health

CURE FOR HIV/AIDS

2009-11-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

by Dr. Tilak S. Fernando from London

Dr. Mass R. Usuf of Sri Lanka is the Senior Vice President of the National Association of Homoeopaths & Affiliates (NAHA) and is the Chief Acupuncturist - Holistic Diagnosis & Healing Centre - Pita Kotte, Sri Lanka. He is a Doctor of Philosophy (Thesis - Palm Diagnosis) and holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture. Besides, he is qualified in Acupressure, Naturopathy and Magnet Therapy. He also practices Palm Diagnosis. Dr. Usuf is a Member of the Foundation for Homoeopathy (Medicina Alternativa) and of the International Association of Colour (UK). He is a practicing naturopath embracing many therapeutic systems and offering a combined therapeutic approach to any ailment.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic is estimated to involve a dramatic figure of US$10.5bn by the end of 2005 by way of funding prevention and care programmes. Perhaps the Director General of WHO would be pleased to know that in Sri Lanka there is a Naturopath who is confident of a cure for HIV/AIDS not involving such huge sums of money!!

Dr. Mass R. Usuf, who is a specialist in acupuncture, homoeopathy, palm diagnosis, magnet therapy and naturopathy in his analysis has come out with the theory that naturopathic treatment involving non-orthodox, alternative therapeutic methods can be effectively employed to fight HIV/AIDS. Dr. Tilak S. Fernando discussed this issue with him recently when he was in Colombo.

Q. How does HIV work?

A. HIV is said to seriously compromise the immune system, which acts as a shield against disease. It causes infections out of the norm owing to the break down in immune activity. There are two types of T-cells (or T-lymphocytes) in the body. One type has molecules called CD4 on its surface and its function is to orchestrate an immune response to micro-organisms such as a virus. The other type has molecules called CD8, which has the power of destroying infected cells and produce anti-viral substances. Basically these two types comprise the immune response to antigens - bacteria, viruses, and fungi etc that enter the body. HIV attaches itself to the CD4 molecule thus permitting the virus to enter and infect these cells. A person infected with HIV for example, would feel well and have no symptoms (asymptomatic) though billions of CD4 T-cells are infected by HIV and destroyed everyday.

Q. How come?

A. Because billions more CD4 T-cells are produced daily in the body to replace them of course.

Q. Does HIV inevitably lead to AIDS?

A. The average latent period is reported to be 8 years in adults and 2 years in children from the time HIV enters the body to fully blown AIDS. But there is a school of thought compromising a galaxy of prominent immunologists, molecular biologists, virologists, biochemists, microbiologists that says HIV is an ordinary retrovirus and that there is nothing unique about this virus. They say HIV does not lead to AIDS and that AIDS is a behavioural disease rather than a late onset caused by HIV!! AIDS they say is brought on by several simultaneous strains on the immune system – drugs (pharmaceutical and recreational), sexually transmitted diseases, multiple viral infections etc. and NOT by HIV.

In any case, whatever the controversy, the bottom line is that a person infected by HIV/AIDS has his or her immune system severely compromised exposing him or her to opportunistic infections such as pneumo-cystis pneumonia, kaposi sarcoma, slim disease, persistent diarrhea etc which can kill.

Q. How would you diagnose AIDS in an infected person?

A. It becomes clear when a person has a very low count of CD4. HIV antibody factors in the system indicate a compromised immune system. When the HIV latches on to the CD4 cells and replicates, a healthy person who normally has a CD4 count of 500-1500 cells/mm3 of blood would lose about 50-100 CD4 cells per year when infected. After many years the CD4 count in the body becomes so low and starts showing the symptoms of full blown AIDS.

Q. According to your theory, how would you boost the collapsed immune system of an HIV/AIDS patient, in order to ‘energise’ it when the body has lost its vigour to counter the virus’s debilitating influence?

A. To boost a collapsed immune system, the prevalence of homoeostasis - the physiological balance in the body – is a primary must. Acupuncture for example is an excellent tool to help establish homeostasis. Once an apposite homeostasis is established along with the conversion of the body from an acid-genic state to an alkali-genic state using naturopathic methods, immuno-potentiation would be the natural outcome - the body finally finds the natural strength to fight ANY invading pathogen by eliminating it’s damaging influence on the internal economy in toto and keeping it at bay in a form of restricted latency.

