Hair has always been associated with masculinity for men and beauty where women are concerned. A full, luxurious head of hair is a source of pride for many people and any loss of hair can deal a devastating blow to the self confidence of many individuals.

Physical illness can also cause temporary hair loss which can affect the entire scalp or, in certain circumstances lead to either isolated bald spots or damage of other types, including breakage and thinning. If you find that your hair is blocking the plughole on a regular basis it might be a good idea to check with your doctor, especially if there are other signs of illness such as general fatigue or trouble sleeping.

 Unfortunately hair loss is a common problem that has many causes. Hair loss can also be caused by medical treatment, especially where aggressive treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy are concerned. Some less dangerous medications can also cause temporary hair loss.

Hair fall and damage can also be caused by over treatment of hair, especially where treatment consists of bleaches or regular changes to hair color using store bought applications. In these cases a period of rest is usually recommended to allow the hair to recover from the adverse effects of the treatments. By avoiding the treatments while new hair grows out permanent damage can be avoided.

There are also psychological factors that can cause hair loss. Hair loss can be associated with certain cases of clinical depression. Once again a combination of symptoms such as disturbed sleeping patterns could be a sign of psychological issues rather than a strictly physical problem.

If you have been given a clean bill of health by your doctor it might be a good idea to check with a mental health practitioner, like a psychologist. This is especially important if you are suffering from significant amounts of stress.

Unfortunately for many of us hair loss may simply be a result of our genetic makeup. If our parents had problems with hair loss it may have been passed down a generation. If this is the case there is every little that can be done other than to avoid further damage to the hair. Some people may choose to have hair implants which can be very effective in avoiding the self image problems that can be associated with hair loss.

For those who want to avoid hair loss and keep a full healthy head of hair as long as possible it may be a good idea to rethink the hair treatments that they are using. Even shampoos that are advertised as gentle to the hair may cause significant damage when used too often or not as directed. Always read the instructions on the packaging.

It also be a good idea to avoid shampooing and conditioning your hair everyday. Although the hair may seem cleaner it is almost certain that daily hair treatment will cause damage by stripping away essential oils that protect the hair from damage.

When it comes to skin care products, you will find that a lot of people are very particular about using only natural skin care products. They treat all the synthetic products as harmful to the skin.

So, are natural skin care products the answer to all of our problems? What if a natural skin care product is not available for the treatment of a particular skin disorder? Are the synthetic skin care products so harmful that they should be banned?

Different people have different answers to these questions. However, the reality is that due to presence of synthetic preservatives, it’s really tough to find a natural skin care product that is 100% natural. There are natural skin care products that have natural preservatives, but their cost might be detrimental. Moreover, such natural skin products have a shorter shelf life and hence are not preferred by the manufacturers of natural skin care products.

Some people carry a wrong notion that since natural skin care products are natural, they cannot cause any harm to the skin. The suitability of a skin care product is not based on whether it is synthetic or natural. An unsuitable natural skin care product can harm you in almost the same way as a synthetic one. So, use natural skin care products, but be open to synthetic ones too (you might need them when a natural solution is not available)

Your selection of a natural skin care product should be based on 3 factors:

* The skin type (dry, oily, normal, sensitive) of the person who will use that natural skin care product
 

* The climatic conditions in which it will be used e.g. hot and humid condition would warranty the use of oil-free natural skin care products.
 

* The process for application/use of the natural skin care product. A good natural skin care product (in fact any product) can seem useless if not used in the proper way.

You can also make natural skin care products by yourself, by using the recipes that are readily available on the internet and in the books at book stores.

Use of organic fruits and vegetables is also popular as a natural skin care procedure. Some essential oils, herbal oils, are useful too and are known for their moisturising and antiseptic properties

However, using a natural skin care product does not mean that you can exercise carelessness with other aspects of skin care. Natural skin care products should be used like supplements to the following ‘essential’ recommendations: healthy eating habits (avoiding oily food), regular exercise, drinking a lot of water (8 glasses everyday), and cleanliness. This will then form a perfect and completely natural skin care routine that will help maintain a healthy beautiful skin for longer time.

An increasingly number of the world’s population is now eager and interested in looking after their health and in keeping tune with their well-being. It is important to note that this awareness is progressively contributing to the creation of several health supplements to benefit both the adults and the young ones. Dietary and vitamin supplements have constantly proven their worth to health conscious individuals.

