Child Head Louse Treatment: 5 Tips to Cure Your Child of Head Lice

Child Head Louse Treatment: 5 Tips to Cure Your Child of Head Lice
Head lice, a rather common problem of school-aged children,
are easy to prevent, but difficult to treat. Children
between the ages of three and 12 are particularly
susceptible to the pests due to the many group settings
that they're a part of, such as daycares, summer camps,
sports activities, and, of course, school.

Many children also tend to share personal items, including
brushes, barrettes, hats, scarves, and clothing, easily
allowing lice to spread quickly even though they cannot fly
or jump, contrary to myth. Additionally, lice are not a
sign of dirtiness as they actually prefer cleaner hair,
which is easier for them to grip onto, and they also do not
spread disease. However, they can still be annoying and
hard to get rid of, and their bites cause itching, which
usually leads to redness and inflammation from constant
scratching.

Here are five helpful and simple child head-louse treatment
tips to cure your little ones of the troublesome but
harmless parasites:

1. The key to successfully eradicating a lice infestation
is a three-step process that must include killing live
lice, removing every single nit (eggs), and also treating
the environment around the infested person, including their
personal belongings.

2. Olive oil, butter, mayonnaise, and petroleum jelly are
all excellent for smothering or suffocating head lice,
which are technically referred to as pediculosis, although
nits will still need to be manually removed. Olive oil is
the easiest of the four to remove from the hair but will
still require several washings.

3. Wet your child's hair before combing through it as the
water immobilizes the lice, allowing for easier removal.
Many people also swear by using a flea comb rather than one
intended to remove lice, although you should never use any
type of flea or tick product on anyone other than the
actual comb. Lice combs should have metal teeth that are no
wider than three-tenths of a millimeter apart.

4. An effective child head-louse treatment doesn't just
involve treating the child, but also the whole house as
well as any other family members who may also have them.
This means washing all bedding, towels, clothing, or
anything else that may be hiding nits in very hot water,
over 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 55 degrees Celsius, and then
dried on the hottest setting.

Items that can't be washed and dried should be dry cleaned
or completely sealed in an airtight bag for at least two
weeks. This should include items such as plush toys,
stuffed animals, and decorative pillows. All carpeting,
throw rugs and upholstered furniture must also be
thoroughly vacuumed. Do keep in mind that lice aren't able
to survive for more than a few days after falling from
their host.

5. A pediculicide, medicated shampoos, creams, or lotions,
may be prescribed by your child's doctor. Lice removal kits
can be purchased over-the-counter if other home treatment
methods are unsuccessful or if the infestation is severe.
On the other hand, some lice may be resistant to some types
of commercial chemicals and require a more non-conventional
method of removal. Never use a hair dryer after using any
products containing chemicals, as some may be extremely
flammable.

Consult with your doctor for ways to treat children under
the age of two, who should not come in contact with most
commercial products, as the chemical solutions are way too
harsh for their young, sensitive scalps. Likewise, you
should never shave your child's head in an attempt to get
rid of lice, although cutting the hair very short may help
to keep the pests at bay.

----------------------------------------------------
http://www.LouseTreatment.net is the best resource for
treating head lice and head louse. This informative website
provides readers with quality information about home
remedies, over-the-counter and prescription medications and
more. In addition, you'll also find louse and lice removal
products. Please visit http://www.LouseTreatment.net today
and rid yourself of pesky lice now!

Law Enforcement Fitness Training

Law Enforcement Fitness Training
As a law enforcement officer, you know that staying in
shape is an important part of your job. You also know that
it's extremely difficult to find the time to work out
consistently.

Let's face it, fitting in an hour or two of exercise every
day is just not very realistic in your hectic, demanding
schedule. That's why you need to focus your work outs on
the type of exercise to give you the best results in the
shortest amount of time.

And the type I recommend is high intensity exercise -
especially hill and stair sprints. These techniques allow
you to get the most out of your precious workout time.
Helping you build strength, power, speed and stamina while
burning maximum amounts of fat - all in much less time than
a traditional workout.

