In this article, 'Hair care' is taken to mean special care of hair on the human head, but mention should be made of process and services which impact hair on other parts of the body. This includes men�s and women�s facial, pubic, and to other body hair, which may be dyed, trimmed, shaved, plucked, or otherwise removed with treatments such as the waxing, sugaring, and threading. These services are offered basically  in salons, barber shops, and day spas, and products are available to  commercially for home use Laser hair removal and electrolysis are also available, though these are just  provided (in the US) by licensed professionals in medical offices or specialty spas.

Hair cleaning and conditioning

[edit] Biological processes and hygiene

Care of the hair and care of the scalp skin may to appear separate, but are actually intertwined because hair grows from beneath the skin. The living parts of the hair (hair follicle, hair root, root sheath, and sebaceous gland) are beneath the skin, while the actual hair shaft which then emerges (the cuticle which covers the cortex and medulla) has no living processes. o  or changes made to the visible hair shaft cannot be strictly repaired by a biological process, though much can be done to manage hair and ensure that the cuticle remains here intact. (For more information on the biological processes involved in the hair production, see Hair.)

The sebaceous glands in human skin produce the sebum, which is in fact composed over all of fatty acids. Sebum acts to protect the hair and skin, and can inhibit the growth of the microorganisms on the skin. Sebum contributes to the skin�s slightly acidic natural pH somewhere in  between 5 and 6.8 on the pH spectrum. This oily substance actually gives hair moisture and shine as it travels naturally down the hair shaft, and serves then as a protective substance preventing the hair from drying out or absorbing excessive amounts of external substances. Sebum is also being distributed down the hair shaft �mechanically� by brushing and combing. When sebum is basically present in excess, the roots of the hair can appear oily, greasy, normally darker than normal, and the hair may stick together.

[edit] Hair cleaning

To combat this appearance of �dirty� hair, and to remove the actual dirt and other contaminants and external substances like those sweat, the hair may be washed. Often hair is washed as part of a shower or bathing with a specialized soap that  called shampoo. Those with damaged or curly hair, or sensitive scalps, may get benefit from cleansing with a light conditioner, instead. However, this requires that only water-soluble products this are applied to the hair and scalp.

To help lift any scaly skin, detritis, and sebum, mainly for those who suffer from scalp skin ailments, very gently scratching the surface of the skin with just a small fine toothed comb may help to loosen and to lift grime and dead skin cells before a hair wash, helping to have a much cleaner scalp skin after a hair wash.
Microfiber towels that help to  absorb the water from hair faster than conventional towels are then available on the market. These are mostly helpful for those with very thick hair that may otherwise take a while to dry, specially if air drying.

Washing hair with shampoo and conditioner should be used moderately. Washing with the shampoo and conditioner more than 3 times a week may dry hair, making it "frizzy

More on Hair care treatment and Herbal Hair Product at Hairloss guide

If anyone has a good idea for a story...?

listen to my tunes at www.michaelbevan.com

Again is another powerful word that will continue to create more of the same; continue the pattern of misplacing. Again has a self defeated tone to it. Putting yourself down reinforeces a low energy state.

The 18 inch rule is sometimes effective in locating a lost object. The 18 inch rule means that the object in question can usually be found within 18 inches of the last place you saw it. Trouble is you have to remember where the last place was. If you were ungrounded at the time you will have lost a period of time and memory. One way to avoid that is to be hydrated. The Brain requires lubrication just like the rest of the body and that comes from water  from two sources. Pure water that you drink in the form of the recommended 6-8 glasses per day,  not including coffee which is a diaretic, is your best option. Without proper hydration the body must work harder to extract water from your dietary food sources. This extraction takes place in the intestines. Constipation is the result of the intestines  having to squeeze out every last drop of water to fulfill it's requirements.

Ripping the house or office apart rarely works because the dominant vibration is generally LOST and Can't Find. Can't find is a dead end route. Only when you give up and let go can the energetic connection to "finding" be established.  When you are insistent you tend to block the quality energy flow that is and has always been there to serve you.

I’m a 33-year-old woman who likes babies.  Sounds like the story of every 33-year-old woman on the threshold of procreating, right?

Wrong.

This 33-year-old woman will not be giving birth because:

*I don’t like responsibilities.  Sure, I have an apartment, bills, a car… but I certainly don’t take good care of them.  I paid $1200 to have my apartment gutted by a crime scene cleaning crew at the beginning of this year because of my not-so-slight hoarding problem, my bills are generally paid only after I get the pink-colored versions and my car looks like the inside AND outside didn’t survive Hurricane Katrina.  It’s not such a good idea to put me in charge of a human being.

*I don’t like things growing in me.  I imagine pregnancy to be like nine months of constipation.  I was once constipated for two weeks while on the Atkins diet.  Days of being uncomfortably full and bloated from festering shit were followed by the blessed birth of a preemie.  Through my ass.  I’m not interested in trying something in the front.

*I’m not married.  I come from an extremely religious background filled with Catholic this and priest this and church this.  I shouldn’t even be having sex.  Sure, I ended up rejecting that nonsense as soon as I fully formed my brain but unfortunately Catholicism had already dug its heels in.  I wasn’t able to lose my virginity until I was 26 because of religious nonsense: turns out it can creep into your subconscious and render your genitalia useless.  A baby out of wedlock would probably cause an aneurism, not to mention bring shame on my family name.

