Do You Think Vitamin E Can Really Help You to Heal Your Bruises?

By Carolyn Cooper

When your head is in a place where you desire to be certain that you are going to be finding the way to get your bruises healed as quickly as possible, you will find that there are a ton of bruising remedies being made available to you. Whether you acquire them from the Internet or donated by your family or friends, you'll discover that there are an abundance of them available to you that it might be almost impossible to figure out which ones are going to be the best solution for you. One purported remedy that is suggested over and over again is Vitamin E. Does Vitamin E actually do the job its represented to do when you are trying to find a remedy for your bruises? What's necessary to know?

The first thing that you should be aware of is that vitamin E really is great stuff. It can work very nicely as a companion to vitamin C when you are looking to help your body heal overall, and it can be perfect when you are looking at healing certain skin issues. If you have a new scar that you don't want to leave a mark permanently, or even sometimes when you have an old scar, you can use vitamin E directly to the scar to keep the skin looking good. It promotes fast healing and, it can keep your skin looking fresh and young.

The situation that it does not address pertains to the actual business of healing a bruise, which is closely tied to your circulatory system. Keep in mind that a bruise is the result of tiny blood vessels close to the surface of your skin being broken. This means that to prevent bruising, you must have a remedy that will make your circulatory system somewhat less subject to damage, but when you want to get rid of a bruise, you require something that will dissipate the bleeding below the skin level and restore your natural pigmentation. The truth is that vitamin E can not do either of these things.

Vitamin E is wonderful when you implement it to take external care of your skin, but just like the saying that beauty is not just skin deep, bruising isn't either. There are an abundance of remedies available that proudly announce that they use a large quantity of vitamin E, but unless the other ingredients are exceptional, you are probably going to want to think about what you need to examine what your best options are. There is a large variety of different reasons why vitamin E can be helpful as one ingredient in your bruise treatment (particularly if you are concerned with how your skin will look and feel afterward), but make certain that you look for other, more useful, ingredients also.

Make some time to spend determining the whys and hows of your bruising. This is a personal situation that you need to consider if you ever want to get rid of easy bruising for good, so make certain that you ponder over your own particular situation and what you should do to get the proper assistance to solve this particular problem.

About the Author:

Carolyn Cooper is known as an renowned expert on bruising causes through a collaboration of her educational experience in nutrition and her real world experience with nutritional supplements for athletes ranging from children to the pro ranks. Get a free Special Report on bruising causes and see what she's done to get past the nightmares of easy bruising and prevent bruising.

Are Plantar warts Restricting Your Activities?

By Willis Green

In the United States, 7% - 10% of the population has warts. In fact, warts are the most common of all skin infections. Plantar warts are non-cancerous growths that appear on the plantar surface of the foot -- typically on the sole, the heel, or the ball of the foot. You will typically see small black dots in the wart which are actually blood vessel capillaries. These nourish the wart. As for size, plantar warts can start very small but occasionally grow to cover most of the sole of the foot.

Plantar warts often cause pain, especially when located over bony areas of the foot. They don't always present as raised bumps because they have been forced to grow downward, into your foot, due to the pressure of walking. Most sufferers will agree that these warts are notoriously hard to treat.

What is the cause? . . The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) invades the body through tiny cuts or breaks in the skin on the bottom of the feet. This common virus can be found in public showers, pools, locker rooms and even on city sidewalks. It can incubate for up to 20 months before warts actually appear on your foot. This makes it almost impossible to determine when or where the initial infection actually took place. In some cases, the HPV virus dies within 1 or 2 years, and the warts will just gradually disappear.

Unfortunately no conclusive evidence exists that any treatment eliminates HPV infection -- or even decreases its ability to spread. So don't be too surprised that warts may recur even after successful treatment. This is because of (re)activation of latent virus present in healthy skin adjacent to the lesion. If precautions are not taken, then re-infection from the above-mentioned sources is also very possible. Although the warts are usually self-limiting, healthcare professionals usually recommend that they be removed. This is to lessen symptoms (which often include pain), to decrease their duration, and to reduce transmission and spreading. Keep in mind that the HPV virus is very contagious. It can spread quickly to other parts of the foot, or even to other people.

Natural, effective remedies abound. Most take time, attention, and patience. Traditional medical remedies include topical applications (usually acid), surgery, or freezing of the lesions by a doctor. One recent study actually found that duct tape was more effective than many of the medical treatments. [However the adhesive in duct tape may be toxic to humans?.]

Because contact with moist walking surfaces can spread HPV, these lesions can be prevented by not walking barefoot in public showers, around pools nor in gymnasium locker rooms. Also, do not share shoes or socks, and avoid direct contact with warts appearing elsewhere on your body and warts on other people. Keeping your shoes and socks dry and clean is essential to limiting recurrance and spread.

Any Cautions? Just a few. If left untreated, these warts may develop into pre-cancerous lesions -- however, this is very rare. If your warts are really painful, if they get bigger, if they refuse to go away over time, then see a healthcare professional. Also, if you have diabetes or circulation problems, consult your doctor. He or she will help you determine the safest treatment option.

Conclusion : It's extremely difficult to avoid contracting the virus that causes plantar warts. Treatment or removal is very important. A plantar wart can be extremely painful if left untreated. Though self-limiting (2 years), you should probably still treat your plantar warts in order to lessen your symptoms, decrease their duration, and reduce their spread and transmission to other people.

About the Author:

For natural, powerful methods that work effectively and painlessly, leaving you wart, mole, and skin tag free without scarring or risk of infection, visit: Natural Wart Removal Click this link for additional information about Plantar Wart Causes, Cures, Cautions

How To Get Rid of Acne Scars

By Phil Conner

If you suffer from acne on a regular basis and want to find a solution to your acne scars, it's important that you have the right information. In the skincare sector, there is much misinformation out there. In fact, a good amount of the information is merely a sales pitch to try to get you to buy some acne scar cure solution that doesn't work. Unfortunately, there is no quick acne scar fix; yes, there are treatments, but these are usually very expensive. Any cheap-off-the-shelf "scar" treatment will probably disappoint.

