A Tribute To Blogger

Image via CrunchBaseMy gadget freak boyfriend is once again at it with industrial knobs and locks. When he's in one of his phases he forgets me. Oh well...

To entertain myself I prefer to either read or blog. The latter is a more profitable endeavor but not less intellectually stimulating as the former. Blogging has opened new worlds of thought for me. Ideas I have never considered before I begin to learn and appreciate for their uniqueness and creativity. My own experience in writing for a school magazine has helped me with blogging and, modesty aside, I think my own creativity has been a wellspring of many innovative ideas I had in blogging for topics that are way out there (such as that post on skin shrinks).

Recently a friend told me of his interest in blogging and earning from it. I told him he can create a blog easily at Blogger for free. Or he can get a free CMS and install it at a webhost, and buy a domain for only 10 dollars a year. Blogging is easy enough once you get the hang of it.

Everything else starts with one step, one word. Blogging may seem a bit technical for the non-techie, but since the creation of user-friendly software and applications, any ordinary web user can learn to use it and customize it to his preferences.

Personally I rather prefer to have a free hosted blog just like this Blogger blog. Support is already there, plus there is the added value of having a stable server. Blogger is owned by Google, so this assures its users high quality services even when it's free.

What I also like about Blogger is its user interface. It's easy to navigate and the process of posting is painless. No need to read the manual. You can actually jump in and learn as you go. It's that easy!

In effect, if ever any one you know wants to try blogging, direct them to Blogger. Once they learn the intricacies of blogging then perhaps that's the time they can opt for other CMS, and having their own site and domain set up.

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Reducing Stretch Marks

Are you afraid of wearing a swimsuit in summer or wearing a racy lingerie in front of your hubby because of unsightly stretch marks on your thighs and buttocks? If you answer yes, then you must read on. The following tips may reduce the appearance of stretch marks on skin.

Stretch marks are tears in the skin when there is extreme stretching due to gaining large amounts of weight in a short period of time, or when a person has hormonal imbalance issues such as Cushing's syndrome which produces increased amounts of steroidal hormones in the body. Extreme stretching of the skin causes tiny skin fibers to tear. There is no known remedy to repair these fibers, although there are many products and treatments available that can help lighten stretch marks and improve the look of the skin.

Many natural or organic treatments are available if you know your way around the web. The following ingredients can help:

• Cocoa butter
  
• Rose hip oil
  
• Emu oil
  
• Jojoba oil
  
• Castor oil 
  
• Shea butter
  
• Vitamin A
  
• Vitamin E
  
• Vitamin C
  

One way of reducing the visibility of stretch marks is to exfoliate using oatmeal or baking soda. Sloughing off dead skin cell will encourage growth of fresh, young skin. This will reduce the scars and lighten stretch marks. However, don't forget to moisturize because exfoliation will strip skin of natural oils and dry it.

Another way to reduce stretch marks is to use Tretinoin creams and lotions that will reduce its appearance. But these will not reduce the worst of them except laser treatments. However, these are expensive and can be mildly or moderately painful for some.

As of now the only drastic way of getting rid of stretch marks is through cosmetic surgery where the top layer of skin is peeled away. This may not guarantee that the damage is fixed but at least it will make the marks less obvious.

For more information on the ways to get rid of stretch marks, please visit this article: http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/health/how-to-get-rid-of-stretch-marks/

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Heart Problems and Aging II

Image via WikipediaA previous article discussed the benefits of mitral valve repair as opposed to mitral valve replacement as solution to mitral valve prolapse. The same post also posited that heart problems are one of the most common health risks in aging. However, mitral valve prolapse isn't the only heart problem one may encounter in maturity.

Another type of these heart problems is called arrhythmia, or a form of heart murmur. An Arrythmia is any deviation from or disturbance of the normal heart rhythm and usually is a sign of an existing heart problem. The heart problem may be found in the mitral valve or in any part of the heart. However, a medical solution such as a heart surgery would require a team of specialists with extensive knowledge and experience.

Cardiologists and heart surgeons can extend their knowledge through CME Programs. CME means Continuing Medical Education, a type of continuing education helping medical doctors improve their knowledge and skills in their specializations. TheHeart.org from WebMD offers CME Programs and short courses on special topics in cardiology. It also publishes an up-to-date page for Cardiology News.

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Heart Problems and Aging

Image via WikipediaAging brings with it many health problems, and one of these is a mitral valve prolapse, or heart murmur. The mitral valve is responsible for stopping blood from flowing back into the lungs when it should be pushed through the aorta and delivered to the rest of the body. When the mitral valve doesn't work, the blood flows back to the lungs which causes shortness of breath and weakening of heart muscle.

