The first line of a little known song asks the question, "How many dandelions this year will grow?" Indeed, in some parts of the North America hills are yellow with dandelion flowers in the spring. Most are either ignored or poisoned as a nuisance. If we had known what this article will reveal, we might have gathered them instead of treating them as a curse.

The name dandelion comes from the French phrase 'dent de lion,' meaning 'lion's tooth.' This refers to the jagged-edged leaves of this weed. The fancier scientific name is Taraxacum officinale. Unlike calendula (marigold) which is not the same annual flower found in American gardens, dandelion the herb is exactly what you think of growing in your yard or on a hillside. What makes this common weed so great?

All the dandelion plant is useful. The roots can be eaten as vegetables or roasted and ground to make a type of root "coffee." A cursory look through the internet reveals the flowers are used to make wine, in cooking (dandelion flower cookies?), a syrup, jam, and an oil to rub on sore joints. But the leaves have the most diverse list of uses.

First, dandelion leaf is an excellent source of sodium, iron, vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and especially calcium. Dandelion might have been one of the "bitter herbs" mentioned in the Bible. The leaves add bitter flavoring to salads or can be cooked like spinach. The best leaves are those bright green ones that appear before the dandelion flowers in the spring.

Dandelion leaf is famous for its ability to purify the blood and body. It cleanses the liver and increases its output. It also increases the flow of bile into the intestines and the activity of the pancreas and spleen. This makes it effective for the treatment for hepatitis, yellow jaundice, and other liver related problems. Its purifying skill makes it a treatment for some types of anemia. The leaf also helps with weight loss because the acids in the blood build up with weight loss and dandelion destroys them. Dandelion also builds energy and endurance and helps with low blood pressure.

Dandelion has special benefit for female issues. It will enrich breast milk in nursing mothers and this benefits both mother and child. It is beneficial both before, during, and after pregnancy. The diuretic action of dandelion helps relieve some of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Yes, dandelion is healthy and safe for men, woman, children, and animals.

Some herbs are not recommended for pregnant or lactating women. Dandelion on the other hand is beneficial. It actually enriches breast milk in nursing mothers. It benefits a mother throughout pregnancy and after. The symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are often relieved because of dandelion's diuretic action. Yes, dandelion is good for everyone, even your pet.

Traditional Chinese Medicine uses dandelion to treat upper respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis. Native Americans used it to treat indigestion, kidney disease, and heartburn.

Native Americans found dandelion helpful in treating kidney disease, indigestion, and heartburn. Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends dandelion for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia.

Dandelion is regarded as a safe herb. However, some people report allergic or asthmatic reaction to this herb particularly those with allergic reaction to ragweed or daisies. Some warn patients with liver or gallbladder disease to stay away from dandelion but others feel this opinion is not true.

Dyslexia may not be as serious as lung cancer or some form of heart disease. Nevertheless, it can make life very difficult for any adult who has this condition. In order to have a real chance of improvement, you must first try to understand this condition.

You probably know that dyslexics have a hard time reading words out loud. This is because of a problem with short term memory and visual coordination. This disability makes it very difficult for patience to make the link between the written word and the spoken word.

Different people have different degrees of dyslexia. Some conditions are so severe that the person may be completely illiterate. Other kinds of patients usually have a difficult time processing the spoken word such as taking notes or filling out paperwork. As you can imagine, this makes modern life very difficult for the dyslexic.

One factor that makes dyslexia so frustrating is the diagnosis. Unfortunately, many patients do not realize that they are dyslexic until after many years of suffering and confusion. It doesn't help very much that doctors are not exactly sure what causes this disability.

More research needs to be done, but doctors now believe they have a better understanding of what causes dyslexia. They believe that a portion of the left hemisphere of the brain malfunctions in people with adult dyslexia. This would make sense because the left side of the brain deals with vocabulary.

An estimated 4 to 10% of the general population has adult dyslexia. It's hard to know how accurate this number is, since many have not been diagnosed yet. In addition, others may be too embarrassed to get treatment.

