Be sure to consume ample amounts of purified water. Taking coffee out of your daily routine will be quite beneficial. Consuming green tea as a replacement is useful for attaining your objectives too.

Be sure to add foods that contain lots of fiber to your daily diet. Vegetables, like beets, cabbage and  radishes, organic grains, fresh fruits are excellent to add to your diet. Getting rid of saturated fats and alcoholic beverages, processed sugarin your diet will be quite beneficial.

In order to foster liver health, take vitamins and herb-based supplements. To promote cleansing that will safeguard your dandelion root, milk thistle, liver, vitamin C in your diet. Hopefully, the section that follows will be useful, since a liver that functions normally is crucial for optimal physical condition.

Include a workout regimen to help with daily detox of your system. Doing yoga or even qigong definitely can be very good and other exercises similar to this can most likely assist with specific health issues (look at Resources).

If you practice meditating, this will help you alleviate the stresses from living. Practicing deep breathing for 20 minutes daily will soothe your nerves and oxygenate your system.

Eliminating bodily toxins with steam baths or detox patches is very useful. You can soak in a hot bath with sea salts or baking soda and Epsom salts to detoxify your body. On a weekly basis, practice soaking in a tub for 20 minutes, followed by gently scrubbing your skin surface.

You can boost the circulation to your skin if you practice dry brushing or water-therapy. This will support your goals, by applying hydrotherapy with hot and cold water on and off when you wash (notice Resources). You can promote skin rejuvenation by exfoliating with a dry brush technique.

Each evening after climbing, my partner and I staggered back to our campsite alongside the river that runs down the canyon, a little more bedraggled and worse for the wear, wanting nothing more than to fill our bodies with sustenance. (Between the two of us, we polished off an entire five-pound container of peanut butter and half of another one in three weeks together.) Campground activities included enjoying libations, crouching near raging campfires, and simply sitting and staring off into the clouds, dreaming about tomorrow’s climbing adventure.

A few times, we gave in to the lure of nearby Wild Iris, about 30 minutes from Sinks. Shorter climbs with smaller, more spread out pockets define the climbing at the Iris. Not my style of climbing, but I was down with it for variation’s sake. And the Iris is absolutely gorgeous, replete with myriad wildflowers in all hues and amazing views, not to mention pristine white rock and a sensation of solitude on weekdays. Of course, I spent most of my time there getting tossed off of route after route, but that’s good for the ego, right?

Nearly two weeks into our trip, we turned our sights north and east, heading for the little-known climbing area of Ten Sleep Canyon. Vast amounts of untapped sport climbing await development in this incredible limestone area – only a few cliffs have yet seen traffic. Sweeping views of a lush canyon and beautiful riverside camping aside, the climbing was fun and different, though it varied in quality from terrific rock to mere choss (crumbly, unpleasant climbing). Rest days weren’t a problem, though – so many cliffs awaited exploration, and the town of Ten Sleep, despite its smallness (population 311), had the necessary Internet access and a fabulous, climber-owned coffee shop.

Despite our desire to hang out in Ten Sleep for a while, our plans were thwarted after a week when a storm hit and snowed us out. Nothing like getting soaked in cold, damp snow in mid-June! We booked it back to Lander with tails between our legs, only to discover perfect conditions, which prompted us to spend the last three days of our trip beating ourselves up like crazy on the rocks. Climbing for three days straight is always a challenge, and the combination of Sinks’ long outings and the Iris’s short and powerful routes proved too much for us. By the last day, we were hurting, but not so much that sharing a pint of Ben ‘n’ Jerry’s didn’t feel like the perfect ending to an awesome adventure.

Guess whose luck just ran out?

Sometime during the night, the arthritis fairy came and replaced all of your joints with broken glass. You’re so stiff and tired that it will take a crane to pull you out of bed. And then you remember… “Oh no! Not today!”

First of all, calm down. Stress will tighten already-tight muscles and will increase your pain. The secret to dealing with this day is to take a deep breath, relax and think…before you move.

It May Not be Bad as You Think

Not all pain and stiffness is RA-related. Even healthy people can fall asleep in awkward positions; insomnia and stress can also cause temporary stiffness. To better evaluate your situation, you should:

* Medicate immediately.
The earlier you take your normal daily dose, the sooner you’ll feel results.