Type of Acne Scarring

While there are many types of acne scars, there is pretty much only two "major" acne scarring types: pigmentation scars and ice-pick scars. Most people have one or the other. Yes, there are other variations, but to cater to the majority, I'll cover these two types of scars here. The same treatment/s can be used for the other types of acne scarring.

Why Acne Scars Form

In general, acne scars may result from improper facial hygiene or if blemishes are not properly removed (i.e. squeezing blackheads). The root cause behind acne scars is of course the actual acne breakouts. Acne scars are formed when blackheads are not removed correctly, or are not treated properly. If not cleaned properly, blackheads can become inflamed and then cause acne scarring when they don't heal properly. Even if removed, blackheads can still leave a trace scar behind on the skin. But what causes the acne? Excess production of facial oil, known as sebum, is released into the pores which then mix with bacteria and foreign matter. This forms into blackheads which are prone to irritate the skin and cause infection, due to the microbes living inside of them. The infection of the pore is known as "acne."

How to Get Rid of Acne Scars

Without a doubt, getting rid of your acne is the best way to prevent scars from forming. You can help to eliminate your acne through proper diet, facial care, and use of acne medications. Doing all these things will usually drastically reduce or even eliminate your acne outbreaks, given time. If you do happen to have scars, there are some surgical and non surgical treatments available. The most popular treatment (and the most expensive) are laser treatments. These are usually pretty effective and involve the use of a laser to smooth out the appearance of scars. Besides the surgical treatments, you can apply topical Vitamin E oil/creams to your scars which help to reduce the appearance of the scars. You may also want to eat foods rich in Vitamin C, A, and E (carrot juice, lean meats, etc)-- all these are used by the body to aid in the healing of scar tissue. You also want to make sure you are performing proper facial hygiene such as using mild soaps to wash your face twice a day, exfoliating once a week, etc.

These are some tips to help get rid of those pesky acne scars. Note that there are many other methods of getting rid of acne scars (acne scar creams, other surgical treatments, acne home remedies, etc) that were not discussed. The main thing to realize is that you can in fact treat the acne scars through a combination of surgical procedures and lifestyle choices.

About the Author:

It's vitally important to learn how to properly get rid of acne so you get that clear, scar-free face Preventing acne from forming is the easiest and most economical method of curing acne scars.

What Is Phytessence Wakame? Why Is It Great For Your Skin?

By Peter Albertonach

Ever heard of Phytessence Wakame? If you're interested in good skin care you should have. No, I'm wrong. If you're interested in the BEST skin care products you should be familiar with Phytessence Wakame. Here's why.

This strange sounding substance (try saying Phytessence Wakame 5 times fast) is derived from kelp. It's a seaweed, or sea algae to be specific, that is found around Japan. It is a large part of the traditional Japanese diet, being eaten dried and fresh.

And Japanese women are well known for having the best skin right into old age. And the Japanese know that Phytessence Wakame is a large part of this, so it's highly prized.

So why is Phytessence Wakame so good for the skin? What does it have that makes it perhaps one of the most important modern ingredients for the best skin care products?

Phytessence Wakame is full of all sorts of wonderful substances that are extremely good for your skin health. Most of the B group vitamins are there, which help so sooth skin inflammation. It is very rich in calcium having around 15 times more calcium than milk and it is high in many important vitamins and minerals.

And it is high in iron and potassium. All these nutrients help keep the skin hydrated. Keeping the moisture balance of the skin high aids skin health and also helps keep the skin younger looking.

But equally important, if not more so, is the ability of Phytessence Wakame to perform a particular function for us that is of enormous benefit to our overall skin health. It helps inhibit the effects of hyaluronidase.

What in the world is hyaluronidase I hear you say? (I have very good hearing.)

Hyaluronidase is an enzyme in your skin. It breaks down hyaluronic acid, and hyaluronic acid is important for good skin health. It combines with collagen and elastin to help the skin maintain it's elasticity and youthfulness.

So your skin need hyaluronic acid. And if hyaluronidase breaks it down you don't want too much hyaluronidase. And if Phytessence Wakame helps inhibit the effects of hyaluronidase that has to be good for your skin.

You won't find much Phytessence Wakame in modern well known brands of skin care products, most of which don't work very well anyway. You need to look a little harder to find it, it's only in the best skin care products money can buy. And at a price that is pretty competitive to what you're probably paying for your skin care products right now.

Why? It's too expensive for the big brands, but the best skin care products are made by a small company that doesn't spend up big on TV advertising, so can afford to spend up big on product quality.

About the Author:

Find out more about natural skin care products. Visit Peter's Website Natural Health-Natural Skin Care and find out more about Phytessence Wakame too.

Mind Blowing Natural Treatments For Acne

Do you know how to treat your pimple outbreaks?

Finding a remedy for your acne problems is not as hard as you might think. The key to pimple treatment is finding an acne natural cure that works for your particular type of acne outbreak.
You just need a bit of patience and experimentation to have a clear and healthy complexion.

Find out about some treatments for stubborn skin problems that you can use at home. One type of acne natural cure that treats blackheads is a wash of milk and lime. Get some fresh milk and bring it gently to a boil. Add the juice from a single lime, and gently wash your face. Make sure that the water is cool enough to avoid doing any damage to your skin.

You can also try to use a natural astringent for deep cleaning of your pores. All you need is a leafy mango from your local grocery store. Boil it in some water and after it cools, rub it gently on your face. If your acne trouble is not too severe, you can just leave the mango to soak overnight. This is an acne natural cure that will thoroughly cleanse your pores.

Some of the natural foods we eat are also effective forms of acne natural cure. If you are suffering from whiteheads, you should try a raw potato. The vitamin C in the potato gives your skin a healthy glow, and its alkaline clears the bacteria in your face. It also has an acid that scrubs away dead or dying skin cells on your face, making it an ideal acne natural cure.

