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ScienceDaily (May 21, 2009)

Could essential oils extracted from lavender be used as a natural herbicide to prevent weed growth among crops? Research carried out in Italy and reported in the current issue of the International Journal of Environment and Health suggests the answer may be yes.

Elena Sturchio of the National Institute of Health and Safety at Work in Rome and colleagues there and at the Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, and the Department Crop Production, at Tuscia University, in Viterbo, have investigated the inhibitory effects on weed growth of aromatic oils, or mixtures of phytochemicals, from plants such as lavender, Lavandula officinalis.

Essential oils, are as the name suggests, often the plant’s “essence” in terms of odour. Essential oils are complex chemical mixtures of natural products made by the plant for its own purposes, including terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes and phenols. Indeed, several plant essential oils are present as natural inbuilt herbicides and pesticides.

Synthetic pesticides and herbicides have been in common use for decades and have protected crops from parasites, insects, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and eliminated weeds. However, by virtue of their design, these substances are toxic and in some cases thought to be carcinogenic. Their incorrect use or inadvertent exposure have been the focus of numerous studies on animal and human health, the results of which have led to serious initiatives to find alternative approaches to pest and weed control.

Other researchers have investigated the potential of essential oils from cinnamon plants, and peppermint to prevent seed germination of some weed species found in the Mediterranean region.

Sturchio and colleagues have investigated the effects of lavender oil on root growth in a plant, Vicia faba in trials. This weed has large chromosomes and so was also amenable to studies in the laboratory that investigated the genetic toxicity of the essential oil on the weed. Their analysis showed the oil to be effective at killing the weed even at low concentration. Moreover, the oil affects growth of soil microbes and fungi involved in crop growth.

The team concludes that, “Essential oils could be useful as potential bioherbicides as an alternative strategy to the chemical remedy.” They add that, “The use of phytochemicals permits the development for more sustainable agriculture at low environmental impact. Further studies are now needed to evaluate use of such oils “in the field”.

The team points out that the oils would most likely be used either before planting or prior to transplantation of seedlings, so the essential oil would not have toxicity effects on the crop itself. Sturchio adds that, “essential oils are not accumulated in the environment, because of their low persistence due to the easy degradation by microbial and enzyme activity. This aspect could represent an advantage compared to the bioaccumulation of chemicals on soil.”

1. Miriam Zanellato, Eva Masciarelli, Laura Casorri, Priscilla Boccia, Elena Sturchio, Mario Pezzella, Andrea Cavalieri, Fabio Caporali. The essential oils in agriculture as an alternative strategy to herbicides: a case study. International Journal of Environment and Health, 2009; 3 (2): 198 DOI: 10.1504/IJENVH.2009.024878

Nag Champa Incense - Mind, Body and Soul by SINGH VINEET

Article Posted: 07/17/2007

Nagchampa is considered as one of the most fascinating incense of Indian origin. It bears its importance since ancient days when the people used to burn incense woods on religious ceremony and prayers. Since then it has evolved along the generations and now is used globally due to its fragrance.

So what’s exactly is Nagchampa, it is an aromatic blend of resins, gums, spices, flowers and oils with a wonderful after-aroma. It is commercially available in the form of incense sticks and cones besides this it is found in soap, perfume oils and incense candles.

In soap base, nag champa oil mixed with natural herbs acts as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, bactericidal, fungicidal, action on the skin. It helps to remove scars, stretch mark and slack tissues and makes the skin wrinkle free and natural. Nag champa sachet can now be used at the places where burning of a stick is not possible like in cars. This helps to refresh mood and increases concentration while driving. As the fragrance has deep impact on ones mind, body and soul; Incense’s Fragrances are now used a lot in Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy helps to control stress of day-to-day life. Nag champa candles not only provide light but also refreshes the air in the room with its sweet fragrance.