If you think about how much of our daily life requires the written and spoken word, you can begin to understand how challenging dyslexia can be. A person who suffers from this condition may have trouble doing normal tasks like writing down notes or filling out a job application.

The first thing you need to do is to acknowledge the possibility of a problem and seek appropriate help. Get diagnosed by a physician and start working on a treatment plan. It's always best to simply seek help instead of hiding because you're embarrassed about your condition.

Wrinkle, or anti aging, creams are moisturizing or acidic liquids, gels, or creams that are applied to the skin to reduce wrinkles. The internet has sites dedicated to wrinkle cream reviews where information on various brands and ingredients are compared, but there is not a consensus as to which the best wrinkle cream or the best anti aging cream is.

Usually, the products claim to minimize wrinkles or eliminate age spots significantly after a certain period of time. Advertisements tend to exaggerate the benefits of the products, as has been discovered via independent studies. Therefore, it may be more accurate to read product reviews than to rely on the information provided by the company's advertisements.

The majority of anti-aging cream consumers are women of a certain age who want to rejuvenate their appearance with regenerative creams. Preventative creams may also be marketed to younger women. Some men also use anti-aging products.

"Restorative" is a somewhat misleading term. Such products do not really repair damage caused by sun, smoking, and aging. Instead, they just moisturize the skin. This can temporarily make wrinkles appear shallower. This is a great quick fix for some people, but others may be disappointed to learn that the results are not long lasting.

Different skin types respond to different products. So, what's good for one person may not be ideal for another. That's why it's important to conduct some research before investing time and money in a particular product.

Many preventative anti-aging products have acidic ingredients that supposedly eat away at old, worn, tired-looking skin to reveal a younger, fresher-looking layer of skin. These ingredients can be hard on sensitive skin. Once again, what benefits one person may harm another.

Skin treatments should be carefully chosen before being applied to reduce the chances of further damaging skin. Many creams claiming to restore the youthfulness of skin can have a positive effect, although rarely to the degree or with the speed that the advertising claims.

Finding the specific product that works best for your individual skin type requires research as well as some trial and error. The ultimate test of whether a product will actually solve your skin problems can only be performed by testing the product and monitoring the effects.

It seems as though the only advice that someone offers when you ask them how to lose weight is to diet and exercise. Don't you feel like slapping someone and saying duh? Obviously this is what you need to do, but how should you diet, how should you exercise? The next thing that you hear is that there is some sort of "miracle pill" that will melt the pounds off. Does anyone know what they are talking about anymore? Read on and listen to an expert at losing weight fast and supplement free.

Many people should realize how important it is to leverage our bodies to achieve our weight loss goals. If you know how to exercise correctly, then you can spend as little as 15 minutes in a workout a day to turbo charge your metabolism from that point until the next day. Imagine how many additional calories you would burn in a day if you were to burn an extra calorie a minute. Doesn't that sound like a lot more fun than only burning additional calories for the duration of your workout? Good, I have your attention.

Your solution to getting a "turbo-charged" metabolism is High Intensity Interval Training. Without going into too much detail, HIIT is performing a physical activity at around 90-95% of your maximum heart rate. You will only be able to do this for about 15-30 seconds. An example of a HIIT workout is doing a 10-15 30 second sprints with a minute of walking between each set. After that, you can cool down, stretch and finish your workout knowing that you will burn a lot more calories than 45 minutes of jogging.

That's not so bad is it? Try it, you will see why so many people will avoid doing this. It is hard, you will have to push yourself, but you will get in the shape that you want fast. In fact, a study at Laval University showed that this training method made their trainees lose 9x more fat than those who did traditional cardio (20-60 minutes of moderate cardio). You can even combine this method with weight training to super-turbo charge your metabolism!

If you really want fat loss results, then don't waste your time in the gym. Don't waste your resources on pills that do not work. Instead, get your intestinal fortitude and take it to the gym to perform some HIIT. You will burn more total calories throughout the day, conserve and build muscle, and even boost your body's natural growth hormone levels. Now you know why sprinters are a lot more buff than marathon runners even though they both run. Stick to the proven approach.

