Finding Peace of Mind

Meditation is an incredible tool capable of bringing peace of mind and creating solace in our hearts during challenging times. It has been used since ancient times to facilitate human connection to a source that we have felt to be unreachable.

There are many forms of meditation. I feel that meditation happens when we sit silently in a garden in the presence of nature or when we are perfectly still in the silence of prayer. Meditation gives us the opportunity to understand ourselves better as it is within us that we find what we are seeking to make our lives happy.

Oddly enough, men and women meditate in different ways. Women may sit in a bath with candles, essential oils and soothing music to create a calm environment within themselves. Men, on the other hand, literally ?get away from it all? and go fishing. When they journey out into the water and sit in their boats, waiting for the fish to bite, the time spent on the water is a form of calming the mind and soothing the spirit.

I feel that any repetitive activity that creates calm within is a form of meditation.

From this calm of meditation comes control of the mind and ease in visualizing our goals. Being calm in our mind gives us the power of intense focus. This intense focus give us so much opportunity to figure it all out. In addition, visualization during meditation is an incredible way to use our imagination to affect healing in our bodies. Many have used meditation to travel into past lives, balance their chakras and connect with inner guidance.

The easiest way to meditate is to sit comfortably in a quiet place. Use music if it works for you. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Make it a game. Feel your breath enter through your mouth and leave your nostrils. Keep focusing and allow your body to relax. Soon you will feel weightlessness. I encourage you to set your intention before you enter into meditation. Is it mental quiet that you seek? or connection to your heart? or maybe it is to fall through time and visit a past life?

A complaint I have heard, time and again, is that most people find it a challenge to keep the mind still. Thoughts seem to fill their heads faster than they are able to remove them. My solution is to allow your thoughts to flow. Watch your thoughts flow through your mind and then watch them disappear in the distance. If you do not fight the thoughts flowing through your mind, you will achieve stillness much faster.

Remember, your ability to meditate will become easier with time. It takes some work at the beginning so don?t feel discouraged right away. Simply begin with a basic grounding meditation and soon enough you will find yourself on the path to inner peace.

To listen to a free snippet of such a meditation, http://www.soniahaynes.com/page/page/2433134.htm

Article by Sonia Haynes, intuitive counsellor, author & spiritual healer.

Look Your Best With Over The Counter Acne Remedies

One of the first lines of attack you should use to control acne are over-the-counter acne remedies. These treatments include some of the best acne products available, and are inexpensive, easy to use, and can be purchased without a prescription. Even though you can?t cure acne and you can?t bring back the beautiful skin you had as a baby, it is not necessary to put up with the embarrassment of acne in your teen years or into adulthood. Try various acne solutions and camouflage the blemishes when they do appear until you find the treatment that works best for you.

Home Care Acne Remedies
Although keeping your skin clean won?t cure acne, you can improve the situation with proper cleansing methods and products:
? Purchase a gentle soap or medicated cleanser and use it to wash your skin two or three times a day with lukewarm water, using your bare hands or a soft cloth. Pat your skin dry with a towel. Do not use harsh soaps, cleansers or rough cloths, which will worsen skin conditions. If you wash really often, the excess oil causing the blackheads and pimples will actually increase, not decrease ? exactly what you don?t want
1. Your skin shouldn?t be so dry that it feels tight, and, if it does, use an antibacterial moisturizer to soften it.
2. If your skin is producing so much oil between washings it looks and feels oily, use antibacterial cleansing pads.
3. If your face feels dry and tight except around the nose and chin where it feels and looks oily and is the major site of breakouts, use the antibacterial cleanser on those areas only and the moisturizer elsewhere.
? Once a week, use a clay or a mud mask for deep cleansing, followed by a clarifying mask.
? If your facial skin is scaly, you may have abnormal skin shedding, which is clogging your pores, trapping the oil, and causing breakouts. Use a deep cleaning exfoliate once a week.
? Heat and humidity make acne worse and so you should limit your time in the sun and avoid saunas, sunlamps, and tanning salons.
? Use makeup designed for acne-prone skin, and concealers that not only reduce redness and conceal spots, but also help dry them up.
? Keep your hair and your hands away from your face.
? Homemade remedies include:
1. Lime and cucumber juice ? can be applied to oily patches
2. Witch hazel ? a good astringent

Best Ingredients in Over-the-Counter Acne Remedies
You should choose acne remedies that:
1. Decrease the production of oil (sebum) that clogs the pores;
2. Reduce the bacteria that becomes active in clogged pores;
3. Reduce the shedding of the skin that clogs pores; and
4. Control the inflammation that produces pimples.

? If your skin is very sensitive, use clay or mud masks that are white- or rose-colored.
? If your big problem is extreme oiliness, use cleansers and moisturizers that contain alcohol; if not, avoid it.
? Cosmetics should always be water-based rather than oil-based.
? Benzyol Peroxide reduces oiliness and is an excellent ingredient in lotion or gel, and also in blemish concealers. Use small amounts initially as it can make your skin itchy and red when you first begin using it. It will dry blemishes and reduce shedding of the skin.
? Salicylic acid in topical applications will help reduce skin shedding and will help unclog pores.
? Sulfur is a good ingredient when combined with other products, and so is acetone, which is often combined with alcohol to make a good, gentle astringent.
? Look for the term non-comedogenic in anti-acne products, which means will not cause breakouts.
? If you favor natural products over chemicals, success has been reported with herbal acne solutions that contain such ingredients as tea tree oil, olive leaf, and licorice root, among others.
? Topical products that contain a slow-release form of vitamin A are very good.

If you can?t control your acne with an over-the-counter remedy, consult a physician for stronger medication. Without a prescription, you can purchase purification and cleansing masks, scrubs and gels, blemish bombs, acne patches, and acne concealing products that have proven effectiveness. Good luck.

About The Author
Laura Gray is currently a freelance writer and regular contributor for acne-solutions-4u.com. An online resource for finding acne solutions, adult acne treatments and ideas and tips for helping control your acne.

Eleutherococcus or Siberian Ginseng to Fight Fatigue Stress and Herpes?

The root of the Eleutherococcus senticosus plant, also called Siberian ginseng or Eleuthero, is often used medicinally to combat fatigue, stress and herpes. The plant belongs to the ginseng family, Araliaceae, but is botanically different from true ginseng, Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius. It can grow in colder areas than real ginseng and usually costs less.

The Chinese have used Eleutherococcus for 4000 years for longevity, health, to stimulate appetite and to improve memory. Russians discovered it in late 19th century and studied it in the late 1950s as a ginseng substitute. They studied the plant?s adaptogen properties on about 4,300 people. The property ?adaptogen? was defined by Lazarev, a Russian scientist, who wished to put a more precise name to the tonic properties of ginseng-like plants. Adaptogen refers to a substance that promotes adaptation to environmental stress of all kinds. It regulates several physiological functions without targeting one organ in particular. Eleutherococcus was introduced as a medicinal plant in Western Europe and North America in 1975.

Today many people use it to increase endurance and resistance to stress. Its effect on fatigue, convalescence and concentration problems were partially proven in a recent double blind study on 20 elderly people . Results indicated that after four weeks of 300 mg of Eleutherococcus per day, it had a positive impact on stress, fatigue and vitality, but results were not sustained after eight weeks.

Preliminary studies also suggest that Eleutherococcus promotes immune functions. It was found to have a pronounced effect on T lymphocytes, cytotoxic and natural killer cells. A German double blind study was conducted monitoring immune functions in 18 individuals taking 1 tablespoon of Eleutherococcus senticosus extract three times daily compared to those of the 18 people taking a placebo for four weeks.

After four weeks, they measured immune cell concentration in blood samples. The group taking Eleutherococcus had a higher concentration of all immune cells. Total T-cell numbers increased by 78 percent, T helper/inducer cells by 80 percent, cytotoxic Ts by 67 percent, and NK cells by 30 percent. B Lymphocytes also expanded by 22 percent compared to controls. No side effects were noted, even five months after administration. Researchers concluded that, ?Eleutherococcus senticosus exerts a strong immunomodulatory effect in healthy normal subjects.?

A double blind study on 93 people suffering from recurrent herpes infections indicates that 2g of Eleutherococcus per day may limit or reduce the frequency of herpes infections. However, these findings concern only herpes virus simplex 2, usually causing genital herpes. A 2001 German in vitro study showed that Eleutherococcus had no impact on herpes virus simplex one (HSV-1) cells. HSV-1 usually causes oral herpes. From personal experience, I can say that Eleutherococcus is a real adaptogen plant. I?ve used it successfully to cope with stress, build resistance and limit the frequency of genital herpes outbreaks. It helps me to stay focused without straining and provides a sense of overall serenity.

Eleutherococcus is contraindicated for children under 12, pregnant and breastfeeding women and people suffering from hypertension. It may cause palpitations and increase blood sugar after a meal. It has virtually no side effects, except for mild diarrhea and temporary sleep perturbations.

Eleutherococcus can be taken as an herbal tea, dried root extract, tincture, or water extract. I usually take the tincture because it is more convenient, easier to find and usually contains stronger concentrations of active ingredients. Dosage can vary from 10 ml to 20 ml per day in a glass of water. It is also recommended to stop taking Eleutherococcus for one week every six weeks.

You can find more information about Eleutherococcus and other herbal treatments for herpes at my website Best Herpes Treatments Eleutherococcus must be taken for several days to show effects. Nathuropaths usually say 21 days, but I usually feel an improvement after 10 days.

Nathalie Foy is an alternative treatment specialist. She has controlled genital herpes and is now helping others do the same. She has written Herpes Wise, a book which provides her personal plan to control herpes and answers most important questions about genital herpes. Visit her website, Herpes Wise

Hoodia Diet Pills

Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent plant that grows widely is Kalahari Desert of Southern Africa. The San Bushmen, who live on the fringes of the desert, eat this plant to suppress hunger when they go on long hunting trips.

CSIR, the South African Research Institution, realized the importance of this plant and investigated it. They isolated a long molecule, P 57, that actually suppressed hunger. The patent was sold to a British company called Phytopharm. Phytopharm in turn teamed up with Pfizer to produce a synthetic pill containing P 57.

Phytopharm conducted clinical trials, first with rats and then with humans. They claim that the Hoodia powder, 400 mg, taken for 15 days reduced calorie intake by 1,000, compared to control group. As Pfizer could not produce synthetic P 57 economically, Phytopharm arranged for cultivation of the Hoodia plant in the Kalahari Desert, and set as its target to market the product by the year 2008. The plant takes five to seven years to be ready.

Meanwhile, many companies are producing Hoodia Gordonii Pills, capsules or tincture. There is a lot of demand for this product. Many suppliers are harvesting the wild plants and exporting to USA. Compared to the demand, the supply is not enough, and there are a lot of suspicions that the manufacturers of these products are cheating the consumers.

Since Phytopharm has purchased the patent taken by CSIR of Hoodia Gordonii as a weight-loss medication, other companies are very cautious. They do not market it as a weight-loss medicine but just as Hoodia Pills or capsules, without any other claim. Their advertising about the appetite-suppressing effects of Hoodia is more than enough to make the consumer understand that Hoodia is an aid for a weight-loss program. Phytopharm has tied up with Unilever, a food product giant, to market Hoodia shakes and bars. But that would not be available until 2008.

In the meantime, users of other products need to be very careful if they do not like to be disappointed. There are twenty varieties of Hoodia plants, and only Hoodia Gordonii is effective in use as a weight-loss aid. But any manufacturer of diet medication can claim that their product is 100% Hoodia, using any one of the other nineteen plants. They would be legally correct, and it is up to the consumer to be vigilant.

Hoodia provides detailed information about hoodia, hoodia and weight loss, hoodia cactus, hoodia diet pills and more. Hoodia is the sister site of Ordering Phentermine Diet Pills.

Influenza Its Symptoms and Causes

Know more about Influenza

Influenza better known as the flu is an infection of the respiratory tract that can affect millions of people. The influenza virus can be spread from person to person through coughing and sneezing of an infected individual.

Statistics show about 20,000 Americans die from influenza or influenza related pneumonia each year. Pneumonia and influenza are the sixth common cause of death in the United States. Elderly (65+) make up more than 90% of the 20,000 Americans who die from this illness each year.

A person may contract the influenza virus and not experience any symptoms for a few days. The incubation period for the influenza virus ranges from 1-4 days.

Is there more than one type of Influenza virus?

What is influenza?

There are three different kinds of Influenza viruses: Influenza A, Influenza B, and Influenza C. Influenza A can attack animals and humans, the remaining two (Influenza B and Influenza C) can only attack humans. Influenza C causes a very mild infection and does not provoke epidemics.

When observed through an electron microscope, influenza viruses are figured like filaments or spheres. Immunity to one strain of the influenza virus will not protect you against newly born strains of the virus, which has undergone minor changes or mutations.

The Influenza B and Influenza C virus may infect only human beings while Influenza A may infect several different types of animals. Influenza A virus can sicken many various types of animals, including humans, aquatic mammals, birds, horses, swine, and others.

At times when two different strains of viruses combine in humans or animals, they result in a new unique strain of virus with more immunity. The modern 2004 Influenza Vaccine is made of three strains, which include two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B.

For more information, visit http://www.FluInfoCenter.com

Finding a Diet that Works

Everyone has a habit or a vice. Some people smoke. Some people bite their fingernails. Some people can?t resist having a piece of chocolate before bed time, and others snore when they sleep. Others are habitual dieters, always looking for a new diet that promises astonishing results.

How many new diet plans have you tried? Some people can tick off a list of new diet after diet that they have tried. They yo-yo back and forth. Atkins, weight watchers, the grapefruit diet, the soup diet, the salad diet, the low-fat diet? some people can?t even count every new diet they have tried.

Often, each new diet is punctuated by a day of binge eating. Sure, you lost weight on that latest low-carbohydrate new diet, but now you?re craving a baked potato, French fries, and a big piece of garlic bread. Wouldn?t it be great to find a new diet that allows you to eat all the foods you want while still losing weight?

The bottom line is that the best option isn?t actually a new diet. It?s a concept that has been around for ages, but people fail to overlook it with so many new diet choices on the market. If you talk to most doctors, however, they will agree that fad dieting is not the smartest choice to lose weight.

However bombarded we may be with new diet choices; there is one fact that can?t be ignored. We lose weight when we limit our caloric intake. This isn?t about grapefruit, carbohydrates, fat-free products, or even following a strict new diet plan. It?s about eating in moderation. You don?t have to go hungry, but you need to use willpower to make sure you don?t overeat. Limiting your calories means shedding those unwanted pounds.

