Before you decide to take any substances or try any cure, do some research. You can ask trusted sources, such as a naturopath or other person who knows a lot about natural treatments. Even massage or physical therapists sometimes have a body of knowledge about natural treatments. Here are just some of the types of people who can help you understand your options:

• Acupuncturists
• Chiropractors
• Herbologists
• Homeopathy Practitioners
• Oriental Medicine Doctor (OMD)
• Massage Therapists
• MDs
• Naturopaths
• Nutritionists
• Pharmacists
• Physical Therapists

You can also look online, although use caution when doing so. There are so many different people out there sharing information — some of it true and some of it not. Some of it is also tainted by self-interest, so don’t believe everything you read. If, for example, you need a natural cure for dandruff, you want to treat depression without medication or you need to find natural arthritis treatments, try to find resources online and then discuss it with a reputable source. Don’t trust a random Web site — even this one — as your sole source of information.

If you find a natural treatment that you think might be worthwhile, you should definitely check first with your primary physician before trying it. This is particularly important  if you are on any medications or have conditions that might be affected by the treatment. With any luck, your doctor will be open to natural remedies. (If they aren’t, maybe it’s time to find another doctor!) You can also ask your pharmacist about any medications you currently take and whether they will interact with the natural remedy you have chosen. Also, if you’re a senior it’s a good idea to check whether Medicare will cover the treatment before you book the appointment. If it doesn’t and you’re really committed to going the natural route, you might want to check whether one of the many optional Medicare supplements will pay for at least some of the cost.

Natural cures don’t always work for each person the same way. So don’t expect that every treatment you try will work the same for you as it did for someone on the Internet. Natural remedies can have side effects, too, so be aware of that and don’t try anything without thoroughly looking into it. A natural treatment can be life-changing and wonderful, but always do plenty of research before trying anything out.

You might also be interested in our Herbal Encyclopedia, which provides information on specific natural remedies.

Photo by yenhoon

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An at home facial can help you improve skin tone, reduce wrinkles and fine lines, treat sunspots and lessen the appearance of spider veins or damaged blood vessels.T his combination of beauty and cleansing procedures can sometimes be costly at a salon — $100 or more! But not to worry; if you’re on a tight budget, you can learn to give yourself facials right in the comfort of  your own home.

A basic home facial usually includes the four steps of cleansing, exfoliating, removal of blackheads and facial massage. You won’t have access to the equipment and products used in a regular salon or spa, but having beautiful, blemish-free and glowing skin is still attainable. Spending a little extra on high quality products will give you the best results, but soap, natural masks you can make in your own kitchen, and oil- and alcohol-free cleansers will also do just fine. Here are the four basic steps to a relaxing and beautifying at-home facial:

Cleansing is the first step. For people who have sensitive skin, a fragrance-free cleanser should be used to avoid irritations that can result from using scented products.

Exfoliation, the removal of dead skin cells that cling to the skin’s outermost surface, is next. You can use a facial scrub, an exfoliating cream or mask or a glycolic acid peel. These are the three most common products used in salons and spas. There are also many natural substances you probably have around the house that have been proven to be effective for exfoliation, such as the combination of oatmeal and eggs. Here’s a simple recipe for an effective natural cleansing mask that uses simple ingredients:

• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal
• 1 tsp. lemon juice (use the juice of a fresh lemon, if possible)
• 1 tsp. olive oil

To create the mask, place the cooked instant oatmeal in a bowl and add the egg white, olive oil and lemon juice. Stir until smooth, apply to your face and neck and very gently massage it so that you get exfoliation without causing any damage. Don’t rub it until it flakes away, just long enough so it will remove the dead skin cells. Leave it on for 15 minutes. If you can, take the opportunity to lie down while you wait, to enhance your at-home spa treatment with a little relaxation. After 15 minutes, rinse the mask off with warm water and pat your skin very gently to dry it.