With every passing day, the science behind the utility of umbilical cord blood is going a step forward. It is increasingly being used for curing leukemia patients. Umbilical cord blood is rich in stem cells. As the name suggests, it is extracted from the umbilical cord and the placenta immediately after delivery. Stems cells are very important. They have the capability of creating entirely new blood and organs too. The cord blood stem cells have created your baby and by preserving those stem cells, you are giving your baby a greater chance to fight possible life-threatening diseases.

Research shows that the quality of the stem cells taken from the bone marrow is not as high as that of the umbilical cord blood. Patients who have received a bone marrow transplant are more likely to reject the new addition, which could lead to life threatening situations.

If a suitable donor is not found, doctors are able to search the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) for allogeneic matches (stem cells donated outside of the family). With nearly 7 million potential donors, and 70,000 units of cord blood available, the chances are greater of finding a near perfect match for those seeking treatment or transplants

Great promise has been shown in the treatment of Krabbe Disease and other rare lysomal storage diseases through the transplantation of cord blood stem cells. Krabbe disease occurs in infants, and if left untreated is usually fatal within 2 years. Researchers from Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have made ground breaking progress in the treatment of this disease. Their research shows that newborns who receive umbilical cord blood stem cell transplants while they are still asymptomatic have a much higher chance of survival than children who have already shown symptoms. The key is to catch the disease early enough to prevent the loss of critical brain function.

Another factor involves the number of cells being transplanted. Children have a greater chance of success, because they do not require the larger amounts of stem cells. Doctors are researching ways and ideas (such as trying to use two or three units of cord blood, or possibly growing new cells from a single unit in the laboratory prior to transfusion) in which to create better options for adults need stem cell transfusions.

Thalassaemia is a blood disease in which the body produces deformed red blood cells. Frequent blood transfusions are necessary and previously the only cure was a bone marrow transplant. On 3 July 2001, a cord blood stem cell transplant was carried out on a 5-year old Malaysian Chinese boy with Thalassaemia Major. He is now able to produce normal red blood cells and is cured of Thalassaemia Major. Besides bone marrow transplant from a sibling, cord blood transplant is now a viable treatment for Thalassaemia.

Once a match is made, many factors are considered, such as age of the donor, their sex, medical conditions, blood type, and other things. The urgency of the required transplant will also play a factor in this process.

Hoodia diet pills can be effective appetite suppressants but the most common question asked by dieters pertains to the recommended hoodia dosage. They want to know how much they can safely take to suppress their appetite. It's a good question because hoodia diet pills aren't regulated and don't require a prescription so dieters are forced to figure it out themselves.

It can be extremely hard to work out what dose you should be taking, especially if you visit any websites or read anyone's experiences with hoodia. You are likely to find that some people say a dose of 1,000mg is enough to stop hunger, while others say it took nearly twice that amount to suppress their appetite.

Dieting specialist estimate that it can take up to 3,000mg of hoodia to be taken per day in order to suppress hunger. In fact in a recent report one doctor even stated that the majority of his patients needed between 2,250mg to 3,000mg of hoodia per day before they experienced the most effective weight loss. However, it's important to realise that in order to get the very best results you should be leading a healthy lifestyle which involves regular exercise too.

The most effective hoodia dosage will vary from one person to another. What works for one person may not work for you. You may find that 1,500mg is all it takes, while another person may require 3,000mg or more. Diet pills that contain 100% authentic hoodia gordonii have been shown to be safe with virtually no side effects so "experimenting" with the dosage within reason is probably safe. However, if you have any concerns you should consult your doctor.

Even though diet pills which contain 100% hoodia gordonii are safe, there are some people who should consult their doctor before taking it, or before taking any diet supplements for that matter. These people are women who are pregnant or nursing, anyone taking any kind of medication, children under 18 years of age, and anyone with an existing health condition.