What happens when you don?t have willpower? Face it; some of us just don?t have that extra willpower that we need to turn down a second serving of our favorite food. It?s hard to do, especially when your new diet has left you hungry.

Willpower can?t be bottled and sold, but there is a new diet concept that will give you the willpower you need to follow through with your weight loss goals. I?m not talking about appetite suppressants. Many of these products still leave you hungry and leave you feeling jittery or overheated.

If you missed the expose on 60 Minutes or Today show, then you probably haven?t heard about a new vegetable that could jumpstart your diet. This means no more signing on for a new diet every month because you?ll finally have found something that works safely and long term. I?m talking about Hoodia Gordonii. This cactus like plant was introduced to the market recently, but it has been around for centuries. Bushmen in Africa used it for warding off hunger during long expositions.

What does this mean for you today? It means you can limit your calories while not being at all hungry. You?ll feel as if you have already eaten. I know, it sounds almost too good to be true, but it actually works. The best news is that Hoodia is all natural, making it totally safe to incorporate this as a part of your daily diet. Stop stressing over food, the latest new diet, or losing that unwanted weight. Watch those pounds melt off safely and quickly.

Martin Stanwyck is the author of numerous pieces on diet plans, nutrition and weight loss. Visit http://www.hoodia.info.ms to learn more about his main topic Hoodia Gordonii.

The 4 Tools We Need To Lose Weight

Ask most people what their New Year's Resolutions were and you'll likely find the answer- lose weight. With so many of us wanting to shed the pounds, why is the obesity pandemic reaching new heights?

Weight loss tends to conjure up images of near starvation and tons of cardio. Most of us do not even start on our New Year's Resolution simply because the thought of it stops us dead in our tracks.

What if we had some tools for weight loss? 4 simple ideas that are practically guaranteed to shed fat, drop the weight, and slim us down? That would be a major first step towards a weight loss program.

Tool 1- Strength Training

We have to recognize this as a viable fat-loss method. Every pound of muscle burns 35-50 calories per day. Adding lean muscle mass is the best way to jump start and sustain fat reduction.

Tool 2- Cardio

Cardio is good, but it's not the only tool we should use. Cardio should be done as a partner to the other ideas. Anything that gets your heart pumping will do: walking, jogging, running, dancing, swimming, biking, or house cleaning.

Tool 3- Nutrition

Nutrition is often the hardest part of the weight loss process. We simply forgot how to eat well in our culture. We need to eat protein, carbs, and fat to sustain our way of life. Cut one of the three out and imbalances will occur.

Tool 4- Rest

Rest is not a luxury. It is a necessity. We should eat well every day and we should workout 5-6 times per week. The leftover 1-2 days are meant for rest. Our muscles need time to rebuild and repair themselves.

Using strength training, cardio, nutrition and rest to our advantage will result in fat loss. There is no magic bullet. Just simple and effective tools to create the body we want. Make a promise to yourself right now. Try using the above tools consistently and to the best of your ability for 4 weeks. You'll look great and feel amazing.

Copyright 2005 http://www.strength-training-woman.com

Lynn VanDyke is the proud owner of http://www.strength-training-woman.com. She is a personal fitness professional, yoga instructor and nutritionist. Her site is quickly becoming the authority for all things strength training.

You Want To Sleep But Your Legs They Are ADancin'!

Restless Legs.

Typical symptoms include an unpleasant, creepy crawley itching or tugging sensations in your legs with an irresistable urge to keep moving them around. It tends to get worse in the evening and movement is the only thing that brings relief.

Restless leg syndrome often runs in families and is more common in over 65s and pregnant women, although the condition usually disappears after giving birth. There is no known cause in most cases although it is sometimes linked to an iron deficiency. Other possible culprits are low levels of calcium and magnesium and poor circulation.

Self help measures to try are:

• Try taking a mineral supplement containing calcium, magnesium and potassium and zinc.
• Limit tea and coffee. Have a cup of herbal tea instead.
• If your legs want to move, indulge them. Get out of bed and take a quick stroll around the house.
• Even though sleep experts advise giving exercise a miss immediately before bed, gentle exercise such as stretching just before bed can be helpful.
• Have a warm bath with a cup of Epsom salts in it.
• Put 30 drops of Valerian tincture in some water and drink - this helps relax the muscles.
• Massage your legs with some almond oil containing a few drops of Roman Chamomile essential oil.

If you just can't sleep after all that, I suppose you'll just have to put on your dancing shoes and go dancing!

Nimsy is the webmaster for Sleep Tips which is about all matters to do with sleep and curing insomnia and sleeplessness with natural remedies.

Laser Hair Removal Information: Which Laser Machine Is Best?

So you?ve got some hair somewhere that you are just dying to get rid of. Maybe you?re sick of shaving it, or maybe you can?t even reach to shave it. Waxing doesn?t last very long, and most of the other products on the market are either are ineffective or outright scams.

Then there is the laser. Laser hair removal has been available now for over ten years. Significant technological advances have been made since the fist lasers hit the market. Today?s lasers are more effective and longer lasting, with several receiving clearance to be marketed for ?permanent hair reduction?. With all the lasers to choose from, is one laser better than the others, or does your choice of laser even matter?

Hair Removal Lasers: Choosing the Right Equipment

Does your choice of laser affect the ultimate outcome of your treatment? The short answers to these two questions are no and yes. Despite what anyone might tell you, no single laser has been clinically proven to be the best ? there simply have not been sufficient comparative trials to establish this. As a result, doctors and clinics tend to promote the virtues of whatever laser they purchased or leased. At $70,000 to $125,000 per machine, you can see why they have a vested interest in promoting their chosen equipment.

Yet while there is not yet a clear-cut winner of the ?best laser? designation, certain lasers do work better for people with certain skin types and hair colors. There are several guidelines that are important in helping you choose which laser is right for you.

Laser Safety and Dark Skin: Avoiding Side Effects

The first guideline is this: the longer the laser?s wavelength, the safer it is on darker skin and the fewer side effects. The reason for this is that longer wavelength laser energy tends to penetrate deeper into the skin. This is especially important in people with dark or tanned skin. Nd:YAG lasers have the longest wavelength of current hair removal lasers at 1064nm. Nd:YAG lasers include the CoolGlide, the Lyra, and the Athos. Diode Lasers, with the second longest wavelength of current hair removal lasers at 810nm, are also used to treat people with olive to dark complexions. Thus diode lasers are a viable alternative if you cannot find a doctor with an Nd:YAG laser in your area. Popular diode lasers include the LightSheer, LaserLight, and Apex 800.

Laser Speed and Hair Removal Cost: Cutting the Price of Treatment

The second guideline to keep in mind is this: the faster the laser?s repetition rate (the speed at which it ?fires?) and the larger its spot size (the size of skin treated with each laser shot) the faster the treatment. For areas such as the legs or back, it is wise to choose a laser that can cover a large area in short time. Alexandrite lasers like the GentleLase have the largest spots sizes available on the market at up to 18mm. The GentleLase is perhaps the fastest on the market at covering large areas. The Lightsheer diode is also quite fast and represents a good alternative if you have olive or brown skin. Generally, the faster the laser, the less your treatment will cost, so it pays to seek out a speedy laser when treating large areas.

Laser Hair Removal: Treatment of Fine Hairs

Finally, if the hair you want removed is fine or light in texture (as opposed to light in color), you might find that it is less responsive to laser treatment than is thicker or coarser hair. In this instance, Alexandrite lasers such as the GentleLase might be your best choice (unless you have dark skin). The GentleLase has been reported to be particularly effective on fine hairs. Nd:YAG lasers are the least effective on fine hairs, and diode lasers fall somewhere in-between.

Ultimately, you must decide upon a laser in consultation with an experienced doctor, for they are best able to determine your precise skin type. Since many laser hair removal offices and clinics offer free consultations and spot checks, it is usually wise to get the opinions of two or more doctors before choosing a laser and a treatment plan.

By doing your research and finding the right laser for you, you will help ensure that your laser hair removal experience will be a successful one (and you might even cut your costs at the same time).

Jess Miller is a consumer advocate and an editor of Laser Hair Removal Ratings, which includes reviews of Phoenix laser hair removal clinics and Philadelphia laser hair removal clinics.

Health & Beauty: 5 Steps to PainFree Shaving for Sexy Smooth Summertime Legs

Summertime is near. And with the days getting longer and warmer, out come the shorts, mini-skirts, and bare legs.

Like most women, I?ve tried it all: shaving, waxing, depilatories? you name it. While I do love the benefits of waxing, waiting a couple of weeks during the summer for the hair to get long enough to wax is not my idea of a good time. And I?ve never had success with depilatories.

So what?s a girl to do? Fall back on our old friend: the razor.

While shaving is definitely the easiest, quickest, and least expensive hair-removal option, shaving still comes with its own problems: most notably nicks, cuts, and the dreaded ?razor burn.? But it doesn?t have to. There are some very simple (and economical!) things you can do to avoid the pit-falls of shaving.

Follow these five easy steps that will keep you and your razor friends?all the way through the long, lazy days of summer:

Exfoliate, Exfoliate, Exfoliate. I can?t stress this enough. Exfoliation helps to smooth the skin by remove dead skin cells while softening the coarse hair on your legs. And that adds up to smoother, easier shaving.

Grab your trusty scrub puff or a washcloth and a moisturizing body wash. You don?t need to scrub hard, as the puff or washcloth will do most of the work. (And while you?re at it, wash your whole body like this?your skin will glow!

Save the Shave ?Til the End. While it?s not quite like saving the best for last, waiting until the end of your shower will make shaving much easier. Ask any man. They usually wait until the end (or after) their shower to shave, giving their stubble time to soften. Not only is it easier to shave, but it allows for a much closer shave.

The hair on your legs is coarse and needs time to soften in the hot water. Shaving at the beginning of your shower or bath, before the hair softens, will almost guarantee nicks, cuts and/or razor-burn. So to save yourself some pain?and get smoother legs?by saving the shaving until the end.

Use a New(er) Blade. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but so many women don?t change blades often enough. While I couldn?t find statistics from any of the razor companies as to how many shaves a you can get from one disposable blade, the women in my informal poll agree that a razor blade is usually only good for about 10 shaves. And that number can be even less if you have very heavy or very coarse hair.

You know when it?s not sharp enough. It may feel dull or like it?s pulling at your skin. It may look old. Or you may realize that you can?t remember the last time you changed it. But the rule of thumb: it?s better to change too often than not often enough. A dull blade is more likely to cause nicks, cuts and razor-burn.

So switch out that old blade with a new one. Just remember that a new blade is sharp?so always shave slowly and carefully!

Use Conditioner. If you only remember one tip from this article, remember this: conditioner is the best substance to use to shave with! Yes, I?m talking about hair conditioner. Conditioner provides a thin layer of protection on your skin, helps the blade glide smoothly, and further softens your hair.

I keep a large bottle of inexpensive conditioner in my shower (I get the jumbo size from Costco, with a pump in it?which also makes it easier to dispense) that is dedicated for shaving. Use about the same amount that you do when putting lotion on your legs. Make sure you rinse your blade well after shaving. Try this tip once and you?ll never go back to soap or shaving cream again!

Moisturize While Wet. This is the final step to the pain-free shave. You can moisturize with one of the new in-shower lotions, the kind that you put on and then rinse off in the shower. Or, after turning off the water but before reaching for your towel, you can moisturize with body oil or baby oil.

I keep a bottle of almond oil in the shower, and add my favorite aromatherapy oils to it. Not only will your skin retain more moisture this way, but you also won?t be rubbing lotion onto dry skin?a combination I have found almost guarantees razor burn.

Incorporate these simple tips into your shaving routine and you?ll be on your way to smooth and sexy legs, all summer long!

Kimberly Sobie is a freelance writer, consultant, executive coach, and tax attorney. She lives in Seattle with her husband, son, and cat.

Helping Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) with Diet

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) or Ekbom?s syndrome is a misunderstood common condition which causes the legs and sometimes the arms to twitch just before going to sleep; this can cause problems with insomnia. Around one in twenty people suffer from restless legs syndrome (RLS) during their life, it tends to affect women more than men especially pregnant women and middle aged women, other groups that tend to suffer from restless legs syndrome (RLS) are those suffering from kidney disease, nerve diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and varicose veins.

Typical symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) are a creeping sensation beneath the skin in the affected limbs, this sensation can be accompanied by pins and needles, twitching, a burning sensation, aching, tingling or pain and an urge to more the legs. These symptoms tend to affect the calf area of the leg but can also affect the arms. The symptoms tend to occur when in periods of rest, sleep and tiredness, typically before going to sleep. The exact cause of restless legs syndrome (RLS) is unknown but it has been linked to nerve irritation when fatigued, stressed or anxious. It has also been linked with smoking, diabetes, pregnancy, stroke, respiratory illness and kidney problems.

Dietary change can help with restless legs syndrome (RLS), cutting out sugar, refined flour, alcohol, caffeine and eating small but regular meals throughout the day especially a small snack before going to bed can help with restless legs syndrome (RLS). These meals need to include plenty of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, fish and nuts and seeds.

If you are a smoker and suffering from restless legs syndrome (RLS) then it will help if you quit smoking.

Good supplements to take are iron, folic acid, co-enzyme Q10, extracts of ginko biloba and garlic tablets.

Acupuncture and magnet therapy are also worth trying to help with restless legs syndrome (RLS).

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from Restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Co-enzyme Q10

Extracts of ginko biloba

Folic acid

Garlic tablets

Iron

Vitamin E

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

What Causes Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome or shortly RLS, is a health condition in which legs feel very uncomfortable while sitting or lying down, especially at night. Usually it makes one feel like getting up and moving around. When doing so, the unpleasant feeling of restless legs syndrome might go away, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Restless leg syndrome affects both, men and women and can begin when you're young or as you get older. Restless legs syndrome can disrupt sleep thus leading to daytime drowsiness.

So, what causes restless leg syndrome?

Nobody actually knows the real cause for restless leg syndrome. Some research has been done and the researchers suspect it might be due to an imbalance of the brain chemical called dopamine. Dopamine sends messages to control muscle movement.

It has also been noticed that restless leg syndrome runs in families and that stress tends to make things even worse. If there is any changes in hormonal balance, that may worsen restless leg syndrome symptoms. Also, some women experience restless leg syndrome during their pregnancy and it disappears soon after the delivery.