Extraction of blackheads is next. A blackhead strip, such as Bioré, can be used. Most of the time it doesn’t remove all of the blackheads, but if used routinely it will keep your skin blackhead-free. Be sure not to use it more often than the package directions indicate though. A metal blackhead extractor is commonly employed in spas in conjunction with steam and is more effective, but you probably shouldn’t try using one unless you have experience with it.

Facial massage is the last step in your at home facial. Its main purpose is to improve skin circulation and also relax tension in the facial muscles. Once there is proper circulation, more beautiful, glowing skin will result. To massage your skin, gently massage upward as you open your mouth and extend your jaw. Try to release the tension in your facial muscles as you do the massage.

Having a beautiful skin doesn’t need to be expensive. All it takes is proper daily skin care, a good diet, a healthy lifestyle and a monthly regimen of facial skin care. The skin regenerates every four weeks, so a monthly facial is just what you need to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. And the best thing about it? You can do it right in your  own home.

You might also be interested in these related posts:

• 10 Natural Facial Treatments
• Natural Skin Tightening Exercises
• Natural Home Remedies for Acne
• Eliminating Acne Redness

Illustration by Andy Panda

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Cholesterol is one of those health problems that can be stressful to deal with once it develops, so every effort to prevent high cholesterol is always worth it. Given the fact that we live in the real world, there are other factors to consider, such as a busy schedule, a limited budget, or trying planning a diet for an entire family. Thankfully, even if you are overwhelmed with other aspects of your life there are simple things you can do every day to lower your cholesterol. Here are just some of them:

Eat fiber at breakfast
Many people have the bad habit of skipping breakfast altogether, which can have negative implications for their metabolisms and hunger levels throughout the day. A quick way to kill two birds with one stone is to eat a breakfast cereal high in fiber to get yourself off to a good start. Soluble fiber found in bran and oats can be incredibly beneficial in helping to absorb excess cholesterol in your system. And after all, what could be easier than eating a bowl of cereal when you wake up?

Exercise
If you’re busy you may have a hard time finding opportunities to exercise. But if you’re creative and dedicated you can find ways to stay active and raise your levels of good cholesterol through various exercises. Even something as simple as walking for 20 minutes a day can get your body in tune and running better. And if you can manage to exercise more regularly through intensive activities you can boost your good cholesterol levels by up to 10 percent. And if you do happen to engage in a more active lifestyle then make sure to eat a balanced diet filled with foods high in iron and protein so that you give your body the fuel it needs.

Take a healthier approach to snacks
A common cause of excess cholesterol are snacks. There are so many tempting high cholesterol foods to avoid that it can be hard to keep track of exactly what’s going into your body. To be on the safe side, look to fruits and vegetables whenever you need a quick boost between meals, and stay well away from anything that contains saturated fats.

Eat smaller, more frequent meals
There is growing evidence that blood sugar and cholesterol are connected, so anything you can do to keep your blood sugar even can only benefit you. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help control your blood sugar by keeping a more consistent flow of food into the body. We also have some tasty healthy recipes to control blood glucose levels that can help you keep your blood sugar on track.

As an aside, it’s important to watch the discoveries coming out of the medical industry. Because of the money involved with cholesterol-lowering drugs, I’ve always suspected that cholesterol news has been manipulated by the pharmaceutical companies, and through them, the media. I predict that eventually we’ll see different perspectives come forward in regard to the role of cholesterol in our lives. The suggestions in this article will probably always be relevant, because they’re just common sense. But we may find over time that there’s not quite as much to fear from cholesterol as we now believe.

