The human body is amazing. Often misunderstood, because of the way most people interpret feeling bad, is the way the body seeks to heal and add quality years to the particular person involved. Termed the Healing Crisis, it is the bodys attempt to throw off toxicity and get the rest imperative for healing.

Colds and influenza is actually the body’s attempt to cleanse. Working with that process means rest and lots of fluids. Unknown to many frequenters of fast food chains, symptoms that appear as flu-like for them are really food poisoning.

During anytime of healing, even in the case of serious illnesses, cleansing the body with organic juicing or supervised water fasting (not recommended without support) colon hydro-therapy or other safe, time tested and success proven methods are suggested to work along with the natural process of the body.

Whether a healing crisis comes on naturally, the bodys attempt to give the person a better quality of life by throwing off toxicity, or is a cleanse prompted by the person through diet or other methods, it is important to support the body with rest, fresh water and as little stress as possible.

The healing crisis may not feel great; however, it can add years to life. When symptoms are merely suppressed with medication and one goes on with what one must do without needed rest, the need for the cleanse does not disappear. In fact rather than being so close to the surface, the cause dives deeper; and unresolved, what the body wanted to rid itself of will gain power and become serious illness in years to come.

Why must it feel so bad? Many people dont have the tolerance for feeling badly. It can feel better to suppress messages and healing processes rather than accept opportunities to throw off toxicity. The majority of society feels that way; and, it becomes their mindset because of the messages sent via television, pharmaceutical companies and certain parental advisement.

Truthfully it does seem that healing wants to present itself during a busy schedule, stressful time, or when that certain deadline must be met. In brief, the body under stress also has a weaker immune system. Too much stress taxes the immune system.

To recap, the healing crisis which can feel like influenza, have coughing fits, headaches, diarrhea, skin eruptions etc. is a naturally occurring attempt on the bodys part to heal and spring clean. The alternative to resting and working with the body is to stop the process, which will only suppress the toxic material in the body.

What to do if you are in a crisis and you make the smart decision to go with the flow and support your body? Take as much rest as possible. Buy or use your juicer. Drink at least a quart of fresh juice a day. Get a book that gives you juice recommendations. Eat only food that has a natural earth color; in other words, no fast food, nothing white, no dairy and no meat, no breads. If you have to work though, use as much emotional detachment as possible. You can still go home and go right to bed. Eat sparingly and get lots of fresh juices and pure water.

The above are easy and inexpensive alternatives to staying sick or suppression through medication. If youre a bit more ambitious you can get colonics, delve into traditional uses of herbal combinations, see a naturopath, get body work and join an on-line or local community support group.

Healing crises last as long as they need to and then you get a reprieve. Like everything in life, they are cyclical. If you are recovering from cancer or other life threatening illness, plan on healing and cleansing naturally several times a year, stay on your food regime and find a nutritional and naturopathic accountability coach. You will need to do this for support.

Please be advised, if you are under a doctors care for any life threatening illness you should ask for assistance in determining difference between normal body healing and an acute but life threatening attack. It is also notable that the body will never recover from a chronic disease without the healing crisis.

If you must be under medical care to stay alive you have the right to take care of yourself with natural means too. Rely on your own judgment in this regard and take back control of your body. Making your own decisions and trusting your body is the first part of healing from within. It is your gift to be well and get well naturally and the healing crisis is an integral part of that healing process.

You Are the Gift You Bring to the World, Ellen Valentine, CNC

The Aloe Vera plant grows in many places ” it does not like cold weather, but it will thrive in your home if you live where it is cold. Some like it as a decorative plant, but that is the least of its value.

This green, thick-leaved plant is well known by many peoples because it produces a gel which has been used to treat various physical conditions found in humans for thousands of years.

Helping wounds to heal is reputed to be one condition for which the gel from the Aloe Vera plant is used. The reputation is that this gel cuts down on inflammation and eases the pain. But, its effect is not clear. Let us look at what scientific study tells us.

a 1990’s study compared the healing time of Aloe Vera with another modality. A moderate to severe burn had a shorter healing time when treated with Aloe Vera gel. It was compared to a similar burn which was only treated with a gauze bandage.

But, a different study indicated that Aloe Vera gel treated wounds were slower to heal. Whether or not this gel promotes faster wound healing remains an unknown. Although, there are said to be some promising results coming. Thus, you will have to make your own study of this gel if you get a burn or a wound and wish to use it.

Does the Aloe Vera plant have any more uses?

A substance which is not approved for human use has been extracted from Aloe Vera gel by a commercial laboratory. It is an immunostimulant which is approved for treating a cancer (fibrosacoma) in cats and dogs. Only a veterinarian can use it.