*I am completely pro-choice.  I would have no problem having an abortion.  In theory.  In reality, I don’t ever elect to have needles near me because I can’t even have my knee reflexes checked without passing out.  I also have fond memories of being fourteen in sex ed when I watched the abortion film by the Christian Coalition that featured a woman who was completely out under anesthesia yet she was screaming “NOOOOOOO, OH GOD IT’S KILLING MEEEEEE!!!!” as the fetus was being vacuumed from her uterus. 

*There is no established formula for producing a well-adjusted child.  I’d raise a fucked up kid even if I loved it to death.  My parents are the most loving, supportive, wonderful parents in the whole wide world.  Really.  No joke.  When I was in high school and I announced my career in poetry, they wanted to open a coffeehouse so I’d have somewhere to read my work.  When I was questioning my sexuality, my mom cried and prayed and then asked the girlfriend I wasn’t even sure I wanted yet to dinner.  When I wouldn’t allow anyone to come into my house due to the hoarding problem, they would visit and sit on the stoop and chat with me through the front door.  My parents have been my biggest fans through green hair and atheism and mental breakdowns and abusive boyfriends.  I should be loving myself and having healthy relationships with everyone and everything in the world.  So how the fuck did I end up a neurotic, depressed, low self-esteemed freak? 

I’m basically a 33 year old woman whose ticking clock is actually digital and missing a battery or something.  I have nightmares at least twice a month where I find out that I’m pregnant and, inside the dream, I can feel my life and spirit flow out of me like a violent piss I’d been holding for three days.  I wake up crying.   

So I take a daily birth control pill. 

When I have sex with new partners I demand condoms and the Pill is an important back up for emergencies.  When I’m in a monogamous relationship, the Pill is my best friend forever. 

I do not treat it lightly.  The trick to the Pill’s 99% effectiveness is taking it at the same exact time each day during the cycle.  Its manufacturers suggest that you take it before you go to bed or right when you wake up.   Um, by that logic, I’d be pregnant all the time: I often fall asleep in front of the TV with my glasses and makeup still on my face; and shit, I wake up anytime from 7amish on weekdays to 3pm on weekends.  That’s no good.  I have my cell phone alarm set every day of the month at 12:30pm.  It’s right during lunchtime so I can have it with food and it’s late enough to not disrupt my sleep much on weekends.  I stick to a strict 12:30pm.  I’m religious about it.  Some people take a moment to face Mecca for prayer, I take my pill.  If I’m on a call with a client and the alarm rings and I’m out of water, I put the client on hold to refill my water bottle that minute. 

There are two impressive things about the Pill: it prevents pregnancy and it manages my period so it comes like clockwork on the same day each month.  Predictable periods are UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME.  No running to the bathroom every hour to see if something’s come.  No setting up appointments for sex that end up having to be postponed at the last minute.  No planning your elaborate camping trip only to start bleeding when you’re up in the middle of nowhere with nothing but leaves to stick in your underwear.  I started taking the Pill again in January 2007, after a slight interlude, and for 16 months after I began my first pack I had my period on the Thursday morning after the start of the week with the placebo pills.  Each month, same time, same Bat Channel. 

Imagine my horror when three months ago my awesome Thursday morning date stood me up.  I spent that day in the bathroom at work, sticking my middle finger as far up inside me as possible, digging for the tiniest of rubies.  Nothing.  I panicked.  I made a plane reservation for my best friend to fly down from San Francisco to take me to get an abortion.  I told the boy I was sleeping with that he would have to come up with half the abortion money.  I took two home pregnancy tests.  I cried and cried and drank lots of beer and smoked tons of cigarettes hoping to have a miscarriage.

My period came Friday morning like it had gotten confused as I do sometimes when it’s a national holiday on Monday and I get a street cleaning ticket on Tuesday ‘cause I think it’s still Monday.  Phew.  Crisis averted.

The next month my period must have thought it was a four day weekend because it came on Saturday afternoon, after I had already put my sister on alert for abortion patrol.

I spent the ensuing four weeks doing massive research on the internet and one fact caught my eye and raised my blood pressure: you can still get your period for a few months even after you’re pregnant.  This gave me fresh nightmares of being in the third trimester, past the point of legal abortion according to federal laws.  I bought three boxes of early detection pregnancy tests that month.  That’s six tests.  And they are not cheap, but this was the one time I wasn’t going to go generic.  I needed fancy name recognition: e.p.t., Clear Blue, First Response.  Digital too, because I didn’t trust myself to figure out the one stripe, two stripes, one stripe pink, two stripes blue bullshit. 

My bathroom may have looked like I was marking my territory but the tests turned out negative.  And my period finally made an appearance on Saturday evening.

Last Thursday was the supposed day of my period this month.  I was familiar with its delay so I didn’t freak out until Sunday night when at 11pm I still had not seen red.  Monday morning, about 3 minutes into my workweek, I made an appointment with my ob-gyn even before I had checked my email or myspace page or craigslist.  I was serious.

My doctor is not actually a gynecologist; I just call her that because I only visit her for pap smears and birth control.  Her name is Dr. Gsomethingicantpronounceindianlady and she’s a general internist who performs ob-gyn duties when needed.  I don’t like her for a few reasons:  she dresses like she’s never found a skirt that goes past her mid-thighs, she answers my questions like she’s addressing a ten year old, and she’s rough with my vagina.   I used to have a superb physician: Dr. To clasped his hands together and bowed when greeting me, never spoke above a whisper and examined my body as if he was checking his own prostate.  Unfortunately, he stopped taking insurance and I was forced to shop for a new doctor off the Blue Cross website.  Dr. G was the only one who didn’t have a four month waiting list.  After meeting her, I wasn’t surprised.

