Natural Health Holistic Therapies and Healing Remedies Online - A Path to Alternative Health Part 1

Part 1 of 2

Where can I find sites that offer valuable free Natural health care information and resources online?

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There are many great sites with free health information available. The Health Holistic sites found online can help to educate you on Natural health and how to learn about the benefits of holistic therapies such as Herbal remedies, Homeopathic remedies and other Natural remedies online.

Natural Health Holistic Therapies and Healing Remedies Online - A Path to Alternative Health Part 1

Alternative health sites promote a Holistic approach to therapy and treatment with respect to the individuals needs.The goal of the natural Healing sites found online is to not only provide a one stop source to find and buy the most effective healing remedies, therapies and products but to allow their visitors to express what their own experiences have been with personal health issues.

To allow you to share what health promoting techniques have been a benefit for their family and for themselves on the path to optimal wellness.Most Health blogs and sites invite you to participate and voice your opinions on the topics of Holistic Health care, alternative medicine treatment and the healing benefits you have received through the use of natural holistic healing remedies.

There are also Holistic health forums online where you can share your experience with any natural holistic healing remedy that you have found beneficial to you, your family and your pets.

What does these sites have to offer you as far as Holistic health information about remedies and alternative health resources that will help educate you and your family?

The best Alternative health sites provide you resources to buy natural holistic healing remedies online as well as providing links to other helpful natural health and Alternative medicine sites.

You will often find valuable information on these sites including articles on natural remedies, supplements and holistic therapies.

Many health sites offer info on common health issues such as IBS, Arthritis and High blood Pressure which can be lowered naturally with remedies. Some offer natural remedy relief for the aggravation of kidney stones, Gout, depression and remedy reports that show natural low cost ways to relieve many symptoms with every day items.

In part 2 we will look at what some of the best Natural Health sites have to offer online.

Natural Health Holistic Therapies and Healing Remedies Online - A Path to Alternative Health Part 1

What Are the Different Examples of Family Trees?

The most basic of family tree layouts is often one that is depicted by the traditional and simple boxes connected by straight lines; while this is certainly a good introductory example of family trees, it is certainly not the only way to depict family history.

The basic layout, with its simple boxes and lines design might be very restrictive in terms of the amount of data that can be added to it; however it is an ideal way to introduce children to genealogy. The simple lines connecting boxes on a standard sheet of paper is easy to follow, and easy for children to complete by themselves. For a fun project to involve your children in your genealogy hobby, sit down with them and explain how a family tree works while allowing them to fill in their family's information in each of the boxes. This art project, while simple in design, can make an interesting piece to display on a wall and go a long way towards instilling a sense of family pride in children.

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A family tree depicted on poster board is definitely a good method to visually represent a few generations of family history; however, by making use of one of the available genealogy software packages, you will find several additional ways to create, maintain, and even display your family history. With genealogy software, a hobbyist has the ability to venture beyond the basic boxes containing names and dates. The software will allow for a much more detailed project to be built over time.

What Are the Different Examples of Family Trees?

Using a good, and user friendly, software package that allows for access to extensive genealogy resources and databases will not just allow a genealogy hobbyist the ability to expand their project by adding documents, photographs, and other related data, but it will often also allow for great exposure to additional examples of family trees. Most makers of genealogy software will make a large amount of data available to users; from discussion forums, helpful hints and tips, to the online viewing of projects completed by other genealogy hobbyists. It can be incredibly helpful to see how other hobbyists display their projects; not only will you see how others manage the large amounts of data that they manage to gather, but there is often a good chance that exposure to projects belonging to others will provide you with clues leading to additional material for your own project.

If you are sold on the idea of having a physical representation of your tree, you could take advantage of the many printing options available with genealogy software. Most of them will allow you to choose from a wide array of customizable themes to ensure that your printed family tree meets your exact specifications.

A family tree is a representation of you and your history. It can, therefore, be anything that you envision \ it to be. From the most basic representation comprising of simple blocks to the most comprehensive digital representation comprising of photographs, documents, and even home videos; your family tree is all about you so it should encompass everything that you wish it to. Be creative and have fun with it!

What Are the Different Examples of Family Trees?

Natural Resveratrol - Foods With High Amounts of This Compound

Resveratrol is a natural phenomenon among certain plants. It is produced as a defense against the bombardment of harmful environmental factors such as UV and UVB rays from the sun; air, land, and water pollution; and infections from fungi, algae, and bacteria. The greater the onslaught, the higher the amount of resveratrol produced. Among the plants, grapes and grape skins are abundant with it; so do most members of the berry family like raspberries, mulberries, bilberries, blueberries, and cranberries. The Japanese knotweed, peanuts, and Scots pine and Easter white pines are other sources of resveratrol.

Among the beverages that contain this compound, wines are the most popular. Red wines are known to have a higher amount of resveratrol compared to white wines. This is because red wines ferment with the grape skin, permitting resveratrol to be infused into the wine. The longer the fermentation occurs, the higher the amounts of this amazingly natural compound are imbued. Among red wines, Muscadine wines have the highest content of this natural compound.

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Red wine, as the famous beverage that carries such compound, is also the reason why resveratrol became known to us. French nationals are among the peoples who patronize red wine. In fact, meals and food preparations are not complete without them. Drinking red wines, according to some, may have somehow contributed to the good health enjoyed by most French people. They are shown to have fewer incidences of stroke, heart attacks, diabetes, and obesity.

