Lets Talk About skin Care, Beauty And Health Tips

This is only a few of the many essential oils included in skin formulas, though these are considered among the most important for their broad range of effects. Almost any essential oil can be added to a blend in balanced quantities. In many cases, oils are added as much for their lovely aroma as their direct therapeutic benefits to skin tissue. Many aromatherapists, and natural health professionals for that matter, consider the overall mental and emotional condition to be of primary importance in creating an appearance of fitness and beauty. Many citrus and floral oils are used for this reason - Neroli, distilled from the flowers of the bitter orange tree, is an often used example. Others are Jasmine, Sandalwood (very popular in Men's skin care), Geranium and Ylang Ylang.

Essential oils, be they for direct effects on skin metabolism, or for the overall state of wellness of the user, will be diluted in a carrier oil, sometimes known as a base oil. It is important to note that diluting the oils will often actually enhance their effects; essential oils are often too strong to be used directly, and many studies have shown increased efficacy in dilutions down to 1% or less of the total formula. The carrier oils serve several other functions as well; they "carry" the essential oils into the skin, increasing their total absorption. They also nourish the middle and lower layers of the skin with essential fatty acids or EFA's - compounds now considered critical to the health of all living tissues. Further, some carrier oils have vitamin analogs which assist in skin regeneration and repair.

Some of the carrier oils often found in skin formulations include Hazelnut, Rosehip seed, and Evening Primrose. Hazelnut is a very gentle oil with little aroma of it's own, and being suitable for virtually all skin types, it use used in a vast number of blends as the primary carrier. To this, Rosehip seed oil is added for it's concentration of triple-unsaturated fatty acids, and it's natural trans-retinoic acid; a vitamin-A compound similar in effects to Retin-A without drying side effects. Evening Primrose is often also included in lower concentrations for it's high levels of GLA or gamma-linolenic acid, and is considered important in cases of eczema and skin showing signs of premature aging.

Making your own blends with these ingredients is truly a fun and rewarding experience - you only need a bottle to mix them in, and some means of counting out drops of essential oil. An eye dropper works wonderfully, and graduated plastic pipettes are readily available. A basic blend to begin with, which is designed for overall health of the skin, is made thusly: to one ounce of Hazelnut Oil, add fifteen drops Thyme Linalool, fifteen drops Rosemary Verbenone, fifteen drops Neroli (or a high-quality Petitgrain if you prefer - it is much less expensive with many of the same properties), and fifteen drops Spike Lavender (a Lavender with strong antiseptic qualities - a little more 'medicinal' than the sweeter True lavender). This blend was originally formulated to clear up oily skin, but is now used to support normal skin in daily application.

If your skin has been chemically damaged, is overly-sensitive, or otherwise 'weakened' with broken capillaries, try this mixture, applying frequently: For each ounce of base oil, use three parts Hazelnut, one part Rosehip Seed, and one part Evening Primrose. Add the following essential oils: fifteen drops Moroccan Chamomile, fifteen drops Helichrysum, fifteen drops true Lavender, and fifteen drops Roman Chamomile. The Helichrysum, Lavender and Rosehip seed will enhance the skin's own natural metabolism, and the addition of the Chamomiles will greatly reduce inflammation that is found with almost all damage and/or aging.

If your skin is prone to acne, or has over-active sebaceous glands, the following blend can be of great assistance. It contains regenerative, antiseptic, and cleansing oils. Simply use Hazelnut as the base, and to each ounce include fifteen drops of Green Myrtle or Inula graveolens, fifteen drops Eucalyptus dives (because of the ketones in this oil, it should not be used if pregnant - or under 10 years of age - but is otherwise considered safe), fifteen drops Spike Lavender, and fifteen drops Rosemary verbenone.

