Calendula essential oil is a soothing therapeutic oil distilled from pot marigold. Its uses are varied — from soothing minor skin disorders like pimples and dry chapped lips to curing snakebite. Calendula’s medicinal properties have been explored for centuries. It was discovered that a great deal of calendula’s effectiveness lies in its antioxidant properties.

As an antioxidant, calendula extracts protect the body from damage caused by an immuno-suppressing function called oxidation. Calendula essential oil has been proven to aid in wound healing. Combined with olive oil, it becomes an excellent salve even for serious burns, bruises and cuts.

Can the Oil be Used for Psioriasis?

Psoriasis is an extremely difficult skin disease to treat. It is a dermal infection characterized by inflamed lesions on the skin covered by a silvery white scale. Psoriasis may be noncontagious, but it could also be deadly, especially if left untreated. Studies show that an estimated four hundred people die of psoriasis-related diseases every year in the United States alone. Occurrences of psoriasis are most common among Caucasian females, and rare among those with darker skin. Often, psoriasis strikes at an advanced age, and there are indications that it may be a genetic disease.

How can calendula essential oil help in treating this disease? This oil’s antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties may be the answer. Calendula could ease the inflammation of the lesions and slow the spread of the disease. Related to this, calendula extracts are used as additives in antiseptic mouthwashes and gargles that treat and prevent mouth sores. Calendula extracts have also been proven to help in treating hemorrhoids.

Other Properties of Calendula Oil

There is almost no way to get 100% pure marigold calendula essential oil. This makes calendula essential oil an infusion and not a pure extract. Nonetheless, the warm golden oil is said to be completely non-toxic and highly effective in treating nearly every sort of skin disorder. Oil distilled from various breeds of calendula may vary in efficiency, but in general marigold calendula is recognized to be the most therapeutic kind.

Calendula essential oil is a popular element of an aromatherapy massage. Aside from its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties and its ability to help heal wounds, it refreshes and regenerates the skin. Some recipes use calendula essential oil to treat dermatitis, sore feet, ringworm, and diaper rash! It is something that seems so innocuous, but has such a lot of diverse uses.

J. Martin is the webmaster of the Aromatherapy Spot, your source for information on aromatherapy.

This article came from the aromatherapy essential oils section of the site.

When you meet people, what do they see? Your face, your skin, that’s what. Your skin condition can say a lot about your health and your lifestyle. Did you know that your skin is the largest organ of your body? An adult human skin weighs around 5kg (11lbs) and has a surface area of 2 sq. metres (22 sq. feet), which is approximately the size of a double bed. Even with your clothes on that’s a lot of target for damage from the outside – injury, sunlight, cigarette smoke, environmental pollution. So your skin can be damaged by what it is exposed to, and at the same time, it reflects internal emotions (e.g. when you sweat or blush) and conditions (especially the health of your digestive system). The condition of your skin is closely dependant on what you eat.

Nutrition and Your Skin

Nutrition is fundamentally involved at every stage of your skin development. Collagen makes up 70% of your skin and depends on vitamin C. Dry, rough skin (caused by the build up the protein keratin on the outer layers) can be prevented by Vitamin A. The membranes of skin cells are made from essential fats. Dry skin can be caused by a lack of these fats. The flexibility of your skin is reduced as you get older mainly because of oxidation damage caused by free radicals – from pollution, cigarette smoke, fried and burnt foods, sunlight. This damage can be limited by nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E and selenium. Lack of zinc can lead to stretch marks and slow wound healing, and is associated with a wide variety of skin problems from acne to eczema.

Foods to Keep You Young and Beautiful

Foods that can enhance your appearance need to feature as many of the following as possible: antioxidants, antibacterials, fibre to clear toxins, essential fats to support skin and reduced levels of saturated fat and sugar.

The sorts of foods where you’ll get this kind of combination are: fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, fish, pulses, nuts and seeds.

So, to improve your skin, include the following in your diet:

Apricots, cantaloupe melon, carrots, eggs, liver, pumpkin, red peppers, watercress - contain Vitamin A and beta carotene.

Blackcurrants, broccoli, citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, papaya, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and sprouted seeds – contain Vitamin C.

Almonds, avocado, eggs, hazelnuts, olive oil, Sunflower seeds, walnuts – contain Vitamin E.

Brazil nuts, cabbage, chicken, eggs, liver, molasses, mushrooms, onions, seafood, tuna – contain Selenium.

Almonds, chicken, cauliflower, carrots, cucumber, eggs, oats, potatoes, sardines, tuna – contain Zinc.