The best approach to figuring out what hoodia dosage works best is to follow the recommendations found on the product label. The reputable and honest companies that sell hoodia diet pills will recommend a safe and conservative approach. They'll typically recommend 1-2 capsules per day for the first several days, which is usually around 800-1,500mg per day of hoodia gordonii. They'll usually recommend that you slowly increase the dose until you reach the maximum amount allowed per day. The maximum amount allowed may vary, but it's typically around 4,500mg per day.

One thing you might notice is that while hoodia gordonii suppresses your appetite, it may also decrease your thirst as well. It is important to remember to drink lots of water when you are taking these supplements. The product label will usually instruct you to drink between 8 to 10 ounces of water when you take your pills. Drinking water while dieting is always a good strategy to begin with anyway!

One final note when it comes to figuring out the most effective hoodia dosage - hoodia gordonii doesn't work for everyone. Some people simply don't respond to it no matter how much they take. Keep that in mind because more isn't necessarily the answer. If you're taking the upper amounts recommended by the product label and you're still not noticing any difference in your appetite after a couple weeks, hoodia diet pills probably aren't going to work for you.

Gastric bypass and other similar surgeries are among the fastest growing elective surgeries in the country, next to breast augmentation. Gastric bypass is reserved for those who are morbidly obese, and for them, the benefits are endless. According to Obesehelp.net, a web site which explains the surgery, 75% of patients can expect to lose up to 80% of their body weight, 80% will be off hypertension medications and 90% with type two diabetes will be off medication as well, just to name a few.

It is important to understand, not everyone who has this surgery is successful in weight loss for many reasons and it can be dangerous. During the surgery, a section of stomach is sealed off to reduce the amount of food which can be eaten, if the seal is broken by over eating, the results can be serious. This is why many patients have follow up care which usually includes an overview of a healthy lifestyle. It touches on food choices, diet and exercise plans. Unfortunately many clinics neglect long term post care, however there are other ways of maintaining your healthy lifestyle.

Just because someone is over weight or obese does not mean they are sitting down every night for dinner and eating an entire ham. They might be obese because of genetics, binge eating, lack of health knowledge or emotional attachments. Learning about a new lifestyle is easy, most starts by visiting a dietitian or physician to learn about proper food choices and exercise plans. The hard part it applying your new knowledge to your day to day living which can be made more difficult by emotional attachments to food. It is essential to learn why you ate poorly in the first place, it could be lack of food choices or an emotional connection. Many people eat when they are upset or depressed and some might simply be bored. Maybe there is a happy memory associated with food which makes you crave certain things such as a giant brownie. Many have Gastric bypass surgery and are unsuccessful because they have not addressed all their issues with food, which almost always requires help.

Some may choose to continue following up with a physician or counselor while other choose to go a different route such as using hypnosis. Hypnosis works with the mind in many different ways. One way it works is by addressing problems or emotions attached to food. Rarely does post care touch on the emotional bond a patient might have with food. Hypnosis researches and finds out why food has taken such a hold. Another way is by combating cravings for favorite foods and replacing those cravings with better healthier options such as exercise and health foods.

Some may feel a counselor, dietitian or physician would be a better choice for post surgical care instead. A post surgical patient should by all means take these measures as part of their post operative care. However hypnosis is equally ideal for long term goals of weight loss and helping to work through food emotions. You will gain a better understanding as to why you feel the way you do towards food and how you can regain control of your life and help make your Gastric bypass surgery the best it can be in a non threatening way.

Weight loss options are always evolving and changing making your choice much more difficult to decide which is best for you. It is difficult enough without all the fad diets, gimmicks and infomercials telling you to buy their new super diet product. However, it is important to research all the new methods and diets out there before making a final decision for something extreme like surgery. If you do elect surgery, consider using hypnosis as a tool in addition to your arsenal again your battle with the bulge.

So you've been thinking about starting an exercise routine. But what routine should you try, which routine is best? Running or walking is good. They both burn lots of calories and helps speed up your metabolism, which helps with weight loss. But what do you do when it's raining or in cold weather? You have to change your whole routine.