We live with a multitude of varied harmless and harmful pathogens in our bodies. It is estimated that we breathe in 14 billion pathogens in the space of an hour! But our immune system neutralises these pathogens every second of the day. It is this same immune system that has to be revitalised to fight off the ravages of HIV/AIDS.

Q. Could other kinds of alternative therapeutic methods such as homeopathy, palm diagnosis techniques, magnetotherapy, ayurveda etc also help towards a cure of a HIV/AIDS patient?

A. Complementing acupuncture treatment with other alternative/naturopathic methods would keep the virus at bay by greatly enhancing immuno-potentiation. It is immuno-deficiency that is the culprit and the start of all problems – not the virus per se.

If the physiological terrain within oneself imposes a physiological barrier the virus cannot replicate, it cannot take a virulent form. This explains why some of those infected with HIV live a normal life without ever showing symptoms of AIDS.

Q. So in short there is a cure in your mind for HIV/AIDS?

A. The only medicine an HIV/AIDS patient needs is his own powerful immune system. Orthodox medications tend to blunt the immune system in trying to keep the virus at arms length. An HIV/AIDS patient would then never get over the problem as his immune system is compromised not only by the virus but by the drugs as well! A paradox indeed!

Give back to a patient the powerful immune system he or she lost and the patient will be on the road to recovery sans symptoms. Suppress an already debilitated immune system and he or she goes nowhere except for maybe wait for an opportunistic infection to mercifully end his or her life.

Taking recourse to alternative therapeutics, which work with bio-energy (life force) at the subtle dynamic level, as opposed to crude palliation by orthodox therapy, would indubitably help in boosting the immune system.

Q. What is the difference between orthodox medicine and alternative therapies?

A. Alternative therapeutics work differently from orthodox medicine. The former, rather than suppressing the disease (which orthodox treatment does) penetrates through to the root cause of the problem and meets it head on at a subtle dynamic level. The true treatment of all derangements involves addressing the disorder at the subtle dynamic level instead of mere gross palliation.

Our body is governed by bio-energy operating at a subtle dynamic level (life force, prana, élan vital, dynamis, chi) manifesting in gross physiological phenomena. Derangements are a result of an imbalance in this bio-energy. Alternative therapeutics help balance and enhance this bio-energy, which would then set right any pathogenic state brought about by the bio-imbalance.

Orthodox medicine cannot correct a derangement of the internal economy at the dynamic level as it is gross (chemical drug) meeting gross (symptoms). Homoeopathy for example works on the basis of dynamic (potentised drug) meeting dynamic (heart of the disorder).

Q. Can you explain the development of the disease to me…!

A. The disease, any disease for that matter, evolves from the subtle to the gross and symptoms manifest at the gross level. To eradicate the gross symptoms is mere palliation and not a true cure - achieved by orthodox medicine - but to bring about eradication at the subtle level is to go beyond the gross, to regress - and that is where alternative therapeutics excel.

Q. Do you have a drug that could be used as a supplement to your other recommended methods such as acupuncture and magnet therapy?

A. I am, actually in possession of an experimental drug for use on HIV/AIDS patients developed by Dr. Peter Chapel, a homoeopath from UK.

Q. Good! But have you tried this drug on any patients and what was the outcome of it?

A. Yes, not me personally but Dr. Chapel has tried this drug initially on 200 patients with HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia. This was done in the form of a clinical trial and there was great amelioration of conditions. The most amazing factor Dr. Chapel found in his clinical trials was that the CD4 count increased to near normal levels of treated patients and symptoms disappeared to a great extent.

Q. So what happened to the drug and his clinical trials after such an apparently convincing drug performance?

A. Unfortunately due to the lack of co-operation and support from the State and medical authorities and due to monetary constraints, Dr. Chapel was forced to abandon the big plans he had. But I hear he still continues in a small way making his own discoveries!!

