Obesity plays an important part in the overall health of an individual. A person is considered overweight or obese based on his BMI (Body Mass Index). The BMI is calculated by dividing the weight of an individual by the square of the height (kgs/m2). As per the World Health Organization (WHO),

* A person with a BMI of 25 is overweight and
* An individual with a BMI of 30 or above is considered obese.

These numbers and indexes should be treated as indicative since the level of fat, weight of the bones and muscle in all adults can vary on the basis of sex, race and environment.

Given that obesity is a serious concern among kids and teens, the WHO is also delving on the issue of developing a growth reference index for children and adolescents.

Obesity is a major health risk, which is directly proportionate to the BMI of a person. It is a major cause for heart disease and stroke, diabetes, osteoarthritis and some types of cancers.  Read more...

The first sign of a varicose vein is swelling along the path the vein takes down the leg. After this most people notice bluish or reddish tinged coloring to the area as well as a swelling along the vein. These varicose veins are result of damaged one way valves that helped push the blood through the veins and on to the heart. When the valves become damaged the blood is able to pool within the veins and decreases the ability of the body to remove toxins and oxygenate the tissues.

At this time, traditional Western medicine believes that sclerotherapy is the gold standard for treating varicose veins. However, some insurance companies do not cover this expense if there are no other underlying medical symptoms. And, some women would like to try other more natural remedies in order to treat their varicose veins and prevent any further from occurring.  Read more...

99.95% of people diagnosed with cancer have intrahepatic stones. A liver detox is often the first vital step for the body to begin to heal itself.

Liver cleansing recipe is the same as gall bladder cleansing recipe. Cleansing of both organs is achieved by the same procedure. All people who have stones inside gallbladder, always have stones inside their liver – proved by their cleansing experience. All people who have stones inside their liver, do not necessarily have stones inside gallbladder – proved by ultrasound examination and liver flush.

The liver / gall bladder cleanse is necessary even if one has had their gall bladder removed. Also, anyone who has already had their gallbladder removed should be taking a product called Cholacol which replaces the bile salts that your gallbladder would normally be producing. This is needed for the rest of your life so that your body can properly digest fats.

Liver – Gallbladder Congestion:  Read more...

Here is some info on a few herbal essential oils that are a very helpful addition to your family’s first aid kit

Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea)

* Clary Sage is used in aromatherapy in preference to Sage (Salvia Officinalis) because Sage can be quite toxic. Clary possesses the positive effects of Sage without the danger. One should avoid the use of alcohol while using Clary Sage because the combination can bring on severe nightmares. Clary produces a heightened state akin to euphoria and relaxation. It is used in treating asthma, and during convalescence of the flu. It is used in abdominal massage for digestive problems. (Source: A-Z Aromatherapy by Patricia Davis)
* Most valuable uses: Muscular fatigue, menstrual problems, PMS, fertility, exhaustion, insomnia, menopausal problems, calming, stress, depression, cramps, excessive perspiration.
* Therapeutic properties: Antiseptic, calmative, tonic, emmenagogue, anti-infectious, anti-spasmodic, anti-sudorific, aphrodisiac, nerve tonic, nervine, estrogen-like
* Main chemical components: Linalol, Linalyl Acetate, Germacrene, Ceranyl acetate
* Contraindication: Avoid during pregnancy.

(Source: Essential Aromatherapy: A Pocket Guide to Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Susan Worwood Valerie Worwood)  Read more...

Hair loss is not welcomed in men or in women. We expect it more in men but that doesn’t make it any easier to deal with. If you are experiencing hair loss, there is more than one type of hair loss that you could be suffering from. Read on to find out more.

Hair loss comes under a blanket term called alopecia. It refers to the loss of hair that is not natural. Each day, a person loses between 75 and 100 strands of hair from their head. This is all a part of the normal cycle of hair growth, loss and re-growth.

Each hair follicle goes through a hair growth cycle that lasts anywhere from two to five years. It begins with the Anagen phase. This is when the hair is actively growing out of the follicle. The Catagen phase is the transitional period where the hair shaft detaches from the blood supply that was nourishing it through the growth phase.  Read more...

There are hundreds of different cold and flu viruses, most of them which routinely alter themselves on an annual basis in response to their own environment. This means that any thought of the traditional medical cure is nowhere in sight. This is because of the way in which current antibiotics and medications are developed. For this reason many of these same cure words which were used by our ancestors continue to be used today in order to cure the flu. The flu will typically affect between 10 and 35% of the population each year, depending upon the virulence of seasonal flu variety and how well protected individuals keep themselves.

In close quarters, conditions are always right for the spread of the virus which explains why the highest incidence of the flu is in children between the ages of five to 18 who spend most of their time in school. However, the most serious complications occur in older adults and those whose immune system is compromised from underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma or AIDS.  Read more...

Health care is a major news story these days. Turn on the television and someone is talking about it. Whether you are fortunate enough to have health insurance or not, you are probably concerned with your health and that of your family.

For those looking for alternatives to traditional medicine, you may want to look into the benefits of evening primrose oil.

Evening primrose has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years among Native American tribes. Medical science has been studying this herb and found that it has healing properties which may be beneficial for a number of illnesses and conditions.

While all parts of the evening primrose plant can be used medicinally, it is the oil from this flowering plant that is most effective. Evening primrose oil is made by gathering the seeds of the plant and pressing them to release the oil. This oil contains gamma linolenic acid (GLA) which is an essential fatty acid.  Read more...