If your skin doesn't have particular damage to it, but appears lifeless due to exhaustion and/or exposure to significant amounts of pollution or environmental toxins, this is the blend for you. Use one part Rosehip Seed and 4 parts Hazelnut as the base. To each ounce, include fifteen drops Carrot Seed (also known as Wild Carrot or Queen Anne's Lace - a well known skin restorative), fifteen drops Lemon verbena (which enhances the removal of toxins from skin tissues), fifteen drops Niaouli (an all-around brilliant antiseptic oil with firming effects), and fifteen drops Rosemary verbenone (again, for it's regenerative and stimulating effects). If you are wishing to strengthen, tighten, and firm your skin, try this dilute mixture (the concentration of essential oils is relatively low here for use near the eyes) five ounces of Hazelnut oil and one ounce of Rosehip seed oil, fifteen drops of Green Myrtle, fifteen drops of Rock Rose (a plant grown in very sun-drenched areas, excellent for gently tightening the skin). If you like, add fifteen drops of Rosemary verbenone for it's regenerative properties, but omit if this causes sensitivity used near the eyes.

These are only a few aromatherapy skin care recipes for a woman's natural beauty medicine chest. There are many texts available to help you create more complex blends, or one's with your favorite aromatics. Blending your own facial and skin formulas is easy, rewarding, and in the long run, cost-effective. Using natural botanicals in a consistent, mindful manner can lead to long-lasting, noticeable natural health of your skin. Just remember with aromatherapy, essential oil concentrations should be kept low for best results - pay attention to how your own body reacts and you're sure to find the ingredients and measures most effective for you!

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RECOMMENDATION: 5 times/week, 30minutes for each session
Start increasing your activity level gradually & exercise regularly

The mushroom is most frequently taken with steam boat. Cooking time should be less than 3 minutes, or the healing property would greatly diminish.

These are crucial questions regarding our healthcare system's approach to depression, particularly considering new research addressing the effectiveness of prescription drugs.

New Medical Studies Raise a Lot of Eyebrows, and Even More Questions
The prestigious New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) recently published a study that questioned both the selective publication of (positive) medical studies on antidepressants and therefore whether we have an accurate, unbiased perspective on their effectiveness and risk-benefit ratio.(6) Instead of only considering published studies on the effectiveness of antidepressants, the authors evaluated all studies registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), both published and unpublished. According to publishes studies, it appeared that 94% of the trials conducted showed positive outcomes. However, when the unpublished studies were included, only about half (51%) of the studies demonstrated positive outcomes, suggesting a bias in the publication of positive studies, significantly questioning their efficacy. The authors concluded that they could not determine, however, the cause of the publication bias, but stated, "[s]elective reporting of clinical trial results may have adverse consequences for researchers, study participants, health care professionals, and patients."(7)

As a group of researchers wrote in a letter to the NEJM as a follow up to the study, "[t]he most serious implication of this study is that guidelines for the treatment of depression may be inaccurate, since they are often based on meta-analyses of published data alone.

This current system makes it impossible for scientific journals to provide a valid picture of the efficacy of antidepressants."
Additionally, a recent study publushed in PloS Medicine concludes that new antidepressant medications, such as SSRIs, benefit only the most severe patients and, "[a]lthough patients get better when they take antidepressants, they also get better when they take a placebo [such as a sugar pill], and the difference in improvement is not very great. This means that depressed people can improve without chemical treatments." (8)

An Explosion of the Use of Antidepressants Combined with the Recent Research Questioning Their Effectiveness

Dr. Ronald Dworkin has a clear opinion regarding the current state of depression treatment, which, as already stated, includes $12 billion spent on antidepressants in the US alone. Dworkin, a senior fellow at Washington's Hudson Institute, is the author of "Artificial Unhappiness: The Dark Side of the New Happy Class." "Doctors are now medicating unhappiness," said Dworkin. "Too many people take drugs when they really need to be making changes in their lives."(9)

Unstuck - A New Book That Challenges $20 billion in Drug Company Advertising and the Mainstream Treatment of Depression
Pharmaceutical companies spent almost $20 billion in advertising in 2001; the largest amount was spent to promote antidepressant drugs. A new book by integrative medicine pioneer James S. Gordon, M.D. criticizes our current system of treating depression so extensively and quickly with antidepressants and offers a comprehensive and largely self-directed program for those afflicted by depression. "Unstuck: Your Guide to the Seven Stage Journey Out of Depression" is Gordon's first effort to write about the program he has developed and used for thirty five years to treat depression, extreme stress, and anxiety.
Gordon, the Founder and Director of the non-profit Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM) in Washington, DC, developed the foundation of the program over forty years ago and has been using it with patients and teaching it to health professionals during that period. He also served as the Chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy under President Bill Clinton.