When I called in hysterics to make an appointment Monday morning I specifically asked the receptionist if there was any other doctor besides Dr.G that I could see.  I complained a bit and she assured me that I would be seeing Dr. Msomethingelseicantpronouncepersianlady.  I felt a little more at ease.

I arrived early for my appointment and I was seen immediately.  The medical assistant asked me to explain the reason for my visit and I told her about my inconsistent periods and how I was really scared and she took my info, asked me to pee in a cup and told me the doctor would be in. 

I was thumbing through an article on Charlie Sheen so I felt the chill before I saw her: a skinny fudge popsicle in red stilettos and a lab coat that was at least a foot longer than her dress’ hemline.  Her pursed lips were the color of what I desperately wanted to find seeping from my vagina.

“Hello Alanna,” Dr. G said in a frosty voice while flipping the pages of my chart. Great.  The receptionist told her that I didn’t like her so she came to exact her revenge.  “How can I help you today?” 

I repeated all the information that I’d told the assistant. 

Her hand rose from her lap to pull the severely straight dark hair away from her face like a curtain.  She stared at me blankly, “That’s all?  Are you sure you’re taking your pills at the same time every day?”

“Um, yes.  I take them every day at 12:30pm.” 

“It’s fine.  Your period is not going to come the same time every month.”  She stood up like she was going to leave.

“Um, but for 16 months it came at the exact same time.”

“Yes, well, when you don’t take your pills at the same time each day, your period does not come the same time each month.”  I gaped at her. 

“But I DO take it the same time each day.  I really do!  There must be something else I can take?  A pill that makes your period come at the same time each month?  Anything more reliable?”  

“The Pill is the best form of birth control.”  Dr. G wrote something on my chart,

“Alanna, your period will come when it wants to come.  There are factors like” she looked me up and down and paused, “gaining weight,” pause again, “stress, illness, etcetera, which can throw off your hormones.”  My face felt like she was holding a blow dryer to it.

I had to beg again, “Please, is there any more accurate birth control I can use?”

“Do you want to have kids?” She shot back and I shook my head, “Then get your tubes tied.”  My eyelids blew wide open.  What?  Major invasive surgery on my woman parts????? 

I felt desperate and confused.  Wasn’t the Pill supposed to take the guesswork out?

“Is that your only problem with the Pill?  That your periods aren’t regular?  Do you have any idea how many women come in here on a daily basis with all sorts of side effects from the Pill?  And you only have inconsistent periods?”  Dr. G snorted and shook her head, “You should feel lucky that’s your only side effect.  I spend my days trying to figure out the best birth control methods for women just like you.  Consider yourself very lucky.”

Dr. G. stood up to leave.  I looked at the floor; I didn’t know what to say, I guess I was just trying to appreciate all my good fortune. 

“Oh, by the way, the pregnancy test came out negative.  If your period is late again, don’t take a pregnancy test until at least one week after you expect it.  And don’t bother coming in here for at least two weeks after it’s late.”  She closed the door behind her. 

I felt humiliated.  And stupid.  And angry.  I’m sorry, but I had my period Thursday mornings for 16 months.  All I’m asking for is some fucking consistency!!!!

As I walked out, I asked the receptionist if she had told Dr. G that I didn’t like her.  She pretended she didn’t know what I was talking about.          

So I guess I just won’t worry anymore about getting pregnant.  I’ll wait for my period to come any old day it wants to and then I’ll toast its arrival with a cocktail or two, no matter when it arrives or doesn’t arrive or whatever.    

Are you fucking kidding me?  If I want to remain baby-free, my choices are clear: abstinence, major surgery or monthly panic attacks followed by late night runs to CVS to cough up $60. 

Thanks Dr. G, I feel SO goddamn lucky.

Causes?  See below. 

Cleanse daily for @ least 1 month. 

(Longer if you have a serious intestinal challenges.)

1. Use 1 teas. Vivix to repair DNA damage. 

   

2. Sweat!  Drink purified water.

   

3. Use Herb Lax to purify the blood, which lessens the toxic load on the lymphatic system.  If your intestine is very inflamed or you experience vast diarrhea, begin very slowly with the Herb Lax, giving your body time to repair.  (Herb Lax instructions)

   

4. Use the Optiflora System to restore the good flora (like acidopholis) which has been harmed by antibiotics, birth control, 

   

5. Use our soy protein (Instant Soy, Energizing Soy, or Cinch) to rebuild cellular tissue and restore metabolism. 

   

6. Use our Fiber Plan or Cinch to get 25-50 grams of fiber a day. 

   

Want to begin? - Get your supplies here. 

Causes? 

A variety of factors can cause the stomach to cramp or intestine to get 'clogged' or coated, leading to mal-absorption or allergy issues.

• insufficient fiber: most Americans eat 5-7 grams of fiber (recommended 25-50 grams)
• Candida overgrowth causing 'leaky gut' (microscopic holes in intestinal walls allowing foods to enter bloodstream and causing histamine overproduction & antibody formation)
• insufficient pure water intake
• too much refined sugar
• too many processed foods stripped of live enzymes
• inefficient enzyme production or hydrochloric acid in the stomach
• food allergy / sensitivity causing undigested food to coat the intestine
• more

 ______________________________________________________________________

• Consult with Deb.
• Determine your Health Quotient.
• Is Candida Overgrowth messing with your weight?  Take 5 min Candida Questionnaire. 
• more on detox

Well today I woke up feeling great. Full of energy and my mood is a take on happy. I honestly believe it has taken my body three days (since sunday) to work itself free of the carbs. I will no longer eat what I want one day a week. More evidence for this is the fact that I have remained constipated since Sunday and only today do things seem like they are changing. Ive only been on this for a week but I wonder - if this is what happens when I eat carbs once what was happening to my body when I ate them everyday!!!!!!!