An excellent daily multivitamin supplement does not only develop your general bodily functions but also improves your mental and physical condition and well being. Occasionally specification is needed in appropriately supplementing nutrients to deal with any individual needs. An example would be in heart disease patients, they would have to take in CoQ10 in preventing the said condition. Alzheimer’s disease can be effectively prevented by a regular combination of Vitamin C and E intake.

Multivitamin supplements necessarily include all the vitamins and nutrients essential for recommended daily dosage. Multivitamin supplements may also be formulated to meet the needs of individual conditions like pregnancy and specific age brackets. 

It is a well settled fact that multivitamins in liquid form are more efficient than the ordinary pill forms. This is due to the fact that the body can easily absorb liquid nutrients five times more than ordinary multivitamins in tablet or capsule form.

Basically, the body needs 13 essential vitamins to function properly. In regulating the crucial performance of the body, it has to have vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, B12, and the 7 B-complex vitamins. 

Majority of these vitamins are obtained by our body through the food that we eat. The danger of illness or even mortality is in the deficiency of some of the essential vitamins. This is where vitamin supplementation comes in. It counteracts the illness caused by such deficiency. With this fact, it is very unlikely for someone to refuse vitamin supplementation on a daily basis. 

So the question now is, why is it necessary for individuals to take multivitamins when majority of our daily diet can provide us with the basic nutrients we need? It may not be compulsory, but everyone can profit from daily multivitamins.

As previously mentioned, the clear benefit of daily intake of multivitamins it to prevent vitamin/nutrient deficiency. Some personal circumstances may increase dietary needs. Pregnant women, during their first trimester, are recommended by their doctors to take multivitamins. 

This does not only provide the mothers with sufficient nutrition but also proper vitamins to benefit the unborn child inside their womb. Taking multivitamins everyday reduces the risk of transmitting malnutrition from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. 

Other conditions such as old age, alcoholism, smoking, and exposure to excessive pollution have long-term detrimental effects to the body system which can be successfully counteracted by multivitamins.

Stress is also one risk factor which needs serious supplementation that multivitamins can provide. 

Especially with people who have so much to do and have a hard time in keeping up with their health needs, multivitamins are a must to keep them always on the go without any health complications in the long run. Stress formulations benefit both your mental ability and daily endurance. Aside from the mentioned benefits, daily multivitamins also minimize the risk of cancer or any cardiovascular disease.

Several people, if not all, testify to have a feeling of comfortable health in regularly taking in multivitamins. This is due to the synergistic or combined effects of the supplemental ingredients found in multivitamins. 

A fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin, like the Vitamin E, works to neutralize probable harmful free agents in the body. This vitamin also maintains healthy skin through protection of cell membranes, blood circulation, heart, nerves, red blood cells, and muscles. Another antioxidant is the Vitamin C which effectively fights blood cell infection and is vital in collagen formation, wound healing, and formation of bone structures, capillaries, and teeth. 

Vitamin is also helpful in the iron absorption from plant sources. Vitamins A, D, K and other supplemental nutrients found in multivitamins have specific functions that benefit the bodily functions.

While daily intake of multivitamins may have proven beneficial, it is not a 100% guarantee to be free of serious illness attributed to other factors. It is often a misconception that symptoms of disease may always be cured by taking multivitamins. Health experts have the better opinion of immediate medical assistance rather than resorting to multivitamins alone.

Today western medicine has come up with lots of spectacular ways to deal with hair loss. You can have surgery, use hair growing creams and potions or take pharmaceutical medications to help you grow hair. Unfortunately, all of these solutions can have serious side effects. 

 Any surgery comes with risks, and all pharmaceutical options bring along the chance of negative side effects that can be much worse than lack of hair. In this article, we will explore some age old natural solutions from the far east. Read on to learn how you can treat your hair loss problems naturally without fear of side effects.

Your hair may be dry, brittle and breaking off rather than falling out. Try treating yourself to a hot oil treatment before shampooing once weekly. Just a little light, natural oil gently warmed and massaged into the scalp will moisturize both your scalp and your hair. This encourages new hair growth and makes existing hair stronger. Simply place a tablespoon or two of oil (coconut and olive oil are both good) in a small glass or metal container.