However, restless leg syndrome is not related to some serious medical problems, but sometimes it accompanies other conditions and some of them are peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy damages the nerves in hands and feet and sometimes it is due to chronic diseases such as diabetes and alcoholism. Also, iron deficiency might cause restless leg syndrome, it might cause or worsen restless legs syndrome.

Researchers assume that kidney failure might be the cause too, at least to some degree. This is when the kidney does not function properly, iron stores in blood can decrease and cause some of the rls symptoms. All these and some other changes in body chemistry may cause or worsen restless leg syndrome.

Some other, known causes of restless leg syndrome include muscle overexertion, prolonged sitting, dehydration, decreased potassium levels, neuromuscular disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, certain medications, such as albuterol, niacin, diuretics, and some calcium channel blockers and antipsychotic medications, also alcohol use.

If you find this article helpful, but need more information, you are welcome to visit this very informative website, where you can find a lot of information about restless leg syndrome and help yourself with this annoying health condition. There are many different ways to combat restless leg syndrome and you can find some excellent information about restless leg syndrome, simply by visiting the website below.

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Seven Sloppy Uses of Medical Tests

Even excellent tools can be mis-used. Here are seven sins of medical testing:

1. Ordering the wrong test for the right condition.

If I had a nickel for every time a doctor ordered a carotid artery test in a patient with a fainting spell, I could fund my retirement several times over. And this is despite the fact that problems with the carotid arteries (the pulsating blood-vessels in the front of the neck) are incapable of generating fainting spells! Narrowed or blocked carotid arteries are capable of generating many other symptoms -- including paralysis on one side of the body or loss of speech -- but not unconsciousness. Yet this test is frequently ordered in a knee-jerk fashion for people with fainting spells. Moreover, when the artery is found to be narrowed, it sometimes triggers a needless and risky operation on the affected artery. All because of a test that shouldn't have been ordered in the first place!

2. Treating the test instead of the patient.

There are situations in which a tool gets confused with a goal. One example of this is in the treatment of people with epileptic seizures. Most people with seizures do well with the help of seizure-suppressing medications. The amount, or level, of some of these medications can be measured in the bloodstream and there are circumstances in which it is useful to do so. A drug level can be a useful tool. But it's only a tool, and nothing more.

The goals of seizure treatment are simple -- no seizures and no side-effects. What could be more straightforward? However, some physicians appear to believe that the goal of treatment is to produce a certain drug level on a lab report. When this occurs, trouble can ensue. For example, a patient might be doing great on a certain dose of a medication that stops his or her seizures without causing side effects. (How can one improve on that?) But then a doctor, ordering a drug level because it seems like the right thing to do, feels compelled by the number appearing on the lab slip to lower the dose of medication. When this occurs, a seizure sometimes results. This is a seizure that didn't need to happen.

3. Using a test as a substitute for interacting with the patient.

I have great respect for emergency physicians. Having done emergency work myself, I know it's not an easy job. Emergency physicians work in a fish bowl, subject to criticism and second-guessing for decisions made in crisis situations and under pressure of time. That said, one gains the impression that sometimes they order thousands of dollars worth of tests based on a 30-second interview and a cursory exam. Yet there are cases in which, if a few more questions had been asked of the patient or family, the diagnostic possibilities and choice of tests would have changed.

4. Ordering irrelevant tests.

There are certain tests -- like a chloride level in spinal fluid or blood-levels of some of the newer seizure-preventing drugs -- that are not known to be useful for anything. But they get ordered anyway.

5. Forgetting that tests are imperfect.

All tests -- from high-tech scans to lowly blood measurements -- have false-positives (overcalls) and false-negatives (undercalls). But sometimes test-results are handled as if they're perfect and never wrong. As an example, sometimes patients have attacks for which the descriptions are compelling for a diagnosis of seizures, but then have normal electroencephalograms (brain-wave tests). Electoencephalograms can be very helpful, but it's possible for a patient who really does have seizures to have a normal tracing. Yet it's not unusual to encounter cases where patients' normal brain-wave tests kept them from receiving the treatments they needed.

6. Forgetting that there aren't tests for every medical condition.

When patients report hard-to-diagnose symptoms to their doctors, medical tests are often ordered. Sometimes all the test-results are normal. Does this mean there is nothing wrong with the patient? Not necessarily. There are many conditions -- like migraine, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia and restless legs syndrome -- for which conventional tests show no abnormality. We just don't have tests for everything. So it can happen that the tests are normal, but the patient isn't.

7. Failing to order tests that could affect treatment.

One axiom of medical management is that a test should only be done if its different outcomes would lead to different plans of action. If the plan of action is the same no matter how the test turns out, then why do the test? There's a flip side to this axiom. If a test's different outcomes would indeed lead to different plans of action, then the test really should be done, or at least be strongly considered. So, when it comes to ordering a test, there can be sins of omission as well as sins of commission.

It is tragic when a patient develops progressive memory loss and confusion. But it's even more tragic when it is assumed that the cause is Alzheimer's disease (for which there is no good treatment) when it's really due to something else for which good treatment is available. A risk-free head scan and a small assortment of blood tests can check for a number of curable conditions, but sometimes these tests are omitted.

(C) 2006 by Gary Cordingley

Gary Cordingley, MD, PhD, is a clinical neurologist, teacher and researcher who works in Athens, Ohio. For more health-related articles see his websites at: http://www.cordingleyneurology.com and http://www.neurologyarticles.com.

The Ultimate Hard Body Exercise

The Front Squat:

As you may have already discovered, the squat is at the top of the heap (along with deadlifts) as one of the most effective overall exercises for stimulating body composition changes (muscle gain and fat loss). This is because exercises like squats and deadlifts use more muscle groups under a heavy load than almost any other weight bearing exercises known to man. Hence, these exercises stimulate the greatest hormonal responses (growth hormone, testosterone, etc.) of all exercises. In fact, university research studies have even proven that inclusion of squats into a training program increases upper body development, in addition to lower body development, even though upper body specific joint movements are not performed during the squat. Whether your goal is gaining muscle mass, losing body fat, building a strong and functional body, or improving athletic performance, the basic squat and deadlift (and their variations) are the ultimate solution. If you don?t believe me that squats and deadlifts are THE basis for a lean and powerful body, then go ahead and join all of the other overweight people pumping away mindlessly for hours on boring cardio equipment. You won?t find long boring cardio in any of my programs!

Squats can be done with any free weighted objects such as barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, sandbags, or even just body weight. Squats should only be done with free weights ? NEVER with a Smith machine or any other squat machines! Machines do not allow your body to follow natural, biomechanically-correct movement paths. You also perform less work because the machine stabilizes the weight for you. Therefore, you get weaker results!

The type of squat that people are most familiar with is the barbell back squat where the bar is resting on the trapezius muscles of the upper back. Many professional strength coaches believe that front squats (where the bar rests on the shoulders in front of the head) and overhead squats (where the bar is locked out in a snatch grip overhead throughout the squat) are more functional to athletic performance than back squats with less risk of lower back injury. I feel that a combination of all three (not necessarily during the same phase of your workouts) will yield the best results for overall muscular development, body fat loss, and athletic performance. Front squats are moderately more difficult than back squats, while overhead squats are considerably more difficult than either back squats or front squats. I?ll cover overhead squats in a future article. If you are only accustomed to performing back squats, it will take you a few sessions to become comfortable with front squats, so start out light. After a couple sessions of practice, you will start to feel the groove and be able to increase the poundage.

To perform front squats:

The front squat recruits the abdominals to a much higher degree for stability due to the more upright position compared with back squats. It is mostly a lower body exercise, but is great for functionally incorporating core strength and stability into the squatting movement. It can also be slightly difficult to learn how to properly rest the bar on your shoulders. There are two ways to rest the bar on the front of the shoulders. In the first method, you step under the bar and cross your forearms into an ?X? position while resting the bar on the dimple that is created by the shoulder muscle near the bone, keeping your elbows up high so that your upper arms are parallel to the ground. You then hold the bar in place by pressing the thumb side of your fists against the bar for support.

Alternatively, you can hold the bar by placing your palms face up and the bar resting on your fingers against your shoulders. For both methods, your elbows must stay up high to prevent the weight from falling. Your upper arms should stay parallel to the ground throughout the squat. Find out which bar support method is more comfortable for you. Then, initiate the squat from your hips by sitting back and down, keeping the weight on your heels as opposed to the balls of your feet. Squat down to a position where your thighs are approximately parallel to the ground, then press back up to the starting position. Keeping your weight more towards your heels is the key factor in squatting to protect your knees from injury and develop strong injury-resistant knee joints. Keep in mind ? squats done correctly actually strengthen the knees; squats done incorrectly can damage the knees.

Practice first with an un-weighted bar or a relatively light weight to learn the movement. Most people are surprised how hard this exercise works your abs once you learn the correct form. This is due to the more upright posture compared with back squats. To see photos of proper form on the front squat, visit http://truthaboutabs.com/Front-Squats.html.

Visit http://truthaboutabs.com/Training-and-Nutrition-Articles.html to receive your own personalized metabolic rate calculator as well as 4 of my secret hard-body workout routines - all FREE.

Michael Geary is a nationally dual certified personal trainer (NCSF-CPT, AFAA-CPT), and author of The Truth about Six Pack Abs ?2004-2006.

How to Get Great Legs the Easy Way

Gorgeous legs are every woman's dream. Unfortunately the legs are susceptible to a variety of pesky conditions that affect their beauty and health. Cellulite, varicose and spider veins, dry, flaky skin and of course flabby muscles can affect the legs' appearance and your confidence.

So is there a solution to all these potentially devastating body image busters? Can you feel good about your legs and wear your skirt with pride? But of course.

The solution is really quite simple, yet sometimes so hard to achieve. And you know it just as well as I do. Proper, healthy diet and physical activity will give you great looking legs that you can feel good about. It will help you with the prevention of cellulite, varicose veins, spider veins and other ailments that negatively affect your legs' beauty.

But you to hate exercise, you say. That's ok, you don't have to be a marathon runner or spend every day at the gym. You don't even have to commit yourself to a specific exercise routine.

But what you have to do is commit to being physically active and have fun doing it, because if you don't enjoy an activity, then you're less likely to stick with it.

Think of things that you could have fun doing. Roller skating, skiing, biking, swimming, walking, jogging, playing tennis or just running around with your kids are all activities that not only can be fun, but also they are great for shaping and toning your leg muscles and weight control.

Once you decide which activities fit your life style, commit yourself to doing them at least three times a week for an hour at a time. Just remember to warm up and stretch before any activity and have fun!

What if you don't have time to get out three times a week? There are other options. If you work full time, you probably drive to the office and park as close to the building as you can. Choose to park few blocks away and take a brisk walk instead. Not only that will work your legs, but also it will energize you in the morning, better that a cup of coffee.

What about elevators? Do you find yourself taking one every day? Then stop. Start taking the stairs at least once a day. It is better that a stair climber. Just take your time and do it at your own pace.

So as you see physical activity is easier than it seems. The most important thing though, is to commit yourself to it and have fun doing it.

While you're getting physically fit don't forget about a healthy diet. It is just as important as exercise in getting great legs. It can be sometimes challenging to choose the right foods, but again if you commit yourself to healthy eating, it will be easier to make the right choices.

So what are the right and wrong choices?

Forget about junk food! And when I say junk food, I mean anything that has no nutritional value, like chips, fries, candy, cookies and pop. It's just as easy to grab a delicious fruit that you can enjoy and don't feel guilty afterwards.

Other food to avoid are:

• fried and deep fried foods
• sweets, sugar and artificial sweeteners
• processed foods that contain large amounts of salt or preservatives
• carbonated beverages
• alcohol
• salt and salty foods
• foods that contain bad fats like trans fats and saturated fats

So is there anything you can eat? Don't fret. There is plenty of healthy, nutritious foods for your enjoyment.

The most important ones are fruit and vegetables. They are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals, they are low in calories and contain no fat. Dietary experts recommend consuming 5 servings of fruits or vegetables a day. Because fruit is naturally high in sugar, you should limit yourself to 2 servings of fruit, but have as many veggies as you want.

Other foods that are healthy and not consumed enough by the North American population are:

• foods high in omega-3 fatty acids
• fish and seafood
• lean protein

And let's not forget about water! Water flushes out excess sodium and toxins out of your body. It contains 0 calories and is an appetite suppressant. It hydrates our skin, improves muscle tone and helps with weight loss. It is recommended to drink 6-8 glasses of water per day.

So start today. Follow a healthy diet plan, along with a physically active lifestyle and you will be on your way to achieving great looking legs that you can be proud of.

For more information about diet, physical activity and other tips for achieving great looking legs, I recommend checking out http://www.get-great-legs.com

Restless Legs Syndrome or Growing Pains?

Restless legs syndrome is a common sleep disorder affecting about 1 in 10 adults. Characterized by an uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, itching or prickling in the legs and an uncontrollable desire to move the legs, restless legs syndrome is one of the most common causes of insomnia.

It is normally seen as a problem once you reach the age of about fifty and tends to get worse as you get older. It?s also the ?poor relation? of sleeping disorders and unlike insomnia, sleep apnea or narcolepsy, all of which are studied in medical school and reasonably well understood by doctors, restless legs syndrome is given relatively scant attention. One study even goes so far as to suggest that in as many as 3 out of 4 cases the condition goes undiagnosed, even when the patient presents with all the symptoms of the disorder.

This lack of focus on the problem, and general acceptance of it being a problem of the middle aged and elderly, perhaps hides the real extent of the problem and, in particular, masks the fact that restless legs syndrome may well play a major part in the lives of our children.

For many years now children have been complaining of symptoms at night which we have brushed off as simply growing pains. In addition, our children often appear unable to sit still for more than a couple of minutes and we simply put this down to normal childhood hyperactivity. The truth, however, is that a substantial number of our children are in fact suffering from restless legs syndrome.

The cause of restless legs syndrome remains something of a mystery although a good picture of the disorder is now beginning to appear and two elements of this picture should act as a wake up call to the medical profession.

The first element in the picture is that of a genetic basis for restless legs syndrome. It is now accepted that this condition runs in families with one study showing that as many of half of all cases show a family history. This is re-enforced by recent chromosome studies identifying a specific gene that is believed to play an important part in susceptibility to restless legs syndrome. Perhaps most significant of all however is a report published by the Mayo Clinic at the end of last year which showed that in a study of more than 500 children nearly three quarters of those with restless legs syndrome had a family history of the disorder.