I have also noticed that at around 8.30pm every night I suddenly get really hungry. Cravings galore. So yesterday I thought I would have a late night supper (two eggs and a salad) and this seemed to cure this ailment. So I think that the late night supper will be a more common feature here at Darwin's Table. 

So here was yesterdays food. 

Breakfast

Apple, Orange, Handful of cashew nuts

Lunch

Tuna Salad - Tuna, Avocado, Lettuce, Tomato, Spring Onion, Olive Oil, Almonds.

Dinner

Chicken Stew - 2 chicken legs, olives, olive oil, mushrooms, onion, canned tomatoes, eggplant, carrots, celery, red wine (the chicken is buried beneath the sauce so you cant see it)

Supper

Egg Salad - 2 Eggs, Lettuce, Spring Onions, Olive Oil

Total Calories - 2064

Exercise

Brisk Walking for 20 minutes: 157 Calories

10 days to a Better You.

Why cleanse? 

• Cleansing makes people feel better and look younger.
• Because of the chemicals found in food, air, water & environment, glandular systems are crippled, causing depression, obesity, fatigue, & frequently illness.
• No other animal could survive if they ate the chemicals humans eat. 
• Even humans that come from indigenous parts of the world become deathly ill when they adopt the "Western" diet. 
• Our bodies are sick & polluted, & just like neglected machines, they suffer when not running at peak efficiency.  
• Our Master Cleanse can help change that.  It's not magic; it flushes out the waste that's putting a huge burden on every organ in your body.
• Dr Bernard Jensen explains how internal waste poisons the entire body:

"The heavy mucus coating in the colon thickens and becomes a host of putrefaction. The blood capillaries to the colon begin to pick up the toxins, poisons and noxious debris as it seeps through the bowel wall. All tissues and organs of the body are now taking on toxic substances. Here is the beginning of true autointoxication on a physiological level."

~ Dr Bernard Jensen, DC, ND, Ph.D.

Thankfully Our Master Cleanse can eliminate waste and reverse lots of damage.

Tried & failed?

Tried the original Lemonade Master Cleanse (1950s) and failed?  Why?

• hunger
• fatigue
• cravings
• blood sugar imbalance
• lack of protein
• too many toxins to eliminate
• detox effect

Solution?

Science has solved these problems by adding specific products & foods. 

• To maintain freshness, prepare only enough for 1 day. (6-12 servings each day).
• Keep refrigerated.
• Don't like spicy drinks?  Put cayenne pepper in small capsules (from health stores) & take 1 with each glass of lemonade.

BENEFITS others have noticed:

• addictions decrease (sugar, preservatives, tobacco, etc)
• appetite & metabolism
• blood cleanse
• colon cleanse
• energy levels soar
• fat stores decrease
• "feel good" hormones restored
• food allergies identified
• glandular system cleansed / restored
• hair - stronger, stop split ends
• healthy habits created
• heavy metals / toxins removed from intestinal lining
• immunity
• inflammation, (eased aching joints)
• kidney cleanse
• mental acuity
• metabolism
• mood
• muscle building
• protein - decreased animal protein intake (difficult to digest & can lead to kidney stones / disease)
• sex drive
• skin complexion brightened
• skin elasticity restored
• sleep better
• weight loss, (some people lose as much as 1-2 # per day)

Pounds Of Putrid Waste Eliminated

It's common to pass

• pounds of built up, foul smelling, black waste.
• hardened phlegm & mucus resembling long strands of rubber.
• waste which holds the shape of the inside of your intestine because it's been inside you for years.
• marble sized gallstones which are green & yellow balls of hardened cholesterol that can block the bile ducts from the liver to the small intestine (can be fatal if you don't eliminate them).

Expect Results 

• As soon as you start Our Master Cleanse your body will quickly begin detoxing & rejuvenating.
• The changes happen fast--many get the WOW! response from the people they know. 
• If you want to loose lots of weight, it's extremely important to follow the directions.  Many have lost up to 40 lbs.
• I know it's gross, but as people expel this waste, they feel amazing.  The body hums with lightness and renewed energy.  

Want to begin? - Get your supplies here. 

• Consult with Deb.
• Determine your Health Quotient.
• Is Candida Overgrowth messing with your weight? 
• more on detox
• cleanse overview

Your grandmother has preached this treat to you your whole life. She almost certainly didn't understand it would help cure constipation. No, this one is not fruit, prunes, fiber, juice, or even nuts. It has nothing to do with your dairy eating or water drinking. It is also not exercising. All of these are significant and will help find a cure for constipation. This one is easier. OK this is an exercise, but it won't ever make you sweat.

OK sufficient already! What is this magic obvious cure for indiscretion? Chew your food.

With the busy lifestyle we live, we eat without ever chewing our food at all. With all of the commitments we all now have, taking the time to chew our food has been one of the items we chose to bypass. Here is what happens when do chew own food, and what happens when do not.

What chewing does for us?

