Health Tips in urdu 1

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Health Tips in urdu 3

                                     

 

Health

Health

Our work to build healthy communities, families and individuals is at the heart of Mercy Corps' vision for social change. By partnering with a range of partners, from village health committees to government agencies, we help build the means to improve maternal, newborn and child health, ensure proper nutrition and combat infectious diseases.

Country: Zimbabwe

Topics: HIV/AIDS, Health, Citizen Involvement

Journal: Telling Africa's Stories

A community home-based volunteer counsels a client during her home visits in Mbare, Harare, Zimbabwe. A Mercy Corps-led consortium is is providing HIV services to poor and vulnerable households in urban areas. Photo: courtesy of Zimbabwe Project Trust

Florence Tigere is in bed today. The typically vibrant 55-year-old woman, who serves as both treasurer and secretary of her HIV Sahwira Support Group, is suffering from a piercing headache. The severe pain, coupled with Florence’s swollen face and feet, has community home-based volunteer Mary Musamba concerned.
“Please take your mother to the hospital immediately,” Mary advises Florence’s 17-year-old daughter, giving her 50 cents of her personal money to pay for transport. Mary is worried Florence may have contracted a type of meningitis or possibly malaria. In either case, she needs treatment right away, especially because Florence’s immune system is already compromised by the HIV.
The importance of early medical referrals is one of the many reasons the Joint Initiative for Urban Zimbabwe (JI) — a consortium of ten non-governmental organizations (NGOs) places a strong focus on community home-based care. The consortium, which is led by Mercy Corps, is providing HIV services to poor and vulnerable households in urban areas — including delivery of free home-based care to more than 8,578 clients in six urban areas of Zimbabwe.
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• Blog Post:  Posted July 8, 2011, 12:40 pm by Julie Rogers

Mothers supporting mothers

Country: Indonesia

Topics: Women's Empowerment, Urban, Health, Food/Nutrition, Children

A baby at her mother's feet during a Mercy Corps-sponsored Mother's Support Group in the neighborhood of Cengkareng Barat, Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: Julie Rogers/Mercy Corps

When my first daughter was born, none of my closest friends had children and I was living far from my mother and grandmothers. I felt alone with my questions and concerns about sleep, diapers and breast feeding so I joined a local mother’s group. With our babies fanned out in a circle in front of us, we sat on the floor and spoke to one another about our fears and joys and most importantly, we shared experiences and information about how to feed and nurture our babies.
I was recently reminded of how empowering and comforting being part of such a group can be when I visited a Mother’s Support Group meeting in West Jakarta. The group was led by local government and community representatives with Mercy Corps staff from the current Child Survival program there to provide technical assistance on matters of nutrition and health.

Some of the babies and mothers who attended the first Mother's Support Group in Jakarta's Cengkareng Barat neighborhood. Photo: Julie Rogers/Mercy Corps

This Mother’s Support Group was the first to be held in Cengkareng Barat kelhuran (or sub-district) and was modeled on groups established by Mercy Corps’ previous Child Survival: Healthy Start program, which operated in North Jakarta. The four-year program focused on increasing community knowledge and acceptance around exclusive breastfeeding as the best way to nourish an infant, as well as establishing a replicable support model for urban communities.
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Tags: Mothers Helping Mothers

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Blog Post:  Posted July 2, 2011, 12:45 pm by Travis Penn

Another busy day in the world's tenth-biggest city

Country: Indonesia

Topics: Women's Empowerment, Urban, Health, Environment

I wasn't quite expecting to see as much of Jakarta as this. Today we met the Mercy Corps staff at their offices for a presentation of the various projects the organization is doing in Indonesia. Then we got into the van to go to North Jakarta to visit a hospital whose community program encourages and supports breastfeeding in its pre- and post-natal health care.

Through programs in hospitals, health clinics and neighborhood support groups, Mercy Corps encourages and empowers women to breastfeed, helping nurture a healthy bond between mother and child. Photo: Travis Penn for Mercy Corps

We got on the highway and then things began to crawl. It look us three hours to get to our destination and, upon arrival, we all just poured out of the van in search of a bathroom. Imagine driving for three hours — all within the same city! (Note: at more than 9.5 million people, Jakarta is the tenth biggest city in the world.)
As soon as we got to the hospital, we talked with the people in charge of the breastfeeding program — an approach that Mercy Corps is championing here, especially in poor neighborhoods — and then went up to the maternity ward to see the new mothers and their babies. It was interesting to visit a hospital in a country such as Indonesia. The nurses in training looked so young and wore white veils. The overall quality of care seemed to be higher than I might have expected. There were six beds to each room, but there was plenty of space. The only problem I saw was that there was only one working elevator in the building.
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Blog Post:  Posted July 1, 2011, 12:20 pm by Martha Munocito

"Broadcasting" important health and nutrition news in rural Guatemala

Country: Guatemala

Topics: Rural, Health, Food/Nutrition

Each time I showed up to small and faraway communities where the heat was unbearable, where there was no electricity to turn on a light bulb, where there was no wind to ease the heat in the air — and where the field workers were parking their motorcycles and placing their gear on the dried grass after a heavy day of working in the field — I met energetic personalities ready to connect and do some hands-on work with Mercy Corps Guatemala's PROCOMIDA food and nutrition project.

A PROCOMIDA staffer for Mercy Corps Guatemala takes place in a mock television broadcast to practice how to better relay important health and nutrition information to families in some of Guatemala's poorest villages. Photo: Martha Munocito/Mercy Corps

Part of my job with these hard-working field staffers is gathering in PROCOMIDA's warehouses or small meeting halls in the communities where we work to practice and create key nutritional and health messages. The use of different communication channels is one of the strategies PROCOMIDA uses to achieve behavior change for better health and nutrition with the beneficiaries of the project, who live in some of Guatemala's poorest and most remote villages.
The warehouse space was converted into a makeshift studio to do a simulated television interview or news report. Printing paper was used to build up the studio's walls and motorcycle helmets were transformed into video cameras. Empty cardboard boxes became computers monitors. Cell phones were used to invite the audience to participate by calling in to express their opinions and questions about the interviewees' comments or the news reported about various health issues and topics.
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Blog Post:  Posted June 27, 2011, 12:56 pm by Iswanto JA

Inviting the rain

Country: Indonesia

Topics: Water/Sanitation, Rural, Health, Displacement

Journal: Dispatches from the Mentawai Islnds

In their old villages — before the earthquake and tsunami hit Indonesia's Mentawai Islands last year — people never had trouble getting fresh water. Their homes were always located close to rivers, because they knew that water is of the utmost importance.