Historically Nag Champa belongs to the “Champa” class of Indian incense, having its origin from the Champa flower. Nag Champa incenses contains natural vernacular ingredient of India called “Halmaddi”, which is a semi-liquid resin obtained from the Ailanthus Malabarica tree which ultimately gives Nag Champa its characteristic grey color.

There is an exclusive position for Nag champa in Hindu religion where it is considered as sacred and is always used in religious ceremony or event. Nagchampa has been appreciated for centuries as exceptional quality incense for calming meditation and for creating sacred spaces. It has a strong fragrant with long lasting effect, as a result the scent will linger in your room for hours.

Nagchampa finds its applications in:

* Religious Ceremonies * Morning Prayers * General Fragrance in Houses / Offices * Special Events * Bath & Body etc.

It is an assumption that Nag champa is used only in Indian Markets, but stats has shown that the product pertaining to Nag Champa is of high demand in the Western World including North America. It is much more preferred than the artificial perfumes because of the Nagchampa natural behavior and is highly used in gifts pack for gifting on special occasions.

Suite101.com
Barbara Greenwood
May 26, 2009

Aromatherapy and essential oils have long been used in the health care sector, yet little is known about the origins of their use in this setting.

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale, one of the founders of the modern nursing profession, was born on May 12, 1820. She was brought up in a religious household and on February 7, 1837 Florence believed she heard a calling from God, though at the time she did not know what this calling was.

Nightingale’s Nursing Training

In 1845, despite her family’s objections, Florence felt the need to get some hospital experience. Nursing was not considered a suitable occupation for a well-educated woman and nurses were considered coarse and ignorant and given to promiscuity and drunkenness. It was not until 1950 that she had the chance to start training as a nurse at the Institute of Saint Vincent de Paul in Alexandria, Egypt, a hospital run by the Roman Catholic Church. After training at various hospitals she returned to England and took an unpaid position as the Superintendent at the Establishment for Gentlewomen during Illness (Wikipedia and The Gap System).

Crimean War and the start of Aromatherapy

March of 1954 saw the start of the Crimean War and Nightingale was stationed in Turkey where she and her team of 38 nurses found the conditions to be deplorable. In addition to badly neglected patients, she found that medical supplies were in short supply and the hygienic conditions were so bad that mass infections were common. Soldiers were lying on bare floors, surrounded by vermin. Cholera and typhus were rife and soldiers were seven times more likely to die in the hospital than on the battleground. During Nightingale’s time at this hospital she managed to reduce mortality rates by 45% simply by ordering the hospital to be cleaned. (http://www.anarreshealth.ca).

These are the conditions under which Nightingale first began to use aromatherapy and essential oils. She is credited with putting lavender on the brows of injured soldiers, believing correctly that the lavender would soothe them and she believed that “modifying the noxious aspects of the criticalcare environment” was very important. (McDowell B. Nontraditional therapies for the PICU, part 1. J Spec Pediatric Nursing 2005). According to a letter she sent on April 7, 1856, a week after the Crimean War ended, Nightingale ordered six bottles of tincture of myrrh from the principal medical storekeeper at the Balaclava General Hospital. (http://www.nursingcenter.com)

History of Essential Oils and Nursing

Nightingale’s lasting legacy on the profession of nursing is widely known. What is not as well known is her use of aromatherapy in the nursing profession. According to nursingcentre.com, “the most prominent nurse aromatherapist was Madame Marguerite Maury (1895–1968)”. Mme Maury is credited with classifying essential oils and it is believed that she established the first aromatherapy clinics in Paris, England, and Switzerland.

May 25, 11:18 PM
Examiner.com

How toothpaste removes blackheads

What natural, organic mixture can you whip up in your kitchen that will cleanse blackheads that are formed when follicles (pores) with wide openings become filled with sebum and sloughed-off skin cells? Toothpaste (non-gel) is only one quick remedy that helps the pore to dry out.