There are numerous reasons that high intensity is the way
for you to go. Here are the Top 3:

1. Hill Sprints Build the Stamina Necessary For Your Job
Demands.

Endurance is something that every law enforcement officer
needs - but it is a special kind of endurance. If you want
to perform at your peak, then long, slow distance types of
cardio just won't work. Your endurance training needs to
mimic the demands of your job. Those needs being - short
bouts of intense exertion alternated with periods of long
periods of lower intensity.

Think about it. How often does your job require you to jog
at a low intensity for long periods of time? Or even run
at a steady, moderate pace for 20 or 30 minutes in a row?
Yet, these are exactly the types of demands that long, slow
cardio workouts prepare you for.

On the other hand, high intensity work, like hill
sprinting, provides you with interval training that meets
your needs. It will take your heart and lungs to
intensities far greater than those found in jogging or
traditional types of endurance training. Your body will
become used to reaching these higher levels, and recovering
quickly in between the "sprints." Not only that, with hill
sprints, you will be able to spend much more time training
at that high intensity than if you try to "go hard" at a
steady state.

This type of training can lead to more protection for your
heart and lungs than traditional "cardio". Long, low
intensity cardio can actually shrink the size of your heart
and lungs because your body is excellent at adapting to the
stresses placed on it. If you train long and slow, your
body will try to become more efficient to make this type of
exercise easier. The result: it shrinks muscle mass along
with your heart and lungs. This has the effect of
decreasing your reserve capacity - the ability of your
cardio-vascular system to respond to high stress situations
(exactly the kind your run into in your job). Without a
high reserve capacity, your heart and lungs may be at risk
during stressful events. High intensity training can help
raise your reserve capacity instead.

Not only that, but more and more scientific studies are
showing that VO2 Max (the traditional measure of aerobic
endurance) is improved as much - or more- by using high
intensity exercise like hill sprinting. This endurance is
due to the sprints upgrading your oxygen intake system with
new capillaries, developing stronger heart and lung tissue,
adding more energy producing mitochondria and increasing
your tolerance to lactic acid buildup.

Want the ability to respond to high intensity situations
(and recover quickly afterwards)? Then train the same way.

2. Hill Sprints Give You Results In As Little As 15 Minutes.

Sure, this training sounds great - but how much time does
it take?

Truth is, you can get these benefits in short workouts of
15 minutes or less - only 2 or 3 days per week.

High intensity work, especially hill and stair sprinting,
is an incredibly efficient way to exercise. This is
because you are forced to do more work in a shorter period
of time. In other words, hills and stairs are like the
perfect combination of weight lifting and sprinting - you
literally "lift" or "push" yourself up the incline. The
steeper the grade, the higher the demands placed on your
leg muscles. This intensity allows you to get in a
superior workout in a very short period of time.

3. Hill Sprinting: The Incredible Stress Buster

The bad news: Your position as a law enforcement officer
brings a great deal of stress along with the job. This
stress can lead to health-related problems like heart
disease and metabolic syndrome.

The good news: One of the best ways to "bust" that stress
is with exercise - more specifically high intensity
exercise.

Exercise in general relieves stress in a number of ways.
First of all, exercise stimulates your brain to release
substances (endorphins) that improve your mood. Besides
that, exercise can decrease cortisol levels, provide a
distraction from the source of stress and boost your self
confidence.

Any exercise can have these effects, but high intensity can
amplify your results. Recently, researchers at the
University of Missouri-Columbia showed that high intensity
exercise is superior in reducing anxiety and stress. The
2003 study even showed that the effects can be felt 30, 60,
even 90 minutes after an exercise session.

These are just 3 of the reasons that every law enforcement
officer should hill sprint. Take your stamina to a new
level and decrease your stress in only a few minutes of
exercise per week with this "old school" training. You,
your fellow officers and those you serve and protect will
be glad you did.

