Turbulent times and hectic, sometimes overwhelming schedules take a real toll on our bodies and minds. Prolonged elevated stress levels can adversely affect organ and brain performance, depress mood and significantly reduce sleep – all of which can have devastating effects on a person’s general health over time. Traditionally, the essential oils in aromatherapy have been a true respite for many who are wary of today’s often over-prescribed antidepressants and anxiety medications.

Aromatherapy at its basis, like the word implies, works by stimulating nerves inside the nose to produce responses in the brain, primarily in the limbic system. Creating a calming effect in the limbic system is crucial because that area of the brain regulates emotion, motivation, and the release of chemicals and hormones. It also plays a large part in controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Scientists are not sure exactly how essential oils work to improve health, but they do say that aromatherapy ingredients are complementary modalities that likely trigger responses inside the body and brain to help the body heal itself.

Many essential oils have actual direct pharmacological effects when ingested or used as a part of a healthy meal plan.

A bit of caution is required when ingesting or cooking with essential oils however. Some oils, such as eucalyptus, hyssop, sage, lavender and others can be toxic when ingested or even applied to the skin in sufficiently large doses. Proper dilution of the ingredients can make them safe and beneficial however. Check labels or seek advice from a pharmacist or physician, or consult the many essential oil low calorie recipe books available.

Another organic compound is now being widely used with essential oils to create naturally sweet recipes that have tremendous health benefits, in addition to being great tasting. Xylitol, which is essentially sugar alcohol, is created by hydrogenating natural sugar, and the result is a sweetener with a third of sugar’s calories and a host of tremendous health benefits. Oral health issues, diabetes, infections, and bone health can all be improved with the ingestion of xylitol.

Foods incorporating xylitol and aromatherapy ingredients are really beginning to take hold. There are countless recipes incorporating essential oils, and products are springing up everywhere. Syrups that can be put on breads and pancakes or added to recipes make featuring essential oils in your diet easy. Cancer patients and survivors can especially benefit from the syrups because the xylitol actually reduces blood sugar levels and does not feed cancer cells like regular sugar.

Owen Walcher lives in Glenwood Springs, CO where Sophisticated Syrups were invented.

What makes Sophisticated Syrups unique is that they are sweetened with US grown organic xylitol from Birch trees, and they are flavored with therapeutic grade, ingestible aromatherapy essential essences. The syrups contain the aroma and effect of the aromatherapies they contain. All ingredients are of the highest quality obtainable and are bottled in glass. Currently there are 5 flavors.

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By Terri Atwell Terri Atwell
Level: Platinum

Terri is a registered nurse with 37+ years in the profession. Her interests include gardening, reading British murder mysteries and historical fiction, and spoiling two …

WOW! Thanksgiving is over and it is less than four weeks until Christmas! I really need to get moving and finish the Christmas shopping, since half of the gifts need to be shipped to another state. Signs of the season are everywhere-at the mall, decorations on private residences, town streets and grocery stores. Archway already has its seasonal cookies out. I really love the pfeffernusse cookies with their anise flavor. I’ve never made them myself, but I did attempt springerle one year-disaster! Springerle are also flavored with anise, and are rolled out with a special rolling pin that has decorations engraved on it. Mine came out hard as a rock-if you hit somebody with one you’d probably kill them, or at least fracture their skull. I haven’t lived that disaster down yet!

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) is a plant related to the common parsley and garden carrot. It is mostly grown in the eastern region of the Mediterranean and southwest Asia. The seed pods are known as anise seed and the flavor is similar to licorice, fennel and tarragon. I never connected the flavors of anise and tarragon but on reflection I realized that there is a similarity there between the two. No wonder tarragon is a favorite herb of mine. Star anise (Illicium verum) is obtained from the star-shaped fruit of a small evergreen tree native to China. This spice’s flavor is similar to anise although the two spices are unrelated. Both spices contain the same ingredient, anethole, in their essential oils, which is what gives the spices their flavor. Anise and star anise are widely used in cooking, baking and liquor production, but since it is less expensive to produce star anise, this spice is gradually replacing anise in a lot of markets.