Undergoing mitral valve surgery will solve the problem. However experts say a mitral valve repair is much better than mitral valve replacement. Repairing the mitral valve has more advantages, such as:

• A lower mortality at the time of operation (1-2% for repair versus 6-8% for replacement).
• A significantly lower risk of stroke, and a lower rate of infection.
• Improved long-term survival with mitral valve repair.
• Patients who receive a valve repair stay on the same survival curve as the normal population.
• After mitral valve repair, blood thinners are not required, in contrast to the life-long requirement for blood thinners after mechanical mitral valve replacement.

The traditional mitral valve repair procedure involves cutting open the breastbone to repair the valve, but this seems risky and invasive to some. The good news is there's a minimally invasive option known as videoscopic minimally invasive mitral valve repair. The procedure is performed through a two-inch keyhole incision on the right side of the chest. This approach avoids an incision in the breastbone, and allows patients to return to work and everyday activities sooner after surgery. Other advantages include a lower likelihood of receiving a blood transfusion, and earlier discharge from the hospital.

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Winter Feet Care Tips

Image by Big Fat Rat via FlickrWith winter coming on many of us are preparing to bundle up and get warm for the next few months. However, it's not only our bodies that need this kind of attention. We also need to take care of our extremities, namely our hands and feet. Our hands are most often given more attention since they are nearer to our field of vision. But many of us tend to neglect our feet. We think wearing boots are enough, but this is not so.

Boots with a thick lining is good for its warmth. However, according to a podiatrist most problems we have with our feet is caused by footwear that don't fit well. Daniel Altchuler, DPM, a board certified podiatrist, advises that we should vary our shoes everyday and have our feet measured once a year. A new pair of Dansko shoes every Christmas should do the trick (Wink! Wink!).

Podiatrists find that the most common winter feet problems include dry and cracked skin and chilblains. Chilblains are small itchy, red swellings on the skin, which can become increasingly painful, can swell and then dry out leaving cracks in the skin which expose the foot to the risk of infection. To combat such foot care problems we should moisturize at least once a day and wear dry socks and shoes all the time. If your shoes got wet make sure your socks and shoes are very dry before wearing them again.

Additional foot care tips:

• Practice good hygiene and wash feet with soap and water and dry them thoroughly
• Change your shoes, socks and stockings daily
• When possible, wear shower shoes in public showers
• Use a quality foot powder. Talcum, not starch, will help deter infection
• Avoid wearing tight socks or stockings, which promotes accumulation of moisture
• Wear socks made of synthetic fibers that tend to wick away moisture faster
  

Information source: How To Care For Your Feet This Winter

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Winter Skin Care Tips

Image via WikipediaIt's that season once again when leaves fall and the air is chillier than usual. A drop in temperature can be hurtful to your skin's hydration. When autumn comes and later winter, keep your skin moisturized and protected from the changes in the weather.

Here are some winter skin care tips that even your snowmobile parts crazy hubby can make use of:

* Apply a simple hydrotherapy technique using hot and cold showers. Start with a hot shower, and then before getting out switch to a cold shower for about fifteen seconds. After that turn up the heat a bit, and then down again. Repeat the alternate switching of hot and cold showers for about two minutes. This stimulates the blood flow throughout the body. It revitalizes the skin and invigorates the muscles.

* Moisturize! Block the sun! Use a highly protective day cream with zinc oxide and has at least SPF 15 (ideally SPF 30) to protect your skin from the harsh elements of cold weather. Creamier, water-in-oil emulsions are best choices. Snow is highly reflective and can intensify the sun's rays.

Or you can use this natural skin care recipe: mix equal parts of olive, mustard oil and sesame oil, then massage it all over the body, and rinse after an hour. Make sure any winter moisturizer you use is oil-based. Water-based ones will freeze on your skin.

* Don't forget your lips, hands, feet and hair. Use lip moisturizers or lip balms to prevent them from drying up and chapping in the cold. Your hands and feet also need your loving attention from the low temperature. Keep them hydrated by applying moisturizer. Also refrain from washing your hair too often because this will strip your scalp with the oils it needs.

* Exfoliate at least twice a week. This will get rid of dead skin and help your skin absorb moisture better. However, be warned not to over exfoliate since this also strips away oils from skin.

