Author: Mary Kay Houck

The skin is the largest organ in the body and through the pores it plays a major role in the detoxifying process alongside the lungs, kidneys, bowels, liver and the lymphatic and immune systems. The skin produces cool sweat to regulate the body’s elevated temperature. It also has the ability to transform toxins from lipid-soluble or oil-based, into (easier to eliminate) water-soluble forms. Sweat carries toxins out of the body and flushes them through the pores.

Sweating is the body’s safe and natural way to heal. Scientists and doctors are finally acknowledging what our ancestors instinctively knew, that regular sweating restores good health through the elimination of toxins.

Our modern lifestyle makes most people’s skin inactive. Many people don’t sweat, especially during the winter months. Modern synthetic fibers or tight clothing that doesn’t allow the skin to breathe, can damage our skin and our natural ability for elimination, as does excessive prolonged sun exposure. A sedentary lifestyle also inactivates the skin.

Our skin is exposed to hundreds of chemicals during the course of our life, and is affected by them. From innocent bath products such as shampoos, shower gels, lotions and soaps to deodorants. Household cleaning solvents, detergent residues on clothes and chemicals from the bath or shower water also affect the skin.

Regular use of the sauna gradually restores the skin’s elimination ability. Sweating removes toxic chemicals and metals faster than other detox method. It is a good habit that pays many health dividends.

The sauna’s benefits are numerous. Not least because it is so relaxing and leaves your body soothed and your mind serene. It’s main advantage lies in the fact that it promotes sweating, helping the body to rid itself of toxins. It is also believed that exposure of the skin to heat stimulates the production of white blood cells and strengthens the immune system.

Other benefits of the sauna include:

• Improved blood circulation: The sauna increases and improves the rate of blood circulation and breathing.
• Weight loss: Sauna is similar to mild exercise, it burns about 300 calories per average session. Regular sauna treatments combined with a healthy diet and moderate exercise will help you lose weight and stay fit and healthy.
• Skin cleansing: A profuse sauna-induced sweat followed by a shower cleanses your skin far more thoroughly than just taking a shower. It makes it soft and healthy with immediately noticeable effects.
• Body relaxation: Stress build-up creates tension in the body manifesting in various aches and pains. The heat and humidity of the sauna diffuses the pain and relaxes tired muscles. A sauna in the evening will leave tense muscles and sore limbs totally relaxed. Sauna also temporarily relieves arthritic pain.
• Mind relaxation: The sauna is essentially a place to relax. Regular sauna adepts all agree that it effectively helps relieve physical and mental fatigue and stress.

The sauna enhances circulation and oxygenates the cells, tissues and organs. It increases the body’s ability to produce energy, which promotes healing. At the same time, heating the tissues speeds up the metabolism. Your cells are gradually capable of eliminating toxins much more effectively.

The other day I was describing how I love to see my friend who I was meeting for lunch.  Every time we get together we laugh.  Laughter is good in so many ways.  It can:

1. Stimulate many organs. Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.
2. Reduces Pain.  It releases endorphins, which boost energy, act as natural painkillers and enhance mood.
3. Activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. This can result in a good, relaxed feeling.
4. Soothe tension. Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.
5. Improve your immune system. Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. In contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.
6. Relieve pain. Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.
7. Increase personal satisfaction. Laughter can also make it easier to cope with difficult situations. It also helps you connect with other people.
8. Improve your mood. Many people experience depression, sometimes due to chronic illnesses. Laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and may make you feel happier.
9. Burn Calories.  It does not replace going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn about 40 calories.
10. Live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.
11. Get out of trouble.  Laughter is also a good way to dissolve social conflict.  My little brother used to elude punishment sometimes because he was so funny.

Being respectful means showing that you value other people’s perspectives, time and space.

