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Showing posts with label Skin Issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skin Issues. Show all posts

Tea Tree Oil and Poison Ivy

Have you ever had poison ivy?  Do you have it now?   That itchy scratchy horrible rash.  Have you tried all of those store bought creams that claim they'll make it go away and they still aren't working?  Just like with any disorder attacking the body if you consider both an internal and external solution you can help your body eradicate the issue quicker and in a more natural way.    Thru my own experiences and others we have learned that when you boost your immune system thru nutrition, remove anything that may impair your bodies ability to function at it's fullest capacity and focus on the issue at hand... true healing happens quickly.  Here are some suggestions on what has worked for others with poison ivy:

Internal Suggestions: 

 Avoid dairy, grain, processed foods and sugar (click the link for suggestions) - this will help your body reduce any inflammation response while your body tries to help itself heal from the attack of the poison ivy

Take nettles (2 capsules in the am - 2 capsules mid-day and 2 capsules  in the evening) 
Ironically stinging nettles once flash heated becomes a natural anti-histamine and is a green food so it can help boost your immune system.   It is a slow-acting nutritive herb that gently cleanses the body of metabolic wastes... wastes that could be contributing the disorder you are experiencing. It's loaded with iron and vitamin C and it “promotes the process of protein transanimation in the liver, effectively utilizing digested proteins, while simultaneously preventing them from being discharged through the body as waste products.  A study conducted by the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon found positive evidence of freeze-dried nettle leaf for treating hay fever, asthma, seasonal allergies, and hives.  Nettles has many health benefits if you'd like to know more about Nettles click here.

Take Colloidal Silver -Liquid extract... directly (follow directions on bottle or double up until the issues have subsided)
Colloidal silver has shown to be effective in cases of microbial infection. Dr. Henry Crooks found that "Silver in the colloidal state is highly germicidal, quite harmless to humans and absolutely non-toxic. Rather than in a chemical compound, the silver in the colloidal state may be applied in a much more concentrated form, with correspondingly better results. All virus, fungus, bacterium, streptococcus, staphylococcus, and other pathogenic organisms have shown to be killed in three or four minutes upon contact. Taking Colloidal Silver can help your body fight off any unwanted germs while allowing your body and immune system to get stronger while it is reducing the effects of poison ivy.

External Suggestions:

  1. Combine 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil with 1/8 cup of almond oil in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. You can also use avocado oil or cold-pressed olive oil in place of almond oil.
  2. Wash the affected area thoroughly using soap and warm water and then pat dry with a clean towel
  3. Dip a clean cotton ball into the tea tree oil mixture to moisten it, and then apply it directly to your skin. Do not cover the area with bandages or tight clothing; allow it to air dry for the best results. Repeat the application daily to reduce the pain and itching associated with poison ivy and help speed up the healing process. 
Additionally, Colloidal Silver -
Colloidal silver makes an excellent topical application for scrapes, wounds, cuts and sores, acting as an antiseptic to destroy bacteria. 
Possibly one of the most important medical roles for colloidal silver is it's ability to destroy deadly pathogens like methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the flesh-eating super bug. The MRSA cure was discovered during research in the 1970s at Syracuse University by Robert O. Becker and has shown to be very effective with poison ivy and other skin issues.



Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Sleep is not overrated

I had spent much of my life saying that sleep was overrated, and how wrong was I?  The truth is that sleep is when your body gets the opportunity to heal itself.  After battling the physical, mental and environmental issues all day your body needs this chance to help you rest and restore.  I always thought that I would be missing out on something, or if I just took one more hour to finish that project it could actually help me out the next day when really I was only making it harder on myself in the long run.  Sleep is just as important as nutrition and exercise, and if you don't give your body enough of it then you are actually reducing the effectiveness of any efforts you may be giving yourself.  It would be like running a marathon and then smoking a cigarette right after.

Understanding Sleep and how it works for you:

There are two main types of sleep:

  • Non-REM (NREM) sleep consists of four stages of sleep, each deeper than the last.
  • REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep is when you do most active dreaming. Your eyes actually move back and forth during this stage, which is why it is called Rapid Eye Movement sleep.
The Stages of Sleep
Non-REM sleep
Stage 1 (Transition to sleep) – Stage 1 lasts about five minutes. Eyes move slowly under the eyelids, muscle activity slows down, and you are easily awakened.
Stage 2 (Light sleep) – This is the first stage of true sleep, lasting from 10 to 25 minutes. Eye movement stops, heart rate slows, and body temperature decreases.
Stage 3 (Deep sleep) – You’re difficult to awaken, and if you are awakened, you do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes.
Stage 4 (More intense deep sleep) – The deepest stage of sleep. Brain waves are extremely slow. Blood flow is directed away from the brain and towards the muscles, restoring physical energy.
REM sleep
REM sleep (Dream sleep) – About 70 to 90 minutes after falling asleep, you enter REM sleep, where dreaming occurs. Eyes move rapidly. Breathing is shallow. Heart rate and blood pressure increase. Arm and leg muscles are paralyzed.