Bright orange water tanks, provided by Mercy Corps through a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, located behind the temporary shelters of a displacement camp in Indonesia's Mentawai Islands. Photo: Iswanto JA/Mercy Corps

Without shade trees, the displacement camps for tsunami survivors in Rua Monga and Bulak Monga are hot and barren. People prefer to get out of their temporary shelter and spend as much time in their farm fields as possible.
Life post-tsunami has been overwhelming for everyone affected. People in Rua Monga and Bulak Monga moved to temporary shelters built by Indonesia's National Disaster — without a reliable water source or lighting, plus the loss of their normal way of life, living conditions have been very difficult.
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Blog Post:  Posted June 26, 2011, 9:02 am by Martha Munocito

Molding more than corn — molding nutrition

Country: Guatema

A “muñeco” — a basket full of Guatemalan tortillas covered with a traditional kitchen towel. Photo: Martha Munocito/Mercy Corps

One of Guatemala's main staple foods is corn — in fact, Guatemalans sometimes even refer to themselves as “corn people.” One of the traditional ways to consume corn here is in the form of tortillas.
One specific, and unforgettable, aspect of the process of making tortillas is that "pla pla pla" or "clap clap clap" sound made by female hands, young or old, massaging the corn’s dough and molding tortillas every day. The maneuver is masterfully done by elegant and rhythmic female fingers shaping the corn’s dough. Those fingers move naturally in a circle to mold tortillas all day long. This tradition is passed in the kitchen at an early age, from generation to generation, and from stove to stove.
Mothers participating in Mercy Corps' PROCOMIDA program here in Guatemala use the pinto beans and vegetable oil being provided by the project to combine with corn from their crop fields. They use these two ingredients to prepare the traditional Guatemalan tayuyos or shutes, which traditional foods made from tortillas mixed with beans. These two types of filled tortillas are favorite foods for young children. Mothers mold the corn and PROCOMIDA supports them to preserve cooking traditions with highly nutritious ingredients.
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Posted June 9, 2011 by Roger Burks

All The Colors of Helping Survivors

Country: Japan

Fumie Sugawara (in glasses) plays a colorful game with young tsunami survivors at Kesennuma Middle School. Photo: Christopher Cabatbat/Mercy Corps

Fumie Sugawara sits on the blue tarpaulin that's spread across the floor the gymnasium. A bright yellow truck and other vibrant toys are gathered around her. Fumie engages two young girls in an imaginative game using a dozen different shades of Play-Doh.
She has always found herself drawn to art and expression through colors. Colors helped Fumie make it through a personal crisis years ago, when she was a young university student in the United States. They helped her choose pursuit of an Art Therapy degree. And today, they're helping her bring creative therapeutic play to young tsunami survivors as part of Mercy Corps' Comfort for Kids program here in northeastern Japan.

Watch Comfort for Kids activities taking place in Kesennuma

Fumie grew up in the city of Kesennuma, which was hit hard by March's disastrous earthquake and tsunami. She attended Kesennuma Middle School, which is now being used as an evacuation center and temporary shelter for families that lost their homes. That's where today's Comfort for Kids activity is taking place: in the very same gymnasium where she played games as a young girl.
Things have come full circle for Fumie — all the way from here in Japan to Wisconsin and back. She earned her Master of Science degree in Art Therapy at Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, a perfect melange of her interests in colors, education and psychology. Then she worked as a therapist in the United States for seven years, before going home to Kesennuma in February.
From "hopeless" to helpful
When the earthquake and tsunami struck less than a month later, Fumie was far from her hometown of Kesennuma. She was traveling with her mother when they heard the horrific news, and because public transit was down, couldn't get back to Kesennuma until two days later. Thankfully, her family was all right. But her city was in bad shape. Hundreds of people had lost their homes, and the needs were overwhelming.

The sprawl of blue tarpaulins and stark white tents inside the gymnasium of Kesennuma Middle School, a place that several dozen families have called home for nearly three months now. Photo: Christopher Cabatbat/Mercy Corps

"To be honest, when the disaster hit, at first I felt helpless and hopeless," Fumie explains. "I was already out of work, with nothing to do, so I went to the local volunteer center. What they wanted were hands to sort things out — anything. So I said, 'Here, let me do it.'"
"But what I really wanted to do was art therapy for displaced children and families. I kept coming in and expressing my background, which was initially hard for people to understand — we don't really have that in Japan," she continues. "But then they asked me to go and see about the needs at the evacuation centers, and see if there was anything I could do about it. That’s how this started, and that's how I started working with Peace Winds (Mercy Corps' partner).”
Since then, she's been busy helping develop the Comfort for Kids program, continuing to visit evacuation centers like this and connecting with young survivors through art, sports and other fun activities. Almost three months after the tsunami ended or shattered thousands of lives, Fumie sees so many needs — for children and adults alike.
“Mostly, kids here are keeping their experience and grief to themselves,” she explains. "Art is such a safe communication — it creates distance from things that are painful or uncomfortable. And play is a powerful medium for children to explore what they've experience and what they're feeling. Comfort for Kids provides the space, time and materials — and play partners — to help them do that.”
The girl with red eyes
Fumie then remembers one young girl that she recently met at one of the evacuation centers.

Photo: Christopher Cabatbat/Mercy Corps

"We were doing an art exercise with several children. 'Draw anything you want,' I said. The kids said, ‘I can draw this’ and showed me pictures of pretty things like dresses," she recalls. "Then something happened when they got off by themselves. When they came back, one girl showed me a picture she’d drawn of a girl in a dress with red eyes — really red. Then she quietly folded it, embarrassed. She didn’t want to show anyone. So we put it in an envelope for safe keeping until she’s ready to show it.
"This girl has stayed in a community center just after the tsunami, trapped with no food or water until they were rescued two days later by helicopter. She saw fire. She saw explosions.”
Fumie pauses, and then keeps describing her interaction with the young girl that day.
“I asked her, ‘What do you want at this moment?’ She said, ‘A house’,” Fumie says. “We have to listen to what they say. When they try to express themselves, we give them the chance without us changing their story at all. We create a safe environment. We repeat what they say so they can process what they need to say.
“So I told her, ‘We cannot bring back your house, but here’s what we can provide.’ It’s okay to tell them what we can control and what we cannot control.”
Therapy for survivors of all ages
It's not just children who feel like their world is out of control — their parents are feeling enormous stress as well.
“Adults get to the point where they can’t control the chaos anymore," Fumie explains. "Children are able to sort it out, like blocks, through play. We want to give kids that time and space so adults can have their time and space as well.”