----------------------------------------------------
Tim Alan Kauppinen, or Coach K, has over 20 years
experience as an athlete,coach and personal trainer. He
has helped people of all ages and abilities get and stay in
top shape. Coach K is the author of the Uphill Fitness
Training, and publishes a FREE daily training email
newsletter. Tim can be contacted through his website at
http://www.makesyoufast.com

Reverse Diabetes by Understanding the Causes of Insulin Resistance

Reverse Diabetes by Understanding the Causes of Insulin Resistance
Think diabetes is irreversible?

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Despite what the medical establishment tells you, you can
reverse diabetes -- without insulin or medication.

Today, I'd like to tell you about a new way of viewing --
and treating -- diabetes.

First, though, you need to understand why diabetes is such
a problem.

A Growing Epidemic

The disease has reached epidemic proportions: Type 2
diabetes (formerly called adult onset diabetes) now affects
nearly 100 million people worldwide, 20 million of which
are Americans.

And it's on the rise -- especially in kids. One in three
children born today will have diabetes in their lifetime.

That's because the path to diabetes starts very early.

The culprit is insulin.

When you eat a lot of sugar and other refined carbohydrates
like bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes, your body eventually
becomes resistant to the effects of insulin. It requires
more and more insulin to keep your blood sugar balanced.
High insulin levels increase your appetite -- and your
belly fat.

High levels of insulin can occur decades before you're
diagnosed with diabetes. They are warning signs of this
condition.

So are the other symptoms of insulin resistance, like belly
fat, sugar cravings, feeling tired after meals, high blood
pressure and triglycerides, and inflammation.

A family history of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and
even dementia can increase your chances of developing
insulin resistance and pre-diabetes.

And pre-diabetes is just as bad as full-blown diabetes. It,
too, can cause heart attacks, strokes, dementia, cancer,
and impotence.

So why is diabetes on the rise?

The answer is as close as the food on your plate.

Our bodies were meant to consume a diet that's high in
nutrients, fiber, and omega-3 fats and low in sugar. So
when we eat unhealthy foods -- like sugar, trans fats,
white flour, and processed foods -- we activate genes that
promote diabetes.

Yet type 2 diabetes is almost totally preventable. In fact,
in one major study, Harvard researchers found that
lifestyle and diet changes could prevent more than 90
percent of all type 2 diabetes cases.

Early Diagnosis is Key

Diagnosing type 2 diabetes early is crucial to its
management and reversal.

Because damage to the body can occur with even small
changes in insulin and blood sugar, doctors should diagnose
pre-diabetes as soon as possible.

The proof is in the research. One recent study found that
people whose fasting blood sugar was higher than 87 were at
increased risk of diabetes.

Yet most doctors don't worry until the blood sugar is over
110 -- or worse, over 126, which is diabetes.

Instead, I recommend early testing with anyone who has a
family history of type 2 diabetes, belly fat, or abnormal
cholesterol -- regardless of your blood sugar level.

Ask your doctor for these tests:

1. Insulin glucose challenge test with 2-hour glucose
challenge, 75 grams measuring fasting, 1 and 2 hour blood
sugar AND insulin.

Your blood sugar should be less than 80 fasting and never
rise above 110 or 120 after one to two hours. Your insulin
should be less than 5 fasting and should never rise above
30 after one to two hours.

I recommend this test for everyone over 50, and for anyone
with any risk of insulin resistance, even children.

2. The hemoglobin A1C is an important measure of glycated
hemoglobin, which can be an early indicator of sugar
problems. It should ideally be less than 5.5. Anything
over 6 is considered diabetes.

3. Lipid profiles are important. An HDL under 40 and a
triglyceride level over 150 usually means diabetes.

4. An NMR lipid profile identifies the size of your
cholesterol particles.

5. High sensitivity C-reactive protein is a measure of
inflammation, which is both a cause and result of insulin
resistance and diabetes. It should be less than 1.

6. Homocysteine is often abnormal in people with diabetes.
It should be between 6 and 8.

7. Fibrinogen measures your risk of clotting and is
associated with insulin resistance and diabetes. It should
be less than 300.

8. Ferritin is a nonspecific marker of inflammation
associated with diabetes. It should be less than 150.

9. Uric acid should be less than 6. Higher levels indicate
problems with insulin resistance.

10. Elevated liver function tests result from insulin
resistance.

These are tests any doctor can perform and are covered by
insurance. If you're at risk for diabetes, I urge you to
get tested.