Much more research and much more clinical trials are required to enable this experimental drug evolve into something truly catholic.

Q. But you say that you are in possession of that drug now. How come you do not do anything with it then?

A. True, I am in possession of the drug developed by Dr. Chapel - but I have still not been able to try it out as no HIV/AIDS patient has visited me in numbers suitable for clinical trials. And I face the same problem as Dr. Chapel does as regards cooperation and support. Moreover, the few HIV/AIDS patients I met and discussed their status with never came back for treatment. Apparently, they did not understand the ‘philosophy’ behind alternative therapeutics and felt more comfortable with popping toxic pills!!

Q. Have you drawn the attention of the government and international authorities or may be even of the WHO? President Clinton is running a world wide campaign to find a solution to combat AIDS. Have you not contacted his Foundation and offered your services in this regard?

A. Well, I am an unknown quantity in small Sri Lanka and perhaps journalists like you can provide the requisite publicity in newspapers, international magazines and in the Internet that would go a long way in helping the suffering millions …………….. provided authorities, medical institutions etc take the cue from such publicity.

Q. No doubt there is a great gulf between the allopathic and alternative systems of medicine at present. During a recent TV interview following a study done on Homoeopathic treatment one western doctor put it bluntly down to sheer imagination and said, “there is no difference between drinking plain water and taking homeopathic medicine”. What are your comments on that?

A. What he says is absolutely true! At the gross level, drinking a glass of water and drinking a glass of water with a mere drop of a potentised homoeopathic drug appears to have no difference as one would easily discount any possibility of a cure with such a highly diluted mixture.

As I said before, the orthodox system administers drugs that are gross in nature and palliates the gross symptoms. Take a glass of water, put in a gross aspirin, dissolve it, drink it and viola! ……….. your gross headache goes off!! That is science!

But homoeopathically what goes into that glass of water is NOT gross matter like a gross aspirin – it is a highly potentised drug which has dynamic properties acting upon the disorder at the dynamic level – addressing the bio-energy in us directly! But when the gross headache disappears the accusation is: it is the placebo effect!!

What takes place physiologically at the subtle dynamic level beyond the mere drinking of water with that one drop of the homoeopathic drug is what the western doctor cannot comprehend. It belongs to the realm of quantum physics and nano-behaviour – realms still not fully understood by scientists.

Q. Particularly on the issue of HIV/AIDS what would you suggest to those who condemn alternative methods of treatment?

A. I firmly believe that for the mere sake of HIV/AIDS victims, practitioners, authorities and institutions aligned to the two branches of therapeutics namely, allopathic and alternative, should lay aside their differences and try alternative therapies on patients on the basis of a scientific clinical trial by a joint exercise. After all, orthodox medicine has failed for the last two decades ……….. so why not try something else just for a month – and end the controversy! But surely that would not appear as a savory idea to the pharmaceutical giants!!

Q. How much of financial support are you thinking of to execute a programme of alternative therapeutics versus HIV/AIDS?

A. One need not fund multi-million dollar research programs nor wait for years for results of drug tests and approval. The experimental homoeopathic drug could be complemented with other alternative interventions to boost the immune system. There is also an ayurvedic drug developed in India that has shown promise in immune-potentiation and elimination of symptoms.

One has to only try it. Is it asking too much when taking into consideration the immense suffering and cost involved? Cost wise clinical trials involving alternative therapeutics would be a non-entity!

Q. You are a man of nature as far as I can see. Looking at the patients who visit your clinic three days a week in the afternoons and your services to them being absolutely free of charge is highly commendable.

A. I am an ardent naturopath who believes that ‘Man is nature and must by nature be nurtured’ and ‘Let thyself be thy cure’. Nature never deserted man and has showed him the many paths of prevention and cure. Nature never meant man to use artificial agents, as anything unnatural would be detrimental to the internal economy of man - an amazing product of nature.

Man has in himself the power to cure ailments. In times of distress, therefore, man has to only prod the curative power in him by natural ways …………. isn’t this how our forefathers lived with great therapeutic systems like ayurveda, acupuncture etc??

