How To-22: "How to Be Hygienic"

How to Be Hygienic

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

While standards of hygiene vary around the world, the purpose is the same: To promote health and prevent the spread of infectious disease. This remains an issue not only in developing countries, but also in industrialized nations as well.[1] Not only will being hygienic decrease your chances of getting sick (as well as protect the people around you), but it generally makes you feel, look and smell better.

Steps

1. Understand how infectious diseases spread: through certain bacteria and viruses generally referred to as pathogens or germs. They can be found in any bodily discharge, from blood to tears to feces and urine. Some can survive away from a body for extended periods of time and be picked up by another person later on.
   
2. Wash your hands after using the bathroom every time. According to Dr. Val Curtis at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, hands are a "superhighway for transmitting germs" that, if washed properly, could result in cutting the number of children who die from diarrheal diseases in half and reduce the number of upper respiratory tract diseases by a third.[2]If this isn't convenient, then use hand sanitizer.
   
3. Avoid touching your (or anyone else's) eyes, nose, mouth, ears, or any orifice unless you're certain that your hands are clean.
   
4. Take a shower daily. A quick shower will suffice. Even wiping your body with a soapy, wet rag will achieve the desired effect, which is to remove any dead skin cells and unwanted visitors from the surface of your skin.
   
5. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze.
   
6. Clean your clothes and surroundings regularly. The idea is to remove any lingering germs from any surface you regularly come in contact both at home and at work or school (e.g. your office phone handset, your desk, your sheets, toilet bowl seat).
   

Tips

• Keep your nails clean. If possible, trim them weekly. Brush them daily with soap so that no dirt or residue remains beneath the nail. Don't bite your nails, either.
  
• Brush and floss your teeth regularly to keep your mouth and gums from becoming a home for germs. This is especially important if you share food, drinks, and/or open-mouth kisses with others. It will also help to prevent bad breath.
  
• If you're around animals of any kind, don't touch them before eating. If you do, be sure to wash your hands before eating.
  
• Don't lick your fingers (such as when turning pages in a book).
  
• Menstruating women should take care to change pads or tampons frequently. Some menstrual cups can be sanitized by boiling between periods.
  
• Uncircumcised men should clean daily under the foreskin with soap and water.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Bathe When Water Is Scarce
  
• How to Use Hand Sanitizer
  
• How to Sanitize a Public Toilet
  
• How to Protect Yourself from Gym Germs
  
• How to Avoid Food Poisoning
  
• How to Perform Wudu
  

Sources and Citations

• http://www.ifh-homehygiene.org/2003/2public/2pubgu00.asp
  

1. ↑ http://www.unilever.com.au/ourvalues/nutritionhygienepersonalcare/hygieneandpersonalcare/


2. ↑ http://www.unilever.com.au/ourvalues/nutritionhygienepersonalcare/hygieneandpersonalcare/

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Hygienic. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-21: "How to Get Rid of Black Circles Under Your Eyes"

How to Get Rid of Black Circles Under Your Eyes

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Skin discoloration under the eyes affects just about everybody at some time or another. For some of us, however, these “dark circles” are a near-constant bother. While these conditions are occasionally symptomatic of other illnesses, the usual cause is allergies, tiredness, or, unfortunately, heredity. No matter what the cause, you can still reduce the appearance of dark circles, and in some cases, you may be able to get rid of them altogether.

Steps

1. Establish whether or not this condition runs in your family. Dark circles are believed to frequently be hereditary. This doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about the conditions, but you should be prepared for minimal success actually trying to get rid of them. Dark circles under the eye may also, in fact, be light carbon deposits that result from incomplete protein digestion. Incomplete protein digestion may result from insufficient hydrochloric acid in your stomach that may be caused from a lack of primarily B6 and Folic Acid. About 30% of the population does not absorb regular B6 (pydroxine) or folic acid and need to take in these vitamins in a different form or another way.
   
2. Identify allergens. Allergies may be the most common cause of skin discoloration under the eyes. If allergies are the root of your problem, you simply need to treat them or remove the allergen (i.e., the thing to which you are allergic). Seasonal allergy problems such as the hay fever can frequently be effectively treated with over-the-counter and prescription medications. For other allergies the best course of action is usually avoidance. If your dark circles or puffiness are constant, you may have an undetected food allergy or an allergy to a chemical in your home or workplace. Talk to a dermatologist for help determining what you may be allergic to. People with allergies also tend again to be deficient in B6, folic acid and B12 on occasion. Taking a multivitamin, if you don't already, may help with your allergies as well as black circles.
   
3. Get plenty of sleep nightly. It’s not entirely clear why inadequate sleep results in dark circles under the eyes, but we’ve all seen it happen either to ourselves or someone we know. For one thing, lack of sleep tends to cause the skin to become paler (thus increasing the appearance of darkness under the eyes), and it reduces circulation. It’s also believed that too little time lying down is a cause in itself. Determine how much sleep you need (it’s usually 7-9 hours per night, but varies throughout different people) and try to get that amount regularly for a couple of weeks to see if that helps. Remember that alcohol and drugs can adversely affect the quality of your sleep; abstain from these products or use only in moderation for best results. A lack of sleep, coupled with poor vitamin absorption also tends to reduce adrenal function. The less adrenal function you have the less B6 you tend to absorb, the less B6 you absorb, the less well your adrenal glands work and alas you end up in a vicious circle. Sleep, regular vitamins for those that need them, and good calcium/magnesium support in the form of milk or good mineral supplement restores adrenal function. So if you want to break the cycle and the black circles under your eyes, you've got to reduce your stress, sleep more and take the proper vitamins and minerals to support the adrenal function in general.
   
4. Treat your skin while you sleep. There are overnight facial masques available that may help reduce the appearance of puffiness or discoloration, but you can also make your own. Just before you go to bed, take a washcloth and wet it just a bit with cold water. Then squeeze out any excess water and place it over your eyes as you sleep. Treating your skin may help, but the real problem may also be that you have a poor vitamin and mineral absorption problem that must also be corrected. Seeing a naturopathic physician may help for those people who suffer other ailments such as miscellaneous aches and pains that come and go and a general run down feeling.
   
5. Apply cool tea bags, an ice cube wrapped in soft cloth, or cucumber slices to your eyes daily. The tannin in tea bags has been shown to reduce swelling and discoloration, and cucumber slices have long been used to reduce puffiness and refresh the appearance of skin around the eyes. Lie down, preferably in the morning, and leave fresh cucumber slices or cool, damp caffeinated tea bags (you can refrigerate them overnight so they’ll be ready) over your eyes for about 10-15 minutes. Keep your eyes closed.
   
6. Try to relax the space. You can do this by wetting a cotton swab and then freezing it for a little while. Then you should gently wipe under your eyes in the areas where the circles are occurring. When wiping, close your eyes and try not to flinch.
   
7. Apply an eye cream containing vitamin K and retinol. Dark circles may be caused by a deficiency of vitamin K. Regardless of the cause, however, recent research has shown that skin creams containing these two ingredients reduce puffiness and discoloration significantly in many patients. Long-term daily use seems to have the greatest effect.
   
8. Avoid rubbing your eyes. Usually rubbing of the eyes is brought on by allergies, but not always. Regardless of the reason, stop doing it. The rubbing irritates the skin and can break tiny capillaries beneath the skin, causing both puffiness and discoloration.
   