----------------------------------------------------
Mark Hyman, MD is a pioneer in functional medicine,
practicing physician and best-selling author. A sneak
preview of his book "The UltraSimple Diet" is available.
See The UltraWellness Blog for more on Testing for Insulin
Resistance:
http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/insulin-resistance

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell - Introduction to a 12 Part Series

Unlocking the Secrets of Your Sense of Smell - Introduction to a 12 Part Series
It all started with a bolt up my nose. When I was four
years old, I inadvertently put a small, metal bolt in my
nose, which I could not remove. Afraid to tell my mother,
the bolt became a part of me. Kids do things like that!

Almost 20 years later, after a series of x-rays relating to
some oral surgery, my dentist pointed to the mysterious
object in my nasal passage and asked whether I was aware of
it. They say that smell triggers memories, so after a brief
look at the x-ray, the light went on. "Yes!" I exclaimed.
"I remember lying in bed and putting that thing in my nose."

For health reasons, the object was subsequently removed and
the vignette has provided lots of laughter whenever I bring
it up. I don't think it has enough weirdness to make the
Ripley's Believe It Or Not list, but it does reveal a life
long bond with my sense of smell that has now, 50 years
later, built the foundation of my health and wellness
business.

Of our five senses, our sense of smell is unlike the
others. Everything about our sense of smell sets it apart -
the way it works, its influence on behavior, its control of
our cravings and its usefulness to our health and wellness.
Why has it been relegated to the bottom of the sensory pile?

I've spent the last three years fascinated by the power of
the olfactory system. I've spent hours discussing this
enigmatic sense with one of the world's leading smell
scientists, Dr. George Dodd. I've explored the use of
scents and aromas in our environment and how companies are
increasingly using aromas to influence buying decisions. I
probably know more about this sense that most, and yet I'm
no scientific researcher or smell academic. I'm just
fascinated at how our sense of smell can be used for so
much more than just the occasion whiff of a fine wine, an
exotic perfume or the smell of a cappuccino.

Whenever I'm asked what it is that I do, I reply, "I
develop products that use our sense of smell to enhance
moods and influence behavior." It certainly gets a better
response than, "I'm a teacher." Or, "I'm a carpenter."
Everyone knows those occupations! But mention the sense of
smell and people look at you with some suspicion. Who knows
much about our olfactory system and the part it plays in
our health and well being?

Our sense of smell is a new medical frontier and amazing
research is being conducted at leading universities and
laboratories that's elevating this sense to new heights.
Because the research delves deeply into biology, psychology
and physiology, unless you got a bent for the sciences, it
can get pretty technical - even boring. But for most of us,
just a basic understanding about this enigmatic sense is
all that's necessary to start enjoying its benefits.

Whether you're sniffing wines, savoring gourmet foods,
turned on by your lover's scent, relaxing with scented
candles or trying to identify that fleeting odor,
harnessing the power of your sense of smell will go a long
way to enriching your life and providing you with an
effective tool to manage your moods.

----------------------------------------------------
Luke Vorstermans is the founder of The Sense of Smell Lab,
a world leader in the development of innovative products
that use our sense of smell to influence behavior, trigger
memories, manage cravings, enhance moods and improve sexual
health. To learn more about enhancing your sex drive, go
to http://www.scentuellepatch.com

Healthy Sleep affects Performance

Healthy Sleep affects Performance
Sleep is a natural part of life, and while some people try
to get by with as little as possible, packing their days
and nights with activities, chores, work and play, sleep is
essential to health and to optimal performance every day.

A basic need of the human body, sleep is also a basic need
of the human mind. Without enough sleep, our bodies and
minds cannot function properly and we cannot achieve the
goals we set out to do. During sleep, our bodies take time
to rejuvenate, and our minds take time to work through
problems, to explore themselves and to rest. These
activities are essential for your health and well-being.
Most adults need about eight hours of sleep every day, but
each individual is different. Children and teens need more
sleep per night, and there is some evidence that as we
enter our senior years, the need for sleep decreases
somewhat.