99% of the patients who visit my clinic seeking relief, and relief they get aplenty, are those who have ingested toxic western drugs for years and years with chronicity setting in and with no amelioration or those suffering from iatrogenic conditions (western drug induced disorders). They desert long term orthodox treatment and come to seek natural ways of healing, for now they believe ……….. ‘Man is nature and must by nature be nurtured’ and ‘Let thyself be thy cure’.

Personal Weight Gain Diet

2009-07-20T07:25:00.000-07:00

When trying to gain weight, your diet plays a very important role. In fact your diet is the most important factor in determining whether or not you will gain weight. Choosing the right foods and eating proper proportions is vital in order to see optimum results.

Your diet should consist of a healthy balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. A good weight-gain/high-protein diet is made up of 30% proteins, 30%fats, and 40% carbohydrates. So if you consume 3000 calories; 900 calories should come from fats, another 900 calories from proteins, and 1200 calories from carbohydrates.

After you have figured out your caloric needs you will need to convert them to grams. To do that you follow a simple formula. 1 gram of carbohydrates equals 4 calories, 1 gram of protein also equals 4 calories, and 1 gram of fat equals 9 calories. So a 3000 caloric diet will consist of 100 grams of fat, 225 grams from protein, and 300 grams from carbohydrates.

Once you understand this break down of calories you can get started on your weight gain diet. To start things off you will need to calculate how many calories you need to consume in order to maintain your body weight. To do that you can use an online calorie calculator. After making your calculations, add 500 additional calories to that number and that's how much you need to consume to gain weight.

My Weight Gain Diet

Breakfast

* 3 boiled eggs

* Glass of low fat milk

* 2 slices of whole wheat/whole grain toast

* Bowl of strawberries (you can eat a fruit of your choice)

Snack

* Turkey or Tuna Sandwich

Lunch

* 1 cup brown rice

* 1 baked potato

* 2 servings of vegetables

* 8-10 ounces of chicken

Post-Workout Snack

* Protein Shake with low-fat milk

* 1 banana

Dinner

* 1 cup brown rice

* 1 baked potato or 2 servings of whole wheat pasta

* 2 servings of vegetables

* 8-10 ounces of salmon

Night-Time Snack

* Protein Shake with low fat milk

This is a sample diet I have used in the past to gain weight. It has a good balance of nutrients and has worked quite well for me in the past. Occasionally, I would mix things up a bit but for the most part followed the same format.

If I got hungry during the day I would eat some fruit or slices of lean turkey meat. During the weight gain phase, don't ever let yourself go hungry. If at anytime you are hungry eat something with protein in it.

So EAT! EAT! EAT! and gain that muscle. Also make sure to check out my weight gain routine for additional tips and information.

Get Rid of Aging Spots on Skin Now!

2009-07-05T23:10:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it. When you start to see aging spots on skin, you start to feel older than you are. Like other aging skin problems, an age spot can be effectively faded, in a relatively short period of time. But, you must be careful about the over-the-counter products that you buy. Some of them could do more harm than good. Here you can learn about what not to buy and about ingredients that really work, safely. Hydroquinone is the most common ingredient in products designed to fade aging spots on skin. Its use has been banned by countries in the European Union, because of a possible cancer risk, but you will still see it listed as an ingredient in many products manufactured in the US and those sold online. There’s no reason to take the risk. Other ingredients that are often recommended for aging skin problems include the hydroxy acids. The purpose is to listen and lift off the outermost layer of the epidermis, “revealing” a more youthful looking layer underneath. What the ingredients actually do, in most cases, is cause redness, itching and irritation. Again, there is no reason to take the risk. The best solutions for aging skin problems are non-irritating and will not increase your risk of cancer. They may actually reduce your risk of skin cancer, because they contain antioxidants. Antioxidants can repair damage done to DNA strands that lead to cancerous formations. There are several natural ingredients that are known to fade aging spots on skin. Those include avocado oil, Shea butter, the active form of the protein keratin, coenzyme Q10 and nut-grass root. Nut-grass root is the strongest and is normally recommended for reducing pigmentation on a large area, rather than a single spot. It works by inhibiting melanin production, but since melanin is the skin’s natural protection against sunburn, it is best to avoid nut-grass if you spend a lot of time in the sun. Coenzyme Q10 is recommended for a number of aging skin problems, including wrinkle reduction, sun damage and roughness. It is an antioxidant that is normally present in all of the cells of the body, but the amount of naturally occurring antioxidants in the skin’s cells decreases with age. The active form of the protein keratin is a little more difficult to find. Only a few companies include the active form. Most companies that use the ingredient include a denaturalized form that cannot be picked up and used by the skin’s cells. Creams containing the active for can reduce brown aging spots on skin, because they stimulate the cells to produce antioxidants like glutathione and superoxide dismutase. Shea butter has been recommended for aging skin problems for many years. But, the quality of the creams on the market varies greatly. You need to look for the highest grade of Shea butter, if you want to see the benefit. In conclusion, avocado oil works to reduce aging spots on skin, because it contains sterolins. Some of the better nighttime creams on the market contain all of these ingredients, except for nut-grass root. If you begin using them, you should see an improvement in as little as two weeks.