The sleep cycle: Understanding the architecture of sleep

You may think that once you go to bed, you soon fall into a deep sleep that lasts for most of the night, progressing back into light sleep in the morning when it’s time to wake up. In reality, the sleep cycle is a lot more complicated.
Sleep Architecture

When you chart the sleep stages over the course of the night, the result looks like a city skyline—which is why it is called "sleep architecture"

During the night, your sleep follows a predictable pattern, moving back and forth between deep restorative sleep (deep sleep) and more alert stages and dreaming (REM sleep). Together, the stages of REM and non-REM sleep form a complete sleep cycle that repeats until you wake up.
The amount of time you spend in each stage of sleep changes as the night progresses. For example, most deep sleep occurs in the first half of the night. Later in the night, your REM sleep stages become longer, alternating with light Stage 2 sleep. This is why if you are sensitive to waking up in the middle of the night, it is probably in the early morning hours, not immediately after going to bed.

Having a hard time getting up? Take advantage of the 90-minute sleep cycle.

Even if you’ve enjoyed a full night’s sleep, getting out of bed isn’t easy if your alarm goes off when you’re in the middle of the deeper stages of sleep (especially stages 3 and 4). If you want to make mornings less painful, set a wake-up time that’s a multiple of 90 minutes, the length of the average sleep cycle. For example, if you go to bed at 10 p.m., set your alarm for 5:30 (a total of 7 ½ hours of sleep) instead of 6:00 or 6:30. You’ll feel more refreshed at 5:30 than you will with another 30 to 60 minutes of sleep, because you’re getting up when your body and brain are already close to wakefulness.

You may be sleep deprived if you...

  • Need an alarm clock in order to wake up on time.
  • Rely on the snooze button.
  • Have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning.
  • Feel sluggish in the afternoon.
  • Get sleepy in meetings, lectures, or warm rooms.
  • Get drowsy after heavy meals or when driving.
  • Need to nap to get through the day.
  • Fall asleep while watching TV or relaxing in the evening.
  • Feel the need to sleep in on weekends.
  • Fall asleep within five minutes of going to bed.
While it may seem like losing sleep isn’t such a big deal, sleep deprivation has a wide range of negative effects that go way beyond daytime drowsiness.

The effects of sleep deprivation and chronic lack of sleep

  • Fatigue, lethargy, and lack of motivation
  • Moodiness and irritability
  • Reduced creativity and problem-solving skills
  • Inability to cope with stress
  • Reduced immunity; frequent colds and infections
  • Concentration and memory problems
  • Weight gain
  • Impaired motor skills and increased risk of accidents
  • Difficulty making decisions
  • Increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems

Think six hours of sleep is enough?

Think again. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco discovered that some people have a gene that enables them to do well on 6 hours of sleep a night. But the gene is very rare, appearing in less than 3% of the population. For the other 97% of us, six hours doesn’t come close to cutting it.

How Many Hours of Sleep Do We Need?

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average adult sleeps less than 7 hours per night. In today’s fast-paced society, 6 or 7 hours of sleep may sound pretty good. In reality, it’s a recipe for chronic sleep deprivation.

While sleep requirements vary slightly from person to person, most healthy adults need between 7.5 to 9 hours of sleep per night to function at their best. Children and teens need even more (see box at right). And despite the notion that sleep needs decrease with age, older people still need at least 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep. Since older adults often have trouble sleeping this long at night, daytime naps can help fill in the gap.