Cheerful, creative, indomitable spirits like Fumie's are helping disaster-affected children rediscover play and happiness despite hard times. Photo: Christopher Cabatbat/Mercy Corps

Psychosocial needs here in northeastern Japan have no age limit. That's why Fumie is working hard alongside her Peace Winds and Mercy Corps colleagues to develop programs that help any survivors who seek therapy and the chance to explore their feelings.
“We have to provide more specific programs for all age groups, both children and adults. Even the elderly, to facilitate healthy communication between generations,” she says.
The world of northeastern Japan's evacuation centers is dominated by big blue tarpaulins, stark white tents and the uncertainty of what comes next for thousands of survivors. But with help from Mercy Corps and Peace Winds, Fumie Sugawara is bringing brightness, lightness and caring support back into hundreds of lives.

Tags: Japan 90 Day Update

Video:  Posted June 9, 2011 by Roger Burks

VIDEO: Comfort for Kids Activities in Kesennuma, Japan

Country: Japan

Blog Post:  Posted June 8, 2011, 7:25 am by Manasi Sharma

Back in Tajik Land

Country: Tajikistan

Topics: Women's Empowerment, Rural, Health, Education, Citizen Involvement, Children

Expectant mothers and mothers-in-law at a focus group discussion in Gonchi district, Tajikistan Photo: Mercy Corps Tajikistan

I’m back in Tajikistan, six months after my first visit. This time, I’m here to support our field team with the midterm evaluation being conducted for our Maternal and Child Health program. Accompanying me is Donna Sillan, a consultant we have contracted to write the evaluation.
We spent our first two days in Khujand — in the country's northern Sughd region where most of Mercy Corps' Maternal and Child Health interventions are taking place — planning sessions with the Village District Coordinators on how to collect qualitative data to gain an understanding of the program’s impact on improving the health of women and children in the target areas, as well as other local capacity-building initiatives. The Village District Coordinators are a mix of Tajik men and women, many of them trained doctors from the Soviet era. These people are not only knowledgeable of health issues, but genuinely care about the work they are doing in the communities.
As I saw them conduct trainings, focus group discussions and various interviews with our beneficiaries, their support came across in such a kind and nurturing manner that made me think —even if I had never met them — I would feel immediately comfortable in speaking to them about my health!
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Blog Post:  Posted June 1, 2011, 11:47 am by Martha Munocito

Guess who's cooking tonight in Guatemala?

Country: Guatemala

Topics: Rural, Health, Food/Nutrition, Citizen Involvement

Recipe demonstrations are the vehicle to teach rural families here in Guatemala how to improve nutritional status of their children. Photo: Martha Munocito/Mercy Corps

“Bienvenidos. "Loq ` le k`ulumnik. Welcome” to PROCOMIDA's final male recipe competition! This activity was done among three teams of field workers of Mercy Corps' PROCOMIDA program to strengthen one of the educational activities organized with the beneficiaries: recipe demonstrations.
Recipe demonstrations are the vehicle to teach rural families here in Guatemala how to improve nutritional status of their children by using PROCOMIDA-provided food (pinto beans, vegetable oil, rice, and corn-soy flour) and mixing it with local cuisine. The recipe competition was the opportunity for three of the program's male chefs to cook an original recipe and to teach the jury and public about the nutritional benefits, cost and creative taste of their dishes.
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What is Plastic Surgery? Origin and Definition Webster's Dictionary defines plastic surgery as: surgery concerned with the repair, restoration, or improvement of lost, injured, defective, or misshapen body parts. Some people are put off by the use of the word ?plastic?, as it is sometimes considered to be synonymous with ?fake? or ?superficial?, while others object because they believe that it implies the implantation or grafting of actual plastic parts into or onto human beings. While it could be said that there is some truth in these interpretations, the word ?plastic? in this context has more to do with the origin of the word, which is from the Greek plastikos, meaning "able to be molded?. According the The American Board of Plastic Surgery's website: ? Plastic surgery deals with the repair, reconstruction, or replacement of physical defects of form or function involving the skin, musculoskeletal system, craniomaxillofacial structures, hand, extremities, breast and trunk, external genitalia or cosmetic enhancement of these areas of the body? The plastic surgeon uses cosmetic surgical principles both to improve overall appearance and to optimize the outcome of reconstructive procedures. Special knowledge and skill in the design and surgery of grafts, flaps, free tissue transfer and replantation is necessary? Anatomy, physiology, pathology, and other basic sciences are fundamental to the specialty? Competency in plastic surgery implies an amalgam of basic medical and surgical knowledge, operative judgment, technical expertise, ethical behavior, and interpersonal skills to achieve problem resolution and patient satisfaction.? Cosmetic vs. Reconstructive There are two main types of plastic surgery: cosmetic plastic surgery and reconstructive plastic surgery. Cosmetic surgery seeks to improve the patient's features on a purely aesthetic level, in the absence of any actual deformity or trauma. On the other hand, the purpose of reconstructive surgery is to correct any physical feature which is grossly deformed or abnormal by accepted standards---either as the result of a birth defect, congenital disorder, illness, or trauma. Often, reconstructive surgery addresses not only a deformed appearance, but also seeks to correct or improve some deficiency or abnormality in the function of the body part in question. Public Opinion: For or Against Up until fairly recently, plastic surgery was largely viewed as an eccentric luxury. It carried a stigma to an extent that people often went to great lengths to conceal their surgical self-improvement efforts. Today, however, it is not uncommon to overhear an excited post-op patient telling anyone who will listen all about her brand new breasts. There are many people on both sides of the plastic surgery debate---loyal devotees and staunch opponents. Proponents point out that we all spend time improving ourselves in so many ways, so what, they ask, makes plastic surgery any different? After all, though ?natural beauty? is revered and admired in our culture, it is not really something that one ?achieves?, nor is it something that he or she can even take the credit for. Detractors, on the other hand, believe it is much nobler to expend our efforts (and spend our cash) improving our minds rather than our bodies. And of course, there is always the argument that ?that's how God meant you to be?. Most likely, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Like everything, there is a wrong and a right time, and there are wrong and right reasons to get plastic surgery. Is Plastic Surgery Right for You? Will plastic surgery make you feel less self-conscious in a bikini? Quite possibly. Is it for everybody? Absolutely not. Are there some people whose lives are significantly improved by it? Absolutely. Are there some people who go too far, losing their identities or even lose their lives in their pursuit of perfection? Unfortunately, yes. In the end, only you can decide if plastic surgery is right for you. Hopefully, this site can provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your unique circumstances. Top  Most Popular Plastic Surgery Procedures in the World It used to be that only celebrities and wealthy housewives underwent cosmetic surgery? but not anymore! Today people of all ages, backgrounds, and income-levels are going under the knife to enhance their looks. Plastic surgery is a booming industry with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Below is a list of the top 10 plastic surgery procedures. 1. Liposuction: This popular procedures is used to remove excess fat from the body, neck, and chin. When done right the results are impressive, when done wrong lumps can occur. Liposuction 2. Breast Implants: A larger breast size is desired by many woman. This is accomplished using either saline or silicone breast implants.           Silicone gel filled breast implants.  Cosmetic Eye Surgery: This anti-wrinkle procedure helps to minimize the appearance of aging skin around the eyes. Both upper and lower eye lifts are a popular procedure for the baby boomer generation. Cosmetic Eye Surger 4. Tummy Tucks: This is a popular body procedure after a pregnancy or losing a lot of weight. According to this tummy tuck forum, this procedure has a high satisfaction rate. Tummy Tucks 5. Breast Reduction: Many women who were born with above-average breasts choose to undergo breast reduction in order to make them smaller. Breast Reduction usually done by Athlete 6. Rhinoplasty: This is a popular procedure for both males and females. Unfortunately, rhinoplasty causes a relatively high number of dissatisfied patients. 7. Face Lifts: For this wishing to pull the skin tighter to minimize wrinkles, a face lift is performed. Often times cheek implants or another form of cheek augmentation is done in conjunction with this anti-wrinkle procedure. 8. Breast Lift: Over the years gravity takes its toll on the breasts. This is why the breast lift  procedure to lift them back up is so popular. 9. Forehead Lift: This is a less invasive procedure than a face lift. A forehead lift is done for those that only want to target the forehead. 10. Male Breast Reduction: This is an extremely popular procedure for males. Some develop fatty deposits in their breasts or hormonal imbalances trigger the abnormal creation of breast tissue. Either way, this procedure corrects the problem. Have You ever doing one of those most popular plastic surgery procedures in the world?

