Lifting A Bad Mood

I've been reading around and looks like hitting highs and lows are common! Nothing is so dragging as a bad mood. Mood swings most of the time gets the better of us and worst it give us the feeling that life is just way too much for us which creates a gloomy outlook and eventually affect our overall being, physical, mental, emotional and even spiritual. Then I remember some old articles I've read before which has helped me a lot and made so much sense to me.

Since I have dedicated this site to wellness, I've opted to post this here...

So here are Here are some suggestions to lift your mood, your spirit, and your health according to Dr. Maoshing Ni, Yahoo! Health Expert for Alternative Medicine.

1. A Laughing Matter
"Laugh Therapy," pioneered by Norman Cousins, has turned out to have real substance. Research has discovered that laughter and joy boost immune functions, especially the production of the natural killer cells that help defend the body from illness and cancer.

Laughter also increases the release of endorphins - compounds that give you a sense of well-being - in your brain. Without a doubt, joyful people liver longer and healthier lives. So read your favorite comics, watch your favorite comedies, and laugh it up!

2. Amino Acid for Restored Mindset
When an imbalance or deficiency is creating a bad mood, the Europeans use supplements of a natural compound found in human cells to regulate mood and restore a healthy mindset. SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine) is produced from methionine, an amino acid that plays a role in the production of uplifting neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine.

One study indicated that SAMe worked on patients who had unsuccessful results with conventional antidepressants. To get a boost from SAMe, take a supplement combining it with vitamins B6 and B12.

3. Hands-On Healing
Human touch increases the production of endorphins, growth hormone, and DHEA, all of which lengthen your life span and lower the negative impact of stress. Studies have found that patients who are regularly touched recover faster than those who are not touched. So give someone a hug and feel both of your moods improve.

4. Boost Your "Youth Hormones"
You don't need pills to flood your body with a rejuvenating flood of growth hormones. Research has found that doing squats and leg presses will greatly increase your natural production of the "youth hormone". Increased growth hormone translates to an elevated mood, among other physical benefits. Keep it up with weight training, knee bends, push-ups, and rowing.

5. Take a Bracing Breath
Breathing correctly is important for dispelling the toxins and wastes from your body; in fact, it is estimated that we expel only about 30 percent of toxins in our bodies through the bowels and bladder-the rest is all respiratory. Breathing is also a great way to clear your mind, boost your energy, and improve your mood. Practice deep, slow, rhythmic, breathing daily with mind-body disciplines such as tai chi, yoga, qigong, and meditation.

6. Smell the Joy
Research has shown that smell has a definite impact on our bodies and minds. When you stimulate the olfactory nerves inside your nose, you activate the limbic system of your brain, which is associated with moods and memory. This concept is instrumental to aromatherapy, a natural health tradition that makes use of the healing powers of plants with strong scents.

Aromatherapy recommends treating depression with jasmine, eucalyptus for exhilaration, and grapefruit to increase alertness and joy. Just put a dab of the essential oils from these plants on your temples, back of your neck, or acupressure points. Another option? Boil the herb in water and inhale the steam through your nose.

7. Feel Fine with Flowers
There is a reason that flowers are the traditional get-well gesture. Colorful flowers have a powerful influence on moods; they can uplift a patient's mood and even combat stress. One study found that during a five-minute typing assignment, people sitting next to a flowering bouquet were more relaxed than those who sat near foliage-only plants.

From: Dr. Mao's Secrets of Longevity (To learn more about Dr. Mao and other natural health tips, go to askdrmao.com.)

Hope theses tips help you life that mood up!


P.S. I'd be very glad to accommodate any health tips you want to share here, just drop me a comment or email me!

Fingernails Care Tips

Not all nails are created equal!

Nails are just another type of skin, and just as skin varies from one person to another, and so are nails. Though not everyone may have nor may want long nails...certainly we all do need healthy and beautiful looking fingernails.

Healthy nails are easy to have. Through a well-planned regimen of diet and grooming, we are on a sure way to having beautiful and healthy nails.