Place this in a larger bowl containing hot water. Allow the oil to warm to a comfortable temperature and then massage it gently into your scalp and stroke it through your hair. Cover your head with a warm towel for about fifteen minutes and shampoo as usual.

You can also stimulate more blood circulation to your scalp by using pungent herbs such as fresh ginger or the oil of onions and garlic. You can simply add a few drops of these herbs to your oil treatment for added effect. Remember to also consume these types of herbs along with hot herbs such as chilies, curry, cinnamon and more. All of these types of herbs thin the blood, increase blood circulation and improve your general health.

In addition to the self massage you do when you apply your hot oil treatment, try indulging in a professional scalp massage occasionally. Find a cosmetologist or masseuse who offers all natural treatments, and ask if you could get a scalp massage that incorporates aromatherapy. This is a great treatment that will increase blood circulation to the scalp and help you reduce your stress level. We all know that stress can make your hair fall out. 

Relieving stress will help it grow back. Some good aromatherapy choices for scalp massage include lavender and bay.

Eat well, sleep well and stay well hydrated. Look into other ways to relieve stress and relax. Be sure to get plenty of exercise every day and take some time for yourself to rest, rejuvenate, meditate and/or practice a little yoga every day. 

You will be amazed at the difference just fifteen minutes to half an hour of time to yourself listening to music and simply decompressing will make. You will look and feel better in every way, and you may very well see an increase in the hair on your head. Even if you do not, you will not feel so stressed about it!

‘Sensitive skin care’ is governed by a few basic rules. However, even before we delve into the rules for sensitive skin care, it’s important to understand what a sensitive skin is. Sensitive skin is one which is unable to tolerate any unfavourable conditions (environmental/other), and which easily gets irritated on contact with foreign materials (including skin care products). For this reason, some products are especially labelled as sensitive skin care products. The degree of sensitivity can however vary from person to person (and depending on that, the sensitive skin care procedures vary too). 

Generally, all skin types respond negatively to detergents and other chemical based products. 

However, the damage starts generally beyond a defined threshold (or tolerance level). This tolerance level is very low for sensitive skin types, leading to skin getting damaged very easily and quickly.  Sensitive skin care products either avoid the potential irritants or keep them at very low concentrations.

Here are a few tips for sensitive skin care:
 

* Use sensitive skin care products only (i.e. the products that are marked for sensitive skin care only). Also, check the instructions/ notes on the product to see if there are specific restrictions/warnings associated with the product).
 

* Even within the range of sensitive skin care products, choose the one that has minimum preservatives, colourings and other additives
 

* Do not use toners. Most of them are alcohol based and are not recommended for sensitive skin.
 

* Wear protective gloves when doing laundry or other chemical based cleaning.  If you are allergic to rubber, you can wear cotton gloves below the rubber ones.
 

* Another important tip for ‘sensitive skin care’ is to avoid excessive exposure to sun. Apply sunscreen lotion before getting out in the sun.
 

* Avoiding exposure to dust and other pollutants is also important for sensitive skin care. So, cover yourself adequately before going out.
 

* Use hypoallergenic, noncomedogenic moisturizer as a sensitive skin care product (if there is none specifically labelled as a sensitive skin care product)
 

* Use soap-free and alcohol free cleansers. Cleanse your face whenever you return from spending time out doors.
 

* Do not scrub or exfoliate too hard. It can cause reddishness and even inflammation.
 

* Do not leave the makeup on for too long. Use hypoallergenic makeup- removers.

So, sensitive skin care is very different from the normal skin care. Sensitive skin care is more about being careful with your skin (both in terms of sensitive skin care products and protection against environments atrocities on skin).

The body is flexible. It is supposed to be flexible. You must be able to bend and reach that something you dropped on the floor. You must be able to zip the back of your favorite dress on your own. You must be able to reach that book you need to read at the top shelf.

These are simple activities. Nothing grand about them, you merely stretched out a bit. However, if there are difficulties in doing such simple motions, then you have to stretch your limits. You already need a stretching program.

What Is Stretching?

Stretching is simply the act of extending to full length the body or simply a part of it. This activity involves straightening or stretching the structure or the limbs.

How Does One Do the Stretching?