Tattoos & Mehndi Styles

What is a tattoo? Did you know that about twelve million Americans have one tattoo! A tattoo is a design made on the skin by a process of pricking and ingraining an indelible pigment. The design is made on the skin with a temporary dye such as henna or ink. ?The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian "tatu" which means "to mark something.? Tattoos date back to 3300 years B.C. and have been known to be found on Egyptian and Nubian mummies. Many societies wore tattoos as part of their culture but in today's society, tattoos are widely accepted and are used to convey a message or display artwork. Are Tattoo's safe? Yes, if administered properly. The first step is to look for a tattoo artist who is licensed. It is best to have your hepatitis and tetanus immunizations up to date when getting a tattoo. Some cities and states have standards for tattoo studios. Call your state, county or local health department to find out about the laws in your community. How do I pick a Tattoo Artist? Start by asking people you know who have tattoos that you like. The different tattoo publications. When looking for a Tattoo artist there are a few things to consider, first; when looking at their photographs, check to see if the lines are clean and smooth or broken and jagged and be sure they meet up. Take the time to shop around because that will make a big difference in your end result. A good tattoo artist will take time to sit with you and they will create a special work of art just for you. Ask the tattoo artist if he or she is a member of a national tattoo organization. The Alliance of Professional Tattooing is a nonprofit organization that monitors legislations and keeps the artists updated on safety issues. What to look for in a tattoo studio. To find a good studio you should do some research on your own and talk to people you know and get references. It is commonly said that a good studio should be equipped with an autoclave which is a device that pressurizes the instruments and kills any viruses or bacteria. It is recommended that a good studio should have germicidal soap, needle buckets, proper disposal containers, packaged gauze with sterility intact, disposable gloves and check to be sure the studio is clean. Ask to see their permits if they are not displayed on the walls and be sure they are current. The equipment used by the studio should be individually packaged, dated, sealed and sterilized. The tattoo artist should disinfect the work area on your skin with an EPA approved virucidal that will kill any surface bacteria or viruses. Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Universal Precautions should be followed by the studio. These are regulations that outline procedures to be followed when dealing with bodily fluids. This is my first tattoo ? What should I expect? This can be a very exciting experience so being prepared on what to expect can make your experience safe and fun! Be sure to be well rested and well fed before a tattoo application. If you are tired, or your blood sugar is low, you could experience a higher level of discomfort than you normally would. It is best not to drink alcohol before getting tattooed because not only do you become dehydrated, it will also cause you to bleed more which can have a negative effect on your new tattoo. What to do before getting a Tattoo. PLEASE: Do not get a tattoo if you are feeling ill. Be sure to wait until you're feeling better before getting that tattoo. Food and rest are important. If you get tattooed on an empty stomach or if you are drunk, it may cause you to feel faint, nauseated, or dizzy. Don't take pain killers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and anesthetics, which may cause increased bleeding or other problems. It is not wise to get tattooed if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The local department of health in your area can advise you if there is an age limit for getting a tattoo and you will probably need a valid form of identification with you. Does It Hurt to Get a Tattoo? This depends on your pain threshold and the expertise of the person wielding the tattoo machine. Where you get the tattoo is also a factor in pain. Getting a tattoo involves being stuck multiple times with a needle, therefore, it can feel like getting a bunch of shots or being stung by a hornet multiple times. It is also normal to bleed a little. What's the Procedure Like? Here's what you might expect from a normal tattooing procedure: The tattoo artist will wash his or her hands with a germicidal soap. The to-be-tattooed area on your body should be cleaned and disinfected. The tattoo artist should put on clean, fresh gloves (and possibly a surgical mask). The tattoo artist should then explain the sterilization procedure to you and open up the single-use, sterilized equipment (such as needles, etc.). If the tattoo artist is using the tattoo machine (with a sterile, single-use needle attached), the tattoo artist will begin drawing an outline of the tattoo. The outline will be cleaned with antiseptic soap and water. Sterile, thicker needles are usually installed on the tattoo machine, and the tattoo artist will start shading the design. Once the tattoo artist has cleaned the area again, color will be injected. A disposable cloth will be used to remove any blood. Once the new tattoo is finished, the area will be cleaned once again and a bandage will be applied. How to Take Care of a Tattoo This is a very important step ? take care of your tattoo until it fully heals. Instructions that the studio gives you should be followed when caring for your tattoo so that you heal properly. If you see or feel any signs of infection such as pain, spreading redness, swelling, or drainage of pus, call your doctor. It is advisable to keep a bandage on the area for up to 24 hours. The tattoo artist will probably advise you to avoid touching the tattoo and not to pick at any scabs that form. You will be advised to wash the tattoo with an antibacterial soap (don't use alcohol or peroxide ? they'll dry out the tattoo). Using a soft towel to dry the tattoo ? just pat it dry and don't rub. Antibiotic ointment may be advised on the tattoo. It is recommended not to use petroleum jelly! If you have redness or swelling try an ice pack on the area. Keep the tattoo dry until it heals, staying away from pools, hot tubs, or long, hot baths would be best. Your tattoo should be kept out of the sun until it's fully healed. What Are the Risks? Chances are everything will be just fine. Be sure that the tattoo artist uses all sterilized equipment and tools. Keep in mind that if you don't go to a tattoo studio or the tattoo studio doesn't follow