The second element in the picture is that of an iron deficiency in sufferers. A number of studies by respected institutions, such as John Hopkins University, have shown that low levels of iron are common in cases of restless legs syndrome. It comes as no surprise therefore that more than eighty percent of the children in the Mayo Clinic study with restless legs syndrome also showed low iron levels.

So just what does all of this mean? Well, it?s simple. If your child is having trouble sleeping and complaining of discomfort at night, particularly in the legs, perhaps there is a little more to it that just growing pains. Similarly, if your child is constantly running around or jumping up and down then perhaps discomfort in the legs rather than hyperactivity is the cause.

Growing pains are normal in children, as are periods of excessive activity, and the odd night here and there is certainly nothing to worry about. But, if your child?s growing pains appear night after night then there?s a good possibility that these aren?t growing pains at all, but are the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.

Copyright 2005 Donald Saunders

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including:

How To Get A Good Night's Sleep - Simple Solutions To Help You Rest
Pick up your free copy today and discover the natural cure for insomnia or visit our website to learn more about restless legs syndrome

Preparing and Caring for Your Dancing Legs

Dancing is such a fun activity that we can forget that it is a sport. Carried away by the music, you are unlikely to think about the muscles, tendons and ligaments that are enabling you to dance. New and experienced dancers alike need to be attuned to their bodies and the mechanics of dance so that they are not sidelined with an injury. To keep you on your toes there are a few tips and techniques that you should work into your dance routine.

Before we look at ways to avoid injury, it is important to understand what injuries occur and the risk factors that increase your chances of injury. The most common sites of dance injury are the feet, ankles, and lower back. Typical injuries include:

?Sprains and Strains ? overstretched or twisted muscles
?Stress Fractures ? tiny breaks in feet and ankle bones
?Tendonitis ? painful inflammation of a tendon. Tendons anchor muscle to bone.
?Blisters / toenail injuries? both result from ill fitting shoes
?Impact injuries ? bruises caused by falling, tripping or bumping

Here are risk factors which can increase your chances of injury:

?Hazardous equipment ? shoes that are not properly fitted; carpet that is ripped or worn; uneven hardwood floors; spilled liquids
?Poor posture ? weak back and core muscles put your whole body at risk of injury
?Lack of experience /Poor technique ? moves that are executed improperly can cause injury. Take a class to learn the proper technique and pay attention!
?Poor fitness level ? dancing is a great and fun way to get in shape but if you are not in shape, weak muscles are more prone to injury. Take it slow, as you progress your fitness and muscle strength will improve.
?Fatigue ? you are more likely to lose form or get sloppy when you?re tired.
?Overtraining ? overuse injuries are common in many sports. Dancing for too long or too often can cause shin splints, stress fractures and other injuries.
?Rushing recovery ? it is important to allow an injury to completely heal; otherwise you can aggravate or worsen the condition.

Before you begin to dance you must warm up your muscles. Ideally you want to work through the full range of motion that will be required for your type of dance. Do not stretch before warming up. You may make the mistake of believing that if your muscles are ready for dancing simply because you?ve been engaging them in your normal activities all day, but this is an incorrect assumption that can lead to injury.

You should never stretch a cold muscle. Have you ever noticed how much farther you can go into a stretch following exercise? As you warm up, your connective tissue becomes more elastic and easier to stretch. Blood flow to the muscles and the exchange of oxygen is also increased as your body warms.

Your warm-up should be no less than 10-15 minutes and should elevate your body temperature without making you fatigued. You could march in place, pumping your arms. You can then continue to march while alternating arms in the air. If you are taking a class, your instructor will lead you through a proper warm up. It is optimal to begin dancing within 15 minutes of your warm-up. You will lose the benefits of a warm-up after about 45 minutes of rest.

Following dancing, you should also spend 10-15 minutes cooling down. You can dance at a slower pace and with fewer strenuous movements to cool down. The idea is to gradually return your heart rate to the resting range. Cooling down will also help to prevent muscle spasms. You can do flexibility stretches during the cool down. You should also plan to stretch at other times of the day to increase your flexibility.

The general rule of thumb in sports is to increase your training no more than 10% per week. Progressing too quickly can lead to an overtraining injury. This is why ?weekend warriors? are often prone to injuries. You must allow your body to adapt to a new level of exercise.

The right equipment is essential to keep you dancing. Athletic shoes such as sneakers may be very comfortable but they are not made for dancing. Leather soled street shoes are good for social dancing. The floors at private clubs and halls are often dirty or heavily waxed and you will find that dedicated dancing shoes will not make a material difference.

Rubber soled shoes that grip the floor will lead to injury. Women should wear strapped shoes with a short heel; sling-backs, slip-ons, or high narrow heels are invitations for serious ankle injury. Shoes that are not fitted correctly will lead to blisters, bruised toenails, and can even cause knee injuries.

If you become a frequent habitu? of dancing venues, though, you might want to consider purchasing special shoes. These shoes are lighter than street shoes, with soles that allow you to ?feel? the floor. Dancing or practice shoes are best as they allow freedom of movement and are designed to support you as move across the floor, spin and turn. You should also buy your dancing shoes a half size larger than your street shoes to allow your toes to move.

One overlooked technique for caring for your dancing legs is the floor! You assume that with the proper shoes, technique, and music you can dance anywhere. Not all floors are made for dancing. As your feet hit the floor, your body is sustaining the impact, and a good floor will absorb some of that impact. For example, tile or concrete floors may allow you to whirl around like a professional ballet dancer, but there is no ?give? to the floor and this could injure your feet, ankles, and knees. A good dancing surface is free of defects, smooth (but not waxy), even, consistent and is not inflexible. Wood surfaces are more ?giving? than concrete floors.

Be aware of your body and its limitations. Choose a style of dance that compliments what you are able to do. Take time to properly condition your body for dance and buy the right equipment. Proper technique, attention to your body?s needs, good shoes and a great floor will keep you dancing for many years to come.

This article was contributed by Master Portable Floors. Master Portable Floors is the floor of choice by professional dancers. The floors have been rated highest quality by the American Swing Dancing Association and the Ball Room Dancing Association. Master Portable Floors has a unique flex action that provides a comfortable dancing surface that reduces hip and joint injuries. To learn more about Master Portable Floors visit www.masterportablefloors.com.

Laser Hair Removal: Toss the Razor?

Permanent Hair Removal with Lasers? Can You Really Kiss the Razor Bye Bye?

Permanent hair removal via new laser technology is quickly becoming the method of choice for thousands of women to permanently banish those long leg and underarm shaving sessions, and to leave them soft and smooth without wasting precious minutes every day. So, what is the cost of laser hair removal, and what does the process entail? Well, I will tell you?

First of all, not everyone is eligible for laser hair removal, so you should definitely consult with a specialist or specialist organization before you even consider this route for permanent hair removal.

While laser hair removal is much less expensive than the (somewhat painful) method of removing hair called electrolysis, some individuals may only be eligible for electrolysis due to physical and hair characteristics which make laser hair removal very difficult or impossible.

First of all, any person who is exceptionally dark in skin pigmentation would not be a good candidate for this procedure, and may want to look into alternatives to lasers to remove unwanted body or facial hair. Additionally, people with tanned skin and light hair, or people with generally very light hair would not be good candidates.

Cost of Laser Hair Removal?

The cost can vary considerably, depending on whether you choose to do a large area of your body, like your legs (which will cost considerably more), or just a small area, like facial hair above the lip and so on. Generally each session costs roughly $500 for smaller or medium size areas, and depending on the surface area covered will cost more per session, and require return sessions to get all of the hair removed.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Well, I?ve got good and bad news here. You will require return treatments to keep the hair gone, and to get all of it, and contrary to what most people believe, you will not be able to hang up the razor forever, because you will still have a few stray hairs here and there. Trust me, it would be nearly impossible to get every single hair, maybe some day, but this technology has not come this far yet today. I will say this, you will be considerably smoother and have to worry about shaving way less though, so it?s still worth it.

And get this, while they know that laser hair removal makes your hair fall out, they still are not exactly sure why. In other words, there is conjecture that the laser action and heat below the surface of the skin breaks the hair follicle apart and destroys that hair permanently, but they don?t have 100% conclusive evidence of that theory yet. What happens after a laser treatment is that over the course of the next few weeks or months after treatment, the hair on the treated area just falls out. For whatever reason, laser hair removal tends to work best for people with a fair complexion and darker hair.

Interesting huh? So, if you were considering having your hair removed by a laser professionally, whether it be for your legs, or facial hairs or any other unwanted bodily hair, hopefully now you can go into it a little more educated!

Visit Laser Hair Removal Finder for more information where to find laser hair removal in your specific area, and what to expect. Danna Schneider is also the founder of Herbal Therapeutics Herbal Remedies and Supplements: Hair Removal Product.

Spiders in Your Legs? Here's How to Get Rid of Them

As I was searching for more information on varicose veins? cure, I sat on the swivel chair in front of the PC in a relaxed but poised position: upright with my right leg over my left leg. What I thought of as a comfortable sitting position could have led me to get more of the unwanted varicose veins. The topmost DON?T in preventing and relieving varicose veins was: DON?T cross your legs when sitting. It was like touching a hot plate; I immediately uncrossed my legs and leaned forward to read more.

Other than not crossing the legs, here are some great preventive measures that you ought to know so as not to have those gory spider veins marring those pretty legs:

?Regular exercise helps in the continuous flow of the blood. It is understandable that time is quite a problem. Choose an exercise activity that is not so time consuming, like walking a good distance will be great.

?Watch your weight, a very heavy body gives burden to the legs that hold it upright.

?If your job requires standing for a long period of time, shift your weight from one foot to the other time and again. If it is possible, always sit on breaks and relax tired feet.

?Elastic stockings can best support legs.

?See to it that your clothes, even you underwear are comfortable and not too tight especially on the waist, groin and leg areas.

?High-fiber foods can help prevent constipation that could also contribute to varicose veins. Eat as much fiber-filled foods as possible.

?Salt can be a factor in swelling of the body. Reduce your salt intake.

?Find time to exercise your legs even when sitting. It can help in the circulation of blood. A simple leg stretching and feet and ankle rotation can relieve soreness and can revive those veins.

?Leg elevation at the end of the day is highly recommended. Prop your feet on a chair or on the wall at home when you watch TV or a few minutes before you go to sleep.

?Long travels constrict and numb your legs and feet. If you can, get up and move about in your vehicle (for travels on buses, trains and airplanes) or pull over every 30 minutes when traveling in a car to relax and stretch your legs.

?Choose an aisle seat or the one nearest an exit door when attending long conferences and meetings. This way, you can easily go out and stretch every fifteen to thirty minutes to avoid cramps.

Researchers show that women are not the only victims of varicose veins. In fact, recent studies show that a large percentage of men also get varicose veins. Varicose veins are brought about by a lot of things from being overweight to genetics to aging. Most factors that contribute to acquiring varicose veins are the work (especially if it includes long periods of standing up), pregnancy, stomach disorders such as constipation; and then there?s improper posture.

As always, the adage that prevention is better than cure is very true. Although major treatments and operations are not exactly needed in curing varicose veins, the pain could be uncomfortable, not to mention unsightly especially for a woman. There are dermatological ways to remove varicose veins but, if you can help it, prevent it from appearing on your body parts by doing the self-help tips that are stated above.

The writer, Ismael Tabije, is the editor of the book, ?The Man Who Grew Younger: Secrets to Natural Fitness and Beauty?. This book, which can be accessed at http://www.growyounger.e-mart4all.com, has complete descriptions and illustrations showing unique but proven effective exercises for maintaining youth and total vitality. He also runs the related website, http://www.fitness.e-mart4all.com, a wide collection of health and fitness e-books written by world-renowned fitness experts and authors.

Restless Leg Syndrome Causing You Problems?

It has been reported that app. 10 percent of American adults are being affected by restless leg syndrome. It is a health condition which causes you to move your legs while lying down, sleeping or even while sitting and just relaxing. If your legs won't let you sit still, you may very well be suffering from this restless leg syndrome.

Restless leg syndrome symptoms pretty much interfere with your sleep too, and causing you to wake up tired in the morning, because your sleep gets interrupted all the time. Some people even experience these symptoms during the day, while just sitting down, watching a television, reading a book or at some other activities.

We suggest you start doing some walking and/or jogging. Maybe stretching or taking a hot/cold bath could help too. Of course, massaging your legs may help relieve these symptoms too. Just start doing some regular exercise and see if that helps. Many find that exercise before bedtime helps. Also make sure to consult your healthcare provider, to be sure you are doing the right thing.

Today, restless leg syndromes is a medical condition and needs to be treated that way. Doctors and scientists are doing their best to find a proper treatment for this unpleasant health condition.

Do you find yourself having these?

1. You find a compelling urge to move your legs, feeling an unpleasant sensations in your legs.

2. You feel better when moving your legs a bit. You simply need to move them around to feel better?

3. You feel these symptoms mostly in the evening or when you stop with your daily activities?

If you find yourself experiencing these, you might want to visit our website below. There you can find a lot of information about restless leg syndrome and how treat it properly.

Sam Jackson owns very informative website where you can find lots of useful information about restless leg syndrome.

Slimmer Legs... StressFree

Well, with the success of my article, Wrinkle Remover That WORKS!!, I realize that there is a really strong interest in getting information that is going to do something for you, rather than generalities that come under the same old thing category. And, as you know if you read the article, we found a great and effective cream that does a knockout job of actually reducing wrinkles.

Funny thing is that the product started out as a solution to a completely different problem (and they tell you all about that on the web link I mentioned in the article), which is kind of like the situation of the equestrian horse product, a coat conditioner, that was flying off the shelves and it took an incredulous tack shop owner's question to uncover the mystery. I mean they were selling more of this stuff than any over fastidious horse community could possibly use, they would have had to be conditioning their horses coats every day or even twice a day to use that much.

So what was the answer? Well the story goes, ladies were using it themselves as it gave a great result, smooth and soft hair (and there was a suggestion that guys were using it too, to encourage hair re-growth). Anyway that story is from a few years ago and now the company actually sells the same product in a small, human size bottle for about the same price as you can buy it in the tack shop in the horse size bottle. The name is Mane n' Tail and I use it when getting ready for a horse show as it really does get the tangles out of that tail.

Now I seem to have got a little sidetracked here because I started out with the intention of writing about slimming the legs, and certainly having your legs toned, lithe and athletic makes you feel great, and here is my best advice on how to get your legs to be slimmer, with that better muscle tone and looking sensational: get in the pool!