Myths and Facts about Sleep

Myth 1: Getting just 1 hour less sleep per night won’t effect your daytime functioning. You may not be noticeably sleepy during the day. But even slightly less sleep can affect your ability to think properly and respond quickly, and compromise your cardiovascular health, energy balance, and ability to fight infections.
Myth 2: Your body adjusts quickly to different sleep schedules. Most people can reset their biological clock, but only by appropriately timed cues—and even then, by 1–2 hours per day at best. Consequently, it can take more than a week to adjust after traveling across several time zones or switching to the night shift.
Myth 3: Extra sleep at night can cure you of problems with excessive daytime fatigue. Not only is the quantity of sleep important but also the quality of sleep. Some people sleep 8 or 9 hours a night but don’t feel well rested when they wake up because the quality of their sleep is poor.
Myth 4: You can make up for lost sleep during the week by sleeping more on the weekends. Although this sleeping pattern will help relieve part of a sleep debt, it will not completely make up for the lack of sleep. Furthermore, sleeping later on the weekends can affect your biological clock so that it is much harder to go to sleep at the right time on Sunday nights and get up early on Monday mornings.

Adapted from Your Guide to Healthy Sleep (PDF) - The National Institutes of Health


How Sleep Effects Your Body

Hormones
During sleep you enable your body to start producing human growth hormone (HGH). HGH, the protein hormone,  promotes the growth, maintenance and repair of muscles and bones by facilitating the use of amino acids (the essential building blocks of protein). Every tissue in the body is renewed faster while you are asleep.

Melatonin is another hormone produced helps you control body rhythms and sleep-wake cycles. Levels of melatonin rise as the body temperature falls, to encourage feelings of sleepiness. The opposite occurs to wake us up.

It is mostly during sleep that the sex hormone testosterone and the fertility hormones, follicle-stimulating hormone and leuteinising hormone, are secreted.

Immune system
Your immune system can benefit from proper sleep by aiding your body's ability to fight infection and resist more opportunities of infection.   Studies have shown that by getting proper amounts of sleep you are also increasing your bodies ability of producing higher levels of white blood cells and certain proteins which can aid your body's defense systems.

Our body also contain cells that aid in reducing cancer with a cancer killer called TNF, turmour necrosis factor.    Research has shown that people who stayed up until 3am had one-third fewer cells containing TNF the next day, and that the effectiveness of those remaining was greatly reduced.
We also have a built in clock called the circadian rhythm.  The circadian rhythm regulates all the processes of the body, from digestion to cell renewal. All these body rhythms are triggered by an action of a network of chemical messengers and nerves which are controlled by the circadian clock.
Ensuring regular periods of sleep at night lets the bodyclock regulate hormone production, helps you feel awake when you need to be awake and at rest while you need to sleep.

Body temperature
It is normal for your body temperature to slowly fall during sleep as your body is designed to,  low body temperatures increase your likelihood of sleeping deeply, allowing the body a chance to rest and rebuild.

The skin
Your skin depends on a deep sleep in order to help it repair from the damaging effects from the day.   As proteins are the building blocks for cell growth and repair on the inside, so are they for your skin.  While you are sleeping your skin's metabolic rate actually speeds up and allows the body's cells to increase their production while reducing the breakdown of those beneficial proteins, giving added meaning to getting your beauty sleep.


Muscles
While sleeping your body gains the opportunity to relax giving it the opportunity for tissues to be repaired and restored.

Blood
During sleep, the cells and tissues that break down to produce toxic waste then become less active. This gives the chance for broken-down tissue to be rebuilt.  Studies have shown that during sleep your body is given the opportunity to detoxify your tissues through your bloodstream aiding in producing better lung, kidney, bowels, liver, and skin functions.

Digestive system
The body requires a regular supply of energy and its key source is glucose. This is constantly burned up to release energy for muscle contraction, nerve impulses and regulating body temperature.
When we sleep, your need for these energy reserves is reduced allowing your body more time to find the balance it needs to restore it's glucose levels.

In summary, your body and your life depend on you to get the sleep you need to function, fight disease, stay healthy mentally and physically.  Give your body the sleep you need and you can reclaim your life and your body.


Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

An anti aging combo that works...

I'm a big fan of eating raw green vegetables and it has been discovered that the same substance that makes Pink flamingos pink is the salmon substance fueling salmon.  

Introducing Astaxanthin a microalgae (the green vegetable from the sea)... 


When it comes to free radical scavenging, astaxanthin can be as much as…

  • 65 times more powerful than vitamin C
  • 54 times stronger than beta-carotene
  • 14 times more potent than vitamin E

Plus, astaxanthin has been shown to be more effective than other carotenoids and other nutrients at ‘singlet oxygen quenching’ by being up to…

  • 550 times more powerful than vitamin E
  • 800 times stronger than CoQ10
  • 6000 times greater than vitamin C
  • 550 times more powerful than green tea catechins
  • 11 times stronger than beta-carotene

As a singlet oxygen quenching’ substance... Astaxanthin was even found to be as much as 2.75 stronger than lutein.  