What about working out at a gym? Well, the problem with that is that you have to go to the gym and by the time you get there you're out of the exercising mood so eventually you just stop going altogether and now you're paying for a gym membership you're not using. You could just workout at home doing aerobics, but that takes a lot of discipline and can get pretty boring unless you have an exercise buddy. However, you can't really depend on someone to have the same commitment as you.

There's always the treadmill. With a treadmill you can walk or run whether is raining or cold and snowing. You don't have to go anywhere and be out of the mood when you get there and you can watch TV, read or plan your day while you're on the treadmill so you won't get bored. There just one thing, treadmills are expensive.

You can expect a minimum of features, which are one of the biggest factors in determining the price of a Treadmill. Adjustable inclines, voice coaches, and heart rate monitors are all very nice, but expensive. You don't really need them unless you are a serious athlete training for competition.

Good cushioning is a most. You don't want to injure your back and joints from high impact exercising and good cushioning can greatly reduce the chance of damage to your back and joints due to running and walking on your treadmill.

Most of all whether it's on cheap treadmills or expensive treadmills you don't want to over do your exercise routine. Be aware of your heart rate and check with your doctor to make see what is safe for you to do.

Poor work performance, losing sleep, irritability, losing interest in favorite activities, depressionthese just a few things caused from stress. There are many things in life which can cause stress and many different reactions, both physical and emotional, to stress.

Stress, many people think of this as a "dirty word" and some think of it as an excuse to act poorly. Stress can be caused by many things, financial problems, marital problems or it could be caused from a happy event such as a wedding, children or going on vacation. Stress is about perception. What is stressful for one may not be for another. Many times we blow things out of proportion and therefore causing more un-necessary stress in our lives. Stress does not have to be caused from something bad in ones life. However stress, whether good or bad can lead to other very serious problems.

Stress has been linked to medical problems such as chronic headaches, age acceleration, lower immune system, heart attacks, chronic body aches, depression and stomach problems. Many people under stress are also short tempered, tense, anxious and jumpy. The list of medical problems from stress goes on and on.

Rapid heart rate, sweaty, nervousness or simply not feeling quite normal are some ways others have described how they feel under stress. You know what your stress feels like much better than someone else. You know what causes stress in you life. Maybe it's your family, job or money. People get stressed over many things. It is time for you to take a look at your life and how stress is affecting it.

Stress is all about perception. What is stressful for one may not be for another. When learning to cope with stress, you must look at perception as well. Many times we blow things way out of proportion and therefore causing more un-necessary stress in our lives. Some think of stress is caused from bad things in peoples' lives such as financial issues or marriage problems, however often stress can be caused from something happy such as a wedding or children.

There are many ways to manage stress. Some turn to professional help such as a counselor, others use medications, and some turn to hypnosis. It is important to research all aspects of each treatment to decide what is right for you.

Hypnosis allows people to change your response to stress. You will find yourself calmer, rational and more relaxed. Hypnosis can help you in multiple ways, one through body relaxation. You will learn to control how breathing which will instantly create a calming effect on your mind, and it will fight tension which can lead to chronic medical problems. It will also help you to address the behaviors you have while experiencing stress such as anger or frustration and allow you to be calm.

Chances are you will always have stress in your life but it does not have to rule your life. There are options out there and it is up to you to make the best decision for YOU. Stress is not good for anyone, you, your family or friends. The time has come for you to make a choice.

This knowledge covers a broad spectrum of human interests. When you look at the various psychology journals online you can choose which ones you would like to have saved on to your computer's hard drive so that you can read them later. These online journals can be found even for psychology. These psychology journals online can provide instant information for the occasions that you require.

The beauty of the internet is very apparent at these moments. This should normally yield immediate results. All you need to do to locate the psychology journal online is to type the name of the journal you're looking for, or even the name of the author.

This will allow you to tap into the various archives where you can find seldom-read psychology journals online. Even if you can't remember the article name or even the name of the journal you can still look for other information that is of a similar nature. As you look through the many psychology journals online you should give some appreciation to the many psychologists who are sharing their theories and information with the world at large.

