An infusion of tea is prepared by adding  boiling water to plant material, usually leaves or flowers.  The preparation has to steep for a while, while the brew cools a bit.  Medicinal teas are becoming more popular here.  Europeans have used the powerful secrets of turning  the healing properties of teas into cures for centuries.

Teas, or infusions are used for water soluble herbs.  These herbs do not really need a high concentration of the active ingredients to be effective.

Teas used as digestive aids are:

Chamomile, Fennel, Anise, Ginger and Peppermint

Teas used as sedatives are:

Lemon Balm, Valerian

Teas used as diuretics are:

Goldenrod, Juniper

Teas used for Cough and Cold Symptoms:

Rose Hips, Licorice, Slippery Elm, Capsicum ( I had a friend who would swear by rose hip
tea when he felt a col coming on.)

Tonics are Ginseng tea and Green tea.  Green tea has been written about  as an antioxidant
and can ward off some cancers. Recent studies have shown that Green Tea can keep you thin.  It helps to lower belly fat.  It revs up the metabolism, but you have to drink at least six cups a day.

Prevention Magazine  April 2000

Vera A. Tzelepis-Liddle MS, ND, CPT

Physical fitness is not just the idea of being physical. True physical fitness has to do with a well balanced health plan that includes your mental health as well. It was once believed that being physically fit was simply being able to comfortably get through your daily routine. This was soon realized to be a false belief. Being physically fit requires more than just getting through the day. Many see physical fitness as huge burden and quite time consuming. It is important to understand that one fitness regimen is not for everyone and you must head to your body’s limitations.

Strength training and cardiovascular work-outs are by far the most popular and widely discussed of the physical fitness world. Check with your medical professional before starting a new fitness regimen as this will allow you to work within your health limits as well as avoid the increased risk of injury to your joints and muscles. Increasing your physical activities can begin as simply as parking away from the entrance, thus increasing your daily steps. Walking is a great way to start working up to a more strenuous routine and is also easier on the joints then running or jogging. As you get more comfortable, you can increase your speed and distance.

Physical activity benefits the body in ways you may have never imagined. Increasing activity will help control high blood sugar as well increase heart health. These activities will also strengthen the immune system, which in turn will help you resist the flu and other diseases and airborne illnesses that can put a burden on being truly happy and feeling good.

No one legitimately argues that exercise for children whose health permits it is not important. Physical fitness impacts the entire person. All children are in the process of growing and developing. The various aspects of the child's life are important and must work together.

The primary obstacle to physical fitness is technological growth. Television and video games can become all consuming, and even an addiction. Proponents argue that video games, and even TV, improve reflexes and can assist in learning. This is true. But when they take up so much time that there is little or none left for exercise, there is a serious health risk. Another factor is the busy life of the parent or parents. The number of "latchkey kids" is enormous. When the parent or parents are working, TV and games become a way for the adults to keep children occupied and in the home.

Children, by nature, love to play. They have some opportunity to do this during school hours. There is also some physical exercise associated with most daycare centers. But normally this is not enough. Parents encouraging their children to sign up for sports activities, and being there to support them, is a great way to ensure adequate physical exercise. This includes band (a lot of marching) and cheerleading.

The National Football League supports a program to ensure that children have a minimum of 60 minutes of physical exercise each day. This does not mean it must be football. It means active exercise that impacts in a positive way the heart, the physique and the overall development of the child. They are our future, and we owe it to them to make sure they grow up healthy.

There are many reasons for a weight gain. Boredom is one reason why people eat. Being bored happens because you aren’t inspired. If you’re bored, instead of going into the fridge, go for a walk. Exercising will get you busy and help you feel healthier. Everyone gets bored, even Iggy Pop. He wrote a song about being bored called “I’m Bored.” He writes in his lyrics that life is getting dull. Boredom is a signal for you to do something exciting, like go on a vacation. However, many people find that it’s easier to binge on food! Consequently, they will gain weight and be too fat to do anything exciting.

In order to break the cycle, here are some tips to get out of being bored. Go on a short rode trip sightseeing with the windows down. If that doesn’t relieve the boredom, take a shower. In the 10 to 20 minutes while you’re showering, you’ll relax, which is when ideas pop up in your mind. Another tip to relieve boredom is to entertain yourself with a computer game. Be careful because computer games can be addictive and you may not realize that you’ve been on the game for four hours!

One tip to avoid eating while you are bored is to brush your teeth. You won’t want to dirty a clean mouth. As a last resort, if you just want to munch, then eat celery and carrots. Chew sugar free gum! Healthy foods fill you up faster than junk foods, which have a tendency to whet your appetite.

Guy Abraham, MD has contributed extensive research into premenstrual syndrome. (PMS) and menstrual discomfort.  There are women who suffer from water retention, breast tenderness and gas.  Many others tire easily and crave sweets.  Then there is anxiety and irritability and bad cramps to deal with.

The hormones that control menstruation are estrogen and progesterone.  When these hormones build in the body at this certain time period, the central nervous system is affected.  When estrogen dominates a woman cant get anxious or irritable.  If  progesterone predominates, then a woman can suffer depression and fatigue.

Dr. Abraham gives some helpful tips on how to deal with difficult symptoms.

1.  Reduce caffeine or cut it out altogether.  You can do this gradually and try to do it when you feel the best in a monthly cycle.  At this same time maybe a cup of specialty coffee can be a treat.  In severe cases of PMS, you probably do have to give it up altogether.

2.  Get more magnesium into the system. This mineral does miraculous things.  It can help smooth out contractions of the uterine muscles that cause cramps.  Magnesium also helps with  irritability, bloating, swelling of the face, breast tenderness and gas.

Whole grain breakfast cereal and vegetables are high in magnesium.

3.  As much as 300mg of vitamin B6 a day is suggested.  100 to 300mg.  This B vitamin works along with magnesium to prevent the uncomfortable symptoms.  Bananas have vitamin B6.  Cereals and grains do as well.  Do not take more than 300mg.

Published by  Prevention Magazine.  Rodale Press, Inc.  1991