Natural Posture Will Ease Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot Pain

We don’t realize it much in the States, but the majority of us have AWFUL posture. Standing, sitting and lying incorrectly for years on end often leads to a myriad of other health issues. Check out this fantastic resources from Gokhale.

Free Workshops from Gokhale Method Institute

Effects are often immediate and last a lifetime.

Learn to live pain-free. Join us for a free lesson and learn techniques to:

  • Reduce or eliminate back pain, neck pain, and other muscle or joint pain
  • Prevent muscle and joint degeneration and injury
  • Increase your energy, stamina, and flexibility
  • Reduce stress and improve your appearance

Fantastic and inexpensive book with photos galore (these pictures are really worth a thousand words):

Free Gokhale Method wallpaper and handouts: Remind yourself of a world before back pain with these beautiful photographs; Learn the Shoulder Roll and review healthy sitting, standing and moving while working at your computer

Free Webinar – Three Keys for Recharging Your Inner Battery

Sign up today for the informative webinar, Three Keys for Recharging Your Inner Battery. This hour-long presentation, beginning at 11 a.m. (PST) on Saturday, Feb. 2, will be presented by Jeff Goelitz, a senior trainer and education specialist for the Institute of HeartMath; and Sarah Moor, a mentor and trainer for HeartMath’s Qualified Instructor programs.

You will learn the three essential tools during this event for increasing your resilience capacity. These tools have helped thousands of individuals from all walks of life. Goelitz and Moor will draw from a wealth of professional stories and personal experience to present detailed strategies that can help you recharge your inner battery.

Webinar Topics:
• Resilience is the energy stored in your inner battery.
• What charges and what drains your inner battery?
• Monitor and manage your energy expenditures intelligently.
• Coherence-related research that documents improvements for over 8,000 people.
• Build a new baseline.
• Prep for your day.
• Sustain your energy.
• Reset when you lose your equilibrium.
• Set up an action plan: Practices to help you prep, sustain and reset during the day.

Natural and inexpensive remedies for acid reflux

Suggestions for quick relief from acute heartburn

Dr. Group recommends organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar, a tablespoon in a little bit of water, to eliminate heartburn. This seems counterintuitive in that apple cider vinegar increases stomach acid to aid digestion before meals. But there are many testimonials claiming it works.

He also likes to use baking soda (bicarbonate of soda, not baking powder), which actually shoots alkalinity way up. A tablespoon in a half cup of water can give immediate relief from heartburn. An ounce or two of unprocessed Aloe Vera juice is good for heartburn and stomach ulcers.

Dr. Andrew Weil advises using DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) in chewable tablets or powder. He recommends chewing a couple of tablets or taking a half-teaspoon of the powder in water as often as it takes to get relief. He also likes slippery elm for soothing the esophagus.

Another counterintuitive remedy is a half or full teaspoon of 40,000 heat unit (minimum) cayenne powder in water. Many claim it works. Master Herbalist John Christopher cured his stomach ulcer this way. Cayenne is also an inexpensive heart tonic.

Alkaline water ia another natural treatment for acid reflux symptoms. Other common remedies include eating bananas, a teaspoon of baking soda in eight ounces of water, chamomile tea, ginger, aloe vera juice, turmeric, and apple cider vinegar.

Long term solutions from Dr. Edward Group

In addition to the usual lifestyle changes in order to lose stomach fat — eating right, cutting back on sugar, alcohol, and caffeine, moderate exercise, and relaxation — Dr. Group recommends increasing intake of digestive enzymes.

This can be done by juicing frequently, and by eating more organic raw foods, or supplementing. Cooking or processing food destroys enzymes, considered by many to be more vital than vitamins and minerals because it takes enzymes to metabolize them.

Increasing probiotics is always a good idea. Homemade milk or water kefirs, and foods such as miso and homemade sauerkraut are potent and economical probiotic foods. Less economical but conveniently accessible probiotic supplements are also available.