These child psychology articles are quite interesting in the fact that stereotypes are avoided and what is known is given as facts. We know that psychology is the study of human behavior and emotional responses. As these responses can vary from person to person and age to age, the field of psychology is quite broad.

To protect the privacy of the child only the facts are given and the name of the child will be withheld. You can find these child psychology articles in various magazines that deal with psychology. All of these child psychology articles will let us know how to recognize if a child is having some type of problem. Sometimes you will be able to read some articles in your child's psychologist waiting room.

And sometimes you will find that these child psychology articles will provide yo with the solutions as well. For parents, these child psychology articles provide a small window into understanding the various problems and difficulties that are besetting their child. Child psychology articles will also let you see how various child psychologists have managed successfully to help their young clients face life and what these children should do if they are pulled back into a situation that is similar in outlook to their original problem.

All adjustable bed mattresses are made in modern, state-of-the-art plants using advanced manufacturing techniques. The same expensive parts and manufacturing methodology, quality control and care used to manufacture high priced adjustable hospital beds and dental chairs are used in the construction of adjustable bed beds. Component parts are carefully assembled and rigorously tested for long life and reliability.

Adjustable beds are a fantastic product for those individuals who often wish that they could shift their bed — even just a little — every so often, perhaps to counter back pain or to sit up comfortably in bed to read. Seniors often find these beds highly beneficial, and for someone who is less mobile or bedridden, an adjustable bed provides options to sit up with back support instead of being perpetually confined to lying down. To accomplish this, adjustable beds function by use of a small control unit that you can use on your own, while in your bed, to adjust the height or incline of your sleeping position.

The mattress has a 312 coil count spring (for Model 1 Full/Double size industry standard bed). The unit contains 312 five turn oil-tempered coil springs that are tied together using a double-knotted tying process with oil-tempered steel helical wire. The adjustable mattress is engineered to bend! Next, a flexing insulator, polypropylene net, is placed over this spring system to isolate it from adjoining layers.

When purchasing an adjustable bed mattress, if at all possible, test the mattress on a bed frame similar to your own. The comfort of your mattress also relies on the quality of your frame, since the two will be working together to provide you with comfortable, restful sleep. Also known as the "semi-fowler bed mattress," an adjustable bed mattress will rise and fall as the bed itself is adjusted, working in unison to relieve back pain, mobility issues and help you to gain high-quality sleep.

When you are looking for adjustable beds you should always see that you are comfortable in an upright or inclined position. In order to be on the safe side you can go for a trial offer of adjustable bed mattresses. In that way you won't lose out on money. Be careful and take the time to choose the right kind of adjustable mattress for yourself.

If you are pregnant, you probably have received information about cord blood banking. This is an opportunity for you to bank your child's umbilical cord blood. When cord blood is banked, it is stored so that at a later time, it can be used when needed. There are several key reasons why anyone should consider cord blood banking.

However, a large number of curious expecting couples are interested in knowing more about umbilical cord blood banking. Unfortunately, a lot of rumors and misleading facts are going around regarding cord blood banking. It's important to have a clear understanding of this significant step that can prove to be a life savior!

There is no risk, either to the mother or her baby, in collecting umbilical cord blood. On the contrary, peripheral or bone marrow blood stem cell collection requires the donor to pass through insidious medical procedure and there is a risk of infection.

Studies on transplants of umbilical cord blood have revealed a sustained engraftment, which is similar to bone marrow transplant results. Umbilical cord blood is stored cryogenically through a meticulous cord blood banking process and is available at once when needed. Research on umbilical cord blood stem cell has revealed its potential to treat Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, heart attacks and strokes, and spinal cord injuries.

Stem cells from umbilical cord blood have successfully been used in treating more than 70 non-malignant as well as malignant diseases, including leukemia, sickle cell anemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, life-threatening anemia, various types of cancer, and auto-immune conditions.