Companies that make cosmetics are always looking for a way to enhance their products. So, Aloe Vera gel has been seized on as an excellent addition to shampoos, lotions, makeup, tissues, moisturizers, soap and sun screen. How effective is the gel when used here? Well, as we all know about cosmetics, its certainly a commercial secret — or at least a mysterious unknown.

Treating dry skin conditions is one of the common uses of Aloe Vera gel. Eyes which have eczema around them often get a gel treatment. In fact, sensitive facial skin is sometimes treated with gel.

An article published in the British Journal of General Practice suggests that Aloe Vera is effective at treating athlete’s foot.

But, there are other uses for Aloe Vera — other than applying it externally in a lotion or cream. This sap has been consumed internally as a juice for a long time.

It is said that Aloe Vera juice may help some people with ulcerative colitis, which is an inflammatory bowel disease. However, side effects can occur and consulting a doctor before ingesting any form of Aloe Vera, including Aloe Vera juice, is highly recommended.

Well, now we know something about Aloe Vera. But, how does the gel get extracted from this plant. The gel is not from a fruit or from the root. Where, do we find it?

The lower leaves of the plant yield the gel. The leaves are typically bulky, thick and green. When the Aloe Vera leaf is sliced open, there is a gel inside.

However, be careful. Here is something to be aware of if you want to extract the gel yourself.

Aloe Vera latex ” a yellow substance that comes from the inner side of the skin ” can be highly irritating both externally and internally. Some people who have reported adverse effects from Aloe Vera may be eating or applying this latex. Carefully removing all skin and any yellow substance before using Aloe may avoid such adverse effects. Any gel used should be completely clear, and be odorless and tasteless.

This gel is also said to be used for clearing up eczema, according to some reports. It has also been used on herpes infections for possible instant symptomatic relief.

But, in addition to the medical uses, Aloe Vera gel is consumed as a food in many parts of the world.

In Japan, Aloe Vera is commonly used as an ingredient in yogurt. There are also many Japanese companies which make Aloe Vera based beverages.

In some of the parts of early India , now called Pakistan, the Aloe Vera plant has been used for centuries as a digestive aid. Seeds of various herbs are mixed with the dried gel and consumed after a meal. Sort of an early Asian Tums, huh?

For centuries the Pashtuns in India have been using Aloe Vera to improve physical endurance. This probably works due to the high nutrient content of the herb’s gel. People in Rajasthan, India, use Aloe Vera as a vegetable when mixed with fenugreek seeds.

In another state of India, Tamil Nadu, a curry is made using Aloe Vera. It is usually eaten with Indian bread or a serving of rice.

The gel from Aloe Vera is an ingredient in some popular beverages. SoBe’s strawberry drink is one. Aloe Vera is common in Mexican smoothies and a popular soft drink in South Korea also contains Aloe Vera gel.

Disclaimer ” No information included here is meant to treat, mitigate, diagnose or cure any condition or disease. You must talk with your doctor before using. No government agency has approved this information. It is meant only for educational purposes.

So what is aromatherapy and what exactly are essential oils? Well, essential oils are the final product of a process of extraction from plants. This process distills and concentrates the essences of various plants to make them useful for aromatherapy. There are many ways this extraction process can be done. Usually, it is completed through a process called distillation.

So what can essential oils be used for. Many things! It’s uses can vary from basic aromatherapy to perfumes, flavoring of food and anti-aging,etc. For it’s use in aromatherapy, the essential oils are known to contain healing properties which also can help to rejuvenate the mind and body. It can help to relive stress and sooth pain.

In the case of being used in perfumes, the essential oils are mixed and blended together with water and alcohol. The flower fragrances are what gives it it’s distinctive smell. By changing the percentage mixture of essential oils, water and alcohol, the strength of the perfume scent changes accordingly. As a frame of reference, a perfume that has a strong scent will usually have only about twenty percent essential oils, seventy five percent alcohol and the remaining five percent consisting of water.

For skin-care products, essential oils are used widely in creams, shampoos and moisturizers. Not only that, massagers in spas also used essential oils to apply on their client’s bodies before an actual massage.

For uses in food products, essential oils are used to add flavor to the foods. This is most used in foods that are kept in packages for long stretches of time. Besides flavoring, essential oils also supposedly aids in food digestion. They can help in relieving stomachaches and poisoning of food.

Lastly, essential oils can also be used as mosquito repellents. Surprised? Well eucalyptus oil does just that. So instead of burning those coils which can be potentially filled with not very healthy smoke, why not just heat up some eucalyptus oil and let it do the trick? You’ll be pleasantly surprised that it does the job of driving away mosquitoes just as well.

So there you have it, several benefits and uses of essential oils that can be utilized. And you thought it was only limited for aromatherapy uses?