9. Eat a healthy, balanced diet and drink plenty of water. A whole host of cosmetic problems can be attributed to vitamin deficiencies. Dark circles and puffiness are often attributed to lack of vitamin K or inadequate antioxidants. Be sure to get plenty of fruits and vegetables—especially cabbage, spinach, and other leafy green vegetables—and take a daily vitamin supplement if necessary. Get adequate fluids to improve circulation.
   
10. Reduce salt intake. Excess salt causes the body to retain water in unusual places, and this can result in puffiness under the eyes. Too much salt can also impair your circulation, and cause the blood vessels under the skin to appear bluer.
    
11. Quit smoking. Smoking causes vascular (blood vessel) problems that can not only threaten your life, but also make your blood vessels appear more prominent and bluer beneath the skin.
    
12. Cover the problem up with cosmetics. If all else fails, use a yellow or flesh-toned color which will camouflage the problem under your eyes.
    

Tips

• Using Blistex's Lip Medex under your eyes also helps reduce the dark circles a lot. Just make sure you put it on in the morning before you put your make up on and allow time to calm down because your eyes will water but it works.
  
• Food allergies and sensitivities play a major part in under-eye circles. Processed foods with artificial colors and preservatives as well as milk allergies can cause this problem.
  
• Search the Internet which abounds with home remedies. While the most common are cucumbers and tea bags, there are a number of others. Feel free to test them out, as some may work for some people, but use common sense.
  
• Vitamin K cream helps to diminish dark under eye circles.
  
• The ingredient in Preparation H that once could shrink the area around the eyes is no longer put in the product in the US, according to their website, so unless you live in Canada, just pass on the Hemorrhoid creams.
  
• Cutting onions can help you to cry out some of the moisture under and around your eyes. However it isn't recommended that you carry out this procedure daily but done short-term, it will reduce the darkness under the eyes somewhat. Using the tea bag method under your eyes straight afterwards also helps. The puffiness may not reduce immediately but it will shortly afterwards.
  
• Another trick is to put two tablespoons in the freezer for few minutes and apply on the eyes for few seconds, until they are warm. Re-apply if necessary.
  
• Dark circles may be caused by inflamed or enlarged veins beneath the skin. Try taking butcher's broom. Taken daily, this common herb (used to treat weak circulation, hemorrhoids and varicose veins) has been effective in reducing dark circles.
  
• Wear sunscreen under your eyes, and if you wear it all the time(as you should), try to put a stronger spf under your eyes than you do on your face. This way the skin under your eyes does not darken as quickly as the rest of your face, so your circles seem lighter. If you do this all year, you may end up not needing concealer at all.
  
• Try eye exercizes. It can rejuvenate your periorbital skin by improving circulation.
  

Warnings

• Be careful about what type of teabag you use. If you have allergies a tea bag like chamomile might swell your eyes.
  
• Do not apply ice or extremely cold water directly to the skin around the eyes for more than a couple of seconds.
  
• Exercise caution when using a new cosmetic product or trying a home remedy. If the condition worsens, or if you exhibit other symptoms, discontinue use immediately and contact your primary care physician or dermatologist for severe or persisting symptoms.
  
• Consult a physician before considering using any expensive or invasive treatments. Not all Eye Circles are formed equally, and understanding and discussing the root causes of your dark circles with a qualified professional will ensure you don't waste your money.
  
• We should all wear sunscreen daily, but if you don't on your face never forget under your eyes. As your skin picks up color, the dark areas seem to fade because, they are not getting as tan as the surrounding skin. When you go to the beach apply numerous times during the day. Eventually most won't need concealer and you are protecting it from sun damage.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Cure Puffy Eyes
  
• How to Fall Asleep
  
• How to Sleep Better
  
• How to Drink More Water Everyday
  
• How to Prevent Wrinkles
  
• How to Exercise Your Eyes
  
• How to Take Care of Your Eyes
  
• How to Apply Mineral Makeup
  
• How to Apply Scene Eye Makup
  

Sources and Citations

• 5min - A video on how to get rid of puffy eyes in the morning 5min is a videopedia for instructinal videos. Source of images in this article, shared with permission.
  
• More on how to reduce under eye puffiness
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get Rid of Black Circles Under Your Eyes. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-20: "How to Use Sound for Therapy"

How to Use Sound for Therapy

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

There is much information concerning the use of binaural beats to alter mind states. However, specific frequencies can also be used as an adjunct to treat a vast number of ailments, illnesses and conditions

Steps

1. All plants and creatures respond to sounds and vibrations. Some frequencies are beneficial, while others are detrimental to the well-being of different organisms.
   
2. Everything vibrates at its own frequency. Even seemingly solid objects have a frequency, this determined by the speed at which the electrons circle the nuclei of the atoms that make up the substance(s) of which the object(s) are composed.
   
3. Living organisms have higher frequencies than non-living objects and we can use sound and vibration to affect almost anything on Earth in one way or another. Sounds that are in harmony with living organisms promote health and growth, while sounds that are “out of phase" cause illness and stunt growth.
   
4. Each species of plant and animal has a spectrum of frequencies to which they respond favourably, and each individual in each species has specific frequencies which are more beneficial to it than the “background"? of frequencies that are salutary to the whole species. This means that it is theoretically possible to destroy organisms that are harmful to ourselves, our pets and other animals and our plants, both decorative and edible. As an aside, it is even said that the ancients used sound to lift huge stones and to enable them to fly around the world. These claims are hotly disputed by certain scientifically-minded “experts"?, who are nevertheless at a loss to explain how Edward Leedskalnin built his Coral Castle (look them up on a search engine) and how the authors of the Mahabharata and other ancient Indian documents knew so much about flying craft and “houses"?.
   
5. Readers can download a free demo version of Brainwave Generator at http://www.bwgen.com/ , which program demonstrates how sound and visual stimulation can affect brain states and enhance such activities (and inactivities) as learning, meditation, sleep etc.
   
6. A demo version of Tone Gen can be downloaded from http://www.nch.com.au/tonegen , which program can be used to create one’s own healing tones and binaural beats.
   
7. SBaGen -- Binaural Beat Brain Wave Experimenter's Lab is a free software (under the GNU General Public Licence), can be downloaded from http://uazu.net/sbagen/ that generates binaural tones in real-time according to a 24-hour programmed sequence read from a file. It can also be used to play a sequence on demand, rather than according to the clock, or to write a WAV file for playing later. Pink noise, MP3 and Ogg files may also be mixed with the binaural beats to provide background sounds. This tool is ideal for anyone who wishes to experiment with these techniques and do research into this for themselves.
   
8. Gnaural is a multi-platform programmable binaural-beat generator can be downloaded from http://gnaural.sourceforge.net/ an opensource binaural-beat generator released under the GNU General Public License.
   
9. Ken Adachi’s website http://educate-yourself.org/nch/ offers a set of Bio-Energetic Frequency Charts with a large list of ailments and conditions and the frequencies one can use to help combat them.
   
10. Learn more about Binaural Beats from http://web-us.com/binaural.htm
    
11. Many of the “carriers"? used to achieve certain of the lower, inaudible brain wave frequencies and most of the frequencies that combat diseases and ailments are very high-pitched sine waves that are irritating to peoples’ ears. One can counter this by using Tone Gen to create one’s own brainwave combinations, using much lower frequencies, such as 20 Hz on one channel and 27 Hz on the other. These “combine"? in the brain to give a 7 Hz frequency, which is in the Alpha range.
    
