Important Things To Know About MILK ALLERGIES

Capillaritis with acute hemorrhage associated with milk allergy in an infant - Photo: Wikimedia

Milk allergies occur because the immune system mistakenly sees milk protein as something that is

dangerous for the body and tries to fight it off. It starts as an allergic reaction causing a child to be

fussy and irritable along with an upset stomach and other symptoms.

Breastfeeding lowers the risk of the child developing a milk allergy. In many cases, however, the allergy is said to be genetic. Normally, by the time a child reaches the age of three to five years old, the allergy goes away all on its own.

People who have milk allergies should really pay good attention to what they are eating because a lot of foods nowadays are made up of milk and other milk products. A milk allergy is different from lactose intolerance and without extra caution, a milk allergy may turn into a severe illness due to direct contact with foods that cause it.

Milk Allergy And The Immune System

A person who has a milk allergy reacts to the proteins in the milk. The substance known as Curd which forms the chunks that can be observed in sour milk contains 80% of the milk’s proteins while Whey which is the watery part holds 20% of the milk’s content.

If a person who has allergic reactions to milk eats food that contains milk products, the immune system will fight the milk proteins because it mistakenly sees them as invaders thus harmful to the body. The immune system protects the body from these milk proteins by creating antibodies known as immunoglobulin that trigger the release of chemicals into the body such as histamine.

The release of these chemicals affect the different parts of the body such as the gastrointestinal tract, the skin, the respiratory system and the cardiovascular system which then causes the allergy symptoms like nausea, headache, wheezing, itchy hives and stomachache.

The Common Symptoms

Just like any other food allergy reactions, the symptoms occur within ten minutes to a couple of hours

after eating the food that caused the allergy. The symptoms may sometimes last for less than a day affecting any of these three body systems: the skin, the gastrointestinal tract and the respiratory tract.

Milk allergy manifests in the skin in a form of red rashes, redness, and swelling in the areas of the mouth or eczema. The gastrointestinal tract, on the other hand, is affected in the form of belly cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The respiratory tract has symptoms ranging from itchy and watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing to asthma attacks coupled with wheezing and coughing.

A severe reaction known as anaphylaxis may also occur to some patients. It causes the swelling of the mouth as well as the throat and airways that lead to the lungs leading to the inability of the patient to breathe. There is also a dangerous drop in the blood pressure which causes the dizziness and passing out and sometimes immediately lead to shock.

Going To The Doctor

Once your doctor suspects that you might be having a milk allergy, you will be referred to a specialist

that is equipped to better treat your allergic reactions. The allergy specialist will then ask you some questions that may cover information about how often these reactions occur and the time that it usually takes before the allergy manifests itself in your system. He or she will also ask you if there are members of your family who has the same case of allergic reactions that you have.

An allergy specialist performs a skin test on you and this test will involve a placing of liquid extracts of milk protein on the patient’s forearm or back. The skin will be pricked a bit and the allergist waits if there would appear reddish spot forms thus indicating the allergic reaction.

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Can ACUPUNCTURE Remove My Wrinkles?

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All of us are fighting against a common foe, that of aging and all of the problems that it brings along with it.  For some of us, it brings along problems that we need to fight on a continuous basis in the form of disease or decreased energy.  For others, it may be a matter of the effects of aging showing on our face and other areas of our body.  People will spend an unusual amount of money in order to make themselves look young again.  Not only do they spend a lot of money, they may also take risks with their health in order to remove wrinkles.

Some of the most popular forms of facelifts include chemical peels, surgery, and microdermabrasion.  All of these are invasive and can damage our skin in order to make it look better.  This has sparked an interest in natural health as a way to remove some of the wrinkles from our face, specifically through the use of acupuncture as a facelift.  Is acupuncture actually able to help remove wrinkles from our face and to make us look young again?  The answer may surprise you.

First of all, it's important for us to explain that acupuncture is not and never will be the same as a facelift.  This is because treatment through acupuncture is natural and not invasive in any way.  The only thing that is invasive about acupuncture are the needles that are used and they hardly even damage your skin at all.  Regardless of the actual term, however, many people have experienced great benefits with their skin through the use of acupuncture.  This is for several different reasons.