Stretching is fairly easy. As mentioned in the introduction, it is involved in the normal activities. It can be done by any people, regardless of age.

However the extent of stretching and flexing differs. The muscles tighten as a person ages. The range of joint movements can be minimized. This can very well obstruct an on-the-go lifestyle. That is why as the person grows older, bending or flexing becomes more limited. This is why stretching regularly, as part of a routine is very important.

Simple stretches can be done everyday. It can be incorporated in the lifestyle and the daily activities. It does not require much of your time.

Stretching exercises can also be done while training. Actually, stretching is an essential part of any training or sport. It must be done first before anything else. Stretching the body and the limbs is a good preparation for a more rigorous activity.

Most athletes would do the sit and reach, wherein they position on the floor, extend their legs and reach the tip of their foot with the tip of their hand. Actually, most trainers actually require their athletes to really do the stretching before playing.

There is actually an ideal length of time in stretching. It is best to do it in 10 minutes. This will give the body enough opportunity to move and flex the muscles, thus preparing it for more complicated and strenuous movements.

Experts however would frown upon going way beyond 10 minutes. Stretching the exercise to 30 minutes or more will already wear out the body. This will not be favorable if one is preparing for a game.

What Are the Benefits of Stretching?

1. Increase the Range of Movement

As one constantly do the stretching exercises, the length of the muscles and the tendons are also increased. This will help in increasing the range of your movement. Thus, the limbs and joints will be able to move, way before an injury can take place. You are definitely physically fit.

2. Increased Ability to Perform Skills

When you have a wide range of movement, the more you will be able to do more things. For example, you can jump high without feeling any pain when you land back on the floor. This will also help you start a new sport or improve more if you are in one. Stretching in this aspect also allows you to have a more active lifestyle.

3. Injury Prevention

One can prevent injury to joints, tendons and muscles with stretching. When the muscles and tendons are well-flexed, they are considered in good working order. This will help in a faster recovery and decreased soreness. The muscles of the body will be able to take more exhausting and rigorous movements with less probability of being injured.

4. Reduce Muscle Tension

If the muscles are given their regular exercises and stretching, it is less likely that they will contract. This will definitely relieve you of any muscle pain or problems.

5. Enhance Energy

Being able to move more will also give you more energy. Stretching will also help enhance your awareness, like knowing that you have a body that is capable of doing many things. As such, you are going to be more driven to move rather than sulk in the corner.

6. Reduces Cholesterol

Research also shows that doing prolonged stretching exercises, like yoga, will help reduce the cholesterol in the body. This of course must be done with a healthy diet at hand. This could prevent and even reverse the hardening of the arteries, allowing you to avoid coronary diseases. 

Incorporate stretching in your everyday lifestyle. It has benefits you can not say no to. It also does not require much. It can be your usual activities, bending and flexing every now and then. After all, your fitness is everything so do what it takes to keep the body healthy.

Nearly eighty million American women and men suffer from hereditary hair loss or alopecia.  Alopecia can impact more than just the hair on the head, it can also affect body hair as well.  It isn’t unusual to lose more than 100,000 hairs on the head during the day and this loss is typically replaced with new hair.  When this hair loss is not continually replaced, then male and female pattern baldness starts to occur, generally happening gradually over a period of years.

If you’re losing more than the normal amount of hair, it may be difficult to notice unless you see the following:

•    Thinning patches in the hair

•    Large amounts of hair in the drain after a shower or after washing the hair

•    Bunches or clumps of hair in the hair brush

•    Bald patches on the scalp

If it seems you are losing more hair than you normally do, consult a doctor to see exactly what is causing the condition.  A doctor will discuss the symptoms with you to determine what is causing the condition and how best to treat it.  If there is a family history of male or female-pattern baldness, you may have this condition and it can onset as early as puberty. 

Some incidences of hair loss may be triggered by disease, illness or even stress.   Major hormonal changes associated with menopause, childbirth, pregnancy, or beginning or discontinuing birth control may also trigger hair loss.  There are certain medical conditions which can also trigger hair loss including scalp infections, thyroid disease, and alopecia areata which is an autoimmune disease which attacks the hair follicles.  Lupus can also cause hair loss, as can medications used to treat arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, heart problems, and cancer.