You can also use a raw papaya fruit to treat the pimples on your face. These treatments also help your skin to stay healthy by preventing the spread of any infection.

You can also find that your skin becomes a little dry after trying an acne natural cure. You can re-hydrate your skin by using almond oil. Buy a bag of almonds, and grind four or five good sized nuts with water. Spread the paste on your face, but do not scrub. It will smooth and add some moisture to your face.

Curds and buttermilk are also effective for skin dryness. If you are not satisfied with the results of over the counter medication, then you should try an acne natural cure. Take your time to find the best treatment that will help you have a clear and healthy skin.

Vincent Licursi is an expert on Acne Outbreaks, Prevention and Scarring. He recommends Acnezine as his favorite product for Acne Treatment.
Acnezine is offering Vincent's readers a free 2 month supply. Visit here for more information: http://www.MindBlowing-Acne-Skin-CareNow.info

The Medicinal Uses Of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Honestly, natural apple cider vinegar is one of nature's own, true miracle health elixirs. The long history of its use demonstrates, rather clearly, that using vinegar was once highly revered as a practical medical application long before Johnny Appleseed graced North America by planting apple trees.

The healing powers of vinegar has been traced back as far as 3000 BC, Hippocrates, Babylonia, and to 15th century England as a means to ward off dangerous and infectious diseases, to keep one's general health fit and strong, and used as a simple antiseptic/disinfectant.

When deciding to use ACV for medicinal purposes, be sure to select only a raw, non-distilled vinegar. You may be able to find this type of vinegar in your regular grocery store. But more likely than not, you will probably need to look for it at a local health food store.

Clear distilled vinegar is easy to find in any food store and is relatively inexpensive. This type of vinegar is great for regular household cleaning chores, but it is not so wonderful for your internal health. Non-distilled vinegars are definitely going to be more expensive and nutritionally potent than the distilled varieties, but isn't your health worth the price difference? Plus, you are going to have the satisfaction of knowing that you have chosen the right mixture that will work hard to enhance your health.

Most commercial brands (whether white or brown) have been pasteurized, filtered, and refined or distilled in order to make the final product look more attractive to please the consumer. The manufacturers are only giving the consumer what they apparently seem to want. Unfortunately, unbeknown to the average consumer, this extra processing actually destroys much of the natural health restorative properties of the end product.

Look for ACVs that have been cold pressed and made from whole, organically grown apples, with no added chemical preservatives, and in which the 'mother' of vinegar liquid has been retained. This 'mother' substance, as it is lovingly known, is the gelatinous liqueur that is naturally formed during the final fermentation process.

This milky, cloudy, and stringy looking stuff at the bottom of the container is what contains the healthiest part of the mixture. It also lets you know that the important vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and naturally occurring good bacteria have not been compromised due to over processing, filtration, or excessive heating. Before consuming, shake the the bottle gently to thoroughly distribute all of the nutrients, pour, and serve.

An energy boosting way to drink ACV, without it taking your breath away, is to mix about 2 teaspoons with an equal amount of raw honey in a small glass of warm water. Stir to dissolve the honey and drink one to three times a day. You can sip on this drink during a meal for extra digestive power, or you can drink this ahead of a meal. Refrain from drinking to much water or any other beverage during your meal, and for up to an hour afterward. Give your gastric stomach juices enough time to fully break down the food you just ate, on its own, without weakening their effects with added liquids.

Why use apple cider vinegar? Because, when it is used medicinally it helps the body rid itself of harmful toxins, has wonderful disinfecting properties as a natural bad germ fighter, and is a very biodegradable substance that does not pollute the environment.

With regular and continued use, this wonderful liquid helps restore and balance the body's pH, taking it from acidic to neutral in a short amount of time. Normally, it would be hard to believe that such an acidic substance could normalize, or lower our pH so easily. As far as I know, this only applies to vinegar, as our digestive system will naturally convert it to an alkaline based substance.

An acidic internal system is directly caused from eating excessive amounts of meat, grains, and sugar by eating and drinking too many processed foods and beverages. This will provide an invitation, internally, for unwanted illness or disease to set up house. Otherwise, a neutral or more alkaline system will promote an enhanced emotional and physical health state.

Raw, ACV contains over 40 different naturally occurring substances from vitamins and minerals, to enzymes and beneficial bacteria. It has been used for generations to treat a variety of different human health conditions such as,
1.arthritis
2.high blood pressure
3.all types of skin problems
4.chronic fatigue and insomnia
5.heartburn and other digestive abnormalities
6.high cholesterol and blood sugar
7.maintaining normal body weight

This is not exhaustive list, by far, of common health maladies that ACV has been known to eliminate. As with any new diet addition, your expectations may be too high in the healing effects of vinegar. Keep in mind that it is not to be considered a panacea for all ill health evils.

Although many individuals have achieved a more improved physical state by using vinegar, without modifying their daily dietary habits, serious diet modifications need to be considered in some hard-core cases. Doing so would further enhance a partial response when combined with a healthier diet.

This is, especially, a key factor when using vinegar for serious weight loss. You simply must reduce or eliminate your consumption of over processed foods, eat more raw plant foods, eat smaller meals more often, and step up your effort in getting regular and moderate physical exertion. These strategies combined with ACV will take you a long way in seeing the results you are hoping for, and quicker. It is possible to lose up to one to three pounds a week.

Remember too...that diet modifications include increasing daily liquid intake. Apple cider vinegar works best when adequate liquids are supplied to help carry out the toxins we ingest and are exposed to every day.

Not just any liquids, but read this to mean WATER exclusively. Start reducing the amounts of other beverages you may be drinking instead, such as soft drinks, coffee, tea, fruit juices, and alcohol. Moderation, in occasionally consuming these, is absolutely crucial in maintaining a healthy body weight (even if your underweight), or if you are trying to lose weight.

