If you have never had a massage before you may be hesitant to try one for many reasons.  Possibly you are afraid to be exposed on the table, afraid to have a stranger touching your body or just not aware of what a massage entails. 

There are many people who have found the joy and benefits of a massage out of nessecity due to an injury or chronic pain.  These people experience the benefits of massage because they had an urgent need to address a problem.  Don't wait until something like that gets you to a massage therapist!  A massage can be the most relaxing, mood altering, body boost that you can experience in an hours time and the benefits will last several hours after the massage. 

Keep in mind that reputable, licensed massage therapists are professionals and as professionals you will be treated with respect and privacy.  You can undress to your comfort level and there is always dimmed lighting and music to help you relax.  Once you have your first massage your initial worries of being touched by a stranger will go away.  Remember this is just another form of therapy to heal and relax the body.

Different massages are good for different people and problems. Some focus on relieving muscle pain, others work to improve blood or lymph circulation and some are designed to just relax you.  If it is something specific you are after then it is worth researching the different types of massage to make sure you get the maximum benefit. If this is your first massage and you are just wanting one that feels really good and promotes general well being then something like an aromatherapy or regular body massage would be a good choice.

The well being you feel after a massage is the release of endorphins which promotes a sense of well being and it allows the body time to switch off from day-to-day worries.

Be sure to talk openly with your massage therapist prior to the massage to address your needs - they are there to help you and give you what you want.  If you feel like talking they will talk or if you want to just lie back and relax or drift off to sleep they will keep quiet and allow you to do this.

A massage could be just what your body is needing.  Explore your options and enjoy a massage today.

Introducing our new hot/cold aromatherapy rice and flax packs.  Several sizes and shapes to choose from in pretty fabrics to comfort and soothe all of your aches and pains- use hot or cold!

Our new rice/flax packs are so soothing because they provide moist heat for many of the aches and pains we get from daily living.  It is not a dry heat which is harsh to your skin, but rather a nice warm moist heat (from the grain) which is beneficial to your skin.

Our larger packs are have channels sewn in to keep the rice/flax mixture dispersed evenly. This large size makes it great for any area. Great for wrapping around your side, laying on your abdomen, draping over your thighs, knees or calves, or on your back.  Also, sit down after a long day and place your feet on the warm pad to relax. It makes a fantastic foot warmer!

Simply heat in the microwave for 1-3 minutes. Please be careful to check the pack's temperature before placing on your skin.  If the pack is too hot to touch then it is too hot to put next to your skin. You want it warm but not burning.

Our soft, comfortable material with the rice/flax filling is just enough to hold heat for 30 minutes or more, and yet just the right amount to allow for the pack to bend and contour to your body.

Lavender scent may be added at no additional charge

This rice pack has many benefits over convential heating pads:

  The moist heat over the dry heat. 

  Cradles and molds to your body versus being stiff and unyielding.

  No messy cords to deal with!

Our new aromatherapy packs are your own little trip to the spa in the privacy of your own home.  Lie the pack on your forehead or top of your head, gently rub the pack across your neck and soothe your headache away.  If you choose to add essential oil to your pack you will receive the soothing benefits of calming lavender.

Alternately, put it in a plastic bag and store in the freezer, for those times you need a cold pack. Freeze for an hour or more before use. Great for cooling off after a hot summer day, or for those pains that respond best to a cold pack.

BUY TWO and keep one in the freezer and one ready for a warm pack, to be prepared for all aches and pains!

Browse all of our wonderful packs and designs on this page:  http://www.herbtime.com/373.html

Our bodies carry residues of kitchen plastics
By Janet Raloff

In the 1967 film classic The Graduate, a businessman corners Benjamin Braddock at a cocktail party and gives him a bit of career advice. "Just one word…plastics."

Although Benjamin didn't heed that recommendation, plenty of other young graduates did. Today, the planet is awash in products spawned by the plastics industry. Residues of plastics have become ubiquitous in the environment—and in our bodies.

A federal government study now reports that bisphenol A (BPA)—the building block of one of the most widely used plastics—laces the bodies of the vast majority of U.S. residents young and old.

Manufacturers link BPA molecules into long chains, called polymers, to make polycarbonate plastics. All of those clear, brittle plastics used in baby bottles, food ware, and small kitchen appliances (like food-processor bowls) are made from polycarbonates. BPA-based resins also line the interiors of most food, beer, and soft-drink cans. With use and heating, polycarbonates can break down, leaching BPA into the materials they contact. Such as foods.

And that could be bad if what happens in laboratory animals also happens in people, because studies in rodents show that BPA can trigger a host of harmful changes, from reproductive havoc to impaired blood-sugar control and obesity (SN: 9/29/07, p. 202).

Garlic is in the same species including well-known edible plants such as onion, chives, leek, and shallot.

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, Indians and Romans all advocated the therapeutic value of garlic in the treatment of ailments ranging from eye disorders, sore throats and headaches to old age. It was even know as an aphrodisiac.

More recently, garlic was used in the First and Second World War both as an oral medicine to treat battleground infections and as a wound dressing. It was a great success in both applications.

Modern medicine is now investigating garlic's traditional properties and, surprisingly, several of them are standing up to scientific scrutiny. Clinical ecologists are particularly interested in it as an antifungal, detoxifier and immune-system regulator.