And reduce your intake of these:

Alcohol

Coffee/tea (no more than 2 cups per day)

Sugar

Saturated fat (found in meat and dairy products).

And think about these other factors:

Avoid strong sunlight and use a sun block (sunlight causes oxidative damage and speeds the ageing process of your skin).

Wash your skin with a gentle oil-based cleanser, not soap, and consider what is in your skin products such as your moisturiser (many cosmetics contains strong petroleum/alcohol based substances –remember these are absorbed through the skin).

Take regular exercise (it stimulates blood flow, which will enhance delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your skin cells).

Drink plenty of water (6-8 glasses per day (1- 1½ litres)) to hydrate the skin. Too little water can be a major factor in dry skin.

Consider taking some nutritional supplements: a good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement; vitamin C; an antioxidant blend (containing at least vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium); and an essential fatty acid supplement (linseed oil, fish oil or evening primrose oil or oil blend). Remember supplements should be considered as an addition to a good diet and healthy lifestyle, not a replacement for one.

Use a skin brush for your body (upward strokes working from feet to torso) and an exfoliation cream for your face. Exfoliation helps to clear blocked pores and smooth away dead, dry skin.

If that sounds a lot to think about, don’t let it put you off. You can have the skin you deserve, the skin that reflects a healthier you. Just take it step by step. First introduce apricots, cantaloupe melon etc (the Vitamin A foods). Then when you’ve worked through introducing the healthier range of foods, start reducing the alcohol and sugar. In no time at all you’ll be on the road to better health and better skin.

Penny Williams is a nutritional therapist. Her website and newsletter can be found at http://www.lifefirst.info

Stretch marks are a common dermatological problem in both sexes of all ages. Stretch Mark scars are formed when our skin needs to be stretched quickly. A sudden weight gain, pregnancy, puberty, height gaining, and sudden weight loss may cause cases like that. The inner layer of the skin tears as the normal production of the major protein that makes up the connective tissue in our skin, collagen, is disrupted. Trying to heal the wounds, the skin is increasing the amount of collagen in the overstretched tissue, resulting in those familiar pinkish lines.

If you are in one of these situations, watch out, you don’t want to see these lines on your skin later. Stretch Mark Treatments are often ineffective and in some cases very expensive. It is better prevent than to treat, so here are some prevention tips for you.

· Follow a balanced diet. Keep your weight gain within the recommended range, as sudden weight gain or weight loss is the most common cause of stretch marks as well as other health problems. If you have weight problems or sudden weight changes consult your doctor or dietician.

· Drink plenty of water. Hydration is important for your overall health and it is critical to healthy skin. Skin needs water for elasticity. Dehydration makes skin looking dry, lined and feeling delicate, being vulnerable enough for stretch marks and scars.

· Vitamins are a certain way to ensure proper nutritional status and shiny strong skin in and out. All vitamins are essential for healthy skin but you can make sure that you take enough of the skin beneficial vitamins; Vitamin A is critical for normal life cycle of skin cells, vitamin C, iron and copper which are important for the synthesis of collagen, folate is important for rapidly dividing skin cells, Vitamins B1 and B2 are critical for energy production in the cells and vitamin B12 is essential for a variety of synthetic processes in the cells.

· You can also use a body brush to massage the areas where you have or want to prevent stretch marks from appearing, such us the thighs, buttocks, breasts and arms. This massage will increase circulation to the area, adding points to your efforts.

· Moisturize your skin externally. You can apply several moisturizing creams and oils. Daily massage the area with a substance of your choice. Olive oil, vaseline, vitamin E cream, different types of butter such us cocoa butter, coconut butter and shea butter will do fine. There are also special creams marketed especially for stretch mark prevention, formulas that are designed to help enhance collagen production and support the dermis. These moisturizers will help keep your skin supple and elastic plus serve as nutrition for your skin.

Finally, keep in mind that the appearance of stretch marks is not entirely in your hands. Heredity and skin complexion is also important. Stretch marks are the result of a healthy body trying to heal itself.

So, if despite your efforts you continue to see stretch marks on your skin, do not despair. You are a healthy individual and your marks tell a story. There are always new treatments waiting for you to try, and cosmetic science is always progressing rapidly in this direction.

For free daily articles, ideas and tips to fight scars and stretch marks visit The Stretchmarktips.com at http://www.stretchmarktips.com

Skin is one of the most sensitive organs in our body, thus, we should keep it healthy to prevent any skin disease or irritations. There are many skin treatments as well as skin products to help you in maintaining your skins’ health. However, when not carefully picked, the skin care products can cause you some side effects such as allergic, irritations, or even infections. These side effects are cause by the unusual reaction of your skin towards certain chemical materials on the products. Therefore it is recommended to use natural skin care to lessen the risk of getting those side effects. Natural skin care is basically skin care product which encompasses natural ingredients. They do not contain any chemical compound thus reducing the possibility of developing irritation or allergic reaction when applied to your skins.