Why let commercial toothpaste full of fluoride and saccharin be absorbed into your follicle when you can clear-out blackheads by letting a dab of milk of magnesia dry on your pore or swabbing your blackhead with tea tree oil diluted with some distilled water? It works just as well, and it’s from a mineral or plant. Make your own antibacterial toothpaste and use it also for blackheads and to clean your teeth.

In Aromatherapy and in Ayurvedic solutions, also used to get rid of blackheads are coriander, thymus vulgaris, peppermint, and lemongrass. Peppermint is used in making natural toothpaste. Can natural toothpaste and blackhead dispatchers live together in harmony? See the Woman Junction aromatherapy for skin site.

Natural Toothpaste Help for Blackheads
Make toothpaste out of equal parts of baking soda, salt, and crushed sage in a glass jar and shake. Store the dry mixture in the covered jar. When you want to put the mixture on your blackhead, mix 1/2 teaspoon of the dry ingredients with 1/4 teaspoon of tea tree oil and a few drops of water to dilute the tea tree oil.

Never apply tea tree oil undiluted to your skin. Mix and apply with a cotton tip to your blackhead. Let dry for an hour and wash off. Keep the dry mixture for brushing your teeth. When you’re ready to brush your teeth, put a teaspoon of the mixture in a small cup or bowl and dip in your moistened brush. It’s optional whether you want to add one or two drops of tea tree oil (no more) to your natural toothpaste that also works to remove blackheads.

More Ways to Get Rid of Blackheads
Look for an ingredient, usually a spice that kills bacteria but not your skin. Blackheads form when your pore is too large. Shrink your pore with an ice cube for a few seconds.

Besides using natural, home-made toothpaste without commercial chemicals to swab on your delicate skin, what also helps blackheads (oil and dead cells) dry up quickly and brush off? Consider the following items usually found in your kitchen or bathroom and use each one alone a few times until you find which works best for your skin:

1. witch hazel
2. radish seeds with a few drops of water crushed into a paste
3. neem oil (used commonly in India)
4. turmeric (used commonly in India as a paste mixed with water)
5. tea tree oil mixed with water (used commonly in Australia)
6. egg white and raw, unfiltered honey
7. cinnamon and cloves mixed with raw honey
8. aloe vera juice applied to the blackhead
9. milk of magnesia swabbed on the spot. Let it dry and wipe off.
10.magnesium citrate powder, for example, Natural Calm (615 mg). Use one tablespoon with a few drops of water to make a paste for your pore.
11. zest of citrus–ground orange or lemon peel mixed with a bit of water
12. lemon juice on the pore left to dry several hours
13. make a toothpaste of salt and water. Let it dry on the pore overnight.
14. sliced cucumber on your pore
15. oat meal and avocado mashed with egg white–let dry and rinse
whipped to standing peaks egg white alone–let dry and wash off
16. sea or rock mineral salt and water as a paste

What Cleans the Teeth Cleans the Pores
A basic toothpaste made of salt and water as a paste works well to dry up blackheads. The idea is to get rid of the bacteria with salt water. You can add a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to the salt and water paste and then use it to brush your teeth. Add a drop of tea tree oil. It works on your teeth if diluted and used in tiny amounts, and it gets rid of acne and blackheads on your face. At the Tea Tree oil uses site, read more about tea tree oil.

At the Discover Neem site, read more about the uses of neem oil (rubbed on the gums in India). Sometimes people chew on neem twigs in India. The twig acts as a natural neem oil toothbrush.

Crushed sesame seeds and sesame oil are used in India both as a toothpaste and to clear the skin. Anti-bacterial qualities of neem oil can be used on the gums or on your blackhead.

If you have an oily skin, instead of smoothing an antibacterial natural oil on your face, dry up the sebacious follicle with a solution like milk of magnesia, egg white, lemon juice, citrus peel, ground sage, or a simple and inexpensive paste of salt and water.