OK I guess you need a little more info than that, so here we go. Number one let's find a schedule for going to the pool that is going to induce you to continue, because you may be motivated to give this a try but then, on being confronted at your pool by a wall of screaming kids jumping all over the place, you may as quickly be discouraged and resolve to give the whole thing up as another one of those facile, here's how to do it nonsenses written by folks who never actually do the stuff they are telling you to do. Well relax, I've been there, and I know that it's pretty important to make the doing as comfortable as possible if we have any expectation of making it into a routine. So we find out when is the best pool time for us, and I always go for the quietest group (I suppose that's no rocket science suggestion), anyway having got that part organized all we need to do now is the actual swimming.

Now the point of this article is to focus on slimming and toning the legs so obviously we are going to work that area mostly, but first you need to loosen up the whole body a little, so just do some easy, relaxing laps and enjoy the feel of the water.

OK ready for the legs? We'll use a kick-board if you like, although I often don't as I feel it tenses the muscles across my shoulders and behind my neck, so I feather the water with my hands out in front and only lift my head to breathe. Certainly you will get more upper body support using the kick-board and, as far as the legs are concerned, they are going to get worked the same whichever method you use. So we want to start out by doing a few easy laps freestyle leg kick; and then when you start to feel any tightening or stiffness in the upper thigh, stop and stretch the muscles. Remember, swimming lengthens the muscles and we particularly want long, slim, elastic muscles, so stretch and loosen off the legs if you start to feel any tightening up.

So, we've loosened up, we've started on the leg work, now how much do we do and how hard? Well, as with almost all my work, I stress gradualization, you can't just jump in there and do one hundred laps flat out, you've got to build your fitness, your capacity and your endurance, so do what you can comfortably achieve and strive to increase gradually over time. Getting those legs slim and toned is no great secret, it's just getting in there and doing a terrific set of leg-kick, way easier on the joints than almost any other exercise and terrific for your overall body health, heart and lungs.

About The Author

Gordon Black is a world-ranked Master swimmer and Canadian national record holder. A member of the British swim team in the late '60s, after thirty years out of the pool, last year Gordon returned to competitive swimming in the Masters forum. He offers an online weight loss, fitness and motivational coaching service through his web site www.gordonblack.com where his competitive comeback is chronicled. Gordon is currently working on a book based on his own weight management and fitness system - publisher's enquiries welcome!

gordon@gordonblack.com

Beat Bad Circulation Before It Beats You!

Are you one of the millions of people in the world suffering from bad blood circulation? With out even knowing it, you might be! You might not necessarily have a lot of symptoms if you are suffering with bad circulation (Peripheral Vascular Disease or PVD.) but you should be aware that it can be treated.

It can also be a signal your body is sending, letting you know something more serious is going on. Like clogged arteries or blood clots. For me the symptoms started very slowly and were minor. I just took it as part of my body falling asleep or that I had slept wrong on my arms or my legs. You don?t have to be old to have bad circulation. For me it started in my teens. I was what most people considered over active in sports. Practicing soccer, handball and speed skating about 6 hours a day 7 days a week put a great strain on my body.

After getting injured I was forced to quit all sports which did not go over to well with my body. Veins blew out all over my legs and I noticed that my feet kept going numb quite often. I figured they just went to ?sleep? because I was not used to being still so much. Over the years the numbness spread from my feet up my legs. Still I kept ignoring it. Four children later the numbness had spread to my hands and I could no longer ignore it. This was when my husband came across a book online called ?Beat Bad Circulation.? After him being on me for a long time to read the book I had to. Believe it or not it has helped me a lot.

This book explains bad circulation and things that can help you beat bad circulation. My hands no longer go numb and my legs and feet are better than they have been in years.

?Beat Bad Circulation? might not be the solution for everybody but if you are suffering from bad blood circulation it is worth reading and it just might help you to. Like I said the name of the book is ?Beat Bad Circulation.? Maybe its all you need to get that blood flowing again and feel well again.

Here are a few statistics on bad circulation:

? The body of an adult contains over 60,000 miles of blood vessels!

? An adult's heart pumps nearly 4000 gallons of blood each day!

? Your heart beats some 30 million times a year!

? The average three-year-old has two pints of blood in their body; the average adult at least five times more!

It is must have book for every family.

Hege Crowton is establishing her self as an expert copywriter. She is known for doing in-depth research before writing her articles. Many of her articles are posted on http://www.EzineCrow.com and she also does a lot of writing for http://www.CrowSites.com . She also strongly recommends that you visit: http://www.Nicheinabox.com Since joining this program her business has exploded.

Copyright 2005 AdsenseCrow.com

Restless Leg Syndrome Healing is Possible

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is defined by the International Restless legs syndrome Study Group, which was established to create a medical diagnosis. The IRLS Study Group narrowed the symptoms to four essential criteria needed for clinical diagnosis.

These criteria are:
1. The urge to move the legs, usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs
2. Symptoms of restless legs syndrome are worse during rest or inactivity
3. Symptoms are partially or totally relieved by movement
4. Restless legs syndrome is worse at night.

These criteria are the most frequently reported symptoms that something isn?t ?right? within the person?s mind, body and/or spirit. However, since western medicine only treat symptoms the root cause for these symptoms are never addressed.

People who suffer from restless leg syndrome often have other psychiatric symptoms, including depression and anxiety. Other risk factors are heavy smoking, unemployment status, hypertension, gastroesophageal reflux disease, arthritis, and diabetes. Sleep apnea and insomnia appear to be other risk factors for restless leg syndrome, along with difficulty falling asleep (taking more than 30 minutes), driving while drowsy and excessive daytime fatigue. Subjects with self-reported restless leg syndrome also have a higher incidence of being late for work, missing work, making errors at work and missing social events because of fatigue more often than those without restless leg syndrome.

Requip manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline is the most frequently prescribed antidote. The precise mechanism of action of Requip as a treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome (also known as Ekbom Syndrome) is unknown. Although the pathophysiology of RLS is largely unknown, neuropharmacological evidence suggests primary dopaminergic system involvement. Positron emission tomographic (PET) studies suggest that a mild striatal presynaptic dopaminergic dysfunction may be involved in the pathogenesis of RLS.

In clinical trials for restless legs syndrome, the most common side effects of Requip were nausea, extreme drowsiness, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue. In December 2004, a European Union panel of experts initiated a probe of the drug after concerns surfaced about the product's effectiveness and long-term safety. Called Adartrel in Europe, the drug is sold in a few countries but has not yet received full European approval. Whether the drug, Requip has been approved seems irrelevant since the side effects seem worse than the problem. One is trading?the urge to move the legs, usually accompanied or caused by uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs with nausea, extreme drowsiness, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue.

THERE IS HOPE: In twenty-five years of working with those suffering with RLS, I have learned RLS can be readily healed with 100% long-term results and satisfaction with no side effects. While the western medical profession says there is NO known cause for RLS, there is a plausible explanation for the symptoms to occur and therein lies the clues to the healing process.

100% of the RLS sufferers I have worked with were also, verbal, physical and/or sexual trauma survivors. While this fact may not give reason to assume that other RLS sufferers are verbal, physical and/or sexual trauma survivors, it is a strong indication there is a high probability.

First let us look at the dynamic of verbal, physical or sexual trauma. There are several inherent factors that can not be underestimated in these acts of trauma. Behavior between adult and child is traditionally looked at from the perspective of the adult rather than the child. The adult reasons that because an adult does not experience adverse affects neither will a child. This reasoning is faulty to the nth degree. There are several reasons why an experience can be damaging to a child and not damaging to an adult.

First and foremost, the child generally has no frame of reference from which to reconcile the experience. Second, since the experience is usually orchestrated through an adult the child knows and loves, the child has no one to discuss their adverse experience, because the adult is unwilling to acknowledge the negative consequences of their behavior. Thus, the child suffers in silence?holding the blame, shame and humiliation of their reaction, which has been deemed by an adult as uniquely inappropriate, uncharacteristic for the circumstance and therefore unworthy of discussion.

The child?s only source of comfort and avenue to reconcile experiences is the family. Thus, when the family fails to meet the child?s emotional needs, it is an insidious betrayal so profound that a child?s sense of trust is compromised and the child works mightily to regain fully what is a birthright.

The next layer of betrayal is the ?age old? tradition of using hitting as a form of discipline. It is rationalized that hitting will ?teach the child a lesson? they will never forget. This reasoning is faulty, because spanking creates shock, whereby the mind is unable to focus or retain logic rather than enhance comprehension. Furthermore, hitting engenders rage rather than respect. Thus instead of creating learning and compliance the child has learned to distrust adults. In order to maintain the relationship, the child pushes the rage deep into the psyche; the accompanying response to body boundary violations is to act out in other ways that may include rebellion, violence, self-destructive behavior etc. In addition, hitting is a body boundary violation?the skin is the largest sensory organ and when it is compromised it causes untold damage.

Last, but not least, hitting is hypocrisy?I love you therefore, I hit you. Love and hurting can not coexist simultaneously. Thus, while hitting the child?the adult is not being loving?they are hurting the child. This is abundantly clear to the child, but has become a distorted concept as adults have been indoctrinated in the ?spare the rod, spoil the child? rhetoric.

During the act of verbal, physical or sexual traumatizing, the mind, body and spirit have experienced an assault. This assault is experienced vis-?-vis all five senses?touch, hearing, smell, taste and seeing. These sensory organs hold the experience until it can be reconciled. Unfortunately, since the child seldom has the opportunity to reconcile the experience and have a meeting of understanding between adult and him/herself, the experience stays trapped in the system. Thus, for example: the traumatizing spanking on the buttocks stays trapped in the buttocks and legs. Or because a child who is being verbally assaulted has a flight or fight reaction, but can neither, fight or flee, the energy is trapped in the legs, which is the first line of defense for fighting or fleeing. Since the child can do neither the energy is stored and never released. Thus, years later when one?s faces a similar emotionally charged experience the old experience resurfaces as RLS. This phenomenon is commonly called trapped energy.

These childhood experiences can be healed through a seven-step multifacted process. Talk therapy is inadequate to uncover the emotional pain, and heal the trauma trapped in muscles and tissue. To fully appreciate the depth of this pain, I will quote one of my clients, Even my blood hurts. A multifaceted healing process specifically focused on trauma recovery and diligent work is the most effective; wherein the survivor can replenish their emotional and spiritual identity and empowerment.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD specializes in: Emotional healing and Physical/Sexual Trauma Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Sleep Disorder To Call The Doctor Or Not?

Experiencing difficulty in sleeping for any great length of time may well indicate that you suffer from a common sleep disorder.

Today more than 35 million Americans reportedly suffer from a chronic sleep disorder (sleeping difficulty that lasts for more than one month) and as many as 30 million more suffer from a shorter term or transient sleep disorder (sleeping difficulty that lasts for less than four weeks).

Commonly triggered by upcoming events (such as important meetings or interviews), jet lag, or a passing illness (like a cold or the flu), a mild sleep disorder presents relatively little difficulty in terms of its management and, if left to its own devices, will often pass quite quickly. This said, many simple steps can be taken to both reduce the effects of mild insomnia and to speed its passing.

A persistent sleep disorder however will rarely disappear of its own accord and may well require pro-active treatment. Prolonged sleep disorders include conditions such as chronic insomnia, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea and narcolepsy.

Difficulty in getting to sleep, staying asleep, waking through the night (and being unable to get back to sleep), or waking too early in the morning, when experienced for any length of time (and certainly for more than four or five weeks), warrants a diagnosis. You should also begin exploring natural sleep remedies that can help you get a better night's sleep, not to mention assisting you in effectively managing your problem.

The most commonly diagnosed sleep disorder, insomnia, also represents one of the easiest problems to treat. Simple lifestyle adjustments, structured relaxation or meditation, or a variety of herbal and natural sleep remedies will often provide a cure.

Like insomnia, sleep apnea is another sleep disorder that affects millions of Americans each year. The most dangerous of all sleep disorders, sleep apnea occurs when air flow through the windpipe is temporarily obstructed during sleep, often due to the relaxation or collapse of surrounding muscles. Sleep apnea is most commonly associated with snoring, although snoring alone is not necessarily indicative of sleep apnea.

Narcolepsy, a sleep disorder marked by uncontrolled mini sleeps during the day (even when the sufferer otherwise appears completely alert), is sometimes confused with sleep apnea; however, these represent two very different conditions.

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), another sleep disorder that ranks as one of the most frequently diagnosed, affects more than twelve million people in the US alone each year. Unlike other common sleep disorders, restless legs syndrome combines the physical symptoms of a sleep disorder like insomnia with neural symptoms such as periodically uncontrolled limb movement and a tingling sensation in the legs and feet.

While a serious sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, chronic narcolepsy or restless legs syndrome requires the intervention of a medical professional, there are still various ways in which you can actively manage your sleep disorder. In fact, numerous natural sleep remedies can help you get a better night's sleep and effectively deal with your sleep disorder, without resorting to sleeping pills or artificial sleep enhancers.

These sleep remedies are too numerous to discuss them in any detail in this short article, but they include melatonin and valerian root, two natural alternatives to sleeping pills, as well as aromatherapy, color or chromatherapy and guided relaxation and meditation. Chamomile or lavender teas and infusions are also an excellent natural remedy for managing various sleep disorders.

While some persistent sleep disorders do certainly merit investigation by your doctor, chronic insomnia can, more often than not, be cured without the need for medical intervention. Understanding the underlying causes of your insomnia and then making a number of simple changes to your lifestyle or routine can make a dramatic difference to the quality of your sleep. With the added help of one or two natural sleep remedies, you can then soon say farewell to this particular sleep disorder.

Copyright ? 2005 Donald Saunders

Attention Ezine Editors / Website Owners

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website so long as you leave all links intact, do not modify the content and include the resource box shown below. You may of course insert your own affiliate link in the resource box if you wish. Details of our affiliate programme can be found on our website.

If you do use the material please send us a note so we can take a look. Thanks.

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including:
Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural Sleep Remedies, Jet Lag - An Alternative Approach, Shift Work Insomnia and The Art of Meditation - A Guide To Meditation, Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
For further details please visit http://help-me-to-sleep.com

6 Powerful Tips to a Better Sleep

Many Americans are having difficulties falling asleep at night. Instead of sleeping and dreaming they roll around in their beds trying to fall asleep. The result usually is people not rested enough in the morning and tired all day. This results in stress and less performance on the job or at home. We have developed a list of 6 powerful tips that have helped us to achieve better sleep.