Natural Resveratrol - Foods With High Amounts of This Compound

Peanuts, cranberry, and grapefruit are believed to be the foods that have the highest amounts of this compound. Among the berries, blueberries are known to have two times the amount of resveratrol found in bilberries. As condiments, blueberries, grapes, and bilberries lose most of the compound during cooking.

Natural Resveratrol - Foods With High Amounts of This Compound

Natural Prostate Health Remedies

The Prostate Gland

What is the prostate gland?

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The prostate is a chestnut-shaped gland that weighs between 15-20gm and sits at the base of the bladder, in front of the rectum and surrounds the urethra and is actually part of the male sexual organ.

Natural Prostate Health Remedies

The prostate gland plays a critical role in the reproductive system of men.
Most men know about the prostate but very few know what its overall purpose is or where it is located until they have a prostate exam.
When we first have what is called a "digital exam" we become acutely aware of where it is located

Function of the Prostate

Its purpose is to produce semen to transport sperm during ejaculation. Most of the time we do not have any problem with the prostate, that is, it functions as it should for the most part.

Enlarged Prostate

One of the problems that can occur with the prostate is that it can become enlarged.

The medical term is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or (BPH).
Left untreated this condition can escalate into a real health concern.

When a man is young prostate problems or prostate cancer are the least of his worries.
Most young men simply take their good health for granted until they get around 40 or so.

At this age in men you can start to see prostate cells produce at a faster rate and this will eventually result in an enlarged prostate.

Because the Prostate Gland surrounds the Urethra tube when the prostate gland becomes enlarged it has a tendency to put pressure on the Urethra and this results in a slower, smaller urine stream.

This can be especially frustrating for men who may find themselves getting up several times during the night to urinate.

If this condition is left untreated urination can be difficult at best and downright impossible at worst.

Without proper medical attention this condition can lead to urinary tract infection and even more severe health issues including liver problems.

Although prostate problems generally affect older men most , all men regardless of age can be the victim of a multitude of prostate issues including enlarged prostate (BPH) and prostatitis and even cancer.

But let me hasten to add that just because you have an enlarged prostate doesn't automatically mean you have cancer or other serious ailments. You may very well have something as simple as an infection.

Symptoms of an enlarged prostate

1. Burning sensation while urinating
2. Interrupted sleep due to the constant need to urinate at night
3. You experience a weak urine flow
4. You find that you cannot empty your bladder completely
5. You experience pain, hesitancy or urgency to urinate
6. You see blood in your urine
7. You have lower back pain
8. You feel uncomfortable when sitting
9. You experience pain in the testicles groin or penis
10. You feel pain when ejaculating or during sex
11. You have a constant itchy feeling in your penis
12. You experience difficulties getting an erection or impotence

NATURAL ALTERNATIVES FOR PROSTATE HEALTH

Good nutrition along with a regular exercise regiment are the most important factors in promoting good prostate health.

Be sure to include in your daily diet a good portion of fruits and vegetables.

Fructose, the natural sweetener in fruits helps improve prostate health.

Avoid excessive use of products high in fat such as red meat and dairy products.

OTHER THERAPIES

Saw Palmetto is a palm tree native to the Atlantic seaboard.
Saw palmetto is the most popular prostate herb because it contains a powerful compound that affects the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

Saw Palmetto has been proven to shrink aid in the reduction of enlarged prostates.

(A Note about Saw Palmetto:)

The fat-soluble (liposterolic) extract of the saw palmetto berry has become the leading natural treatment for BPH. When used regularly, it has been shown to help keep symptoms in check.

As a matter of record, a three year German study has found that 160 mg of Saw Palmetto taken twice a day reduced urination at night in about 73% of the patients.

Pau D' Arco-
Pau d'Arco is a natural herb retrieved from the inner bark of the Tabebuia Avellanedae or Tabebuia Impetiginosa, known as taheebo. The taheebo tree is grown predominantly in Central and South America, but may also be cultivated in southern Florida.

Red Clover - red clover is a member of the pea family and contains powerful antioxidants that fight off cancerous growths. Red clover aids in inhibiting DHT formation which in turn helps shrink the enlarged prostate.

Zinc -It is a known fact how important Zinc is to the well being of the prostate gland. Zinc can be taken as supplement or can be found in shellfish and pumpkin seed.

Vitamins D & E are also very important as part of a regular maintenance program for good prostate health.

Lycopene - as a extract can be found in watermelons, tomatoes and pink grapefruit .
It contains antioxidants that may contribute to the reduction of inflammation caused by BPH.

Selenium Supplements-Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to good health but required only in small amounts.

Some of the foods high in selenium include: poultry, seafood,shellfish,garlic,asparagus and cashews.

o Focus on physical fitness
o Increase your physical activity by walking more or adding other exercise. A regular exercise plan that includes walking 2-4 hours a week is generally considered a good method for lowering the risk of BPH.

Of course these are just some procedures to consider when trying to lower your risk of prostate issues.

As in the case of any serious health problems it is always best to consult the advice of a Physician if your problem persists.

