Cold season isn't over yet - don't let it ruin your Valentine's

As I (Charlie) sit working from home today with a horrible cold, I thought it would be fitting to share some natural ways to ward off that nasty little bug:

• Gargle once a day. Japanese researchers found that a daily gargling with water reduces your cold risk. People who gargled with water were 36 percent less likely to be struck down when compared with non-garglers.

• Drink your liquids. Hot tea, cold tea and simple water keep your body hydrated and able to better fight unwanted infections.

• Take a sauna. A recent study in Germany found that people who took a sauna twice a week were 50% less likely to get a cold.

• Wash your hands!!!!!

• Get plenty of sleep. It is important to get enough sleep to maintain your normal routine. That means you need even more to keep your immune system at its best

What do you do to keep that nasty bugger at bay? Let us know........ We all want to make it through to spring, cold free. Till next time AAACCCHHHHOOOO!

Sickle cell eased by massage therapy

Massage therapy continues to produce new medical results. In a study conducted by the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, doctors found children with sickle cell disease, a rare blood disorder that affects red blood cells, benefited tremendously from massage.

The study reveled that the benefits the children received through massage were reduced pain, lower or no anxiety and depression symptoms were much lower.

The children who received the massages experienced drastically less of the negative emotions and pain the children in the controlled group felt.

Massage therapy is also known to enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow, the body’s natural defense system. It can also reduce post-surgery adhesion and swelling and pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.

Have you seen other benefits from massage therapy?

Relieving the pain, the natural way to combat arthritis

The word 'arthritis' means 'inflammation of the joints'. The two most common forms of arthritis are osteo and rheumatoid.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) not only affects the joints of the fingers, hips, knees and feet, but also the muscles and other tissues of the body. RA affects 1.3 million Americans and the cause is unknown.

There are several new drugs approved by the FDA for the management of RA but there are also some natural remedies that can produce the same results:

Well-balanced diet:

• People who have or are at risk for arthritis should consume foods that aid in the production of alkaline in the blood. Eat fruit and vegetables in the form of salads and at least two cooked vegetables a day.
• In most cases a raw vegetable juice therapy three times a day for about a week, aids in pain and swelling reduction. The therapy should be conducted at intervals of every two months for maximum relief.
  
• For every one pound of weight lost, there is a four pound reduction in the load exerted on
  the knee for each step taken during daily activities.

Raw Potato Juice Therapy:

• Considered one of the most successful biological treatments
• Cut a medium-sized potato (with skin) into thin slices and place into a large glass container filled with cold water, let it set overnight
• Drink in the morning on an empty stomach

Bodywork and Massage:

• There are various therapies and massage techniques aimed at aiding in the relief of joint pain and muscle aches
• Some of the techniques do need a trained professional but some others you can learn to do on your own.
  
• A simple massage to achy joints and muscles will aid in the overall pain reduction. For some tips, see this Scandle-ous review from Coupon Dad.
  

Got any natural treatments or therapies to help relieve the pain? Let us know........