Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Insomnia

Vitamin B12 Deficiency, , ,

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Insomnia: Can’t sleep? Often, sleeplessness stems from low vitamin B12 levels. Though nearly everyone experiences occasional trouble with falling asleep, chronic insomnia can be part of a range of symptoms attributed to dangerously low vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Insomnia

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Insomnia

Are you spending your nights tossing and turning, unable to get a restful night sleep? Acute insomnia has a short duration, while chronic insomnia will last longer – anywhere from days to months.

If you suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency and insomnia—and a surprising number of people these days do—then taking extra vitamin B12 may promote good restful sleep at night, and it will also boost your energy during the day, increase your ability to focus, and promote digestive, cardiac, and immune health as well.

Suffering from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue? B12 to the Rescue!

Please note: Insomnia can result from an underlying medical disorder, in addition to vitamin B12 deficiency. Consult your doctor if you suffer from chronic insomnia.

Here are some ways that vitamin B12 and insomnia are related.

The vitamin B12-melatonin connection

Vitamin B12 plays an important role in production of melatonin, the body’s “sleep hormone” which helps you fall asleep at night and get deep rest until morning. Melatonin is one of your best defenses against insomnia, but you need healthy amounts of vitamin B12 as well.

Melatonin in the blood rises sharply at sundown, making you feel sleepy, and will usually remain elevated for approximately 12 hours – essentially throughout the night – before the onset of sunrise.

As we get older, and vitamin B12 levels begin to plummet, it becomes more difficult to enjoy a good night’s sleep, due to a reciprocal decrease in melatonin. For that reason many senior citizens struggle with both vitamin B12 deficiency and insomnia.

Doctors have recently observed that a large percentage of Americans over age 60 suffer from a severe vitamin B12 deficiency.  Without vitamin B12, your body cannot produce sufficient melatonin, which is needed to help one sleep.

Many people who suffer from insomnia take melatonin pills to help them get to sleep. However, boosting the body’s ability to produce it by increasing vitamin B12 is a more naturally efficient option.

What is vitamin B12 good for?

Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is one of the B complex vitamins. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Vitamin B-12 is instrumental for maintaining healthy nerve cells, synthesizing DNA and RNA, and regulating blood cells.  A vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause fatigue, irritability, digestive issues, and shortness of breath.

The elderly, vegetarians, and vegans tend to have a higher risk of developing a Vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 for insomnia

If insomnia is caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, then it’s important to supplement with extra vitamin B12 immediately; untreated, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve cell deterioration and increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Ask your doctor for a vitamin B12 deficiency blood screening while discussing insomnia, and begin supplementation right away.

Take vitamin B12 with folic acid

Taking folic acid (vitamin B9) along with vitamin B12 is also helpful for insomnia, as vitamin B12 assists folate in building red blood cells and absorption of iron, both key components for good sleep health.

For some people, Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is yet another cause of insomnia. Research has shown that RLS is related to a folic acid deficiency, and that taking more B vitamins can reduce RLS, helping to provide a full night of sleep, even in people with severe insomnia. It is thus recommended to take vitamin B12 along with vitamin B9 for maximum absorption.

Topical melatonin cream for sleep

Get more melatonin while you sleep. Buy Now.

Your turn!

What do you do to prevent insomnia? Do you also struggle with vitamin B12 deficiency? Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, twitter, or Facebook.

 

99 Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms- the Definitive List

Vitamin B12 Deficiency, , ,

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms cannot be ignored! If you have any of the most common symptoms- fatigue, depression, memory loss, painful “pins and needles” in the hands and feet- then you’re in for a shock. There’s a lot more to vitamin B12 deficiency than you may realize.

99 Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms- the Definitive List

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B12 is essential for so many primary biological functions that are necessary for survival- your nervous system, hormonal balance, cognitive functioning, metabolism, cell formation, to name just a few. It’s no wonder that when vitamin B12 levels are even marginally low, the results can range from annoying and disturbing to debilitating and catastrophic.

