Health Resources

• Lower Cholesterol Diet
• Blood Type and Transfusion
• Preventing Split Ends and Broken Hair
• Preventing Dry Hair
• Restoring Softness to Dry Hair
• What Causes Acne?
• Strong Bones Diet
• Cold Sore/ Fever Blisters

• Cholesterol level is too high will increase your risk for heart attack or stroke.
• Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, contributes the most to heart disease because it carries cholesterol into the plaque build-up in your arteries. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is the good type of cholesterol because it's typically excreted from the body and doesn't contribute to plaque that builds up on the inside walls of the arteries.
• Lower LDL levels by using monounsaturated fat instead of saturated fat. Monounsaturated fats are found in vegetable products, such as olives, olive oil, canola oil, nuts and seeds. Saturated fats are found primarily in animal fats, like the skin on poultry and the fat in red meat, as well as dairy products with fat, like cheese and milk. Eating 25 to 35 grams of fiber each day.
• Trans fatty acids are known to raise both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Trans fatty acids are found in hydrogenated oils in crackers, baked goods, cereals and breads; fast foods such as french fries, fried fish and onion rings; and margarine, especially stick margarine.
• Legumes (beans) contain folate, which helps lower levels of homocysteine (an amino acid that may lead to blockages in the arteries) and reduce heart disease risk.
• Cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, albacore tuna, haddock, mackerel, herring and sardines, are high in omega-three fatty acids, which help lower triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels. Eating seafood at least twice a week could lower your risk of heart disease by 29 to 40 percent!
  

Components of blood

• Plasma: 55% of the blood, mixture of water, sugar, fat, protein, and salts of potassium and calcium.
• Red blood cells: contain a special protein called hemoglobin which carries the oxygen we inhale with our lungs to all of the parts of our bodies, and returns carbon dioxide from our body to our lungs so we can exhale it. Hemoglobin is also responsible for making red blood cells red.
• White blood cells: produce proteins called antibodies that help our bodies fight infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and foreign proteins.
• Platelets: release chemicals that help start the process of blood clotting so that bleeding will stop.

• Don't brush your hair too much, and be sure to use brushes and combs with smooth, wide-set teeth
• Don't brush wet hair!
• If you have knots, use a wide-toothed comb or your fingers to gently detangle from the ends up, one section at a time.
• A split-end treatment, a leave-in conditioner with light hold or a pomade applied to the ends can temporarily seal the splits.

• Try to avoid using overly hot dryers and heat-styling implements
• Wear a hat or scarf if you're going to be exposed to sun or wind for a long time
• Don't wash your hair every day, only shampoo often enough to remove dirt and buildup, about two or three times a week.
• When you wash your hair, use shampoos and conditioners that contain humectants. Leave the conditioner on your hair as long as possible. About once a week, do a deep- conditioning treatment.

• If you have naturally dry hair, you need a good conditioning treatment with lots of moisture. Look for conditioners with shea or cocoa butter, or massage 1/4 teaspoon of warm olive oil through your hair once a week at night, starting at the ends and working up to the roots.
• If your hair is dry due to color or perming, use a conditioning treatment containing protein, a fundamental building block, to repair and rebuild chemically treated hair.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, whole grains for minerals, nuts and seeds for minerals and vitamins, and lean protein for iron.
• Water not only hydrates your body, but helps keep your hair silky and shiny. Eight to 10 glasses of water and juices a day for maximum hydration.
• The fiber from fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes is good for your body and your hair.
• Soy products contain phytoestrogens boost your health.

• Genetics. If your mother or father had acne as a teenager, there is a good chance that you will too.
• Hormones. During adolescence, hormones called androgens become active and stimulate oil glands in your skin, increasing oil production. This, in turn, clogs pores, causing pimples and blackheads. Hormonal changes around your period can also cause an acne flare-up.
• Stress. While stress can't actually cause acne, it will potentially aggravate this or any other skin condition.
• Diet. Dermatologists aren't actually sure if diet plays a critical role in acne. Some experts, however, do believe that food allergies can trigger acne outbreaks.
• Washing your face too often. This can aggravate the skin, causing acne to occur.
• Greasy skin care products and oily cosmetics. Any product that clogs oil ducts is a culprit -- and may cause acne.
• Medications. Acne can be a side effect of some drugs, including barbiturates, seizure medication and steroids.

• Dairy foods, salmon, tofu, soymilk, orange juice, cereals, broccoli, beet greens, artichoke heart are calcium-rich foods.
• Your body can't absorb large doses of calcium (over 500 mg) at one time. Consider taking a calcium supplement. The two most widely used supplements are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate, each of which contains between 200 and 500mg of supplemental calcium per pill. Calcium carbonate should be taken at meal times because it requires stomach acid to be dissolved and absorbed efficiently. Calcium citrate contains acid, so it may be more easily absorbed and can be taken at any time of day.
  
  

• What is a cold sore? A cold sore is a small blister that is reddish or purple. They are usually on the outer edge of the lip, on just one side. Cold sores can appear one at a time or in little bunches, and they are sometimes filled with fluid. They usually crust over and form a scab before they go away. They last a week or 2 and usually don't require any special treatment. Although they're called cold sores, you don't need to have a cold to get one. Some people call them fever blisters, but you don't have to have a fever to have one, either. (Cold sores aren't the same as canker sores, which are small white sores that are always found inside the mouth.)
  
