Today we are presenting a guest article by Melanie Bowen. Melanie Bowen  is an advocate for natural health and cancer cure initiatives. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in English with a specialty in Psychology and Medical Research, you will often find her highlighting the great benefits of different nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those with illnesses in her efforts to spread awareness.

EFT, properly known as Emotional Freedom Technique, was originally developed as a way to release difficult and haunting emotions. It can be considered a form of “energy medicine,” and was developed as a technique to instantaneously release unnecessary energy. Cancer patients, including those suffering from mesothelioma cancer, breast cancer, or prostate cancer, will find relaxation and a newfound happiness with this tool. This is because research has demonstrated a link between releasing stress and success with cancer treatment. With EFT, the patient is usually told to tap their fingers and make contact with certain meridian points on their face and torso. They will simultaneously say certain phrases that trigger and release the stress and emotions. Use of a emotion rating habit will determine the change in emotion, and the technique unsurprisingly enjoys a high success rate– especially with relieving cancer patients.

The majority of the people who use EFT to heal themselves see lasting results– whether or not they work with a certified professional. Testimonials state that the majority of their pain; including their anger, hatred, grief, sadness, internal chronic stress, depression, and even anxiety is all lost permanently. Cancer patients will also find relief in the facing possible death– a scary scenario for anyone. EFT has been shown to greatly reduce the fear associated with having a possibly terminal disease.

Though EFT does not actually cure cancer, it aids in treatment options and also reduces stress. For example, with a mesothelioma prognosis, there is often an increase of internal stress. This excess emotion puts undesirable pressure on the body. Because of this, it cannot focus complete effort on the healing process, resulting in mutations within the tumor cells. Research shows that stress maintains the tension in the body that keeps cancer cells alive.

If the stress levels the patient’s body are lowered through EFT, then the body has more facilities and resources to spend on recovery rather than worry. On a biological level, it is a shifting of oxygen delivery from the adrenal gland– which releases stress hormones– to the other cells. Though the boost in cancer treatment as a byproduct of this technique is not guaranteed, EFT will at the very least make the cancer patients much more at peace with their condition and able to do partake in activities they love without stress. Practitioners can be found around the world, and Emotional Freedom Technique resources are widely available online. The results of EFT can be witnessed around the world. Even in non-cancer patients, there is a significant improvement in physical health. There are also alternative treatment options for cancer.

If interested in learning how to obtain alternative treatment, look for treatment services in your area. Social networks provide a robust amount of information as well as networks of well-known alternative treatment centers (such as chiropractic or acupuncture centers.)

Sexual confidence is often about men and their attitude towards women. But how about us women?

Many women, even married women, would like some more passion in their life.

1. Love Your Body

Feeling sexy is not only about big breasts and a nice waistline. It’s about confidence and feeling sexy. Practice seeing yourself as sexy preferably in front of the mirror.

2. Relax

Many women especially mothers have very busy schedules. Adding on the stress of feeling what you should want is not going to make matters any better. Try to focus on relaxation instead.

3. Exercise

Physical exercise gets your body going. It releases endorfins and stress that increase libido.

4. Try Something New

Passion can easily cool doing in a long relationship. Get the excitement back with some new toys or games; a DVD, accessories or sexy food.

5. Stop Comparing

Don’t what other people do. How often or what is “normal”. Find what is best for you and your relationship.

6. Love Your Life

If you don’t feel confidence in your own sexuality this might come from a feeling of not being satisfied with your life.

7. Spend Time Together

Spending time with your partner and increasing your sensuality is one of the keys to a health and fun sexual relationship. Go on a date night, go out dancing, or make a special dinner a home just make sure to have fun together.

Image by kainr

As super healthy inexpensive foods like quinoa and amaranth are getting more popular the need for facts and great recipes are increasing.

The first thing to say about quinoa is that it is a seed, not a grain.
The plant grows to about 2 meters high and the seeds are born on flower clusters. The leaves can be eaten like spinach and in fact quinoa and spinach come from the same plant group. The most common type of quinoa is the cream colored quinoa but you can get purple, red, orange or black. There is no nutritional difference between the different types of quinoa.

Quinoa Nutrition Facts

Quinoa has long been a favorite for vegans since it has all nine essential amino acids supplements. Lysine in particular in crucial for repairing the body and bringing recovery to your body. It also contains magnesium ,iron, copper, phosphorus and magnesium. In fact, quinoa has one of the highest concentrations of these elements in the plant world.