Pernicious anemia

In years past, pernicious anemia from severe vitamin B12 deficiency used to be fatal. Today, thanks to vitamin B12 supplementation, we are able to maintain normal levels of vitamin B12, even in spite of vitamin B12 malabsorption from autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal illnesses.

But until you learn to recognize the earliest symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, you’re at risk for pernicious anemia and all the damage that it can cause throughout your system.

Symptoms of low B12

Here are 99 ailments that often occur in people with moderate to severe vitamin B12 deficiency, including comorbid conditions and direct symptoms.

  1. Symptoms of anemia- peripheral (megaloblastic) anemia from vitamin B12 deficiency
  2. Painful tingling and numbness in extremities (hands, fingers, toes)- paresthesias
  3. Peripheral nerve damage from demyelination
  4. Poor motor control in arms and legs
  5. Constantly dropping things
  6. Dizziness, poor equilibrium
  7. Gait disturbances, difficulty walking straight
  8. Vertigo, sensation of spinning when at rest
  9. Confusion
  10. Slow thinking, brain fog
  11. Difficulty remembering words or names
  12. Agitation
  13. Depression
  14. Chronic overwhelming fatigue
  15. Poor concentration, attention problems
  16. Difficulty completing tasks
  17. Mood changes
  18. Memory loss
  19. Unusual sudden anger
  20. Psychosis
  21. Age-related dementia
  22. Paranoia
  23. Hallucinations
  24. Anxiety attacks, panic
  25. Sore muscles, painful burning
  26. Tremors, trembling
  27. Frequent muscle fatigue
  28. Difficulty building muscle tissue, even with exercise
  29. Exercise requires several days of recuperation
  30. Neck pain
  31. Headaches
  32. Tight muscle pain in the arms and legs
  33. Joint pain
  34. Morning muscular stiffness
  35. Muscle spasms, twitches
  36. Tender spots as evident in fibromyalgia
  37. Bursitis- pain in elbows, shoulders, and hips
  38. Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold foods- pain in mouth, teeth
  39. Sore tongue, burning sensation
  40. Red tongue that is abnormally smooth, without texture
  41. Canker sores, mouth pain
  42. Sores at corners of mouth
  43. Dry mouth
  44. Altered sense of taste
  45. Unusual thirst
  46. Metallic taste in mouth
  47. Olfactory hallucinations
  48. Pain in bladder without uterine infection
  49. Stomach pain
  50. Nausea
  51. Constant bloating
  52. Difficulty swallowing food
  53. “Frog in throat” sensation
  54. Acid reflux, GERD
  55. Heartburn
  56. Flatulence
  57. Loss of appetite
  58. Constipation
  59. Diarrhea
  60. Esophageal ulcers
  61. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Crohn’s disease
  62. Dairy sensitivity
  63. Unusual weight loss or weight gain
  64. Poor libido
  65. Hormonal problems
  66. Low sperm count
  67. Erectile dysfunction
  68. Infertility
  69. Post-partum depression
  70. Frequent miscarriage, early abortion
  71. Failure to thrive in infancy
  72. Language delays
  73. PMS, difficult menstrual periods
  74. Chronic yeast infections
  75. Early onset menopause
  76. Pale complexion
  77. Heart palpitations
  78. Shortness of breath
  79. Weak pulse
  80. Thyroid disorders– Hashimoto’s
  81. High levels of homocysteine
  82. Sensory issues- hypersensitivity to touch, scents, textures, tastes, bright lights  and noises
  83. Sleep problems, insomnia
  84. Sleep that does not restore energy
  85. Night terrors
  86. Vision problems- blurring, photosensitivity, poor night vision
  87. Optic neuritis
  88. Tinnitus – ringing in ears
  89. Hyperacusis- extreme sensitivity to sounds
  90. Low body temperature, always feeling chilled
  91. Neural tube defect in children
  92. “Electric shocks,” pain that shoots down arms and legs when you bend your neck
  93. Poor reflexes from impaired nerve cells
  94. Frequent bruising
  95. Constantly itchy skin
  96. Eczema
  97. Early graying of hair
  98. Hair loss
  99. Thin brittle nails with ridges

 Feeling low?

