Castor oil has been ignored by modern medicine despite a centuries old history of medicinal uses. Many regard castor oil as a toxin. But it has been used as a laxative or purging cleanse and parasite remover for years.Castor oil packs applied externally can go beyond its usual effective skin care to affect internal organs beneath epidermal applications as well. Besides being considered “old fashioned” or passe’ simply because of Big Pharma’s pushing folk and herbal remedies aside to grip the

Need to get your urinary tract back on track? This tea blend is helpful for addressing the symptoms and the root cause (primarily, bacterial infection) of urinary tract infections (UTIs). The herbs in this formula soothe inflamed urinary mucosal membranes through their demulcent, astringent, and anti-inflammatory actions. They are also antimicrobial as well as diuretic—they help flush out bacteria by promoting urination.It’s important that the tea be drunk at room temperature, which augments

This past week I've been in training: an experiential intensive on Sciatic nerve pinching, otherwise known as Sciatica.It all started on a day that consisted of seven hours of continuous driving. Three days later, another six hours of driving. But truth be told, it started before that. It's a spot that, muscularly, has given me a history of irritations. As a former dancer, my piriformis muscle has seen better days. Problem is, I'm an overly busy (stubborn?) mother of two with more

Tales from England talk about putting rosemary into the pocket of an unfaithful lover so that they do not forget their vows, while Ophelia says the herb is ‘for remembrance’ in Hamlet by Shakespeare.Today, research finds that rosemary is indeed connected to better memory. A study of retired people showed that just sitting in a room diffused with rosemary scent improved memory test scores by 15%. Although it might not seem much, researchers at the University of Northumbria say it could make the

Ayurveda is the ancient medical system of India. It offers one of the fastest paths to health. Instead of having to guess which foods, supplements, and behaviors are appropriate for you, there is a simple, direct prescriptive path that is developed for your unique body type, or dosha. This takes all the guesswork out of getting healthy. The benefits that occur are not only felt in your body – they are also seen in your mental and emotional wellbeing. This holistic approach to health allows you

Summer is already here with the days becoming warmer and warmer and people spending more and more time outside. On a beautiful summer day, we all want to be healthy and glowing. For most, the main focus of leading a healthy lifestyle is exercising and keeping to a diet. While those can bring substantial benefits without a doubt, there are other great ways to enhancing your life, health and mood. Test one of the alternative medicine treatments described below and let me know what you

The following is a syndicated post from the blog “Aowen Chinese Medicine 奧文中醫: Chinese medicine in words and pictures,” by Nicolaas Herman Oving (practitioner, translator, and educator in the field of Chinese Medicine). It originally appeared at http://ovingchinesemedicine.com/uncategorized/short-history-on-the-chinese-term-for-nerve/.I originally wrote this in response to a colleague who suggested that the Chinese term for ‘nerve’, 神經 [shénjīng], implied that the Chinese conceived of this

One of the biggest attractions when holidaying on the island of Bali is to experience one of the ‘Island of the Gods’ natural spa treatments. The most popular of these is the traditional Balinese massage.So, what makes traditional Balinese massage so unique and where does it originate from?The heart of traditionThe Balinese people have long valued the health benefits of massage; for centuries the Balinese have regularly massaged their newborn babies for health and well-being. Each village has a

It probably won’t come as any surprise to learn that the ancient Egyptians, both men and women, were keen on their beauty products. They made use of all kinds of natural products, both from their homeland and from far afield too, in their beauty regimes. Ancient Egypt Beuauty Even though the ingredients and the recipes that the ancient Egyptians used are now over five thousand years old, some of their ideas are still in use today. The beauty of Egyptian women was renowned all around the world

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a vital stabilizing ligament that’s located in the center of the knee. It’s a rope-like structure that runs from the femur to the tibia.Direct trauma and strenuous sports activities can cause a tear in the ligament. This leads to instability and long-term knee pain, which can only be treated with ACL reconstruction surgery.Each year, around a million ACL injuries are reported in Canada and the United States. The injury, following surgery, and the recovery

Head into 2019 with some wise and witty advice.2018 was quite the year. As we begin to look to the present, let's turn to some inspiring words to give us renewed energy, cheer and peace of mind. Luckily, plenty of men and women have come up with strong and, better yet, pithy words of wisdom to help us through 2019.From world-renowned physicist Albert Einstein, to Israeli-American economist Dan Ariely, to American poet Robert Frost, to American businesswoman Mary Kay Ash, plenty of people feel