12. This writer has discovered that the sleep, Lucid Dream and healing frequencies are enhanced if the sound waves can impinge upon the body and has constructed a bed that takes advantage of this phenomenon. See accompanying illustration. On this bed, the Brainwave frequencies are fed to the patient via headphones, while the healing waves are fed to the speakers attached to the bed. The loudspeakers under the bed are channelled via an amplifier to the source of the sound, be it a CD player, computer or surround sound system. This bed is especially useful for treating ailments, as the frequencies pertaining to the ailment are fed to the speakers attached to the bed, where they impinge upon the body, while Delta frequencies are fed to headphones worn by the patient. The Delta frequencies help the mind to accelerate the healing process, whilst the appropriate frequencies that go into the body via the bed combat specific ailments. In this way, the irritating, high-pitched, healing Sine-wave frequencies are not heard by the patient, as the headphones apply Binaural beats to the patient’s ears, blocking out the healing sounds. It does, however, mean that two separate sources are required to provide the different sounds.
    
13. The human mind responds to frequencies between 0.5 and 40 Hz. Hz stands for “Hertz", which can be described as "one cycle per second"; 100 Hz means "one hundred cycles per second", and so on.
    
14. The following chart gives parameters for various brain states: Delta 0.5–4Hz Sleep and healing. Certain frequencies in the Delta range trigger the release of Growth Hormone, which promotes healing, regeneration and bodily repair.
    
15. Theta 4–8Hz Drowsy (also first stage of sleep), for meditation, learning and memory. Theta meditation increases creativity, learning, reduces stress and awakens intuition and other extra-sensory perception. This is also the Lucid Dream state.
    
16. Alpha 8–14Hz “Daydream state"?. Relaxed but alert, for relaxation and visualization. The Schuman Resonance occurs in this range.
    
17. Beta 14–30Hz Highly alert and focused: peak concentration and cognition.
    
18. When using Binaural Beats, you should experiment with various “carrier"? frequencies, from about 15 hertz upward. You can use combinations of 15 Hz on the left and 15.5 on the right to achieve 0.5 Hz; or 20 + 20.5 Hz etc. A frequency of 7 Hz can thus be made up of 15 + 22Hz; or 27+ 34 Hz; or 46 + 53 Hz: whichever is comfortable for you. Your family, friends and animals might require other combinations, so be prepared to experiment. Physical and mental comfort are a priority in any healing process, a situation of which many hospitals appear to be either unaware or unperturbed.
    
19. Once Tone Gen has been installed on your computer, set it up thus : select “Tone". On the resulting dropdown, click “Stereo"; then, if you want to record the sound as a wave, click “Tone"?, then “Constant Specified Duration"?. Set the value to 60000ms, which is one minute. In the main window, double-click on “Sine Left Frequency" and set that value to, say, 20 Hz. Double-click “Sine Right Frequency" and set that to 27 Hz for a value of 7 Hz. You can also use fractions, for example 27.4 Hz.
    
20. If you want to save your frequencies, select “File" on the main window and from the drop-down “Save as wav…" and name it (for example “7 Hz on 20 Hz carrier"). Incidentally, each 60000ms sound wave occupies 10 Mb of space on your hard drive. They can then be played on Windows Media Player or other software (Winamp etc.). Thereafter, you can burn them to CD if you wish. Burning the sounds to CD is advantageous inthat one can then apply different frequencies to the ears and the body of the person using the bed. The Brain Wave frequencies can be fed to headphones via a portable CD- or MP3- player and the healing sounds via a computer amplified by a surround-sound system, for example.
    
21. The Sine wave is the most beneficial, but as it is irritating to the ears of some people, it is often masked with music or other sounds in commercially produced brain-state altering recordings. This, unfortunately, adds other frequencies and in so doing reduces the efficacy of the pure Sine wave’s effects.
    
22. If you have a CD Writer, you can burn dedicated, exclusive CDs for friends and loved ones as gifts to combat their various conditions and ailments, or to help them with their studies, or dispel insomnia. You will, of course, have to experiment with the people concerned in order to discover which frequency ranges are most comfortable and beneficial to them. Binaural beats are a bit like horoscopes inthat each person is an individual and the general run-of-the-mill offerings might not fully apply to everyone: one “size" does not necessarily fit all. Give instructions for them to relax and listen to the sounds using stereo headphones, or to make a “sound bed" like the one here illustrated.
    
23. One can also make a “portable" version of the healing mechanism, by separately insulating a pair of computer loudspeakers using small cardboard boxes and scrap polystyrene (Styrofoam) and holding the open sides against the body as the frequencies issue from them. See Illustration 2. The insulation will assist in containing the sound so that it does not overly disturb other people while in use.
    
24. Brainwave Generator has a singular advantage over Tone Gen as it has a feature that causes the computer screen to flash at the frequency of the brain state one is trying to achieve. With both visual and auditory stimuli in tandem, the brain responds more rapidly to achieve the desired brain state. This writer has not yet experimented with this particular feature when applied to combat diseases and other ailments. However, he is cognisant of colour therapy, so that he is comfortable with the idea that the flashing screen can have beneficial effects, especially since the software permits the user to specify the colours that flash on the screen.
    

Tips

• It normally takes people a long time to learn to meditate, but with the correct application of binaural beats in the 5 – 8 Hz range, a meditative state can be achieved within ten or so minutes for the dedicated novice, and within seconds for the veteran. In time, the requisite brain state can be achieved without the recordings as, with practice, the brain learns to invoke them on demand.
  
• The 0.5 to 3 Hz frequencies produce a “dead"?, dreamless state in which the body’s ability to heal itself is greatly enhanced. It can be used to great advantage upon ill people, but should be gradually introduced for short periods in the beginning. Once the patient shows improvement, the times can be progressively lengthened and interspersed with Theta sound waves, up to about 8 Hz.
  
• Theta frequencies in the vicinity of 5 to 7 Hz can help the body to rest completely, so that a period of thirty minutes in this state can produce an effect that is equivalent to four hours of sleep.
  

Warnings

• Night birds should not overdo the Theta state as a substitute for a good night’s sleep. The body needs sleep, during which period it repairs itself and seeks out any foreign bodies that may be trying to invade one’s system. People can assist this process by applying the deep Delta frequencies while they sleep.
  
• Be very aware that certain frequencies (they are different for different people) can cause great discomfort and even physical pain and illness … and never forget that too much of any good thing can have devastating effects.
  
• Do not confuse "sound therapy" or "music-as-therapy" with "music therapy". Music therapy refers to the practice of a board-certified music therapist working with a client (or a group) to use music -- usually live improvised music -- as a means of achieving goals relating to areas such as self-expression, mood regulation, communication, interpersonal relationships, or reaching developmental milestones. Music therapy can only be practiced by someone with an advanced degree and appropriate clinical training and is not sold in a packaged self-help format such as books or CDs. Music therapists may incorporate techniques involving sound healing, but the fields are not the same thing and it is important to use correct terminology.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Perform Self Hypnosis
  
• How to Check all Play Boxes in iTunes
  
• How to Meditate
  
• How to Give a Relaxing Massage
  
• How to Choose a Therapist
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Sound for Therapy. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-19: "How to Stop Nausea With Acupressure"

How to Stop Nausea With Acupressure

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

This is how to stop nausea with a quick Chinese Acupressure technique. This can be used on airplanes, with hangovers, and at sea. This is quick fix only. There are two wikiHows that addresses nausea self treatment in commendable depth.

Steps

1. Take your index finger and middle finger and place them on your wrist at the base of your palm to measure where your nausea acupressure points are.
   
2. Find your acupressure points -- two fingers down the wrist from the base of your palm and centered on the wrist.
   
3. Take your thumb and index finger and press firmly on the points on both sides of the wrist when you feel nauseous. You should feel relief in 10-30 seconds.
   