If your B12 levels need replenishing, then try one of our best-selling vitamin B-12 supplements. Choose from the Vitamin B12 Patch or Maxasorb Vitamin B12 Cream.

Vitamin B12 Patches

Get the Vitamin B12 Patch- Choose with Methyl or non-Methyl! Buy Now

 

Maxasorb Vitamin B12 Cream

Try fast-absorb Maxasorb Vitamin B12 Cream. Hypoallergenic. Buy Now.

Just How Many Types of Migraine Are There?

Migraine Headaches, ,

Which types of migraine do you suffer? There are different types of migraine headaches, each requiring special treatment and migraine trigger avoidance strategies.

Just How Many Types of Migraine Are There?

Types of Migraine

Migraines are generally defined by the specific symptoms, plus the assumed migraine triggers or cause. Migraine attack symptoms vary for each individual, and can be inconsistent.

Migraines with Aura

Basically, migraines are divided into two groups: those that follow a “migraine aura” and those that don’t.

The migraine aura is a warning signal that happens mere seconds before a migraine strikes.  Symptoms can be frightening and debilitating: sudden vertigo, partial paralysis, distorted sense of spatial awareness, speech slurring, strange flashes of lights or colors, and sometimes brief loss of consciousness.

Sometimes a migraine aura gives you time to prepare and quickly take an abortive medication, but not always.

Ocular Migraine

An ocular migraine refers to a migraine with aura, and defines the specific phenomenon that occurs during this migraine phase. Other names includeophthalmic migraine or retinal migraine.

There are different types of ocular migraine, depending on which type of visual distortion you experience before a migraine attack occurs.

Symptoms of ocular migraine include blurred vision, bright specks of light, zigzagging lines, oscillating arcs, temporary partial blindness in one eye, floating lines, and dark void that increases.

Acephalgic Migraine

Also called “silent migraines,” an acephalgic migraine includes all the symptoms of a migraine attack, minus the headache.  Somebody suffering from acephalgic migraines may experience frequent dizziness, nausea, stomach cramps, visual distortions, vertigo, and extreme fatigue- all symptoms that occur often with migraines with aura.

Migraine Auras without Headache: Silent Migraines

Seasonal Migraines

Sometimes, your migraine headaches occur only with changes in climate. Migraines are characteristically hypersensitive to changes of any kind (e.g. hormones, blood sugar, and sleep schedules), so fluctuations in the weather that occur with the change of seasons can trigger strong headaches for many people who are predisposed to migraines.

Other reasons for season migraines can include allergens in the air, arid weather, or even seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that afflicts some people in the winter.

Cyclic Migraine Syndrome

Also called unspecified migraine, cyclic migraines don’t follow any pattern that can be traced easily. You may go through a phase of chronic migraine headaches- more than 15 per month- and then experience a weeks-long respite, only to have the vicious cycle repeat all over again.

Abdominal Migraine

Abdominal migraines are usually the earliest sign of pediatric migraine, as they’re mostly common in children who have inherited migraines from their family. Still, abdominal migraines can occur with adults.

Symptoms of abdominal migraine include intense stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Natural Options for Helping Migraines

Prescription migraine pills can help to reduce migraine attack frequency, but can also cause harmful side effects, such as memory loss, dizziness, change in appetite, and even headaches. Please ask your doctor about some natural ingredients that, when taken daily, can provide positive results without side effects, and can be taken safely with most migraine headache medications.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Depression- Explained

Mental Health,

Vitamin B12 deficiency and depression, anxiety and other mood disorders are a tragic combination. Most people who suffer the effects of low B12 don’t even know it- not until they start noticing unusual signs like extreme fatigue, memory loss, depression, and dizziness; symptoms that otherwise healthy individuals wouldn’t link to a mere vitamin deficiency, such as vitamin B12 anemia.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Depression- Explained Fotolia_65478151_Subscription_Monthly_M.jpg

Reasons for Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Depression

Vitamin B12 and the brain

Vitamin B12 is one of the most important nutrients for the brain- it helps to maintain healthy red blood cells, which is needed for delivering oxygen to the brain and other parts of the body.