He also recommends high vitamin D intake and using real sea salt. Before undertaking drastic dietary changes, Dr. Group recommends doing colon cleansing enemas then graduating to coffee enemas for the liver. All this may seem to be too much for handling mere heartburn.

However, in addition to eliminating or avoiding acid reflux, all of these recommendations are essential for overall health.

Immunity, as well as good physiological and mental health depends more on a healthy gut than even many health professionals realize.

Five best homeopathic remedies for the treatment of heartburn, GERD and acid reflux

Nux Vomica

One of the main remedies for most digestive complaints is Nux Vomica. The individual may complain of stomach pains of all types including burning, bloating, aching, constipation, nausea, belching and the feeling of stomach digest and acid backing up into the throat. His personality characteristics, which help determine this remedy, are a brusque temperament — similar to the overworked, high powered business man who is very intense. He or she may be bossy and easy to anger. This individual often eats and drinks alcohol in excess. He desires coffee, spicy food, fatty foods and other stimulants. The person needing Nux vomica is inclined to overdo everything, all of which contribute to his acid reflux symptoms.

Arsenicum album

The person needing Arsenicum album for acid reflux disease may complain of burning pains felt in the stomach with food backing up into the esophagus. This is accompanied by burning pains all the way up to the throat. There may be severe, watery, burning, yellow diarrhea. Many of the symptoms will feel better while drinking hot drinks like tea, or by applying hot applications, like a heating pad. They may be thirsty for small, frequent sips of cold water, their mental state may be anxious, restless and fearful of being left alone.

Phosphorus

The patient needing homeopathic phosphorus for heartburn will complain about burning pains felt in the abdomen, bloating and a feeling of fullness accompanied by great thirst for icy cold drinks, which are vomited back up shortly after becoming warm in the stomach. Belching and vomiting of undigested food are characteristic of the person needing phosphorus. The person is mild-mannered, and seeks company and affection.

Pulsatilla

The person needing pulsatilla complains of feeling the sensation of a hole being burned in their stomach accompanied by flatulence. They may feel over-stuffed after eating and want to loosen their clothing for relief. Their personality is sweet, gentle, whiny and tearful. Others may feel very protective and sympathetic toward them. They are afraid of being alone and desires lots of sympathy. They may have cravings for ice cream, fatty foods, and pastries, which make them feel worse, and aggravate the reflux.

Carbo vegetabilis

The individual needing carbo vegetabilis has heartburn characterized by belching, bloating, heaviness in the stomach and chest and distress from eating simple, plain foods. The person may have an aversion to foods like meats, milk and fats. A very common characteristic of the individual needing carbo vegetablis, is that they have a great desire for fresh air or for being fanned during attacks. The heartburn creates burning pains extending from the stomach toward the back and the patient experiences temporary relief from these symptoms during belching.

Learn more:

Finally, the Recycling of Inhalers, What a Novel Idea

GSK-Recycle-Inhaler-Program-logoI find it shocking GSK is the first Big Pharma global conglomerate to start recycling inhalers. Hopefully the rest of Big Pharma will jump on board. But what about all the other monthly prescriptions that come in disposable containers, most of which don’t even have a purpose like the plastic on an inhaler has (i.e. birth control pills often come in stupid, fancy plastic holder, just to name one.)

So when will our mega-pharmacies (Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid) step up and start taking prescription containers back from customers to recycle? It is insane they are used once and tossed. The thought of millions of little plastic bottles makes me ill, and there is no way around it. So better late than never, GSK, on recycling disposable inhalers. Both the pharmaceutical conglomerates (drug cookers) and the pharmacies (drug dealers) need start recycling all the disposables they are constantly pushing on all of us.


The U.S. arm of British medical giant GlaxoSmithKline recently launched an inhaler recycling program to combat the ever-increasing problem of inhalers winding up in landfills. Currently the program is available in 31 markets, including most major U.S. cities.