* Head straight for the shower.
Take a long, hot shower and don’t skimp on the power spray. If standing is a problem, sit on the side of the tub or take a bath. Take your time and make sure the water can reach or cover aching joints and muscles.

* Get moving—slowly and carefully.
Lay your clothes out. Start a pot of coffee. Wake the others. And, as you are moving about the house, monitor your body for “danger” signals. Try to gauge what you can and can’t get away with today.

It’s a Flare, Alright

After a half an hour or so, you should have a better idea what type of flare you’re dealing with. Hopefully, the above preparations will bring the pain down to a dull roar. If not, don’t panic—extreme stress will bring on “fight or flight” syndrome, all those nasty hormones that tighten your body, increase your pain and suppress your immune system. The key to getting through this day is to approach everything calmly, slowly and carefully. If you still have time before leaving the house, you can:

* Call your doctor.

If there is time (and if it’s appropriate), he or she might be able to increase the dosage of one or more of your medications.

* Reach for the fire and the ice.
Alternate using heat and ice packs: preferably thirty minutes of heat for the stiffness, fifteen minutes of ice for inflammation. If you’re running out of time, try alternating 10-5.

* Dress as comfortably as possible.
Dress appropriately for the situation, but avoid clothes that cling, tug or bind, such as tight waistbands/neckbands, girdles, panty hose (try thigh highs or knee highs if you can), narrow shoes or anything else that will increase your discomfort.

* Eat a healthy breakfast.
A bad flare may decrease your appetite, but it’s still important to eat. Eating a healthy breakfast provides you with energy to combat the inevitable fatigue that comes with a flare. There’s no need to eat like a lumberjack: something as simple as a boiled egg, a piece of whole-wheat toast and a glass of milk will provide you protein, complex carbohydrates, calcium, vitamin E, B and D. Add a half-cup of blueberries or an 8-ounce glass of juice, and you’ll have vitamin C, as well.

* Squeeze in some exercise.
Ironically, exercise sometimes helps us the most when it hurts the most. Limit yourself to five-minute sets of gentle stretches or range-of-motion exercises recommended by your doctor or physical therapist.

* Reach out and get touched by someone.
A quick massage can reduce stiffness, pain and give you a better outlook on things. If there is time, ask your spouse, partner, roommate or even your kids for a five-minute rubdown.

* Gadgets, gizmos and orthotics.
Remember all those assistive devices cluttering up your drawer? Well, now is the time to use them. Zipper-pulls, car door openers, long-handled shoehorns, canes, splints—these are the tools that can ease your day. (Splints can also serve a dual purpose by inhibiting bone-crushing hand-shakers from making like John Wayne…a common—almost comical dilemma—for Americans with RA). Pack’em up before you head out the door.

Okay, I’m here…Now what?

Congratulations! Believe it or not, the hardest part is over. Now that you’re here, concentrate on balancing rest with responsibilities…but try to focus on the day, not the RA.

* Delegate…
No one is indispensable…do not suffer in silence. While it’s not necessary to make an announcement, telling the people who can help you—family, friends, coworkers—will make the day go smoother for everybody.

* …but still participate.
Don’t sideline yourself completely. Ask your mother if she will button the 92 pearl seed buttons on your sister’s wedding gown while you get her veil ready. Get your husband to organize the sack races at your son’s birthday while you help blindfold kids for pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. Participating—even in a small way—will distract you from your pain. And being helpful improves your self-esteem, staves off depression and helps the time pass more quickly.

* Be a Zen Master.
Approach every responsibility or chore with great deliberation. Use the larger muscles to take the stress off of smaller

Now for the quick method. What do to is put both the herb and either the grain alcohol, vinegar or witch hazel in a non-metallic pan and bring to a medium high heat. Once hot but not boiling, shut the heat off and allow the herb to macerate this way until cool. You may now use this in place of waiting the 3-7 day time for the standard preparation, and continue the recipe as given above.