Tips

• Check out the related wikiHows on how to treat nausea for more conventional and longer term self help.
  
• Don't think about how unscientific Chinese medicine is while you do this. The effects may be reduced.
  

Warnings

• These are acupressure points, not acupuncture points. Do not use needles!
  
• This technique is effective. If it's not you might consider medical attention.
  
• If you suffer from chronic nausea you should definitely seek medical attention even if the technique works. It is only a quick fix after all.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Cure Nausea
  
• How to Deal With Chronic Unexplained Nausea
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Stop Nausea With Acupressure. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-18: "How to Use Music Therapy for Relaxation and Stress Management"

How to Use Music Therapy for Relaxation and Stress Management

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Research has demonstrated that a variety of music therapy relaxation and stress management approaches are effective for people requiring rehabilitation. In addition, these approaches are also effective for healthcare professionals and caregivers. Benefits include decreased heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure, anxiety, agitation and depression, along with general stress reduction, improved coping skills and better psychosocial adjustment. Music has also shown to be an effective sedative component in pre-operative and operative procedures. You can help yourself with stress management and relief by exploring the following self-help techniques, compiled by Institute for Music and Neurologic Function director of music therapy clinical training, Benedikte B. Scheiby, MA, MMEd. DPMT, CMT, LCAT.

Steps

1. Take notice of how listening to various types of music and nature sounds with or without music can help you relax.
   
2. If you play an instrument, record a piece of music that you find relaxing. Then listen to the tape when you need to relax.
   
3. Listen to relaxing background music at work or during lunch break. Add some body stretching at the same time. This also works just before going to sleep.
   
4. Participate in local community programs and centers that offer stress management and relaxation activities accompanied by music.
   
5. Place your hands on a drum and become aware of the many rhythms that exist within you such as your breathing and heartbeat. There is a rhythmical symphony that is the homeostasis of our biology. Breathe deeply and play this rhythm for 3 or 4 minutes. You may reconnect with your inner natural rhythms, intuition, and feelings, and ultimately feel renewed.
   
6. Consult with a music therapist to find effective recorded music for your needs.
   

Tips

• Music with a strong beat can stimulate the brain and ultimately cause certain physiological processes to attune to the rhythm of the music. This phenomenon is called entrainment.
  
• Slow rhythms can also encourage the slow brainwaves that are associated with meditative states.
  
• Stress may come from anxiety, fear or other emotions. Sudden or long-term illness can certainly be stressful, especially if the patient is experiencing pain or problems with breathing. Tension caused by pain manifests itself not only in the part of the body that is experiencing the pain; it can be felt as stomachache, headache, or neck or shoulder tension as well. Likewise, when there are problems taking a full breath or if the respiration rate is too fast, the body may respond with anxiety and fear. Music can elicit the body’s natural counterbalance to stress: The Relaxation Response. It is defined by being in a physical state of deep rest where the physical and emotional response to stress changes and may cause changes in heart rate, blood pressure, rate of breathing, metabolism and muscle tension.
  
• A music therapy practitioner can alleviate stress and help a person achieve the benefits of relaxation and stress reduction through a variety of specific active interventions that involve music.
  

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• How to Think Clearly and Put Your Mind at Ease
  
• How to Massage Your Back With a Ball
  
• How to Relieve the Stress of a Runny Nose
  
• How to Chill
  

Sources and Citations

• Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, [1] - original source of content, shared with permission.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Use Music Therapy for Relaxation and Stress Management. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-17: "How to Increase Your Energy Level"

How to Increase Your Energy Level

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Learn how to increase your energy and be more productive. This is especially important if you're a player who's involved in a sport.
Having the right psychology is crucial but being in a great physical shape is equally important. People who have more energy are more productive in every way. This is especially important for someone who is trying to get better in whatever sport he is participating. Desire to achieve something. Think about it. You will feel better when you finish something you enjoy doing. It's not even a task for you. It's just something you love doing. Find something that excites you and drives you. It's all perception. Find the job you love doing and you'll never work ever again. This factor tends to get into the psychological part of what drives us as human beings. The point is to have a goal that we want to achieve. We will find the energy to make it happen.
Drink a lot of water. I'm sure you've heard it many times but the right amount of water in our body is everything. You will hear this in every self help program. Water equals energy. I'm not going to say you shouldn't drink tap water or advise you to buy a special water bottle. That's all part of marketing in self help programs. Just make sure you drink 8 to 9 cups per day and you will feel better. If you're exercising, don't let your body dehydrate. There is approximately 80% water in our blood. When we consume more than usual, we improve our blood flow.
Be curious and commit to constant and never ending improvement. Another factor is this: if we feel like we know everything and we've done it all and we're satisfied with "status quo", we'll have less energy. It's just a fact. People who are dreamers, who tend to improve all the time, have more energy.
Don't eat big meals. Instead, eat several small meals (4/5/6) per day to get the metabolism going and you will feel better. There are thousands of graphs and statistics who claim that it's ten times better if we divide the food we consume into smaller portions.

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• How to Keep up Your Energy Level for the Whole Day
  
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Sources and Citations

• http://www.best-basketball-tips.com - Original source of this article
  

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How To-16: "How to Exercise Your Brain"

How to Exercise Your Brain

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Scientists believe that exercising your brain can create a 'cognitive reserve' that will help you stay sharp as you age.

Steps

1. Take a class to learn something you have always wanted to know about. Learn to play bridge, or study Spanish, or take a seminar in photoshop.
   
2. Do games and puzzles such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku puzzles. You can also play word games like Scrabble.
   
3. Read often and read a lot of different types of books. Take a magazine and dedicate a certain amount of time to reading it each day or each week. Read the newspaper. Set your computer homepage to bring up news items of particular interest to you. And then read them each time you open the computer.
   
4. Remember and repeat groups of words. Try memorizing your grocery list.
   
5. Play computer brain games, such as Brain Age for Nintendo DS.
   
6. Test and monitor your memory and attention with special computer games.
   
7. Write or edit a wikiHow article every now and then.
   
8. Meditate often. Take calm, deep breaths. Your brain needs a lot of fresh air.
   
9. Eat foods containing omega fatty acids such as flax seeds, hemp seeds and fish. Omega fatty acids have been known to boost intellectual stamina.
   
10. Perform math functions regularly.
    
11. Learn new words from a word a day calendar or from a dictionary.
    
12. Use your left hand if you are right handed, and reverse. You will be exercising the opposite side of the brain.
    
13. Mess around with a twisty puzzle.
    
14. Learn to read and play music (classical music is known to have the best effects.)
    
15. Use the Mozart Effect - classical music increases brain activity more positively than other kinds of music. Two pieces of Mozart's music; Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major (K. 448) and Piano Concerto No. 23 (K. 488), were found to have this effect.
    
16. Draw or paint.
    

Tips

• Remember to exercise your body - a healthier mind results from a healthy body. Get plenty of physical exercise.
  
• There are plenty of programs out there that will help with your memory. "Brain Age" or "Big Brain Academy" for the Nintendo DS are recommended and fun. These games were specifically made for improving your memory.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Finish Jigsaw Puzzles Faster
  
• How to Solve a Fifteen Puzzle
  
• How to Solve the Wonderword Puzzle
  
• How to Finish a Crossword Puzzle
  

Sources and Citations

• alz.org on Alzheimer's Disease
  
• Here is a free cognitive test with no strings
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Exercise Your Brain. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-15: "How to Be More Aware of Your Health"

How to Be More Aware of Your Health

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You have a mind of your own. Doctors can't know everything. Perhaps some people trust doctors a little too much. They expect miracles and then blame the doctors when things turn out to be less than what they imagined. That's not fair to you or the doctor.
So here are a few simple things to keep in mind when you are dealing with medical issues

Steps

1. Listen to your body. It's always sending you signals. If it doesn't "feel right" then it's time to re-evaluate your options.
   