How to treat and pamper your skin naturally? Actually it’s pretty easy. Some vegetables and fruits can do the trick. Your veggies and fruit can be cost effective and healthy yet rewarding natural skin care. For instance, you can use peach, carrot, apple, or strawberry for your facial skin care, toner and etc. You can find a lot of prescriptions for these natural skins care available in the internet.

Because of the increasing market demand for natural skin care products, companies have been responsive and produce a wide range of natural skin products, thus giving you plenty of choices to choose from.

Natural skin care products extend widely from facial skin care product to body care products. With the increasing awareness of skin care importance, natural body care products are increasingly popular in the market. Natural body scrub, whitening essence, shampoo products, hair treatment, and soap are only some of the ever-increasing popular natural body care products. Ingredients are extensive from tropical fruit, to vegetables to mineral water and many more. With this wide range of natural skin care products, it is easier than ever for you to stay healthy and beautiful yet far from the risk of developing skin allergic or irritations. Isn’t nature wonderful?

Jerrick Foo has been researching and developing all dry skin care the purpose of offering men and women safe, dry skin care tips. He have created Dry Skin Care Guide to share his 10 years of combined expertise with you. Visit http://www.dry-skin-care-guide.com for essential skin care tips.

Looking for an extreme makeover or just a little Nip/Tuck

Are you aware of the growing trend of medical tourism? If not, consider this, have the vacation adventure of a lifetime in an exotic country, with sun, sea and pristine white beaches. Your personal assistant awaits you at the airport, accompanied by car and driver. You are whisked away to a luxury beach hotel where you are warmly greeted and everything has been made “just right” for your arrival. Sound great so far? Now add world class plastic surgery. Got your interest?

The kicker, the price tag! This “lifestyles of the rich and famous” treatment will run you half the cost of staying home and having just the surgery. Yes, you heard right half the cost of staying home and having just the surgery! Imagine all this and medical treatment or plastic surgery performed by some of most qualified surgeons in the world. No wonder hundreds of thousands of people annually are exploring the advantages of medical tourism.

A well-known Dallas socialite who travels every year to have "a little work done" said "Why in the world would I pay double the money for half the quality?" That’s a good question. She went further adding, “I could never afford the top surgeon in Dallas, but abroad I can, and would I really want to trust my face or body to my second choice because my wallet couldn’t stretch far enough?

Plastic surgery and medical tourism trends continue to grow every year. Medical tourism is expected to be a global $2 billion dollar market by 2012. Countries where medical tourism is being actively promoted include South Africa, India, Malaysia, Philippines Singapore and South America. The latter, South America is known for being home to arguably the best plastic surgeons in the world.

There is no end in sight for the worldwide growth of medical tourism, in fact, Malaysian Airlines recently announced their plans to become the first airline to book medical holidays direct from their travel agents and ticket counters. The giant tour operator Thomas Cook has also announced plans to market medical holidays in the near future.

The worldwide demand for plastic surgery rises every year and as more individuals who desire a “Nip/Tuck” realize they can afford VIP treatment with a top surgeon in another country they’re packing their bags and heading to the airport.

Robert Strong

Robert Strong writes about medical tourism. http://www.surgicalservicesinternational.com

Neck pain can really get irritating if it persists for long periods of time. The pain can get unbearable that’s why some people succumb to taking medications or pain relievers only to find out that they don’t do them any good. Let’s check out these simple and basic tips on how to treat and relieve you from neck pain.

1. Get spinal checkups regularly.

It is very important to always keep your spine aligned. This can ensure the proper functioning of your neck and back, specifically the upper region. Your chiropractor will do spinal adjustments on you. This can decrease the stress on your thoracic and cervical spines. It also improves the communication between your brain and all parts of the body. As a result, a happier and healthier you.

2. Always be conscious of your posture.

There are a lot of people who exhibit poor posture. When asked to stand up straight, they are unable to exude the proper posture anymore. This is because they have been used to that kind of posture and they are unaware of it already. Proper posture does not only involve the back, as lot may think. It also includes the neck. Poor posture, if not dealt with can give rise to neck pain as well.

3. Exercise regularly.

Exercising does not only do good to the body’s muscular and cardiovascular system but to the skeletal system, too. For an efficient and effective program, you have to do at least three sessions a week for about forty minutes. In order to be more inspired to do these exercises, involve the whole family and your friends. It will benefit, not only yourself, but your loved ones as well.