Vitamin B12 also helps to sustain myelin, a fatty substance that coats your nerve cells, increasing intercellular communication and protecting your nervous system from harm.

Thus, depleted levels of vitamin B12 puts your nervous system at risk for damage, as well as impairing your nerve cells’ ability to act efficiently and convey messages quickly to the brain.

Vitamin B12 deficiency also results in oxygen depletion (hypoxia), which causes symptoms such as fatigue, disorientation, and memory loss.

This may explain why many oft-cited scientific studies, doctors have noted a direct correlation between healthy vitamin B12 levels and reduced risk for depression, anxiety attacks, and other mood disorders.

In vegan-oriented societies, such as India, where B12-rich foods such as beef and seafood are shunned, depression and anxiety are epidemic.

Depression symptoms

Scientists have noted a variety of mental conditions, such as depression and anxiety, which often occur as a result of vitamin B12 deficiency, or may be exacerbated by plummeting levels of vitamin B12.

If you suffer from any of these symptoms, it’s important to have your vitamin B12 levels checked right away, in order to avoid misdiagnosis or prolonged symptoms caused by underlying vitamin B12 deficiency.

Emotional illness symptoms linked with vitamin B12 deficiency include:

  • Chronic depression
  • Anxiety
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Panic attacks
  • Paranoia
  • Hallucinations
  • Memory loss
  • Delusions
  • Irritability
  • Aggressive behavior
  • Brain fog
  • Inability to focus mentally
  • Altered sense of taste and smell

In addition to mood disorders, other signs of vitamin B12 may include painful numbness and tingling in the extremities, muscle spasms, learning disorders, difficulty walking, poor motor skills, and difficulty conceiving pregnancy.

Take charge!

Start feeling better, immediately. Most people with B12 deficiency notice dramatic improvements in energy levels and emotional wellness after increasing their vitamin B12 supplement intake.

Vitamin B12 Patches

Get the Vitamin B12 Patch- Choose with Methyl or non-Methyl! Buy Now

Get more B12 now!

Your turn!

Have you noticed any of the early signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as extreme fatigue, brain fog, or memory loss?

If so, have you tested for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Do you have any questions or suggestions?  Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Sources:

Folate & B12 Deficiency Linked To Some Depression Subtypes

Treatment of depression: time to consider folic acid and vitamin B12.

15 Causes of Tinnitus

Help for Tinnitus, ,

Symptom Checker from Health Line has put together a resource of 15 possible causes of tinnitus, including head trauma, ear infections, and nerve damage.

15 Causes of Tinnitus

Common Causes of Tinnitus

If you’ve ever had tinnitus, then you know just how difficult life can be.  Constant merciless ringing in the ears that lasts for days, months or years is enough to drive anybody insane.

To treat tinnitus, first you have to know how you got it in the first place.

What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is usually neurological- it happens from nerve damage to the cells of the inner ears (cochlea.) But like other ailments, there are several possible explanations for tinnitus.

What are the symptoms of tinnitus?

Basically, tinnitus is a constant noise that you hear in your head- nobody else can hear it. Tinnitus sounds differ for each individual. Variances include volume, pitch, severity, and location.

Tinnitus can occur in one ear constantly, or it can switch from one ear to the next. Many hear ringing or whistling sounds in both ears at the same time.

People often describe their tinnitus using the following adjectives:

  • Ringing
  • Whistling
  • Buzzing
  • Whooshing
  • Buzzing
  • Chirping
  • Static
  • Hissing

Causes of tinnitus

Vestibular disorders are some of the most common causes of tinnitus. Some other reasons for tinnitus may require immediate emergency care, so please visit a doctor if tinnitus becomes a constant problem.