* Drink lots of fluids! Drink water a lot to replenish your body's water needs during winter. Drink a glass of hot water with lemon or calamansi. It's a Chinese herbal remedy to energize your body and detoxify your entire system, including the liver and gall bladder. This means your blood will be cleansed of toxins responsible for bad skin.

* Sleep like there's no tomorrow! Why do you think animals hibernate? Sleep is our way of regenerating cells and renewing energy production. Try to sleep more for seven to nine hours a day during winter.

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Get Slim The Healthy Way By Going Vegetarian

Image by Prato9x via Flickr I don't remember the exact point when I decided to go veggies whenever I can. I was a hearty meat eater since I was a kid. In fact, I love hotdogs and ham, and I detest eating anything green. When I became a teener, however, I started eating vegetables. It was for my own good since I was so thin and my adolescent body is growing fast. I needed the proteins, vitamins and minerals I could get. My mom even made me take vitamin supplements to help my body cope with the nutritional demands of adolescence.

It was in the recent years, since I stepped into my late twenties that I became aware of my health and how much impact what I eat has on my body. I didn't think of losing fat or going to the gym for this. I was happy the way I was since my weight is already normal for my height. I wasn't suffering from any health problem or anything. My only reason for eating healthy is to be healthy.

However, my firm figure gained in my twenties is gradually leading to a voluptuousness that may be sexy for some men, but alarming to many women. I am gaining some meat, although my curves aren't suffering. But in my mind, I am getting fat.

Every morning I would see in the mirror the folds of flesh that rest over my belly, hips and thighs. My boyfriend likes them. I don't. I wanted a firmer body, the same one I had when I was younger. And I know I have to lose a bit of fat first before I go to the gym.

As I was searching for information on the best fat burners, I came across a blog post that proposes a healthy way of slimming down. It doesn't support hunger diets but instead eating and living a healthy lifestyle. This slimming diet includes eating vegetables and fruits more, while lessening the fats, sugars and carbs.

So I have been eating vegetable dishes mostly, whenever there are available. I can't choose them everyday when I don't have control in what kinds of dishes are served on the table. This is one of the limits of going vegetarian when you are not the one preparing the menu and cooking the food. But I survive.

As a result I am successful in toning down my body bit by bit. I'm also maintaining my ideal body weight to my height. My ideal body weight should be within the range of 95 to 100 lbs for a height that is less than 5 feet. I am 4 feet 11 inches, 31 years old and my body weight is somewhere in between 95 and 100 lbs. As of now my Body Mass Index is 19.2 as calculated using a nifty tool from Calories Per Hour.

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ShopWiki Health and Beauty Page and Anti Aging Skin Care Products Buying Guide

Hey, I just found a great anti aging skin care guide which is free for everyone to use. It's the ShopWiki Health and Beauty page with links to the Anti-Aging Skin Care Products Buying Guide. I found a good treasure trove of links and anti aging information there. To demonstrate, here's a good advice from the site:

Ingredients to Look For:

• Antioxidants (Vitamin A, E, C, Polyphenols, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Coenzyme Q10)
• Collagen Renewing Properties (Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Copper Peptide, Sea Kelp, Algae, Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide)
• Emollients (Silicone, Oils and Butters, Acetyls, Glycerls, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone)
• Exfoliating AHAs & BHAs (Alpha and Beta Hydroxy Acids)
• SPF (Sun protection Factor)
• Retinol (Stimulates cell renewal)

There are more to be discovered at ShopWiki. It also has a Cosmetics Buying Guide which is also one of my favorite obsessions. There's a great article on Eye Shadows which I found very helpful since I am currently trying on different colors to see which ones fit me. I'm having difficulties with pinks, blue sand greens. My skin is too dark for these shades.

If you have time try to visit the wiki. It's entries aren't all paid because it's a wiki where everyone can share and edit articles. Feel free to lend your own beauty tips and skin care advice.

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Keeping Aging Relatives With Alzheimers Safe

Image by *dolbystereoben* via Flickr I have an uncle who has Alzheimer's Disease. Whenever I visit their home he often asks me who I was. Again and again I had to gently remind whose daughter I am and what my name is. Sometimes when he does remember me he cries uncontrollably. When asked why he told me he was remembering my deceased father who was very close to him when my father was alive. Uncle was weeping because he felt so proud of me and what I have achieved as an adult which my dad wasn't able to see. Needless to say I love Uncle like a father and I care about his safety in his present health condition.

