of three parts which according to Ayurvedic medicine are called “doshas”. The three doshas control the human body, the doshas relate to elements space, air, fire, water and earth and each relate to a particular area within the body and bodily functions and they can be upset for a wide range of reasons.

Each individual has their own balance of the three doshas and usually one of them is more prominent. The doshas are continually changing throughout the course of the day depending on the foods that are eaten, activity taken and bodily processes.

How is the person’s dosha balance determined?

The practitioner of Ayurvedic medicine will thoroughly question the person to determine which of the three doshas is the more prominent. The consultation will rely on observation, touch, advisement and an examination.

The examination consists of checking the patient’s urine, stool, tongue, the body’s sounds, eyes, skin, appearance and questions will be asked regarding the lifestyle. This will help to determine the most prominent dosha and then treatment will be determined on restoring the balance of the doshas.

Dr Bach realised that many of the traditional herbal remedies did work and that people were using them for a variety of illnesses and problems. However some of the combinations recommended for various illnesses could only be taken separately and bought separately.

Therefore Dr Bach wanted to make it easy for those who wished to take herbal remedies, he also wanted them to be affordable and devised a way by which people didn’t need to pay the expense of going to an herbalist.

He wanted people to be able to benefit from the herbal remedies but be able to use them safely from the comfort of their own home. The method they use is just one of the reasons why Bach flower remedies became so popular and are now used by thousands the world over.

Dr Bach’s flower remedies are specially formulated with ingredients combined that work together against a particular problem, for example stress and anxiety. The majority of the remedies are easy to take and include a dropper in the small bottle which you simply fill and drop a few drops directly onto your tongue or in a glass of water.

There is no need to worry that you have chosen the correct remedy simply because if you have chosen the wrong remedy then it simply won’t cure your symptoms. The remedies are safe to take and all remedies come with instructions and directions which clearly state how much to take and how long to take it for.

The flower remedies are just what the name suggests, remedies which are made from flowers and parts of the flowers. Remedies that are prepared using delicate flowers are extracted by the sun method.

This involves placing the blooms of flowers in water for a few hours, in the case of those flowers which are hardy, then these are boiled for a half hour. In all cases the formula is prepared using full 40% strength Brandy as a base.

Dr Bach’s flower remedies are found the world over and have become one of the most popular ways to safely take herbal remedies without the need for an herbalist and buying several separate remedies.

They can be bought freely online from many health care websites or they can be found in your local health food store, chemist or even the supermarket.

One of the most well known and bought of all the flower remedies is the “emergency essence”, this is marketed as a combination of 5 of the most popular remedies put together especially to combat against the symptoms and stress and anxiety and is especially useful for calming oneself in any stressful situation.