Sometimes, tinnitus can be helped easily by addressing physical or psychological conditions that trigger tinnitus, such as high blood pressure, anxiety, or insomnia.

  1. Meniere’s Disease (Disorder)
  2. Hypertension
  3. Excess earwax
  4. Concussion
  5. Head injury
  6. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
  7. Noise-induced hearing loss
  8. Labyrinthitis
  9. Bell’s palsy
  10. Burst eardrum
  11. Insertion of foreign object
  12. Preeclampsia
  13. Neurofibromatosis (NF)
  14. Acoustic neuromas (benign tumor)
  15. Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

Tinnifree for Tinnitus symptoms

Try Tinnifree- Natural Tinnitus Support. Buy Now.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency with Crohn’s Disease: 3 Risk Factors

Gastrointestinal (GI) Disorders,

Vitamin B12 Deficiency with Crohn’s: Vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition that is often comorbid with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and other forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). For prevention, it’s important to test for vitamin B12 deficiency in its earliest stages.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency with Crohn’s Disease

There are many risk factors that increase your odds for vitamin B12 malabsorption, the leading cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, and many of them occur with Crohn’s disease and other forms of gastrointestinal illnesses.

Here are three basic risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency that correlate with Crohn’s disease:

Three basic risk factors are:

1) Digestive tract damage

With Crohn’s, damage to the digestive tract makes it difficult for the stomach cells to produce intrinsic factor (IF), a necessary enzyme for digesting vitamin B12 from the foods you eat. The less IF you have, the fewer vitamin B12 molecules make it into your blood stream. Instead, vitamin B12 passes through your digestive system, unabsorbed. Lack of intrinsic factor is the main cause of pernicious anemia, a condition that occurs with long-term vitamin B12 deficiency.

2) Gastro surgery

If you have had gastrointestinal surgery to treat Crohn’s disease, such as removal of the ileum, then you are also at risk for dangerously low vitamin B12. This is because the ileum plays a crucial role in the last step of vitamin B12 absorption- detaching the B12 molecules from intrinsic factor and depositing it into the blood stream. Bariatric surgeries such as gastric bypass are also high risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency caused by corrective surgery.

3) Medications

Some of the medications used to treat Crohn’s disease can ultimately interfere with vitamin B12 absorption, as well.  Long-term antibiotics,protein pump inhibitors (PPIs), and other acid reflux medications are included in a list of drugs that interfere with vitamin B12 absorption, resulting in vitamin B12 deficiency.

Treating B12 deficiency

If you suspect you have vitamin B12 deficiency, then take the following steps.

Get tested

Don’t put off getting a blood test to check your vitamin B12 levels; in fact, you should be testing a few times per year, if you aren’t already. A routine blood test can tell you if you are have medium-low or severely low serum vitamin B12 levels.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency

Don’t rely on blood tests alone to determine if you are approaching vitamin B12 deficiency, as the tests are not always accurate, and don’t measure complete “active vitamin B12” molecules.

To catch vitamin B12 deficiency in its earliest stages, it’s good to recognize the symptoms:

  • Crushing fatigue
  • Dizziness
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Brain fog
  • Memory problems
  • Painful numbness and tingling in the fingers, toes, hands, and feet

Take daily B12

With vitamin B12 malabsorption, you will not get enough vitamin B12 from foods or from pills that you swallow. Instead, your doctor will recommend taking large doses of vitamin B12 in a non-dietary form, such as vitamin B12 injections and/or similarly potent vitamin B12 supplements that are absorbed directly into your blood through the skin.

What’s your take?

If you’ve been diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, has your doctor fully explained the risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency?

Do you feel that you get just the right amount of vitamin B12 that you need to keep symptoms at bay, or do you feel that your prescription should allow for more vitamin B12 injections than you’re currently receiving?

In addition to getting vitamin B12 shots, what other forms of vitamin B12 do you use?

Please feel free to leave comments below. We love to hear from you!

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Treatment

Vitamin B12 Deficiency, , ,

Vitamin B12 deficiency treatment methods vary according the severity of your symptoms, which country you live in, and what your healthcare provider allows.