  1. The process begins with the patient bringing their used inhaler to their local pharmacy, which is then put in a prepaid package and sent to a recycling plant.
  2. There, the inhalers are disassembled.
  3. The plastics are recovered to make household products like hangers, flower pots and more.
  4. The leftover gasses are recovered and reused and metal canisters are recycled fully.
  5. The inhalers are not recycled to produce new inhalers, according to the company.

Nearly 26 million Americans are living with asthma and 50 million suffer from various forms of allergies, many of whom regularly use respiratory inhalers. The company hopes to cut waste by 25% by 2015 and be fully carbon neutral by 2050.

 

Great 2012 Holiday Gift Ideas

Some fantastic, and reasonably priced gift ideas @ The Design Inspiration:

Due to a lot of position feedback about 20 Best Creative Products You Can Actually Buy, we decided to do a Part II, which brings you more creative products you can never think of. Creativity refers to a person creates something new that has some kind of value. It can be a product, solution, artwork, etc.

Today we have showcased 20 Best Creative Products You Can Actually Buy Part II. Why not spice your life up a little and make your friends jealous? All of these item listed below was handpicked based on originality. We hope you will enjoy the following cool, clever and creative products.

 

Sleep Comfortably Anywhere with the Ostrich Pillow

Saw this for first time today, and had to post. It looks crazy, but it also looks warm and soft, and most importantly, dark.

OSTRICH PILLOW offers a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease. It is neither a pillow, nor cushion, bed or garment, but a bit of each all at the same time. It’s soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates both your head and hands, perfect for a power nap. You can use the Ostrich Pillow at your desk, on a bench, on the train or while you wait at the airport. Link to official Ostrich Pillow site.


photo of man sleeping at desk with Ostrich Pillow

11 Practical Organizing Principles to Help Stave Off Clutter

These eleven ideas are worth implementing. They may take time to start doing regularly, but keep at it and they will become good habits you do without thinking. This will do nothing but help you in the long run of life.

 

Organizing (and practical) principles that help keep clutter at bay

Uncluttering is a process, not something that happens overnight or that has an end point. Sometimes getting more organized can feel overwhelming and chaotic, but there are some basic principles you can use to stay focused on maintaining order. Here are five practical tips I often share with my clients (and use myself). They tend to be useful for many situations and can help you conquer clutter.

01. Use positive self-talk

It can be very easy to let negative thoughts clutter your mind, especially if you find it challenging to master a particular organizing strategy. And, since your actions are typically driven by your thoughts, you can find yourself feeling down and stressed, two emotions that can stop your uncluttering plans in its tracks.

Though your goals may seem daunting at first, remember that it’s normal to meet upon a few stumbling blocks. But, and this is the good part, you will get through it as long as you keep trying. Replace negative self-talk (“I will never get this place organized”) with more positive statements (“I’m getting more organized by doing a little at a time”). And, coordinate your uncluttering with things that put you in a better mood, like playing your favorite music, exercising, or calling a friend who makes you laugh. You’ll feel less stressed and be able to get more done.

02. Wait before making impulse purchases

Whimsical purchases can really creep up on you, even when you have your list in hand as you’re shopping. The tricky little buggers appeal to your sensitive nature and convince you to leave the store with them immediately (because they’re special and just right for you). If you don’t get them straight away, who knows what catastrophes might happen?!

Rather than making an impulsive purchase, regain some emotional (and wallet) control by focusing on your list and waiting 24 to 48 hours before buying “that thing.” You could stretch that timeframe to 30 days, if you wish. Usually, after a bit of time to to think it through, you’ll come to a better decision about whether or not to buy it. That doesn’t mean you won’t go back to the store to collect that special item. It simply means you’ll give yourself adequate time to think it through before taking it home with you. This can save you some time and another trip to the store if you decide that you don’t want/need it afterall.

03. Use the “one in, one out” rule

Another way to limit those impulse buys is to think about the one thing you currently own that you’ll let go of when/if you bring the new item home. This also gives you some time to consider if you truly love (and need) the new item. If you’re working on uncluttering, you might even use the “one in, two out” rule to raise the stakes a bit.