2. Get a third and fourth opinion on major a major diagnosis. For example, your doctor tells you that you have cancer. Confirm with another physician.
   
3. Research your medical situation. The internet is packed with information. Go to discussion groups about your medical issue. Go to websites. Print out journals. Dig Deep. Why be in the dark about what's happening with your body? This is your life!
   
4. Ask your doctor questions. This is why you pay the doctor. If he or she is worth anything, he or she will be happy to answer your questions and give you ways to find out more information. Some doctors use a sliding-scale fee system. They will charge more if you ask more questions. Find out the cost before your consultation.
   
5. If your doctor gets offended or displays a overly-negative reaction towards your questions, find another doctor. You need a doctor in whom you can place your confidence.
   

Tips

• Do regular relaxation exercises. This is simply closing your eyes in a comfortable position and breathing deeply while clearing your mind of any thoughts. This does not have to take long, five minutes can be sufficient.
  

Warnings

• While researching your symptoms and conditions on the Internet, be careful that you are recieving accurate information. Many doctors and hospitals have patient information sites to help you get accurate information; use them!
  
• When looking at your own medical imaging test results, be aware of the specific language that radiologists use. For example, "metastatic cancer cannot be excluded" does NOT mean you have cancer - it means they can't prove you DON'T have cancer without other tests, which your primary physician already may have already done and is just waiting for tests results to confirm his/her thoughts.
  
• If you want the drug you saw on in an advertisement, or have diagnosed yourself and just want it confirmed, be honest about it when you see your physician. They may not agree with you, but you won't be wasting thier time or yours.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Stay Healthy
  
• How to Eat Healthy for Life
  
• How to Lose Weight the Healthy Way
  
• How to Get Old Without Feeling Old
  
• How to Remain Young Despite Becoming a Senior
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be More Aware of Your Health. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-14: "How to Make a Home Remedy for a Kidney Infection"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

AFTER you have been accurately diagnosed and treated by a licensed health care practitioner, there are a number of things you can do to keep your urinary tract healthy and free of infection.

Steps

1. An untreated kidney infection can be very serious! It is important to have your urine tested to see if an infection is the problem or if something else is going on. There are infections which simply cannot be treated with home remedies. An antibiotic may be necessary.
   
2. Drink lots of water. Cranberry juice has been touted as useful for urinary tract problems, but in some cases it can be an irritant instead of a help. Water is best. Three to four quarts a day is how much you should aim for.
   
3. Take vitamin C daily. The dose is variable. Some people can only tolerate 500mg a day, others take 4 to 5 grams without problem; check with your doctor first but a good dose is around a gram a day. This helps keep urine acid and prevent growth of organisms.
   
4. Avoid taking bubblebaths. The sudsy water helps break down the protective mucus at the opening of your urethra and allows germs to get in.
   
5. For females: after intercourse, get up and urinate as soon as you reasonably can. Urinating rinses away any germs which may have gotten to the urethra.
   
6. Avoid thongs. They provide a moist trail right from your anus to the urethra and those E. coli travel right to it.
   
7. Do wear cotton underpants or at least cotton crotch panties. Cotton allows moisture to evaporate and prevents having a perfect environment for growth of organisms.
   
8. After using the toilet, be sure to wipe from front to back so as not to drag germs from the anal area to your urethra.
   

Warnings

• Do NOT let a kidney or bladder problem go undiagnosed and untreated. You could end up with kidney failure, on dialysis or dead.
  
• Avoid synthetic underwear and tight pants
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Cope With Enlarged Prostate
  
• How to Cope With Kidney Stones
  
• How to Make a Home Remedy for a Kidney Infection
  
• How to Prevent Kidney and Liver Failure at a Young Age
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make a Home Remedy for a Kidney Infection. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-13: "How to Make Cold Healing Tea"

How to Make Cold Healing Tea

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have a Cold? Cant Stop Coughing? Here is something that will help you feel better!

Ingredients

• Dry tea leaves
  
• Lemon
  
• Honey
  
• Sugar
  
• Boiled water
  
• cinnamon(optional)
  

Steps

1. Boil two cups of water
   
2. Cut a lemon in half. Then, cut two slices and put them into a tea pot.
   
3. Add four tea spoons of sugar into the tea pot.
   
4. Mush the lemon and sugar until the lemon lets out all of its juice.
   
5. Add one table spoon of honey.
   
6. Mix
   
7. Put half of a hand full of dry tea leaves into a tea pot.
   
8. Add one cup of boiled water.
   
9. Mix,close tea pot ( put on lid) and wait 5/10 min.
   
10. Remove lid and mix again.
    
11. Take a cup and pour the tea until half of the cup is full.
    
12. Add boiled water until the cup is full.
    
13. Drink tea.
    

Tips

• Drink hot for best results!
  
• Drink several times daily or when coughing begins.
  
• For best results use a colander when pouring tea into cup to keep the tea leaves from getting into the cup.
  

Warnings

• This is not a medicine! This tea will only give temporary relief and will not replace medicine!
  
• Be careful of hot tea.
  

Things You'll Need

• Dry tea leaves
  
• Lemon
  
• Honey
  
• Sugar
  
• Boiled water
  
• cinnamon(optional)
  
• tea pot
  
• something to boil water in.
  
• colander
  
• spoon (to mix)
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Enjoy a Cup Of Japanese Green Tea
  
• How to Make a Good Cup of Tea
  
• How to Brew White Tea
  
• How to Make Kombucha Tea
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Cold Healing Tea. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-12: "How to Breathe Like a Yoga Master"

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You don't have to vacation in the Himalayas to learn to breathe like a Buddha. From the Pranayama tradition of yoga comes the "Complete Breath," which is a relaxing way to beat stress and improve your state of mind.

Steps

1. Lie flat while you are down on your back on the floor, a comfortable mat, or a firm mattress.
   
2. Place your hands on your abdomen an inch or two apart just below the navel, with your fingertips facing inward and your palms down.
   
3. Inhale through the nose and begin expanding the abdomen.
   
4. Continue inhaling. When the abdomen rises slightly, begin allowing the chest to expand and the abdomen to fall.
   
5. When the chest rises slightly, begin exhaling. Allow the abdomen to continue to fall.
   
6. Continue exhaling. As the chest empties, allow the abdomen to begin to rise again.
   
7. Repeat without pausing.
   

Tips

• It can be tricky to get the hang of this at first, but it helps to imagine the breathing cycle as a circle. During each cycle, the chest and abdomen rise and fall in a smooth, uninterrupted manner.
  
• Each inhalation/exhalation cycle should require several seconds to complete. Use a pace that is comfortable for you, but the deeper and slower you are able to breathe, the better.
  

Warnings

• If you begin to feel light-headed or experience other unusual phenomena, discontinue the exercise.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Breathe Deeply
  
• How to Meditate
  
• How to Get Started in Bikram Yoga
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Breathe Like a Yoga Master. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-11: "How to Erase Anxiety Naturally With Herbs"

How to Erase Anxiety Naturally With Herbs

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Feeling a little anxious? Maybe you will find some of these mixtures soothing and able to naturally ease your symptoms of anxiety.