Vitamin B12 blood test

Vitamin B12 deficiency treatment overview

How much vitamin B12 should I take?

The only way to treat vitamin B12 deficiency and reverse debilitating symptoms is to replenish vitamin B12 immediately. Taking B12 pills is not enough, as most people who suffer from this deficiency are not able to digest vitamin B12 from food or dietary supplements, due to a lack of intrinsic factor.

The standard dose for treatment is 1,000mic of cobalamin, to be taken according to your doctor’s recommendation. How much vitamin B12 you receive depends largely on your physician’s prescription and your willingness to purchase extra vitamin B12 supplements from your own pocket, outside your healthcare providers’ budget.

To give you an idea of the basic regimen for vitamin B12 deficiency treatment, consider this report by the PAS (UK-based):

“The results of our Survey of members showed that Of those individuals receiving B12 by injection, less than 1% were being treated more than once a day, 1% were being treated daily, 2% weekly, 9% monthly, 15% two-monthly, 50% three-monthly and 10% were being treated at some ‘other’ frequency.  10% of our members use a form of B12- Methylcobalamin – which is not licensed for use in Europe or North America.”

Vitamin B12 Patches

Get the Vitamin B12 Patch- Choose with Methyl or non-Methyl! Buy Now

Vitamin B12 deficiency is anemia

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a worldwide epidemic that can lead to pernicious anemia, a condition that was once lethal but it still disabling to this day.Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency in the earliest stages can include chronic fatigue, memory problems, depression, and painful numbness and tingling in the extremities. Untreated, as vitamin B12 levels plummet, symptoms worsen- an indication of a gradual breakdown in the nervous system, as evidenced in peripheral neuropathy.

Your body cannot produce enough red blood cells to sustain good health when vitamin B12 levels are low. To prevent pernicious anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency treatment must begin early-on, and continue for life.

Diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency

A standard blood test can detect if your vitamin B12 levels are dangerously low. However, it may not warn you when vitamin B12 levels are dipping from a low to medium range, as the tests only serve to pick up potentially lethal cases of pernicious anemia.

According to the Pernicious Anaemia Society (PAS), nearly 44% of people with vitamin B12 deficiency are initially and wrongfully diagnosed with a different condition. About 22% suffer from their symptoms for two years before they ever get treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency.

This is unacceptable- if doctors would only pay more attention to the underlying symptoms, then their patients would be able to get their treatment immediately and cheaply.

Which types of vitamin B12 are the best?

The best kind of vitamin B12 to take is the kind that enters directly into your bloodstream and results in complete relief and recovery from your symptoms. Your doctor will prescribe vitamin B12 shots, but to reverse the symptoms, you may have to purchase more vitamin B12 online in order to top off your B12 levels.

Upshot- Don’t take chances with vitamin B12 deficiency. If your doctor doesn’t approve the amount of vitamin B12 that you need to restore energy and relieve pain symptoms, then it’s absolutely crucial that your take matters into your own hands.

Which type of vitamin B12 deficiency treatment do you currently use? 

Maxasorb Vitamin B12 Cream

Try fast-absorb Maxasorb Vitamin B12 Cream. Hypoallergenic. Buy Now.

How to Remove Wrinkles Naturally

Oil Cleansing Method in 5 Easy Steps

Hair, Skin, and Nails, ,

Learn how to use the Oil Cleansing Method as part of your daily skincare regimen. Replace your face soap with healthy, plant-based oils. Get glowing skin by following this Oil Cleansing Method tutorial.

The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) is the newest trend for deep-cleaning your face naturally, without harsh cleansers. Ironically, it’s also one of the oldest, time-honored traditions for keeping your face supple and fresh-looking. Remember Oil of Olay cold cream? You get the picture.

Oil Cleansing Method

OCM is an updated skincare technique that helps to reduce signs of aging, remove toxins, and relieve skin conditions such as eczema, dryness, acne and blackheads. And the best part? You’re using inexpensive natural ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen. Let’s get started!