Garlic is also very effective in treating lung disorders, i.e. coughs, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., by drinking 4 to 5 cups of garlic tea per day. See our post on Garlic Tea.

Antibiotic Activity Louis Pasteur commented on the bactericidal (bacteria – killing) effect of fresh garlic juice when dropped onto growing bacterial colonies. Over the years studies have shown that fresh garlic juice inhibits the growth of Staphylococcus (wound infection), Brucella (brucellosis), Salmonella (Typhoid) and several other bacteria. The action was comparable in vitro (in the laboratory) with that of several antibiotics including penicillin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline and erythromycin.

To treat babies or small children with garlic, rub raw crushed garlic into their feet.

Garlic is not only the best antifungal, but it is also antibacterial, antiviral, nutritious, etc.

This tea is great for any respiratory problems, i.e. pneumonia, flu, cold, cough, bronchitis, etc.

Drink it hot or cold. It can be kept on very low heat to keep it hot. It keeps well in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Ingredients:

4 cups of boiled water
5 medium-sized cloves of garlic
Crushed juice of 1 lemon, freshly squeezed
1 teaspoon raw ginger, grated 
 

Preparation:

Boil 4 cups of water.
Remove the water from the heat.
Add crushed cloves of garlic (preferably certified organic), lemon juice, and grated raw ginger.
Let it steep for 20 minutes. 
 

Strain and drink 4 cups throughout the day for at least 7 days to treat a respiratory ailments.

User Comment: I've tried this for a bladder infection. I was on day one when I started feeling a reaction in my sinuses and head. I have always had sinus problems and it seems like the garlic was working it's magic on this area first. I was on day three when the headaches subsided which was most likely a result of detoxing and healing. I woke up on day three actually breathing through both nostrils! I did not have fresh ginger at the time, but will try it next time. The lemon takes the edge off the garlic taste and it is much better drinking it warm versus cold.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

This is one of my favorite shakes for breakfast or when I’m hungry.

2 C - Water or coconut or rice milk makes it creamier.
1 - Avocado
1- 2 whole lemon
1 C - Spinach or 1 C - broccoli (I also use frozen broccoli)
1 tsp. - Stevia (if desired as sweetner)
5 tsp. - shredded organic coconut
2-4 tbs. - cold processed virgin coconut oil
1 scoop – Greens powder
1 handful soaked almonds

Blend to smooth consistency.

Enjoy!

Did you know that many prepared guacamole dips that you purchase contain very little avocado? This is a shame since guacamole made with real avocados is one of the healthiest dips that we can eat.

Avocados are abundant in vitamin E, lutein (extremely important for preserving eyesight), potassium, and dietary fiber. Avocados are also rich in healthy fats, which are essential to allowing our bodies to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotene and vitamin A.

Instead of eating a highly processed guacamole dip make your own. It’s easy; just follow this simple recipe for a healthy alternative.

1 ripe avocado

1/5 of a whole red onion, chopped

Juice of 1/2 of a lemon or lime

1/4 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped

Sea salt, to taste

Scoop flesh of ripe avocado into a large bowl. Add all other ingredients and mash with a fork. If you want good texture, don’t mash too much - just enough to evenly distribute the ingredients and break down the avocado into chunky portions. No time and would like to buy a commercial brand of guacamole, choose one that lists avocados as the first ingredient.

A steam bath opens pores, soothes sore muscles, increases circulation, and provides a generally relaxing and healthy experience. It is an excellent way to purge toxins as the excessive sweating clears your pores.

A steam bath treatment will relax your stiff muscles from an exercise workout and ease the swelling and tension in joints associated with arthritis.

For a safe and enjoyable experience there is a narrow range of optimum temperature for humans - around 112° F (44° C), that raises our body temperature without causing overheating. It is important to replenish the humidity so it remains near saturation for maximum benefits.

Other things to consider: Do not stay in the steam bath more than 15-20 minutes at a time to avoid overheating. You can do several sessions, but you must cool-down after each session period. Be sure to drink lots of water before and after steam bathing to help your body recover from the exertion. Do not eat a large meal before steam bathing. Last but not least wear loose clothing or a towel wrap, tight clothing will interfere with temperature regulation and sweating.

You can find a steam bath at your local spa, health club or yoga studio. If you find the benefits to be rewarding and would like to steam in the privacy and comfort of your own home there are home versions available. We recommend the Aromasteam for it's compact size, ease of installation and it is one that also offers the benefits of aromatherapy. So go ahead and step into the steam!

For those interested, full details on Aromasteam (http://www.herbtime.com/339.html)

It's impossible to underestimate the importance of minerals and trace minerals for the human body. Minerals are the catalysts for all the vitamins and other nutrients your body uses for developing and maintaining good health.  You body can make some vitamins like Vitamin D from the Sun and Vitamin A from Beta Carotene, but the only way to get minerals is from the foods we eat or from supplements.  Now I found there is another way to make sure your body is getting all the minerals it needs… The TDP Lamp at www.herbtime.com.  The TDP lamp increases blood circulation, which aids in muscle relief by emitting 33 essential minerals into your body.