Colorectal disease can encompass many different types of conditions. Some of these disorders may be just a nuisance while others can be very debilitating.

Diverticulitis is a colorectal disease that can cause severe abdominal pain and occasional bleeding. Small pouches or sacs in the lining of your bowel can get infected and cause these symptoms.

Colitis is a group of conditions that can cause inflammation of the large bowel. When a person has colitis they will experience rectal bleeding, abdominal cramping and urgency. There are some forms of colitis in which the cause is unknown.

The main type of colorectal disease that everyone should be concerned with is colorectal cancer. This is the second leading cancer killer in the United States. The first leading cancer killer is lung cancer.

It is important that everyone be aware of the risk factors for colorectal disease, especially colorectal cancer. By knowing your risk factors you can get the appropriate screenings and detect colon cancer early enough for a cure.  Read more...

* 2 cups yellow flowers from the herb mullein
* 2 cups almond oil

Mix in a clean glass jar. Let sit for two weeks.

Strain and apply the resulting oil to the skin. This makes skin smooth and supple. It is also good for dry, flaky skin.

Essential oils are great to use around your home, but before you run out to your local health food store to buy a bunch of these bottles, you need to know a little more about how to use them. When you purchase any essential oil, you will first notice that you are buying a very little bottle. You might wonder how you could possibly make good use of such a small amount of oil. That is where carrier oils come into play.

Carrier oils are very important to people who use any type of essential oils. Almost all essential oils are too concentrated and powerful to be used alone. If you do put straight and undiluted essential oil on your skin, you will probably notice an immediate reaction. It could be a very mild tingling of the skin, or it could burn. Carrier oils are used to extend the use of your essential oils and to make them suitable to use on your skin. Here is a closer look at some of the more popular types of carrier oils that you can purchase.  Read more...

Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredients:

* 1/2 cup Almond Oil
* 1/4 cup jojoba Oil
* 1/2 tsp. rosemary EO
* 1/4 cup wheat germ Oil
* 1 tsp. lavender EO

Directions
Mix well. I put this on my wet hair, wrap in a towel on my head, wear it for 20 minutes & shampoo! Awesome!

Another Hot Oil Treatment

Ingredients:

* 1 teaspoon soybean oil
* 2 teaspoons castor oil

Directions:

Combine ingredients then warm on low heat. massage mixture into the scalp and hair. Wrap hair in a hot towel for 15 minutes. Shampoo & rinse out.

RUSSIAN HAIR TREATMENT PACK

This is better than a simple hot oil treatment. It leaves the hair looking stunning-thick, luxuriant, and shiny. The effects last a long time, even the light scent of the essential oil will linger through several shampoos.

2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 tablespoon oil (safflower, almond, coconut, or walnut
1 drop essential oil (lemon, tangerine, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, rosemary)  Read more...

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is a truly remarkable herb with many uses. In this issue, we will talk about growing yarrow and using it to make simple cosmetics.

Yarrow for Oily Skin and Hair

Yarrow is a wonderful choice when making cosmetics and cleansers for oily skin. Here are some of my favorite recipes.

Facial Steam

Place a tablespoon of yarrow in a bowl and fill the bowl half full with boiling water. Lean over the bowl, and cover your head with a towel so that no steam escapes. You should be 12-18 inches from the water. After steaming, splash your face with cool water and pat dry.

For added benefit, add one or more of the following herbs:

Stimulating Herbs

* Rosemary
* Sage
* Mint

Healing Herbs

* Comfrey
* Thyme

Soothing Herbs

* Lavender
* Chamomile

Yarrow and Chamomile Compress

You will need:

* 1 teaspoon of dried yarrow flowers
* 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile flowers
* 1 cup of boiling water  Read more...

Many consider her a good colon cleansing essential to help and overall well-being. Others believe that a colon cleansing is only part of detoxifying our bodies from parasites and the buildup of toxins that we both inhale and eat from the processed foods. Some physicians believe that colon cleansing is only appropriate in preparation for a medical examination. Their theory is that the colon doesn’t require any special diets, animus or pills to eliminate waste material because it doesn’t naturally on its own.

The flaw in this very is that in a perfect world are colons would be more than adequate to eliminate waste material from our bodies. But, we all know that we don’t live in a perfect world. Just since World War II the number of toxic chemicals which have been manufactured and released into cleaning products, make up and other personal care products which are not covered by the FDA, numbers above 5000. Researchers find that tissues in our bodies absorb and store these chemicals at alarming rates.  Read more...

Virtually everyone has heard of aromatherapy. It’s used to promote scented products such as candles, lotions and bath gels. Due to the loose usage of the term “aromatherapy,” few people realize that it is actually a legitimate form of alternative medicine.

Aromatherapy has been used for healing since the 1920s. French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse was the founder of aromatherapy, but it happened quite by accident. He was working in his perfume laboratory when he accidentally set his arm on fire. In a panic, he immersed his arm in a nearby liquid, which happened to be lavender oil. He noticed that the pain subsided quickly, and the burn healed quickly as well. This prompted him to study further uses of aromatic essential oils.

Today, aromatherapy has grown to include a variety of plant-based materials in a variety of applications. Aromatherapy may be administered via diffusion, inhalation or topical application. Some may also be taken internally. In addition to essential oils, materials used include phytoncides, distillates and infusions.  Read more...

1) Chew fresh parsley to sweeten the breath.

2) Chew fennel seeds to freshen the breath.

3) Chew anise seeds to freshen the breath.

4) Chew a few peppermint or spearmint leaves or drink a cup of peppermint tea

5) Add 1 drop of myrrh oil to 1 cup of cooled, boiled water. Use as gargle/mouthwash. tea

The colon is part of the lower digestive system where waste material is stored before it is finally expelled from the rectum and out of the body. Tumors in the colon and rectum are growths from the walls of the large intestines. Benign tumors are called polyps and malignant growths are called cancers.

Cancers of the colon and rectum is the third most common cancer in both men and women in America. Individuals should be aware that risk factors that increase their risk of developing this cancer include age, a diet rich in fat and cholesterol, inflammatory bowel diseases and genetic predisposition.

Individuals will require testing in order to accurately diagnose the difference between a benign growth and a malignant growth. Benign polyps are easily removed during a colonoscopy and are not life-threatening. They are, however, pre-cancerous and can become malignant over time. Researchers believe that the majority of cancers in the large intestines have developed from polyps. It is for this reason that physicians recommend their patients undergo colonoscopies on a consistent basis. Individuals who are at higher risk because of family history should have them more frequently.  Read more...

With the desire to keep our homes clean and safe for our families, along with wanting to protect the environment, more people are turning to essential oils to accomplish both tasks. But what exactly are essential oils, and how can they be used to clean and disinfect our homes?

Essential oils are concentrated liquids that contain the essence and aroma from the plants from which they are made. Essential oils are used in perfumes, making incense, flavorings, and in cleaning products. However, it must be noted that one should never use essential oils directly on the skin. They are too concentrated and must be combined with a carrier oil such as olive oil, or mixed with another product.

One of the most popular essential oils of late is Tea Tree Oil. This oil is taken from the Melaleuca tree, native to Australia, but found in other areas as well. Tea Tree oil can be used in a variety of ways:

Add tea tree oil to water to use as a cleaner, disinfectant, and purifier during cold and flu season.  Read more...