Natural Prostate Health Remedies

The Rich Natural Resources of Alaska

Alaskans take pride in their state's natural resources. Three of them-- gold, fish and fur-- are well known. These three resources have been worth many times the sum that the United States paid Russia for this piece of land. However, for the future, Alaska is beginning to look to other resources, especially oil and petroleum.

Alaska is rich in vegetation resources. There are two kinds of forests in the state: the interior forest and the coastal forest. The interior forests are found around the river valleys of the interior area and as far north as the central and eastern parts of the Brooks Range. Most of the timber harvested is mainly willow and aspen but much of the forest growth is stunted because of the short growing season and permafrost. The coastal forests on the other hand, begin in the Panhandle and spread throughout the coast of the Gulf of Alaska well into Kodiak Island. These forests are usually dense and made up of hemlock, cedar and spruce trees. Tundra vegetation is also common to much of Alaska. Most of it is made up of lichens, grasses, various mosses, cranberry vines and crowberries. When these plants die, they decay at a very slow rate mainly because of the dampness and low temperature of the area. Year after year, old plants pile up and new plants struggle to grow through them. The tundra vegetation in other parts of Alaska may also include dwarf species of trees and a number of bushes. The only extensive lands for grazing are found on the Aleutian Islands. If you're looking for true arctic tundra with absolutely no trees or shrubs, then you can check out the Arctic slope and Seward Peninsula.

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There is also a wide variety of animal life in an area the size of Alaska. The usual animals would be deer, mountain goats, black bears and moose, all commonly found in southeastern Alaska. Go up further north and grizzly bears start to appear. As you go into the interior lands, caribou begin to replace deer in numbers. It is not uncommon to see caribou travel in herds of thousands. Polar bears are found in the far north and spend most of their time out on the ice packs hunting food. Exotic animals that have been introduced to Alaska include the reindeer found in the Arctic areas, elk on some islands, musk oxen and bison. To conserve animal life on the peninsula, these animals are protected in wildlife ranges under the federal government. Wolves and foxes are also found in many parts of the state. Animals hunted for fur include the mink and beaver. A number of bird species also make Alaska their summer home or remain all year. Some of these include ducks, geese and grouse. The common game fishes are Grayling and rainbow trout. Commercial fish harvests depend mainly on cod, halibut and salmon. In fact, the king salmon is the state fish. Shellfish is also plentiful and a large industry is built on harvesting shrimp, crabs and clams.

The Rich Natural Resources of Alaska

Deposits of gold and silver are known to exist in almost every region of Alaska. So much has been said about the gold that people are sometimes surprised to learn that Alaska has also other mineral riches, like natural gas and petroleum. Geologists are still surveying the area for other petroleum sites. The Panhandle is known to contain important minerals such as nickel, zinc and lead. Mineral deposits of the Gulf of Alaska include mercury, platinum and copper. Alaska, with its many bodies of water, also generates power through the production of hydroelectricity.

The Rich Natural Resources of Alaska

Where to Find Free Printable Family Tree Templates

I've been climbing my family tree for many years, and I have to tell you that it used to be much harder than it is today - - thanks in part to the many free family tree templates available on the Internet. Once you start entering names in each generation you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much easier it is to keep track of everyone.

Since climbing your family tree (called genealogy) is about connecting one generation to the previous generation (i.e. you to your parents, your parents to their parents) it's critical to make sure each person is entered on the correct branch of the tree.

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Although you may think keeping track of everyone is easy, consider this: The number of your direct ancestors doubles with each generation (2 parents, 4 grandparents, 8 great-grandparents). And this doesn't even include aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters. By the time you go back 10 generations you have over 1,000 direct ancestors. Keeping all those people straight without having them on a chart or tree template is almost impossible.

Where to Find Free Printable Family Tree Templates

There are two basic types of charts that you'll want to download.

The first is a pedigree chart. A pedigree chart tracks your family back generation by generation, starting with you.

The second is a family group sheet. This chart contains information about a single family unit (husband, wife, kids).

The pedigree chart is like a wide-angle lens - it gives you the whole picture; a family group sheet is like a zoom lens because it zooms in on one small bit of the tree.

If you own genealogy software you probably already have access to free family tree templates. But if you don't have software you can easily find templates by using your favorite search engine and looking for search phrases such as "family tree templates", "family tree forms", "pedigree chart", or "family group sheet".

Or, you can download these two forms plus lots more for free over at the website for Family Tree Magazine or Family Tree Templates.

Once you really get into climbing the family tree you'll probably want to download even more templates for things like

a research log (keeps track of websites you searched) a correspondence log (keeps track of who you e-mailed for information) cemetery form (write down tombstone inscriptions) scrapbook forms (to make family tree scrapbook pages) circular, bow tie, and hourglass forms (pedigree charts)

One of the best things about getting started in genealogy is having a high level of excitement and anticipation about who and what you'll find. Use templates to record your finds and you'll be on your way to climbing higher and higher up the family tree.

Where to Find Free Printable Family Tree Templates

Is Mutual Respect Necessary For the Family Environment?

Mutual respect is extremely important for a healthy family and upbringing of children. What exactly is mutual respect? It is not something that comes overnight and can be created in a single day just because you want a perfect family. It should be inculcated from day one. Mutual respect in not something that exists only between married couples. It is present among everyone who is part of the family. It should be part of a person's nature and then only it will automatically reflect in all other relationships the person has. Children, parents, grandparents and spouse all need and deserve respect.