When used as a flavor seasoning, or drinking as a healthy tonic, ACV could have your current health issue becoming a thing of the past. As with any type of natural or conventional health treatment, be realistic. Expect a reasonable amount of time for vinegar to take affect. This may be only a few days, a week, or it could be longer. If you are really committed to giving it a real chance, you may look forward to a much different health reality sooner than you think

Brenda Skidmore has spent the five years actively researching natural health care alternatives. It is her sincere desire to empower others by sharing this important information. To improve your health today visit http://www.mywater4life.com

Treating Dermatillomania, A Skin Picking Disorder

Dermatillomania is an obsessive compulsive disorder where a person has an intense urge and need to pick at their own skin. It is a disorder that consists of body focused repetitive behavior. For people with this disorder, the urge to pick at their own skin is so strong that often damage is done to the skin that doesn't heal correctly or it leaves scars. Picking at their skin is a stress release and a coping mechanism for those with this disorder.

Those who suffer from this disorder often feel shame and are embarrassed by their behavior and they try to hide the evidence of their disorder. Individuals with this disorder often attempt to camouflage the damage caused to their skin by using make-up or wearing clothes to cover the subsequent marks and scars.

In extreme cases, individuals with this disorder may avoid social situations in an effort to prevent others from seeing the scars, scabs, and bruises that result from skin picking.

Fortunately, there is a growing interest in understanding and treating the disorder. Several skin picking treatment options are becoming available but there is still much more being left unsaid, even undiscovered as yet, about this disfiguring and dangerous obsession.

Medications used to treat this disorder are also used to treat many obsessive compulsive disorders and anxiety related disorders. For example, artificial fingernails (acrylic or gel) have been found to be useful to some in stopping the picking behavior. It is recommended to never try any medications without first consulting a physician.

The primary treatment modality depends on the level of awareness the individual has regarding the problem. If the disorder is generally an unconscious habit, the primary treatment is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy called habit reversal training (HRT). HRT is based on the principle that skin-picking is a conditioned response to specific situations and events, and that the individual with dermatillomania is frequently unaware of these triggers.

HRT challenges the problem in a two-fold process. First, the individual with this disorder learns how to become more consciously aware of situations and events that trigger skin-picking episodes. Second, the individual learns to utilize alternative behaviors in response to these situations and events.

In many cases, cognitive-behavioral therapy is most effective when combined with the use of mood-stabilizing medications. Hypnosis, self-hypnosis and meditation have also been useful for some patients.

There are a number of other therapeutic techniques that can be used as adjuncts to HRT. Among these are exposure and response prevention (ERP) and stimulus control techniques. ERP, which is the primary treatment for obsessive-compulsive (OC) disorders and many OC spectrum disorders, is most valuable if the individual with dermatillomania is already aware of the specific situations and events that trigger skin-picking episodes.

Stimulus control techniques involve utilizing physical items such as gloves or rubber fingertip covers to reduce the client's ability to pick at his or her skin. Also, medications that are frequently used to treat OC disorders may be valuable adjuncts to cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of compulsive skin picking.

Curing dermatillomania isn't as difficult as you may think, too many people rely on lengthy and expensive therapy sessions or medications.

If you'd like to know how to cure this disorder please keep reading http://www.squidoo.com/compulsiveskinpicking

The Natural Approach to Remove Acne Permanently

By Hiro Kai

If you desperately want to get rid of acne, you should be aware of the reasons that cause this problem. You must know that the skin in your body work hand in hand with the kidneys, the liver and the colon system to get rid of the toxins that are messing around in your body.

The remains of the toxins that don't get eliminated start damaging organs in your body. This causes the skin pores to get overloaded opening up the entrance to allow the bacteria to do their messy work in your skin.

If this is the case, acne is a signal with zits represented by the body indicating the problem taking place inside. The recommended thing to do if you want to remove acne in a natural manner is to do a total body cleanse.

Acne is usually connected with a very popular problem: constipation. If this is the case, detoxification is an important step in the process of teating acne naturally. There are several indicators as to whether you need a detox or not. It's quite simple to find out. Symptoms like infrequent bowel movements, gaining weight all of a sudden, feeling stressed out and irritated, zits popping out all the time, dull skin are all screaming out that the toxins are still out there!

A basic way to start the process is by drinking plenty of water, adjusting the diet to a vegetarian pattern and doing lots of physical exercises. In addition, you can try special detoxification products created from natural compounds that stimulate the metabolic increase.

Essential oils, herbs and minerals are usually great remedies for treating acne naturally. There are popular cosmetics out there that claim to carry these herbs and mineral extracts. Usually these products end up being a total waste of money since they lack the concentration level of herbs needed to treat severe acne conditions.

Since the required elements for the treatment are not enough to help treat acne, you are better off using the herbs on its own. Another alternative would be to actually look for supplements that carry high concentration of the required elements.

If you want to remove acne naturally, it's recommended you consult a herbalist or an ayurvedic doctor who will assist you in bringing balance to your diet and lifestyle again. A proper diet and healthy lifestyle is all you need to cleanse your body to be acne free again.

About the Author:

For more information and guidelines on ways to remove acne naturally, visit my Healthy Review Site. There are numerous tips and advise recommendations of quality step by step guides and much more.

Understanding The Benefits Of Catnip Tea

By Dr. Caroline Marrison

There is a wide belief that Catnip Tea can be highly health beneficial. It can either be bought as fresh catnip which is said to be more potent or packaged. The applications of Catnip Tea range from fever reduction over anti-inflammatory or antiseptic. Some have even used it as a pain-reliever. Catnip Tea basically is a relaxant which is why it is often used before going to bed. While it is usually used as a tea it can also be supplied in leaves that can be chewed.

Most people know Catnip Tea for its relaxing sedative properties. Parents like to mix the tea with a few bits of honey to make it taste better for their children. It has the effect to calm restless children and to treat colic as well. Adults like it for its effect on the nervous system which relaxes the body and promotes restful sleep.