What if you could…
  • Reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dry skin, age spots, and freckles?
  • Boost your brain and nervous system protection from free radicals?
  • Help reduce the visible signs of aging?
  • Promote your joint and skeletal system health?
  • Potentially enhance your skin protection from sun-induced free radicals?
And if you’re an athlete, or even a weekend warrior, what if you could…
  • Increase your strength and stamina?
  • Improve your endurance?
  • Enable faster recovery from exercise?
  • Reduce joint and muscle soreness after a vigorous workout?
  • Enhance your visual acuity and depth perception?
Here's how it is so effective:
  • Able to cross the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier (beta-carotene and some others don’t do this)…
  • Protects your eyes, brain, and nervous system from oxidative stress
  • Potentially reduces DNA damage caused by free radicals

By adding antioxidants to your diet to help combat sun-induced free radicals in your skin, you can help to potentially avoid…
  • Premature skin aging
  • Excessive wrinkling
  • Skin Dryness
  • Excessive number of age spots
  • Proliferation of freckles
Antioxidants are generally classified into two broad categories…water soluble (hydrophilic) and lipid soluble (hydrophobic).  Your body needs both types of antioxidants because each one targets different types of cells and tissues for free radical scavenging…
  • Water soluble antioxidants –  Examples of water soluble antioxidants include… vitamin C, glutathione, and catechins.
  • Lipid soluble antioxidants –  Examples of lipid-soluble antioxidants include… vitamins E, A, and beta carotene.
The efficacy of water- and lipid-soluble antioxidants is more powerful when taken together

I strongly recommend Resveratrol as your water soluble antioxidant.

HERE IS THE POWER DUO:




















RESOURCES:
Dr. Mercola

Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

Benefits of Hemp Oil


Hemp seed and oil has been commonly called "Nature’s Perfect Food for Humanity" and can be beneficial for everyone.


The oil can be used as part of a nutritional program to maintain and improve good health both internally and externally.   Hemp Seed Oil is ideal for use in protein shakes, smoothies, salad dressings, mayonnaise, drizzled on sandwiches, dips etc. It is not suitable for frying as this reduces it's benefits.

Modern science has revealed that it contains all the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids necessary for human life, as well as a rare protein known as globule edestins that is very similar to the globulin found in human blood plasma.

Hemp seeds contain the most balanced and richest natural single source of essential oils for human consumption. The E.F.A.'s not only help to restore wasting bodies, but also improve damaged immune systems, so it is not so surprising that modern researchers have studied them in relationship to the modern immune attacking AIDS virus. (Eidlman, M.D., Hamilton, ED.D, Ph.D 1992).

Hemp oil is natures most balanced oil for human nutrition (3:1 LA to LNA ratio) and is easily digestible; in fact this oil could provide all of our Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) requirements for life, due to the balanced 80% EFA content of the oil.

Research has shown that this nutritional oil was once a part of worldwide dietary intake, as it was one of the first cultivated crops. All natural foods contain some substances, which are essential to life. Oils for example, found in nuts and seeds, contain significantly higher amounts of essential fatty acids than other foods.

Alpha Linolenic acid (LNA) Deficiency Symptoms - Omega 3

The symptoms of LNA deficiency include: Growth retardation, weakness, impairment of vision and learning ability, motor incoordination, tingling in arms and legs, behavioral changes.

Adding LNA back into the diet from which it is missing can reverse these symptoms. Other symptoms that can result from LNA (or w3) deficiency include; High triglycerides, high blood pressure, sticky platelets, tissue inflammation, edema, dry skin, mental deterioration, low metabolic rate, some kinds of immune dysfunction  

Linoleic acid (LA) Deficiency Symptoms - Omega 6

The symptoms of LA deficiency include: Eczema-like skin eruptions, loss of hair, liver degeneration, behavioural disturbances, kidney degeneration, excessive water loss through the skin accompanied by thirst, drying up of glands, susceptibility to infections, failure of wound healing, sterility in males, miscarriage in females, arthritis-like conditions, heart and circulatory problems, growth retardation.  Prolonged absence of LA from the diet is fatal. Adding LA back into the diet from which it is missing can reverse all of the deficiency symptoms.

In 1955 the Czechoslovakian Tubercular Nutrition Study concluded that hemp seed was the "Only food that can successfully treat the consumptive disease tuberculosis, in which the nutritive processes are impaired and the body wastes away"(Robinson 1996).