Trauma can also trigger hair loss, as well, including emotional and physical shock.  A death, high fever or extreme weight loss are all extreme trauma triggers for hair loss.  The mental illness trichotillomania which is a hair-pulling disorder creates a compulsion in people to pull out their hair, eyebrows or eyelashes.  Additionally, some very tight hairstyles which put tension on the hair follicles will also cause hair loss.  Another cause of hair loss are certain nutritional deficiencies especially in iron and protein.

Diagnosing hair loss consists of considering and analyzing several different factors.  A doctor, or perhaps a dermatologist with conduct a physical examination and ask about your health history.  The treatment may be as simple as a simple diet change or perhaps taking a prescribed medication.

Prescribed medications for male-pattern baldness include finasteride which is also known as Propecia.  It is a daily medication which slows hair loss.  It seems to also stimulate new hair growth as well. 

An over-the-counter medication for alopecia is minoxidil also called Rogaine.  Minoxidil is most successful when used with other hair loss treatments such as diet changes or prescription medications.

Another medication sometimes prescribed to help reduce the inflammation of alopecia areata is corticosteroids such as prednisone.  These types of medications will also suppress the immune systems as well, so must be monitored very carefully by the physician. 

Hair loss may happen, but it can be treated and may not be permanent.  Depending upon the underlying causes of the hair loss, it may even be reversed.  There are over-the-counter and prescribed medications that can help delay or prevent hair loss and which may even stimulate hair regrowth, but which should be administered under the supervision of a physician.

The question about sebum is, if it is so important, why would anyone want to bind it with clay? The answer is that, even though sebum is important, it can be too much of a good thing. Overproduction of sebum leads to oily skin. One of the most common symptoms caused by oily skin is acne. In addition, excess sebum can combine with keratin (skin debris) to create plugs in pores, leading to the formation of whiteheads or blackheads.

What is Clay?

Clay is a term that refers to fine-grained soils with a combination of certain minerals and metal oxides, along with a small amount of trapped moisture. Together they form different mixtures of what geologists call layered silicates. There are more than two dozen major kinds of clay. Clays have a long history of medical, industrial, and agricultural uses. Up to four billion people worldwide live or work in buildings made with clay.

Clay as medicine originated in prehistoric times, when it was taken internally for soothing upset stomachs and to suppress hunger. Kaolin clay (also known as white clay, white dirt, or white chalk), is still taken orally for its health benefits during pregnancy. In South America kaolin clay is still consumed as a means to bind with toxins in wild potatoes. (Not to worry, our domestic potatoes do not contain these toxins except for a small amount in green skins.)

Another type clay, called bentonite clay, is also an important ingredient in many nutritional supplements for aiding digestion.

The versatility of different clays includes their uses in natural skin care products. The most important of these uses is their ability to reduce problems associated with sebum overproduction.

Clay vs. Sebum

Scientists have found that bentonite is such a powerful sebum absorbent that it can be used for measuring sebum secretion. The general method entails embedding a disk of fine Dacron mesh in fresh clay, then applying the disk to the forehead for up to 3 hours. Secretion rate is reflected by the amount of sebum extracted from one of these disks.

This method shows that those with acne have a three-fold higher rate of sebum secretion than people without acne. This kind of study points to a high sebum secretion rate as the predominant factor in inflammatory acne.

The use of bentonite clay for studying sebum secretion shows how useful it is for binding to sebum. This binding affinity is the underlying reason for including bentonite clay in natural skin care products for oily or acne-prone skin.

Combining Clay with Herbs

Focus on sebum secretion reveals a number of processes that interact with one another. Removing cellular debris, oxidizing triglycerides, and balancing microbe levels are the main ones. Excess sebum otherwise creates an imbalance in all of these processes, which becomes apparent when acne flares up.

Removing excess sebum is an important component for restoring healthy skin, although it is not the only one. It is equally important to provide antioxidants for controlling the degradation of triglycerides and for quenching the inflammatory response of the immune system when it reacts to bacterial growth.

The combination of processes that go haywire with too much sebum illustrates the need for multiple ingredients in skin care products that support skin health. The best natural skin care products should therefore include not only clay but also herbs that provide the necessary antioxidants and other ingredients for stimulating the healthy metabolism of skin. Good examples of such herbs include green tea, Artemisia, mulberry and many other herbs that are known for their benefits to skin health.

