In the past, gout was a disease that was associated with royalty or the rich and elderly —  only people who could afford to eat fatty foods. While there’s some truth to the type of foods contributing to the problem, gout can happen to anyone at any age.

Gout is actually a type of arthritis. The pain is an inflammation that occurs when crystal deposits form inside connective tissue and impedes the joint function. These crystals are made from uric acid.

Your body makes uric acid from purines in certain foods. Most of the uric acid is eliminated from the body. But when the body makes too much uric acid, it gathers in the joints and causes serious problems.

A  gout attack starts with tenderness, warmth and sudden pain in the joint of the big toe. That’s a classic sign of gout, although pain can happen in the ankles, knees, wrists or fingers.

The affected joint also looks red and feels hot to the touch. The initial gout attack may last a few days, but with each new attack, it lasts longer and the pain is more severe. You need a thorough medical evaluation for gout and will probably be given prescription medication.

There’s also plenty that you can do to prevent the next gout attack. First, moderate your diet. Start by limiting or eliminating high purine foods such as beef, pork, lamb and organ meats.

You also need to give up alcohol including beer. Some seafood is problematic for uric acid including anchovies, herring, mussels, codfish, sardines, scallops, haddock and trout. Second, add more gout preventative foods to your diet.

Use low fat dairy products which can actually help prevent gout. Increase your consumption of low-purine foods such as cereal, fruit, bread, grain, pasta, rice, olives, cheese, eggs, tomatoes and some green vegetables.

Third, lose excess weight and do all you can to improve muscle tone with moderate, regular exercise. You want to keep your body in the best shape possible. But you can’t go on a fad diet or high protein diet – that will cause more harm.

Fourth, be consistent in taking any prescription medications you take – even during times when you don’t have gout pain. A gout attack can be triggered or worsened by stress, illness and alcohol use.

Once the attack starts, you have to be extremely careful of foods and over the counter medications to avoid prolonging the attack. Because the pain makes walking and standing so difficult, you have to reduce your activities during a gout attack. You can live a full life even with gout if you do all you can to prevent future occurrences.

Modern medical doctors are not sure what causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Opinions abound but the most common ones include being sensitive to certain foods, reactions to stress, immune system differences, or a person’s colon and bowel not working normally in general.

IBS is a condition suffered by one in five Americans, and is thought to be undiagnosed and untreated in as much as 70 percent of sufferers. IBS is a problem for women more often than men, but it is not associated with more severe colon related diseases. There is no inflammation of the colon when someone has IBS, and no other growths or obstructions.

There are different symptoms for each IBS sufferer too. You may find more and more foods disagree with you or you may feel bloated as though you have eaten a very large meal, even when you last ate hours ago or after quite a small meal.

Common symptoms include abdominal cramping, bloating and pain. Some people with IBS will have chronic diarrhea though, while others will have chronic constipation instead. Still others will bounce back and forth between those two states.

Signs and Symptoms

• Have you experienced variable bowel motions – perhaps ranging from constipation to diarrhea within a short space of time?
• Do you pass more wind downwards (known as flatulence) than you would like?
• Do you suffer from pain in your abdomen on occasions or regularly?

These symptoms have been labeled with other names over the years, the most common being a spastic colon. The symptoms often increase when eating certain foods, eating big meals, or experiencing heavy amounts of stress or depression. Since nerve endings connect the colon to every part of the body, almost anything can cause problems similar to IBS. Because of this, a variety of treatments are often tried.

Depending on the person, their doctor, and the severity of their IBS symptoms, strong prescription medications may be used to help relieve the constipation or diarrhea. We don’t agree with this approach however, and feel the more natural means should be tried first. Many doctors however, will suggest these alternative approaches before suggesting medications.

The first approach to managing IBS is changes in your diet. If your IBS is caused due to intolerance or allergies of certain foods for instance, removing those from your diet can create drastic improvements. Often people have a lactose or gluton intolerance without knowing it.

Some people are also more sensitive to foods which contain heavy amounts of grease, or they’re IBS problems flare up more after greasy meals. Another common trigger for IBS symptoms is eating large and heavy meals. Simply by cutting down the amount you eat in one sitting, and eating fewer but smaller meals each day, can help relieve IBS symptoms.

Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help with IBS, particularly when constipation is a chronic problem. Many people try taking extra fiber supplements, but these can actually cause the gas and bloating problems to become worse.

Eating fruits and vegetables which regulate the stools can be quite beneficial however. Bananas for instance, will help relieve both diarrhea and constipation.

Other natural treatments recommended for managing IBS are stress management, exercise, and hypnosis.