Quinoa carbohydrates are slow releasing which means that it satisfies your hunger for longer. For diabetics this is ideal as you can maintain the correct blood sugar levels for longer with high level carbohydrates such as quinoa. It’s also great for anyone following a low carb or low-GI diet.

Quinoa is almost a “complete” food and was used by the Incas tribe by mothers while pregnant as well as when nursing infants. It is thought to help improve the quality of milk mothers produce while feeding.

Quinoa has plenty of Calcium, Fat, Iron and phosphorous and a high amount of vitamin B2.

Sprouted quinoa has even more fiber since the seed germ has sprouted from the seed. You can mix sprouted quinoa with chopped raw vegetables for a healthy salad full of fiber and goodness.

Image by net_efekt.

After months of suspicion a Finish  study shows that children who got the swine flu vaccine Pandemix has a nine times higher risk of developing Narcoplepsy or dyssomnia. The H1N1 vaccine is  now stopped in Finland.

“Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder, or dyssomnia, characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in which a person experiences extreme fatigue and possibly falls asleep at inappropriate times, such as while at work or at school.

In Finland, a country with a population of 5.4 million, 60 children from ages 4 to 19 were diagnosed with the uncommon sleeping disorder during 2009 and 2010. Of the 60 children 52 had received the vaccine Pandemix.

The number of suspected Narcolepsy cases  in children under 19 during 2010 was 10 times higher than normal and the situation is under investigation.

Image by USACE Europe District

Can food make us feel sexier? Can it even make us perform better?

Aphrodisiac foods has the reputation of increasing sex drive. You’ll be surprised to see how many regular foods that are natural aphrodisiacs.  First a list of the best foods and then a love menu that can’t go wrong.

• Alcohol: lowers inhibitions and increases confidence. They say that the actual drinking of wine can be an erotic experience. And Champagne is considered the The “drink of love” . However, too  much alcohol will make you drowsy.

• Almond: Almond has, throughout the ages, been a symbol of fertility. Some believe that its aroma stimulates passion in a female.

• Aniseed: The Greeks and Romans believed that aniseed had sexual powers. Some people believe that sucking on the seeds will increase your libido.

• Arugula: the aromatic salad green. Also known as rocket has been documented as an aphrodisiac food as far back as the first century A.D. Arugula is very popular in Italian food and often used in salads and pastas.

• Asparagus: three courses of asparagus were served to 19th century bridegrooms due to its reputed aphrodisiac powers. Asparagus also contains vitamin E, which believed to stimulate sex hormones.

• Banana: due not only to its shape, but also its creamy, lush texture. Some studies show that its enzyme bromelain enhances male performance.

• Caviar: High in zinc, which stimulates the formation of testosterone.

• Chili peppers: the chemical “Capsaicin” stimulates our nerve endings and raises our pulse. It is responsible for the “heat” in chili peppers. This aphrodisiac food is also thought to release endorphins, which give our bodies a natural high.

• Chocolate: Chocolate contains both a sedative which relaxes and lowers inhibitions and a stimulant to increase activity and the desire for physical contact. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago. More chocolate is sold on Valentines day than on any other day of the year.

• Exotic fruits: Sweet, soft and luxurious, exotic fruits have something very sexy about them.

• Figs: seasonal crops were celebrated by ancient Greeks in a frenzied copulation ritual. Some say that a man opening a fig and eating it in front of his lover can be a powerful aphrodisiac.

• Ginger: Ginger stimulates our circulatory system which can increase sexual powers and desire.

• Ginseng: Ginseng increases desire for physical contact.

• Oysters: Oysters is the all time favorite aphrodisiac food. Some oysters change their sex from male to female and back, giving rise to claims that the oyster lets one experience the the masculine and feminine sides of love. Oysters are a rich source of zinc, a mineral needed for testosterone production. This male hormone is believed to increase the female libido as well. Oysters are high in protein and very nutritious.

• Raspberries and strawberries: Perfect aphrodisiac foods to hand feed your lover. They are red, which is the color associated with love and passion, and are high in vitamin C.

• Nutmeg: Chinese women believed that nutmeg was an aphrodisiac food and that it increased sexual desire.  Large quantities of nutmeg can produce a hallucinogenic effect.

• Truffles: Maybe due to its rarity and musky aroma, truffles have long been considered to be an aphrodisiac.

• Sweet basil: Some believe that sweet basil stimulates the sex drive and boosts fertility. It is also believed to create a sense of well being in our bodies and minds.