HOW TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL ADDICTION

2009-07-03T21:16:00.000-07:00

Most of us drink alcohol from time to time. But some people get addicted to drinking alcohol. If you find that you're getting tempted by alcohol more often or that you need a glass of something to "help you get through the day", here are some tips to help you to overcome your alcohol addiction.

1. Get more exercise

Exercising pumps "feel good" hormones (called endorphins) naturally through your body. By taking more regular exercise, you can help your body produce these natural hormones to help you feel happier. Although most people think of "the gym" when exercise is mentioned, you don't have to go down that route. Any form of exercise - walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, even taking the stairs rather than the elevator - will help.

2. Avoid bars

Sure, it's easy to go to a bar with friends or work colleagues. But if you're starting to abuse alcohol, it may be safer to avoid these places or to accept the offer less often. If you can't do that, drink soft drinks - no-one but you will know that you are only drinking the mixer. If you "need" alcohol before you can talk to strangers, check out ways to build your self esteem and self confidence rather than drinking more alcohol.

3. Get a hobby

Sometimes we drink out of boredom or habit. Taking up a new hobby may be just the distraction you need to give you a new direction in your life.

4. Learn to meditate

It's easy to meditate - nowadays there are scientifically designed meditation systems that will help your brain reach a meditative state easily. Or you could combine this with the third step and join a local meditation class - if you can't easily find one, check out yoga classes as well.

5. Join a support group

There's likely to be an alcohol support group in your neighborhood. Consider joining this to help you to overcome your alcohol abuse.

How Exercise and Weight Loss Can Help to Lower Cholesterol.

2009-06-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

First let’s have a discussion of what cholesterol is and how it affects the body. When you begin to learn how you can become healthier and loss weight through exercise and diet, you will be able to lower you cholesterol and it will become important to check your body’s levels of a fat called triglyceride. You will find that cholesterol and triglyceride are both lipids in your body that will help your body to survive. However if you don’t try to maintain healthy levels of fats in your body, you will be at risk for a heart attack and stroke. At unhealthy levels there are also many other diseases that can attack your body such as diabetes, Kidney problems as well as liver problems.

There are many people who will check with their doctor about their cholesterol levels so that they are able to stay healthy and so the heart can tick stronger than ever. But there are many more that thinks just because they do not hear anything bac k from the Doctor then everything is OK. This is not always the case as offices can get very busy and phone calls can be forgotten. You will want to inquire about your triglyceride levels because you doctor may not inform you of your personal level.

Triglycerides are tested as part of your cholesterol test and it will be the fourth number that happens to follow the good and bad cholesterol levels and your total cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, medical research has only recently been started on the effects of triglycerides in the blood stream. Usually, there are levels of triglycerides and the levels of bad cholesterol, as well as the good cholesterols. So it is apparent that lower levels of triglycerides are better for your body.