The term respect and the concept of it actually is introduced at a very young age. The sense of respect remains with you for the entirety of your life. If you notice, the secret of any successful relationship is mutual respect. It develops a steady flow of love, support, understanding and friendship between two individuals. It means that two individuals in a relationship have to respect each others feelings and space and thoughts. When there is lack of respect in a relationship, there is anger, cruelty, selfishness and hatred for each other. Even if one person lacks the respect, it is very difficult to carry on with the relationship. Every person feels hurt when their views and feelings are not respected.

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In a family environment, the lives of other family members depend on this respect for a cordial and welcoming relationship. Mutual respect is, therefore, very critical for the upbringing of children as well as for leading a healthy marital life.

Is Mutual Respect Necessary For the Family Environment?

Is Mutual Respect Necessary For the Family Environment?

1950s Family Life

When looking back at past eras, the 1950s is looked upon by some as an idyllic time in American history. The nuclear family headed by a male breadwinner was the desired norm and televisions shows such as Father Knows Best and I Love Lucy were popular. However, there was a dark underside during this era. Women were treated like second-class citizens and some were living unhappily married because their financial and educational options were limited.

The media, in collusion with the government, and family sociologists constantly espoused the virtues of family and children and women, who wanted more out of life, were looked upon as freaks of nature. However, some women during 1950s expressed dissatisfaction with their lives and an unarticulated longing for a life beyond their children and husbands. Some of these wives were forced out the workforce after World War II and felt resentment that their only option for financial stability was marriage. This unarticulated longing would lead to a major social upheaval towards the end of the 1950s and would be the beginning of the second-wave feminist movement. This movement caused a shift in family values and altered family structure for future generations to come. The 1950s Family Experiment would be short-lived but fondly remembered.

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Several factors lead to the forming of the nuclear family. By the end of the 1940s, the divorce rate dropped sharply; the age of marriage feel to a 100-year low; and the birth rate soared. Women dropped out of the workforce as soon as they become pregnant and some young women had two or more children in diapers at once. Also during this time, the education gap between young middle-class men and women increased and job segregation for working women and men peaked. Limited educational and job opportunities for women made them more dependent on marriage for their financial well-being.

1950s Family Life

Young, newly married couples were encouraged to sever their family ties and put all their emotional and financial eggs in the small basket of the immediate nuclear family. Women were told by experts that all their energies should be used for their husbands and children, not aging parents and other relatives. Psychiatrist Edward Strecker and various colleagues argued American boys were infantilized and emasculated by women who were old-fashioned "moms" instead of modern "mothers".

Modern mothers placed their parents in nursing homes; old-fashioned mothers took their parents in at the expense of their own "important" nuclear family. A modern mother was not supposed to have friends, a job, or anything or anyone that would take attention from her husband and children. She was also supposed to grant early independence to her male child. It is no wonder that many women who believed in this advice and put it into practice ending up abusing alcohol or tranquilizers over the course of the decade.

Women were encouraged to confine themselves to a very narrow definition of "true" womanhood by a variety of sources such as family education specialists and marriage counselors, columns in women's magazines, government pamphlets, and above all television. These experts told women during the 1950s that their greatest role on the planet was to be wives and mothers. The role of a "real" woman was to have no interest in a higher education or a career and women were taught by these experts to pity women who had the nerve to want a life beyond being a wife and mother.

Televisions shows such as Donna Reed, Ozzie and Harriet, Leave It to Beaver, and Father Knows Best showed women how much easier their lives would be if their families were like those families and the I Love Lucy show warned women about the perils of what happened to a woman who wanted a career or if she schemed behind her husband's back (Coontz 38), The mothers on Leave It to Beaver and Ozzie and Harriet were immaculately dressed with pearls around their necks. Their homes were clean and their children never got into trouble. However, on I Love Lucy, Lucy usually looked terrible by the end of the episode. Her hair was at times standing on top of her head and her clothes filthy from her weekly adventure. Women and their families watched these shows and tried their best to emulate the perfect and bright lives shown to them on a weekly basis.

However, towards the end of the 1950s, a dramatic shift occurred. Cultural values changed dramatically and the children of these women found the social immortality of their parents sickening. Many young adults and their mothers would march in the streets to protest against sexism, racism, and militarism. Minorities and women began to receive the civil rights that were rightfully due to them and more and more women entered the workforce, forcing a dynamic shift in childrearing practices. By the 1970s, husbands and wives had begun to share household duties and women were no longer bound to their homes.

The concept of family has changed and sometimes it was for the best, sometimes for the worst. Although women have more rights, divorce is commonplace in our current society and many children live in one-parent households. Women are still discriminated against in American society and some us still do the majority of household work regardless of how many hours we work per week or if we have a house-husband. But we now have opportunities that would not have been imagined fifty-years ago. Children do not have to see their mothers treated like chattel and we almost had a female President of the United States. Nothing remains the same - ever. The constantly changing landscape of the American family owes a lot to the women of the 1950s.

1950s Family Life

Does Natural Toothpaste Really Work?

You may be skeptical about using natural toothpaste for fear that it won't clean as well as your regular toothpaste. Well, let me ease your mind; natural toothpaste gives you all the cleaning you need.