There is a lot of other uses for catnip like relieving constipation, stimulating perspiration and acting as a diuretic. It is however to be avoided by pregnant women because it regulates menstruation and relieves cramps.

Catnip tea can be used to reduce fever but it can also be used to increase perspiration without raising temperature to treat the flue, colds, chicken pox or scarlet fever. That is not all however as it can also relieve stomach ache, gas, acid indigestion, upset stomach and control diarrhea.

The tea water of catnip tea can also be gargled or inhaled instead of drunk. Gargling catnip tea can treat sore throats or cough while inhaling it can be helpful to ease the effects of a cold and other respiratory infections. Lastly it can also relax the spasms of asthma.

The antiseptic and antioxidant properties of catnip tea are said to reduce inflammation and to help heal infected gum because of this effects. It is best used as a mouthwash to relieve the toothache. It is also possible to saturate cotton balls with the tea and apply the balls directly to the gum.

Catnip leaves are rich in tannin and vitamins C and E, antioxidants which help the body to heal and repair itself. The tea is used topically on the skin to reduce inflammation and promote healing of burns and scalds, on cuts and abrasions to stop bleeding and disinfect the wound, and to relieve the sting and itching of insect bites. It is applied as a topical liniment for pain, bruises, sprain, rheumatism, and arthritis.

Applied in a bath catnip tea can be used to soothe an irritated scalp and to treat eruptions on the skin. The scent of catnip can repel rats and other insects of applied on the body or ingested.

About the Author:

Dr. Caroline Marrison talks regularly about the effects of Catnip Tea on her blog. It features interesting guides like the one about Catnip Tea For Infants.

The Absolute Best Canker Sore Remedies You Don't Know About

By Janet Malley

If you suffer from canker sores, then you know how painful and irritating these recurring ulcerated mouth sores can be. They appear on the inside of your mouth - on the tongue, soft palate (the back portion of the roof of your mouth), or inside your cheeks, and are round, white, or gray in color, with a red edge or border.

There seems to be a controversy on the cause of canker sores, and even exactly what they are - a bacterial or viral infection? An allergic reaction to certain food, or a vitamin deficiency?

It appears the answer is this - the cause is different from person to person. To find an effective treatment, it's important to be mindful when you get a canker sore of what food you ate, if something painful occurred in the mouth, such as dental work or biting the inside of your cheek, if you are under a lot of emotional stress, or not getting adequate sleep.

IS IT A VIRAL INFECTION? If your canker sores occur after a dental procedure or other painful experience in the mouth area, for example, biting the inside of your cheek, or when you are experiencing stress, are over-tired, or receiving chemo therapy or radiation treatments, consider a virus as the culprit.

Items that Contain Anti-viral Properties:

Propolis - Produced by bees, propolis is used as a construction material in bee hives, comprised of a complex of chemicals (especially flavonoids), which play a role as an antiviral agent. Some individuals have allergic reactions to Propolis, and for them, this would not be a good choice.

Slippery Elm - Make a paste by mixing this herbal powder and water. Smear the paste directly on your canker sores as often as you feel you need to. This mixture has been found to completely heal canker sores in some people.

Canker Sores Begone - My clients, readers, and others I've recommended it to rave about this topical, multi-herb product, which is packaged in a small pocket-sized bottle, convenient for throwing in your purse, backpack or gear for application wherever you happen to be.

PERHAPS A FOOD ALLERGY? If you've noticed a canker sore after eating acidic foods such as citrus fruit or a tomato, or other foods such as chocolate, grapes, strawberries, certain nuts, sugar, coffee, spicy or salty foods, you may be close to solving the puzzle.

To determine if a specific food, or more than one food, is causing your problem, do something called "food elimination". For a few weeks, eliminate the suspected foods. If there have been no canker sores during that time, reintroduce them one at a time for a week or so to see which one, or more than one, triggers a canker.

If you prefer an approach that doesn't involve food elimination, try nutritional supplementation. On a daily basis, take 1,000-1,200 milligrams of buffered vitamin C. This will help reduce the level of histamines in your body. You can enhance the effectiveness of the vitamin C by taking 1,000 milligrams of quercetin which by inhibiting histamine release, will reduce inflammation, allowing for a quicker healing of an existing canker sore.

A THIAMIN DEFICIENCY? Research shows that a deficiency of thiamin can lead to recurrent mouth ulcers. Take 100 milligrams of thiamin daily as a preventative.

A High-Potency Multivitamin - If purchased at a health food store, it should give you the nutrients necessary to prevent canker sores. Take 800 micrograms of folic acid, 500-1,000 micrograms of vitamin B12, 10 milligrams of iron, and 20 milligrams of zinc. If your multivitamin doesn't include all you need, add what's needed to make up the difference.

If you don't find that the causes above apply to your situation, don't despair. Here are two remedies that just may provide the relief you're looking for:

Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) - There's an herb known as licorice, which has anti-inflammatory properties, decreases healing time, and soothes canker sore pain. Chew one or two 200-milligram tablets two or three times a day until the sore heals. In addition, you can empty the powder from a capsule into one half cup of lukewarm water, dissolve the DGL, and swish the solution around in your mouth. Repeat this at least two or three times a day until the sore has healed.

Tea Bag - Tannin from tea may relieve the pain almost instantly. Hold a used tea bag against the sore for a few minutes. Repeat a few times daily until healed.

In deciding upon which of these options to try, be patient and persistent. If one remedy doesn't seem to work, try another. Finding a solution will be worth it, wouldn't you agree?

About the Author:

The nutritional products are available in health food stores. Canker Sores Begone is available online at http://www.csbegone.com/canker.html, (888) 877-6315. Author: Janet Malley is a natural healing consultant and writer living and working in Southern California. Contact her at janetmalley@gmail.com.

Say Goodbye to your Plantar Warts

By Virginia Pipolini

What is a plantar wart? It is a virus called verruca plantaris, and can be found on either the sole of the foot or the toes. They are usually harmless, but should be treated to prevent discomfort and spreading. You may not even know that the rough patch on your foot is a plantar wart.