4. Eat well and eat right.

Naturally, you keep your body healthy by eating the right food at the right amount. When you observe proper diet and nutrition, your body will the given the appropriate energy or fuel that can increase your endurance and performance. It can also increase your body’s immune system to fight injuries and sickness. It can speep your recovery from injury and it also makes you feel good. If you are having a hard time eating right, you might as well consider taking up dietary supplements to cover up for vitamin and mineral deficiencies in your body.

5. Manage stress.

There are a lot of techniques devised to relieve stress, if not to eliminate it totally. Usually, stress is carried on the upper back, the shoulders, and the neck. If you prefer, go to your nearest chiropractor to ask about these techniques and how to do them the right way.

6. Do not put pressure on your neck.

For example, while using the telephone, do not use your neck and shoulders to hold it while you talk. In the office, always sit properly and keep your neck straight by working at eye level. You can unconsciously get neck pain during sleep because you are unaware of your movements. You can use a cervical pillow for this. You can also roll a towel and put it around the curve of your neck while you sleep. Never sleep on your stomach.

7. Stretch.

It is always best to do stretching if possible. In the office or at home, you can take short breaks just to reduce the tension. Some massage won’t hurt either. It can decrease the tension not only on your shoulders but also on your neck.

Do not let yourself get weighed down by neck pain. If you are one of those people suffering from neck pain, do not fret. There are a lot of simple techniques and remedies you can get and use wherever you may be.

There are other risks as you sit in front of that computer but it would be to much to write about in this article, so if you would like to learn more about other risks such as:

Eye strain
RSI (Repetitive Stress Syndrome)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Constant Head Aches
Dizziness
Breathing Problems
Difficulty Concentrating

You can learn all about this in the book: “The Painless PC”

Hege Crowton is establishing herself as an expert copywriter. She is known for doing in-depth research before writing her articles. Many of her articles are posted on http://www.ezinecrow.com and she also does a lot of writing for http://www.CrowSites.com

Copyright 2005 HealthCrow.com

It may seem that the significance of vitamins to nutrition health has been known for a significant amount of time. However, it wasn’t until the 15th century that scientists began to realize that nutrients found in various foods could improve health. The classic realization is the one of sailors who suffered from scurvy and improved their condition by eating citrus fruits. To discover the exact benefits a particular food would provide, scientists simulated conditions of nutrient deficiency using animals. These experiments were carried out by feeding the animals one specific type of food for an extended period of time. In all cases the animals’ health declined; some became seriously ill and some died. For those that became ill, the scientists fed them various nutrients until their health improved.

In the early 1900s, British chemist and Nobel Prize winner Frederick Gowland Hopkins concluded from his research that the human body needed a certain amount of specific substances to live. Casimir Funk, a biochemist from Poland who worked closely with Hopkins, conducted an experiment with polished and unpolished rice. The results of his experiments coupled with what Hopkins discovered led him to coin the term "vitamin" to represent the crucial supplemental substances necessary for growth. It would only take thirty years after their discoveries for chemists to begin synthesizing (commercially producing) the vitamins that we know today.

Since the early discoveries, there have been many developments in understanding the value of vitamins. The most recent development is that taking a multivitamin every day can decrease an individual’s risk for conditions such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The vitamin industry is probably a multi-billion dollar industry. Just visit any nutrition center or grocery store that sells vitamins and you will see shelf after shelf of vitamins. There are vitamin preparations for just about ever type of health condition and nutritional need. The reports of the benefits of vitamins are outstanding, but indicate that there may be more to discover about vitamins and their benefits on human life.

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com

Find out what we use daily at the site dedicated to nutrition.

Despite the fact that people are living hectic lifestyles more than ever, they are following a more healthy diet and exercising on a regular basis. You might wonder if the recommendation by the health industry to take a multivitamin every day is still valid in light of the trend of people becoming healthier. If you are eating a variety of foods, there’s a good chance you are getting the vitamins and minerals your body needs to perform routine functions to keep your body healthy. However, you’re not completely out of the woods.

When you use heat to cook your food (grill, fry, bake), the heating process removes some of your food’s beneficial nutrients. In addition, if you are plagued with stress or you if you are taking medication there’s a chance that you are losing a significant amount of vitamins and minerals that you consume. Taking vitamins on a regular basis can increase your chances of getting all the nutrients your body needs.