Here are few easy tips on how to achiever and maintain beautiful and healthy nails --

1. Watch your diet! This means making sure we have enough in take of Vitamin B, calcium and protein. Taking multivitamins also ensures that the body gets enough vitamins. You can check on your recommended dietary allowance to be sure.

2. Protect your hands! When doing some chores like cleaning, washing dishes or working in the garden wear rubber gloves to protect your nails and hand from chemicals and dirt.

3. Moisturize! Because nails are just another type of skin, moisturizing them regularly is very important in achieving and maintaining healthy nails. A daily application of nail lotion goes a long way.

* Don't overuse nail polish remover. Do not apply polish remover more than once a week if you can help it. And make sure to use acetone free polish remover. Acetone is a strong chemical that can leave your nails dry which eventually weakens the nails.

4. Trim cuticles once a week. You can trim them carefully with a cuticle clipper after applying cuticle softening cream. You can find several specialized cuticle cream in cosmetic stores.

5. Clip your nails regularly. Nail clippers now comes in different sizes and forms making it convenient for us to clip our nails. Nails can be clipped in a rounded or squared shape. The pointier the tip of the fingernail the greater the risk of if to break off.

* I personally recommend the ones with wider clips to accommodate the nails thus avoiding cracks due to clipping. I also favor square nails over the rounded tips as it gives my nails more durability in cases of tapping it into something.

6. Let your nails breath! Give nails a break from polish as often as possible as nail polish leaves nails dry and chip.

* I only wear polish on weekdays when I'm at work and make sure my nails are in nude all weekends.

If you have anything to add to these tips, please feel free to drop your comment. I also welcome guest writers on topics of Health, Beauty and Wellness!

Battling Insomnia?

I am always battling with insomnia. Either I find myself not being able to sleep at all or I awake too early and can't go back to sleep.

I have discussed this with people (medical experts and friends sharing my problem) and I did some research on this. The following sleep tips are what I have compiled from various sources, and have been a help to me. You may find them helpful...

• Only use your bed for sleeping or having sex, not for reading, doing paperwork, watching TV, snacking, or making phone calls. (I always struggle with this. Though I never bring my laptop in bed and I made sure there's no TV...I most of the time bring things to read with me.)
  
• If you've been lying in bed but are beginning to fear you're not going to drop off, try some of these techniques: Count sheep or count backwards from 100 (one of my favorites) to stop yourself from thinking about the problems of yesterday or tomorrow; breathe deeply for awhile; or visualize some peaceful place.
• If you can't get to sleep after lying in bed for 30 minutes or more, get up for awhile. What to do? Try reading something incredibly boring.
• Develop a bedtime routine.
• Keep regular bedtime hours.
• Before bedtime, avoid tobacco and caffeinated beverages (not just coffee, but other drinks like tea, cola, and Dr. Pepper).
• Avoid alcohol right before bedtime — a nightcap might get your mind fuzzy enough to put you to sleep, but such sleep may be interrupted by periods of awakening. By contrast, the stress-lowering effect of a drink with dinner may help to promote sleep later.
• Avoid naps (or falling asleep in front of boring TV programs, as I do).
• Try to get up at the same time every day rather than sleeping in on weekends.
• Exercise every day, but not shortly before bedtime since exercise gets the adrenaline going.
• If you use an illuminated clock for a wake up alarm, place it where you can't keep looking at it to check the time.
• Buy a firm mattress and keep your bedroom well ventilated (a cool temperature works best for me).
• And you might also try some of these: a warm bath, warm milk, light bedtime snack, massage, or quiet music (which turns itself off automatically).
• Use earplugs for extreme quiet.
• If you have a painful joint or a headache, take a pain pill before bedtime (but be sure it doesn't contain caffeine).
• Avoid stimulating reading or television shows late at night.

If the insomnia stubbornly persists, check with your doctor to make sure some underlying health problem (such as depression, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, heart failure, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) isn't keeping you awake. If all is well, you might ask for one of the several types of prescription sleeping pills that can be useful in the short term.

The Nail Care Commandments

Most readers in my main site, Mariposa's Tales know that I have long nails and that I am a sucker for nail polish...though my love for my nails prompts me to always make it a point to allocate time for my nails to be nude.