Babies have a huge environmental footprint. Since most parents go with disposable diapers (AKA nappies), the impact of this practice on landfills is significant. It takes a disposable diaper 200-500 years to completely decompose. Cloth diapers aren’t perfect — they require water, energy (hot water) and chemicals (detergent). However, many parents look at cloth diapers as the lesser of two evils. They believe they have more environmental choices with cloth diapers — unbleached cotton, an energy-star washer, no bleach, etc.

Some facts you should know about disposable diapers courtesy of Green Babies, Sage Moms:

The rate of diaper rash increased from 7.1 percent of babies to 61 percent with the increased use of conventional disposable diapers.

Sodium polyacrylate is the chemical that makes disposables superabsorbent–up to 100 times its weight in water which sticks to baby’s privates and causes allergic reactions. This chemical was removed from tamponss in 1985 when it was linked to toxic shock syndrome.

Some studies show a rise in urinary-tract infections in babies as caretakers tend to not change disposables as frequently as cloth.

Superabsorbent diapers heat up when wet which is a concern for boys’ developing testes.

The carcinogen dioxin is a by-product of the paper bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers.

Reusable diapers aren’t what they used to be. In days past, the most common diaper type was a flat piece of cloth that had to be folded to fit a baby’s form and then fastened with safety pins. Today there are cloth diapers that resemble disposable diapers with their contoured shape, elastic in the legs and back, and easy closures like Velcro or snaps. Some diapers have a one-size option, so that one diaper can last from birth to potty learning.

There are also biodegradeable diapers made with plant-based plastics (bioplastics). These non-petroleum based diapers are compostable. While these have been found not to break down under landfill conditions, there are other options to compost them such as using a composting toilet, an earthworm system, or a highly active and properly conditioned composting area. Hybrid diapers have removable inserts that can safely biodegrade when flushed.

Cloth diapers are infinitely more attractive than disposable diapers. When disposable diapers are your only option then it is easy to put function before fashion but with cloth diapers you can have it all. Cloth diapers come with a variety of different fabric options . . . velour, bamboo, organic cotton, silk, and fleece, among others. The fabric patterns and colors are also endless. From electric pink to midnight blue and from tie dye to Tinkerbell, parents who use cloth diapers never get bored with all their choices.

The baby business is booming and you can easily spend a fortune on diapers, baby clothing, accessories, toys, and furniture. If you need to be cost conscious then cloth diapers will help you save money. It is almost always more frugal to reuse items than to buy new every time and cloth diapers are no exception. Experts estimate that disposable diapers can easily cost up to $3000 over a three year period. Cloth diaper costs usually range $300 to $800 from birth to age three.

Many people know the benefits of Chinese herbs and practices like acupuncture, but Qigong remains something of a mystery to most people in the West. In China, Qigong is a common practice. It gives you the same results as meditation but with the benefit of physical exercise.

Qigong literally has thousands of different forms and styles, and the exercises are meant to attract active and vital sources of energy for your body and mind. Qigong is not only taking part in physical exercises but it has more to do with understanding your inner body and thoughts. The practice seeks to make a connection between body and soul.

Qigong is becoming so popular in the last few years that you can now teach yourself the techniques from your own home. You can do this with the many video tapes and books that are on the market today. Just like everything else, research is required before you purchase a self teaching type of this kind. You want to ensure that you are buying something that is authentic and can teach you the proper techniques.

Of course, learning something like Qigong is something that is better learned in person. This way you can learn how to act out these techniques flawlessly and learn from a Qigong expert in person. This makes your learning experience that much easier and enjoyable. Sometimes trying to learn on your own can be more difficult than learning with a qualified instructor. Depending on your learning trends, either is effective for you.

Qigong is the art of healing by using the power of your peace of mind. Qigong can be used for many different reasons, the most popular being the healing and reducing of stress and illness. So many people do not realize that just by understanding yourself and relieving your mind of all the troubles that it has can in fact have a lot to do with the disease that you are suffering from.

Qigong is the absolute best method for self healing — meaning that you will experience less diseases in the future and need less medical care. Qigong is about healing your body, mind and spirit. This type of holistic healing is something that can last forever and effect the rest of your life in the most positive way possible.

You may have already practiced a form of Qigong and not been aware of it. For instance one of the most basic levels is something that most people do at least once a day. Just by sitting up straight in your chair, taking a deep breath and clearing your mind is the first step in a self healing process.

Having a clear mind is the best way to begin any self healing process. The more advanced levels of course include meditation, stretching and much concentration. Anyone can take part in this amazing alternative method to self healing. Just by starting with clearing your mind, you are on the right track.

Before beginning your new adventure with Qigong, it is important to do as much research as you can so that you are familiar with the self healing ways that are used with this alternative method of healing. Whether you plan to teach yourself these self healing methods or you are going to find a great instructor, it is still important to do your research. Try out Qigong and you will discover the amazing results that you will experience.