Additionally, you should know that the longer the herb macerates naturally, the stonger properties it contains. However, once an herb has macerated for about 3 weeks that is usually as strong as it will get and is generally spent at that point. If you want a really strong brew, you could strain out the old herb, put new herb in and wait another week or so. These toners are tried and true preparations that make a difference in how your skin looks and feels. To make a mist out of them, simply put them in glass spray top bottles which can be purchased at most health stores. Also, I like to keep them in the refrigerator so that they last longer and are refreshing and cooling to the skin. I hope you enjoy making them as much as I do! Following are a few of my personal favorites, but the possibilities are endless!!!

Tara’s Trusty Hibiscus Toner

1 Cup of Hibiscus Flowers Prepared in Alcohol Base (methods above)
1 Cup Red Raspberry Leaf Infusion
1 oz. of Naturally Dried Orange Peel (not ground)
7 Drops Rose Geranium Essential Oil

Put all together in a quart jelly jar, shake vigorously and keep refrigerated for a refreshing facial astringent.

Lavender, Strawberry Leaf and Lemon Toner

1 Cup of Lavender Flowers Prepared in Alcohol Base (methods above)
1 Cup of Strawbwerry Leaf Infusion
1 Oz. of Dried Lemon Peel (not ground)
7 Drops of Lavander Essential Oil

Put all together in a quart jelly jar, shake vigorously and keep refrigerated for a tonifying face splash.

Grandma’s Tried and True Comfrey Calendula Toner

1 Cup Calendula Prepared in Alcohol Base (methods above)
1 Cup Comfrey Root Decoction
7 Drops Rose Absolute or Essential Rose Oil

Put all together in a quart jelly jar, shake vigorously and keep refrigerated. Apply with a cotton balls.

Homemade facial toners and mists are fairly simple to prepare and very beneficial to the skin. They not only hydrate, but help combat pollution and help protect skin by the micronutrients that are inherent in the herbs being applied. The longest lasting way to make toners is to macerate the herbs in an alcohol base first, then add distilled water and essential oils after. I personally like using the alcohol base for this reason, but others may not. Truly, since the alcohol is cut by half with the addition of other ingredients it is not at all as drying to the skin as often believed. However, for those who really don’t want to use any alcohol, I have outlined ways to either decoct or infuse the herbs in distilled water instead. Alternatively, any recipes calling for alchol can use white wine vinegar or good quality witch hazel as a substitute.

The following dried roots, barks or stems may be decocted with purified or distilled water. Remember, if you have harvested your own plants you must cut them into small pieces. Once cooled, they may be bottled and will last for about 3 days in the refrigerator. They can be applied directly to skin as a refresher with a cotton ball, or, they me be used as an added or substitute ingredient for any of the toner preparations given below:

Dandelion Root
Comfrey Root
Slippery Elm Bark
Marshmallow Root
Lemongrass Stem
Ginger Root
Witch Hazel Bark
Licorice Root
Mallow Seeds
Peony Root
Burdock Root

The following dried herbs may be infused with purified or distilled water. Once cooled, they may be bottled and will last for about 3 days in the refrigerator. They can be applied directly to skin as a refresher with a cotton ball, or, they me be used as an added or substitute ingredient for any of the toner preparations given below:

Rosepetals
Calendula Flowers
Lavander Flowers
Violet Flowers
Rose Geranium Leaf
Peppermint Leaf
Nettle Leaf
Elderflowers
Chamomile Flowers
Echinacea Leaf
Raspberry Leaf
Acacia Flowers
Blackberry Leaf
Blackcurrent Leaf
Hollyhock Flower
Jasmine Flower
Mullein Leaf
Parsley
Pansy Flower
Snapdragon Flower
Sorrel Lead
Rosemary Leaf
Green Tea Leaf
Hibiscus Flower
Strawberry Leaf
Mallow Flowers

How To Prepare Facial Toner

I am providing the basic method to make your toner preparation. There are generally two ways to do it. The first is the longer method which is in my opinion a better process, the second, is a quick version if you don’t want to wait or need something in the meantime. Following the basic method given are some of my personal recipe favorites for reference.