Some doctors will use acupuncture directly on the wrinkles in order to stimulate the skin to grow and to heal.  Going deeper than that, however, acupuncture actually promotes the free flow of energy throughout the body which can make you feel and look better from the inside out.  Whenever you are glowing and youthful as a result of your acupuncture treatments, the effects will be plain to see on the outside as well.

Although acupuncture cannot remove all of the wrinkles from your face, it is one step toward a more natural, healthy you.  By keeping your body in balance and maintaining that balance, you will take a chunk out of the aging process that will show to everyone that looks.

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Homemade ALOE VERA Soap

Photo by Kake . 

Homemade ALOE VERA SOAP can be a very useful product. Even in houses where allergies and sensitive skin aren't prevalent, there are still many benefits to using soap that is aloe vera-based and not created from chemical products. A lot of people make their own soaps because it is so simple, and often have a specific scent or type of product that they like to include that might not be found in soaps that you can buy at the store. Making aloe vera soap is a very simple process, and allows you to have better cleansing products without having to spend a fortune at specialty stores.

Start your homemade aloe vera soap project by grating the soap base into a heat-resistant bowl. Glycerin soap and hypoallergenic soap are two popular choices to use as a base. Use 2 cups of this soap as a base, and then add 1/4 cup of aloe gel that is fresh from a plant. Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and leave it until the materials have melted and blended themselves into one. If you want to add scents or textures, you will need to let the mixture cool for a little bit. If you don't, you can simply put your soap into a mold that is coated with Vaseline for easy removal. Refrigerate the soap overnight and then set it in a dry, airy place in your home for about 3 weeks so it can dry completely.

Making homemade aloe vera soap is something that many people enjoy because it offers a great alternative to store bought soaps and also to the messy nature of using liquid aloe or gel-based cleansing products. Anyone can make their own homemade soaps quickly and easily, regardless of their abilities or experience in making soap. This is a great way to get the skincare products that you need without the hassle or expense of searching for them in stores near you.

Having an aloe plant thriving in your garden, or even indoors on your windowsill, is well worth the effort. The gel the plant produces has a multitude of uses and its elegant appearance is a feature in any landscape.

Grace Quill is a keen gardener and while having great respect for modern medicine, having worked in the industry for over twenty years, she is an advocate of common sense natural healing where appropriate. She and her husband live a contented life in a mudbrick house surrounded by native bush. Grace's current goal is to slowly turn her light green lifestyle into a truly environmentally friendly one.   Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Benefits Of PADANGUSTHASANA

Photo  by amyjirsa_yogini 

This is one of the basic yoga asanas which we learn initially while learning yoga. All the yoga poses help in improving your flexibility which becomes very useful in our daily life. The asana is also known as head to foot pose. Your desire to regulate your blood pressure can be done by this asana. The pressure on your head and the stretching of the muscles relax your brain, making you work out things more easily and calmly. The stretching and pulling tones your body and relaxes you by making you feel at ease. The bending helps your abdominal organs as it massages the liver and spleen making it useful to the optimum level.

If done properly this asana would benefit not only body but would teach you to be calm and patient. It has to be done slowly and not in a haste if you want to receive its full benefits. The tiring muscles would be elevated and rejuvenated by this pose. The stretching of the muscles helps your hips, thighs, hamstrings, groin, and calves. When these muscles are stretched they make your body agiler and fit. It helps to strengthen the other muscles which would help in recuperating your tired body. The less stress you give to your important organs it would work in a better fashion and help your health.

With the improper diet, many of us suffer from gastric and indigestion problems. As we do not take care of our health and does not even look at the warning signs our body sends to us. This exercise helps in removing the bloating feeling caused by indigestion and gastric troubles. It stretches most parts of your body like back, spine, and legs which also plays a major role at the time of conception.

Your knees are strengthened; the pressure helps in reduction of flat foot. Some other benefits are in strengthening your prostate gland, reduction in blood pressure helps in removing your backache, less menstrual discomfort is also provided by this asana.