My cousins love their father very much and would want to see him safe even when we all know there is no cure for Alzheimer's. The least the family can do is take turns watching out for my uncle, although it can be difficult sometimes when everyone else has his own family or career to take care of, too. My Aunt, who thankfully isn't going senile yet, may not be strong enough to take care of my Uncle's needs like bathing him and administering medicine for maintenance. Aside from Alzheimer's my uncle also suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure.

Thinking about these diseases and how my Uncle is always in need of a constant companion, I felt it would be nice if we can outfit him with a personal medical alarm or a GPS tracking device in case he wanders out of the gate and forgets where he was.

The mobile alert GPS is a special medical alarm device is attached to the wearer either around the neck or on the wrist. It would have been a most helpful aid because we haven't hired a personal caregiver for Uncle yet. He's having difficulties with "strangers" in his house. It's disconcerting to know that some members of the family are included in that category most of the time.

The other device that would be of great help is the one for personal reminders and remote assistance. Both my aunt and uncle are taking maintenance medicine. My aunt is also a diabetic, but none of them are insulin-dependent, unlike my male cousin who has to inject himself each day. However, forgetfulness isn't only a sign of Alzheimer's, it's also a sign of aging. Having a personal emergency medical alarm can help my aging aunt and uncle, and their children in keeping track of the pills and capsules they need to take each day.

Senility as part of aging is unstoppable. The only thing we can do as we age is try to keep our minds and bodies active by maintaining social activity. It is highly recommended that mature men and women who are in their 50s and above should keep social relationships alive by being with friends and family, and continuing to learn and enjoy a variety of life experiences. Alzheimer's may not be curable or unavoidable but we can slow down mental aging if we keep our minds active and positive.

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Fountains of Youth and Keeping Young

Remember my sister's friend who got hitched? Yes, they had their honeymoon in the Caribbean, particularly in one of those Barbados villa rentals where couples get to enjoy a real Caribbean vacation experience.

But more than that, my sister's friend came back with great stories about Barbados, especially its connection to the mystical fig tree, which has been revered as one possible "Fountain of Youth." In fact, Barbados is so named after the island's bearded fig trees by Portuguese explorers.

The fig is thought to be a gift from the Greek goddess Demeter whom her worshippers believed to be responsible for nourishing youth, bringing the seasons and preserving marriage. The last blessing mentioned is considered a large influence on Barbados as a top wedding and honeymoon destination for couples worldwide.

Besides the Fig, Barbados has much to offer to nourish natural beauty and youth. Here are the top ten Fountains of Youth found in Barbados:

1. Sand and Surf. Barbados sand has myriad textures that'd be great for exfoliating. After scrubbing down til your skin shines so bright, strip down and take a dip in the cool, clean Atlantic where the salty seawater heals and soothes your skin to rosy health.

2. Be One With Nature. Breathe the cleanest air in the world along Bathsheba beach, and submerge your self in natural mineral pools that form during low tide in protected coves where unique rock formations from an ancient coral reef abound.

3. The Dancing Fingers Massage. A rare relaxing experience found at Sugar Sugar Spa. I don't know whether this kind of massage exists anywhere else in the world, but my sister's friend swears it's the most amazing massage she ever had. Yes, well... Gotta experience that before I add my voice to the cheering team.

4. Experience Nature At Its Most Raw. See how paradise looks when untouched and be up close and personal with natural history. Welchman Hall Gully is believed to awaken a deep inner energy and sense of well-being in its visitors.

5. Give your Feet the Royal Treatment. Sink your toes in soft, white sand, warmed from the Caribbean sun. Let your soles breathe and wear sandals or go barefoot, so different from the urban footwear they're usually encased. And what's more! A pedicure from one of the best foot salons in town, Lady C's in Christ Church.

6. Work up a good sweat while hiking. Barbados has lots of hiking trails. Its land is filled with exotic locales where a good 3-hour trek can invigorate the mind, body and spirit, especially when couples take a moonlit walk along the beach. So romantic!

7. Can you keep a secret? Keeping an air of mystery is one of the secrets of youth. That aura of hidden allure is part of Barbados' attraction. Discover a little "swimming pool" carved out of a rock located at the top tip of the island. This sweet spot is found in Little Bay in the parish of St Lucy.

8. Meditation and Rhythm With the Waves. The sound of water lapping softly against the sand can lull one's mind to a peaceful meditation which relieves stress and relaxes the soul. Keeping a peaceful and positive disposition is one of the keys to keeping young.

9. Interact with Friendly Wildlife. Animals especially those friendly with humans are also effective stress relievers. They remind us that life is not only about humans. It includes everything on earth that breathes and grows. Such realization makes our personal problems trivial in the face of universal concerns.