  
• What causes cold sores? Cold sores are caused by a virus called herpes (say: hur-peez). Herpes is one of the most common viral infections in the world. The medical name for the specific virus that causes cold sores is herpes simplex. There are two types of herpes simplex infection: herpes simplex virus one (called HSV-1 for short) and herpes simplex virus two (called HSV-2 for short). Although both can cause cold sores around a person's mouth, most are caused by HSV-1. HSV-1 is so common that most Americans get infected with it, although many never have any symptoms. People can catch HSV-1 by kissing a person with a cold sore or sharing a drinking glass or utensils, so it's easy to see why there are so many cold sores around. People who get infected with HSV-1 may get cold sores occasionally for the rest of their lives. That's because even after the sores themselves dry up and go away, the virus stays in the body, waiting around for another time to come out and cause more sores. When a cold sore reappears, it is often in the same place as the previous one.
  
  
• How can I keep from getting cold sores? Although HSV-1 isn't a big deal, it's a good idea to try to keep cold sores as far away as possible. If someone you know has a cold sore, don't kiss him or her and don't drink out of the same glass or use the same knife, fork, or spoon. Sharing towels, washcloths, or napkins is off-limits, too, because the virus may survive on the fabric. If you've had cold sores before, it can be hard to tell what might make them come back. For some people, too much stress, too much time in the sun, or getting sick can cause cold sores to reappear. Eating well, getting enough rest, and learning how to deal with stress are important things for any person to do, especially a person who is likely to get cold sores. Putting on sunblock lip balm and sunscreen on the face before going out in the sun may help prevent cold sores from reappearing in people who tend to get them.
  
  
• Treating cold sores For most people, the sores go away on their own without any special treatment from a doctor. If you get a cold sore, try holding some ice wrapped in cloth on the sore. It also might help to eat a popsicle.Sometimes, if the cold sores are making a person sick, a doctor may prescribe a special medicine that fights the herpes simplex virus. Some people may take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if their sores are painful. While you're waiting for the cold sore to go away, wash your hands regularly and don't pick at it. You'll only get in the way of your body's natural healing process. Picking at a cold sore is also bad news because it's easy to spread the virus to other parts or your body, like your fingers or eyes. Worse yet, you might spread the virus to other people.
  
  
• Remedies
  
  Ice - A method to ease the pain is to rub an ice cube on the sore for a few minutes. This is especially good to do at the onset of a cold sore. Apply ice every ten minutes for an hour. This process may prevent the movement of the virus from the nerve to the skin.
  
  Tea - Steep an ordinary tea bag (preferably Earl Grey) in boiling water for a few minutes; cool; then apply to lesions. Within four or five days the lesions should crust over and disappear.
  
  Aloe - When the tingling starts, try rubbing juice from an aloe plant on the affected area. If you are traveling, take a bottle of aloe gel with you just in case a sore begins. This remedy is especially effective if used at the first sign of a cold sore, but will also stop it later on, too, and will begin the healing process immediately and keep the sore from "blossoming."
  
  Chaparral - Native Americans used the herb chaparral (Larrea tridentata) as a remedy for colds and viruses, arthritis, burns, sores and other problems. Recently a company has patented a product called Larreastat derived from chaparral that has proven very effective in deactivating certain viruses, relieving inflammation and clearing up certain skin conditions. The product comes in capsules and a spray, which provides almost instant relief from cold sore pain.
  
  Cornstarch - Apply a cornstarch paste.
  
  Camphor - Have your pharmacist mix up some spirits of camphor and dab it on the sore with a cotton ball.
  
  DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) - Dab it on the sores twice daily with your fingers or a cotton ball. It stops the growth of the virus by penetrating right to the center of the herpes infection. See our Product.
  
  Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) - German studies indicated that an extract of lemon balm reduced symptoms and sped the healing process. See mint remedy below.
  
  Lomatium (Lomatium dissectum) - has a long history of use by Native Americans. Research suggests that it may be effective against viruses and is a prime infection fighter. Use an extract instead of a tincture to avoid getting a full-body rash. Combine equal parts of tinctures of echinacea, calendula, oats, burdock, and lomatium and take 1/2 teaspoon four or five times a day. This combination of herbs will boost the immune system, soothe inflamed tissues, remove toxins from the body, and kill viruses and bacteria.
  
  Lysine - Many people have reported that taking the amino acid L-lysine has prevented or lessened the duration of their cold sores. Apparently, the herpes virus uses another amino acid, arginine, to grow and replicate while lysine inhibits the virus' ability to replicate itself. Reduce your intake of arginine-containing foods as mentioned above. If you get sores frequently take 1,500 to 3,000 mg. daily as a preventive measure. When you feel a sore coming on, take 3,000 mg daily until the sore crusts over. Experiment with the dosage until you find one that inhibits recurrence by reducing the amount until you find the optimal maintenance dosage, perhaps to 300-600 mg. Lysine may also be applied topically to the sores. If you get a cold sore, taking lysine should shorten the time you have it considerably, generally within five days. Consult your medical practitioner regarding your intake of lysine, especially if you are pregnant or nursing. No amino acid in large doses should be taken for long periods of time. Take the lysine between meals, preferably on an empty stomach.
  
  Mint - A topical application of an extract of the mint family herb Melissa officinalis will speed healing of the sore, often within five days.
  
  Myrrh - Try a tincture of myrrh to relieve the pain.
  
  Sage - Make a tea by adding two or three leaves to a cup of boiling water; steep; add one teaspoon of powdered ginger. Drink several cups a day until the sores are cleared up.
  
  Vaseline - Vaseline will help ease cracking and dryness.