As the name suggests, oregano oil is derived from wild oregano plants and the key ingredients which make the oil beneficial are carvacrol and thymol. The extraction of the oil is done through a process, without the use of any chemicals or solvents. Apart from containing carvacrol and thumol, the oil is also rich in potassium, iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium, copper, boron, Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Niacin. Let’s now get to the list of the different oregano oil benefits.

Wild Oregano Oil Benefits

Oregano Oil Benefits for Skin
Treating itches, insect bites, burns, wounds, cuts and skin infections are all included in oregano oil benefits. Acne treatment is also done effectively by the use of this oil. Just dilute the oil with olive oil or coconut oil and dab on the acne using a cotton ball. Psoriasis and eczema can also be improved by the use of this oil.

Oregano Oil Benefits for Digestive Disorders
As mentioned earlier, oregano oil is high in carvacrol and thumol and these two components help in treating upset stomach and also help in the digestion process. This is done by the antioxidant property of the oil, which encourages bile production and hence, proper digestion. Best results are obtained, when the oil is taken with a glass of milk or juice.

Oregano Oil Benefits for Sinus Infection, Cold and Sore Throats
Several natural remedies for sinus infection include, the use of oregano oil. Drink a glass of juice daily mixed with 2 – 3 drops of the oil. A mere period of 3 – 5 days is what is required, after which the improvements can be noticed. When the symptoms of cold and sore throat start cropping up, help yourself with a glass of orange juice mixed with 2 – 3 drops of the oregano oil. The oil curbs the progress of such illnesses and also reduces the symptoms in a few days.

More on medicinal uses of oregano.

Other Oregano Oil Benefits
Oregano oil is an effective pain reliever. People suffering from arthritis, joint pain and tendonitis, can benefit from the use of diluted oregano oil. Other benefits of this oil include:

• Regulating menstrual cycles
• Treating Insect bites
• Treating bronchitis, canker sores, muscle pain and warts
• Prevents cellular damage
• Treating constipation, diarrhea, asthma, athlete’s foot, earaches and dandruff

The reason why I mentioned the use of oregano oil in diluted form is, because if not properly diluted, then upset stomach or abdominal discomfort may occur. Some people might develop some allergic reactions due to the use of oregano oil. The reactions might be skin irritations, rashes or vomiting. Expecting mothers are not advised to make any use of the oil, as the oil tends to reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron. So, those who are the regular users of the oil, must ensure that they also take regular iron supplements. Certain areas of the body such as the genitals’ or that of the mucous membranes or eyes, may feel a burning sensation after the use of the oil. So, make sure that the oil is properly diluted (with olive or coconut oil) before it is used.

In order to reduce the risks of any side effects and get the most of the oregano oil benefits, drink plenty of water. If you are on medications, then it is safe to talk to your doctor regarding the use of the oil, to keep any undesirable interactions from occurring.

Regarding the dosages, 4 – 6 drops of the oil should be mixed with juice, when taken internally. When used topically, 1 – 2 drops should be good enough for treating the affected area, however, it also depends upon the severity. When taken as capsules, 600 mg daily is the requirement. However, the dosages may vary from person to person. So, in order to be certain, get an advise from a doctor, so that, you make the most of the different oregano oil benefits.

Article by: Rajiv Singha

Senior home care is making the decision to care for your aging parents or loved ones in their home or in your home allowing them their independence but taking on the responsibility of their being the caregiver. Caring for aging parents or loved ones carries a lot of responsibility and a range of emotions. No matter how much love in your heart, carrying the load of caring for your loved one will leave you drained physically, emotionally and possibly financially. Coping with the stress of senior home care has to be managed or you will not be able to be an effective caregiver.

Managing the stress of senior home care is all about taking charge. Take charge of your thoughts, your emotions, your schedule, your environment and the way you deal with problems and unexpected situations. The ultimate goal of coping with the stress of senior home care is to achieve a balanced life.

How to reduce, prevent, and cope with the stress of senior home care

Senior home care requires organization – Organize your time and your schedule. Write everything down so that you or another family member has reference to phone numbers, doctors, medications, in home senior care providers, important insurance and financial numbers.

Start a personal journal – Share your feelings about the stress of senior home care. Writing down your thoughts will help you to take charge of your emotions.

Prioritize your health and well-being. Nurturing yourself is a necessary not a luxury.

Healthy ways to relax and recharge

• Go for a walk
• Call a good friend
• Sweat out the tension with a good workout
• Write in your journal
• Curl up with a good book
• Take a long bath
• Eat healthy and exercise regularly
• Play with your pet
• Work in your garden
• Listen to music
• Savor a cup of warm coffee or tea

Give yourself a break – Enlist the help of a professional senior home care provider. Senior home care providers such as Visiting Angels can provide daily or weekly help to everyday chores, errands, hygiene, meals or transportation needs just to name a few. Senior home care providers can also provide a respite to you responsibilities with as little as 15 minute notice to avoid unnecessary stress if your schedule needs help.

Coping with the stress of senior home care is the only possible way to be an effective caregiver to your loved ones. Your mental and physical health must take priority or you will not be able to manage what needs to be done. Take advantage of these tips. Organize yourself, express yourself, nurture yourself and help yourself by arranging for assistance with a senior home care provider.