First of all, let's be clear. Most of the actual cleaning of your teeth comes from the physical act of brushing. Your toothbrush would remove most of the food and debris from your teeth even if you just brushed with water. What you really need toothpaste for is killing bacteria. Bacteria in the mouth are what lead to gingivitis and bad breath, and you should be using toothpaste that, first and foremost, does a good job of killing these bacteria.

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Natural toothpastes are made almost entirely of mint oils. Mint oils are excellent for removing bacteria, plus they're completely natural, so they offer no side effects. In fact, natural toothpastes contain far more mint than commercial pastes, so they are actually better for killing bacteria.

Does Natural Toothpaste Really Work?

Commercial toothpastes are full of ingredients you may want to avoid. They almost always contain fluoride, which adults, and even many children, do not need in toothpaste. Adults don't really require fluoride, and while children may benefit from some fluoride, most water supplies contain plenty even for children. Too much fluoride is actually bad for us, as it can be toxic in large doses.

Commercial toothpastes also contain detergent and saccharin. Detergent can be a skin irritant for many people and saccharin has been shown to cause cancer in laboratory mice. Neither is needed in toothpaste, and both can be dangerous.

So, when you look at it in these terms, you'll see that natural toothpastes not only work well, but are actually safer for your family than the commercial toothpaste you've been buying. That certainly makes them an overall better choice.

Does Natural Toothpaste Really Work?

How Some of Our Female Ancestors Lost Their US Natural Born Citizenship Through Marriage to Aliens

A person born in the United States is generally considered to be a natural born citizen whose citizenship can only be lost by intentionally relinquishing it. For the most part this is true. However, there have been periods of time in our history where there were some deviations from this norm, even to the point of a natural born citizen losing citizenship status based on marriage to a non-citizen alien. From 1907 until 1936, this was true for many American women.

Even today, those expatriates who obtain second passports by becoming a citizenship of another country, do not automatically lose their U.S. citizenship, so it seems odd that an American woman would lose her citizenship due simply to marrying a non U.S. citizen within the U.S. Odd or not, it happened. Furthermore, the loss of citizenship upon marriage to an alien man was not restored upon the husband's death. Quite a penalty to pay for love!

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The reasoning behind this was that the U.S. had allowed alien women who married American men to become U.S. citizens, so the reverse logic should also be true. If the alien women took the citizenship of their U.S. husbands, then why should the U.S. women not be required to take the citizenship of their alien husbands?

How Some of Our Female Ancestors Lost Their US Natural Born Citizenship Through Marriage to Aliens

So, in 1907 a law was passed that basically said that women derived their citizenship from their husband, regardless of where the women were born. This effectively removed the U.S. citizenship of a native born female who married an alien husband and gave her -- at least in the eyes of the U.S. Government -- the citizenship of her husband. The law was short lived but the effect of the law remained for several decades.

The Married Women's Independent Citizenry Act of 1922 effectively repealed the effects of the law of 1907 but did not automatically restore citizenship to those women who had lost it when they married. By an Act of June of 1936 (and a subsequent amendment to that Act in another 1940 Act) a form was finally provided by the the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service which would allow a woman to apply to gain her lost citizenship back. Over the next two decades, many of these "expatriate" citizens applied and were able to regain their U.S. citizenship.

We should never take for granted the permanency of our citizenship. Our female ancestors who did so awoke one day to find that their natural born citizen status had been removed by the stroke of a pen. It's true that they had to marry an alien husband for that removal to occur, but prior to 1907 it would not have occurred. Only the legal requirements for citizenship changed, the fact of their birthplace had not. We can learn a lot from history. Learn from this one.

How Some of Our Female Ancestors Lost Their US Natural Born Citizenship Through Marriage to Aliens

Healing Dysfunctional Childhood Family Patterns

People in families usually have patterns of behaving. In our families, we develop routines and rituals and we react to similar things in similar ways each time. For example, it could be that children are expected to get up by themselves for school, make their own breakfast, pack their lunches and walk to school or get the bus while their parents are getting ready to go to work. Or it could be that, whenever the family sits down to eat, the father is the one to talk about his day and, if one of the kids tries to talk, he is shushed or told not to be so selfish and to listen to his father. Or maybe, when a child comes home from school, Mom is there to welcome her with a snack, listening to whatever happened that day.

Each of these habitual patterns of behavior create feelings and beliefs in children. In the first family, maybe one child will feel "everything is up to me; I can't expect anyone to be there for me or help me." Another child might feel free to create her own routine and feel "my parents trust me to do this; they don't limit me." In the second family, one child might become afraid of the father while another becomes angry that he is not allowed to express himself. In the third, one child might feel taken care of and listened to while another feels intruded upon.

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Whatever the reaction, it is created by a combination of the parents'/siblings'/relatives' habitual behaviors and the child's interpretation of these behaviors and the beliefs that the child develops as a result of these interpretations. Most parents don't deal with children in consistently positive ways. Many parents actually cause pain in their children and in some families, there is emotional abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse.

Healing Dysfunctional Childhood Family Patterns

Childhood Family Patterns Create Adult Relationship Patterns

Our childhood family patterns seem to follow us around as we get older, whenever we're in close relationships or in groups. For instance, the main problematic patterns of our childhood often recur when we are part of a couple. The grown child in the first family above may get together with someone who is kind of distant or super-independent and doesn't take her into account when making decisions.