First, choose any of roots, leaves, flowers etc. from either of the lists above. I recommend starting with just one basic herb, for example, dandelion root. Once you have chosen one herb, take about 1/2 cup and put into a sterile glass jar (jelly jars work great) and cover with 1 and 1/2 cup of alcohol, white wine vinegar or witch hazel (whatever you decide to use). Seal the jar with a lid, or some folded paper towel held in place with a rubber band. Put this into a dark cupboard and allow to macerate. If you have chosen a root or bark you will need to wait about a week, and you should shake the jar regularly (be careful if it is covered with paper towel and not a regular lid). If you have chosen a leaf or a stem you will need to wait about 3 days (again, shake every so often). Once this time has passed, strain the herb out with a seive into a clean glass container or another good size jar (a standard quart jelly jar should do just fine with the measurements given). To this add either 1 cup pure water, OR; you may make a decoction or infusion of a second herb from one of the lists above and allow it to cool. Once cooled, you can add 1 cup of this into the jar of herbal brew. At this point, you may also add one of the following essential oils. The amount noted is assuming you are making your preparation with the measures given above which will yield about 2 cups. Obviously, you will need to adjust accordingly if you make either more or less of the stated amount. Although there are infinite kinds of oils you can use, I have only listed those that are generally safe and non-irritating to the skin. If you would like to use a different oil of your own choosing, be sure to check that it is not known to cause a reaction or aggravate skin. Seven (7) drops of your selected essential oil can be added to the finished preparation as follows:

Lavander Oil
Rose Oil
Chamomile Oil
Jasmine Oil
Ylang Ylang Oil
Peppermint Oil
Myrhh Oil
Vanilla Oil
Almond Oil

…to be continued

With all the hustle bustle and constant activity in the western world, I wonder how I’m able to get anything done and maintain a nature-supportive way of life. Eight years ago several things occurred in my life at the same time. In addition to adapting a plant-based diet and natural living way of life, I began to study ayurveda, an ancient science started in ancient India. Ayurveda is sanskrit (ancient Hindu language), which means science of life. Many people aren’t familiar with this science because it is primarily studied and practiced in ancient regions of India. People in the west who have adapted a natural living lifestyle also practice it. Although it is a science that is becoming more recognized and accepted by conventional medicine, there are still a lot of people who downplay its benefits and have little or no respect for it.

The need for ayurveda and living a more nature-supportive way of life is obvious. People spend more than half their waking hours running around, multi-tasking, doing several things at once, and becoming totally “deranged” (crazy, out of your mind). A lot of eastern philosophers use this term to describe a society that’s gotten totally out of control. The Hopi Indian people have another word for this, and that is koyaanisqatsi. Koyaaniskatsi means life out of balance. There is a wonderful documentary on video available in libraries and metaphysical bookstores that illustrates the concept beautifully without dialogue. Koyaanisqatsi is the only word spoken throughout the documentary. Life out of balance, deranged, whatever word, phraseology or expression you use, the idea is the same. Most people in the western world don’t know how to and don’t like to slow down and breathe. There’s an ancient Chinese saying that “we are human beings not human doings”. This means that we are not meant or supposed to run ourselves ragged and do so many things so that we are in constant action. We need to take a breath and count to ten frequently and stop. The lack of this is the main reason many people get into accidents and have injuries and develop illnesses.

There is nothing that is worse for the mind, body, and spirit than running around like a crazy person and pushing yourself way beyond your limits. I’m not saying that a little challenge now and then and stretching yourself to try new things isn’t healthy. But at the risk of driving yourself insane and trying to be someone you’re not is simply nonsensical and doesn’t hurt anyone but yourself. No one is going to benefit from your pushing yourself too hard. The end result is being forced to be bedridden for a long duration of time. I was one of those people under the false belief that the more you get done in one day or week the more successful and respected you’ll be. I’d go to several stores in one day, carry several packages, and be in constant activity until I was ready to pass out at the end of the day. This turned me into a nervous wreck. I was miserable and no one wanted to be around me. I couldn’t blame them because I was behaving as though I was on massive caffeine and sugar and my jitters were out of control.

A perfect example of this was yesterday. My husband and I were getting ready to go catch the local little city bus to go to a certified farmer’s market. I was getting myself together, gathering the belongings we needed to take with us. I was in the kitchen, juicing some oranges, and I was going to show him something in the refrigerator. My mind wandered for one moment and I became disoriented and forgot what I wanted to do. When I opened the refrigerator door, it hit my forehead very hard and stunned myself. It hurt, but mostly shocked me. After I applied some ice, we looked at each other and both said I needed to slow down. There is no doubt in my mind that if I had been focusing on one thing at a time and breathing more and going at a more relaxed pace, I would not have hurt myself and we would not have had to rush out the door. Unfortunately, most people suffer from this custom every day of their lives and the result is never painless.