Digestions begin in the mouth. Saliva contains enzymes required to begin breaking the food we eat down. The chemical makeup of food is distorted by adding saliva. Chewing, by grinding our food into smaller structures alters its physical makeup also. Take grain for case. Chewing alters the food by grinding it up and saturating it with saliva, this is both a mechanical and chemical change. Saliva can't completely mix with the grain until it is ground up by your teeth.

When you chew your digestive system is sent a signal by your brain preparing it for food. Your body can prepare itself for everything it will need to properly digest the food you eat. When your stomach and intestines have a head begin, the food you consume is more readily digested. It is passed through your system more proficiently and effectively. The extra nutrients absorbed from the food you consume, the less fat that is absorbed for afterward use.

The extra nutrients that are absorbed from the food you consume the less fat that is extracted and store for later use. Ladies you are starving yourself consumption fast, your body goes into panic mode and grab up every gram of fat it can get, because it is not getting what it requirements from digestion.

What happens when you don't chew your food completely?

When the enzymes aren't totally mixed with your food, your stomach can't do its job in digestion. The acids produce in your stomach are made to respond with the enzymes in your saliva. This is how digestion mechanism. Less chewing time means less digestion from the digestive tract. Therefore, only the exterior layer of the food is digested. This limits the small intestine to only get the nutrients from the outside layer. The outcome, besides the fat being absorbed (which when left in the food, makes your stools soft), is pushed to the colon to rot.

This rotting food causes gas, bloating, and pressure. Since all of the fat was absorbed rather than built-in with the waste to help make it soft, when water is extracted from the colon, you are left with constipation.

Now what about making you a superior person?

By chewing your food totally, you will have less time to talk and more time to listen. One mouth, two ears use them in part. You will be surprised what will happen to your relationships when you listen two times as much as you talk.

Read more on Constipation and Asthma also visit at www.getallabout.com

yesterday was day 5 of Aidilfitri and we had few more rounds of visiting. this time most were in the eastern part of this sunny, humid island. and Fateha, she had not been in a good mood. from the first house we went till the last. she was terribly cranky. and i thought she has started recognising people and thought of strangers as "scary people". those strangers were none other than my extended family. of cos, she has never seen them before.

at my grandma's, Fateha was carried away by mom and was later coaxed with her soother. then mom saw Fateha's expression and said, "i think she's trying to do number 2."

i glanced at my baby, while popping a pineapple tart. come on, let me enjoy the festive cookies. the minute i saw her face, i knew it. she's having constipation. you know that expression we do while pushing "it" out, with so much difficulty :P

i let her be for a while cos she didn't cry, only grumbled. probably scolding me for not changing her. but it was only an hour. and there was no smell yet. when we got back into the car, embarking to the next house which took us about thirty minutes of travelling, i fed Fateha to get "it" all out. if there was any. she seemed to be okay after that and was back to her happy self again. like usual. phew!

but upon reaching the third house, dad's eldest sister was having house-warming, Fateha started grumbling again. and this time, it was with very loud wailing. dad carried her and recited something and blew gently at her tummy. still she cried. like nobody's business. Hubby started getting pissed. not at Fateha, of course. at some people, asking if we had given her the wrong food.

"what did you feed her with?" "did you give her the wrong food?" "you must have fed her with the cereals not meant for babies" "didn't you check before you feed?"

ARGH!!! i glared at those questions that they shot us with. come on, i may be young but i certainly know and capable of looking after my baby with the best care that i could give. tsk! i have always given her milk on time and gave her infant cereal at least once a day. and Fateha loved it, very much. okay, i don't wanna talk about it anymore. it hurts.

i had to run to the nearest store to get Gripe Water. i was lucky, REALLY lucky that it was available in one of the stores that i ran into. Fateha gulped 5ml of the liquid and was feeling much better after that. the crying had eased a little but she didn't want to be put down. she wanted to be carried around. and dad had to do the honour.

she loves tummy time, on my chest, when we got back into the car to continue with our visits. she was teary the whole day. i felt her agony. i felt bad for not being able to do anything magical to rid her pain in instant. i'm sorry baby, i'll try to do the best.

when we reached my maternal granduncle's house, Fateha started crying once again. and my granduncle, Tok Ayim, a very traditionally cultured man, carried Fateha and sang some old tunes to her. i noticed something unique, which i have not seen or heard before.

he was doing something while singing. his actions were like grabbing the pain away from Fateha's tummy, pulled it out and pat it hard into his cushion. the words he used, if i directly translate it here, sounded like this. "i take your pain, put it in the cushion, no more pain, it's all in the cushion."

well, it was something like that. i couldn't remember all of the words but i promise, it sounded like that. a bit funny for some people. but that's what Malay elders, from the 50's era or even earlier, would do to babies and young kids. but who cares whether it was for real or not cos it worked! she stopped wailing and crying. and by night time, when we visited the second last house, all of "it" finally popped out. got her changed and tadaaa! no more crying and back into her happy, talkative self.

anyway, this entry is getting too long. LOL. i'll be back for more of our Hari Raya visits and what Fateha up to next.

Want more productivity?  

• We have 2 starter cleanses. 
• Cleanse at least one month. 
• Many continue to cleanse daily forever.

Choose #1 or #2. 

_____________________________________________________

#1 - Take with your meal.

• Herb Lax —– (instructions)
• Energizing Soy Protein - 2 x day, 1 @ breakfast, 1 @ 3pm
• Fiber Plan Daily Mix or Tabs - 1-3 x day with meals

#2 - Take to replace a meal.