Natural skin care products available online at NaturalSkinRX.com focus on mixtures of clays and herbs in products such as the Cleansing Cream for Normal to Oily Skin by Jadience Herbal Formulas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Dennis_Clark,_Ph.D.

When the words oils and fats are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to run for cover. What they fail to realize is that there are good fats and bad fats. Complete avoidance of intake of oils and fats would actually be detrimental – rather than beneficial – to their health.

The Truth about Fish Oil
Essential fatty acids must always be part of our daily diet – without them, we take one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAS.

Although there are only very slight differences to distinguish the two groups of essential fatty acids from each other, studies have revealed that too much intake of omega-6 EFAs can lead to inflammation, blood clotting and tumor growth. The good news, however, is that the opposite is true for omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils while omega-3 EFAs can be found in fish oils among other foods.

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3
Physicians and scientists are of the same opinion that the cause behind increasing cases of heart disease, hypertension or high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, premature aging and certain kinds of cancer is none other than an imbalanced intake of omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.

As mentioned earlier on, omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils. This includes but is not limited to corn oil and soy oil, both of which contains high amounts of linoleic acid. Omega-3 EFAs on the other hand can be found also in marine plankton and walnut and flaxseed oils. It should be significant to take note that fatty fish and fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fatty acids that have been observed to provide many benefits to the human body. In the early 1970’s, a study on Greenland Eskimos have revealed that one of the major reasons why they rarely suffer from heart diseases is because of their high-fat diet (mainly composed of fish).

The two essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are also helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, depression and various forms of cancer. Fish oil supplemented food have also proven to be useful in treating illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Other Benefits of Fish Oil
There are a lot more illnesses and situations in which intake of fish oil has proven to be significantly beneficial.

Making the Heart Healthier
The heart is inarguably one of the most important parts of our body and having an unhealthy heart means having to suffer a rather limited lifespan. Naturally, it’s in our best interests to keep our hearts happy and healthy and one way of doing that is eating food that contains fish oil.

In Athens, Greece, for instance, a study was made to show if there was a direct relationship between high fish diet and inflammation of blood vessels. The results revealed that those who ate more fish than the others had a lower level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, factors that are commonly used to measure likelihood of blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks associated with high fish diet were taken into account.

Fish to Become Thin
In Perth, Australia, a study had revealed that fish consumption can be used against hypertension and obesity. Researchers of the UWA (University of Western Australia) have discovered that a weight-loss diet which includes a regular amount of fish consumption can be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and improving glucose tolerance.

Fish Oil to Combat Asthma
People suffering from respiratory problems like asthma tend to be perceived as unfit and unhealthy. They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened-individuals. Statistics show that approximately 20 to 25% of children today suffer one form of asthma or another at a certain point in their lives. And certain evidence reveals a regular diet of food with high linoleic acid content as the reason behind it.

Researchers of UW (University of Wyoming) conducted a study by subjecting a number of children to a high-fish diet while others continued with their regular diet. Results revealed that the participants who ate more fish were less prone to asthma attacks and were able to breathe more easily as well.

Consult Your Nutritionist Now
Nothing is good when consumed or used excessively but complete avoidance of a particular food type is equally harmful as well. Ask your nutritionist for the right amount of fish intake for your age and health status.

I used to have the longest hair of any woman I have ever known. It was auburn, and fell past my rear in simple waves that everyone coveted and always wanted to stroke. I didn’t mind. I lived off their envy. So many people were raised to not have long hair, because either their parents didn’t want to deal with it or because society said men shouldn’t have long hair. For me, my hair was a huge part of my identity.

 Yet I can still remember the day the doctor told me I had breast cancer. You would think I would be terrified over, well, cancer. But in truth the thing I dreaded the most about chemo wasn’t the getting sick part, or feeling like a mess in the hospital. No, it was the loss of my hair. I dreaded it more than I dreaded dying from breast cancer.

It happened. After the second round of chemo, my auburn locks started falling out in chunks. I was depressed for days. I wouldn’t let anyone touch my hair in fear of watching more of it waste away. I felt like my body was revolting against me. I would’ve rather lost my breasts than lose my hair. Does that sound crazy? Many people would say that I could regrow my hair, but I could not regrow my breasts. It wasn’t like that. I knew that any hair I grew after that would not come back the way it was. I would never have my locks again.