In groups at work or social groups, similar patterns often show up too. For example, in the second family above, the grown child's boss might be authoritarian and everyone is afraid to call him on it.

One thing that seems to be true is that these patterns happen over and over again in one's life. When they are painful patterns, people's relationships are negatively affected and they feel alone or angry or hurt much of the time.

What to Do to Heal Dysfunctional Childhood Family Patterns

One way to look at the recurrence in adult life of painful childhood patterns is to see that they are opportunities to relate to the same patterns in new ways, which transforms the patterns and creates healthier ways of relating. There are various methods and techniques that can transform these patterns.

Process Work Role Play

Process Work is a larger modality, in which role play is one technique. Using this technique, you pick the family member you had the most trouble with as a child. You remember a typical painful event, or a specific painful event. If there's another person there with you (say, a therapist), decide which of you will start out being you and which the "troublesome" person. Each of you speak from that viewpoint, and then you switch roles and speak from the other viewpoint. You try to get as much down to the essence of what was really going on as possible, saying things that are deeply true (even though the actual people never would have admitted these thing nor would they admit them now). If you're alone, you can switch back and forth between the roles yourself, though this is a bit harder.

Creating Therapeutic Stories and EFT

Childhood family patterns often hang on stubbornly and keep showing up in our work lives and adult family relationships. One creative way to begin the transformation to a different pattern is a creative combination of EFT and Process Work. The way this works is to note down in detail the pattern that keeps happening, and the way it affects you. For instance, someone may grow up in a family where the parents left the children to fend for themselves-from a young age, they had to make their own meals, dress themselves and get themselves to school. The way this might have affected one of the children is to become super responsible for his siblings. As an adult, the pattern might repeat itself so that he would find himself living with roommates who rely on him to shop for food, keep the place clean and also find themselves regularly short on money because they are unable to budget, thus leaving him paying for more than his share of the bills. At work, he may find himself a peer of other employees, but doing most of the work with little credit nor adequate remuneration.

Combining EFT and Process Work, we use the pattern of behavior and the way it affects the person to create a metaphorical story-a fairy tale outlining the problem pattern-using fairy tale characters. We use EFT to focus on each part of the story; EFT Tapping helps the story to unfold and it helps a solution to emerge. Using all of what arises, we then translate the story back into the person's current life and explore how the new pattern can be brought into the person's life.

Healing Dysfunctional Childhood Family Patterns

Pressed Flowers - Handcrafting Cards and Scrapbooks From Nature

Dried flowers have been used decoratively since prehistoric times. Early Japanese art used pressed flowers and leaves to create scenes of landscapes and gardens. Pressing flowers flat while drying them, however, seems to have become popular in Western culture during the Renaissance (14th-17thcenturies). This was a time of rebirth for the arts and the sciences, and botany, the study of plants, became a popular hobby. Plant classifications were developed and soon even amateurs were pressing and cataloging the herbs and flowers in their gardens. The Victorians, of course, raised it to an artform.

Today, pressed flowers can be beautiful natural decorations for notecards, greeting cards, scrapbook pages and other crafts. Yes, you can buy a commercial flower press, if you think you are going to get into pressing in a big way. For the rest of us who want to press flowers occasionally, there is this simple "home-made" version method.

Family Nature

Pick several delicate flowers at the peak of their bloom, as well as some leaves.Lay a piece of blotting paper on top of several sheets of newspaper on a flat surface. (For very succulent flowers, use more newspaper to absorb the moisture).Place the flowers and leaves on the blotting paper without overlapping them.Cover them with another sheet of blotting paper and several more sheets of newspaper.Place heavy books, phone books, or a bowling ball on top.Let sit for 3-4 weeks in a cool, dry place. Check the flowers every few days for the first week, and once a week after that. With tweezers, carefully peel the flowers from the blotting paper and reposition them to prevent them from adhering. Replace the newspapers at the same time.After four weeks, the flowers should be stiff and dry and the paper should feel dry. If not, leave them for another week.Now, your dried, pressed flowers are ready to embellish greeting and note cards, scrapbook pages, or other crafts. Use tweezers to handle and position them on your surface. When you like your arrangement, glue them down with white glue using a small paintbrush, being sure to glue all edges. As they dry, press them under a piece of wax paper and a heavy book for a day to prevent curling. You can protect your final work with a spray of clear polyurethane, a coat of decoupage medium, or laminating.

Pressed Flowers - Handcrafting Cards and Scrapbooks From Nature

There is a quicker, easier method for making pressed flowers using your home microwave oven - if you are "pressed" for time!

Pressed Flowers - Handcrafting Cards and Scrapbooks From Nature

Sculptured Rocks Natural Area in New Hampshire - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination

Those visiting New Hampshire must take the time to check out the Sculptured Rocks Natural Area. This is an amazing example of God's handiwork and it is located in Groton between Routes 3A ad 118.

When the last ice age was drawing to an end the Cockermouth River made a narrow canyon as it traveled to Newfound lake. Grains of sand in the current carved the walls of the canyon into amazing shapes. The resulting landscape is bizarre and out of this world. Should you dare to wade in the water you will want to ensure you are a strong swimmer and climber. Those who stay on the shore will enjoy viewing the landscape and simply walking around, taking photos, and even picnicking. The area is open to the public free of charge and it spans more than 272 acres.

