5 Ways Reducing Your Stress Now Can Improve Your Quality of Life
We all know that stress is no fun, but in the midst of our frenzied lives, we may not take into consideration all of the areas of our lives that suffer when we are constantly stressed out. While some may think that pushing ourselves as hard as possible, and sacrificing sleep and down-time for productivity are helping us reach...
Why Your Heart Really Loves Chocolate
The next time you really want to indulge in a piece of delectable chocolate, don't feel guilty - it's actually good for you! At least in moderate amounts anyway. While it may seem too good to be true, the cocoa bean is actually rich in a class of plant nutrients known as flavonoids which help to protect the plant...
Study Finds St. John’s Wort May Interact with Medications: Using Natural Therapies Wisely
A new study performed at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center has found that the popular herb St. John's wort, usually taken to help alleviate depression, can have negative interactions with several types of prescription drugs, potentially leading to dangerous side effects. This study sheds light on the fact that while natural therapies are indeed natural, they still need...
Seasonal Eating: Why it is a Good Idea
Seasonal eating is just what it sounds like, eating foods that are in season, which means you'll be enjoying the freshest ingredients, better food and supporting your local farmers too. How seasonal eating supports local growers Farmers say that one of the best ways to even out their flow is through customers who eat seasonally, which means buying extra when there...
Study: Hollow-Head Toothbrushes Collect Vast Amounts of Bacteria
When it comes to toothbrushes, it seems that some types are significantly safer than others in terms of bacterial growth. A new study performed at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston compared solid-head power toothbrushes to hollow-head power toothbrushes, and found that the hollow-head variety harbored significantly more bacteria. For the study, participants were asked to brush...
Soothe Stress and Banish Dandruff with Lavender – the “Go to” Essential Oil
If you are looking to add just one essential oil to your life, lavender is an excellent choice. Not only is the aroma sweet, herbal and inviting, this multifaceted oil has a wide array of uses. In fact, once you get used to having a high-quality lavender oil available, you may start to wonder how and why you ever...
Some Health Experts Desire an End to Testing Alternative Therapies: Why This is Just Backwards
In a recent commentary published in the Cell Press journal Trends in Molecular Medicine, David Gorski of Wayne State University School of Medicine and Steven Novella of Yale University stated that therapies which fall into the categories of complementary alternative medicine, or integrative medicine, should not receive clinical trials until enough "preclinical evidence" is gathered. While the authors cite...
5 Ways to Keep Yourself from Hibernating This Winter
Coming up with an excuse not to workout is easy to do. When temperatures begin to dip and the sun goes down earlier and earlier, all you want to do is cuddle up in a blanket and stay indoors. But come rain, snow or shine, staying active is essential for good health. Dr. Joseph Giaimo, DO, an osteopathic internal medicine...
4 Natural Ways to Combat Fall Allergies
One of the main causes of fall allergies is ragweed - and with the increased effects of climate change, with higher average temperatures and higher levels of carbon dioxide, allergies may tend to hang on longer and be even worse than in previous years. Ragweed pollen generally lasts from late summer through mid-fall, but in southern areas of the country...
10 Ways to Use Hydrogen Peroxide Around the House
Hydrogen peroxide has a very simple composition: just water and oxygen. However, its potency lies in its simplicity: it is a powerful antiseptic and is able to destroy a variety of pathogens through the process of oxidation. While hydrogen peroxide is usually thought of as a disinfectant for minor cuts and scrapes - and it is great for this...