However, it is not yet apparent if triglycerides are contributing to the problems of high LDL cholesterol or if high levels are a symptom of high LDL cholesterol. They are still trying to study this type of problem, but there are doctors who aren’t quite sure on how to recommend treatment for the triglyceride levels. Most of the time, lowering high LDL cholesterol and raising low HDL cholesterol brings triglyceride levels back into a normal range with no additional work. Most of the time this is accomplished through weight loss and exercise although it may require medication in the most extreme cases.

You will find that there are some special cases where there are higher levels of triglycerides that are being treated in patients. You will find that a normal reading of triglyceride is lower than 150. You will also find that anything above the 150 is considered to be high and if you are over 500, then the levels are extremely high and it could be dangerous to your health. Most patients that are being treated for high triglyceride also suffer from syndrome X. The syndrome X is a genetic default that will cause you to have high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, also hypertension. You may also have abnormal blood clotting and issues with insulin. This is the reason why patients with the syndrome X are at high risk for heart attack.

Now how does exercise help to control these levels? It is a known fact in many circles that exercise burns the fat that is in your body. And what comprises the fat in your body is broken down into the different lipids. There by through exercise you will begin to help the body to break down these lipids in the body to levels that are healthy for you. Also by having a leaner muscle mass it will also help the body to do a better job of breaking down the lipid levels to a more manageable level. Your high triglyceride levels can be easily treated if you lose some weight and exercise. You may also need to get on some medication, although, a diet could be just as helpful. By learning better nutrition you can also help your body to control the levels of your cholesterol and to maintain your weight.

It is important that you keep a good weight loss program and always keep a check on your cholesterol levels. You can do that by talking to your doctor. You will go to your doctor for a simple blood tests and it will measure the lipids in your blood so that you can stay heart-healthy. You will want to also talk to your doctor about changing habits in your diet and exercise routines so that you can life healthy and happy with your ideal weight.

Free Beauty Skin Care Tip

2009-05-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest problems for elderly women is the formation of wrinkles. When we are young, we don't give a second though about it, but the truth is that you should start taking care of your skin as early as your mid 20s and 30s because your body decreases the production of collagen as you age and it leads to face lines and wrinkles.

Here is a beauty skin care tip:

Use a natural anti aging skin care creams that prevent free radicals from hurting your skin and slow the skin aging process. A good anti aging cream contains anti oxidants that protect your skin from free radicals. Free radicals cause oxidation due to pollution, the UV rays of the sun, chemicals and other substances.

Even though the body decreases the production of collagen proteins as we age, free radicals accelerate the skin aging process by hurting the epidermis of your skin, so you need to protect it.

Here are some recommended tips to keep your skin smooth and destroy free radicals:

- don't smoke, because smoke produces millions of free radicals

- avoid drinking too much alcohol it drys your skin

- use a sunscreen to protect your face from the harmful UV rays of the sun

- use a moisturizer

- eat foods rich in vitamins

- avoid junk food

- use an anti aging cream with potent anti oxidants

One of the most potent anti oxidants that destroys free radicals is CoenzymeQ10, it is in some of the best anti wrinkle creams and moistures your skin.

By following those tips your skin will be protect it and you will not have premature wrinkles or face lines.

Natural creams are not easy to get, in the US most topical products are made with cheap chemicals that cause secondary effects. On the other hand in Europe there are some companies that make facial topical products with only organic ingredients that heal your skin from the inside out and prevent the formation of wrinkles.

Best Skin Care Treatment at Any Age

2009-05-26T08:12:00.000-07:00

In the western world and almost any other part of the world it is very important to have a very good facial presentation, we want to look great and in order to be at our best we need to take care of our skin properly. However our face is constantly exposed to toxins and free radicals that cause damage and age the skin.

If you want to keep your skin radiant and glowing you need to follow a strict facial routine on a daily basis, but most people get confused and don't know what is the best treatment for them, they look for the latest products, creams, lotions, gels that don't deliver good results.

A natural skin care treatment is the best approach at any age, because you will provide your face with the nutrients it needs to heal it self and stay healthy.

Here are a few tips for a natural facial treatment:

- First you need to prevent any more damage to your face, avoid smoking, too much alcohol,avoid junk food, protect your skin from the sun.

- Improve your skin health and protect it by drinking plenty of water, eating foods rich in vitamins, take multivitamins, exercise.