precautions like using sterilized equipment or if the tattoo artist shares ink between customers, you're putting yourself at risk for getting viral infections such as hepatitis, bacterial skin infections, or dermatitis (severe skin irritation). Some people may have allergic reactions to the tattoo ink so know your body and if you already have a skin condition such as eczema, you may have flare-ups as a result of the tattoo. You may have serious complications if you attempt to do a tattoo yourself, have a friend do it for you, or have it done in any unclean environment. Because tattooing involves injections under the skin, viruses such as HIV and hepatitis B and C can be transferred into your body if proper precautions aren't taken. At times, the American Red Cross and some other blood banks require people to wait 12 months after getting a tattoo before they can donate blood. The tattoo itself involves several steps Here is one way it works; begin by outlining: By using a single-tipped needle and a thin ink, the artist creates a permanent line over the stencil. They usually start at the bottom of the right side and work up (lefties generally start on the left side) so they don't smear the stencil when cleaning excess ink from the permanent line. Shading: Once the area is cleaned with soap and water, the artist uses a thicker ink and a variety of needles to create an even, solid line. Be careful here because Improper technique during this step can cause shadowed lines, excessive pain and delayed healing. Color: The artist then cleans the tattoo and overlaps each line of color to ensure solid, even hues. There is a final cleaning and bandaging: After using a disposable towel to remove any blood and plasma, a sterile bandage is used to cover the tattoo. You will find that some bleeding occurs during tattooing, but most stop within a few minutes. The tattoo artist then fills in a tattoo using a thicker needle. Caring for a New Tattoo Your tattoo artist will probably give you a pamphlet that explains all the necessary procedures along with instructions such as: You should remove the bandage one to two hours after completion. Wash gently with cool or lukewarm water, using a mild antibacterial soap. Always pat dry. (Don't rub!) Apply very thin coats of antibacterial ointment and work into the skin. You will find that too much ointment can pull color out of the tattoo. Do not soak the tattoo in water or letting the shower pound directly on it. Avoiding the sun, sea and swimming pool until healed is advised. Do not pick at your scabs. They will fall off as the tattoo heals, approximately in one to three weeks. Ice packs should be used if swelling or redness occurs. Always call a doctor if you have even the slightest signs of infection. Can you remove your tattoo? Most people will keep their tattoos forever but sometimes people decide they would prefer to have their tattoo removed. In the past, surgery was required but today a medical procedure using a laser can remove your tattoo and some of the tattoo shops have this service. Check with the American Dermatological Association to find a reputable laser removal specialist. What is Laser Removal? Laser tattoo removal is the process of breaking the ink molecules into smaller pieces and allowing them to be absorbed into the bloodstream and disappear. Does it hurt? Pain is a relative term and of course, it depends on your threshold of pain. Most people believe the best thing about laser tattoo removal is how much ?less pain? there is when compared to other tattoo removal procedures. ?Some people describe the sensation of the laser as being akin to a mosquito bite, or a rubber band being snapped against the skin.? How long does it take? Depending on the size and how complex the tattoo you choose will determine how long it takes. Black tattoos with simple outlining and shading is said to be a lot easier to do than full back colored tattoo. It can take from a couple weeks to a couple of months because the body needs three weeks to heal between laser tattoo removal sessions? and some lasers are designs for specific colors only. Why choose Laser Tattoo Removal? It is virtually painless when comparing to other tattoo removal procedures and it is free of infection risk, and is known to have great results. There are other methods, like excision which actually remove the tattooed skin with a scalpel and this can often make the tattooed area look worse than it did before. Another technique like dermabrasion actually ?sands down? the tattooed area of the skin, making laser tattoo removal a popular and comfortable choice when it comes to tattoo removal. Tattoo Tidbit: Even after your tattoo is healed, tattoos are more susceptible to the sun's rays, so protect it from direct sunlight. Always wear a sunscreen SPF 30 on the tattoo. This protects your skin and keeps the tattoo from facing. Tattoo Tidbit: The color additives used in tattooing pigments are the same as those used in cosmetics. They are monitored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and approved for topical application only. There are more than 100 different colors. There is some tips about how to put mehndi.. 1 The hotter you are the darker the mehndi colour comes out on the skin.   The old wives tale goes? The darker the colour the more your husband   loves you!? 2 Once mehndi is applied on the skin, it should be left overnight for   at   least 5-6 hours to enhance the deepness in colour. 3 The colour on the skin will darken on the day after the mehndi has been   applied. The darkness in colour will last for a few days and will fade   away. 4 The mehndi powder can be a khaki, green or dark brown colour   depending on where it comes from. It usually develops into a chocolate   brown colour when applied as a paste onto the skin. Fresh mehndi   powder will produce a strong dark brown colour and will last longer.   Stale mehndi will produce a light orange colour, which will not get   darker over time. 5 Lemon Juice & sugar syrup can be applied with cotton wool on to the   mehndi once it is dried. This will secure the mehndi onto the skin more   and therefore, result in the darkness of the colour on the skin. 6 The use of black ?henna? should be avoided as it contains a dangerous   chemical called Para-phenylenediamine (PPD) found in hair dyes which   causes skin irritations. 7Brides should have waxing done before mehndi is applied on them as   otherwise the mehndi will be waxed off with the hair! 8To beautify your mehndi for mehndi nights, wedding or receptions, body   glitter and gems in different colours can be applied on the skin to match   the outfits. Mehndi Creations specializes in all types of glitter work.