Family Nature

The best way to truly enjoy the Sculpture Rocks Natural Area is to have the entire family dress in hiking gear and great shoes. Then, pack the necessities in packs along with a great picnic. Then take the family out for a hike to see the sculptured rocks. You will have a blast trying to figure out what each carving looks like and you will be amazed at how realistic some of them are. Play guessing games as you explore the area and just have fun. Make sure you take lots of photos to include in your photo album because the folks back home won't believe how amazing the Sculptured Rocks Natural Area truly is. Another great thing about visiting the area with the whole family is that it is free of charge so you can have an enjoyable day without spending a lot of money. Just make a day of exploring and have a great time, you will be glad you did!

Sculptured Rocks Natural Area in New Hampshire - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination

There is a website that has great information on USA Vacations and Unique Travel Spots Listed State By State and Season, the website is called: Seasonal Vacation Spots, and can be found at this url: www.seasonalvacationspots.com

Sculptured Rocks Natural Area in New Hampshire - A Great Vacation and Travel Destination

Cancer in Your Family - How to Talk to a Family Member Who Has Been Diagnosed With Leukemia

Having cancer is a life changing event that is extremely difficult to overcome. When one of your children is diagnosed with cancer, it can almost kill you to know that there is not much you can do.

I am a cancer survivor, and I know that is was very hard for my family to see how sick I was. Now my stepdaughter has been diagnosed with leukemia, and it was like being kicked in the stomach when I heard the news. It has just been a few days since we found out, so I am still in shock from it all.

Family Nature

When you are dealing with someone who has just been diagnosed with cancer or any other life-threatening disease, be careful what you say to them. It is so hard to find just the right words, so sometimes it is best not to say too much right away. I was tempted to say something to her about not having to worry, because we would find a way to make it all go away, but I know that is not true. I wanted to tell her that we would go to every hospital and spend as much money as it would take to get her well, but that is not the reality of the situation.

Cancer in Your Family - How to Talk to a Family Member Who Has Been Diagnosed With Leukemia

So for now she knows that her family loves and supports her, and that she will have the choice of what kind of treatment she gets, and which doctors and hospitals she will go to. This gives her the respect that she deserves and the ability to have control over something that she really has no control over at all. That is the least we can do.

Also, we will not start treating her any differently. There will be no meals delivered, laundry done, or offers to baby sit with the children. That would be insulting and insinuate that she is no longer able to care for her own family. She is still working and wants to be independent. That is the word she used when she told us.

My stepdaughter is a nurse, so she knows what to expect. The rest of us will wait to see what she wants to share with us and wait until she asks before offering any help, whether that be emotional or financial in nature. Just knowing that we are there for her, respecting her decisions in all of this, is the most loving way that we can be there for her during this difficult time in her young life.

Cancer in Your Family - How to Talk to a Family Member Who Has Been Diagnosed With Leukemia

Oboe Family

The forerunners of the oboe family can be traced back to Sumerian and Egyptian times. In medieval days the family of instruments known as shawms were double reed instruments very similar in nature to the modern oboe but much simpler and with a much coarser sound.

It was in the 16th & 17th centuries when the oboe as we know it really began to develop. The baroque oboe was, at that time, often referred to as the "hautboys" from the French "haut bois" meaning high-wood. This became corrupted to Hoboy and from this the modern name of oboe evolved.

Family Nature

The early oboes first developed some simple mechanisms with just three keys added for the little fingers. This was developed further into, first, the seven-keyed and then the ten-keyed instrument of Guillaume Triebert in the early 19th century. The mechanism of the oboe continued to develop through the input of such makers as Boehm, Barret and others. Since that time the instruments have gradually acquired more and more keys with most players today using what is usually referred to as a full Gillet system.

Oboe Family

In addition to the oboe itself, there are 3 larger instruments in the oboe family, the Oboe D'Amore, Cor Anglais and Bass Oboe. All are transposing instruments and have their origins in instruments of the 16th & 17th centuries.

The Oboe D'Amore (alto oboe in A) was widely used in the time of J.S. Bach and it is in the performance of his works that we usually encounter this member of the oboe family today.

The Cor Anglais or English Horn (tenor oboe in F) developed from an instrument called the Oboe di Caccia. The origin of the name English Horn is a bit of a puzzle as the instrument is neither English, nor is it a horn. We find this instrument especially in orchestral writing right through from Baroque times to the present day.

The Bass Oboe (in C, transposing an octave) is the lowest of the oboe family and is derived from an early double-reed instrument called the Heckelphone. The Bass Oboe is rarely used but does crop up in scores by Richard Strauss and in Holst's famous piece, "The Planets".

The oboe family is closely related to that of the bassoon which has a similar, but much larger, double reed. Both instruments also have a conical bore. The sound of oboes and bassoons playing together is a particularly satisfying one with the sounds blending so naturally.

The oboe sound is one of the most distinctive of all the orchestral instruments. It is a sound quality which is consistent throughout the whole of the oboe family of instruments although the lower instruments have a slightly more mellow sound than the oboe itself.

Oboe Family

10 Natural Remedies to Reduce Muscle Pain and Inflammation

If you suffer from muscle or joint pain you know how much it can impact your life. From not being able to play active sports to missing out on family fun - the effects can be far-reaching and upsetting. So, its natural that we search for pain remedies.