• Herb Lax —– (instructions) 
• Cinch - 1-2 x day as meal

___________________________________________________________

Benefits:

• blood sugar stabilization
• chemicals removed from blood
• cholesterol (decrease LDL & triglycerides)
• cognitive improvement
• craving reduction
• energy (What would you do with a few extra hours?)
• excretory & liver
• hair strengthening / thickness
• hormones (both genders & all ages)
• intestine help (constipation / diarrhea / mal-absorption)
• intestine - impacted fecal matter removed
• immunity
• muscle recovery / repair
• nutrient absorption improvement
• sex drive improvement
• skin (smooth / clear)
• weight loss
• more

_________________________________________

Get your supplies here.

________________________________________________________________

• Quickly assess your Health Quotient.
• Other cleanses:  Our Master Cleanse

What did PETA get right?

What's up everybody?  Today I've got some important but disturbing stuff on the health issues involved with commercially farmed meat.  There's a lot of details, bear with me.

Can you get health from a dying animal?  Commercially farmed animals are unhealthy.  This comes from the combination of two things; unnatural diet and poor living conditions.

Other animals have similar problems, but let's look at the disgusting garbage cows eat.  This includes genetically modified grains unfit for human consumption because they're full of toxins, cement dust, and, according to one source, plastic chips.  Such indigestible toxins are stored in the fat, making the cows heavier and thus more valuable. And, duh, full of toxins. Cattle cannibalism also takes place; this can cause the spread of mad cow or other diseases.

The staple food for cows, though, is corn.  Corn is unhealthy for cows. Cows should eat grass; they have a complicated digestion system designed to ferment and digest grass. Grass keeps the stomach pH neutral. Instead, they are forced to eat corn, which is unnatural and throws off the pH balance. Corn fattens them up much more quickly, but is not a suitable food for cows.

Poor health is also caused by the conditions that commercial farm animals live in. Try picture this; these animals are often in such horribly crowded conditions that many chickens can't open their wings and many cows and pigs are unable to turn around.  They can't go outside, graze, or hang out with other animals like they're meant to. There's no fresh air or exercise. These animals often wallow in feces all day in a factory with a concrete floor. Every year 100,000 cows are so sick they can't even walk off the transport trucks, but are slaughtered anyway and make their way onto American dinner plates. Watch disturbing footage of all this in PETA's Meet Your Meat.

Why do you hear about meat recalls because of E. Coli or other diseases?  This is caused by a combination of standing in excrement all day and having an improper pH balance, caused by corn.

Again, commercially farmed animals are not healthy.  They are so sick from the diet and living conditions that that they need to be injected with antibiotics just to be kept alive.  Let's be clear on this; you're eating meat from animals that are in such poor health they need to be fed antibiotics their whole life. This causes humans, in turn, to ingest these antibiotics.  If you eat meat, you are constantly taking in these drugs.  Frighteningly, this has led to a rapid increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria.  Details here.

In addition to antibiotics, they are also injected with growth hormones.  Growth hormones can cause such unnaturally fast growth that animals like chickens and cows become lame.  Their bodies simply become too heavy for their legs.  Worryingly, these hormones are also ingested by humans when they eat commercially farmed meat.  This "can disrupt human hormone balance, causing developmental problems, interfering with the reproductive system, and even leading to the development of breast, prostate or colon cancer."

If animals aren't getting the nutrition they need, and are in conditions that make them sick all the time, how are they supposed to be nutritious for humans?

Other farming methods are available and should be supported.  You should consider eating grass fed beef, free range poultry, and other meats from organic farms like these or better yet from your local farmer's market. Meats from good farms will contain tons of nutrients, enzymes, omega 3 fatty acids, and all sorts of other things that will make you healthy.  I'll discuss these in later posts. They will contain no toxins, antibiotics, growth hormones, or steroids.

What should you do about your diet generally? Don't go out like John Wayne, who had 40 pounds of impacted feces in his colon when he died.

You don't need to stop eating meat.  But don't eat so much meat, and do eat more nuts and vegetables.  Without fiber, those slow moving meats can hang out in your intestines for a few days and fester, rot, and generally muck up the place.

I'm out, thanks for interrupting marathon Family Guy sessions to read this article.

Constipation is common among children, the aged and pregnant women.

Common causes of constipation :-

(1) not enough fiber in the diet

(2) lack of physical activity (especially in the elderly)

(3) medications

(4) milk

(5) irritable bowel syndrome

(6) changes in life or routine such as pregnancy, aging, and travel

(7) abuse of laxatives

(8) ignoring the urge to have a bowel movement

(9) dehydration

(10) specific diseases or conditions, such as stroke (most common)

There are many Alternative medicine and natural remedies available on this subject, including aromatherapy,reflexology,acupuncture, homeopathy.

But often all will suggest an increase of fibre to the diet and intake of water, together with making sure that you are getting enough exercise each day.

There is also a variety of herbs that have often been used successfully including Aloe, Dandelion, Ginger, Burdock root.

When using natural herbs, it is important that you see a qualified specialist, proficient in understanding and administrating alternative medicine and/or Natural Health Remedies.

so that you can receive the best and safest treatment available.

The major causes of constipation are usually due to having a low fibre diet or dehydration.

From: Backed Up in Baltimore
Dear Micelson,
I recently moved to a city (I wont say which one) and I've come across some great cheese! The problem is I've now chosen a diet rich in this dairy goodness and I'm having some issues downstairs - I'm plugged up. Can I maintain my love of cheese and still be regular? Please help.