In the documentary, koyaanisqatsi, the videographer shows how simplicity is in serious lack from our lives and it’s killing us. It starts out in the desert somewhere in America, showing absolute nothingness. It then graduates to oil rigs appearing, buildings popping up, and then takes the viewer to the inner city where hoards of people run around like ants, with no awareness of the surrounding environment or others crossing paths with them. I saw this video ten years ago and I was stunned. At first, I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of what I was seeing. But then I felt sad and anxious because it was such an unhealthy site. How can anyone possibly think they’re going to improve their life or make any progress by behaving in this manner? Even insects have some form of organized communication and activity. They don’t run around, falling over each other, and running into other living things. At the rate this society is going, if we don’t change our ways and raise our consciousness and rethink the way we do things, we’re going to crash and burn and we’re going to have to start all over again.

There is a movie with Kurt Russell, entitled, “Escape from L.A.” This movie  shows all the modern technology and all the amazing gadgets and machinery that is current and being used. The lengths these people go to in order to accomplish their tasks and eliminate the hero (Russell) and teach him a lesson is ridiculous and too dependent on technology. In the climax, there’s a point where you think they have him backed against the wall and there’s no escape. He holds up a gadget that shoots a laser, and creates a hologram to throw them off track. They shoot him with a high-powered weapon, thinking they’ve killed him, but learn that he’s nowhere in sight. The camera pans to a location much further away, showing him standing with a smug look on his face. He then presses another button on this device, and in a momentary flash, everything and everybody disappears and he’s left standing in the middle of a desert of rocks and mountains. He then says, “well, back to square one”. I can’t quote it exactly, but the idea is what’s important. This is what’s going to happen if people don’t change their ways. They’re going to crash into a wall and we’re all going to go back to the cave. I’m sure very few people want this. I know I don’t. I’d be happy returning the ways of the 1800’s and “living simply so others may simply live”, as Gandhi said.

Dentists and physicians refer to tooth decay as “dental caries,” in which the tooth enamel and then the bodies of the tooth are eroded and gradually disintegrate. Tooth decay does not happen overnight. It takes months for bacterial plaque to erode tooth enamel and make its way into the body of the tooth. The bacteria then travel through the dentin tubules toward the pulp, where it they settle in as deep infection to form abscesses and eventual toothache.

Tooth decay is a two-sided coin. It requires that certain bacteria be allowed to develop in concentration and be left undisturbed on the surface of the teeth for lengthy periods of time. A specific strain of streptococcus is the frequently involved bacteria, which for some reason is prevalent in the mouths of some people more than others. It also requires that the individual’s teeth be susceptible to decay. This can be enhanced by poor quality tooth enamel, nutritional imbalances or mineral deficiencies that affect the nature of the saliva.

Some foods can contribute to tooth decay. Simple carbohydrates, refined starch and sugar and certain fruits top the list. In addition, a certain amount of phosphorus is essential for healthy teeth, but too much phosphorus can cause calcium to be depleted from tooth enamel. People who consume lots of meat, milk and especially sodas almost certainly are getting more phosphorus than their teeth need. Acidic foods, including carbonated drinks and high-acid fruits like citrus and pineapple, as well as chewable vitamin C tablets, can hasten the loss of calcium from tooth enamel. Prior to eating these kinds of foods, people should take necessary precautions, as this would certainly assist in overcoming the problem of tooth decay.

Of course, the best way to pass a drug test is to not do drugs; however, since you are reading this, I’m thinking that is not an option at this point.

Mainly, drug tests are completed in one of three ways: urine, hair sample, or a mouth sample. The most cost effective and quickest drug tests are oral or urine tests.  These are the types usually used by employers. Because you may not know what kind of test will be used, we will discuss all three types.

You need to begin to prepare when you learn you will need to take a drug test; it is important to do it as soon as possible. Step one in passing a drug test is to cease utilizing the drug for some time. Subsequently, you will need to determine which way or ways of passing a drug test you want to utilize.