10. Privacy with Your Beloved. The piece de resistance: a private and luxurious time with your one great love. Why else would my sister's friend choose Barbados? She and her husband spent intimate time with each other in the most romantic and unforgettable settings in the world.

Fountains of Youth are objects of myth, but we can achieve a bit of that anti-aging treasure by keeping our stress levels at a minimum, keeping in tune with our bodies' responses, being in constant exposure to natural elements, and maintaining a healthy and positive attitude towards life.

Source: http://www.idobarbados.com/topten/fountains.php

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Allergic Rhinitis Blues

Image via Wikipedia Allow me to deviate again from the subject of aging and skin care. It's not enough that we know how to keep our skin healthy and our bodies fit, but also what diseases we can expect when we reach a certain age. I am still in my thirties but health problems are beginning to bug me, especially those that are genetically pre-coded into my system. Allergic rhinitis is one of those genetic health problems I'm referring to.

Allergic rhinitis may be triggered by exposure to dust, pollens and extreme changes in temperature. Other allergens include animal allergen (proteins produced by a cat's sebaceous glands) or molds which grow in warm, damp environments. These allergens cause the swelling of the nasal passage, resulting to runny nose, itching of the eyes, and cough.

I thought the runny nose and the watery eyes were just symptoms of the flu, but no matter how much or how often I take flu tablets I still sneeze and my nasal passage still hurts. So that's when I knew I have allergic rhinitis.

Next I thought about what triggered it. I considered the environment at work where the temperature is set too low. But then I've been used to such temperatures and I do not suffer from allergic rhinitis each time I get exposed to low temperatures. And so that's where the quality of air and the existence of dust at our workplace comes in as the culprit for my nasal problem.

This topic has already been brought up during our last admin meeting where it was agreed that cleaning the work stations and the aircon filters should be done more regularly. What's more, an air filter like IQAir should be installed to keep the air quality clean and free of bacteria which can also trigger more than allergic rhinitis. Bacteria in the air can cause respiratory health problems. I just hope these measures will be enough to prevent our employees from suffering allergies and breathing problems. One such employee has already been very vocal in criticizing the quality of air and cleanliness of the office enviroment.

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Getting Rid of Age Spots

Image by maciul via Flickr A cousin of mine from Los Angeles has just stopped using whitening products because she couldn't get rid of the dark spots forming on her skin. She has dark brown skin but these spots are darker and appeared lately when she has reached the big four-oh. It's a natural occurrence in our family that we develop age spots, but usually they come in the form of lentigos, which are small wart-like growths that grow in number as we age.

In an effort to help find a solution to her skin problem, I turn once again to the ever-reliable Internet. Searching through topics like 'melasma', 'age spots' and 'lentigos', I chance upon a medical page on how people can get rid of age spots.

Age spots as their name implies are brought on by aging. However, their appearance is determined by many factors which includes genetics and sun exposure. As we age our skin becomes more vulnerable to the sun thus we produce too much melanin to compensate. Melanin is a natural pigment produced by our body to naturally protect us from the sun's UV rays. However, as we age this pigmentation isn't distributed evenly over our skin because of its deteriorating condition. And so the melanin form age spots all over areas exposed most often to the sun such as the upper chest, the upper arms and the face.

Age spots, as I have learned, can be treated. Knowing this my cousin from Los Angeles resumes her search for a way to get rid of the dark spots forming on her skin. I recommended a clinic for her that gets rid of age spots through laser treatment which is faster and more effective than using creams and lotions.

Laser treatment may require one or two sessions to treat age spots depending on the darkness and number of the spots. Also to prevent age spots from coming back after treatment try to avoid being exposed to the sun as much as possible. If you have to go out please cover your skin to protect it from the sun's harmful rays. Don't forget to use sunblock each day even when you are indoors.

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Presbyopia When We Hit 40

Image via Wikipedia Aging signs do not only include wrinkles, brittle bones and health problems, but also weakened eyes. As we grow older, our eyes lose the ability to focus well on near objects. The lens has a decreased capacity to increase its power and change its shape to accommodate the clear vision of near objects. This aging sign is technically called presbyopia which sets in usually at 40 and manifests as the inability to read comfortably at a close distance. By this time we would be either wearing reading glasses or moving the book as far away as 25 cm from our eyes so we can read the text clearly.

Or we can have Lasik eye surgery and be done with it.