- Follow a daily facial car routine clean, tone and moisture.

- If you know of a homemade remedy you can apply it, natural fruits are great and provide very important vitamins to your tissue.

- Use a natural creams that promotes collage and elastin increase. A cream that also contain potent anti oxidants.

Those may seem simple tips, but if you follow them you will look much younger and you wont have to undergo clinical skin treatments. Is better to prevent damage than to pay the consequences later.

A natural cream can do wonders for you, especially if it contains some of the most important organic anti aging ingredients like CynergyTk, Wakame Kelp and CoenzymeQ10.

A Secret to Reducing Stress

2009-05-26T08:03:00.000-07:00

When others are rude or abusive, we are naturally angry as a result. Often, this leads to uncomfortable or painful bodily sensations that can linger on. Jesus explained why.

"And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart (Matthew 18:34-35 NASB)."

OK, I know. You've heard me say the same thing a million times before. I know that you already know this. But there's one thing that may be new to you.

All scriptures go together. The Bible also says that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us . . ." That means that he will stop torturing us!

Every time you entertain a negative thought about another person, immediately confess the sin to God. Make a sincere effort not to repeat the sin. If you do so anyway, repeat the process. Sometimes, it may be necessary to repeatedly confess sins of unforgiveness throughout the day. As long as you're making a sincere effort, God will honor your efforts to be obedient.

To confess a sin simply means to agree with God that what you did is wrong. It is, because you did something God said not to do.

Get into the habit of confessing your sins of unforgiveness to God immediately every time you become aware of them. This is not a difficult discipline to develop. But it can yield huge dividends when it comes to reducing your anger, anxiety and depression!

How You Can Deal With Ageing Skin

2009-05-24T13:09:00.000-07:00

No one can avoid it! You can cover it up with makeup, you can peel away the layers with acid and chemical treatments, you can turn back the clock with surgery but, it will happen. It happened to your parents, it will happen to your children and it will happen to you! It’s inevitable. You will age and your skin will age with you. But healthy aging is a natural process, something that can be accepted and embraced. With so many quick fixes out there it’s easy to forget the most important element of skin aging and that is skin health. You could have a full face lift, eye lift, and neck lift at the age of 55 but if after the surgery you continue to abuse your skin, you continue to drink a bottle of wine every day, you continue to smoke, you continue to lie out in the sun, and you continue with the same homecare routine of just soap, water and a moisturiser, how long do you think the effects of that surgery will last? Not long. After all, its only superficial, just because you had a facelift does not mean your skin will produce more collagen or more elastin. Yes, your skin is pulled tight so you can’t see the wrinkles, but for how long?

If you focus on keeping your skin healthy it will always look good, whether you are 15, 25 or 65. It is possible to age gracefully, and what, may I ask is wrong with that.

There are two different types of aging. Intrinsic aging is the natural process of physical change over time, it is more about genetics then your lifestyle. This process begins in your mid 20s but will not begin to show on your skin until decades later.

It is premature aging (extrinsic aging) that you can control. Premature aging refers to the unnatural acceleration of the natural aging process it is induced by daylight exposure and lifestyle choices such as smoking , diet and stress.

The Sun

The sun is responsible for a litany of skin issues, and more importantly skin cancer. Scientific studies have shown that repeated ultraviolet exposure breaks down collagen, impairs the skin’s ability to repair itself, and attacks our elastin. In fact, 90% of premature aging is caused by ultraviolet rays from the sun. The damage caused by these damaging rays can be seen through deep wrinkles, age spots (hyper pigmentation), spider veins, a rough, blotchy complexion and the dreaded ‘leathery’ look!

Everyone seems to be aware of the dangers of lying out in the sun and most will use sun protection but it’s the daily exposure to these UV rays that we should be equally aware of as cumulative damage will also cause extensive damage. Fifteen minute walks outside and occasional lunches outdoors can add up to weakened collagen and elastin, and of course, skin cancer. It’s important to remember that even if you don’t see pink or red skin after being in the sun, that doesn’t mean that the damage hasn’t been done.