1) Room temperature: Keeping the temperature in your bedroom at 70 degrees Fahrenheit or below is recommended. Too often an overheated bedroom is causing sleep problems. Scientific studies show that the body can better relax with temperatures at 70 degrees or slightly below.

2) Reduce caffeine. A recent study showed that caffeine is not metabolized efficiently and fast enough at night. The effects of caffeine last much longer than most people expect. The result is difficulty falling asleep. Studies have shown better sleeping patterns if no more caffeine is consumed after 6.00 PM.

3) Avoid alcohol. Alcohol will keeps the body from reaching the deeper stages of sleep, where the body does most of its healing and resting. The result of drinking can be a very light sleep or difficulty falling asleep in general.

4) Beds are for sleeping. If you are used to watch TV in bed or even work while being in bed, you may find it much harder to relax and to fall asleep. Remove the TV and do not work in bed. Sleep requires your brain to slowly shutdown and any distraction will cause sleeping problems.

5) Go to bed at around the same time every day. Don't change your bedtime back and forth. Having a certain schedule developed it will be easier to fall asleep pretty much at the same time every day. A recurring schedule will help your body to get into a sleep pattern and make it easier to fall asleep.

6) Remove the alarm clock from your view. Starring at the time will only create the feeling that you have to sleep, but you are not. These worries will make things even worse. Losing the feeling for time by not seeing the actual and how long you have been awake has shown to improve healthy sleep.

About the Author

Christoph Puetz is a successful entrepreneur and international book author. Christoph lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. One of the websites he maintains can be found at Restless Legs.

Restless Legs Syndrome The Management of a Serious Sleep Disorder

Restless legs syndrome, or RLS, is seen as both a neuromuscular disorder and a sleep disorder. Less frequently diagnosed than sleep disorders like narcolepsy, sleep apnea and insomnia, restless legs syndrome is nonetheless a significant and serious sleep problem.

Characterized by a tingling, crawling or prickling sensation in the legs and feet, restless legs syndrome sufferers experience an overwhelming desire to move their legs in order to find relief. Many sufferers also find that the symptoms seem to worsen in the late afternoon and evening, especially when sitting or lying down.

Restless legs syndrome can also include instances of periodic limb movement (PLM), a condition characterized by the sudden, involuntary movement or twitching of the legs and feet ? often to the extent that it disrupts sleep. It is the overwhelming desire to move the legs and the frequent presences of periodic limb movement that, in large part, earn restless legs syndrome its classification as a sleep disorder.

Chronic instances of restless legs syndrome make it virtually impossible for the sufferer to get to sleep, let alone stay asleep, thereby generating a related case of severe insomnia. If left untreated, the condition, and the resulting insomnia, can lead to severe physical and psychological health problems. In fact, restless legs syndrome is often associated with depression and irritability, as well as occupational, social and marital problems.

As with most common sleep disorders, diagnosing restless legs syndrome can take time and a proper diagnosis requires the attention of an experienced medical professional. Because some of the symptoms can be associated with other neuromuscular and sleep disorders, it is also important to undergo specialized sleep tests before a diagnosis is confirmed. These tests can include neurological evaluations, reflex tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as somnography (sleep pattern analysis).

Once the diagnosis has been established, the treatment and management of restless legs syndrome can include simple lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments and activities to promote a better night's sleep. Because the symptoms typically become more severe with fatigue or inactivity, maintaining a regular sleep schedule with a consistent bed time and waking time is extremely important. Likewise, regular exercise and limited caffeine and nicotine intake can also help limit the neurological stimulation that triggers restless legs symptoms.

Additional options for managing this condition, and other sleep disorders, include massage, yoga and guided meditation for relaxation (a good complement to regular exercise and planned activities for reducing the symptoms of restless legs syndrome) and the use of natural herbal remedies that can help train the body to adhere to a routine sleep cycle and induce a restful and restorative night's sleep.

Copyright ? 2005 Donald Saunders

Attention Ezine Editors / Website Owners

Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your website so long as you leave all links intact, do not modify the content and include the resource box shown below. You may of course insert your own affiliate link in the resource box if you wish. Details of our affiliate programme can be found on our website.

If you do use the material please send us a note so we can take a look. Thanks.

Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related publications including: Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural Sleep Remedies, Jet Lag - An Alternative Approach, Shift Work Insomnia and The Art of Meditation - A Guide To Meditation, Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
For further details please visit http://help-me-to-sleep.com

Home Workout For Work At Home Mums

I receive many letters from women who stay at their homes looking after children. They want to look good, become fit and ask me how to achieve this. Some years ago I had a day job that took almost all of my time and use every free or not free minute to make exercises. There are several exercises that can be done while you are cooking, ironing or watching TV. I call this workout ?Passive? because it involves only tightening up of some muscles.

The most problematic female spots are butt, hips and abs. How to tighten them up?
Imagine you are upright and ironing clothes. Start tightens up your butt, flex butt muscles, hold for 2-3 seconds and relax. Make 20 reps.

Hip exercise
Stay upright. Tighten up butt and legs, you must feel you lower body as a strong wall. Now lift left leg to the left side, return leg to the floor and lift right leg to the right side. Alternate legs and make 20 reps. You must feel tension in your left and right hips.

Abs exercise
In sitting position-for example while you are watching TV or sitting in front of the computer. Lift your knees up to the ceiling. You must feel tension in your lower ab muscles. If this exercise is difficult help yourself with hands ? grab the chair and push down hands and lift the knees up. Hands will take away some difficulty.

Another abs exercise is again from sitting position. Straight one of the legs and lift the foot to the ceiling. Again help yourself with hands. If you want to make exercise more difficult ? while lifting the foot bend the upper body to the legs. In this way you double influence your abs ? their lower and upper parts.

Exercise for love handles from sitting position. Bend the body to the left side, hold for a second and bend to the right side. Try to do this without helping yourself with hands.

There are many possibilities to stay fit, to stay at your home and without going to expensive gyms. The only thing you need is your wish to change your life.

Rumiana Ilieva is the Webmaster at http://www.women-workout-routines.com and an avid amateur trainer. The site reviews weight loss workout routines and offers many free video workouts. To train on line visit http://www.women-workout-routines.com/free-workout-routines.html

Shaving Legs

Shaving legs is by far the most popular method of hair removal for women. As much as we hate it, we do it on fairly regular basis. Some of us even every day.

But there is much more to shaving than just a razor, a little bit of soap and water. If you want to prevent the annoying cuts, razor rash and ingrown hair and get the closest shave possible, then I suggest you read the following tips and implement them into your daily shaving routine.

Ready? Let's go shaving legs!

Tip # 1

Invest a few dollars and get a good razor. The disposable ones are not designed to do as good of a job as the reusable ones. You will definitely get a closer shave and avoid nicks with the more expensive one.

Tip # 2

Don't forget to change your blades frequently. Using a dull razor will give you a razor rash, nicks and a chance for ingrown hair.

Tip # 3

Do not go shaving legs right after getting out of bed in the morning. Your skin is more puffy at that time of the day and your stubble is not as visible. You will get a closer shave if you wait about 30 minutes.

Tip # 4

If you shave your legs in a bath, you must know that your skin will shrivel in under 10 minutes which will make the stubble disappear somewhat. The solution? Shave your legs within the first 10 minutes in the tub.

Tip # 5

Exfoliate your legs with a body scrub or a loofah. That will get rid of dead skin cells that will otherwise clog up the razor. Plus it will give you soft and smooth skin.

Tip # 6

Do not apply your shaving lotion onto dry skin. Wet your legs for at least 2 minutes first. When your skin is hydrated, your hair will stand up and you'll get a closer shave.

Tip # 7

Once the shaving lotion is on your legs, allow it to sit there for a couple of minutes. That will hydrate your skin even more.

Tip # 8

Please do not use plain soap. I know we've all done it more than we care to admit. But the problem with soap is, that it will not only dry your skin out, but also the razor will not glide smoothly and it might give you a few cuts and a rash.

So there you have it. Your basic rules for shaving legs that will give you the closest shave possible and in the long run will save you some time, as you will not need to shave as often as you usually do.

For more information on your different hair removal options go to: http://www.get-great-legs.com/hairremoval.html

Are You A CarboStuffer or a Muscle Cramp Sufferer

In another article I discussed the role of energy or lack of energy as being a key factor involved with muscle cramps. It goes to follow then that the more you can ?load? the muscles with energy, the better off you will e in terms of preventing cramps.

Unfortunately, as with everything in life, it?s not so straightforward as that.

I think it (a carbo-load) has to be for a special athlete in a special circumstance ? if they?re competing once a week or twice a week ? like a basketball player playing matches a couple of times a week ? carbo-loading doesn?t make sense. And as a strategy to prevent cramping in these circumstances it makes even less sense.

If you?re an endurance Olympic athlete or a marathon runner and you only do 6 events a year or even less, say 2 events a year, then you could do an effective carbo-loading program to help you for that one event but not for the build up to that one event. Or if you?re into extreme endurance sports or triathlons, you might think about carbo-loading.?

So when I look at carbo-loading in the true definition of the term, it takes about a week to do an effective carbo-load if that?s something you want to do to affect and raise your energy levels. If you can get your energy levels up higher then you may reduce the risk of leg and muscle cramps associated with fatigue ? especially calf cramps where athletes seem most susceptible.

What you have to do is deplete yourself and then load really hard ? and, as a comparison, that?s kind of like allowing your stomach to shrink and then you just stretch it to the max ? that?s what you?re doing with carbo-loading in your body.

You need to deplete yourself for 2-3 days and you want to get the body?s stores as low as you can and then really shoot up. And by shooting up you?re able to get up to 120% carbohydrate versus your typical 100. So you?re really able to go up to a higher level by loading up and that?s the trick to it.

Remember that it?s really only idealistic if you do it 2 or 3 times a year and most athletes compete now more than 2 or 3 times a year.

One of the problems regular athletes and people who train for sporting events face is that they rely too much on carbohydrates before events that last 2 hours or more.

What can happen is that you get all the energy in the first half of your event and then you run the danger that you start to come down past that level and you?ll actually starve for energy and you?ll feel like you?ve hit a wall.

At this point you?re more susceptible to cramping.

The best strategy is to switch to a pre-race nutrition plan that has about 60% carbohydrates (eliminating as much refined carbohydrate and sugar as possible), with the remaining 30% good fat and 30% protein - yep that's right, 30% of each. And you need to ensure that your food sources are as fresh as possible

Why this works is simple - you're providing the body with both long term and short term energy and in a form that has less of a stimulatory affect on the muscles.

So apple pie and cream is out as part of a pre-race nutrition plan - try apples and a whey protein shake instead.

Copyright www.Running-Cramp-Relief.com

Paul Newland is a health and nutrition consultant, trainer, martial arts instructor, commercial helicopter pilot and author. His Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide is one of the internet's leading health information books and is the definitive guide to preventing, treating and curing cramps associated with exercise. In the Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide Newland speaks with 6 health, sports, nutrition, medical and complimentary health care professionals and explains why you get cramps, the best ways to treat them and how to prevent them from happening again. In the book he devotes several chapters on nutrition including suggestions on pre-race meal plans, nutrition plans and energy plans - all designed to give you a healthy edge.

Early Diagnosis Is Critical For Effective Treatment of Mesothelioma

Cancer is one of the most fatal diseases nowadays. It doesn?t choose its victims. Men and women alike, old and young die of cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, specifically the Pleura (membrane that surrounds the lungs) and the Peritoneum (membrane surrounding the abdomen). Both Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneum Mesothelioma are primarily caused by the inhalation or exposure to asbestos, an incombustible fibrous mineral of impure magnesium silicate used in various industrial products. About 30 to 50 per cent of the total Mesothelioma cancer patients had not been exposed to asbestos, yet they have acquired the disease. Cancer specialists continue to study this rare kind of cancer so as to provide the public clear and exact information with regard to its cause, nature and cure.

Like many other forms of cancer, Mesothelioma has different stages. The earliest stage is still curable since only one layer of the pleura is affected. Surgery is the number one option for patients with Stage I Mesothelioma. The doctor removes the part of the lining of the lungs or chest (in case of Pleural Mesothelioma) and the lining of the abdomen (in case of Peritoneal Mesothelioma). In Stage II Mesothelioma, surgery can still be executed although some lymph nodes may have already been infected by the malignant Mesothelioma cancer cells. The diaphragm may also be removed; in severe cases, the Mesothelioma patient has to sacrifice one of his lungs.

Usually, surgery comes with systemic treatments, which include radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Through radiotherapy, Mesothelioma cancer cells are killed; however, only the cells in the treated area die. High energy rays used in radiotherapy or radiation therapy may either come from an external machine or from thin plastic tubes positioned into the tissues where Mesothelioma cancer-stricken cells are found. Inside the plastic tubes are radiation-emitting materials that kill the malignant cells. The use of an external machine is called external radiation therapy while the other is called internal radiation therapy. Also, a radioactive substance such as radiolabeled monoclonal antibody is circulated around the body during radiotherapy.

Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to kill the malignant cells. In treating Mesothelioma, the anti-cancer drugs are usually given to the patient through intravenous injection (within the vein). Oncologists are still studying the possibility of treating Mesothelioma through intracavitary chemotherapy (within the chest or abdomen). Some Mesothelioma patients also undergo Photodynamic therapy, a kind of cancer therapy that combines the use of drug (photosensitizer) with a specific kind of light. The photosensitizing agent when exposed to the light produce oxygen that destroys nearby malignant cancer cells. The drug is injected into the bloodstream and is absorbed by the cells.

In order to relieve the symptoms of Mesothelioma such as the pain in the chest or abdomen due to the build up of fluid, a physician drains the fluid by using a needle. The procedure is known as thoracentesis (removal of fluid in the chest) or paracentesis (removal of the fluid in the abdomen). To prevent further accumulation of the lubricating fluid in the membranes of the chest or abdomen, drugs are given through a tube in the affected organ.

Although the said treatments to Mesothelioma have been proven effective, chance of recovery and survival still depends on the size or extent of the cancer. Chances are higher when Mesothelioma is still in its early stages. Surgery is only advisable only up to the second stage of the Mesothelioma cancer wherein only one part or smaller portions of the membranes are affected. A patient diagnosed with stage IV Mesothelioma (diffuse Mesothelioma) has only about 4-24 months to live. Furthermore, the age of the patient and his general health condition is also crucial to his recovery. Older patients do not respond well to certain cancer treatments such as surgery because their tissues, organs and other body parts are more delicate.