Both anise and star anise are used for a variety of medicinal purposes. Each spice can be used as a digestive aid: for indigestion, nausea, prevent gas formation or help in getting rid of the gas. They are also helpful for rheumatism and coughs. Since both spices contain anethole, which is classified as a phytoestrogen (foreign substance that has estrogen-like effects), it is recommended that women who are pregnant avoid using them for aromatherapy purposes. Using a small amount of the spices for flavoring foods is not harmful to the pregnant woman. For aromatherapy uses anise and anise star can be taken in teas, in food or by chewing the seeds. They can also be mixed with carrier oils and be applied topically.

Anise is useful in a variety of respiratory diseases, such as asthma, whooping cough, and bronchitis. A topical application is helpful in treating skin disorders such as oiliness, scabies and lice. Chewing the seeds help freshen breath and remedy insomnia. Because anise has an antiseptic quality it was used briefly during the Civil War for this purpose; however it was discovered to cause high levels of toxicity in the blood and was subsequently discontinued. The liquid scent is used by fishermen on lures to attract fish. During the years when steam locomotives dominated the rails, capsules of aniseed oil were placed among the metal bearings so that the railroad worker would be alerted to overheating by its strong distinctive smell.

Star anise contains shikimic acid, a primary component in the anti-influenza drug Tamiflu–star anise is the industrial source for this ingredient. There was actually a temporary shortage of star anise a few years back when the demand for the drug Tamiflu was high. Reports surfaced stating that some people had severe illness after drinking star anise tea. This is thought to be due to the erroneous use of Japanese star anise (Illicium anisatum). Japanese star anise is from a similar tree, but is highly toxic. Ingesting this substance causes severe neurological effects (seizures) and also affects renal and digestive systems.

Anise and star anise are two wonderful spices that can be used in your Holiday baking and cooking. Take advantage of their essential oils this cold and flu season; and if you eat too much during the festivities and develop indigestion, just get out the seeds and chew on them for relief. If you are really into baking special treats, try springerle. I haven’t had the courage to try them again!

After being in nursing for many years, I decided to retire from nursing and devote my time to my web business. TLC is so much a part of me, and I am working hard to help people feel better about themselves–body, mind and soul. The business I started is called KKAT VENTURES LLC and the web URL is http://www.peacefulbeing.net/ I am also a grandmother of three adorable children (what grandmother doesn’t say this!!!). I enjoy gardening, reading,especially British murder mysteries and historical fiction, and crosswords and Sudoku. And yes, I have a cat!

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Article Submitted On: December 01, 2010

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Balance Complete is a whole food based meal replacement.It is both a powerful nutritive energizer and a cleanser.Like a who’s who in superfoods, it contains:

? Whole Ningxia wolfberry powder
? nutrient-dense brown rice bran
? barley grass
? extra virgin coconut oil
? aloe vera
? cinnamon powder
? proprietary whey protein blend.

Balance Complete is high in fiber, high in protein, and contains the fats, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals needed for a nutritionally dynamic meal.
Young Living’s proprietary of V-Fiber blend supplies an impressive eleven grams of fiber per serving by combining whole-food and nutrient-dense fibers like rice bran, Ningxia
wolfberry powder, and insulin with fiber concentrates like larch polysaccharide (arabinogalactan), konjac, and sodium alginate (seaweed).

Pure whey protein makes up the bulk of amino acids in Balance Complete.

It is a hormone, antibiotic-, and chemical-free whey protein. Its impressive amino-acid profile is non-denatured and has the highest protein efficiency ratio; perfect for building tissue and activating immune-boosting glutathione production.