Steps

1. Consider the following herbs to help you:
   
   • Melissa Officinalis. An herb native to the Mediterranean that is used throughout the world to calm the nervous system and digestive tract and to reduce blood pressure.
     
   • Passion Flower is an herbal sedative that can give you a sense of calm and also helps you sleep better. Also, it can help you control nausea and the "butterflies in the stomach".
     
   • Lavandula Angustifolia or lavander. It's known for its calming properties and is widely used in aromatherapy to induce relaxation. In a recent study it was found that the scent from lavender was enough to relax and relieve depression in many of the participants.
     
   • Fennel is a popular tea in India. This herb relieves gastrointestinal upsets that are related to anxiety.
     
   • Kava kava is an herbal remedy used to ease the symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. It's non addictive and can be taken as an infusion. Supplements (pills) usually do not work. People with liver problems are recommended to stay away from kava kava, although traditional methods of consumption are not shown to be dangerous.
     
   • Valerian is used around the world to reduce stress and promote sleep. It's safe and non addictive.
     
   • Chamomile is an herb used to treat mild anxiety and stress. It's also used to settle an upset stomach.
     
   • Rhodiola Rosea is an adaptogen effective at treating anxiety.
     
   
   
2. A study by The American Journal of Epidemiology showed coca's usefulness in treating gastrointestinal ailments, as well as motion and altitude sickness. They found it to be a fast acting antidepressant and helpful in combating hypoglycemia and diabetes. Furthermore, coca leaves deliver healthy doses of vitamins A, C, B and E, phosphorous, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium and protein.
   
3. Another herbal remedy for panic attack is Lemon balm. This is a general restorative for the nervous system, can assist in reducing blood pressure and help calm the digestive system.
   
4. If you are having problems sleeping try taking melatonin before bed. Getting poor sleep has been shown to increase anxiety.
   

Tips

• you can get coca tea at amazon.com , works better than any opiate prescription and it ships within the US
  
• Many of the above herbs are hard to find locally and may need to be ordered off the Internet.
  
• Look for standardized extracts that contain a certain percent of the active chemicals which make the herb work.
  

Warnings

• Always consult with your doctor before taking any natural herb or supplement. They can advise you on any issues that may arise and is also good for their medical notes in case of any adverse reactions.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Cope During a Panic Attack
  
• How to Store Herbs
  
• How to Dry Herbs
  
• How to Grow Herb Gardens from Seed
  
• How to Get Help in Living With Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
  
• How to Get Dried Sage
  

Sources and Citations

• Natural Herbs for Anxiety
  
• A Herbal Remedy For Panic Attack - 4 Little Known Safe Herbs That Can Replace Drugs
  
• Getting Rid Of Anxiety
  
• http://www.anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com/main/supplements.php
  

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How To-10: "How to Get Into Aromatherapy"

How to Get Into Aromatherapy

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Welcome to the world of Aromatherapy. Using essential oils in daily life can promote emotional and physical health. Essential oils can be used in many ways to deliver their therapeutic effect.

Steps

1. Oil Burner.
   • Aromatherapy oil burner worked by heating a few drop of essential oils in a water bowl set above a tea light candle. Aromatherapy oil burner is the easiest way to benefit from essential oil’s scent, You also can try a simple blend to go with an oil burner. For a starter, put 6 drops of essential oil or blends to freshen up your room. Using heat destroys any therapeutic benefits of the oil. So this is for fragrance use.
     
   
   
2. [Nebulizer Diffuser]http://www.abundantlifeessentials.com/diffussers.htm
   • Sometimes called An Electric Oil Diffuser, will allow you the ability to create many fantastic scents and expand them into the air that is throughout your home. There are many types of electric oil diffuser you can choose today. It’s the most effective and easiest way to disperse essential oils in the air. It’s recommended for emotional and mental health as well as for diseases effecting the lung, blood and the brain.
   • Electric Oil diffuser can break down the oils into separate molecules to make easier for the aroma to be inhaled. And once you switch it on, it will last for couple hours. Make sure your unit specifies cold air and does not use heat or vibration; that would destroy active medicinal constituents.
     
   
   
3. Inhalation.
   • A Steam inhalation is commonly associated with treating respiratory illness such as colds and flu. Add about 10 drops of [eucalyptus radiata, peppermint or pine essential oils]http://www.abundantlifeessentials.com/essential_oil_singles.htm into a bowl of hot water, then lean over the bowl and cover your head with towel for about ten minutes as you inhale. This treatment is good when you having colds.
     
   
   
4. Sprays
   • If you want to quickly purify and freshen the air in your home, or in your office, make an aromatherapy air freshener. Fill 180 ml spray bottle with distilled water. Add 5-10 drops of the essential oil of your choice for each ounce of water. Shake well and use it to spray around the room as often as you need it. Remember to shake well before each new spray.
     
   
   
5. Aromatic Bathing
   • Bathing can be a pleasurable, highly relaxing experience and adding essential oils to your bathwater increases the benefits tenfold. Start by adding 6 drops of essential oils or blend into the bath water. The scents of essential oils fill the room with delightful fragrances, while essential oils enter the skin pores and relax tired muscles.
     
   
   
6. Massage
   • When used in massage these essential oils usually dilute with carrier oils, and then applied to the skin. With this, it is absorbed by the skin, and penetrates into the tissues of the body, your blood and the interstitial fluid. Smothing fragrant oil into tired muscle is the most pleasurable ways to relax and unwind. It is absolutely essential that you use only oils that dont say dont use neet (undiluted) not to use internally. These are adulterated and can hurt you even if you dilute them.
     
   
   
7. Compresses
   • This method is a fast and effective ways to speed recovery from muscular pain and strains after a rigorous workout, and a treatment for bruises, headaches, insect bites, toothache, spots and more.
   • Compresses can be made from adding 3 – 6 drops of essential oils or blend into one quart of warm water. Stir carefully. Soak a clean cloth in the water, rinse it and apply to the affected area. Leave it there for 15-20 minutes. Repeated as needed.
     
   
   
8. Perfume
   • Adding essential oils in your perfume base is lot more cheaper than you bought a branded perfume which is full of chemical added. To make an aromatherapy perfume is very easy. Please visit this additional related wikihows to start your signature perfume
     
   • [Bella Mira Essential Oils]http://www.abundantlifeessentials.com/essential_oil_blends.htm makes wonderful blends that are great for perfume.
     
   
   
9. Candle
   • Candle can be used to help set the atmosphere and improve the ambience in many situations. They can be used in any room of your home and provide a wonderful enhancement.
     
   • Using aromatherapy candle has a positive effect on our body and emotions. The key is in choosing the correct scent to match the emotion or sense you wish to evoke. Just FYI there are no real essential oil candles on the market. All those sold are fragrance oils. If you are looking for medicinal benefits you have to use a cold air diffuser.
     
   
   

Tips

• To make a dilution essential oil for massage, you can combine 2 drops of pure essential oils with 15 ml of carrier oil.
  

Warnings

• Please always refer to safety precautions on using essential oils
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Make Perfume With Essential Oils
  

Sources and Citations

• For more detailed on each ways on using essential oils, please visit http://www.aromatherapy-at-home.com/
  
• For the most accurate information and highest quality essential oils available :vegan, organic, steam distilled, guaranteed, http://www.abundantlifeessentials.com/essential_oil_blends.htm
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get Into Aromatherapy. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-9: "How to Live a Long Life"

How to Live a Long Life

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

As technology and medicine evolve over time, the life expectancies in most countries are increasing. Here are a few additional ways of increasing the odds that you will make it to that ripe old age of 85 and beyond.