What happens when we don't get enough sleep? Missing a bit
of sleep once in a while happens to everyone. Usually our
bodies and minds react to lack of sleep by feeling groggy,
foggy and just a bit slow. This interferes with daily
routines and diminishes the ability to function at one's
peak. It can also cause one's mood to be less positive.

If sleeplessness becomes chronic, the consequences become
more severe. Chronic loss of sleep over a period of time
will seriously diminish one's ability to perform work on
the job or at home. Sluggishness, forgetfulness, lack of
concentration, slower reaction times and general malaise
will begin to take over. This could result in accidents,
injuries and even behavior problems. Your enjoyment of life
will decrease and other's enjoyment of you will decrease
(because you will most likely be grouchy and lethargic).
Without enough sleep, your body cannot repair and replenish
itself, and your mind cannot take the time it needs from
the constant bombardment of the outside world to perform
the tasks that it must during sleep periods.

How can getting enough sleep help? Getting the correct
amount of sleep for you will allow you to operate at your
peak while doing all the things you do during the course of
your day. Working, learning, exercising and interacting
with others will be easier and your results will be better
if you've had plenty of sleep. You will be able to focus
and concentrate more effectively. With enough sleep your
mood will be elevated, so you will be happier and you'll be
able to take a more positive view of life, reacting in a
more positive and constructive way to all things.

How can you be sure you're getting enough sleep? In order
to make sure you're getting enough sleep, use these
guidelines:

Eight hours a night

Most adults need eight hours of sleep each night. You may
need a bit more or less. The way to gauge whether you are
getting enough sleep or not is by waking up naturally. You
can see what time you wake, compared to what time you went
to bed (fell asleep), and do that for a few days. You will
get an average amount of sleep you need from that. Make
sure you do this when you are having "normal" days and
evenings. If you are trying to do this over a holiday week
when you are out partying until 2 AM and falling into bed
with a belly full of beer, you won't have accurate sleep
times.

Wake later

If you find that you are not getting enough sleep, you will
need to adjust your bedtime or wake time accordingly.

Stay away from drugs

Falling asleep naturally is the best way to fall asleep.
Using drugs (prescription or recreational) or alcohol to
fall asleep is not healthy, and your body and mind will not
be able to do their "sleep work" as well. Prescription or
over the counter sleep aids should be used infrequently at
best and with the supervision of your doctor.

See a doctor if serious

If you are having serious sleep issues, see your doctor for
evaluation. Sleep can be disrupted by certain illnesses,
physical conditions, hormonal fluctuations, certain
medications, and stress.

Relaxation methods can help

Learn simple relaxation techniques for helping you to fall
asleep such as deep breathing or guided imagery.

Sleep is one of the basic elements of great health and
performing well in all aspects of life. Good, healthy sleep
will do wonders for your body, mind, and mood. The
importance of sleep cannot be stressed enough, so make sure
you are getting all that you need.

----------------------------------------------------
Winsome Coutts special topics include: Personal
Development, Health and Wellness, Self Help and The Law of
Attraction. For some great tools and info go to her
website: http://www.4lifeselfhelp.com/

Step Up To Positive Habits

Step Up To Positive Habits
You have to finish an important project in two hours, so
you head to the vending machine for a high-calorie treat.
You're stuck in traffic with an important meeting merely
minutes away, and you start biting your nails. You know
you should get to bed and get some sleep, but you can't
seem to pull yourself away from the television. Do any of
these scenarios sound familiar to you? If so, you are in
the throes of stress relieving bad habits.

Habits are reoccurring, probably unconscious patterns of
behavior. Everyone has habits. Positive habits provide
structure, stability, and security. Good habits include
healthy eating, exercising, journaling, or talking with a
friend can relieve stress. Negative habits can be
self-destructive, and have a negative pull on our
self-esteem and self-worth. Bad habits often include
stress eating to calm or alleviate stress.