Step 2: Figuring out which technique to use to Pass your Drug Test:

To figure out which technique to use, we will talk about them in brief.

Options for urine tests: Please be aware that a urine test will show drug usage within two or three days and for as long as a month.

-Diluting Your System: You can do this by drinking large amounts of cranberry juice or water to clean your system. This method may be effective if your drug use is minor and before taking the test, you have enough time. In order to make a urine test come up clean, there are many available potions and pills. Many of them need lots of time before they are useful.

-Substitution: This technique means you have to get a non-drugged sample of urine from another person right before your test, or get fake urine. Because temperature is an important factor, substitutes are often carried in a pouch or bag next to the skin.

Drug testing is a hot workplace topic.  Many employers are using drug testing to “weed” out people who smoke pot. Before you start to look for a job, it may be a good idea to stop using marijuana. If you need a job this is the best advice.

With lower back pain that is acute, the situation can be improved with the reduction of signals of pain, muscle tension, and improved mobility, with the use of muscle relaxants. Placebos are not proven as effective, as muscle relaxants have in these tasks. The chief  intent is the capability to relieve pain, the first step believed by most doctors as the requirement needed to achieve overall improvement for the patient. Although, there can still be the appearance of side effects. Subjected to a variety of factors, the occurrence of  these effects can fluctuate in likelihood, frequency, and intensity.

A kind of pain medication known as antispasmodics are utilized to reduce muscle spasms that frequently are linked to conditions that cause back pain. Frequently these drugs fall into two main groups: the benzodiazepines and the nonbenzodiazepines. In addition to being skeletal muscle relaxants, the benzodiazepines are mainly sedative medications.  These include anxiolytics, hypnotics, and anticonvulsants. The other type of medications have an effect on the spinal cord, and it is not yet clearly understood how they work.

Two of the medications, Carisoprodol and metaxalone, provide moderate antispasmodic effects in addition to mild sedative properties. Interneuronal activity is blocked in the spinal cord and the brain, which is how this drug functions. When Carisoprodol is metabolized it becomes meprobamate, an anti-anxiety agent which is recognized for its ability to alleviate muscle spasms linked to anxiety attacks.

Minor injuries are caused by silly mistakes and it’s convenient to have a quick, easy and portable first aid kit in a can. Healing can begin in less than optimal conditions, and it is usually better to treat a minor cut or scrape at the time it happens rather waiting.

With a minor monetary and temporal investment, you can construct a small first aid kit for your purse, briefcase or car. Use it for you or for a friend; you’ll be surprised how often you will want to do that.

Your purse or briefcase will do some knocking around, so choose a container that is durable. My band-aids came in a tin that was able to be re-used. This has been very efficient and did not cost any extra. The market options for inclusion in your kit are many.

You will want to have a small number of several different sizes of adhesive bandages. Butterfly-style adhesive bandages should also be chosen. As well as keeping three butterfly bandages, I like to keep five bandages of three different sizes. Cloth-style adhesive bandages are my personal favorite. After suffering through the wear and tear of my handbag, they still seem to adhere. Place several in a row to cover a larger injury, or choose an appropriate size to the injury if you have several sizes.

Anti-bacterial Cream

Fitting easily in your small container, small sample sizes as well as small tubes are available to buy when you are looking for anti-bacterial cream. The single application package sizes are desirable. While offering protection against infection, using the cream will begin the healing.

Wet wipes

In individual packets, pre-moistened personal wet wipes are convenient and easy to purchase. Some brands also possess antibacterial qualities. The wounded area will need to be cleaned. Before applying the anti-bacterial cream, gently remove as much debris as possible.

Pain relievers

A small plastic travel container filled with your favorite pain reliever is recommended for its re-usability. I find it saves a little money in the long run to reload the small plastic containers, and individual packets are also available.

Optional Items

You may choose to customize your small first aid kit to suit the needs of you and your family, depending on the size of your container. A very small pair of scissors, tweezers, eye drops, allergy tablets, and antacid tablets should be included.

In order to keep it handy and allow it to travel with you, carefully assemble your first aid kit in a can. Children can assemble this type of first aid kit, as it is an easy one.

With some external decoration for the container, they can serve as excellent and thrifty gifts. Be prepared all the time because you never know when the need may arise!