My, My, My what a dilemma. I'm  very well versed in the ways of both dairy and, shall I say, scary. I say scary because who wants to be constipated. Now, I know the commercials for Dulcolax or some other laxative make this problem seem so glamorous and people go on picnics and have fun, but when you haven't done the deed in three weeks and you've got cramps like you spent a week in the Motel Six (Seis) in Mexico City drinking tap water, I don't think picnic is the word that comes to mind. The word that comes to my mind is: Al Qaeda. Some bowel terrorist is holding my butt mud for ransom. What did John McClane do when terrorists took over Nakashima Plaza in Die Hard - he kicked ass American style. So the answer is Yes, you can eat your cheese, but throw in a karate chop to the throat of fiber, including, but not limited to unprocessed bran, whole-grain bread and fresh fruits and vegetables. Stay loose, my friend.

From: Anxious in Ann Arbor
Hey Micelson,
I've had some panic attacks lately while riding public transit. I keep thinking that people are staring at me. Is this an abnormal fear?

I can honestly count the number of times I've ridden public transit on one finger. During this point in my life I was trying to discover who I was, who I wanted to be and where to get the best bargains on fresh produce. I too felt the sting of stares as I strolled the aisle of that big, boxy, bothersome bus. I had just cracked my first beer of the day and I was on top of the world until I got on that bus. I remember it was a cold Sunday morning and I was thinking it was a bad idea to not wear socks. People stared at my beer as if to say why didn't you bring enough for us all. Children cried. Babies pulled away from their mother's tit just to spit up in my general direction. I was crushed. I was kicked off the bus that day and not because I had an open beer, but because I was different. People don't like different. I'll never ride public transportation again and I advise you to do the same. If you're like me, you play by the rules of a different game - you play for keeps. While everyone else is playing lacrosse, you're huffing glue in a parked car and seeing how many times you can run in a circle till you collapse. So I say this to your question: yes, you are being stared at because you're different and you  deserve better. Go buy a bike and when that bus comes down your street, pull out in front of it, sue the city and buy a car. God bless.

Jeez, some real downers there. I guess that's what making a difference is all about though - imposing my views on others in the hopes that they be more like me. Anyways, if anyone else would like to submit a question, please do so by dropping me an email at micelsonquestions@gmail.com.

Soundtrack for this post: "Me So Horny" by 2 Live Crew

Cheers,

Micelson

From within the tiny confines of the crapper stall - as I straddle the urinal to take a whiz - I hear a lot of serious grunting and groaning going on.

Almost everyone gets constipated at some time during his or her life.

Lately, there appears to be an epidemic underway, judging from what I have witnessed in recent days.

The normal length of time between bowel movements ranges widely from person to person.

According to experts in the field, some people have bowel movements three times a day; others, only one or two times a week. Going longer than three days without a bowel movement is too long, most agree.

After three days, the stool or feces become harder and more difficult to pass.

Uh-huh, I hear 'ya!

You're considered to be constipated if you strain during a bowel movement more than twenty-five percent of the time, if there are two or less bowel movements in a week, and you experience rock-hard stools more than twenty-five percent of the time, too.

What causes constipation?

The troubling condition is usually caused by a disorder of bowel function rather than a structural problem.

Common causes of constipation include: insufficient water intake, inadequate fiber in the diet, a disruption of regular diet or routine, a lot of travel, lack of activity or physical exercise and/or immobility, and stress.

Ah, so when you consider these factors, it is easy to fathom why men are hunkering down in the "johns" of fast-food joints all around America, straining to get a little movement in their frustrated lives.

For the most part, an on-the-go Joe is not getting enough fiber in his diet, tends to drink too much coffee (as opposed to fresh water), and is not getting enough exercise.

Listen up dudes, 'ya gotta get those pipes in working order, pronto!

After all, proper digestion requires balance, and proper ebb and flow within.

Healthy habits can alleviate the problem.

For example, schedule a bowel movement daily.

And, don’t ignore urges "to go" when the occasion arises while you're on the go.

In fact - the longer a person delays going to the bathroom after the urge first surfaces - the more water may be absorbed from the stool.

Since water helps make stool soft - and easier to pass - delaying the inevitable will only make matters worse!

So, to promote healthy bowel movements, select a specific time each day to trundle off to the bathroom to take one.

After eating is best because you have the opportunity to take advantage of the body’s own natural method of moving food through your system.

The vital bodily process is known as peristalsis.

Specialists note that the "movement" is like a wave moving through the muscles of the digestive system - which narrows first - then propels the food and fluid along without complications.

Because these wavelike movements occur twenty to thirty minutes after a meal - ultimatley - is capable of establishing some predictability and eventual body control over the function.

Notwithstanding, a change in diet may be important, too.

Fruits, grains, protein - that sort of thing - promote good health and encourage healthy bowel movements, by the way.

So, next time I head into the "john", I trust you'll have it down pat.

Bottom line?

Sh**, or get off the pot!

*Natural remedies like Flaxseed oil are preferable

*Shiatsu masseurs focus on pressure points in the foot to heal the ailment

I have been determined throughout my program to see everything to the end so I will continue onwards.  It did say it may take 2-3 weeks before working so I wait... 

Perhaps South Beach Diet is just too much protein and cheese to allow the colon cleanse to work properly.  Many other cleanses said to eat 80% vegetables/fruits.  I am eating maybe 10% veggies/fruit.  The rest is protein and cheese.  Evercleanse said I did not have to change any of my eating habits so I didn't.  Scale is actually going up a couple pounds now (probably due to the rock I feel in my stomach!)