Colon cleansing is one of the most important steps in detoxification, and herbs can be a catalyst to help rid the body of waste and speed the way to a healthy colon. If you’re looking for a natural, herbal approach to good colon health, there are several herbs that can provide that.

A herbal laxative that helps to cleanse the colon is cascara sagrada. Long used by Native Americans, this herb contains compounds called anthroquinones, which produce this laxative effect in the body. In fact, today it’s probably the most common of the herbal laxatives.

The herb cascara sagrada also helps to strengthen the muscle tone of the walls of the colon. And as your muscle tone grows stronger, your constipation will slowly begin to fade. This herb also helps to stimulate bile production in the liver, which also helps to speed the removal of toxins from your system. You can find cascara in several forms, including capsules liquid extracts and as dried bark. If you choose dried back you can make this into a tea. Cascara sagrada tea has a natural bitter taste.

An average serving of cascara sagrada is 300 mg when taken in capsule form. You’ll want to take it in the evening to give it time to stimulate a bowel movement by the following morning. This herb usually takes between six to 12 hours to work.

You shouldn’t take this natural plant for more than seven days consecutively. Nor is this herb intended for use by children.

Chickweed is another excellent herb for relieving constipation and helping to clean out the colon. It works relatively fast and will help move the stools through your system with several hours. Not only that, but it also helps to strength the stomach muscles and the bowels themselves which are the first steps toward long-term relief. It’s also noted for cleansing the system of toxins.

If you’re looking for “an all-purpose herb,” look no further than slippery elm. This herb is not only a wonderful natural remedy for constipation, but it’s also an extremely effective herbal aid for diarrhea. Slippery Elm normalizes the stools while it soothes, coats and heals the lining of your intestines. For the best effects and to help it move quickly through your system, you’ll want to drink plenty of water when you consume it.

Senna is another herbal laxative, albeit a strong one. It works quickly; expect it to work shortly after you’ve taken it. It’s also acts as a purgative, cleansing the bowels naturally. Normally, this herb is taken in tea form. It also helps to stimulate peristaltic contractions, which help to move the fecal matter through your colon. Many individuals are convinced of the effectiveness of this herb.

We must, however, add a word of caution about senna. It makes some folks ill. Some report that they get nauseous when they take it. But adding some ginger or cinnamon to the senna when you take it may help alleviate this problem.

The chakras are said to be life force energy centers. There are seven main energy centers lined up from the top of your head to your tailbone. The root chakra, located at your tailbone, is actually the first chakra. The crown chakra, at the top of your head is the seventh chakra.

Many people have started working with the chakras and felt an opening up and encountered good results. Others have tried and not felt anything. Do this mean that it only works for some people? It could be that the people who actually get results are the ones who need it. If your chakras are all “spinning” the way they should be, you may not notice any significant difference.

However, if you are having problems in certain areas of your life that you can’t seem to overcome, it may be that the chakra related to that specific problem is closed or sluggish. For example, if you have trouble speaking your mind or disagreeing with others and just go with their flow instead of your own, your throat chakra may be weak, closed or sluggish. If you lack self-esteem, this could be the result of your sacral chakra needing some work.

When these energy centers are working or spinning in harmony, they are considered balanced. When they are not in harmony they can cause problems. However, they aren’t really sick as you might think when you hear the phrase chakra healing. They don’t need healing in the traditional sense of the word, they need to be opened up and balanced.

How can you heal or open the chakras?

There are several things you can use to help open your chakras. Yoga, sound therapy and meditation are the most popular ways. But there’s also color therapy, affirmations, visualizations, crystals and gemstones and conscious breathing.

Some people have been able to open and balance their chakras just by meditating and thinking about them spinning correctly. Others have had to use several healing methods to achieve any results.

Yoga is a good overall healthy method for not only staying fit, but it has beneficial affects on the mind and can help with your meditation practice as well. The majority of yoga poses actually stress or stretch areas of your body. This can help stimulate the chakras if you choose poses that work on specific areas of your body.

Sound therapy is another method of stimulating and opening the chakras. Tibetan singing bowls are very popular for this. However, these singing bowls use different frequencies and some can be annoying. The ones that don’t resonate with you are probably related to the chakras that are already open and spinning properly. You’ll need to work with different sounds to discover which ones you need to work on.

Meditation is another great method used in chakra healing. If you know which chakras you need to work on, you can simply meditate on those specific areas and visualize them spinning.

If you think this is something you’d like to work on, be sure to try different methods of healing. What works and resonates with one person may not work for you. Keep experimenting until you find something you enjoy and leaves you feeling energized.