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Does ACUPUNCTURE Really Work?

Photo  by acidpix 

Things don't always necessarily need to be new in order to be helpful.  This is true in a lot of areas in life and is also true when it comes to certain types of medical treatments.  As a matter of fact, there were treatments that were being performed thousands of years ago in Asia that still have some medical benefits, even today.  One of those is the practice of acupuncture, something that is becoming more popular in Western society today.  What exactly is ACUPUNCTURE and how can it help you with your health?

Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine in which small, hair sized needles are inserted into the body at specific locations in order to alter the flow of energy.  These channels which, according to Chinese medicine, run through the body keep everything in line and balanced.  If one of these should happen to get out of balance, however, it could cause a problem in the entire body and depending on where the imbalance occurred, it could affect a specific area of the body.  This is really the essence of yin and yang, the two forces which regulate almost everything within the human body.

Many people are nervous about going to the acupuncturist but, as a matter of fact, it is actually one of the safest forms of medical treatment that there is.  In fact, there are very few problems that can occur as long as a few safety guidelines are followed by a doctor.  This would include such things as only using prepackaged, sterile needles and, of course, understanding what they are doing so that the needles are inserted in the proper areas.

Although it has not been totally embraced by all areas of the medical community, acupuncture is actually a relatively safe way for you to enhance your health through the use of natural medicine.  Some of the studies that have been done on acupuncture actually show that it does contain some benefit and that it causes certain changes in a person's physiology that may help them in the healing process.

So, if you're having a difficult time with any number of things physically, acupuncture may be able to help you to get back on the road to better health.  Even though it is not a total replacement for traditional medicine, it can still enhance your ability to live a healthy life.

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The Magic and WITCHCRAFT of Water Spirits

Photo  by Pilottage 

The process of self-transformation in magic and witchcraft is very difficult to understand.  We all have been told over and over how we ought to act and think, what we ought to be like, but somehow the doing of it is not as easy as they make you believe.  We seem to make spiritual progress, but then we always slip back to square one.  Even when we see that we have indeed grown spiritually over our lives, nonetheless we don’t understand how it is that we got here from there.

Self-transformation is a process which cannot be understood intellectually but can only be felt.  The easiest and most effective technique which is employed in witchcraft and magic is the resort to nature spirits, especially tree spirits and water spirits.  Although some nature spirits such as cave and mountain spirits can be strict and difficult to deal with, or else require lots of propitiation, water and tree spirits are mellow and gentle.

Go alone to a creek or river in a wilderness area where there won’t be any people about.  You ought to go alone because if you take a friend with you, then you will be tempted to refer your judgment to your friend to be validated, rather than take responsibility yourself for your own intuitive judgment.

It is best to be alone when you don’t know what you’re doing.  Begin walking upstream, and pay close attention to the sounds and sights.  Water spirits are usually located in places where there are deep pools, springs, bends in the river, rapids, cataracts, etc.  Also, you usually find striking physical formations or features where water spirits live, such as interesting vegetation or unusual rock formations.  There is often a noticeable change in the river’s sound:  if it has been calm, then it suddenly becomes gurgling or vice versa.  In short, you will usually find some sensory clue which indicates that a water spirit is present.

However, you ought to be able to feel the spirit directly:  i.e. feel that this particular spot in the river has a unique personality or feeling to it.  Whenever you receive the feeling that you have arrived at the correct spot, then be assured that you have arrived at the correct spot.  Magic and witchcraft are a matter of learning to trust yourself.

Then sit on the bank of the river and just relax.  You can talk to the water spirit.  That’s another reason to go alone so that you don’t feel silly in front of another person.  Explain to the spirit who you are, and why you have come.  Ask the spirit to help you wash away your self-pity. Then remove your clothes, and jump in.  If the water is shallow, then just splash around.  Do not use soap.  If the river is not polluted, then take a sip.