Gordon believes that depression is not a disease, but a sign that one's life is out of balance, or "stuck". He asserts that, while there are biological changes associated with depression, they are inconsistent among patients and are more likely to be the result of feelings of hopelessness, loss and helplessness than their cause. A core aspect of Gordon's approach is that antidepressants are significantly over-prescribed and they are less effective than other less-toxic approaches. According to Gordon, writing prescriptions for antidepressants has become a well-intentioned, but ill-informed and quick option for doctors, who have little time to spend with patients due to our current medical reimbursement system that encourages short patient visits. Their use has ballooned as a result. Gordon's comprehensive approach which emphasizes self-care techniques, including dietary change, nutritional supplements, meditation and exercise, represents a significant - and controversial - departure from typical modern medical approaches to depression treatment, which are based primarily on prescription drugs and only secondarily on the use of supportive and cognitive therapy.

Seven Stages of the Program
Gordon's Unstuck Program consists of seven stages and a variety of self-care techniques to treat depression. He tells patients to stay on antidepressants initially and work with their doctors and other health professionals with the program. The seven stages, as Gordon has titled them, include:
The Call. Gordon notes that one has to become aware that he or she is depressed and decide that change is necessary.

Guides on the Journey. The Unstuck Program suggests finding people, such as health professionals, who can help the patient through the process.
Surrender to Change. This stage involves letting go of those issues that may constrain us, and move into the current of life.

Dealing with Demons. Gordon discusses facing the challenges to the process, such as procrastination, pride, resentment, and fear, among others.
Dark Night of the Soul. This stage involves allowing freedom to emerge as participants move through despair along the process.

Spirituality: the Blessing. The Program discusses connecting with something or someone larger than ourselves.

The Return. This stage involves learning to live every day joyously, deeply and consciously in the light of what participants have experienced.

Treatments, Exercises and Techniques Used in Unstuck
Gordon includes a variety of forms of psychological guidance and instruction in various wellness approaches, included below. Ironically, some of these techniques have existed for thousands of years. Though they empower a patient to take control over the treatment process, Gordon also strongly recommends that each patient find a skilled "Guide" or therapist for support.

* Meditation
* Exercise
* Self-expression through words, drawings, and movement
* Yoga
* Nutrition and Supplements
* Acupuncture and Herbal Therapies
* A Variety of Spiritual Practices
* Psychological guidance

Scientific Basis for Program
Gordon has developed and used the Unstuck Program for 40 years. The Program is taught by Dr. Gordon and the faculty of the "Mind-Body Medicine Professional Training Program" held by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine, based in Washington, DC. The Center has taught the program and approach to thousands of medical schools, health professionals and individuals around the world since 1994. Currently, the program is being used in New Orleans, throughout the Middle East, with returning veterans from Iraq, and others around the world to help alleviate the symptoms of stress, trauma, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
There are thousands of peer-reviewed scientific studies on the individual techniques included in the program that Gordon cites in Unstuck. In addition, several published studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Gordon's approach.(10)

Inevitable Controversy and Some Challenges
Gordon's Unstuck approach will inevitably face criticism from those in the mental health field who have seen the clear benefits of antidepressants for their patients and from some of those patients themselves. Gordon acknowledges that many people have, in fact, benefited from prescription medications. His program, however, offers a proven, natural alternative for the many who suffer from depression, but have not gotten relief from the typical treatments. It also offers a way for those who continue on medication to obtain significant benefits as well as take control over their treatment program. This active involvement addresses feelings of helplessness and hopelessness that are hallmarks of depression. The techniques are so simple, in fact, that patients can integrate them into their current mainstream treatment.
If there is one challenge to the program, it is the same one faced by countless dieters, people who exercise, and others who generally attempt to integrate healthy changes in their lives - sticking to the program and practicing the recommended exercises regularly, especially when hit with the "blues" of depression and lethargy. In "Unstuck," Gordon is there every step of the way, encouraging and helping readers to start from where they are, experimenting with different approaches, gradually building up the momentum for change and healing. To help with this process, we have created a web-based webinar with Dr. Gordon on treating depression.