Clean Blackheads Away with Magnesium Citrate Powder and Water
Mix a tablespoon of Natural Calm magnesium citrate powder with a few drops of water. Apply the paste to your blackhead. Let dry overnight and rinse off. You can read more information about magnesium citrate powder at the Natural Calm . Buy magnesium citrate powder from most health food stores or online.

Make Your Own Blackhead Remover
If toothpaste on your pores is not for you, then whisk the white of an egg with 1/4 teaspoon of raw, unfiltered honey. Let the bubbly froth dry on your pore for a few hours, and wash away the blackhead. Also letting a dab of milk of magnesia dry on your follicle works just as well.

Neem Oil for Blackheads
Dab a few drops of neem oil on your blackheads. See the site for medicinal uses of neem oil. Not only does this antibacterial oil help to clear up blackheads, but it’s also used in India to heal gums, to disinfect, to repel insects and fungus, and also is placed on the skin (a few drops) for sunburn, chapped lips, and several other external remedies. See another site for more skin uses of neem oil at the Indian Neem Tree Company(tm). Here are some tips to get rid of blackheads naturally.

First try alkaline products such as milk of magnesia on your blackhead. If your skin needs more acidic ingredients rather than alkaline, then try acidic products on your black head. For example orange or lemon peel creates an acid environment on your skin. Which works best on your individual skin–acidic or alkaline? Find out which works best by trying both. Use natural products such as salt and water to cleanse your skin. Quickly wash off any salt as it dries your skin.

Resources for further information:

• Neem Oil
• Uses of Neem Oil in India
• Aromatherapy for Skin Care

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/05/22/Sunshine-reduces-heart-diabetes-risk/UPI-31591243048393/
Published: May 22, 2009 at 11:13 PM

WARWICK , England, May 22 (UPI) — British researchers say sunshine helps reduced heart disease and diabetes risks in older people.

Dr. Oscar Franco of Warwick Medical School in England and colleagues investigated the association between vitamin D levels in the blood and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in 3,262 people ages 50-70 in China.

The study, published in Diabetes Care, found a high correlation between low vitamin D levels and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. They found 94 percent of people in the study had a vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency. The results showed 42.3 percent of these people also had metabolic syndrome — a risk factor for diabetes and heart disease.

“As we get older our skin is less efficient at forming vitamin D and our diet may also become less varied, with a lower natural vitamin D content,” Franco, the study leader, said in a statement.

“Most importantly, however, the dermal production of vitamin D following a standard exposure to UVB light decreases with age because of atrophic skin changes. When we are older we may need to spend more time outdoors to stimulate the same levels of vitamin D we had when we were younger.”

Jois, who studied ashtanga yoga from the age
of 12, is credited with popularising in the West one of the most
rigorous forms of yoga. He died on Monday.

Jois,
whose grandson Sharath is co-director of the yoga institute in Mysore,
taught ashtanga yoga to his first western student in 1964.

He
visited the United States first in 1975, and also took his brand of
yoga - which focuses on synchronising postures with breathing and
claims to cleanse the body by heating the blood - to Europe.

Study involving DY meditation could have wide-ranging implications

THURSDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) — A certain type of meditation may help the brain retain images for short periods, says a new study on visual-spatial abilities.

When people view an object, they usually retain a clear picture of it in their visual short-term memory for only a few seconds before the details fade. An experiment by George Mason University researchers, though, found that people who practice Deity Yoga (DY) do much better at visual-spatial tasks shortly after they meditate.

The study’s authors, writing in a recent issue of Psychological Science, said the finding may have “many implications for therapy, treatment of memory loss and mental training.”

Practitioners of DY meditation zero in on an image of their deity, conjuring up a vivid, three-dimensional mental picture of it while honing in on the deity’s emotions and environment.