Unfortunately bad habits serve a purpose in our lives.
They are unhealthy coping strategies that have an immediate
payoff. The short-term payoff includes alleviation of
stress, calm our nerves, and provide a distraction or
escape from a bothersome situation or feelings. The
long-term impacts are weight gain, unattractive nails, and
fatigue. When the long-term impacts interfere with your
life, you need to change your habit. You need to find
healthy coping strategies that provide the short-term
payoff you need.

Your awareness and desire to change a life interrupting
habit can be immediate. You make the decision that you are
tired of a certain habit or behavior and you are committed
to its replacement. Alternatively, you may have the desire
to change a bad habit and need a step-by-step plan. If
either of these happen to you, it's time to move forward
with your habit replacement.

Step 1: Name it! Define the habit. Before you can make
any change, you must identify for yourself the reason for
the habit. What is the payoff to you with the habit? Bad
habits usually serve a hidden purpose we don't recognize.
They can serve as a buffer for uncomfortable emotions or
even calm anxiety.

Step 2: Commit! Make a full commitment to changing this
habit. Arm yourself with inspiration to sustain
motivation. Motivation has levels. Prepare for those days
when motivation is low and you're tempted to resort back to
the bad habit. Whatever motivates and inspires you, make a
fall-back plan to use those tools when you need a jolt of
extra motivation in breaking the bad habit.

Step 3: Set short-term and long-term goals. Do you want to
lose weight? Do you want to lose 50 pounds? Break your
goal of losing 50 pounds into small increments that are
reasonable to accomplish. You don't want to become
overwhelmed. You aren't going to lose 50 pounds in two
months.

Step 4: Identify and eliminate your triggers. Is a certain
food item a problem for you? When you get home from work,
do you want to go into the kitchen and reach for that
comfort, calming-from-your-day food? If so, don't have
that trigger food in your house. Have healthy snack
alternatives readily available for you. Alternatively,
grab the family and take a walk to connect after you come
home. When quitting a bad habit, set up your surroundings
to support you.

Step 5: Get support. Ask for support from your family and
friends that are important to you. Changing a bad habit is
more successful if you have a support system in place. If
you want to lose weight, a very effective means of support
is to hire a weight loss coach. A weight loss coach can
provide support and customize a program to assist you in
changing your habits to support your goals.

Step 6: If you give up a bad habit that has provided you
with a payoff, you need to replace it with a positive one.
A good habit, like eating differently to lose weight,
exercising or using relaxation techniques, can help you
manage stress in a healthy way. If you want to cut back on
eating late at night, replace it with a hobby such as word
puzzles or counted cross-stitching to busy your hands.
Replacing a bad habit with a new, positive habit is
important to maximize your success. Before you know it,
the bad habit will no longer appeal to you and the positive
habit will be second nature and natural.

Step 7: Give yourself rewards. When you reach a weight
loss of 5 pounds, reward yourself with a new cd or download
on your MP3. For 10 pounds, buy a magazine subscription
that will support your new habit. For a larger weight loss
of 20 pounds, reward yourself with a new outfit or pair of
smaller jeans. You definitely deserve one as you keep to
your goals and replacing a bad habit with a new, positive
one. Remember to have your reward reflect your goal. For
losing weight, reward yourself with non-food rewards.

Step 8: Accept plateaus. Plateaus are part of the process.
Motivation is high at the beginning of changing a habit,
then plateaus and nothing seems to happen. You might even
want to return to the payoffs provided by the bad habit.
However, plateaus are our way of adjusting and becoming
accustomed to the new, positive habit. Your process will
continue steadily with possible plateaus of adjustment.
During a plateau, you can become discouraged and want to
quit because you're not making the progress you want. If
you expect this as a part of the transition, you'll be
prepared to stay with your goal.

Step 9: Give credit to yourself for your decision to change
a bad habit. Be kind to yourself. Having a bad habit isn't
a judgment about you as a person. It means that you've
created a bad habit that isn't working for you any longer.
It shows that you're aware of your desire to have a better
life and be happier by replacing the problematic habit.
Acknowledge your own personal growth.