The cord blood banking process can be costly for a private storage facility, starting at $2000 but the protection that it offers far outweighs the costs. In addition, many families find that this is an ideal way to protect the child as well as other family members from potentially fatal diseases or conditions. The ongoing stem cell research for treatment of diseases is promising. Cord blood stem cells offer great potential for treating more auto-immune and degenerative diseases. Banking cord blood can provide medical insurance for your child or other family members now and in the future.

The stem cell extraction for the cold banking process will actually be very safe both for the baby as well as for the baby?s mother because the blood for cord blood banking will be collected right after the umbilical cord has already been separated from the baby. Afterwards, blood will also be extracted from the mother for the cord blood banking process. The baby, as well as the mother will not really experience any pain or discomfort when it comes to cord blood banking.

Just about every American has something they wish they could improve. Some wish to be taller, shorter, funnier, or richer to name a few. However there is a fine line between wanting to change something and low self esteem. People who suffer from low self esteem have a negative view of themselves, others, lack self confidence and perform poorly. It is difficult to measure the amount of people suffering from low self esteem as it usually is related to other emotional difficulties.

Lack of self confidence is not something learned overnight or from one isolated incident, it comes from repetitive criticism. Anyone, whether it is a parent, teacher or society can cause a person to have low self esteem. Some parents compare siblings, have unrealistic demands of children, or simply do not understand the child and berate them for it leaving the child feeling unloved and detached. Teachers sometimes are overly critical of students work or compare them to other children, making the child feel isolated and negative. Society can place very unrealistic expectations. Many preteen and teen girls feel the pressure to be thin simply from an article they read in a magazine.

We are losing an alarming, one third of our youth to drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, jail, teen pregnancy, crimes and violence, drop outs, and suicide according to Selfesteeminternational.org. All of these problems have one thing in common, low self esteem. Some people of society have a hard time accepting negative self image is the cause for all of these problems. Often, as stated before, low self esteem is just a cover up to other emotional issues. However Selfesteeminternational.org reported that 80-90% of pregnant teens do not give up their children because they feel a baby will give them the unconditional love they never had. High school seniors report using drugs and alcohol as a way to fill a personal void and improve self esteem at the rate of 66%.

There are many programs out there for those who suffer from low self esteem. They range from counseling sessions, take medication, or to reading self help books. There are also new techniques being used to help build confidence, one of those is hypnosis. Hypnosis works with the subconscious mind to uncover what memories are causing painful low self esteem. Once the memory has been identified, the hypnotist and patient work though the memory and the patient's reaction to it. Together they help rebuild self confidence and work through all feelings, good or bad until the patient is satisfied with their progress. Since it works with the subconscious mind, it is easier to open up and express feelings you might not know you were having.

Some still feel that medication or therapy is the best and only way to treat self esteem issues. However, the medications only work with the chemical reactions in the body, it will not create a positive image or with the memories which are causing the patient pain and agony. Therapy can go on for months before the real trigger and emotional reaction is uncovered and it also deals with the mind on a conscious level. When dealing with the mind on a conscious level, patients often become very censored for fear they are being judged by the counselor. It can take a long time before a patient begins to trust the counselor enough to open up. While under hypnosis they sub conscious mind takes over allowing for completely candid thoughts.

You have taken the biggest and most important step in your treatment. You realize you have a problem with self esteem and want to do something about it. You no longer want to go on feeling the way you do. The choice is yours, will you choose a treatment that could take months and months, will you choose a short term chemical fix or will you choose to open you mind and discovery why you feel the way you do, the choice is simple.

Chaste tree berry (also known as Vitex and by the trade name Femaprin) was at one time called Monk's pepper because of its supposed ability to decrease sexual drives. However, others have taken it to enhance sexual drives. How could it do both at the same time?

Though it grows to a height of twenty-two feet, chaste tree is just a large shrub native to the Mediterranean and southern Europe. Naturally it grows on moist riverbanks, but it can be grown in ornamental gardens in America as well. Look for its blue-violet flowers to blossom in midsummer. Chaste tree berries are only used to treat female problems today.