Primary Benefits of Balance Complete:

+ Improves toxin and fat elimination
+ Enhances nutrient absorption
+ Supports healthy, normal cholesterol levels
+ Supplies 11 grams heart-healthy fiber per serving
+ Maintains normal blood sugar levels
+ Nutures probiotics and colon health
+ Curbs food cravings
+ Eases gas and bloating

Young Living’s proprietary V-Fiber blend is ideal for cleansing, weight-loss and everyday health maintenance. It supplies a remarkable 11 grams of fiber per serving by combining nutrient-dense fiber and soluble fiber concentrates.V-Fiber delivers optimal viscosity with nutrient-rich fibers and natural fiber concentrates that:

? + form more bulk and improve elimination
? + absorb more toxins
? + satisfy the appetite
? + balance blood sugar

Balance Complete protein is non-denatures, sourced from New Zealand and is certified:
? + grass-fed
? + hormone-free
? + antibiotic-free
? + chemical-free

Who Should Use This Product?
Anyone interested in improving their health should use this product For cleansing and weight loss consider the simple and effective 5-Day Nutritive Cleanse.

How To Use:
Add 2 scoops of Balance Complete to 8-10 ounces cold water or milk. Shake, stir or blend until smooth. For added flavor add fruit or essential oils.

Karen is a Young Living Independent Distributor and Certified Clinical Aromatherapist and Raynor Massage Therapist. She teaches aromatherapy courses at Lethbridge College and serves on the board of the Lethbridge College Massage Advisory Board. She is the author of For the Love of Oils: Essential Tools for your Aromatherapy Business Success. http://karen-hanna.com/

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You will find hundreds of organic supplements which have been shown to be of benefit to human health, but time and money frequently limit the quantity that one person can take. All correctly researched and developed supplementations are high-quality, although some stand out. This is not because they’re complex or unique, but because they’re so incredibly useful in sustaining and restoring wellbeing.

1 of these is fish oil. Fish oils are beneficial sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, substances which are critical to our health but which the human body is not capable to manufacture internally. Omega-3 isn’t bountiful in most foods and is usually removed from refined foods because the oils that contain it go bad quickly devoid of refrigeration.

Because fish oil is fragile, carefulness has to be taken to select a brand which has scientific proof that its oils are clean, free from toxins, as well as undamaged during processing and delivery. Fish oil is available in flavored and unflavored liquids, within capsules, as well as in wild caught fish such as salmon and true sardines. A number of highly regarded corporations process it in a way to avoid the digestive distress that fish oil might bring about, or similar valuable benefits can be provided from oils from krill or additional forms of sea life.

Finally, an animal type of Omega-3 may be further bio-available then that of vegetable or seed oils, like flaxseed. The benefits of Omega-3 supplementation constitute enhanced blood triglyceride levels, decreased danger of stroke and heart attack, enhanced brain development in infants and brain function in adults, and fewer joint and skin problems.

There are many different alternatives for nutritional supplements including beta carotene. This important substance present in carrots and other colorful vegetables is used for several defensive functions inside your body. Your body is additionally able to convert it into Vitamin A if that nutrient is absent. This means that you can circumvent taking too much Vitamin A but still obtain all you need. Vitamin A is very important for vision, skin health, and for battling infection within your system. It could be coincidence, however numerous kids who are given low dose beta carotene quite a few times a day when they have got a sore throat never develop strep.

Magnesium is another supplement, a mineral this time, of which it’s hard to say too much. Lots of people are not discerning that calcium cannot be properly used in the body devoid of adequate amounts of magnesium and other minerals. Because of this reason, supplementing calcium alone could be a misuse of money and time, and may even have damaging effects. Soft tissue deposits of calcium imply a lack of magnesium.

Magnesium is a water soluble nutrient. Meaning you cannot take too much without knowing it, because the body will eradicate the surplus as diarrhea. For those who have an extraordinarily elevated requirement for magnesium, you can take as much as your body can absorb. Scientists have discovered over 300 bodily processes that can’t be effectively distributed when magnesium is insufficient.