Steps

1. Follow number of times before the replicating process ends. In other words, those cells aren't there for your body any more, and there are no cells to replace them. That means that you die. So, although sugar feeds the cells and helps the replication process, it shortens their life span, and by extension, your lifespan.
   
2. Introduce regular exercise into your life. While most people lead quite busy lives, the benefits of exercise usually present themselves in all areas of your life. Gradually introducing exercise will lead to longer patterns of fitness rather than adopting a harsh workout regime each New Year's. A simple way to start is walking. Studies have shown that walking 2 miles-a-day cuts the risk of death almost in half! 30 minutes a day also works because it reduces as much risk of a heart attack as a highly intense exercise.
   
3. Develop a sleep schedule. It is not as important to get a certain number of hours of sleep, so much as it is to get the same amount of sleep, at the same time, day in and day out. Sleep gives your body a chance to heal and regenerate; having a stable sleeping routine will help your body take care of itself more easily. If you do not carry out successful sleep cycles over an extended period of time (48+ hours) you can seriously affect your physical and mental health.
   
4. Have close relationships People who are able to confide in close friends or life partners have been shown to live longer and healthier lives. This is due to the alleviation of stress, boredom, and depression. The result will be a mentally and physically healthier person. Cherish your friends and family.
   
5. Drink plenty of water. This universal solvent is a most effective weapon against toxins and many other violators. It flushes out your system like nothing else does.
   
6. Think first. This step includes looking both ways before you cross the street, as children are taught but many adults take it for granted, and wear protective gear when necessary. Whether you are riding a bike or skateboard, working on a construction site, or handling potentially harmful substances, be careful. While the human skull is quite thick and sturdy, severe head trauma can result from the brain being jostled around inside the skull from an impact, potentially resulting in permanent brain damage or even death.
   
7. Reduce causes of stress and depression in your life. This can have a very negative impact on your heart, and other physiology. Learn to cope with stress by trying different relaxation techniques or simply by looking at things differently. Take deep breaths during your most stressful moments.
   
8. Quit smoking. Any form of smoke is bad for you, no matter how little you take in. While tobacco companies still stand by their claims that smoking does not cause cancer, there is a consensus in the medical community that smoking is very hazardous to your health and can often result in premature death. Attempt to break the addiction by trying nicotine gum, or a nicotine patch.
   
9. Be safe. Avoid potentially dangerous activities that frequently or occasionally end in death or dismemberment, such as bullfighting, or relationships with dangerous people.
   
10. Attend yearly physicals. Identifying potentially deadly health problems early can result in their eradication.
    
11. Avoid overindulgence. Too much of anything can cause harm, whether it be food, drink, drugs, or even medicine -- even Tylenol can be fatal if ingested in great enough quantity. Non-prescription and illegal drugs may contain chemicals and/or other drugs that are unfit for human consumption, but keep in mind that alcohol and tobacco are among the worst drugs. Do not forget that caffeine is also a drug. Any drug, from alcohol to aspirin, carries with it a risk of shortening and ending your life. If you do decide to use any drugs, be responsible -- do your research, make sure you understand their properties and side effects, and use them appropriately. The same applies to food -- read nutrition labels and do some research to understand what the information means to your health. With anything you ingest, moderation is key.
    
12. Wear sunblock. Even if you are dark skinned and have no history of skin cancer in your family, the increasing number of UVA and UVB rays hitting the Earth from the sun pose a threat to anyone and everyone who spends more than 15 minutes a day out of the house or office. Get SPF 30 or higher.
    
13. Try not to be afraid. Seriously, the worst stress comes from the inside. If you are in constant fear of anything or everything (phobias) you become as fragile as an ant, asking for life to step on you. Be as passive and easy going as you can. There are bigger things like earthquakes, stray bullets, automobiles and airplanes that can kill in an instant but which you cannot defend against, and are not afraid of anyway, right? Fear is a tool, and it has a purpose, but it is most often bad for your well-being. Do not be afraid, be aware.
    
14. Drink lots of tea. There are two main types of tea - green and black. Both are from the the same tree, however green tea is less processed than black tea. Green tea has many health benefits, including reportedly reducing the chance of heart attack and cancer. Other benefits include increased energy and metabolic rate (good for weight loss), and high antioxidant content (slows down aging). Black tea has these benefits also but at a reduced level. Try and drink 5 cups of green tea a day. Using more tea bags or leaves is a better way to make strong tea than brewing longer.
    
15. 
    
16. Eat dark chocolate. One piece of dark chocolate a day can benefit the heart as cocoa solids have a beneficial effect of the heart and arteries. Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than other kinds of chocolate. Look for 60% unprocessed cocoa or more. Chocolate also makes you happy (in case you did not know) because it releases endorphins. Chocolate that has been alkalized or dutched loses most of it's anti-oxidant capacity.
    
17. Drink one glass of red wine a day. Red wine contains substances called polyphenols which maintain the elasticity of the artery walls and also act as antioxidants - thus helping maintain a healthy heart and slowing down ageing. Anecdotally, the oldest woman in the world, Jeanne Calment, drank one glass of wine a day, and she lived until she was age 122. If you would rather not drink wine everyday, consider eating red grapes instead.
    
18. Look on the bright side. Having an optimistic point of view is healthy and those who drink from the cup that is half full tend to have a much stronger resilience to any health problems.
    
19. Enjoy fish such as salmon. Eating Wild Alaskan Salmon 2 to 3 times a week can reduce your chance of contracting coronary heart disease by up to 30 percent as well as contribute to reducing your risk of other factors such as diabetes, Alzheimer's, asthma and so on. You should be sure to only buy wild caught Alaskan Salmon. Atlantic and farm raised fish are usually contaminated.
    
20. Keep on working. It's been proven that people who stay active in their jobs, or volunteer work, live longer. Being a part of a community and/or work-force into your golden years will keep your life filled and fulfilling up until the end.
    
21. Use your mind. This will help you make better decisions to help you live longer. It will also help in survival situations. There's no point to living a long life if you are not happy, and this is one way to enlighten yourself and enjoy life. Lastly, people who read and exercise their mind a lot tend to be less prone to Alzheimer's.
    
22. Sign up for cryonics. Every one should have a backup plan. With cryonics your head/body will be vitrified immediately after death so that the decay part doesn't come and future medicine has another chance to try to heal you.
    
23. Support life extension and rejuvenation research. The SENS project is a good place to start
    
24. Make Sure You Get Your 5 a Day! Fruit and Vegetables are extremely good for you!
    
25. Smile. Smiling is like relaxation. It relieves stress and changes your attitude. Not only more people will like your positive attitude, but you'll change your mood. Having a positive attitude can add 7 years to your life (according to researchers)! So put a smile on!
    
26. Laugh and Hug! If you laugh or hug every day in an average life span, you live seven more years!
    

Tips

• There are moisturizers (both facial and body) with built-in sunblock that don't make you smell like you just came from the beach. In addition to keeping your skin protected, lotion will help keep it firm.
  
• Eat Garlic, but use it in moderation (need I say more?). Having certain quantities of garlic in daily meals actually keeps you from getting sick and builds up your immune system.
  
• Study the lifestyles and habits of "centenarians" - people who've lived past 100 years old.
  
