If you find that your hands and feet are constantly cold, a quick internet search probably suggested that poor circulation is to blame. The truth is, that’s not completely inaccurate! The skin is kept at a comfortable temperature by the blood vessels. The blood vessels distribute blood throughout the body, which is essential to maintain…
We know the things that are bad for us, right? Smoking, drinking, eating processed foods… but what about not getting enough sunlight? That one has probably never crossed your mind, but according to a recently published study, sunlight deficiency may be as dangerous as smoking cigarettes. Published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, the study…
Leg cramps that happen during the night usually come in the form of a sudden spasm or tightening of the muscles in the calf, feet, or thighs. They often occur just as a person is falling asleep, or soon upon waking. The pain can be unbearable and can last from seconds to minutes. When the…
Indigenous cultures contain meaningful symbols for just about every animal you can think of. In the interest of keeping this article an article and not, y’know, a novel, I’ll stick to ‘birth animals,’ also known as the Native American zodiac. The concept is similar to that of a horoscope; the idea is that a person…
Few things reveal the power of the human mind more than the placebo effect. Put simply, a dud pill or treatment can have a powerful effect on everything from depression and pain to sleeping disorders. It largely depends on the patient’s perception. And it works even when you know you’re taking a placebo. So what’s really…
Honesty makes life so much easier. But unfortunately, honesty isn’t always what you get from people. And while lying is not instantly an indicator that someone’s a bad person (people lie for many, many reasons, including mental illness), sometimes you need to know what’s really going on. And that’s where these five obvious signs will come…
We’ve written about the power of honey in the past, so if you’re a frequent reader of this site, you’re familiar with the concept of honey being quite a marvelous thing. But still, this might just blow your mind. Australian scientists recently made a fascinating discovery about an obscure form of honey that kills even…
Awhile back, I wrote a piece about vestigial structures we all have — the physical traits that once served a very practical purpose but are now obsolete. On the list, I included the appendix. And indeed, for years medical professionals have agreed that the appendix is useless, the shrunken remainder of a large intestine of a…
Toothaches are a real pain! Literally! However, most of us can’t drop everything to go see the dentist, or our local holistic dentist. Also, kids commonly have tooth pain associated with teething. Well, luckily for us, toothaches have been around for a while and there are plenty of natural solutions available that will help relieve the severe…
Although the nuclear disaster at Fukushima happened 5 years ago, the impacts are still strongly felt by the people who live there today. There has been a significant increase in birth defects, stillbirths, and miscarriages since the disaster and the problem is persisting if not getting worse. The Japanese government and media have been covering…
Let’s face it. If the FDA is warning you about something, it’s probably serious. Remember, this is the organization that’s not really doing much about shampoo that’s known to have a cancer-causing ingredient in it. If you’ve got an infant, you’ll definitely want to listen to this. A recent FDA study found that rice cereal…
What’s the worst thing you can think of that could happen with shampoo? Suffering an eye burn? Swallowing some by accident? Think again. According to a study carried out by The Center for Environmental Health in Oakland, California, your shampoo could actually be detrimental to your health. The study found that at least 98 popular shampoo…
When skin becomes injured, fibrous tissue (scar tissue) forms over the wound to repair and protect the injury. In cases where scar tissue grows excessively, it forms a smooth, hard growth known as a keloid. Keloids can grow to be much larger than the original wound. They’re most commonly found on the chest, shoulder, earlobes…
Our society focuses largely on appearances. There are creams to get rid of wrinkles, hair extensions to give you long, luxurious locks, laser treatments to eliminate cellulite… the list goes on and on. While some embrace the process of aging, others refuse to celebrate each passing birthday. Forget the strands of gray in your hair…
Bones provide structure for the body, protect the organs, anchor the muscles and store calcium. We often hear how important it is for children to get an adequate amount of calcium to build strong bones, but it’s just as important to take steps during adulthood to ensure that your bones stay healthy and strong. The…