Plantar warts are easy to spread. You can contract this virus anywhere that people go barefoot, like public shower, beaches, bathrooms and pool areas. Unfortunately this virus can survive for months without a host. Statistics show that an estimated seven percent of the population have plantar warts.

You may not recognize your plantar wart. It could appear to be just a patch of dry hard skin, but deeper in the skin you likely have a plantar wart. It takes several weeks for the growth of plantar warts to become visible.

Can plantar warts spread to other parts of the body? Yes they can, and they can form into clusters called mosaic warts. There are many other types of non-genital warts as well.

There are many treatments for plantar warts, some as radical as chemotherapy. The best way to deal with this virus spreading is by cleaning the walking surfaces so that the virus does not come in contact with others. Prevention is truly the best medicine.

Of the many treatments available I am intrigued by the success stories of using MMS, or miracle mineral solution. This is a very inexpensive treatment, and it has been reported that the warts usually discolor and flake away after a week of application.

MMS, or miracle mineral solution, has been used for other skin issues as well, like rashes and acne. The unhealthy skin usually scabs and falls off in a week. Some may find the MMS on their skin to be irritating. If it is you can leave it on for 30 to 60 seconds and then wash it off, this gives it plenty of time to work.

You can use MMS to clean and purify surfaces in your home. It has been used for many years as a water purifier. It is cost effective to use, and people continue to find many effective applications for this simple solution.

About the Author:

Virginia Pipolini offers simple tips for healthy holistic healing. Warts and other skin conditions can be healed with alternative methods such as MMS the miracle mineral solution or MMS.

Psoriasis - You Will Not Believe This Simple Treatment

Once there was an avocado farm in Australia that had a shop and market at the roadside. Along with the usual nick-knacks for tourists, there were these small glass containers with avocado oil. I never heard of avocado oil before, have you?

Of course there were for sale, after all it was a gift shop. In a small rack right beside the product were some brochures that in part claimed that this avocado oil would reduce wrinkles (I could sure use that!) and cure, right, I said cure - psoriasis.

Those of you that have psoriasis know what it is, but for those readers that don't, here is a brief explanation. By the way, psoriasis is pronounced (suh-RI-uh-sus).

Psoriasis is a non-contagious disorder which affects the skin and joints. It commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. Skin rapidly accumulates at these sites and takes on a silvery-white appearance. Plaques frequently occur on the skin of the elbows and knees, but can affect any area including the scalp and genitals. In contrast to eczema, psoriasis is more likely to be found on the extension aspect of the joint.

The surface of the skin that has psoriasis looks like it would be extremely contagious, but as I said above, it is not. If you are unfamiliar with the condition you might think it is leprosy, but is not even close although leprosy is not contagious either.

Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which over time is known to cause a condition known as psoriatic arthritis. Ten to fifteen percent of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis.

The actual cause of psoriasis is not known, but it is believed to have a genetic component. Several factors are thought to aggravate psoriasis. These include stress, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking.

Psoriasis, like leprosy, although the two conditions are not connected in any way as to what is the cause, is probably one of the longest known illnesses of humans and simultaneously one of the most misunderstood. Some scholars believe psoriasis to have been included among the skin conditions called tzaraat in the Bible.

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood. There are two main hypotheses about the process that occurs in the development of the disease.

The first considers psoriasis as primarily a disorder of excessive growth and reproduction of skin cells. The problem is simply seen as a fault of the epidermis (outermost layer of the skin) and its keratinocytes. The keratinocyte is the major constituent of the epidermis, constituting 95% of the cells found there.

The second hypothesis sees the disease as being an immune-mediated disorder in which the excessive reproduction of skin cells is secondary to factors produced by the immune system.

Psoriasis vulgaris is a severe condition of psoriasis. It was recently found that a cream containing avocado and 700mg of vitamin B12 per kilogram of cream together with methyl glycoside stearate and distilled water for consistency, if applied to the affected skin area affected with psoriasis twice a day, appeared to clear up the affected areas.

Where other creams tended to peak out at various times, the vitamin B12/avocado cream did not peak, but continued to work effectively for a long-term benefit.

An additional option is the oral consumption of Fumaric Acid. Many studies have found that fumaric acid is a safe, effective and well-tolerated long-term oral therapy for psoriasis.

The recommended dosage in the past has been one 500mg tablet/capsule per day taken in the evening with a glass of water, tea or milk.

The only side effect reported is a flushing of the skin within 20-30 minutes. The flushing normally continues for only 15-20 minutes but has been know to last for a couple of hours. On rare occasions the flushing could last for a couple of hours, but medical authorities normally do not consider it a risk.

If no or only minimal effect is achieved, the dosage may be increased at the discretion of the person. Dosage may be increased in 500mg increments, waiting 1-2 weeks to evaluate the success.

When treatment success is achieved, stay at that dosage level. Consult with a medical professional as to the issue if there are any questions. The maximum dosage is 3,500 mg.daily.

If you would like to receive further information on how you can find the products mentioned in this article, contact the author.

Joni Bell has many years of extensive study in the area of natural cancer prevention and treatment. He has numerous success stories of people being diagnosed living cancer free with use of alternative methods. http://apricotpower-info.com

Why You Should Use Paraben-Free Skincare or Hypollergenic Skincare Products?

A quote from the 16th Century is very apt for the subject of this article. The quote by Paracelsus says, "It is the dose that makes the poison." This reasoning is true when it comes to discussing hypoallergenic skincare particularly paraben-free skincare, or more correctly skincare that contains parabens.

Why should parabens concern us?

Parabens have shown, through different studies, their ability to affect the reproductive and endocrinal body systems. Some of the results altered the sperm count in male rats and altered the number of pups born as well as affecting their body weight at birth.

Studies have not only been confined to laboratory animals. Research by Dr. Philippa Darbre and her colleagues at the University of Reading carried out tests on 20 samples of human breast tissue taken from patients undergoing surgery. Their results showed that methylparaben represented 62% of all the parabens extracted from the breast tumours.