Then get out, thank the water spirit, dry yourself off, and leave.  It is best to do this witchcraft and magic every day if this is possible; but if it isn’t then just go as frequently as you are able.  If you’re serious about your magic and witchcraft, you should go at least one time a week, even if this entails freezing weather.  You might be surprised to find out that you only feel cold before you jump; while you are in the water the spirit will keep you warm.  It is also a good idea to go whenever someone has put a bad vibe on you; or when you feel self-pitying, desperate, or depressed.  At first, you might not feel much of a difference after visiting a water spirit, but after you’ve been doing it for a while you will feel a definite change after visiting the spirit.  You will be amazed how much the spirit calms and soothes you when you go to it in a mood of upset or turmoil.

You can obtain holy water to be used in purifying and blessing from a water spirit.  This is best done when the moon is dark – warning, before the moon has risen – and with the moon in a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces).  As you draw the water, ask the spirit to bless it for you.

Magic and witchcraft are merely sets of techniques for transforming ourselves by eradicating self-pity. By performing the same act of witchcraft and magic – such as resorting to a water spirit – on a daily basis without fail, the ultimate success is assured.  Article Directory: Article Dashboard

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Benefits And Usefulness Of TRIKANASANA

Yoga Pose (Utthita-) Trikonasana/Trikanasana (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Trikanasana is also known as the Triangle Pose. As and when you look at the asana you can easily notice why this name has been given to this asana. It works out every muscle in your body from the arms to the legs. It is a great way to shed some of the excess weight you have been carrying all along. 

This asana helps all those have been struggling with a weight problem. If you are looking for a good figure and a curved waistline, this is the pose to do. It helps in curing rheumatism and lumbago, a problem with your lower spine region. It is a good asana to make your shoulders and arms more flexible. A stiff body can achieve a state of flexibility by doing this asana. It has a direct impact on your muscles as you start doing it.

Your neck and arms get stretched. The stretching of the neck and shoulder muscles helps you recover from spondylitis problems. Spondylitis can be termed as one of the commonest problems faced by many, due to the long hours of sitting in front of the computer.

The monthly cycle comes at the right time as well as with lesser pain. Any other problem with the menstrual cycle is corrected, benefiting you thoroughly. The upper body is very well toned too. Due to the continuous stretching, it helps your body to become a reservoir of good health. Problems with your heart are rectified helping it to function in a better manner.

It massages and strengthens the thyroid glands, kidneys and the adrenal glands to function in a better manner. It reduces the production of the cortisol, a stress hormone, helping you to be less stressed. The hormone level is very well regulated preventing many of the problems.

While doing this exercise, your legs and buttocks are strengthened as well as toned. Blood pressure problems are also rectified. If you are suffering from digestion or constipation problem this is the best thing to help you out. The condition of the appendicitis is also corrected by doing this exercise regularly.

The muscles of your abdomen and the hip joints become more flexible. The reproductive system functions better with the intensity of this pose. It helps in creating a proper immune balance to help you fight diseases.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautions before following any of the asanas from this article and the site. To avoid any problems while doing the asanas, it is advised that you consult a doctor and a yoga instructor. The responsibility lies solely with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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You Can Build Your Car Powered By SOLAR, A Green Energy Source

Photo  by borman818 

All cars are powered by gas. But with the volatility of crude oil prices and because it is not a renewable, something must be done before it is too late. Given that solar energy a green energy source is used to power a community, you can also do this on a small scale by using the same principles to build your own car.

But what do you need to make this work? A lot of things but the two most important are the solar arrays and the batteries.

The solar array is vital because this is what’s used to collect the sun’s rays and then converts this into electrical energy. There are two types to choose from in the market namely the prefabricated type and the individual kind which you set up yourself.

If you are looking for branded parts, check out either Siemens or ASE Americas that sell terrestrial grade cells and the space grade cells. The lower end model which can produce a significant amount of power is the terrestrial grade version.

Proper wiring must be done to make sure that if one of the panels is not working, your vehicle will still move. If you are worried that the voltage of the solar array should match the system voltage of your motor, you should not worry because it will still run.

We mentioned earlier that the battery is also important because this is where the solar energy will be stored. Your options for this are lead-acid, lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium. Just how many you need to buy will depend on your motor’s voltage.