90 Quick Tips for Diabetics

90 Quick Tips for Diabetics

1.   Take one day at a time.

2.   Frequent blood glucose testing is the best way to keep tight control.

3.   To warm feet, rub with lotion and cover with warm socks.

4.   Protect insulin and test strips from extreme heat and cold.                          

5.   Check your feet before going to bed.

6.   Blood glucose test guidelines:

• Type 1: 3-4 times a day
• Type 2: 1-2 times a day                                                                                  

7.   Take a walk in the mall. 8.   Check blood glucose before each meal for a day.
9.   Are you testing as often as your should?
10. Have you had your eyes examined recently?
11. Treat yourself to something special today.
12. Eat a variety of foods at every meal.
13. Know the effect of sweets on
your blood glucose.
14. Still checking your feet before bedtime?
15. Inspect shoes for foreign objects and feet for pressure points.
16. Know you target HbA1c.
17. Stop smoking. It's okay to ask for help.
18. Check your glucose patterns for a day.
19. Keep an extra battery for your blood glucose monitor on hand.
20. Find a new diabetic recipe or two to try.
21. When you buy shoes, buy them in the afternoon.
22. Know how to manage your blood glucose levels on sick days.
23. From time to time, check your feet during the day, especially between toes.
24. Is diabetes overwhelming you? Talk to a diabetes team.
25. Never skip a meal.
26. Record your blood glucose levels every time you test.
27. Try chicken soup or broth when you're sick.
28. Cover open sores with antiseptic and gauze.
29. If blood glucose is too high or low, call your diabetes team or doctor.
30. How many times did you test your blood glucose today?
31. Have you had an HbA1c test recently?
32. Before you start an exercise program consult your doctor!
33. Keep your insulin and medication with you when you travel.
34. Time to get more test strips and lancets?
35. See your diabetes doctor or educator if you have any questions at all.
36. Keep your meter from extreme heat and cold.
37. Learn something new about diabetes today.
38. File toe nails, do not cut them.
39. Use a fresh lancet every time you test.
40. Record times when you have problems with blood glucose levels.
41. Tell your dentist you have diabetes and ask for dental care advice.
42. Call your doctor right away if your foot shows signs of infection.
43. See a diabetes eye doctor.
44. Take a thirty- minute walk at your own pace.
45. Avoid shoes that irritate your feet.
46. Visit a local farmer's market. It's good exercise.
47. How many times did you test your blood glucose today?
48. Check your blood glucose pattern over the next four days.
49. See a foot doctor for corns and calluses.
50. Have your blood glucose records ready to show your doctor at all times.
51. Every so often, pick a day to test your blood glucose level four times.
52. Do not go barefoot.
53. Drink eight glasses of water, especially on hot days.
54. Ask your doctor to teach you how to adjust your insulin.
55. Check your blood glucose before drinking alcohol and make sure you've eaten.
56. When sick, try popsicles or ginger ale.
57. Have you had your kidney function tested recently?
58. Clean wounds or sores twice a day with warm water and mild soap.
59. Check your test strips supplies regularly.
60. Call a doctor if a cut or sore is draining. Change bandage often.
61. Take a bike ride or a half-hour walk.
62. Keep extra regular insulin on hand when sick.
63. You should see your diabetes doctor four times a year.
64. Attend a diabetes management course.
65. Hug yourself!
66. Frequent blood testing is the best way to keep tight control.
67. Keep an eye on your diabetes medicine - do you need to get more?
68. Less activity may mean more insulin or pills.
69. Have you had your cholesterol checked lately?
70. Keep your blood monitor in your purse or backpack.
71. Wear comfortable shoes and take a hike.
72. Treat yourself to a massage or a warm bath.
73. Keep test strips dry.
74. Check your blood pressure.
75. Get flu shot if you can, every winter.
76. Avoid heating pads or hot compresses on feet.
77. Always take your diabetes medicine when sick.
78. Stick to scheduled meal times as closely as possible.
79. Keep a list of questions you want to ask your doctor.
80. Test often when you eat a heavy meal.
81. See a foot doctor for nail and foot care.
82. Wash your feet and use lotion to keep the skin soft.
83. Try a new low fat recipe once a week.
84. Find a new diabetic dessert recipe and try it.
85. Take a day off to relax from time to time.
86. Try a diet soda with lime.
87. If you are eating more than usual, test more often.
88. If you feel "different", test your blood glucose right away.
89. Make sure a family member knows how to help you in an emergency.
90. Make a diet plan and do your best to stick to it.
Resources:
Dedicated to the Diabetic Diet Ebook
Freebies

What is Cancer

Defining Cancer (KAN-sir) The name for diseases in which the body's cells become abnormal and divide without control. Cancer cells may invade nearby tissues. And they may spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system to other parts of the body. At its heart, cancer is the result of uncontrolled cell growth. Our bodies are composed of trillions of cells, all working together. In cancer, one of those cells stops paying attention to the normal signals that tell cells to grow, stop growing or even to die. Cancer cells still share many of the same needs and properties of normal cells but they become independent of the controls that make our body function smoothly. The process by which a normal cell changes into one that behaves so abnormally can take a long time and is often triggered by outside influences. The next few sections describe the differences between normal and cancer cells and outline the steps leading to the creation of a cancer cell from a normal cell.Cancer is actually a general term that describes a large group of related diseases. Every case of cancer is unique, with its own set of genetic changes and growth properties. Some cancers grow quickly while others can take years to become dangerous to the patient. The many differences between cases of cancer, even of the same organ (i.e. different cases of breast cancer), is one of the main reasons that treatment is so difficult. Despite the differences between different types of cancer, all cancers DO share some common features, and these shared properties are the basis for many cancer treatments and research efforts. It is important to understand the basic, shared, features of cancer.  This will allow for an understanding of detection, diagnosis and treatment options. Below is a list of the information found within this section. Click on one of the items or 'Next' to learn about the characteristics of cancer cells.

Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure The pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels; results from the systole of the left ventricle of the heart; sometimes measured for a quick evaluation of a person's health) "adult blood pressure is considered normal at 120/80 where the first number is the systolic pressure and the second is the diastolic pressure"

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. The mean BP, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries. Blood pressure drops most rapidly along the small arteries and arterioles, and continues to decrease as the blood moves through the capillaries and back to the heart through veins. Gravity, valves in veins, and pumping from contraction of skeletal muscles, are some other influences on BP at various places in the body. The term blood pressure usually refers to the pressure measured at a person's upper arm. It is measured on the inside of an elbow at the brachial artery, which is the upper arm's major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. A person's BP is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (mmHg), for example 120/80

Tips for a Healthy and Happy Mind

Tips for a Healthy and Happy Mind

Tip 1 : CALM YOUR MIND We live life at a hectic pace with many demands and responsibilities. Stress has become an important part of our lives. But for most of us the balance between deep relaxation and stress has been lost. Deep relaxation is a completely different state from just socializing with friends or being in front of the television. In a deeply relaxed state our minds are alert, yet calm and peaceful. Our metabolism, heart rate and breathing become even slower as we become more relaxed. Our body produces nitric oxide to neutralize the negative effect of excessive stress hormone Cortisol.   Excessive stress can make us feel older than we really are. Stress affects telomeres, strips of DNA at the end of chromosomes, which appear to protect and stabilize the chromosome ends. These key pieces (telomeres) of DNA are also involved with the cell divisions, until eventually there is nothing left, making cell divisions less reliable and increasing the risk of age-related disorders.   High stress people have lower levels of telomerase in their immune cells. It is suggested that changes in stress hormone levels could have an effect on telomeres activity. Learning and practicing serenity to elicit deep relaxation response is the most important step toward neutralizing stress response.   Here are some suggestions for serenity practices: Breathing:     Life is in the breath. He who half breathes, half lives. Your breath is the first line of defense in stress and can create almost instant calm and relaxation. Breathing is necessary for speaking, laughing and singing. Meditation:     Individuals practicing meditation for more than five years were proven to be twelve years younger than their chronological age, as measured by physical testing.  Any moment you attempt to clear the mind creates the intention of healing. Prayer is the most personal and intimate of all spiritual practices. Affirmations are positive statements we tell ourselves. A positive affirmation is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Journaling our thoughts and experiences are ancient serenity practices with its origins at the beginning of humankind. Journaling moves your emotions and thoughts from your mind/body to the paper. It also integrates the mind, body and soul. Gratitude is accepting what you have. Grateful individuals have more energy, less physical complaints and a higher level of enthusiasm and optimism. Laughter:  In laughter we are lifted above our feelings of fear, discouragement and despair. When you are engaged in a good heart laugh the energy system in our body gets a workout (inner jogging). Hearty laughter stimulates practically all the large organs and heightens resistance and vitality against disease but it should not be artificial that does not match with inner which is dangerous for heart.. Hugging helps the body's immune system; it cures depression and reduces stress. It is invigorating and rejuvenating. Hugging is all natural. It is organic, naturally sweet, no pesticides, no preservatives, no artificial ingredients, 100% wholesome and fully returnable. Tip 2 : KEEP YOUR BRAIN SMART There is a growing interest in preserving and enhancing the brain's capabilities into high age. Neuroscientists around the world with powerful tools have literally been looking into the mind as it thinks. They are discovering that many of the negative myths about the aging brain are, indeed, only myths. In much the same way that we can maintain our physical well-being, we can take charge of our mental health and fitness. A new form of brain exercise called neurobic is designed to keep the brain agile and healthy. These exercises enhance the overall health of your brain as you grow older. These new approaches can be incorporated into every day activities to develop and maintain brain connections by adopting these strategies. Scientists, in 1996, demonstrated for the first time that brain cells are generated in adult humans ( November 1998, Nature Medicine). Also old neurons can grow neuritis to compensate for losses. Neural circuits in adult brains have the capacity to undergo dramatic changes. The aging brain, however, continues to have a remarkable ability to grow, adapt and change patterns of connections. Neurobics as a new brain exercise can help you take charge of your overall mental fitness, strength and flexibility as you age. The exercise program calls for presenting the brain with non-routine or unexpected experiences using various combinations of your physical senses; visions, smell, touch, taste and hearing - as your emotional ?sense.? It stimulates patterns of neural activity that creates more connection between different brain areas and causes nerve cells to produce natural brain nutrients, called neurothrophin ? a protein-based brain gross factor. Neurotrophin can dramatically increase the size and complexity of nerve cell neurites. Neurotrophin also make surrounding cells stronger and more resistant to the effects of aging. Any other exercise, using five senses in a novel way can stimulate the brain, so that you can grow your own brain food. Examples of multi-sensory (mind-body) exercises: 1. Do your daily routine activities with your non-dominant hand (brushing your teeth, shaving, eating and using TV remote). 2. Walk without swinging your arms, holding arms away from your body as if you were carrying a sack of rice, while keeping your fingers open (Chi Gong walking).   Tip 3 : NUTRITION & WATER 1. Nutrition:  Eat a rainbow of colorful fruit and vegetables which provide powerful antioxidants. Animal fat and shellfish cause inflammation due to arachidonic acid. Sugary foods, or refined grain, (e.g. white flour and white rice) can trigger inflammation by raising blood sugar and insulin levels. Fine tune your fats. Avoid margarine and anything with hydrogenated oil in it and replace them with extra-virgin olive oil. Eat more plant- and fish based proteins. Cut down on meat, alcohol and caffeine and increase your intake of beans and dark green leaf vegetables for keeping your homocysteine level low enough to decrease the risk of Alzheimer's disease. High-quality, nutrient-rich and anti-inflammatory food is the most fundamental step toward protecting your brain.   2. Water:  Water is Mother Nature's perfect cocktail. We are water, in order to maintain radiant health; we need to replenish the water that comprises two-thirds of our bodies. It is important to drink good quality water. The health benefits of water are numerous and Mother Nature knows best. The liver filters 200 liters of water each day, sending purified water to other organs in the body. Drinking purified, electrically-charged (enlivened) water, acts as a live antioxidant and stimulates the body's ability to cure a wide variety of health problems. Drinking good water should be a discipline that reduces the workload and stress on the liver, and has a positive impact on the body's energy field. When the kidneys are overworked, some of their functions are transferred to the liver which normally metabolizes stored fat into energy. If the liver is doing the kidney's work, it metabolizes less fat as a source of energy and the cholesterol level rises.   