Almost everyone is familiar with pain relief formulas. Over 30 billion over-the- counter tablets and 70 million prescriptions are sold annually just in the USA. Known as 'Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs' (NSAIDs), a few commonly known names include Aspirin, Ibuprofin, Advil, and Motrin as well as prescription products like Celebrex and Vioxx. What most people might not know is that over 16,000 Americans die from NSAIDs a year and approximately 107,000 patients are hospitalized annually for NSAID related gastrointestinal complications.(1)

Family Nature

There is an alternative. Natural pain relief therapies can decrease inflammation and help repair tissues. The following are some starting points for investigating natural solutions further:

10 Natural Remedies to Reduce Muscle Pain and Inflammation

1. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night: During the deeper stages of sleep the human body produces growth hormone, which results in tissue healing and repair. Inadequate amounts of sleep contribute to pain. Natural sleep remedies that can help you get a deep and restorative sleep are Melatonin, Hydroxy L- tryptophan (5-HTP), Calcium, Mangesium and colloidal gold. You can also listen to relaxing music - try searching on iTunes for ocean sounds.

2.Take a green-lipped mussel oil supplement: If you suffer from pain, swelling or other symptoms commonly associated with arthritis, you may benefit from taking green-lipped mussel oil from New Zealand. In a clinical trial conducted at the Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital in Glasgow, UK, preparations of green-lipped mussel extract were shown to benefit 76 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients and 70 percent of osteoarthritic patients (2) The omega-3s contained in green-lipped mussel oils (more potent than fish oils) cannot be manufactured by our body and decrease inflammation. The EPA and DHA essential fatty acids have been so effective that some people have been able to discontinue their use of other medications altogether.3. Take MSM, or "organic sulphur". It can lessen inflammation, pain, and stiffness due to arthritis, muscle, or back pain and helps to balance the blood chemistry in these conditions. MSM helps supply the sulfur amino acids needed for healing.

4. Massage a blend of essential oils of arnica, Calendula and St John's work into the affected painful area. Applying essential oils directly on the area nourishes cells and enables the body to metabolize waste and heal injuries more quickly. Herb Pharm makes a a blend called "Trauma Oil" which is very effective. Essential oils can help relax tense muscles and improve circulation.

5. Eat a whole food, mineral rich diet with plenty of vegetables and whole grains. Vegetable juices and green chlorophyll-rich foods can help relieve muscle inflammations by promoting the elimination of toxins from the body. Cut back on the amount of meat containing large amounts of saturated fat, which impacts the effective functioning of the liver - possibly leading to inflammation and irritation. Animal fats also contain arachadonic acid which can stimulate inflammation.

6. Take Glucosamine sulfate: Glucosamine is a naturally occurring element in the body that plays a crucial role in the building and healing of cartilage. Glucosamine may be efficient in treating and even delaying the progression of osteoarthritis. Some studies have hinted that glucosamine may be as effective as NSAIDs in treating joint conditions, while having fewer gastrointestinal side effects.

7. Magnetic therapy: Magnetic therapy is a safe method of applying magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It helps speed the healing process and improve quality of sleep without any adverse side effects. A study from the University of Virginia showed that that a magnetic field of moderate strength can result in significant reduction of swelling when applied immediately after an inflammatory injury. Dilation of blood vessels is a major cause of swelling, and it's thought that the magnets worked by limiting blood flow to the affected area. Individuals wearing magnetic jewelry have reported diminished muscle soreness and lessening of cramps. Try sleeping on a magnet mattress pad to help ease the pain of muscle soreness or apply magnet straps to sore muscle or tendonitis areas.

8. Take Vitamin D: Researched conducted by the University of Minnesota found that 93% of all subjects with non-specific musculoskeletal pain were vitamin D deficient. Taking Vitamin D and CoQ10 can help alleviate muscle pain caused by cholesterol-lowering statin drugs. Vitamin D can also be synthesized naturally by the body upon exposure to sunlight.

9.Cayenne pepper: A teaspoon of cayenne shaken in 2 ounces of olive oil can be used as an ointment and rubbed directly into sore muscles. Cayenne contains capsaicin which eventually inhibits secretion of the neurotransmitter Substance P, that transmits pain to the brain, lessening muscle soreness, sprains and cramps.

10. Try an Epsom salt bath: The magnesium sulfate of Epsom Salt acts as a muscle relaxant, and by easing muscle pain it helps the body to eliminate harmful substances. Due to changes in agriculture in the past century, most Americans are deficient in Magnesium. Studies show increased magnesium levels from soaking in a bath enriched with Epsom salt! Magnesium and sulfate are both easily absorbed through the skin. Fill a bathtub with water as hot as you can stand. Add 2 cups of Epsom salts. The heat of the bath will increase circulation and reduce inflammation.

About Alchemy Radiant Health:(Alchemy Radiant Health offers services to help people achieve premium physical performance, mental clarity, and well-being through holistic wellness programs that promote radiant health and longevity. Our approach and philosophy is based on ancient Chinese nutrition combined with the latest developments in super-foods.

Sources Used in this article:

(1) July 1998 issue of The American Journal of Medicine

None of the statements in this article have been approved by the FDA. Any products or services referred to are not intended to treat, diagnose, prevent or cure any disease or health condition.

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10 Natural Remedies to Reduce Muscle Pain and Inflammation