David Arnold Livingston is passionate about Health and suggests you visit, as a resource: http://www.newmesothelioma.com/

The Hidden Hazards Of Air Conditioners

Not just a heat heater: air conditioners remove moisture from the air and also filter allergens nearly as well as most air purifiers. Air conditioners take the sizzle out of hot, humid days by blowing warm air over metal coils filled with a refrigerant. This not only lowers the air temperature hut also condenses the water vapors in the air, producing a cooler, drier indoor climate.

Aside from added comfort, air conditioners provide protection from several health threats, especially heatstroke. A life-threatening condition, heatstroke usually develops over the course of several scorching, humid days and causes the body to lose its ability to release heat. Sweating stops and the body's temperature soars. However, spending just a few hours a day in an air-conditioned room can short-circuit this dangerous process. People who suffer from diabetes or heart disease and those who take such medications as anti-histaniines, diuretics, beta-blockers, and vasoconstrietors are at the greatest risk of developing heatstroke.

Air conditioners are also a boon for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. As the units cool the air, they also filter pollen, mold spores, and dust, all of which can trigger allergic and asthmatic reactions.

If air conditioners aren't well maintained, they can cause some of the very problems they otherwise prevent. A dirty air filter can harbor pollen, fungi, and bacteria and allow millions of microorganisms into the room, possibly triggering an asthma attack, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat - even flu like illness. Proper maintenance will minimize these risks.

About every two to four weeks, vacuum the air filter, and then wash it in soapy water. Be sure to let the filter dry completely before reinstalling it. You may also want to spray it with a disinfectant to keep it free of mildew. If the air conditioner uses disposable filters, remember to replace them at the recommended intervals.

Air conditioners in large buildings can pose a more serious threat because they use reservoirs of water that can harbor harmful bacteria. When Legionnaires' disease struck a an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976, epidemiologists found colonies of the deadly Legionella pneutnophila bacterium in the air circulated b1 the hotel's air-conditioning system. Other organisms that grow in large air-conditioning units can trigger hypersensitivity pneumonitis, also called allergic alveolitis. The condition is caused by inhaling microscopic organic dusts, which inflame the air sacs of the lungs and can eventually interfere with normal breathing.

The air conditioners in our ears can pose problems of their own. The interior of the units are hot, moist, and dark - an ideal breeding ground for fungi and mold spores.

If you are allergic to mold, opt for the fresh air rather than the re-circulated air setting, aim the air vents away from your face, and crack open the car windows for several minutes after you turn on the air conditioner to allow any microorganisms to escape. If the problem persists, you may want to have a qualified mechanic treat the air conditioner with a disinfectant which will keep it mold free for about three months.

Joshua Poyoh provides independent views of home improvement athttp://www.homeimprovementview.com. More information on Air Cleaners and Air Purifiers.

Pediatric Cardiology

It is hard living with a cardiac condition. It is just as hard as living with a person who has a cardiac problem. Care should be given and the patient's special needs need to be provided for. However, there is nothing worse than living with a child who has a cardiac condition.

If adults find it hard to get by living with a heart ailment, a child whose suffering is much more heart felt and much more painful. Children need extra attention and care, especially if they are ill and suffering from a very serious heart condition. As we all know, the heart is basically the center of our body?s system. Once it goes out of rhythm, other parts will also follow.

Pediatric cardiology is a special branch of medicine and health care. This branch provides assistance and care for children who were unlucky enough to possess a life-threatening condition like a cardiac condition. People who are into this practice possess compassion, and they try to meet all the needs of children who bear this illness. Physicians and doctors who are involved in pediatric cardiology do their best to provide the best kind of care to control any heart diseases that children may suffer from. Pediatric cardiology is a specialized branch that not all hospitals and clinics are equipped to deal with.

The hospitals, clinics and health care facilities that have pediatric cardiology under their wing provide the best kind of services for children with hereditary or acquired heart conditions. Pediatric cardiology includes the diagnosis of heart diseases as well as treatment for this ailment and offers a team approach to ensure a better diagnosis, as well as treatment for the pediatric patient.

Cardiology provides detailed information on Cardiology, American College Of Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology, Clinical Cardiology Journals and more. Cardiology is affiliated with Primary Pulmonary Hypertension Attorney.

Slimmer Legs... StressFree

Well, with the success of my article, Wrinkle Remover That WORKS!!, I realize that there is a really strong interest in getting information that is going to do something for you, rather than generalities that come under the same old thing category. And, as you know if you read the article, we found a great and effective cream that does a knockout job of actually reducing wrinkles.

Funny thing is that the product started out as a solution to a completely different problem (and they tell you all about that on the web link I mentioned in the article), which is kind of like the situation of the equestrian horse product, a coat conditioner, that was flying off the shelves and it took an incredulous tack shop owner's question to uncover the mystery. I mean they were selling more of this stuff than any over fastidious horse community could possibly use, they would have had to be conditioning their horses coats every day or even twice a day to use that much.

So what was the answer? Well the story goes, ladies were using it themselves as it gave a great result, smooth and soft hair (and there was a suggestion that guys were using it too, to encourage hair re-growth). Anyway that story is from a few years ago and now the company actually sells the same product in a small, human size bottle for about the same price as you can buy it in the tack shop in the horse size bottle. The name is Mane n' Tail and I use it when getting ready for a horse show as it really does get the tangles out of that tail.

Now I seem to have got a little sidetracked here because I started out with the intention of writing about slimming the legs, and certainly having your legs toned, lithe and athletic makes you feel great, and here is my best advice on how to get your legs to be slimmer, with that better muscle tone and looking sensational: get in the pool!

OK I guess you need a little more info than that, so here we go. Number one let's find a schedule for going to the pool that is going to induce you to continue, because you may be motivated to give this a try but then, on being confronted at your pool by a wall of screaming kids jumping all over the place, you may as quickly be discouraged and resolve to give the whole thing up as another one of those facile, here's how to do it nonsenses written by folks who never actually do the stuff they are telling you to do. Well relax, I've been there, and I know that it's pretty important to make the doing as comfortable as possible if we have any expectation of making it into a routine. So we find out when is the best pool time for us, and I always go for the quietest group (I suppose that's no rocket science suggestion), anyway having got that part organized all we need to do now is the actual swimming.

Now the point of this article is to focus on slimming and toning the legs so obviously we are going to work that area mostly, but first you need to loosen up the whole body a little, so just do some easy, relaxing laps and enjoy the feel of the water.

OK ready for the legs? We'll use a kick-board if you like, although I often don't as I feel it tenses the muscles across my shoulders and behind my neck, so I feather the water with my hands out in front and only lift my head to breathe. Certainly you will get more upper body support using the kick-board and, as far as the legs are concerned, they are going to get worked the same whichever method you use. So we want to start out by doing a few easy laps freestyle leg kick; and then when you start to feel any tightening or stiffness in the upper thigh, stop and stretch the muscles. Remember, swimming lengthens the muscles and we particularly want long, slim, elastic muscles, so stretch and loosen off the legs if you start to feel any tightening up.

So, we've loosened up, we've started on the leg work, now how much do we do and how hard? Well, as with almost all my work, I stress gradualization, you can't just jump in there and do one hundred laps flat out, you've got to build your fitness, your capacity and your endurance, so do what you can comfortably achieve and strive to increase gradually over time. Getting those legs slim and toned is no great secret, it's just getting in there and doing a terrific set of leg-kick, way easier on the joints than almost any other exercise and terrific for your overall body health, heart and lungs.

About The Author

Gordon Black is a world-ranked Master swimmer and Canadian national record holder. A member of the British swim team in the late '60s, after thirty years out of the pool, last year Gordon returned to competitive swimming in the Masters forum. He offers an online weight loss, fitness and motivational coaching service through his web site www.gordonblack.com where his competitive comeback is chronicled. Gordon is currently working on a book based on his own weight management and fitness system - publisher's enquiries welcome!

gordon@gordonblack.com

Stretching Techniques for Running Calf Cramps

If you?re a regular sufferer of running calf cramps then the first thing you need to know is that there are 2 muscle groups associated with the calves and they both need attention.

There are two muscle groups of the calves - the Gastrocnemius and the Soleus. And while most people, especially runners, are familiar with a ?generalised? calf stretch, you should be aware of the main difference in stretching technique to gain maximum benefit for each of the muscle groups.

The main difference we speak of is whether your knees are bent or straight.

Having the knees straight in any of the calf stretches allows you to stretch the Gastrocnemius muscles while applying the same stretch with your knees bent allows you to stretch the muscles of the Soleus.

Most people are pretty good at stretching their Gastrocnemius muscles but totally forget about the muscles of the Soleus.

The Gastrocnemius muscle stretch

To stretch the Gastrocnemius try and avoid a common method of standing on the curb and dropping your heels ? this is too severe for a muscle to tolerate if it hasn?t lengthened sufficiently after any form of exercise.

Instead try this ? keep your body upright, put one leg out in font of the other with the knee bent and the other leg back with the knee straight ? it?s the same leg position as if you were leaning against a tree or post, except keep your body upright rather than leaning forward. For maximum stretch, keep the back foot flat on the ground.

Soleus muscle stretch

The same principles apply but it is important to bend the stretching leg at the knee.

This takes the Gastrocnemius muscle - which attaches above the knee - out of the stretch and concentrates the stretch on the Soleus.

Here?s another variation calf stretch. For this stretch you can use a door jam, a pole or fence, lamp post or railing: put your foot against the door frame/pole/fence, hold onto it with your hands and lean forward with your back straight.

If you?re wearing trainers, you?ll be able to put your foot against the door jam and get your heel as close as you can to the door and then bring yourself forward using your hands.

If you?re in bare feet or socks, you might not be able to get your heel against the door to start with but you can work towards it.

Copyright - www.Running-Cramp-Relief.com

Paul Newland is a health and nutrition consultant, trainer, martial arts instructor, commercial helicopter pilot and author. His Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide is the definitive guide to preventing, treating and curing cramps associated with exercise. In the Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide Newland speaks with 6 health, sports, nutrition, medical and complimentary health care professionals and explains why you get cramps, the best ways to treat them and how to prevent them from happening again.

Laser Hair Removal: Toss the Razor?

Permanent Hair Removal with Lasers? Can You Really Kiss the Razor Bye Bye?

Permanent hair removal via new laser technology is quickly becoming the method of choice for thousands of women to permanently banish those long leg and underarm shaving sessions, and to leave them soft and smooth without wasting precious minutes every day. So, what is the cost of laser hair removal, and what does the process entail? Well, I will tell you?

First of all, not everyone is eligible for laser hair removal, so you should definitely consult with a specialist or specialist organization before you even consider this route for permanent hair removal.

While laser hair removal is much less expensive than the (somewhat painful) method of removing hair called electrolysis, some individuals may only be eligible for electrolysis due to physical and hair characteristics which make laser hair removal very difficult or impossible.

First of all, any person who is exceptionally dark in skin pigmentation would not be a good candidate for this procedure, and may want to look into alternatives to lasers to remove unwanted body or facial hair. Additionally, people with tanned skin and light hair, or people with generally very light hair would not be good candidates.

Cost of Laser Hair Removal?

The cost can vary considerably, depending on whether you choose to do a large area of your body, like your legs (which will cost considerably more), or just a small area, like facial hair above the lip and so on. Generally each session costs roughly $500 for smaller or medium size areas, and depending on the surface area covered will cost more per session, and require return sessions to get all of the hair removed.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Well, I?ve got good and bad news here. You will require return treatments to keep the hair gone, and to get all of it, and contrary to what most people believe, you will not be able to hang up the razor forever, because you will still have a few stray hairs here and there. Trust me, it would be nearly impossible to get every single hair, maybe some day, but this technology has not come this far yet today. I will say this, you will be considerably smoother and have to worry about shaving way less though, so it?s still worth it.

And get this, while they know that laser hair removal makes your hair fall out, they still are not exactly sure why. In other words, there is conjecture that the laser action and heat below the surface of the skin breaks the hair follicle apart and destroys that hair permanently, but they don?t have 100% conclusive evidence of that theory yet. What happens after a laser treatment is that over the course of the next few weeks or months after treatment, the hair on the treated area just falls out. For whatever reason, laser hair removal tends to work best for people with a fair complexion and darker hair.

Interesting huh? So, if you were considering having your hair removed by a laser professionally, whether it be for your legs, or facial hairs or any other unwanted bodily hair, hopefully now you can go into it a little more educated!

Visit Laser Hair Removal Finder for more information where to find laser hair removal in your specific area, and what to expect. Danna Schneider is also the founder of Herbal Therapeutics Herbal Remedies and Supplements: Hair Removal Product.

College Weight Gain

Students today are faced with the serious reality of unwanted weight gain as they enter college. A recent study by Cornell University found that on average, college freshman gain about 0.5 pounds a week. This is almost 11 times more than the average weight gain among 17-and 18-year olds and almost 20 times more than the average weight gain among American adults! In the face of such staggering statistics two obvious questions arise: 1) Why are college students gaining weight at such an alarming rate? and 2) How can college weight gain be avoided?

Q: Why are college students gaining weight at such an alarming rate?

A: There are many different specifics that lead the student to gain weight in college, but they can be summed up into three main categories.

1.Increase in Calories

College life encourages an increase in the caloric intake of students. College is filled with social events and social events usually equal FOOD! Most college cafeterias serve their food buffet style, and when given access to unlimited amounts of food most people automatically overeat. Fast food, while laden with calories, is cheap so it appeals to the budget of a college student. Studying for long hours often leads to snacking for hours. Blended coffee drinks and smoothies are often staples in a college student?s diet even though these items often pack more calories than a regular meal.

2.Decrease in Activity

When students enter college most of them leave organized sports behind them. These students that were used to practicing five or more times a week for hours at a time are now left with no accountability to be active. Couple this with the hectic schedule that most college students deal with, and it begins to make sense why most incoming freshmen don?t even make time to find the campus gym, let alone visit it regularly!

3.Metabolism Killers

College students are notorious for crashing their metabolism by poorly managing their diets. This occurs when a student eats too few meals, and ends up eating extra large meals once or twice a day instead of proportioned meals throughout the day. A common metabolism killer of college students is skipping breakfast, the most important meal of the day as it starts one?s metabolism up in the morning. Eating late at night is another classic metabolism killer of college students.

Q: How can college weight gain be avoided?