When you finally have these two components, these will now have to be connected to the motor. So you know how much juice is left in your batteries, you will also need to install instrumentation similar to the heads-up display console on regular cars which tells you your speed, mileage, and gas.

Don’t forget to put a steering wheel, suspension, brakes, tires, and hubs. You may not be able to make a car that has the same features as like what you see done by one of the three US automakers but just enough to be able to drive it from one place to the next.

The only cars that use solar energy so far are the ones only used in races especially the one held in Australia from travels from the northern part of the country all the way to the south. If this has helped people realize that renewable energy is really the key to the future, the big automakers should try tapping this technology instead of relying on gasoline.

But apart from solar energy as a green energy source, biodiesel is another alternative. This is a combination of alcohol like methanol and a chemical process that separates glycerine and methyl esters (biodiesel) from fats or vegetable oils. This can also be done using corn and sugarcane.

Although these are not renewable, these are still considered as a green energy source because it is cleaner than conventional gasoline. This means you do not release harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide into the air which causes damage to the environment. So if you can’t build a solar-powered car, consider a different fuel alternative.

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How Autism is Treated

A child with autism (three years old) pointing to the fish in an aquarium - Photo: Wikimedia

Once you find out your child is Autistic you will then want to begin some type of treatment plan. There are many different treatments for Autism. Many worries that they will have to use medications that can be dangerous to their child. This is not the case. While some children need medication not all children do. There are a lot of other treatments available to the Autistic child beside prescription medication.

Some people will go with the standard type of treatment plan, while others will try an alternative, natural plan. We will look at some different types of treatment for Autism.

Medication

There are many types of medications used in treating Autism. These medications can be for different problems associated with Autism. Some are used to help with anxiety that is often found in Autistic children. Autistic children sometimes have problems with falling asleep. Medication can be used to help with this. Antipsychotic drugs are often used in children dealing with behavioral problems. These medications will not cure the Autism. Medications can have terrible side effects. The child needs to be monitored closely while on any medication.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy helps to teach the Autistic child to be independent. They learn daily skills they need like dressing or taking a bath. They will work on fine motor skills. They also teach the child to use any devices they may have to help them function in daily life. They will be taught safety measures. This could be safe when outside, or dangers in the house.

Physical Therapy

Many Autistic children require physical therapy. This type of therapy can help children with low muscle tone. They also work with young children on basic motor skills. This can include walking, standing, and rolling. Many Autistic children can have other health problems. These problems can benefit from physical therapy too.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy will concentrate on teaching the Autistic child appropriate behaviors. Usually, this will include some form of a reward system. They are taught how to act in social settings. This therapy is often done in the child's home setting. The parents are taught ways to deal with the child's unwanted behaviors. Usually, an Autistic child will learn they will be rewarded for good behaviors, and they will stop some of the bad behavior.

Speech Therapy

Autistic children often have a hard time communicating. They have problems understanding nonverbal cues. Some Autistic children do not speak at all, so they have to be taught ways to communicate with others. Children with Autism need to be taught about body language.  Some children with Autism that do not speak are taught to communicate by signing, or with the use of pictures. The speech therapist will work on getting a nonverbal child to speak.

These are just a few of the many treatments available to a child with Autism. Not all children will require all of the treatments. The most important factor is to find a treatment plan that works for your child. With proper treatment, your Autistic child can thrive.

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The Landscape of the SOUL

Photo  by Moyan_Brenn 

Through the years, we accumulate a series of experiences. Our tendency is to evaluate and simply reflect on what we have been through and what we have learned. This inward site into what we can no longer see with our eyes allows us to see through them through our soul.

     The landscape of the soul creates a movement and a synchronistic pattern between our heart and our mind through the inner visions of our soul. When the heart and imagination join forces to look back or look forward, we are deepening our awareness of who we really are. This deepening of who we really are is our soul.

     It has been said that "our hearts will not rest until we rest in thee." This is our journey in life. It is our journey home. It is the journey into the spacial quality of existence that brought us into this world. It is the journey of what is leading us through this life. And, it is the journey back to where it all began.