An eye surgery can be beneficial in the long run. Presbyopia is not the only problem we'll be running into as we age and our eyes weaken considerably. Cataracts and glaucoma can lead to blindness if not corrected through eye surgery. However, it is presbyopia that will eventually affect all of us as we reach the golden age of forty.

Greek for the aging eye, presbyopia is a natural occurrence that starts around age 10 and affects nearly everyone by age 40. It is an age-related process where the eye’s lens becomes less flexible. According to the Contact Lens Council, more than 4 million people are diagnosed with presbyopia each year, making presbyopes the fastest-growing demographic segment requiring vision correction. (What is Presbyopia? April 2008)

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Top 5 Anti Aging Tips for Dry Skin

Image by Evan Romine via Flickr Mature skin doesn't respond well when there is too little moisture in the air. It is already dry and thin due to the slowing down of collagen production. If not taken cared of, dry air can produce more visible fine lines and wrinkles. What's worse it can cause aging skin to flake, crack or bleed. To prevent these from happening we can either move down South and take long Miami and Orlando vacations, or we can follow the following steps right in our homes:

1. Hydrate your skin by taking a short bath or shower daily using warm (not hot) water and closing the bathroom door to ensure the humidity is kept inside for a few minutes.

2. Be gentle with your skin. Use mild cleansers or soaps and do not rub your skin when drying off with a towel. Instead pat it dry and let a bit of moisture to remain on your skin.

3. To reduce dryness and itching moisturize regularly. Moisturizer should be applied within 3 minutes after finishing a bath or shower to trap water unto the skin. Reapply throughout the day and be consistent with the brand of moisturizer you use.

4. When choosing the right brand of moisturizer check the label for the following ingredients:

• lactic acid or urea to alleviate dryness and itching
• hyaluronic acid, dimethicone and glycerin hold the water unto the skin
• lanolin, mineral oil and petrolatum (or petroleum jelly) trap water in the skin
  

5. Use protective cosmetics such as sunscreens and lip balms with anti-UV protection. Make sure to prevent further damage by using products with SPF ratings 15 and above. This can help reduce signs of premature aging and prevent skin cancer.

If dry skin still persist, it's time to consult the dermatologist. Loss of moisture might be a sign of skin problems such as eczema.

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Natural Anti Aging Remedy Using Magnetic Therapy

Image by kruain J&B via Flickr We all know that with aging comes changes in our body in appearance and in function. We experience a slowing down of cell regeneration which affects collagen production resulting to loss of skin elasticity, and also affects cellular growth resulting to degeneration of internal organs. As a result, we develop wrinkles and experience aches and pains in our joints, or worse develop aging-related health problems such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. However, going through these aging-related health problems shouldn't have to be painful. There are natural remedies to ease the pain and fight the signs of aging. One of these natural remedies is magnetic therapy.

Magnetic therapy has been around for centuries. As early as 2000 BC in China magnetic stones have been used to correct health imbalances. But the most popular use in ancient times was by the Egyptian Queen in maintaining her youthful appearance. Legend has it that Cleopatra slept with a magnetic stone on her forehead to preserve her youthful appearance. (From History of Magnet Therapy)

Aside from the Chinese and Egyptians, the pragmatic Greeks also believed that magnets could be used for healing therapy. In fact, the word magnet is derived from the Greek phrase Magnes lithos, which roughly translates to stones from Magnesia, which is a place in ancient Greece filled with volcanic rocks imbued with magnetic properties.

In modern times, magnet therapy was popularized by the renowned Swiss physician and alchemist, Paracelsus, in 1493. He believed that the life force found in nature also existed in the human body and diseases could be cured by using magnets to energize and influence the body's life force to start the healing process.

The discovery of a link between electricity and magnetism in the 1800s led to the development of electromagnetism. Subsequent experiments produced the defibrillator which became a vital device in resuscitating patients in emergency situations. At the same time magnetic therapy products such as boots, rings, girdles, and caps, as well as magnetic ointments, were produced and distributed through mail-order catalogs.

Magnetic fields can be used as part of an anti-aging preventive care system. Research studies have shown that magnetic fields have preventive effects on bone health, particularly in the treatment of osteoporosis. Another benefit of the use of magnetic fields is in reducing the development of arthritis.

What's attractive about magnetic therapy is that it is non-invasive and all natural. It can be applied without the need of a physician. Even individuals can become proactive in managing stress, doing long term health maintenance and slowing the aging process with the simple daily use of a magnetic therapy product. These products may include magnetic bracelets to control your body's natural magnetic field and water magnets to polarize water to a positive charge.

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