Photo by Ula Kapala

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• Take a break from what you are doing
  We use our heads to think most of the time, so remember to give your head a rest. Headaches can sometimes be your body’s sign that you’re doing too much and need to slow down, so listen to what it’s telling you.
• Breathe deeply
  When your head hurts, stop, relax and take some deep breaths. Don’t underestimate the ability of the breath to calm your body and move energy and stress through it that may be stuck and causing pain. In fact, this is a good practice for every day, whether you’re experiencing pain or not.
• Eat healthy
  Begin with a good breakfast, which some people feel is the most vital meal of the day. You should also maintain a balanced diet throughout the day, so you can maintain consistent energy and blood sugar levels.
• Cut out the caffeine
  Caffeine can boost your energy and wake you up, but using it excessively (or even at all, for some people) can also cause tension headaches and leave you feeling nervous and irritable. This is another instance when it’s beneficial to listen to what your body tells you. If you have a reaction when you drink coffee, simply eliminate it. Herbal teas are good substitutes, as are roasted grain drinks that simulate coffee taste. You can buy these from the health food store.
• Say no to additives
  Food additives, such as artificial colors and flavors, can trigger headaches. There’s even some evidence that large doses over time may cause more serious problems, such as strokes and seizures. There’s no reason to ingest these additives and they can be easily avoided if you stick to natural foods, with an emphasis on “live” substances, such as fruits and vegetables.
• Apply a cold, wet cloth
  Cool down your aching head by using a towel that has been soaked in cold water and wrung out. If you have the patience to wait, you can also place the wet towel in the freezer before applying it to your head.
• Look to your mouth
  Toothaches and other mouth-related problems can definitely cause headaches, because the nerves that cause tooth pain are obviously centered in the head. Although there’s nothing that can be done — other than go to the dentist — once tooth problems are in full swing, you can do plenty to prevent them. Having the proper dental supplies on-hand — like a good sonic-powered toothbrush, dental floss and dental picks — and using them every day can help ensure you never have a tooth-related headache.
• See an eye specialist
  Vision problems or eye strain can sometimes be the cause of headaches, so if you have consistent headaches that don’t seem to have any other cause, get your vision checked. To lessen the financial stress going to the eye doctor can generate, check out your medical coverage to see if you’re covered. Some medical health plans have eye care coverage options, so know if yours does before you go.

If you don’t know what’s causing your headaches, you can assess which of the above factors are relevant to you by keeping a diary that lists which activities you’ve done during the day and what foods you’ve eaten. Patterns will probably surface quickly as you keep the diary, which will give you a good basis for knowing how to treat your headaches.

Photo by Mike Johnson

Researchers got a clue as to saw palmetto’s benefits for hair restoration when the drug Finasteride was being tested to see if it would effectively treat enlarged prostate glands in men. During the Finasteride clinical trials it was discovered that most of the men with male pattern baldness regrew hair while taking the medication. This led to several studies that found the culprit behind male urinary problems may be the same one that causes hair loss in both men and women: an above average level of DHT, which is a metabolite of the male hormone testosterone. Although the relationship between DHT and baldness is not fully understood, it is believed that DHT causes follicular miniaturization, or the dwindling of hair shaft width until the point that the hair resembles what some people call peach fuzz, or it disappears entirely. Since saw palmetto is used to treat prostate problems and affects DHT levels in a manner similar to Finesteride, it has became a popular baldness treatment for those who want to take a natural approach.

Saw palmetto is generally taken as an extract today. In early times, however, Native Americans ingested it as food, and also used it as an antiseptic and an expectorant. They were well aware of the plant’s benefits for hundreds of years, but its popularity didn’t skyrocket in mainstream society until the connection to mens hair restoration was discovered. It’s reputation has since been enhanced by the fact that it provides a hair restoration price point that most people can afford.

If you’re searching for natural remedies for hair loss and don’t want the side effects experienced with synthetic drugs, you owe it to yourself to learn more about this supplement. But remember, all substances — whether natural or man-made — have the potential for some kind of side effects, depending on your body’s response to it. Be sure to pay attention to how your body reacts when taking any supplement, so you can make sure it’s right for you.

You might also be interested in our article that discusses five other natural remedies for hair loss.

Illustration (c) copyright 2010 Carla Chadwick