The benefits of taking vitamins go beyond meeting the recommended dietary allowances. How healthy you are depends on more than just diet and the amount of exercise you obtain. There are other outside factors that can predispose you to develop certain health issues. For example, how much of a risk you have for developing cancer of heart disease is largely dependent upon whether or not others in your family developed these conditions. For some time it was believed that an individual had very little recourse in these situations. Studies conducted by Harvard University researchers revealed that taking a multivitamin every day can reduce an individual’s risk to develop these conditions.

To determine your specific needs, you should visit your doctor for a complete evaluation of your dietary needs. Your doctor will be able to recommend the type of vitamins that are best for you. It may very well be the case that a common multivitamin is all that you need. If this is the case, you can visit any nutrition center or grocery store and find aisles of multivitamins. While these preparations will contain the same basic set of vitamins, the amount of each will differ. You can determine which preparation is for you by considering which nutrients you lack. For example, if you’re not a fan of milk products, you may want to choose a multivitamin that contains more calcium.

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com

Find out what we use daily at the site dedicated to nutrition.

The human body needs vitamins to function properly. Each of the 13 essential vitamins (A, C, D, E, K, B12, and the 7 B-complex vitamins) provides the regulation of a crucial function. We acquire a majority of the vitamins our body needs from food. When there is a deficiency, we are in danger of becoming seriously ill or even dying. Vitamin supplementation can reverse illness caused by vitamin deficiency, sometimes miraculously. Nowadays, it is very rare to find someone who isn’t taking a daily multivitamin. Since there is a good chance that most of the individuals who take a daily multivitamin are eating a variety of foods, is it really necessary that they take a multivitamin? It may not be necessary, but everyone can benefit from taking a multivitamin.

The obvious benefit of taking a multivitamin is to prevent deficiency. In some situations your dietary needs may increase. Pregnant women, for example, are generally advised to start taking multivitamins in their first trimester. This is to ensure that they receive the proper nutrition and pass it on to their unborn child. By taking a multivitamin every day a pregnant woman can decrease her risk of passing malnutrition on to her baby. However, the benefits of taking a multivitamin every day go beyond replenishing nutrient stores.

With so many advancements, the world is moving at a pace that just gets faster and faster. People often feel like they can’t keep up. They try to do too much and wind up in a stressful condition. Another benefit of taking multivitamins is that it combats stress. There are numerous stress formulations that can keep you mental healthy as well as energize you. In addition to these short-term benefits, taking a multivitamin every day can also reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

While taking a multivitamin on a daily basis makes good nutritional sense, it is not a magic bullet. It is often the case that people who suffer symptoms of illness attempt to cure themselves by taking multivitamins. This can be a serious problem. Some health conditions require special attention. If you have symptoms of illness you should seek medical attention.

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com

The site dedicated to nutrition.

If you’ve visited a nutrition center you’ve probably come across liquid multivitamins. It may seem odd to you to be able to drink your vitamins, but it is becoming a more acceptable practice. With the number of multivitamins available, you would probably find it difficult to accept the fact that one is more superior to another. However, when you compare the benefits associated with taking liquid multivitamins you may discover that the benefits they provide slightly exceed those of multivitamins in pill form (tablets, softgels, and capsules).

When you take vitamins, do you feel confident that your body is getting the nutrients it needs? While you probably are, it may be possible that you are not. Before your body can use the nutrients found in vitamins, it has to be able to absorb them. Multivitamins in pill form are cold pressed. This process involves extracting the nutrients from fruit, seeds, and nuts with a limited amount of heat. This process is supposed to result in more of the vitamin’s value being retained, however, many of the nutrients (as much as 80%!) are lost. This should catch your attention if you are on a budget (and who isn’t these days), since taking a pill multivitamin can be like throwing your money away.

In contrast, liquid multivitamins retain much higher nutrient content when they are processed. In addition, it takes longer for your digestive system to digest pill multivitamins. Liquid multivitamins don’t have to be digested so they are absorbed within the system a lot quicker than pills. The nutrient content in multivitamins in pill form can rival those of liquid multivitamins when they are produced using quality nutrients. These multivitamins unfortunately are very expensive to produce and are often overlooked by individuals interested in purchasing vitamins.

In addition to the method in which they are processed and how quickly they enter the bloodstream, liquid multivitamins also have a wider appeal. Many people have difficulty swallowing pills, sometimes to the point of gagging. Liquid multivitamins naturally go down easy and are available in a variety of flavors (children enjoy this aspect).

If you are completely sold on the idea of using multivitamins in pill form, you should continue to do so. Just make sure you search for those multivitamins that are made with the best quality nutrients.

John Gibb manages http://www.nutritional-supplement-guides.com

The site dedicated to nutrition.