• While the body is always an important factor in long life, do not neglect your psychological health. What good is having a body that can live for 120 years if your brain dies from the inside out at 50? If you experience any changes in your attitudes or behaviors, such as a quickening of the temper, a dulling of the senses, or a slowness in speech or thought, consult a mental health professional. It may be nothing, but better safe than sorry. Also, reducing stress and anxiety will help to keep your mind healthy.
  

Warnings

• Don't get so caught up in living long that you forget to enjoy life! A happy life full of strong relationships will definitely reduce stress and make your long stay worthwhile.
  
• Be wary of bad science. Many things found to be beneficial to your health today may tomorrow be declared harmful. Make sure you research each alteration to your diet before you implement it. Consider the source and where the funding for the research came from. If in doubt, consult a doctor or two.
  
• Too much water can also be bad for you and have its own side effects. Several glasses a day, or just water in supplement of other liquids during meals will be enough.
  
• "Avoid Heavy Lifting" Once you are older, above sixty-five, be careful to not lift much weight, it's easy to tear or injure various tissues in later life.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Choose Healthy Snacks
  
• How to Exercise While Sitting at Your Computer
  
• How to Do a Push Up
  
• How to Grow Old Without Feeling Old
  
• How to Lose Weight Fast
  
• How to Drink Water for Health
  
• How to Quit Smoking when You Don't Really Want to
  
• How to Do Nordic Walking
  
• How to Learn Tai Chi
  
• How to Eat out and Lose Weight
  

Sources and Citations

• - BBC story on how optimistic outlook can improve longevity.
  
• [1] - The one hundred ways to live up to 100 years.
  

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Live a Long Life. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-8: "How to Become a Herbalist"

How to Become a Herbalist

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

A herbalist is a person who studies herbal medicine, the healing properties of plants, as it is practiced in traditional China and Western cultures. In written records, the study of herbs dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, amongst the earliest civilizations of the world. Traditional practices of herbalism remain in modern societies, China (Chinese herbology) for instance. With all the ills besetting us today, people are seeking a kinder, gentler way to heal, which is why there is a movement towards alternative methods of treating diseases and conditions. One of the most popular approaches is herbalism. Should you become a professional herbalist, it will be an amazing career - and one that's growing all the time.

Steps

1. Culture an interest in herbalism. It is not impossible to begin training in herbal studies without prerequisites, but a basic understanding of herbs and other botanical systems will allow a helping hand through your future. If you are still in high school, pay attention to your biology classes. Likewise, an interest in other aspects of science and a love of the outdoor environment are wise paths to travel before engaging in this career path.
   
2. Obtain recognized training as a herbalist. A career in herbalism can be pursued formally or informally, depending on the way in which you intend to practice herbalism.
   
   • If you're pursuing recognition as a folk herbalist within a limited or informal group of people (such as an indigenous group), find out what the standards are as set by the group and fulfill them.
     
   • If you wish to become a professional herbalist with broadly recognized credentials, there are many courses and diplomas offered around the world by leading universities and other educational facilities that you are able to choose from and work towards. No matter which path you choose, verify beforehand that the coursework can be applied towards certification by a peer-reviewed organization such as:
     
     • The American Herbalists Guild, Registered Herbalist (RH) designation[1]
       
     • The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)" or "Diplomate in Chinese Herbology (NCCAOM)" designation[2]
       
     • National Institute of Medical Herbalists (UK)[3]
       
     
     
   • You can also practice herbalism as a naturopathic physician by passing a series of rigorous exams and fulfilling academic and clinical requirements similar to those of a medical doctor (versus a traditional naturopath, who has no widely recognized standards to meet).
     
   
   
3. Choose your location wisely. You might be tempted to stay in the town or city where you were trained as a herbalist, but competition there is likely to be fierce.[4]
   
4. Consider entering a partnership. You can practice alone or with other herbalists or healers. Income potential is higher if you practice alone, but so are costs. Starting a private practice can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 and it may be up to three years before you turn a profit, whereas in a joint partnership you get support from your colleagues, increased referrals (if you work in a clinic), and shared overhead, health insurance, malpractice insurance, and other costs.[4]
   
5. Take precautions. What will happen if a patient sues you? Consider malpractice insurance if you're licensed or professional liability insurance if you're not. If you work from home, look into any additional insurance needed (such as "slip and fall" liability insurance") and zoning regulations in your neighborhood.
   
6. Study the relevant knowledge areas of knowledge that distinguish a professional herbalist.
   
   • The foundation of the herbal theory; the first uses of plants for medicinal purposes through anthropological history. Evidence from 60,000 years ago suggests Neanderthals used medicinal plants. More recently, written records from 5,000 years ago describe the well-established use of plants such as thyme and caraway as natural medicine. Today, traditional Chinese herbology still occurs from the times of the dynasties.
     
   • Specific remedies for different conditions; herbal therapeutics; the use of food and herbs in health and healing. There are many scientific orders, classes and families to understand and master. A typical herbalist prescribes specific herbs in tincture, fluid extract, capsule or tea form and may suggest dietary changes, exercises and other therapies to help the healing process. We can also inadvertently treat our body with herbs. The ingredient caffeine that gives us a mild lift which is familiarized with the cola/coke soft drink , for instance, is from the herbal motif of alkaloids. On the other hand, different types of alkaloids such as datura can lead to severe intoxication and eventually death. Remember, constructing a career in herbalism requires a concise background of biological origins.
     
   • Providing essential principles of herbs including diet and energy; teaching the principles of disease and diagnosis within multiple frameworks of medical systems; teaching herbal preparation, therapeutics and formula. Herbalism is all about how to use herbs for yourself and for everyone's good, and is a lifelong process. Herbs are a natural way to treat illnesses, and most taken for treatment will pass harmlessly through the system if needed for our body. We can't say the same for drug prescriptions which are stored in the liver and other organs, and eventually our bodies stop responding to certain drugs that may have been lifesavers if used for emergency treatment only. The uses and effects of herbs in medicinal practice are important principals. Signatures play a main part in determining the characteristics in herbs, and these can be color, root structure, fissures in the bark of certain trees and vines which are considered good herbs to use to remedy the blood system. Sometimes, just the name alone can indicate particular herbs, such as heartseye, eyebright, cancer root and throat root. Principals of herbs are a major source of the spiritual qualities of herbs and what defines a medicine.
     
   
   

Tips

• Investigate any school/university before enrolling. Research and even visit once or twice to roam the grounds to get to grips with the environment you will be studying at. To gain a first hand look into herbs it is best to enroll in a specific educational program of herbal studies which has access to a plethora of botanical enlightenments. These could be herb gardens, greenhouses and native forest which are readily accessible to use for an effective and realistic understanding of the scientific aspects of herbalism.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Become a Doctor
  
• How to Be a Plant Doctor
  
• How to Herbalise Your Horse
  
• How to Cultivate Herbs
  
• How to Grow an Herbal Tea Garden
  

Sources and Citations

• Washington State University Mesopotamia: The Sumerians
  
• Wikipedia Herbalism
  
• Institute of Natural Healing Diploma: Become a Herbalist
  
• Institute of Natural Healing Medical Herbalist Courses
  
• Education Portal Career Degrees to Become a Herbalist
  
• Internet Health Library Medical Herbalism
  
• Witchcraft and Wicca with Welsh Paganism Herbalism and Herbology
  
• Google Book Search Herbal Homoe Recipes
  

1. ↑ http://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/membership/professional


2. ↑ http://www.nccaom.org/examinfo.htm


3. ↑ http://www.nimh.org.uk/accreditation.html


4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_4_33/ai_100732362/pg_5

Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Become a Herbalist. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.