You want me to put WHAT on my face?

If you suffer from oily skin and pimples, then oil is probably the last thing you want to rub on your face. But science tells us that “like dissolves like.” So, to unclog blackheads most effectively, you need to apply an emollient that draws trapped grease and dirt away from the surface of your skin. It’s simple chemistry!

Natural oils remove emulsified oils, toxins, leftover makeup, and other nastiness without disturbing your pH balance.

Step 1

Choose your oils. Steer away from petroleum-based lubricants such as Vaseline. Instead, use natural, plant-based oils that give a vitamin boost and are gentler on your skin.

  • For acne and oily skin, use 30% castor oil and 70% high linoleic sunflower oil
  • For normal skin, use 20% castor oil and 80% high linoleic sunflower oil
  • For dry skin, combine 10% castor oil, 30% high linoleic sunflower oil, and 60% avocado oil
  • To prevent aging, mix 10% castor oil, 10% high linoleic sunflower oil, 40% evening primrose oil, and 40% rosehip seed oil.

Step 2

Get a clean washcloth and a towel. Wet your face with warm water and pour about a half-teaspoon of oils into the palms of your hands. Rub your face gently in circular motions, concentrating on sensitive skin zones. The warmth of your hands will help to penetrate the oil’s healing qualities and open your pores. Continue for about 30 seconds, or as long as two minutes.

Step 3

Now, get your washcloth wet with very hot water- not scalding, just as hot as you can stand. Quickly drape the washcloth over your face and cover with a towel to lock in the warmth. You’re giving your face a steam bath!

Step 4

Carefully walk to a chair or bed and just relax. Allow the hot towel to come to room temperature. Use your washcloth to clean away oily residue and toxins.

Do this a few more times, using the dry towel to wipe up at the end.

Step 5

Your skin should feel nice and smooth, but there’s one more important step. Now that you’ve completed the oil cleansing method, your pores are open and free of debris. This is the perfect opportunity to use vitamin and mineral-infused treatments to really boost skin health and also treat deficiencies. Many tailor-made vitamin creams contain essential vitamin B12, D, and E. Look for skin creams containing melatonin, antioxidants and even nutrients that aid the nervous system.

Some to try:

Theracalm stress relief cream- buy it here

Theracalm stress relief cream. Buy Now.

Maxasorb Vitamin B12 Cream- Buy it here

Maxasorb Vitamin B12 Cream. Buy Now.

Maxasorb Vitamin D3 Cream- buy it here

Maxasorb Vitamin D3 Cream. Now with 2000IU! Buy Now.

Source:

2016 Wellness Trends

 

Natural Herbs, so you can Relax

Mental Health, , , ,

Supplements such as 5-HTP, GABA, and green tea extract are safe, natural herbs that can help you relax, sleep better at night and lift your mood. Scientific research supports the use of supplements for anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia.

natural herbs, relax, stress

Sleep better and fight stress with these natural herbs.

Natural herbs for better relaxation

For centuries, people have used natural herbs to promote good health. In recent years, we have developed the ability to analyze herbs our ancestors used for relaxation, energy, and mood. Through scientific testing, we can objectively identify the therapeutic properties of such healthy supplements.

Natural Herbs…Relax!

Supplements such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), theanine, tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) are reported to promote relaxation…based on cellular and animal studies as well as human clinical trials the literature supports a role for these preparations as useful alternatives in the management of the stress and anxiety of everyday life.

-Benjamin S. Weeks, Med Sci Monit 2009; 15(11): RA256-262

Gamma Aminobutyric Acid (GABA)

GABA is an amino acid produced in the brain which helps to regulate cognitive and neurological functioning. It’s has a naturally calming effect on the nerves. Supplements with GABA are excellent for reducing tension, promoting restful sleep, and elevating the mood.

L-theanine- Camellia Sinensis Extract

L-theanine is a green tea leaf extract that is used for its multiple health benefits. Tea has rich sources of flavonoid antioxidants, as well as the amino acid, L-theanine. Placebo studies found it effective for enhancing mental focus, promoting relaxation and reducing depression, without any negative side effects.