The above seeming contradiction isn't the only one related to this herb. In history it has been used to inhibit excessive milk flow after birth, and to encourage it. It is used to treat post menopausal symptoms by some, and others say it exacerbates them. Some have used it to encourage conception, but others say that it does nothing for infertility.

How can this be explained? Chaste tree berry is what is called an adaptogen. This means it works to normalize hormone imbalance through its affect on the adrenal glands, in this case the pituitary. In other words, it restricts hormonal excesses and encourages deficiencies. Other examples of herb that are adaptogens would include ginseng, ginkgo, garlic, echinacea, goldenseal, and taheebo.

To accomplish this balancing act for the body, chaste tree berry increases the production of certain hormones which reducing the production of others. In this way it may help overcome infertility by shifting the body's hormonal balance in favor of the gestagens which are used by the body to condition it for pregnancy.

Chaste tree berry is especially effective in balancing the female reproductive system because it encourages the production of progesterone. This results in restoring menstruation, regulating heavy periods, and restoring fertility that resulted from hormonal imbalance. PMS tension, and the changes of menopause have also been decreased by this herb. Excess prolactin may be the cause of premenstrual breast tenderness and chaste tree berry will balance this hormone and thus relieve the problem.

Other uses include relief of paralysis, pains in the limbs, and neuropathic muscular weakness, all treated with chaste berry tincture. Chaste berries are even used to treat acne in men and women. The berries can be ground in a pepper mill and used as a mild substitute for black pepper. The spicy aroma of the leaves and flowers are used for flavoring.

Take 20 to 40 mg of the herb as a normal daily dose; 20 drops of tincture one or two times a day is normal. One cup of the tea, or one capsule may also be used. Some take it shortly before bedtime and find it improves their sleep. Don't be impatient. Chaste tree berry is slow acting; it may take two or three months to evaluate its effectiveness.

Warnings are in order but are not universally agreed upon. Some say pregnant women and nursing mothers should not take chaste tree berry. If a woman has a hormone-sensitive cancer (e.g. pituitary, breast, uterus, etc.) it might be best to avoid it. Chaste tree berry should be avoided if you are taking exogenous hormones such as menopausal hormone replacement therapies or oral contraceptives. Some rare adverse reactions include itchy allergic rash, mild nausea, or headaches. Some women have reported that the length of their cycle changed.

Phytonutrients or phytochemicals give plants their colors, smells, and flavors. Phytonutrients can be found in vegetables, fruits, teas, grains and seeds. Generally fruits and vegetables that have bright colors, strong flavors and smells have the most phytonutrients.

Phytonutrients differ from vitamins because phytonutrients are not technically "nutrients". Nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Without nutrients your body will soon die of a nutritional deficiency. If you do not have phytonutrients in your diet you will not die of a nutritional deficiency. There are a sizable amount of chronic disorders that you have a much better chance of dying from or at least suffering from.

Phytonutrients are organic compounds your body needs. They nourish your cells and are powerful antitoxins that help your body use nutrients. They may someday be a very important group of organic compounds used to treat and prevent disease. Researchers are studying how phytonutrients may protect cells from damage, enhance the function of the immune system, and reduce the risk of chronic ailments, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Different phytonutrients work in different ways and the same phytonutrient can work in different ways on different people. There is still much research to be done. There are several thousand compounds that plants make other than carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, that may have beneficial effects on the body. Only a few hundred have been researched, and begun to be understood.

The easiest and best way to get your phytonutrients in the proportion that nature intends is to eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, soy and nuts. Don't forget the green and black teas, they will stain your teeth but you will be giving your body a dose of flavonoids. Your body will thank you.

Phytonutrients are classified by their chemical structure. Their classification is vast and growing, it can be mind boggling. To make things simple here is a short list of some of the common classes:

Carotenoids, Flavonoids, Isoflavones, Inositol, Phosphates, Phytoestrogens, Isothiocyanates, Phenols, Saponins, Sulfides, and Terpenes.