Not all people can have long nails and would like to have one. Yet everybody would love to have healthy and good looking nails...short or long. correct? So for this week, I will be sharing with your different nail care tips as well as do it yourself nail grooming tips.

Let me share you some basic tips on nail care, I got this wonderful nail care tips in an email and I can't seem to trace online who is the author of this...

The Nail Care Commandments

1. Thou shalt not get dehydrated.
   
   Drink plenty of water and protect the nails from fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Use a good nail conditioner and sealing topcoat to finish the job.



2. Thou shalt not let your skin dry out.
   
   Use a good hand lotion to moisturise hands and cuticle area. The right fragrance can make all the difference.



3. Thou shalt eat right.
   Proper diet is as important to nail care as it is to the rest of the body. Calcium or iron deficiencies may cause irregular nail growth and tell-tale white spots.



4. Thou shalt improve blood flow.
   
   Blood flow around the nail bed brings the nutrients that allow healthy nails to grow. Massaging in hand lotion is an excellent way to stimulate blood flow into the nail bed.



5. Thou shalt not forget thy gloves.
   
   Wear gloves when doing cleaning tasks either in the house or garden. Extra moisture tip: put a tiny bit of sweet almond oil on the hands before putting them in the gloves.



6. Thou shalt not use acetone.
   
   Using harsh chemicals like nail varnish remover more than once a week can be very damaging to nails and surrounding skin. Use acetone-free remover.


7. Thou shalt not use fingernails as tools.
   
   Do not use fingernails as replacement Swiss army knives. Use proper tools for the job.



8. Thou shalt not bite thy nails.
   
   Nail biting is a difficult habit to break. Nail grooming can be an effective way to relieve the temptation to bite. Nail polish serves as a visual cue to keep from biting.



9. Thou shalt keep thy hands healthy.
   
   Fingernails serve as a barrier to infection. Untended hands quickly show wear and tear.



10. Thou shalt keep hands clean at all times.

I will posting more on this topic!

Sunburn Remedies

I got busy and has neglected this site!

We just had a kickass vacation (just a skip tip to the southern part of Cebu!) last May 1 and thanks to Agnes and Erwin for being such a great hosts!

Sandbar...a marine sanctuary between Toledo City and Pinamungahan...the locals call it Camp Plabo.

The Escapades!

Here is me and the IT Guy enjoying the sun...the sands...the water!



I will post more photos from this vacation at Mariposa's Tales.

The Remnants...

Enjoying too much of the sun, gives you sunburn! LOL



IT Guy seemed to enjoy the tan and all...at first! Then he started complaining about the pains...the itch and all.

So let me share with you some skin care tips...

First of all...wear SUNSCREEN! There are different types of sunscreen depending on your skin types. For us Asians especially us Filipinos...we are not too sensitive to the sun...so we tan easily and well for my case and IT Guy...unfortunately we peel off too!

And it is important to remember that if you want to get a good tan do it gradually! I suggest don't go tanning beyond 15 minutes...

For my case...ha I cheat sometimes, I use Jergens Natural Glow! LOL

Next is, protect your eyes...wear eye shades with UV protection!

And finally if sunburn is really unavoidable or you got them already...let me share with you the following natural remedy tips for sunburn!

♥ Put cold water on the burn...lie in a cool bath. Applying ice pack also reduce the pain or tingling sensation.

♥ Use oatmeal. Place oatmeal in a bag, run a cool water through it, and save the water. Throw away the contents of the bag and use the water in compresses. You apply every 2-4 hours.

♥ Massage Aloe Vera or tea tree oil on the affected area. The inner gel of the Aloe Vera leaf speeds up the healing of radiation-induced burns. (So glad we have plenty of Aloe Vera plants in the garden.)

♥ You can also apply plain yogurt to the affected area. Or you can make a paste of cornstarch and water to apply.

♥ DO NOT apply any product which has alcohol, mineral oil. coloring. or waxes in it.

And don't forget to drink lots of water...take Vit. E...and get enough sleep! Those are keys to having a beautiful and healthy skin.

I'd like to thank Mom for the above remedies...Mothers really know best!