     One could say that the infant and the elderly are more soul than body. As you and I develop our personality and ego, we begin to think we are somebody. Ram Dass calls this "somebody training." We begin to think we are real and act on this appearance of being as we move into adulthood. When we mature, we go back into what Ram Dass has called "nobody training."

     We spend a great deal of time learning to develop independence from infancy only to lose it again as we die. It is the journey from innocence to grace. The human expression is a journey with many ups and downs. What keeps us on track and often sane in an insane world is the "landscape of the soul." The landscape of the soul gives us the strength to do the impossible and give us hope when there is none.

     Even though all parts of the self-needs to be embraced with scrutiny and unconditional love, there is something inside us perfecting our true nature. Our authentic self-knows we are growing through life and simply going through life at the same time. This delicate balance between these two forces of nature enables us to stay on our path. It is the path a knowing who we are through the various experiences and expressions of our life. Insodoing, we learn to trust in our soul and find direction there when a direction in life is not present.

Samuel Oliver, author of, "What the Dying Teach Us: Lessons on Living

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Cool GIRL TATTOOS - Flirty, Fun, and Feminine

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It's no secret that lots of women have tattoos. In fact, more women have tattoos today than ever before. This is partly because tattooing, in general, is more acceptable, but partially because more women have started asking their tattoo artists to draw up and ink them with cool girl tattoos.

What exactly is a cool girl design? The question is a subjective one that you will have to answer for yourself because the tattoo you choose is one you'll have to live with for the rest of your life. Your tattoo design should be one that reflects your individuality, personality, and unique tastes.

Some styles of girl tattoos are more popular than others. These tattoo designs are good choices because they are flattering on almost anyone, they are classic designs that are unlikely to go out of style, and they can be easily customized to suit your tastes. There are also some places on the body that are especially popular spots for tattoos.

Star tattoos can be very cool designs. If you like simplicity, a basic star design is the perfect tattoo for you: it's just a series of lines, filled in with ink if you want. But if you want to add a little customization, you can do that with this design too. Try embellishing the vertices of the stars, or maybe curving the lines for a smoother shape.

Other styles of celestial tattoos are also popular. Lots of women choose a tribal style sun for their tattoo. This is another basic shape: a circle that is surrounded by four lines shaped to look like rays. This basic idea can be adapted to fit your tastes. You could make the lines wavy, if you want, or even position the "rays" around your navel to give the illusion of a sun.

In fact, lots of women choose to get tattoos around their navel or close by, on their hips. This can be a great way of attracting attention from men: when they see your flirty, feminine tattoo, they'll know that you're a fun girl who's not afraid to be an individual. If you want something a little more discreet, you could also consider an ankle tattoo.

By far the most popular place for girl tattoos is the lower back. This is an ideal location because it is relatively large, which means that almost any design you can imagine can be fit here. Also, the smooth skin makes it easier for your artist to do a great job on even the most intricate patterns. Don't underestimate how sexy it can be for a man to get a glimpse of a little lower back ink!

Ultimately, the decision about what tattoo to get is yours. But if you're looking for something that is flirty, fun, and feminine, you should definitely consider the most popular styles of the cool girl tattoos.

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Don't Believe... KNOW!

Photo  by Tony Fischer Photography 

The spiritual evolution of this planet and its inhabitants is currently in a rapid state of change, a new era is being born, and we are no longer content to be believers, as sheep in a "flock". People are waking up to the knowledge that we can be masters of our own destiny, and are looking to the ancient cultures who have survived to show us the way forward.

How can we break free from our definitions, when we are bound by systems, and rules and regulations, and "normal procedures". What escape routes are there when all we know is all we have been taught. What is there outside the world we know, and how can we find it and finally be free.

Ancient knowledge and practices from Shamanism, Wicca, Vodou, Druidism and many others are being used and adapted to our modern lives to re-connect us to the worlds of spirit. We are re-discovering that everything in our universe has energy, consciousness, vibration and a power of its own, something the ancients have always known.

By lovingly connecting ourselves to this universal energy, we can know that everything within it has its own spirit, and is connected to everything else. Deep personal transformations can occur as we align ourselves to the loving universal consciousness, giving us back the power to create our own personal spirituality and to KNOW spirit to the very core of our being.