Lack of sleep / stress

Skin is the first place to be effected by lack of sleep – the immediate effects of exhaustion are represented through dark circles under the eyes and sagging skin.

Stress is inevitable – just like aging! But it also contributes to premature aging. Often when we are stressed we furrow our brow, place our hands on our faces and pull it in every which way and direction and twist our faces around, performing repetitive movements that impart permanent damage.

Exposure to the elements

Cold winds and low temperatures can dry out skin, depriving it of balanced levels of sebum (oil) that keeps skin lubricated. Without these oils, skin becomes dry, and is more prone to premature aging because of the lack of protective oils. This goes for forced air heating as well such as air conditioning. Warm and dry air acts like a giant sponge, soaking up moisture from everything it touches, including your skin.

Lack of exercise / poor diet

Lack of exercise can contribute to prematurely aging skin, as exercise keeps muscles toned and stimulates blood flow. A poor diet leads to a lack of nutrition for the cells and possible exposure to chemicals and preservatives. Fried and burnt food can also cause oxidation (free radicals from vitamins help counteract oxidation), leading to weaker cell structure.

Smoking

Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop wrinkled, leathery skin, as well as a yellowish hue in their complexions. And even if you are not a smoker, being around a smoker can still cause damage to your skin.

So what can be done?

Sun protection as your first line of defence

If the sun is your skin’s worst enemy, then sun protection is your first line of defence. And with new sunscreen technology that won’t clog pores, won’t cause irritation (redness and burning) and won’t feel chalky or greasy, it’s much easier to comfortably make sunscreens a part of your daily skin care routine.

When selecting sun protection, look for sun protection factors (SPF’s) that are combined with stabilized antioxidant vitamins. Research shows sunscreens formulated with antioxidant vitamins provide enhanced protection against damaging UV light and free radicals. With this increased protection from antioxidant vitamins, there is no need to add more potentially irritating sunscreen chemicals to create a higher SPF level.

Dermalogica’s solar defence system delivers this antioxidant technology through UV smart booster technology, a microcapsule containing antioxidant vitamins that burst open upon contact with UV light, releasing the antioxidants onto the skin, providing protection when it’s needed most.

Exfoliation

Exfoliation will help to remove dulling skin cells from the skin’s surface while improving penetration of beneficial ingredients. There are many different types of exfoliant available but the most effective form for reducing the appearance of the signs of aging is an alpha hydroxy acid based exfoliant. With this type of exfoliant you apply it as you would a masque, leave it on your skin for approximately 10 minutes and then remove. An alpha hydroxy acid based exfoliant will dissolve the inter-cellular glue that holds your skin cells together, thus loosening dead skin cells and removing them. Using this type of exfoliant reduces the amount of stimulation on your skin, as you don’t need to rub it over your skin as you would if you were to use a scrub based exfoliant.

Emollients

Emollients (such as Shea Butter and Organic Silicones) will help maintain soft, smooth, pliable skin and will act as a lubricant, helping to reduce flaking and moisture loss while improving appearance.

Topically-applied vitamins

It has been scientifically proven that topically-applied vitamins do improve the health of the skin. Vitamin A helps inhibit collagen breakdown while stimulating collagen production, vitamin B aids in wound healing, vitamin C is an antioxidant that inhibits melanin, and vitamin E is an antioxidant that provides a barrier protection while smoothing the skin. An excellent product to try is Dermalogica’s Multivitamin Power Concentrate, which will give you a daily dose of all the vitamins that your skin needs.

Finally…

It is also imperative to recognize that the success of your skin treatments will be heavily influenced by your professionally prescribed at-home regimen and the wearing of sunscreen anytime the skin is exposed to daylight. Also important is proper homecare skin products and techniques. Do not use hot water when cleansing, don’t use excessive or abrasive movements (instead, go for gentle, upward circles), keep your surrounding temperature as moderate as possible, and stay away from products that contain artificial fragrances or colours. In addition, ask your skin therapist about products containing peptides. Peptides act as cellular messengers that regulate cell repair while stimulating collagen production. Peptides also help improve skin elasticity and tone while fighting the appearance of fine lines.