There are plenty of ingredients to use to create very special aphrodisiac date. Below is a special love menu that is bound to have success.

Aphrodisiac Menu for 2

Asian shrimp salad

300 g peeled shrimp
2 mangoes
2 avocados
0,5 minced red onion
1 lime
1 minced red pepper
2 msk  finely chopped chives
1 msk olive oil
salt

1. Chop mangoes and avocados. Carefully mix mangoes, avocados, onions and shrimp.

2. Squeeze lime over salad and add chili, chives and oil. Add salt to taste.

Oysters Au Naturel

12 fresh oysters
Lemon
Toast
Butter
Crushed Ice

1. Open the oysters:

Use an oyster knife with a hand guard, and insert the tip of the knife into the small hole at the hinge of the oyster shell. Wiggle the knife and push it all the way inside the shell to break the hinge. Angle the knife upwards as you push it in, so that you cut the abductor muscle which holds the oyster onto the top shell. Remove the top shell, keeping the bottom shell flat to conserve the oyster juices. Then cut the abductor muscle holding the oyster onto the bottom shell so that it is lying loose on the shell, ready for serving. Or simply have them opened  as you pick them up (not more than 6 hours in advance)

2. Serve  Oysters with lemon wedges, fresh toast and butter and perhaps a glas of champagne.

Chocolate Mousse

100 g high quality dark chocolate
5 g butter
2 egg yolks
25 g chopped, blanched almonds
2 msk cognac or Grand Marnier
2 dl whipped cream

1. Melt the chocolate over boiling water. Add butter and let cool some. Then add egg yolks one at the time.

2. Whip the cream. Carefully stir first almonds and Grand Marnie and last the whipped cream.

3. Let the mousse cool in the fridge for 1 our before serving.

Image by Sabrina Campagna

Eucalyptus has very strong medicinal benefits. One popular use is to clear sinus infection. Sinus infection can be especially disturbing at night.

You can make a homemade rub that clears your sinuses and helps them keep clear. It is very effective and smells great.

Unless you live in Australia you might not have a eucalyptus tree in your backyard. So where do you find eucalyptus leaves?

•    Buy a branch at your florist
•    Buy in a crafts store
•    Buy a tree to keep indoors
•    Go outside and find a tree. Eucalyptus grows practically all over the world.

The leaves stay fresh for about 6 months. Find a leave with a strong scent. The smell comes from the chemical eucalyptol that that is the substance that gives the leave its medicinal benefit.
Use the leaves for this  natural remedy.

Homemade Natural Decongestant

ingredients

12 fresh eucalyptus leaves
10 g fresh ginger
Couple of twists of black pepper
200g Vaseline (petroleum jelly) or homemade moisturizing salve
20 drops of peppermint oil

1. Chop the leaves and the ginger put in a glass container with lid. Add salve or Vaseline and pepper and let simmer over a pan of water of about an hour. Keep the lid on to make sure the goodness of the leaves says in the oil!
2. With the help of the colander squeeze the now emerald green oil out of the leaves into the clean container that you would like to keep you rub in. Add the peppermint oil and let the salve set of a few minutes. The rub will keep for about one year.
3. Carefully massage some of the rub on your chest or temples to ensure a good night’s sleep. Use it once a day for 7 days.

Always check of allergies first. Add salve to a small part of the skin. If you have no reaction after 24 hours you can use the remedy.

More uses for eucalyptus leaves:

• They are a natural deodorizer, a prefect reason to get an indoor tree.
• They ward off inspects and bugs even flees and cockroaches.
• Put them in a chest drawer to add a scent to the clothes/ towels.
• Make tea (1/4 – 1/2 teaspoonful per cup hot water, steep for 10 min) to help decongestion and bad breath.
• Chop leaves and add to boiling water.  Inhale to clear sinuses.

Image by Svenstorm

An MD in south Sweden raised the alarm when he found six children between 12 and 16 who where diagnosed with a serious sleep disorder just 1 or 2 months after they were vaccinated with the H1N2 vaccine Pandemrix.

The sleep disorder Narcolepsy is  uncommon and normally  only one case every few year is diagnosed in the whole country. Narcolepsy causes excessive sleepiness and frequent daytime sleep attacks. The attacks are not possible to stop and a person with the illness can for example not operate a car.

Another case of a suspected connection between H1N1 vaccine and Narcolepsy has also been reported in Germany and it is logged in EudraVigilance, where side effects are registered in EU. The connection will now be investigated further.