Bad habits such as compulsive overeating have payoffs.
Recognize how a bad habit limits your life. Follow these
steps to ditch a bad habit and step up to habits that allow
you to reach your weight loss and maintain your weight loss
goal.

----------------------------------------------------
Cathy Wilson is a weight loss life coach. Cathy lost 147
pounds six years ago. Her passion is helping clients
achieve their weight loss and life goals. Cathy works with
clients to create a weight loss life plan that is
customized to each client. Cathy is a member of the
International Coaching Federation, International
Association of Coaches, and Obesity Action Coalition.
Visit Cathy's website:
http://www.LoseWeightFindLife.com

Green Tea Or Black -The Choice Is Yours

Green Tea Or Black -The Choice Is Yours
Whilst increasing attention is now rightly being paid to
the health benefits of white and green teas, the virtues of
the much more familiar, and still much more common, black
tea, should not be neglected. All three are products of
the camellia sinensis plant and as such have many common
attributes, particularly in their anti-oxidant functions;
the difference between them being entirely attributable to
the differing methods by which they are produced.

So-called "herbal teas", by contrast, are drinks made from
infusions of the leaves of a wide variety of other plants.
Although these are often very beneficial to health, they
are not "teas" at all in the strict sense, this term being
restricted to the products of the camellia sinenis plant,
and should be considered separately, probably as a branch
of herbal medicine or therapy.

The fresh, ie unprocessed, leaves of the camellia sinensis
plant are rich in compounds known as polyphenols, and
particularly those of a type known as catechins, which are
powerful anti-oxidants. The problem is that these
compounds are easily destroyed by the processing that the
leaves go through. In the case of black teas the process,
known as fermentation, results in the almost complete
oxidation of the catechins resulting in a dramatic loss of
their anti-oxidant power.

The highly prized white teas, by contrast, are produced by
steaming the very young leaves of the camellia sinensis
plant, protecting them from this damaging oxidation. Green
teas are produced by a similar process of heat treatment,
but the older leaves used are not generally as rich in the
active ant-oxidant compounds. There is yet another
category of teas, known as oolong, which fall somewhere
between the green and black varieties by being partially
oxidised (fermented).

Whilst conventional medicine continues to insist that the
evidence for the health giving benefits of all these teas
remains inconclusive, there is in fact ample evidence of
the anti-oxidant power of these beverages. For example, a
number of respectable studies have concluded that moderate
tea consumption (just a few cups day) may reduce the risk
of heart disease by around a third, in the case of black
tea, and a half in the case of green tea. At least one
research report further suggests that tea consumption may
help reduce the risk of stroke by as much as two-thirds.

Since heart disease and stroke remain two of the biggest
causes of premature death and disability in the affluent
Western world, these findings alone would seem to make the
regular consumption of tea, and green tea in particular, a
worthwhile precaution.

But the benefits don't end there.

Free radical oxidative damage to the lining of the blood
vessels is known to be a factor in the development of
atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) another major
cause of life threatening cardiovascular disease. The
consumption of black tea has been shown to have a
protective effect on the cells lining the blood vessels
(the endothelium) and to the extent that this effect is due
to anti-oxidant polyphenols, it appears highly likely that
tests with green tea would produce results at least as good.

Less conclusively, but interestingly, there is also
evidence that the anti-oxidant qualities of the polyphenols
in both green and black tea may have a role in combatting
both cancer and osteoporosis.

In the case of cancer, such effects have been clearly
demonstrated in animals, though the evidence in respect of
humans is less clear cut. But to the extent that cancer is
a disease of degeneration, the onset of which may be
hastened by oxidative damage in cells caused by free
radical activity, the anti-oxidant activity of black and
green tea can only be of potential benefit.

Similarly, there is observational evidence that bone mass
density is positively correlated with tea consumption,
which is therefore protective against osteoporosis,
possibly because of the drink's anti-oxidant properties,
but the causal link is not fully understood.