Dr Johana Budwig – A pioneer of Essential Fatty Acid Research

The seven-time Nobel Prize nominee, Dr. Johana Budwig, a pioneer of E.F.A research, reported success in treating heart infraction, arthritis, cancer and other common diseases with massive doses of E.F.A.'s.   Budwig's research indicates that many of these killer and crippling diseases may be caused in part by our diet of saturated fat and trans-fat, which are present in much of the food we eat. According to this healing Doctor, saturated fat and trans-fat befuddle the electronic charge of the unsaturated oils, which are present in cell membranes.

‘This decreases the cells ability to receive and store electrons from the sun, which according to Budwig is a key factor in human health.’

Alternatively, a balanced diet of E.F.A’s keeps the charge of the unsaturated fats in the cells membranes working properly and electron rich. As Budwig herself explains:

"The sun's rays are very much in harmony with humans. It is no coincidence that we love the sun. The resonance in our biological tissue is so strongly tuned to the absorption of solar energy that physicists who occupy themselves with this scientific phenomenon, the quantum biologists say that there is nothing on earth that has a higher concentration of solar energy photons than humans. This enrichment with solar energy depends strongly on the like energy aspects, a wavelength that is compatible with humans, and this is supported when we eat foods that have electromagnetic waves of solar rays--the photon. An abundance of these electrons, which are tuned to the solar energy frequency, exist, for example, in   many seed oils. Scientifically these oils have even been designated as electron-rich, essential, highly unsaturated fats. (Budwig 1992)

Budwig states that when we began to homogenize vegetable oils so that they would store better, we unknowingly changed their E.F.A. content into saturated fats in the ensuing heating process. These E.F.A. robbed, thus electron poor   "promote the emergence of cancer.... They behave like tar, as insulators relative to the transport of electrons in living tissue." Alternatively, "electron-rich highly unsaturated oils... increase the absorption, storage and utilization of the sun's energy".

Budwig relates that after her ailing patients have been treated with an E.F.A. rich diet and then "lie in the sun, they notice they feel much better-rejuvenated"; (Budwig 1992)   "On the other hand, nowadays we frequently observe that the heart fails on sunny beaches, and not infrequently heart attacks occur. We can observe some individuals in our time experiencing stress from exposure to the sun’s energy, whereas others respond with dynamic improvement in all vital functions. The stimulating effect that sunshine has on the secretions of the liver, gall bladder, pancreas, bladder, and salivary glands is easy to observe. These organs only dry out upon exposure to sunshine when the substance that stimulates secretions is missing. The decisive factor in all these observations is   whether the surface-active, electron-rich, highly unsaturated fats are present as a resonating system for solar energy, or, if they are missing. The doctor tells cancer patients to avoid the sun; that they can't tolerate the sun. As soon as these patients--also cancer patients--were placed on my oil-Protein   diet for just 2-3 days, i.e. a diet that   contains an abundant supply of essential fats, they were able to tolerate the sun very well. Yes, they emphasize how well they suddenly feel in the sun, how the life forces are stimulated and that   they feel dynamically energized."(Budwig 1992)
In times of worry about increased exposure to the sun's rays the E.F.A. rich oils provided by hemp may offer us hope. In her writings about the sun's effect on the cell membrane's electrons, Budwig referred to the work of the quantum physicist Dessauer, "If it were possible to increase the concentration of solar electrons tenfold in this biological electron rich molecule, man would live to be 10,000 years old."

Benefits of Cold Pressing

Oils should be pressed with a minimum of heat because the higher the temperature of the oil the faster it is destroyed by light, oxygen and other chemical reactions. The shape and properties of Fatty-acid molecules can change lowering their nutritional and biological value.
  
Organic and Cold pressed is best.

How to use

With a pleasant nutty flavor, Hemp Seed Oil is ideal for use in salad dressings, mayonnaise, dips etc. Not suitable for frying as this reduces the benefits. May be taken as a nutritional supplement for general health and well being.

One recommendation for use is to mix it with Barley Grass Powder,  providing the benefits of the soluble proteins in Barley Grass Powder, along with all the huge array of other  nutrients. Use 1 teaspoon of Hemp oil to one heaped teaspoon of Barley grass juice powder, half a glass of distilled or chemical free water, (do not use tap water, the chlorine in tap water turns nutrients into toxic, even carcinogenic chemicals!). This mix can be taken once or twice daily. The combination forms the basis of a powerful therapy that Dr Budwig used, and helps to deliver sunlight from sensible sun exposure to the cells for maximum benefit.

Hemp oil can also be used externally on the skin, easily absorbed and moisturizing skin in poor condition. 