Magnesium is found plentifully in leafy green vegetables and nuts, as well as in less significant amounts in other foods. A lot of people in developed countries depend on dairy products and meat as the bulk of their diet. This means that there is ample calcium within their diet if their bodies had sufficient magnesium to use it. Low bone density is often more a sign to add magnesium then to supplement calcium.

It is possible to check out this information online and in health books and magazines. If you find 4 or five confirmations of health suggestions from reputable resources, you may be pretty positive the advice is sound. Then it’s up to you to make use of it for improved health.

Brenda Hughes is a greatly experienced critic conversing about natural health care products including natural supplements, nori seaweed nutritional supplements, and kelp supplements in addition to dispersing the knowledge to people to use supplements and medical products for the purpose of improving the general healthiness and physical condition of people all over the planet.

There are many benefits to be had with fresh herb gardening. For one thing, you can enjoy fresh herbs straight off the plants that, arguably, provide for more flavor than the packed herbs at supermarkets. You can save on costs for herbs, too, since you need not buy them anymore. For another thing, you have a small sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of your hectic daily life. Plus, you can get your exercise, too, if your fresh herb garden is large enough.

The Joys of Fresh Herb Gardening Using Containers

However, you can grow herbs from containers, too. This way, you need not deprive yourself of the beauty of being closer to nature by being a gardener even if you live in a high-rise, cramped apartment.

The choice of containers is near endless when it comes to fresh herb gardening as there are so many different materials, colors, and styles to choose from. You’ll have your pick of ceramic, plastic, terra cotta, and wood in varying shapes and sizes ranging from everything from the enormous container that is meant to be stationery to the smaller, portable type that can be moved about easily. Whatever you choose, just be sure the containers are equipped with holes as allowing the soil to drain properly is extremely important, as are getting ample sunlight and water.

As long as there’s plenty of sunlight, you can place your herb garden just about anywhere. Besides sunny spots in the front or backyards, consider using containers on the patio, the deck, or on windowsills. Containers are easy to move in the case of cold or rain and can be quickly rearranged for aesthetic purposes.

Mixed Herbs

Yet another great thing about fresh herb gardening is that herbs can be planted along side other varieties in a relatively small area, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a heady aroma and gorgeous display of color and texture in one single space. One thing to keep in mind is planting mint by itself as this overzealous plant tends to overrun all of its neighbors.

For the most functional mixes, plant like herbs together in terms of their use or purpose. For example, if you’re planting culinary herbs, use those that would be combined together in similar recipes, like spaghetti or other pasta dishes. Here are some of the most often used combinations that you’ll often find packaged together in kits at home and garden centers, greenhouses, or nurseries:

* Italian cuisine – Sweet basil, oregano, marjoram, thyme and Italian parsley

* Italian Cuisine Mixture: Sweet basil, Italian parsley, marjoram, oregano, thyme

* French Cuisine Mixture: Chervil, chives, parsley, sage, tarragon

* For aroma plant lavender, lemon balm, lemon thyme, and pineapple sage

Choose the one that suits your tastes and needs the best, or even better, have one of every type to enjoy all of their many unique benefits.

Helpful Hints for Beginners

If you’re just starting to dabble in fresh herb gardening, remember these helpful hints to ensure your first foray in the interesting world of nature is a successful one. Always keep your herbs pruned to allow for better growth before transferring to larger containers, or, thin your crops regularly so that containers or plots aren’t overcrowded.

Also, try to extend their lives by feeding with liquid plant food albeit at half the strength for regular plants. Fourth, never over water the herbs since it can result in soggy roots. Instead, regularly check to make sure that the topmost soil is just damp, neither soggy nor bone dry. Fifth, just cut down the herbs when you see evidence of aphids and red spiders.

Keeping all of these helpful hints in mind you should be able to enjoy a bountiful crop along with delicious salads and other healthy foods thanks to your fresh herb gardening efforts.

Learn more about Fresh Herb Gardening, stop by Yilmaz Cesur’s site where you can find out all about his Free Herb Garden eCourse and how it can help you.