04. Use lists/checklists

Without a list, you will be lost. Yes, I know there are people who can keep entire novels in their heads and remember every detail. Most of us are not like that, so why rely on your memory when you can just write things down (or do some smart phone data entry)? Lists are great for capturing just about anything and can help you remember things you don’t do on a regular basis, or you might otherwise forget because you’re feeling stressed or rushing around a lot.

Two of the most common ways people use lists is to record their to do’s and needed grocery items. But, you can also use them to keep track of:

  • Favorite travel supplies
  • Places you’d like to visit
  • Seasonal maintenance activies
  • New processes (like a new filing system or steps to completing a new project)
  • Ingredients for a new recipe
  • Home improvement ideas
  • Your bucket list
  • Things you’re going to donate

05. When leaving a room, always take something with you

One of the things I often ask my clients to do after an organizing session is to maintain the order that has been created in the space we worked in. The goal is to keep the momentum going and encourage organizing activities so these actions can become part of the client’s regular routine. A fairly easy way to maintain an area is to leave it better than how you found it. Before leaving a room, take something with you that doesn’t belong (like glasses from the coffee table to the kitchen, mail on the kitchen counter to the mail processing station). These small steps can go a very long way to helping you keep things looking and feeling the way you want them to.

06. Use vertical space

Organizing products can save you from having stuff strewn about your home, office, and car. But, sometimes those products can have big footprints and take up a quite a bit of floor space. “Going up” or using vertical space (walls, backs of doors) removes that hindrance and gives you another option to store your stuff. You can still mount products without permanently installing them by using adhesive-backed products (like Command Hooks by 3M).

07. Create habits and routines that work for you

“We are what we repeatedly do; excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.” — Aristotle

Being able to keep things in order is hinged on routines. If those routines fit your lifestyle, are easy to follow, and you (or others you delegate to) keep up with them regularly, you’ll have a greater chance of kicking clutter in the arse. Organizing strategies are not one-size-fits-all, so be sure to test a few to find the ones that mesh well with your current lifestyle.

08. Everything must have a home

When the items in our homes and offices don’t have a designated space to live, you may find them scattered about in several areas. You might also be tempted to throw them all in a box to review later. In reality, though, when the time comes to sort through them, they’ll probably continue residing in that box if there’s still no specific place for them to permanently go. The good news is that once they have a home, you’ll be able to put them back where they belong (instead of putting them down) and find them easily when you need them.

09. Keep frequently used items easily accessible

It can be extremely frustrating if you always have to move other things to get access to the items you use often. You’ll also end up wasting a bit of time and chances are, you probably won’t put anything back in place because of how difficult it is to reach them. Instead, put the things you use frequently close by and in the same place all the time (your favorite pen and notebook on your desk, your keys on the hook by the door, your earbuds in the gadget box). Put the other things that you don’t use all the time on a high shelf (or behind your frequently used items).

10. Group like items together

By now, this rule of thumb is probably permanently etched in your mind. I say this tongue in cheek, but I couldn’t leave it off the list because it works extremely well. When you gather all the similar items in your home or office, you immediately know how big your stash is and you avoid buying duplicates. Which also means you’ll be saving a bit of money and add a few minutes to your day because you won’t be searching high and low for your stuff.

11. Don’t buy something simply because it’s on sale

…or because you have lots of coupons. Getting a great deal on something you’ve had your eye on can make you feel happy, almost triumphant, especially when that thing is something that you need and will use. But, sometimes sales can tempt us to buy things that we don’t use or even like. The result can be an overgrown pile of things that gather dust and take up space that could be used for things that you actually use. Before opening your wallet, think about how much you and your family will realistically use the product you’re about to buy. If you won’t really use it, why not share the deal (or coupon) with someone who really needs it?