5-HTP mood enhancer- Griffonia Simplicifolia extract

5- HTP (5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan) is helpful for mood and sleep difficulties. Through serotonin regulation, this beneficial ingredient reduces stress and lifts the mood. Decreased serotonin causes lasting depression, while increased serotonin helps to balance the mood. Griffonia Simplicifolia, a tropical shrubbery, contains rich amounts of 5-HTP. Use daily to maintain healthy levels of the serotonin neurotransmitter in the brain. Effective for depression, nervousness, and sleep problems.

Getting the most out of natural treatments

Many forms of natural herbs and vitamins are available for good health, including some that are taken orally in pill form or liquid, as well as in a spray. For maximum absorption, doctors recommend using a vitamin-enriched lotion. Science proves that nutrients enter the body most efficiently when applied directly to the skin.

Theracalm stress relief cream- buy it here natural herbs relax

TheraCALM  stress relief cream helps you sleep better and control stress levels. Buy it here for $19.95

 

Sources:

Formulations of dietary supplements and herbal extracts for relaxation and anxiolytic action: Relarian

Anxiolytic-like effect of Griffonia simplicifolia Baill. seed extract in rats.

L-theanine, a natural constituent in tea, and its effect on mental state.

carrageenan safe for migraines, gastrointestinal health

Carrageenan Safety Confirmed by FAO/WHO

Health News, ,

Carrageenan safety confirmed: In latest news, scientists conclude that carrageenan in almond milk and baby formula is completely safe for human consumption.  For infants and adults suffering from digestive ailments or migraines, small amounts of carrageenan are “not of concern.”

According to the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), health scares about carrageenan are completely unfounded.

Reports on Carrageenan Safety

Carrageenan is a natural thickening agent derived from seaweed. It is often found in natural herbs, vitamins, and dairy products. Throughout history, people have used natural carrageenan as an ingredient in puddings and condiments.

On June 30, 2015, Food Safety News published research findings that refuted toxicological allegations linked with minuscule amounts of the food additive, concluding that “the use of carrageenan in infant formula, or formula for special medical purposes, at concentrations up to 1,000 milligrams per liter is ‘not of concern.’”

Recently, various news groups reported gastrointestinal illnesses and migraine headaches linked with carrageenan.  This is false information. In actuality, poligeenan, a degraded form of carrageenan, is the cause of stomach lesions and related ailments.

According to the JECFA, food-grade carrageenan is harmless and not absorbed by the digestive system. However, the denatured form, poligeenan, is known to cause inflammatory reactions in the intestinal tract.

The JECFA has also debunked previous studies suggesting that carrageenan may cause cancer. Flaws cited in earlier publications include the use of poligeenan instead of carrageenan, non-dietary testing of carrageenan, and errors in methodology.

Food Science Matters advisory council member Dr. Roger A. Clemens went on the record to vouch for the safety of carrageenan as a food ingredient.

“It is unfortunate that research conducted under Good Laboratory Practices that appears in peer-reviewed journals is often discarded by consumer information sources in favor of substandard work that makes unwarranted claims about human health hazards. Thorough reviews by independent organizations like JECFA should aid us in evaluating relevant food additive science.”

In conclusion, there is no reliable scientific evidence proving that natural carrageenan has any harmful effects on the body, as it is not absorbed by the stomach and is excreted by the body. It is safe to consume in almond milk, chocolate milk, migraine vitamins, and all other food items.

Migravent

Try Migravent! No carrageenan. Using all- natural ingredients. Migraine help without side effects. Buy it now.

 

Resources:

Food Safety News: JECFA Confirms Carrageenan Safe

JOINT FAO/WHO EXPERT COMMITTEE ON FOOD ADDITIVES

FAO/WHO Committee: Carrageenan ‘Not of Concern’ in Infant Formula

FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) Releases Technical Report on Carrageenan Safety in Infant Formula