How much is needed?

Recommended daily intake for a person with an average build/ body fat profile is 2-4 teaspoons (up to 50 ml) per day, or in the case of therapy this can be increased up to 150ml per day for approximately 7 days then reverting to the normal daily intake amount. The requirement of oil intake is now widely accepted as being 15%-20% of calorific requirement (daily average of 2000 calories for an average adult). EFA oils contain embodied energy of 9 calories per ml, which is mainly used by the body for structural, hormonal and electrical functions, rather than energy.

What are the beneficial properties of Hemp Seed Oil?

Because Hemp Seed Oil is such a rich source of both LA (Omega 6) and LNA (Omega 3) in balanced proportions, conditions caused by deficiencies in both can be treated with one oil.

The functions of LNA include: Production of smooth skin increased stamina, speeds healing, increases vitality, brings a feeling of calmness, reduces inflammation, water retention, platelet stickiness and blood pressure, enhances immune functions, reduces the pain and swelling of arthritis, can reverse pre-menstrual syndrome, can treat bacterial infections, brain development in children.

The functions of LA include

Energy production, growth vitality, mental state, oxygen transfer, formation of cell membrane, recovery from fatigue, secretion production in exocrine and endocrine glands, formation of prostaglandin's (to maintain cardiovascular system) keeping body fluids liquid, helping immune system resist and fight infection, prevention of allergies, functioning of heart tissue  

The functions of GLA include

Conversion of LA to the beneficial prostaglandin's, cholesterol lowering actions, useful in treating degenerative diseases.    The Oleic Acid (Omega 9) contained in Hemp Seed Oil helps keep arteries supple because of its fluidity. In excess Oleic acid can interfere with EFA's and prostaglandin's.

The low level of Stearic acid (18:0) in Hemp Seed Oil is beneficial as high levels of Stearic acid are more likely to form flow-impeding clots in blood vessels and work against the healing qualities of the EFA's. 
  • Palmitic acid  (16:0) commonly found as a high percentage in animal fats and tropical oils, can raise cholesterol levels.
  • Minerals: mainly Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium.
Please note, oils that have been high temperature and solvent extracted then refined (most oils in the supermarkets) do not have the benefits left in them but contain detrimental Trans-fatty acids from hydrogenation.

EFA's increase metabolic rate, therefore increasing fat burn-off, helping you to become slim. Not to be seen as a singular solution, exercise and good eating habits need to be taken into account.  

Other Diseases 

  • Other studies suggest administration of EFAs and GLA as preventive measure and a treatment for multiple sclerosis, schizophrenic psychosis, and cancer.  

  • Multiple sclerosis occurs more frequently in geographical regions where the diet includes high amounts of saturated fats. Dietary supplementation of unsaturated fatty acids may have a positive effect on the course of the disease.  

  • In patients with schizophrenic psychosis disturbances are found in the fatty acid metabolism which might be treated through administration of essential fatty acids.  

  • Cancer treatment may be assisted by administration of linoleic acid and GLA. Cancer tissue and cells have lower contents of GLA and other related metabolites compared to healthy tissue. Linoleic acid enhances die-off of cancer cells. Administration of this essential fatty acid might therefore prove to have positive effects.

    Obviously, increasing the dietary intake of EFAs and GLA at the expense of SaFAs, is an effective way to prevent these and other diseases. Hemp oil used in the kitchen provides as much of the EFAs as necessary – in the right composition.

    RESOURCES:

    • Regenerative Nutrition 
    • Information sourced from Udo Erasmus excellent book "Fats that heal - Fats that kill"    
    • Other recommended reading 
    • Kenneth Jones "Nutritional and Medical guide to Hemp Seed" ISBN-0-96256389
    • Dr. Johanna Budwig "Flax Oil as a true aid against arthritis, heart infraction, cancer and other diseases"  ISBN-0-9695272-1-7 
    • Also, many old herbal books prior to the 1940's mention the benefits of hemp.











    Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

    Tea Tree Oil and Insect bites

    INSECT BITES:

    Tea tree oil is great for insect bites.  I have found that by taking the tree oil and applying it with a cotton ball or q-tip every couple of hours to the bite.. the itching goes away, the bite heals faster and I'm not scratching at it.









    SPIDER BITES:

    If you happen to get bit by a Brown Recluse or Black Widow mix the tea tree oil with some activated charcoal until it is a paste.   You can do this by applying the tea tree oil first, then add some activated charcoal and blend them together right on the bite site.