 

Why I love Craigslist… almost new Washer and Dryer cheap!

Got rid of this older, non-matching washer and dryer, for free, within 2 hours of posting (purchased washer used off craigslist 5+ years ago when moved into house; matching dryer died 1+ year ago, easier to replace than fix:)
photo of non-matching older washer and dryer
Only $300.00:
photo of newer matching washer and dryer

Terrific Idea for Future Green Jobs Based in U.S.A.

This is the type of initiative that could revitalize cities like Paterson, NJ and Camden, NJ. Cities have a tremendous amount of plastic litter. I cannot wait to read more about this!
Students win $100K for 3-D printer to turn waste plastic into composting toilets, rainwater harvesting systems

Marina DeBris’ Makes Art from the Litter She Picks Up

I have been picking up “garbage” for a few years now. If we all picked up the litter we pass daily, not only would Mother Earth thank us, but our neighbors would too.

photo of fashions made from waste picked up along beaches and streets
Los Angeles based artist Marina DeBris began picking up trash on local beaches, creeks & streets over 13 years ago. 3 years ago she began to create pieces of art that question the use of single use items and the amount of waste we create. Washed Up: Pollution Reborn As Art
photo of carved pumpkin throwing up plastic bottle lids on the beach

Good collection of recycling videos.

Inexpensive (Mostly) Chemical-Free Mosquito Repelling Ideas

picture of mosquito with red line circle around itHow about instead of applying the neurotoxin DEET to your largest organ, or releasing GM mosquitos, we try:

  1. Planting perennials that give off mosquito-repelling volatiles (scientifically proven to be equal to or more effective than DEET).
  2. Create non-toxic traps (with only 3 ingredients).
  3. Try any other number of non-toxic alternatives listed below. *There is zero chance (0%) none of these work! Try out a few of these and you will find at least one that works; the more you try the more you find work great! When one of these works for you, spread the word to neighbors, friends and family members.

Five Most Mosquito-Repellent Plants:

  1. rose-scented monarda
  2. lime basil
  3. catnip
  4. sacred basil
  5. thyme

All of these plants should thrive throughout most of North America and would make a lovely display on or near your patio or deck. You can use these plants as natural mosquito repellents in two ways:

  1. Rub the fresh leaves on your clothes and skin when you head outside, and reapply as needed.
  2. Grow them close to the areas where you spend time outside, and toss small branches of the plants on your patio before picnics or other gatherings. As you and guests stroll over the branches, mosquito-repellent scents will naturally waft into the air.

More on this below…


If you need immediate results, make your own

Homemade Mosquito Traps

Though female mosquitoes need a blood meal in order to lay eggs, both male and female mosquitoes are fueled by flower nectar and fruit juice, and exciting new research from Israel and West Africa has discovered how to take advantage of these facts. Homemade mosquito traps baited with sugar and fermented fruit juice reduced local mosquito populations by 90%. Here’s how to make these mosquito traps at home.

Materials:

  • 1/16-inch-diameter nail or drill bit
  • Quart-sized, large-mouth plastic container with lid
  • 3 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp boric acid
  • 1 cup smashed, fermented fruit with the fruit juice
  • Jasmine essential oil (optional)

Instructions: Set smashed fruit in the sun for a day or two before making the homemade mosquito traps to speed up fermenting. Drill or punch several 1/16-inch holes in the container lid (the small holes will let mosquitoes in while excluding beneficial insects such as bees). Next, mix the ingredients in the container. Put the ventilated lid on the container. Place the trap outside in a sheltered location where it won’t get rained on.