Bio: Linda Dunkelberger is a freelance writer and editor. “Coping with Stress of Senior Home Care” shares tips for coping with the stress of senior home care. Visiting Angels is a senior home care provider that helps seniors with everyday tasks, errands, meals, transportation, just to name a few services. For more information on Visiting Angels in your area, see www.Visitingangels.com.

While most diets are designed to deprive people of food they may crave, a new concept has been developed centered on the idea of eating just about whatever you want, within reason.

Billed as Your Final Diet, Dr. Abby Aronowitz has written a book under that title which not only encourages people to change their thinking on dieting, it suggests being a little overweight might be good.

Abby’s diet even has a list of “healthy” junk foods she encourages users of her diet to eat. These snacks include all natural treats such as Garden of Eatin’ Sesame Blues tortilla chips, Smart Food popcorn and Newman’s Own Organics Champion Chip Cookies. These healthy junk foods are higher in protein and fiber and have no artificial chemicals in their ingredients lists. She has said her research at Columbia University showed artificial sweeteners can actually increase appetite. She also suggests ways of using chocolate to suppress an appetite.

Those using Abby’s diet plan learn to manage sugar, carbs and fat intake rather than eliminating them. Dr. Aronowitz has said everybody craves those elements of their diet, and eliminating them only leads to diet failure. This, in turn, can lead to yo-yo dieting and a poor outlook about themselves.

In an interview, Aronowitz said the USDA recommends women should consume about 1,600 calories per day. She encourages her patients to multiply that by seven for a weekly total of about 11,000 calories. Then, her patients are told they can eat just about whatever they want within the 11,000 calories, especially if they eat all natural foods.

Changing the mind set is also important to her plan. Those using her suggestions will be encouraged to ignore pressure to become unrealistically thin, learn being thin doesn’t mean being sexy and become good role models for children to teach them about food selection and positive body image.

Fitness is important too, and not just for thin people. Aronowitz says even those listed as overweight benefit from being more fit.

Dr. Aronowitz believes increased health comes less from worrying about losing weight and more from accepting your actual size, eating better and working on your overall fitness level. This also improves your self-image.

Article from: www.abbysdietsuccess.com

source

Nothing beats a hot steaming cup of coffee in the morning. It stimulates the senses and wakens a tired body. It is one of the best ways to start a brand new day. Many people buy the cheap, mass produced coffee from the grocery store, but for only a few bucks more, you can get coffee that is better tasting and organically-grown.

Many of the manufacturing  and growing methods used to make non-organic coffee have been proven to damage the environment, through the use of  pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers that is used throughout the growing process.

In order for organic coffee to claim its title and be sold as “organically-certified” in grocery stores and coffee shops throughout the United States, it has to follow a set of strict guidelines established by the US Department of Agriculture that regulates organic production.

Organic coffee must not use any synthetic pesticides or herbicides and the farmers must also have crop rotation systems in place to prevent soil nutrients from depleting along with sufficient pest control.

Given the nature of the organic coffee production process, its market is steadily climbing in the United States with total sales reaching close to 90 million in 2005, a nearly 50 percent jump from 2004. In addition, organic coffee is being sold by more specialty coffee firms than ever, a testament to its growing popularity.

Organic coffee continues to remain a premium product at, sometimes, extravagant prices. Currently, a 12 oz. bag of dark roasted shade grown, fair-trade organic coffee can climb upwards of $12 at your local grocery store. Light roasted organic coffee goes for about $3 less, depending on where you’re buying it from. Adding to organic coffee’s exclusivity is the size of the world organic coffee market which remains mired at less than 1% in all of the major coffee consuming countries.

Despite its status, organic coffee continues to be diverse, offering products that include coffee sodas, decaffeinated, caffeinated, and flavored coffees. Even though you may spend a few extra bucks, organic coffee is a safe alternative to the mass produced, environmentally unconscious coffees made today.

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Over 50 years have passed since Jacques Cousteau won worldwide acclaim and a Palmed’Or at Cannes for his film The Silent World – one of the few important environmental films ever to come out of France. Now, from director Jean-Paul Jaud comes Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution, a moving testament to one’s community’s fight for safe food production and a healthy diet for our children – and ourselves.

Food Beware begins with a visit to a small village in France, where the town’s mayor has decided to make the school lunch menu organic and locally grown. It then talks to a wide variety of people with differing perspectives to find common ground – children, parents, teachers, health care workers, farmers, elected officials, scientists, researchers and the victims of illnesses themselves. Revealed in these moving and often surprising conversations are the abuses of the food industry, the competing interests of agribusiness and public health, the challenges and rewards of safe food production, and the practical, sustainable solutions that we can all take part in. Food Beware is food for thought – and a blueprint for a growing revolution.

This eye-opening documentary features interviews with children, parents, teachers, health care workers, farmers, elected officials, scientists, and researchers. Food Beware takes a powerful look at the abuses of the food industry, the challenges and rewards of safe food production, and the practical solutions that everyone can take part in. This remarkable story of one community’s crusade to save their children’s health is both food for thought and a blueprint for a growing revolution.

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