In the experiment, led by psychologist Maria Kozhevnikov, meditation and non-meditation practitioners performed two visual-spatial tests: imagining the rotation of a 3-D object and viewing an image, then trying to identify it from among several other similar images. After a first round of tests, the participants spent the next 20 minutes either meditating or performing non-meditative tasks before being tested again.

All the subjects had similar scores on the first round of tests, suggesting that meditating in general causes no overall, long-term improvement in visual-spatial skills.

However, those who performed DY meditation between rounds did much better on both tasks in the second phase of tests than those who did non-meditative activities or practiced Open Presence (OP) meditation. OP practitioners, rather than focusing on a specific thing, try to achieve awareness by contemplating a wider array of experiences, images or thoughts that may come to them.

The study authors concluded that further investigations should be done to see if other visual meditation techniques can produce similar improvements in visual-spatial memory or if the results are specific to DY meditation.

More information

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has more about the health benefits of meditation.

– Kevin McKeever

Copyright © 2009 ScoutNews, LLC. All rights reserved.
Last updated 5/21/2009

http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release-rss/local-fitness-expert-reveals-how-to-eat-healthy-during-the-economic-crisis-100918.php

FOLSOM, CA
May 21, 2009

24-7PressRelease — Val Fujii, a local Folsom fitness expert and certified personal trainer believes that eating healthy is often determined to be too expensive for the average American. “Fast food and foods loaded with fat and sugar tend to be inexpensive and always at hand,” Fujii says. “Too many people think they can’t afford to eat healthy, especially during this economic crisis. Today, I’m going to share with you some tips for healthy and affordable eating. It is called my Nutritional Bailout Plan.”

“My first healthy eating tip is to choose seasonal fruits. Out of season fruits can add a good chunk to any grocery bill, so this will be a huge savings for you,” Fujii points out.

Fujii’s second healthy eating tip is to buy in bulk and freeze what is not needed. “This is very easy to do with meats. For example, when buying ten chicken breasts it lowers the cost per pound of chicken. Freeze the chicken that isn’t going to be eaten within the next few days and then thaw out what is needed for your next meal. Same goes for beef and hamburger.”

Fujii’s third and final tip is to pay attention to sales. “Many times, eating healthy can be easily accomplished just by focusing on special offers and coupons,” Fujii adds.

By applying these three healthy and affordable eating tips you will be sure to not only save money, but lose weight, too. It’s a win-win situation for you and your family!

About Superwomen Boot Camp

Val Fujii, NASM CPT, PES is a local Folsom and El Dorado Hills fitness boot camp instructor and real world fat loss expert. To book him to speak at your local Folsom and El Dorado Hills’ company, club, or organization please contact him by email at superwomenbootcamp@gmail.com or by phone at 916-337-3-4780. For a FREE one-week trial to his boot camp to experience the best personal training in the Folsom and El Dorado Hills area please visit http://www.SuperwomenBootCamp.com

Forbes
2009-05-20 06:55:03 GMT

http://english.sina.com/life/2009/0519/242543.html

Meghan Rovelli, 28, always had an athletic build, but to prepare for her sleeveless wedding gown, she wanted more definition in her arms and upper body.

After seeing Hillary Swank’s lean pecs and sculpted triceps in the film Million Dollar Baby, the New York City-based publicist decided to try boxing. Enjoying the workout, Rovelli devoted herself to training well past her 2007 honeymoon.

After about six months, however, it occurred to her that she was putting on too much muscle. She says she walked by a mirror and was startled by just how bulky she had become. Blazers that once suited her 5′3″ frame were becoming uncomfortably tight. Friends were also telling her she looked big. She wanted to look lean, she says, and not like a “weight lifter.”

For Rovelli, that meant quitting boxing and starting a program that was right for her own body type: yoga and Pilates. Though boxing was right for Swank’s lean body type, it was bulking up Rovelli’s already athletic frame. “I always thought these exercises were poor man’s workouts because you weren’t sweating,” says Rovelli about the two holistic fitness techniques. “But it started working. I lost bulk and became more streamlined.”