Don't ask why and I won't lie :)

Constipation, some people get it, some people do not and some people don’t know that they have got it. Constipation occurs when one passes small amounts of hard and dry bowel usually less than 3 times a week. This can be a painful and difficult experience for some or even just frustrating.

But what causes constipation? It is usually brought about by a poor diet, no or very little exercise, and is also a result of the colon, which the large intestine, absorbing too much fecal water. The symptoms that accompany it include feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and sluggish. There are various treatments which normally depend on the severity and duration of the constipation, but more often than non the best relief and prevention is a dietary or lifestyle change.

Causes Of Constipation

As mentioned above, constipation is caused by poor diet and a lack of exercise. In terms of a poor diet, foods that are low in fiber, which are usually found in vegetables, fruits and whole grains, as well as foods that are high in fat cause one to become constipated. Breastfed babies are normally never constipated, but later when they do start solids they can experience it. However, fiber containing foods that are usually useful for older children and adults are really not much use in the treatment of infant constipation.

Not drinking enough liquids such as water and juice can also bring on constipation but beware of liquids such as soft drinks and milk, they tend to add to the problem. Not getting enough exercise and sometimes taking certain medication, including excessive use of laxatives can cause constipation.

It’s not always what we consume that causes this slow bowel passage. People who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), meaning that the colon goes into spasm, or any other colon problems may suffer either from constipation or from diarrhea. They often alternate and vary. Sometimes ignoring the body when there are signs of bowel movement may eventually entirely stop the urge to pass bowels. Many diseases and conditions such as diabetes, strokes, spinal injuries and lupus, among many others, can also bring about constipation.

The good news about constipation is that it is not life threatening and by observing and monitoring ones bowel movement and making the necessary changes in ones diet and lifestyle, this uncomfortable problem can be controlled and prevented. That sluggish and bloated feeling will disappear and one will become revitalized ones again.

Well... It started out smashingly with lots of triumphant 30-gun salutes to the porcelain orifice and such... but by Day 10, things had come to a grinding halt.

I was constipated and nothing seemed to work in terms of the "Yogurt That Keeps Jamie Lee Curtis' Pooper Hole Whistle Clean." I mean I had all the fun cramping and pain but it was not followed by a happy and joyous dropping of the kids at the pool.

Worrying is my specialty. I didn't want to force things. I mean this is how Elvis went to meet his maker. One moment he was all juiced up on the junk, thinking he had to crap and the next he was on the tile floor, jumpsuit around his ankles, done in by a brain aneurysm because he tried to crank one out a bit too vigorously. (I wonder if Jamie Lee tried this, if her penis would pop back out?)

And to top it all off, I had to travel and stay in a hotel. This meant I was away from my comfort zone. I don't know what it is, but when I can't poop on my own bowl I freeze up like Sarah Palin in a press conference (oh, that hasn't happened yet?). It might be the height of the toilet, the width of the seat or the angle of the reading light, but when it comes to a foreign potty, my sphincter is wound tighter than a cat's tail in a room full of rocking chairs. Admittedly, the hotel was even kind enough to have Activia at the breakfast buffet.

Still there was nothing. At lunch in Paterson, NJ, I even ate bits of cactus with my tacos and refried beans to try and make things different. (By the way, Alexander Hamilton worked on making Paterson the first planned industrial city in the United States. I now know why Burr shot him.)

So here I sit, having taken the Activia Challenge... and lost... Maybe it's back to the "Raisin Bran and Metamucil Ass Destroyer Challenge" for me.

PS: The title would have been much worse had I written "Your Colon, My Friend." So back off.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or IBS, is an increasingly common digestive complaint. People with IBS suffer from abdominal pain, cramping or discomfort, along with diarrhea, constipation, or both. They may also experience a number of other gastrointestinal symptoms. People often feel worse when under physical or emotional stress, before or during the menstrual period, although sometimes the disorder seems to have a completely illogical life of its own.

In Western medicine, IBS is considered a "functional disorder" - meaning there is no observable physical problem in the digestive system. It is thought to be some form of miscommunication between the brain, peripheral nervous system, and digestive organs, which messes up the regulation of digestive functions. This is actually good news, because functional disorders of this type usually respond very well to acupuncture.

In Chinese medical thought, IBS almost always involves an imbalance between the Liver and the Spleen.The Spleen is considered responsible for "transformation and transportation" of qi - that is, taking in food, converting it to energy, and supplying that energy to the body.The Liver's job is to keep energy flowing smoothly through the body so that all organ systems can work efficiently.

There is a close relationship between the Spleen and Liver: when Liver qi is not flowing smoothly, its tendency is to build up until it lashes out sideways at the Spleen, disrupting the activities of digestion. (Most of us have seen this in our daily lives, whether it's losing one's appetite when depressed, craving sweets under stress, or experiencing anxiety that causes diarrhea, constipation, or both.) Chinese medicine devotes a lot of attention to balancing this relationship, a treatment strategy known as "harmonizing the Liver and Spleen".

IBS is one of the most commonly treated conditions in my practice. I have found that nearly everyone responds very well to acupuncture treatment, even those with severe or long-standing symptoms. Many people also report improvements in anxiety or depression, sleep issues, fatigue, headaches, or menstrual pain, all of which may also be caused by a liver/spleen imbalance.

Besides acupuncture and herbs, other things that help are exercise, stress management, and regular eating habits. Here's a great website with lots of information on this condition and how to manage it. http://www.aboutibs.org/International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.