In the end, my cancer was gone, and so was my hair. People called me a survivor and invented me to attend events as a guest of honor. But I didn’t go. I couldn’t be seen without my hair. Sure, people gave me beautiful bandanas to wear on my head, and people suggested we go wig shopping together, but they were all reminders of what I had lost. I would stare at my bald head in the mirror and will my hair to grow back. It never did. The doctor recommended ways to make it grow back, but none of them worked, of course. I had no idea what to do. No matter what I did, my hair would not return for a very long time.

One day my best friend couldn’t take it any more. She forced me to get up and go with her to a wig shop. It was as dreadful as I anticipated. The shopkeepers pitied me and offered me discounts on the nicer wigs. But none of them suited me. They were scratchy, the wrong color, or the wrong style. I didn’t care enough for any of them. Finally, they took me into the back.

There, on a pedestal, was a wig made out of my hair.

It was only a bob cut, but it was my hair! My friend said she had salvaged a lot of my hair and had it turned into a wig just for me. It had taken a while for it to be made, but now it was, and now I had my hair back. I tried it on. It was not a cut I would choose for myself, but it was a part of me, returned.

I felt whole again.

Skin care is not a topic of recent times; it has been in practice since ancient times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin. However, skin care has transformed in a big way. 

Herbal skin care routines have been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care routines. The herbal skin care recipes which once used to be common place are not so popular today (and even unknown to a large population). 

This transformation from herbal skin care to synthetic, can probably be attributed to two things – our laziness (or just the fast pace of lives) and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin care products have been commercialised. These commercial herbal skin care products have to be mixed with preservatives in order to increase their shelf-life, hence making them less effective than the fresh ones made at home. However, it seems that things are changing fast and more people are now opting for natural and herbal skin care routines. 

But still, none want to make them at home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are these herbs or herbal skin care mechanisms?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrant that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns. 

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners. 

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care.  Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care.  Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care.  Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Homeopathic treatments and aromatherapies also come under the umbrella of herbal skin care remedies.

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don’t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive.

So, herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard the synthetic products. Some people go to the extent of debating with their dermatologist, if he/she suggests a synthetic product. You should accept the fact that some skin orders might need usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products.

The 12 b vitamin is one of the b vitamins that are essential to maintain a healthy body. Otherwise known as Cobalamin, the 12b vitamin is needed for the processes to convert the carbohydrates, fats and proteins from food into energy. 12 b also, more importantly, helps keep the red blood cells healthy and therefore prevent heart disease as well as keeping the immune system functioning at its maximum level. In addition, 12 b is used to create the protective covering of all nerve cells in the body.

The most important function of 12 b is to form healthy red blood cells. However, all cells need 12 b to keep them healthy. It is the white blood cells, amongst others, that need 12 b to help ensure that the immune system functioning properly. All of the nerve cells in the body also need 12 b to form their protective fatty layer. This is essential for all of the nerves but is especially so for those in the brain. If there is not sufficient 12 b to create this protective layer then the brain will not be functioning properly.

Interestingly, the amount of 12 b that the body needs is relatively small but is needed on a regular basis. However, 12 b on its own is not enough as the body cannot absorb it easily. To help the body absorb 12 b the stomach produces intrinsic factor which enables more of the 12 b to be absorbed. 12 b is only found in animal foods such as liver, eggs, fish and meat but most people consume far more than their recommended daily amount of 12 b. This is not a problem as the body can only absorb about half of the 12 b that is consumed. It is also worth noting that the body can recycle the 12 b which cuts down on the impact of a 12 b deficiency. However, strict vegetarians or vegans are likely to require 12 b supplements if they do not eat any animal products that contain 12 b.

If the body does not have enough 12 b then anaemia is the most obvious symptom. Obviously, this is due to the fact that there is not enough 12 b to make healthy red blood cells. Anaemia can also be caused by the body not creating enough intrinsic factor to help absorb the 12 b that is available in the food consumed. The body tends to makes less intrinsic factor once a person reaches 50 and this will lead to less 12 b being absorbed and supplements of 12 b may be required. Kids are also at risk from anaemia because they may not eat the food that contain 12 b. Pregnant women need more 12 b because the baby is absorbing 12 b during the pregnancy to grow properly.