Image by House Of Sims

Flowers in your salad is not only very pretty it can also give your food a health boost.

Dr Jim Duke is a famous ethnobotanist. He was recently featured in the Daily Health News letter with these great ideas on edible flowers. Make sure to pick the right once though we don’t want you to add a non-edible flower to your summer salad.

• Violets, kin of the vivid Johnny-Jump-Up, add a grassy flavor to garnishes and desserts. These are a good source of rutin, believed to reduce capillary fragility.

• Squash blossoms contain Vitamin A precursor carotenoids.

• Borage, which hints at cucumber, is good in salads. It should be used sparingly, but can be helpful when you have a cold or cough.

• Lavender petals taste sweet and contain chemicals thought to benefit the central nervous system.

• Roses have a sweet, astringent flavor. Rose petals are rich in antioxidant-like polyphenols that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Different colors have different bioactive pigments — and white has the least. Eccleston cautioned against eating the ones you buy in stores as they are grown with chemicals and dipped in fungicide.

• Nasturtiums, lemon gem marigold and calendula (petals only) are all delicious in salads, each bringing its distinct earthy flavor and color to the table, so to speak. The orange calendula (marigold) petals contain lycopene and other cancer-fighting nutrients, while the yellow ones are rich in lutein, which is good for the eyes.

• Daylilies contain Vitamin B and chemicals associated with reduced risk of heart disorders.

Image by kainet

Doing a Breast Self Exams is an important part of women’s health. It’s easy and you can and should do this on a regular basis. Follow these step-by-step instructions.

What You Need to Look For:

• Any lumps (may or may not be painful or tender)
• Unusual thickening or swelling of your breasts
• Any changes in the skin of your nipples or breasts, such as puckering, dimpling, scaly skin or other skin changes
• Any unusual increase in the size of one breast
• Bloody or sticky discharge from your nipples
• If one breast unusually lower than the other

How to Check Your Breast : Breast-Self Exam

1.    Start by standing in front of a mirror. Look at your breasts with your arms at your side, then with your arms raised behind your head, and last with your arms on your hips and your chest muscles flexed.
2.    Now raise your left arm and use the pads of your first 3 fingers of your right hand to feel in and around your armpit.
3.    Do the same thing with the other armpit.
4.    Next, lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder. Put your left hand behind your head and feel your left breast with the pads of the 3 middle fingers on your right hand. Start at the outer edge and work around your breast in small circles, getting closer to your nipple with each circle. After you’ve finished checking your breast, squeeze your nipple gently and look for fluid coming out of the nipple.
5.    Do the same thing to your right breast with a pillow under your right shoulder.
Your breasts can also be checked while you are taking a bath. It is easier to feel lumps when your skin is wet.

When Should You Check Your Breasts:
If you are 20 years of age or older you should check your breasts monthly, preferably one week after your period.

Image by boliston

Do store bought cleanses work?

Or are they a waste of money?

Maybe you’re done with spring cleaning your house. How about your body?

I just watched a video about whether cleanse products mean effective weight loss or a waste of money.

The main reasons that people do a detox is to:

1. Lose Weight
2. Get clearer skin
3. Increase your energy

Does it work? Yes, a detox works. But not the cleanse products, according to the experts.

Eating more fruit and vegetables is really what makes a difference during the cleanse. The actual product doesn’t matter.

I think this is in individual choice.

Once a friend of mine tried the same cleanse product at the same time. She lost weight and all her eczema disappeared. While I felt noticed nothing.

To really understand that you must look at our normal diets. She ate a “normal” reasonably healthy American diet. While I had a large very large percentage raw food in my diet, avoided preservatives and additives and did not drink any coffee or black tea.

The conclusion is probably that she needed a detox I didn’t.

I’m firm believer in detox. A couple of days, every now and then. I always gives me huge amounts of energy. So does a 1-day fast.

Adding a couple of days of fast or detox into your weekly schedule can have amazing results on your body fat. You consume less calories so you lose weight. It’s really quite simple. However there are not a lot of weight loss diets that can promise you increased energy levels.

If a store bought cleanse product will help your motivation. Then that is the prefect choice for you.

If you have the will to do it on your own. I would recommend to spend that money on your favorite raw foods are create your own personal detox. It is really quite simple. You can find all the information you need in the article how  to detoxify your body naturally .

Read my diary from the first day I was fasting for weight loss.

Image by D Sharon Pruitt.