References
(1) Mathers CD, Loncar D (November 2006). "Projections of global mortality and burden of disease from 2002 to 2030". PLoS Med. 3 (11): e442. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0030442. PMID 17132052. (3) Source: IMS Health. ww.imshealth.com/portal/site/imshealth (4) Id. (5) Ann Fam Med. 2005 Nov-Dec;3(6):494-9. (6) N Engl J Med. 2008 Jan 17;358(3):252-60.(7) Id.(8) N Engl J Med 2008; 358:2180-2182, May 15, 2008. Kirsch I, Deacon BJ, Huedo-Medina TB, Scoboria A, Moore TJ, et al. (2008) Initial severity and antidepressant benefits: A metaanalysis of data submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. PLoS Med 5(2): e45. (9)(8) Gordon, James S. Staples Julie K, Blyta Afrim, Bytyqi Murat, Wilson Amy T. Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Postwar Kosovar Adolescents Using Mind-Body Skills Groups: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2008

Lemongrass oil should not be applied to the skin as a concentrated oil because it causes a skin reaction in some people. Thus pure lemongrass oil for nail fungus should be avoided. The oil is often blended with other essential oils such as cedarwood, basil, jasmine, and tea tree oil. Such blends provide some citral for nail fungus treatment without the danger of causing a skin reaction. Even so, it's best to apply preparations for nail fungus only to the nail and avoid skin contact, because nail preparations typically contain higher concentrations of antifungal ingredients than skin preparations do. Other preparations containing oil of lemongrass are specifically blended and marketed for fungal infections involving the skin.

One of the better blends containing citral for nail fungus is one that includes both lemongrass oil and tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is now enjoying widespread use as an antifungal agent for nail fungus infections, and there is considerable scientific evidence as well as anecdotal evidence that it is quite effective. Products such as lemongrass oil, tea tree oil, and various essential oil blends are favored by people who don't want to use prescription drugs, which are not only expensive but also associated with harmful side effects and health risks. It's a good idea, however, to have a nail fungus infection confirmed by a trained medical professional, even if you do favor natural remedies over pharmaceuticals.

Tip 1 : Use 5 drops of tea tree oil and ¾ basin of warm water, soak feet for at least 20 minutes. Pat feet dry.(substitute with eucalyptus, peppermint or lemongrass oil).

Tip 2 : Mix 2 drops of tea tree oil, 2 drops of peppermint or eucalyptus oil and 1 drop of lavender oil into ¾ basin of warm water, soak feet for at least 20 minutes. Pat feet dry.

Tip 3 : If you are able to find lemongrass water (found in Asian countries), pour 1 cup of lemongrass water into ½ basin of warm water, soak feet for at least 20 minutes. Pat feet dry.

After any foot soak, remove your both foot from the basin. Dry your feet with a clean towel. Apply some moisturizing foot lotion and put on a pair of clean cotton socks. You may leave the socks on during your sleep or remove the socks when you go to bed, it is your choice.

This two simple routine allow you to recondition your skin, to maintain smooth healthy feet. Just remember this, soak feet to treat, relax or detox and moisturize your feet.

During the weekends or during your break, you can try a DIY refreshing feet treatment to repair and protect the skin at your feet. Skin over is can be easily damage due to wearing different types of shoes or too much walking. A very straight forward treatment, you would suggest that you give it a try.

Apply foot scrub onto feet and gently massage with light and circular movement , concentrating on rough and coarse skin. Rinse the feet with warm water. Pat dry.

Apply refreshing foot masque (try peppermint foot masque) to refresh or rich moisturizing foot masque (any foot masque rich in beauty oil or cocoa butter) onto feet covering your nails. Remember your nails need some conditioning too for easy trimming. Leave the masque on for 15 minutes. Wash the masque away with warm water, not forgetting to clean the nail corners. Pat the feet dry.

Use a foot spray to refresh your feet. Spray a few times onto feet to soothe and relax. Foot sprays are usually very cooling to the skin.

Apply foot lotion or foot cream, massage gently until lotion or cream absorb. You may apply some lotion or cream onto the nails area. Or for simple deep conditioning nail treatment, slightly warm up 1 tsp of olive oil, and gently rub onto each nails.

Wear a pair of thin cotton soaks if you are planning to walk around the house to prevent sticking the foot lotion or cream onto the floor.