Like Rovelli, many women who try popular workouts find they are not one size fits all. Certain types of exercises will be more effective–and safe–depending on your body type.

Generally, people fall into three body types. Endomorphs tend to store more fat than the other body types and are sometimes called pear- or apple-shaped. Ectomorphs, the so-called “string beans,” tend to be thin, long-limbed and have difficulty putting on fat and muscle. Mesomorphs have athletic builds, characterized by high muscle mass and little fat.

“The ratio of fat to lean muscle has a significant impact on how many calories you burn,” says Cedric Bryant, Ph.D., a physiologist and chief science officer at the American Council on Exercise, the organization that certifies professional trainers. All other things being equal, the higher your ratio of lean muscle to fat, the higher your metabolism will be. Though body types are genetically predetermined–and most of us will fall into one of the three categories–this ratio can be altered with the right exercise and a healthy diet.

Endomorphs

While endomorphs have a harder time than other body types in losing fat, even in the most extreme cases they can be just as fit as other body types. As evidenced by the NBC show The Biggest Loser, “when they lose the weight, they are skinny people like anyone else,” says Cindy Bailey, Ph.D., faculty at Mount St. Mary’s school of physical therapy in Los Angeles.

For endos, who usually carry extra fat around the lower abdomen, hips and thighs, the key is to start with a program that burns calories instead of a lot of strength training. The extra weight they carry can cause increased pressure on joints and bones, so it is important for endos, at first, to avoid engaging in exercises that can add stress to these areas, says Dr. Mark Klion, an orthopedic surgeon at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. That means trading high-impact exercises like tennis, jumping rope or other activities that involve intense and repetitive movements for low-impact cardio workouts like walking or biking.

For endomorphs with larger breasts, some adjustments may be in order. Instead of riding a regular bike, for example, top-heavy endos might want to try recumbent bikes, which will prevent them from hunching over. Light weight lifting is also recommended to increase mid- and upper back strength

Another concern for endos is the psychological aspect of beginning a workout routine. Jay Cardiello, a trainer who helped rapper 50 Cent achieve his famous physique, recommends non-competitive team sports. Seeing thin or fit people at the gym can often be discouraging. With league activities, like volleyball, “you have someone next to you who is in the same position you are in,” says Cardiello.

Ectomorphs

This psychological component can be even tougher for ectomorphs. Many scoff at ectomorphs’ burden of being too skinny, but they often find themselves being called geeky, flat-chested or even accused of being anorexic. “For an ecto to gain weight is harder psychologically than for an endo to lose,” says Bailey. “They have to eat more, but everything in the media tells them not to.”

The goal for this thin body type is to gain tone or muscle mass. The same cardio exercises that work well for their pear-shaped friends will just exacerbate the beanpole look for ectos. While their long arms and legs are well-suited to activities like long-distance running, women in this category looking to build muscle tone are advised to lessen the cardio and increase resistance training.

Ectos looking for more curves should take up swimming because the water provides resistance and the body will often provide extra fat insulation for skinny bodies that do regular pool workouts, says Bailey. Resistance training can also help build both muscle tone and bone density, which is important for ecto women, who often have small fragile bones prone to osteoporosis.

Mesomorphs

Common belief is that mesomorphs, like the publicist Rovelli, have it made with their strong and athletic builds, which are neither too fragile or too flabby, but many women with this body type sometimes find themselves getting bulky too easily.

“Mesos are going to have an easier time putting on muscle mass,” says Bryant. But “many women find that unattractive.”

For these body types, Bryant suggests the movement, posture and breath control of yoga and Pilates because it provides muscular conditioning in a routine less likely to create a bulky look. Rovelli says that since starting yoga, her husband has told her she looks thinner even though she is working out a lot less than she did during her boxing days. “I should keep this routine for a while,” she says. “It’s working.”

(Chaniga Vorasarun, Forbes.com)