Grow Your Own Mosquito-Repellent Plants

The following five plants produce effective mosquito-repelling volatiles, but they release these compounds in large quantities only when the leaves are damaged. Pick and crush a few leaves from any of the plants, then rub the crushed leaves on your skin and clothing to discourage mosquitoes. If you have large enough plants, you can use stems and leaves as “strewing herbs” on your patio.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is a low-growing perennial culinary herb. Researchers at Seoul National University in Seoul, South Korea, found that thyme volatiles repelled mosquitoes as well as or better than DEET, and that thyme volatiles lasted as long as DEET.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial in the mint family. Nepetalactone, the essential oil that gives catnip its distinct smell, is more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes, according to laboratory research conducted by Chris Peterson, an entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and Joel R. Coats, former chair of the Department of Entomology at Iowa State University. Note: Some cats love catnip and some ignore it. If you have a catnip-lover, you may need to grow your catnip under a wire basket to keep your cat from killing the plant.

Sacred basil (Ocimum sanctum, also called “holy basil” and “tulsi”), an annual, has been used medicinally in South Asia for thousands of years. The leaf extract discourages mosquitoes from feeding, and the seeds, floated on water, kill mosquito larvae.

Rose-scented monarda is a colorful perennial especially rich in geraniol, a compound that smells like roses. Turns out, geraniol is highly repellent to mosquitoes, according to an Israeli study published in the Journal of Vector Ecology. Scientists at the Morden Research Station in Manitoba, Canada, have developed monarda hybrids for commercial essential oil production. The extracted oil of their variety now sold as rose-scented monarda contains more than 90% geraniol. Geraniol is the active ingredient in some commercial natural mosquito repellents.

Lime basil (Ocimum americanum, also called “hairy basil” and “hoary basil”) is a culinary and medicinal annual that’s an effective repellent when burned and when grown nearby.


More Non-toxic Insect Repellents

Cedar Oil Try a cedar oil spray. Buy at PetSmart or natural food stores (or make your own) and use it on people, dogs, cats & kids.

Rubbing Alcohol Splash plain rubbing alcohol on skin and allow it to dry to deter mosquitoes from biting. Once it dries, it leaves a pleasant odor; And it only costs less than $1 a bottle!

Vaporub Rub Vick’s Vaporub on pants and legs to ward off ticks and keep insects at bay.

Dryer Sheets Try putting a bounce dryer sheet on your belt, in a pocket or in your sock, the sheet will mask your smell and ward off the bugs.

Avon S-S-S Mix Mix Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil about half and half with alcohol.

Homemade Recipe 20 drops Eucalyptus oil, 20 drops Cedarwood oil, 10 drops Tea Tree oil, 10 drops Geranium oil, 2 oz. carrier oil (such as Jojoba). Mix together in a 4 oz. container. Apply to skin as needed avoiding the eye area. Experiment with different percentages of essential oil.

Raw Vanilla Real vanilla (not the grocery store vanilla extract which is mostly alcohol). Mix half vanilla and half water and find that it works great for mosquitoes and ticks, don’t know about other insects.

Moth Balls Place mothballs around the yard to keep mosquitos away (not non-toxic, keep away from children).

Catnip Concoction Make your own by filling a quart jar with some herbs from the mint family like catnip, spearmint, pennyroyal and then cover with apple cider vinegar. Shake twice a day for two weeks. Strain and either rub on or spray on.

Lavender Oil Dab lavender oil on your pulse points (wrists, behind ears, temples, behind knees, ankles).

Lemon Smell Spray entire yard with equal parts of lemon dish soap, lemon ammonia, and lemon juice. Do this every two weeks with a 20-gallon sprayer, and you won’t be on the mosquito menu this summer.  Planting Lemongrass would help too!

Facts about Asian Tiger Mosquito in New Jersey

Most Rich People Suck

graphic says GREED SUCKS! TAX THE RICHSad state of affairs… isn’t sharing one of the first things we are taught as children. Apparently, those that hoard the toys may well be on track to financial freedom! I will never understand why the super-rich don’t share more; it is too depressing for me to debate within my skull any longer–my 20s are over, 30s halfway done… I grow jaded. What is the point of life? If only we were like all the other mammals still working within the confines of survival of the fittest. Mother Earth could to with fewer a$$holes.

large graphic  titled Rich People Are Unethical
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