The thing about parabens is that they are added to many products, in fact according to a report by Elder RL. Final report on the safety assessment of methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben. Journal of the American College of Toxicology. 1984; 3:147-209. parabens could be found in 13,200 products in the following categories.
Cosmetics
Pharmaceutical products
Personal care products,skin moisturisers etc.
Food products (E210 219)
Industrial products

They also affect the thyroid gland and are one of the causes of the signs of premature aging.

Why are parabens added to skincare products?
Parabens act as anti-bacterial agents that prevent mold, viruses and germs contaminating the product. You often see them mixed with other chemicals e.g isothiazolinones to improve their antibacterial properties as they are not effective against fungi.

Basically they act as a preservative and give the product a long shelf life. These chemicals were first added to most skincare products in the early 1920s. They are colorless, and odourless and are incredibly cheap to produce.

Always read the label
If you want paraben-free skincare then read the label if you see any of the following names then leave well alone:
methylparaben
ethylparaben
propylparaben
butylparaben
isobutylparaben
benzylparaben

Parabens have the ability to absorb into the blood stream and build up over time providing fertile ground for problems later on in life. Because they are also left on the skin for prolonged periods of time they also can cause allergies, therefore they are no good as a hypoallergenic skincare product.
What are the options?

Fortunately there are other options than using skincare products that contain parabens. There are now natural skincare preservatives available that enhance the quality and effectiveness as well as preserving the product without causing any damaging effects.

Karen is a Complementary Health Practitioner & nutrition researcher. The most valuable & effective products she finds and advises her clients to use are rarely the most expensive or the most-advertised, Check out her website http://www.clean-skin-site.com. To discover her recommendations.

Aromatherapy and Naturopathy Combine for Effective Eczema Relief

By Niaomi Masters

Eczema is a challenging skin condition for many people around the globe. The itchy, flaky rashes affect as much as 20% of the world's children, and perhaps half of these individuals will continue to have symptoms throughout their lives. Conventional medicine doesn't offer a cure as of yet, though some support is available through corticosteroid creams and ointments. For many eczema sufferers, and often severe eczema sufferers, conventional treatments are not enough to provide satisfactory relief. There is growing evidence however, that the treatments offered by natural medicine may provide dramatic relief for a majority of these folks. Internal cleansing and topical use of therapeutic oils can combine to create an effective healing regimen for those most affected by eczema. These modalities can reduce internal levels of toxins thought responsible for many eczema outbreaks, and provide welcome healing for inflamed and irritated skin.

Many people have had great success with using therapeutic essential oil blends topically; essential oils and accompanying carrier oils can be exceptionally healing to a great variety of skin ailments, eczema included. Oils can provide short-term relief for many, though healing chronic conditions will likely require addressing the toxins in one's environment, modifying lifestyle choices, and employing the cleansing practices of natural medicine. Here we'll have a look at topical essential oil formulas from the medical aromatherapy literature, and review effective suggestions for internal and holistic natural treatments.

Essential oils have profound healing effects when the right oils are selected and properly applied. The blends for eczema are simple, and can provide nearly immediate relief of symptoms. For dry eczema, use this recipe to make one ounce of your formula: 20 drops of Lavender essential oil, 20 drops of Palmarosa essential oil, one-quarter ounce of Tamanu oil and three-quarters of an ounce of Rosehip seed oil. For children under five, use only one drop of each essential oil per year of age, if over five use two drops. Lavender is a wonderful oil for the relief of itching, and is even prescribed 'neat' (undiluted) for simple relief of itchy skin. It has a gentle, soothing effect, with anti-inflammatory and regenerative actions. Palmarosa is a pleasant smelling yet potent anti-microbial and anti-viral essential oil often used in skin care. Tamanu oil is a tropical nut oil highly regarded for its ability to calm and regenerate the skin, and Rosehip seed has been extensively studied for its healing and regenerative properties. This is a powerful yet gentle therapeutic blend that can be applied three to four times daily to relieve itchiness and stimulate skin regeneration.

For weeping eczema, the therapeutic blend is modified to use Thyme essential oil, thujanol chemotype (note that there are several types of Thyme available), and Eucalyptus citradora, otherwise known as Lemon Eucalyptus. This is a more potent anti-infectious blend of essential oils, still in the soothing base oils of Tamanu and Rosehip. Again use 20 drops of each essential oil in each one-quarter ounce of Tamanu and three-quarter ounce of Rosehip seed. Again, the concentration should be reduced for young ones.

For long-term relief, finding the true cause of the eczema is important. For many, it can be toxins in their environment they are continually exposed to. One mother reported success in healing the eczema of her seven month old by switching from chlorinated and fluoridated city tap water to distilled water. Another person whom visited a naturopath began filtering the chlorine from her water, and followed the 'Eat Right For Your Blood Type' diet (which among other things improves the immune response and lessens inflammation), again with much success. In general, natural health professionals advise the importance of reducing stress levels, improving the body's acid/alkaline balance, supporting the immune system, decreasing the inflammatory response, and cleansing the liver, kidneys and colon.

It sounds like a lot, but many practices will promote more than one aspect of health. Cleaning up the diet, reducing processed foods and increasing intake of fresh organic vegetables will go a long way. Vegetable juice, when squeezed at home or at the juice bar (rather than bottled or canned varieties) moves the pH to a more alkaline level, and helps cleanse the system. Just drinking the juice of a single lemon in a glass of warm water first thing each morning will alkalize the blood and support the liver in toxin removal. Cleansing may be crucial to eczema sufferers, as the health of the skin is considered an indicator of the body's toxicity level. Clear skin means a clear liver; allergic skin reaction can mean the internal organs of elimination are overloaded, and response of eczema is really the toxicity 'spilling over' to the skin. If you feel your body is in need of a real cleanse, seek the support and advice of a knowledgeable natural health practitioner to learn the most healthful and effective means to do this for yourself.