Tip 4 : PHYSICAL EXERCISE:   Mind-Body Practices 1. Walking is a man's best medicine (Hippocrates). A regular walking program has a host of positive health benefits; weight loss, muscle conditioning, improved cardiovascular health, offsetting osteoporosis and lowering the risk for diseases including depression, diabetes and heart disease. Fitness walking delivers a sense of euphoria by releasing endorphins. Mindful walking conveys its own rewards including the opportunity for contemplation and reflection. Mindful walking brings about deep relaxation. Walking provides the tremendous health benefit of preventing lifestyle disease. It is also a wonderfully calming and spiritually restorative activity. Walking in nature is an opportunity to support and nurture our spirit. Take a walk in nature, unaccompanied except for the presence of your real self as guide. You send forth an invitation for meaningful encounters with birds, trees and crystalline insights. 2. Chi Gong is an ancient Chinese art form for strengthening the body's vital energy. It is a mind/body practice for physical, mental and spiritual fitness. It combines gentle, circular, graceful movements and whole body breathing exercises. Chi Gong is a Chinese system of self-care which aims to balance the flow of ?Chi? (vital life energy). Chi is believed to regulate mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well being. Chi flows along the meridians, which are like rivers that irrigate the body and nourish the tissue. Chi Gong helps one to experience with the non-physical self when you connect with your Chi field (energy), you experience yourself as pure consciousness. Any obstruction along the meridians will block the vital energy flow, therefore creating dysfunction and disease. Tip 5 : WHOLESOME SLEEP   Our brain works poorly when deprived of sleep, when we loose sleep, or do not sleep at regular times. Our brain chemicals become imbalanced, leading to higher Cortisol (stress hormone) and lower growth hormone (a healing and repair hormone). The purpose of sleep is for the body to relax totally, recuperate and regenerate damaged cells caused by stress and strain. The sleep allows the brain to take out the trash to deprogram the miscellaneous events that are not to be stored for long term memory. Lack of sleep for a prolonged period of time results in mental derangement in humans, and sufficiently prolonged, in animals may even result in death. Sleeping is a great way to bypass the conscious mind with all its illness, role playing and nationalization. It is a high road to your higher self right to subconscious. Dreaming is an important part of sleep. Dreaming has to do with organizing information, it is a filtering process. It is connecting with the soul. We all need more and better sleep to protect our brain function. Here are some tips for improved sleep: ? Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day and try to get to sleep before midnight. ? Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a night. If you have trouble falling asleep, try a little ritual. Stop your day at least one or two hours before bedtime to wind down. Don't watch TV or check your e-mail. Take a hot bath with Epsom salt and 10 drops of lavender oil and just soak and relax for 20 minutes. Tip 6 : COOL THE HEAT Avoid lifestyle diseases by keeping silent inflammation at bay. Invisible and symptom-free chronic micro-inflammation is a factor in Alzheimer's and all lifestyle diseases. Cooling the fires of hidden inflammation may be the most important thing you can do for your long term health and well being. Silent inflammation is the key cause in almost all chronic degenerative and lifestyle diseases. What ignites the fire in the first place? Repeated or prolonged ailment, such as sinus or bladder infections, gingivitis or stomach ulcers, can trigger chronic silent inflammation, as can food allergens, pesticide, even untreated surgical sutures. People often don't know they have it. You might not have any symptoms at all. To detect silent inflammation you measure blood level of C ? reactive protein (CRP), a substance found in the blood when systemic inflammation is present, reported level 1.0 to 10.0mg/L. A level below 1.0mg/L is ideal. When CRP is elevated, additional tests are done to determine whit's triggering the inflammation. You can cool the heat by very ordinary and simple strategies: 1. Calm your mind. Your emotions have as much to do with silent inflammation as your lifestyle. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found that people who are prone to anger, hostility and depressive symptoms, have higher CRP levels. You don't have to be a hothead to be at risk for inflammation, however, many of us feel overscheduled, overworked and overwhelmed ? in other words, stressed. In the case of stress, that invader is psychological, rather than physical. Unrelenting stress makes the body's normal immune function suffer, the net result is that inflammation works overtime. Serenity practices that calm the mind, such as mindfulness has been linked to lowered CRP levels. More mind/body practices like Chi Gong and Yoga may also help keep inflammation at bay. Try one of the serenity practices that appeal to you and see if it works. 2. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet. Revising your diet is one of the easiest, most effective ways to affect inflammation. Food contains not only calories, but also specific messages that turn on or off messages of inflammation. Boost your berry intake: Blueberries, cherries and blackberries are rich in anti-inflammatory flavonoid compounds. Fill up on fiber: Incorporate beans, legumes and whole grains (such as brown rice or quinoa) into your diet. Also add nuts: Sprinkle almonds, hazelnuts, or walnuts on cereal; toss them into salads. Fine tune your fats: Rid your kitchen of saturated fats and trans fats (avoid margarine and anything with hydrogenated oil in it) and replace them with healthier options, such as extra-virgin olive oil and flaxseed oil. Eat more plant- and fish-based proteins. Wild salmon, sardines and herring are rich in omega-3 fats and relatively low in the toxin mercury. Spice up your Mealtime: Certain spices have strong anti-inflammatory effects ? in particular, ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric and rosemary. Make them an integral part of your diet. Try using ginger, garlic and onion in stir-fries, turmeric in soups and rosemary on roasted veggies.   3. Move More:  Regular, consistent physical activity is one of the best ways to keep inflammation at bay. This may explain why long-term regular exercise dramatically reduces heart disease, a condition we know to be a disease of inflammation. An active body revs up production of antioxidants, which ?vacuum? the free radicals that can otherwise lead to inflammation. Free radical damage is like rust on the inside of our bodies, in the cells themselves. Don't overdo: Working out too hard may boost inflammation levels rather than reduce them. While some muscle soreness is warranted, if you are feeling exhausted or overly achy, rest a day before hitting the gym again. Tip 7 : NATURE Nature is the most powerful tool to facilitate health and well being. Nature offers an easy and safe path to subordinate the ego and access our higher selves, which is the beginning of transformation. Nature ?meditates? us whether we are aware of it or not. Nature, one of the best medicines, can be harnessed to bring about transformation toward health and well being. Nature is a universal pattern of resonant energy which can influence other energies to move toward wholeness and healing. Take a walk in nature (forest or Oceanside), unaccompanied except for the vital presence of the soul guide. You send forth an invitation to your own psyche and to the world at large that you are available for meaningful encounters with birds, trees and water, or possibly your sudden crystalline insights. You enter the imaginable and fruitful realm that belongs not quite to the ordinary landscape you usually pass through but to a numinous fertile place in between.