    EXTERNALLY:

    Apply to your wound and cover with a warm wash cloth you can use a heating pad over the top at a low setting as well.  Do this for 15 min.  Keep applying every two hours until the bite is gone. The combination of the two will actually pull the venom and toxins out of your skin.







    INTERNALLY:

    take Grapefruit Seed Extract 1 drop per every 10 pounds of body weight at least 4 times a day to help fight off infection.  












    Add Chlorophyll 4 times a day to your diet as well this will help push the toxins out of your body and help purify the blood.  












    Add Activated Charcoal capsules in the morning on an empty stomach to help your body internal pulls poisons out.












    In the case of emergencies, nothing should ever be substituted for proper medical care.
    This focus of this blog is to alert you to natural products that you can have on hand that can help you deal with most non-critical situations.

    By having these products on hand in your first aid kit you will be well prepared for many conditions.  Should you feel you need emergency care please consult your physician, clinic or hospital for assistance.


    Tea Tree Oil and Dandruff

    What is Dandruff?

    Dandruff is a common scalp condition marked by white flakes on the scalp and itching.

    It appears to be caused by a yeast-like fungus called malassezia, also known as pityrosporum. Malassezia is normally found on the scalp without causing problems, however, if it grows unchecked (possibly due to hormone imbalances, stress, immune suppression, infrequent shampooing, illness, or increased oil production), there is mild inflammation that produces dead skin cells. The dead cells mix with oil and clump together, making them appear white and flaky.

    1) Tea Tree Oil

    Tea tree oil is an essential oil that comes from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. It has been used for centuries as an antiseptic and anti-fungal agent. There are many tea tree oil shampoos available in health food stores and some drug stores, and many people report these products help with dandruff.

    There haven’t been many research studies on tea tree oil for dandruff. One study involved 126 people with mild to moderate dandruff. They used either a five percent tea tree oil shampoo or a placebo daily for four weeks. At the end of the study, the tea tree oil shampoo significantly reduced dandruff. No adverse effects were reported. Although promising, this was not a double-blind study (which means that the researchers knew which participants were using tea tree oil and which were using the placebo), so it cannot be considered solid evidence that tea tree oil works. For more information about tea tree oil, read the Tea Tree Oil Fact Sheet.


    2) Apple Cider Vinegar

    A home remedy for dandruff is to mix 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar with 1/4 cup water.

    Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and spritz it on to your hair and scalp, being careful to avoid the eye and ear area. Wrap your head in a towel.

    After 15 minutes to an hour, remove the towel and wash your hair. This is generally done once to twice a week.

    3) Biotin

    Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that helps to break down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. It is sold in supplement form and is also found naturally in foods.

    Food sources of biotin are egg yolk, liver, milk, soy, barley, brewer's yeast, and royal jelly. Biotin is also produced naturally by bacteria in the intestines.

    Eating raw egg whites and prolonged use of antibiotics are thought to be causes of biotin deficiency.



    Sources
    ____________________

    Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS. Treatment of dandruff with 5% tea tree oil shampoo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 47.6 (2002): 852-855.




    Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

    Tea Tree Oil and Athlete's Foot

    What is Athlete's Foot?

    Athlete's foot is a common fungal infection of the skin also known as tinea pedis. The fungus thrives in warm, damp environments, such as the locker rooms, health clubs, public showers, and indoor swimming pools.

    Athlete's Foot Symptoms


    * Itching, burning, or stinging between the toes or on the soles of the feet.
    * Scales, cracks, cuts, peeling skin or blisters between the toes or on the soles of the feet.
    * Skin dryness on the sides or bottoms of the feet


    If the infection spreads to under the toenails, causing thick, crumbly, discolored, or separated toenails, it is called onchomycosis and it can be very difficult to treat.
    Home Remedies for Athlete's Foot


    Although home remedies are widely used for athlete's foot, it's important to consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis, because your symptoms may caused by another condition. See a doctor immediately if you notice swelling in your foot or leg, fever, or pus in the blisters or cracks in your skin.

    1) Tea Tree Oil


    The most common home remedy for athlete's foot is tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia). Tea tree oil has a long history of traditional use in Australia as a remedy for skin infections.


    Studies have found tea tree oil is an antiseptic and has the ability to kill many bacteria and fungi. Two clinical trials suggest it may help people with athlete's foot.


    One study examined the effectiveness of 10 percent tea tree oil cream compared with 1 percent tolnaftate (a medicated topical anti-fungal) and placebo creams in 104 people with athlete's foot.