Consider making incremental changes to your lifestyle, continually moving toward optimal natural health. A naturopath will encourage you to only make one or two changes ever few weeks, so that you're not overwhelmed with them, and are more likely to make them habits for the long term. A few additional easy changes to consider, that can have a profound impact on symptomatic relief: Adding a significant daily dosage of essential fats from distilled fish oil or hemp oil. These important fats cannot be made by the body, and play a crucial role in modulating immune response -- get them in bulk bottles, rather than capsules which don't really offer large enough quantities. Next, try at least two months worth of a high-quality probiotic supplement, one that offers six or more strains of healthy bacteria for your digestive system. These types of supplements have been shown specifically to help eczema sufferers. If you're not working out regularly now, take the implementation of some sort of movement routine into serious consideration -- it will help immensely in your overall well-being and more than likely improve symptoms as well. And a couple of easy ones: try finding nettle leaf tea in bulk and drink a couple of cups a day -- nettles are highly regarded in Naturopathy for their anti-allergy effects among other benefits; finally, try significantly increasing the amount of clean pure water you're drinking daily. Much of the population is chronically dehydrated, and those with eczema may benefit dramatically from nature's most important nutrient.

About the Author:

The author the owner of Ananda Aromatherapy in Boulder, Colorado, found at www.anandaapothecary.com. Find more resources are available on aromatherapy and essential oils through the website.

What Is The Cause Of Eczema?

By The Alternate Medic

Eczema can be a very debilitating condition. It can be equally hard to live with as there is no known cure for it at present. However there are ways to minimise the effects the condition can have on your daily life.

Obviously one of the best ways to cope with the condition is to try and find out what the cause of eczema is. Unfortunately, there doesn?t appear to be a single root cause for all cases of eczema (at least none that has yet been found), but there are certain factors which seem to aggravate the condition.

Trying To Find The Cause Of Eczema

As it is a known fact that many eczema sufferers are also prone to suffering from allergies (hay fever is an excellent example of this) ? some doctors believe it is a good idea to take an allergy test.

An allergy test won't magically reveal the cause of eczema, but it will reveal what kind of allergens produce an unwanted reaction in your body - a reaction that could cause your eczema to flare up.

Dust in the house is a common allergen, so eczema sufferers who test positive for this should consider buying hypoallergenic bedding to minimise the amount of dust mites and other irritants that may be the cause of eczema flare ups.

Therefore, the results of an allergy test can point to irritants you can try to exclude (or at the very least minimise) in your everyday life. By doing this, you may find that the cause of eczema in your own life can be isolated and the effects reduced.

Another common cause of eczema occurs in everyone's life at some point or another. Stress can be a big trigger but not many people realise it can have such a big effect on an eczema sufferer.

If you notice that you become easily stressed and that it affects your eczema then you should find ways and means of reducing your stress, Make some time for yourself each day to simply relax and enjoy something, whether it's reading a good book or reclining in the bath. Meditation is an excellent method of stress release.

As with all healing reducing your stress levels won't happen overnight, but if you recognize it as being the trigger for your eczema flare-up, persevering towards a more relaxed lifestyle will yield big benefits in the long run.

Every cause has an effect, and finding the cause of eczema in your own life may not be easy, but you can find what feeds it. Take this source away, and your eczema should improve.

About the Author:

For More Information On Causes Of Eczema Click Here You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.

Protecting Yourself From The Ravages of The Sun

With rising rates of skin cancer in many parts of the world, it's becoming more important than ever to protect yourself from the ravages of the sun. Here are some tips to protect yourself from, while also enjoying, the sun.

Clothing

If you want to enjoy the outdoors or the beach, but don't want to be exposed to the sun all day, consider purchasing special clothing. There is special clothing made specifically for sun protection. This clothing is lightweight so it does not keep you warm, yet it protects your skin from the sun's rays. Several makers of sun protection clothing offer apparel including long sleeve shirts, pants and jackets to protect your body, as well as hats designed to protect your head and neck.

Eyewear

Eye protection from the sun is extremely important, as excessive exposure to UV rays can lead to damage to the eye, especially for people with sensitive eyes, children, seniors and anyone who has had eye surgery recently. A good pair of sunglasses will protect the health of your eyes and even help you see better during the harsh light of a bright day. So when you're headed outdoors, don't forget your sunglasses.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is available from many brands in hundreds of preparations. There is a sunscreen product for everyone. Generally, sunscreens are rated according to SPF, which stands for "Sun Protection Factor". Every bottle of sunscreen will have an SPF number, even many lipsticks and make-up products now have SPF ratings. While there is no sunscreen available that blocks out all UV rays, generally the higher the SPF number, the more you are protected. For instance, an SPF rating of 30 will block 97 percent of the sun's UV rays if it is correctly applied. That's another tip to remember, you must apply sunscreen correctly for it to be effective. If you use too little or don't apply it to all areas where your skin will be exposed, then it won't be able to do it's job. A sunscreen product with SPF protection of 50 will effectively block up to 99 percent of UV rays, so look for this rating on any products you purchase, especially if you are buying it for people who are sensitive to the sun.

Physical Protection

Some of the best ways to block the sun's harmful rays is with physical objects. The best of these is an umbrella. You may still enjoy laying out by the pool or the beach, but if you are under an umbrella, you are physically blocking the sun from hitting your skin. A tent, gazebo or other structure can also block the sun's rays effectively.

Sun Tanning Safely

Many people still want to have a nice, healthful looking tan, regardless of the skin cancer danger. These people should consider using sunless tanning products. These lotions and creams applied to the skin once every week or so will dye the most outer layer of your skin. However, this method of tanning is perfectly safe as opposed to laying out in the sun for a few hours to achieve the same effect. The latest innovations in sunless tanning products mean that you can get a beautiful tan without risking skin cancer.

Author Resource: Lydia Quinn writes for PhatSportShades, a leading provider of watersports goggles and performance sports eyewear. Visit us at: http://www.phatsportshades.com

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