JBA Central Blog System

f you have a bug bite, a funny rash, a small cut or any other number of minor mishaps, you don't even need to come inside in order to start doctoring up your wound. In fact, right outside in your yard is one of the best medicine cabinets you need.

There is a theory that in order to find out what a plant can/should be used for, that one needs but to look where it grows. Common (broad and narrow leave) plantain grows abundantly and shouldn't be considered a weed! Instead, you should remember it the next time you have a bug bite- grab a leaf, ball it up, chew on it for a minute (yes, really) and apply it to the skin to relieve the itching.

If you think you've brushed up against some poison ivy, look around for jewel weed. It likes moist areas and is often found growing within twenty feet of poison ivy. Split the stems, crush up the leaves and rub on your skin. It relieves the symptoms and speeds healing of poison ivy break-outs and some even say that it can be used to prevent a break-out from happening if used preventatively!

Once upon a time, small communities were, for the most part, self contained. Farmers sold or traded their produce for help building or repairing their homes or barns and the cobbler kept boots and shoes wearable. Today, more people are trying to return to these roots in their own areas and once again making them more self-sufficient communities even in
multifamily housing in the center of big cities. Everything from organizing the families living there to grow their own food to sharing child care duties as some parents go off to work.

Affordable housing initiatives are now including prior planning to make room for more efficient and safe common areas within these micro communities. Existing housing authorities are also modifying and providing the funding needed for families to start healthy eating programs and after school programs providing fun exercise, and help with homework. Many of these programs include funding for computers, books, and school supplies. This not only encourages these families by providing the resources they need for a happier life, it also discourages gang activity and crime- making a safer environment for all.

As times change, so do the needs of people. It used to be that talking to a person while lying on the couch was the answer. While that is still a viable option, many look to self-help and other activities that can help them out in the long run. As it turns out, there has been quite the revolution in working out from what it used to be to what is offered now. Nowadays, upbeat music is used to help create and keep the tempo so that people are more motivated to work out. Yoga offers relaxing music while other cardio-intensive classes use hip-hop and techno music. Furthermore, these upbeat workout groups enable you to fit in and jump right in, without worry of looking goofy while working, because everybody looks goofy doing the moves. In the end, it is all about making you happy and helping yourself. By doing this, you can reduce stress, feel great, and enjoy your life. And the best part… you don’t need to lay on a couch to figure that out.

Active support of personal good health is a daily activity. From the food you eat and the schedule of your meals, to fitness exercise and activities, to personal health exams for everything from skin cancers to breast cancers, it is of the utmost benefit to create a personal daily lifestyle that includes healthful regimens for your highest good. If you are a woman breast cancer is a reality for which you are well advised to do regular self checks.

Dr. Hillary Smith has posted a video on You Tube that shows an excellent lymph drainage technique that incorporates a good check of the breast tissue. By utilizing this self massage technique daily, women are able to become very familiar with the textures of their breast tissue and thereby b e empowered to notice any changes in the tissue that might signal the early stages of an abnormality such as a tumor. Such breast self exams are easy and quick to do, start today.

When a child turns starts down the path of becoming a teenager, their emotions begin to go crazy, causing numerous reactions to the smallest things. This can be exacerbated by anything ranging from a car wreck, death in the family, bad grades, divorce, and so on. As it turns out, these young adults will need help too, to heal, and just let them know that things are going to okay. While teenagers may not admit that they need that extra reassurance, it goes without saying that it can help anybody to hear the voice of reason. Granted, it is highly doubtful that your teenager will come to you, as a parent, for help. Occasionally, when the stress is too much for them, they will come to you, and it is important to help them without judging them, else they will regret asking and never do it again. Teenagers need to be allowed to grieve for their losses and they must also know that it is okay to grieve, and in doing so, can lead to a speedy recovery of grief and healing.

There are many reasons why so many children today have ended up on drugs such as ritalin at young ages, and one of them is this: people have come to a point where they would rather control children with pharmaceuticals than deal with them! Fortunately, there are many, many ways to help kids stay calm, keep focused and burn off all of that exuberant energy without having to drug them! One way that many teachers are learning is a great way to promote a peaceful, focused classroom is yoga in the classroom.

Whenever kids appear to be getting antsy, it's time to get up and do a few yoga poses to help burn off energy and re-focus them. On the other side of the coin, when that time of day comes when most kids would rather nod off then pay attention, yoga can be used to help bring their energy levels right back to where they need to be. It also helps children to learn good physical skills such as balance, while instilling a sense of self-confidence as well.

Yoga has long been one of the best ways to relax and meditate while stretching your body. This practice comes from the ancient orient and has helped thousands and thousands of people to become fit and better themselves. Yoga can deal with a specific type of stretching that helps the body to become more flexible, while the mind is at ease with peaceful music. This stimulates the brain to relax and ponder life’s greatest mysteries while bending and stretching in different positions. The meditation that can come with yoga can help you to de-stress yourself as well as soul search. Many people are drawn to yoga because of the ability that it possesses to help make you physically fit as well as the ability to meditate. There are also different types of yoga that focus on different poses and different parts of the body so that you can take care of the entire body rather than just a specific area.

There is a poem by Hafiz titled "It Happens All The Time In Heaven" in which he makes mention of spouses turning to one another and asking how they can better love each other. This is one of the most easy (and yet for many people) frightening ways of learning how better to serve and support one another in relationship. As many marriage counselors, Cary NC to California will tell you, learning how to better love each other is not only helpful in relating to one another, it is essential for nurturing a connection that will only grow stronger over time. A marriage should be built to last, and that sometimes means being able to ask the scary questions- not scary because the answer will be demanding, but scary because it means accepting the effects of one's own actions- and taking pleasure in hearing the response.

There are many ways that we can be healthier women. From the food we eat, to getting enough clean and fresh water to drink everyday, makes a big difference in our long term health. Studies are now showing that foods, cosmetics and even household cleaners used can be a factor in whether we can avoid breast cancer. Chemicals used to preserve food or wash our clothes have been shown to contain hormone inhibitors or mimickers. Radiation as used in x-rays can also be a factor and the reason that more women are seeking mammogram alternatives that don't involve radiation. Breast thermography is one of those alternatives that provide accurate readings for early diagnosis of breast cancer. Early diagnosis is the key in the rise in survival rates and individual quality of life after treatments.

It is also of paramount importance that after breast cancer is discovered and during treatment that the patient drink plenty of water everyday. This helps to flush out the toxins in the body, both from the drugs used to treat the disease and for overall health. It should also be noted that eating a wide variety of fresh vegetables and hormone free meats contribute to faster healing as well.

Children frequently are faced with traumatic experiences throughout their childhood. Whether it’s a death in the family or moving away from those that they are familiar with, children will be hard pressed to bounce back to their normal state if their experiences aren’t addressed quickly. One way that a child can get the sense of their power and control back is by making a family flag. This will allow the child to open their heart and soul, and thus gain control, buy creating and using this flag to represent their perception of their family. The child can then proudly display the family flag on the refrigerator or on their wall. Letting your child figure out who they are is also vital. Children have a peculiar personality and love to get attention. Accommodating that will allow a child to figure out who they are and where they fit into the family as opposed to being told where that place is. Always remember, you can’t spell awesome without ME.