    The tea tree oil and tolnaftate groups showed improvement in scaling, inflammation, itching, and burning compared to the placebo group, however, only the tolnaftate eradicated the fungi more effectively than a placebo.


    A second study used a stronger tea tree oil solution. The study compared the effectiveness and safety of a 25 percent tea tree oil solution, a 50 percent tea tree oil solution, and a placebo solution in 158 people with athlete's foot. People applied the solution twice daily to affected areas for four weeks.


    There was a marked clinical improvement in 68 percent of people using the 50 percent tea tree oil solution and 72 percent in people using the 25 percent tea tree oil solution, compared to 39 percent in the placebo group. The fungi was eradicated in 64 percent in the 50 percent tea tree oil group, compared to 31 percent in the placebo group. Four people using tea tree oil developed moderate to severe dermatitis that improved when the tea tree oil was discontinued.


    Tea tree oil can be found at the health food store.


    Prevention


    These are some tips on how to prevent reinfection:


    * Keep your feet thoroughly dry, especially between your toes.
    * Wear cotton socks. Be sure to wear a fresh pair each day.
    * Avoid tight, closed-toe shoes. Moisture and heat cause the athlete's foot fungus to thrive.
    * Don't go barefoot in public places. Wear flip-flops.
    * Use a foot powder to keep feet dry.
    * Wash socks in the hot water setting of the washing machine.

    Sources
    Herrera-Arellano A, Rodriguez-Soberanes A, de los Angeles Martinez-Rivera M, Martinez-Cruz E, Zamilpa A, Alvarez L, Tortoriello J. Effectiveness and tolerability of a standardized phytodrug derived from Solanum chrysotrichum on Tinea pedis: a controlled and randomized clinical trial. Planta Med. 69.5 (2003): 390-395.


    Lozoya X, Navarro V, Garcia M, Zurita M. Solanum chrysotrichum (Schldl.) a plant used in Mexico for the treatment of skin mycosis. J Ethnopharmacol. 36.2 (1992): 127-132.


    Satchell AC, Saurajen A, Bell C, Barnetson RS. Treatment of interdigital tinea pedis with 25% and 50% tea tree oil solution: a randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded study. Australas J Dermatol. 43.3 (2002): 175-178.


    Tong MM, Altman PM, Barnetson RS. Tea tree oil in the treatment of tinea pedis. Australas J Dermatol. 33.3 (1992): 145-149.


    Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

    Tea Tree Oil and Acne

    Tea tree oil contains a constituent called terpinen-4-ol that is thought to be responsible for most of tea tree oil's antimicrobial activity. Because tea tree oil can kill bacteria, applying topical tea tree oil to acne lesions has been thought to kill Propionibacterium acnes, the skin-dwelling bacteria that is involved in causing acne.

    In a study comparing tea tree oil gel to benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil had fewer side effects than the benzoyl peroxide, which was associated with itching, burning, stinging, and dryness.

    What is the Evidence for Tea Tree Oil and Acne?

    Although tea tree oil is a popular remedy for acne, there has only been one older study on tea tree oil and acne.

    A single-blind randomized trial by the Department of Dermatology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Australia compared the effectiveness and tolerance of 5% tea tree oil gel with 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion in 124 people with mild to moderate acne. People in both groups had a significant reduction in inflamed and non-inflammed acne lesions (open and closed comedones) over the three month period, although tea tree oil was less effective than benzoyl peroxide.

    Although the tea tree oil took longer to work initially, there were fewer side effects with tea tree oil. In the benzoyl peroxide group, 79% of people had side effects including itching, stinging, burning, and dryness. Researchers noted that there were far fewer side effects in the tea tree oil group.

    Should Undiluted Tea Tree Oil be Applied to Acne Lesions?

    Undiluted tea tree oil may cause skin irritation, redness, blistering, overdrying, and itching when applied directly to the skin.

    The concentration used in the only study to date was a 5% tea tree oil gel, which was applied to acne prone areas.

    A 5% tea tree oil solution can be made by mixing 5 parts tea tree oil to 95 parts water (e.g. 5 mL tea tree oil and 95 mL water).

    What About Commercial Tea Tree Oil Products be Used?

    There are a number of new topical acne products that contain tea tree oil. Have a look at the skin care aisle of the health food store.

    Another place to look would be the drug store or a cosmetics store such as Sephora. DDF has a benzoyl peroxide gel with tea tree oil.

    Sources
    Bassett IB, Pannowitz DL, Barnetson RS. A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoylperoxide in the treatment of acne. Med J Aust. (1990) 153 (8): 455-458



    Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.

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