“I don't believe, I know.” Carl Jung.

“You are not my enemies, you are my brothers and sisters. You did not do anything to me or my people. All that happened a long time ago in the lives of our ancestors. And, at that time I might actually have been on the other side. We are all children of the Great Spirit, we all belong to Mother Earth. Our Planet is in great trouble and if we keep carrying old grudges and do not work together, we will all die.” Chief Seattle.

“There is no one who can take our place. Each of us weaves a strand in the web of creation. There is no one who can weave that strand for us. What we have to contribute is both unique and irreplaceable. What we withhold from life is lost to life. The entire world depends upon individual choices.” Duane Elgin.

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Your Brain's Response To Acute STRESS!

A gel-filled stress ball. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.

The events that provoke stress are called stressors, and they cover a whole range of situations - everything from outright physical danger to making a class presentation or taking a semester's worth of your toughest subject.

Stress and the way we think

Particularly in normal working life, much of our stress is subtle and occurs without obvious threat to survival. Most come from things like work overload, conflicting priorities, inconsistent values, over-challenging deadlines, conflict with co-workers, unpleasant environments and so on. Not only do these reduce our performance as we divert mental effort into handling them, they can also cause a great deal of unhappiness.

What is the effect of acute stress?

The best way to envision the effect of acute stress is to imagine oneself in a primitive situation, such as being chased by a bear.

The Brain's Response to Acute Stress

In response to seeing the bear, a part of the brain called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system is activated.

The release of Steroid Hormones. The HPA systems trigger the production and release of steroid hormones ( glucocorticoids), including the primary stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is very important in marshaling systems throughout the body (including the heart, lungs, circulation, metabolism, immune systems, and skin) to deal quickly with the bear.

The release of Catecholamines. The HPA system also releases certain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) called catecholamines, particularly those known as known as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (also called adrenaline).

What is a Stress Ball?

What if we told you that it’s possible to work out and relieve stress at the same time? And that it’s easy, requires little concentration and won’t cause you to break a sweat? Or that by consistently using this hand-held object, you will notice an increase in strength?

Well, it is a stress ball! So what are you waiting for? Get yourself a stress ball today!

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The Fascination of the Design TATTOO

Photo by Binder.donedat 

Tattoos are still gaining in popularity. The design tattoos are more radical than ever before and so are the spots they are placed on. The number of people with a tattoo is still growing exponential and they are not the “simple and early” design tattoos like you saw in the 80’s or 90’s. A simple anchor or rose or maybe a bird tattoo which was placed on a lower or upper arm where great in those days. The modern tattoo; the design tattoo is used for people to express themselves.

There’s a shift taking place; today’s design tattoo is used as a statement. It has become a symbol of attraction and people with the masterpieces steal the show. Tattoos vary from different sizes and shapes; it can be done on any part of your body including toes, ears and even eyes. Today’s design tattoos are used to get attention in the mass.

Nowadays people see the tattoo as a beautiful ornament that is permanently drawn on their body. Of course, we should face the fact; we want tattoos because, at the end of the day, they just look good. There are many people who never got a tattoo at the young age and decided to have one in their 40s and even 50s. Now they have significance and meaning associated with the art. People who want to have tattoos can broadly be categorized into two groups. The first being the group of those people who desire to have a tattoo because it holds some personal meaning to them, and those who want to have one because everyone else has one.

Design tattoos mean different things in different cultures. In some cultures, tattooing is a way to decorate once the body and is it in many countries like India a very common art and is it often a part of a religious tradition. Tattooing is in many cultures still a natural part of men’s life and art. Tattoo designs in the Japanese culture are inspired by paintings and drawings. Japanese symbols are rapidly gaining in popularity.

But it’s very essential to know the meaning of the character you desire to have on your body forever. Some people end up getting a tattoo which implies the total opposite of what they intended. Many young people get fascinated by the beauty of the characters but fail to understand the true meaning of it.

Tattooing is an art form and today’s design tattoos mean more than just being “cool”.

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