A: The first step in avoiding weight gain is to be aware of the things that cause it. Couple that with the following three suggestions of proven ways to avoid weight gain, and you are looking at a plan of success!

1.Set a Goal

The best way to ensure that you don?t become the next college weight gain statistic is to make it your goal not to gain the weight. Be aware of the changes to your lifestyle once you enter college, and make a conscious effort to only allow healthy changes to occur. Post your goal where you can view it every day and periodically check your progress by weighing yourself.

2.Practice Nutritious Eating

Be aware of the pitfalls of college eating habits and concentrate on eating nutritious well-balanced meals. Avoid fried foods and foods high in calories. Eat as many fresh vegetables and fruits as you can, and practice portion control while roaming the cafeteria.

3.Join an Exercise Program

Whether you join an intramural sports team, enroll in PE, or attend an aerobics class the bottom line is that you need to be active in order to ward off the freshman fifteen. Find an activity that you enjoy and consistently do it. You should be exercising a minimum of half an hour three times each week. A great way to keep consistent is to build accountability with a friend.

Armed with an informed game plan and some effort, any college student can avoid weight gain. For more information on college weight gain, and for your own game plan visit www.AvoidTheFreshman15.com. You don?t have to settle for depressing weight gain as you navigate through the most exciting time of your life! You deserve the body of your dreams.

Diana Keuilian, Certified Personal Trainer, and author of ?Avoid The Freshman Fifteen?, has a proven method for avoiding college weight gain. Visit http://www.AvoidTheFreshman15.com to learn more. She is also the head Fitness Trainer for the nation?s leading online fitness site http://www.HitechPersonalFitness.com and board member of http://www.HitechTrainer.com

Spinning Exercise

Spinning exercise or studio cycling is not only popular these days it's an excellent form of fitness. It helps strengthen your heart, tone your glutes, calves, thighs in addition to being a great exercise to slim legs.

Spinning exercise classes usually consist of about 12 to 20 people. Classes range from 50 to 60 minutes and are set to music. The instructor takes the class on a ride that includes all types of terrain that produces a great spinning workout.

If you are the type of person who doesn't care for traditional exercise classes, this form of exercise is perfect for you. One of the many benefits of spinning is you will always feel like you're keeping up with the class because everyone finishes at the same time.

The special spinning bicycle that you pedal has a weighted flywheel in the front and makes you feel more like you're riding on a real bicycle. The spinning bike allows you to adjust the tension to keep pedaling within a comfortable range for your fitness level.

Adjustments can also be made to the handlebars and seat to make you more comfortable. Here are a few stationary exercise bike tips before you start.

Always bring a bottle of water to class and take frequent drinks while you ride. Spinning works up a sweat and it's important that you keep hydrated. Also bring a small towel to wipe away the sweat to keep more comfortable.

Learn to pace yourself because spinning exercise classes can be very high energy. Don't get caught up in the enthusiasm so much that you ride beyond your fitness level.

Wear padded bike shorts or consider bringing a seat cushion until you get use to the bike seat. They tend to be a little hard on your rear end until you get use to them.

The first step is to sign up for a class so you can start enjoying the benefits of spinning. Remember like any class, the instructors will vary on their focus. Some take you on an imaginary ride while other concentrate on a more rigorous variety of drills.

If you find you don't like the style of one instructor, try another class. It could be a completely different experience with an instructor you like better.

Using a spinning cycle will give you the aerobic burst you need to get your heart racing and boost your endurance. Just climb on and start pedaling to your limit for a spinning exercise workout you'll enjoy.

Copyright ? 2005 Treadmill Info.com All Rights Reserved.

This article is supplied by http://www.treadmill-info.com where you will find valuable information, ratings, reviews, articles and buying tips before you make the investment in quality fitness equipment. For more fitness related articles go to: http://www.treadmill-info.com/articles1.html

Prolonged Treatment for Whiplash may do more Harm than Good

Whiplash frequently affects people involved in rear end car accidents; in fact some 22% of all smashes result in soft tissue damage to the neck. Fortunately the condition is not serious and in the majority of cases the symptoms disappear within a few months at the most. However, the symptoms of whiplash are painful for most people and can be extremely debilitating. The headaches, neck ache and back ache commonly suffered, can result in sleeplessness and depression.

Commonly the therapy for whiplash involves chiropractic treatments and anti inflammatory drugs. Sometimes heat treatments are used and immobilisation, whilst not used as commonly today, is occasionally recommended. However, new studies in Canada have shown that the greater the medical intervention in whiplash treatment the longer it might take to recover.

According to the study carried out on 2500 whiplash patients, if doctors avoid heavy treatment of sufferers within the first month of an injury being sustained, then the pain may subside more quickly. The study showed that extensive manual therapy may be detrimental in the long term and may prolong suffering by up to a year.

Many doctors now suggest that the patient should try to resume normal activity as soon as possible in order to mobilise the injury. Physical activity is encouraged to promote strength and flexibility in the neck and to increase the range of motion.

When someone is affected by whiplash the chances are that the injury was someone else?s fault. Most rear end accidents are not disputed and the person in the car at the back is at fault in the eyes of the law. If you have had a whiplash injury in the last three years and it can be shown that someone else was responsible for your pain then you are legally entitled to make a compensation claim for your personal injury and for any losses.

If you have been unlucky enough to be involved in an accident that resulted in whiplash then we suggest that you consult with a doctor.They will be able to prescribe the best treatment and drugs for you?re your injury.

For more information visit www.car-accident-claim.com and get free legal advice about your accident.

-ENDS-

Editorial notes:

Car Accident Adviceline http://www.car-accident-claim.com, 0808 143 43 42, is an independent company that works towards claiming compensation for people who have had a non fault car accident. Their services are completely free to use as all costs and legal fees are recovered from the person at faults insurance company or written off.

By Sophie Evans ? Car Accident Adviceline http://www.car-accident-claim.com 0808 143 43 42 - Claiming compensation for people involved in non-fault accidents.

Muscle Cramps & Jelly Beans ? When a Sugar Isn't a Sugar

It?s amazing how many very good athletes don?t consider pre-race nutrition as one of their strategies for winning or at least doing well, injury-free, in an event.

I was speaking to a runner on a few days ago before a race and his strategy was to load up on jelly beans 20 minutes before lining up for a half marathon . . . unfortunately I needed more than 20 minutes to prove to him why this wasn?t a good idea.

Fatigue is certainly an important factor to consider if you suffer exercise induced muscle cramps. The primary source of fuel for the muscle is from carbohydrates and one of the most basic forms of carbohydrate are sugars.

However, when we say ?sugars? ? people think of sugarcane sugar like in a candy bar or jelly beans. But the truth is that there are certain building sugars for your body and you?ve got to learn to differentiate those.

There?s a family of sugars called monosaccharides, polysaccharides and oligosaccharides and these are the building sugars that you want ? not sugarcane sugar, or fructose, or sucralose or syrup or any of those types of things.

A good source of carbohydrate from fruit, in particular, is important to provide muscles with important natural sugars ? monosaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides - that assist with the storage and supply of glucose for the muscles.

And these monosaccharides and polysaccharides help you recover and repair your muscle faster after major exercise or an event. Your muscle basically works like an engine that needs good quality gasoline to perform well and those saccharides are like the gasoline for your muscles.

So it?s very important to have those saccharides and the carbohydrates and electrolytes in those muscle areas so that you can perform more efficiently and prevent cramping.

It?s also so very important to have a carbohydrate meal with saccharides within 30 minutes after your performance. We?ve consistently found athletes that do that ? even if it?s just eating some fresh fruit within the 30 minutes ? recover faster than athletes that don?t do it.

To start any nutritional program the first place to start is to increase your intake of fruits and vegetables. Most people do not take in the recommended intake of 9 to 12 servings of fruit and vegetables per day and for athletes and people who train regularly this means 12 servings.

A serving is equivalent to a small banana, a medium sized apple, 1 cup of raw salad greens (about the size of your hand), ? cup of fruit or vegetable juice (6 oz), ? cup cooked vegetables around the size of your fist or a baseball and ? cup dried fruit.

Just meeting the daily recommendations for fruit and vegetable intake will go a long way towards better health . . . and that extends into physical performance and reducing your overall risk of cramping.

Copyright - www.Running-Cramp-Relief.com

Paul Newland is a health and nutrition consultant, trainer, martial arts instructor, commercial helicopter pilot and author. His Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide is the definitive guide to preventing, treating and curing cramps associated with exercise. In the Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide Newland speaks with 6 health, sports, nutrition, medical and complimentary health care professionals and explains why you get cramps, the best ways to treat them and how to prevent them from happening again.

Allegra

Allegra is effectively used to treat allergic symptoms like itchy red eyes, stuffy nose and throat irritation. It contains antihistamine and decongestant, and can be consumed orally on an empty stomach 1 to 2 hours before lunch, twice daily.

It is recommended that you avoid high fat meal while consuming these tablets as they could slower the effectiveness of this medicine. It is necessary that take the dosage as prescribed by your doctor and should be swallowed in entirety. Please do not crush or chew the tablets or take more than prescribed. Avoid taking antacids containing aluminum and magnesium within 2 hours of taking this medication or within 14 days after stopping an MAO Inhibitor.

Please inform your doctor if you have a medical history of allergies, kidney/urinary problems, enlarged prostate, glaucoma (narrow angle), severe high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems (hyperthyroid). The consumption of alcohol is also not permissible when taking this drug as it could aggravate its side effects.

Please avoid the usage of this drug during pregnancy or breast feeding. If it is very necessary to consume the same please consult your doctor or medical practitioner before using the same. Also inform your doctor if you are planning to take or are already taking any prescription or nonprescription drug.

On event of an overdose please contact your local poison control center or hospital immediately. A few of the symptoms of overdose may include irregular or unusually slow or fast heartbeat, unusual nervousness or excitement, rapid breathing, confusion, hallucinations, and seizures.

Some moderate side effects like nausea, stomach upset, trouble sleeping, headache, or cold symptoms may occur. If these persist or worsen, notify your doctor immediately. If you find any of the symptoms not listed above please get in touch with your doctor immediately. For more click Allegra.

For more visit http://www.pharmaexpressrx.com.

Seven Sloppy Uses of Medical Tests

Even excellent tools can be mis-used. Here are seven sins of medical testing:

1. Ordering the wrong test for the right condition.

If I had a nickel for every time a doctor ordered a carotid artery test in a patient with a fainting spell, I could fund my retirement several times over. And this is despite the fact that problems with the carotid arteries (the pulsating blood-vessels in the front of the neck) are incapable of generating fainting spells! Narrowed or blocked carotid arteries are capable of generating many other symptoms -- including paralysis on one side of the body or loss of speech -- but not unconsciousness. Yet this test is frequently ordered in a knee-jerk fashion for people with fainting spells. Moreover, when the artery is found to be narrowed, it sometimes triggers a needless and risky operation on the affected artery. All because of a test that shouldn't have been ordered in the first place!

2. Treating the test instead of the patient.

There are situations in which a tool gets confused with a goal. One example of this is in the treatment of people with epileptic seizures. Most people with seizures do well with the help of seizure-suppressing medications. The amount, or level, of some of these medications can be measured in the bloodstream and there are circumstances in which it is useful to do so. A drug level can be a useful tool. But it's only a tool, and nothing more.

The goals of seizure treatment are simple -- no seizures and no side-effects. What could be more straightforward? However, some physicians appear to believe that the goal of treatment is to produce a certain drug level on a lab report. When this occurs, trouble can ensue. For example, a patient might be doing great on a certain dose of a medication that stops his or her seizures without causing side effects. (How can one improve on that?) But then a doctor, ordering a drug level because it seems like the right thing to do, feels compelled by the number appearing on the lab slip to lower the dose of medication. When this occurs, a seizure sometimes results. This is a seizure that didn't need to happen.

3. Using a test as a substitute for interacting with the patient.

I have great respect for emergency physicians. Having done emergency work myself, I know it's not an easy job. Emergency physicians work in a fish bowl, subject to criticism and second-guessing for decisions made in crisis situations and under pressure of time. That said, one gains the impression that sometimes they order thousands of dollars worth of tests based on a 30-second interview and a cursory exam. Yet there are cases in which, if a few more questions had been asked of the patient or family, the diagnostic possibilities and choice of tests would have changed.

4. Ordering irrelevant tests.

There are certain tests -- like a chloride level in spinal fluid or blood-levels of some of the newer seizure-preventing drugs -- that are not known to be useful for anything. But they get ordered anyway.

5. Forgetting that tests are imperfect.

All tests -- from high-tech scans to lowly blood measurements -- have false-positives (overcalls) and false-negatives (undercalls). But sometimes test-results are handled as if they're perfect and never wrong. As an example, sometimes patients have attacks for which the descriptions are compelling for a diagnosis of seizures, but then have normal electroencephalograms (brain-wave tests). Electoencephalograms can be very helpful, but it's possible for a patient who really does have seizures to have a normal tracing. Yet it's not unusual to encounter cases where patients' normal brain-wave tests kept them from receiving the treatments they needed.

6. Forgetting that there aren't tests for every medical condition.

When patients report hard-to-diagnose symptoms to their doctors, medical tests are often ordered. Sometimes all the test-results are normal. Does this mean there is nothing wrong with the patient? Not necessarily. There are many conditions -- like migraine, Parkinson's disease, fibromyalgia and restless legs syndrome -- for which conventional tests show no abnormality. We just don't have tests for everything. So it can happen that the tests are normal, but the patient isn't.

7. Failing to order tests that could affect treatment.

One axiom of medical management is that a test should only be done if its different outcomes would lead to different plans of action. If the plan of action is the same no matter how the test turns out, then why do the test? There's a flip side to this axiom. If a test's different outcomes would indeed lead to different plans of action, then the test really should be done, or at least be strongly considered. So, when it comes to ordering a test, there can be sins of omission as well as sins of commission.

It is tragic when a patient develops progressive memory loss and confusion. But it's even more tragic when it is assumed that the cause is Alzheimer's disease (for which there is no good treatment) when it's really due to something else for which good treatment is available. A risk-free head scan and a small assortment of blood tests can check for a number of curable conditions, but sometimes these tests are omitted.

(C) 2006 by Gary Cordingley

Gary Cordingley, MD, PhD, is a clinical neurologist, teacher and researcher who works in Athens, Ohio. For more health-related articles see his websites at: http://www.cordingleyneurology.com and http://www.neurologyarticles.com.