Despite the familiar reservations of conventional medicine,
there appears good evidence for the anti-oxidant qualities
of the polyphenols in tea in general, and green tea in
particular. But that's not all. Tea is also a good source
of some trace minerals, including manganese, which is
itself a powerful anti-oxidant. Black tea is a
particularly good source, and a convenient way of obtaining
this mineral, which is often drastically under supplied in
food. In addition to its general anti-oxidant properties,
manganese is also known to nutritional therapists as an aid
to cardiac and bone health, in relieving the symptoms of
diabetes, and in treating certain types of seizure.

The only likely downside to the consumption of significant
quantities of tea is that both green and black varieties
may contain considerable amounts of caffeine. Strong black
tea is also rich in tannin, the acidic substance which also
gives the astringent taste to red wines, and which may lead
to minor stomach disturbances if overdone This problem
does not arise with green tea, however, and both black and
green varieties are readily available in decaffeinated
form, the latter also in a range of enhanced natural
flavours for improved palatability.

----------------------------------------------------
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in
direct marketing and with a particular interest in health
products.
Find out more at
http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/In
formation.htm

Home Remedy Louse Treatment:Get Rid of Lice For Good!

Home Remedy Louse Treatment:Get Rid of Lice For Good!
For many years, long before commercial products were even
thought of, home remedy louse treatment has been the answer
to getting rid of the pesky, but harmless, critters once
and for all. Lice are incredibly easy to prevent. They
easily pass from one person to the next, but are very
difficult to effectively treat.

Maintaining good hygiene, which includes not sharing
personal items such as brushes and hats, and teaching
children about the possibility of getting lice is important
to prevent them from ever disrupting your household. The
following home remedy louse treatment methods use simple
items that are found in any general store, or probably
right in your very own pantry or refrigerator.

Vinegar: Vinegar mixed with baby oil or any type of mineral
oil in equal amounts should be applied to thoroughly
saturate the scalp and hair. The mixture should be left in
place for one hour, keeping the head covered with a shower
cap, before shampooing normally.

Mayonnaise: Massage mayonnaise all over the scalp,
saturating every strand, being sure to cover all of the
roots as well. Leave on for an hour before thoroughly
rinsing and shampooing.

Petroleum jelly: Much like mayonnaise, petroleum jelly is
difficult to remove from the hair, but useful for
suffocating lice, a messy method of lice removal but one
that is effective. It may take numerous washings to
completely clean the hair. Rubbing flour into the scalp
prior to shampooing helps to absorb some of the jelly.

Limes: Lime juice mixed with an equal amount of garlic
paste can be applied to the scalp and left on for half an
hour before washing. Ground almonds, about ten or so, mixed
into a few teaspoons of lime juice may also be used,
leaving on the hair for half an hour before shampooing.

Herbal oils: There is many a home remedy louse treatment
that involves the use of herbal oils, which are very gentle
and easy on the scalp. Some of the oils most commonly used
include rosemary, geranium, coconut, eucalyptus, tea tree,
lavender, lemon, and even vegetable and baby oils.

One is not used alone, but rather in a mixture of several,
such as three tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of tea
tree oil and another teaspoon of eucalyptus oil mixed into
regular shampoo. The concoction should be left on the hair
for at least half an hour while wearing a tight-fitting
shower cap.

Shaving cream: Apply the foam type of shaving cream all
over the scalp and hair for about half an hour to allow the
chemicals in the cream time to kill the lice and their
nits. This method may dry out the hair and strip it of some
of its protective oils, so be sure to condition the hair
thoroughly after treatment.

Beer: Use beer mixed with basil leaves and ten cloves,
grinding them all together into a thick paste, then
applying to the scalp and hair. Leave on for half an hour
to an hour before rinsing and washing.

Rubbing alcohol: Soak everyone's combs, brushes, barrettes,
hair bands and headbands in rubbing alcohol for at least an
hour. Very hot water can also be used, or items can simply
be thrown away and replaced.

----------------------------------------------------
http://www.LouseTreatment.net is the best resource for
adults and children that want to treat lice and head louse.
This informative site provides readers with louse removal
home remedies and medical and over-the-counter louse
treatments. This site includes louse and lice removal
products, louse ebooks and articles, and more. Visit
http://www.LouseTreatment.net today and eliminate lice
today!