Show deference to those with rightful authority. Some people deserve extra signs of respect because of the position they hold.  People who have risen to leadership positions because they have earned or achieved  these positions.  Show authority figures respect according to the proper custom, whether it means calling the principal “Sir”or whatever other custom is appropriate.  Respect your parents, grandparents, and other elders in the community deserve respect for the valuable wisdom they have to share.

Do not discriminate.  Show respect to everyone:  those in high positions AND those who can do nothing for you.  “You can judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.”

Respect is foundational to love, and one of the best ways to show your loved ones or even to others is that you love them is to treat them with respect. Small habits that you can incorporate into your daily routine, and also a loving and positive attitude will make all of them to feel loved and respected.

Showing respect to others improves relationships and productivity and increases the odds that they will treat you respectfully as well.

We all know people who never take ownership for what they do.  Apologize if you’ve hurt someone or argued with someone and remember that others have feelings too.

So why not to treat others good by words and in actions.

Consider the next person’s position and feelings before reacting. In this process the other person may learn something from you. This does not imply becoming a doormat, but there are respectful ways to set limits when you need to.

Respect for the dignity of others includes knowing when to stand up to someone who has overstepped his/her boundaries. So do not excuse bad behavior or wrongdoing just because you were following orders or prospering your business.  It is not necessary to hurt a person in order to achieve your goals.

Be loyal to others and your relationship with them. Do not say bad things about others as this reflects your personality. If you can talk about someone else behind their back, most likely you won’t command respect as the person will believe you can talk badly about him/her behind his/her back.

Protect those under you and hide other peoples’ faults. When you do that, it may not have immediate effect but you command respect in the long run.

If someone is trusting you for any kind of help, do not create division within their closest relationships.

Being respectful tells people you not only care about others, but you care about yourself. Being respectful includes means respecting yourself; if you don’t, people won’t respect you.

A great technique for giving respect is to empathize or relate to the other person. Listening and responding intelligently, seriously, and beneficially shows a great amount of respect. Everyone wants what they say to be heard and taken into consideration.

I was speaking with a client today who shared she has had ringing in her ears and headaches for six months.  She gets distracted and forgets to tell the doctor about it when she sees him.  It is actually affecting her daily functioning.  She ends up sleeping large portions of the day.  She has other health issues as well but I felt it was really essential to address this issue as soon as possible.  She has a very good doctor who is very open to functional medicine approaches.  The doctor in these videos is not very supportive towards doctors as his experience was not very positive.  One of the amazing things that I noticed as I moved to this area of the country is a wonderful group of physicians that pay attention to everything and they work along with the patients in ways that many people may not in other areas of the country.  I just wanted to take a second to brag on our doctors.  🙂

Tinnitus is a very frustrating condition that affects many peoples lives. Most doctors will prescribe medications, and unfortunately the side-effects can be dangerous. This self-help technique is safe and very effective and hopefully will help reduce the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.

Here are a couple of videos about natural ways to help manage the symptoms of tinnitus:

Dr. Alan Mandell was a patient who suffered with this condition.  He describes that millions of people develop congestion throughout their lives from bacteria, viruses (common cold or flu), pollen, or allergies. This commonly affects the Eustachian tubes that connect from the back of our nasal cavity to the middle ear. When these Eustachian tubes become congested they get inflamed, producing an imbalance of pressure that directly affects our middle and inner ear causing tinnitus and/or vertigo symptoms.  Check this one out too.  Dr. Mandell shares some more ideas.

Aromatherapy experts say that essential oils such as cypress, lemon, rosemary, rose, chamomile and lavender, help to soothe the symptoms and anxieties created by tinnitus. The methods of utilizing essential oils for natural tinnitus relief include vaporization, massage, inhalation, compress and bathing.  You can use them in the shower or in your diffuser and so many other ways…

Here is another guy who my husband and I love (Drew Canole) describing how to use essential oils in a steamer as well as apple cider vinegar for mucus relief.

We use essential oils for relief with so many issues.  Give us a call if you would like more information:  (609) 510-4007.

1. Cycling is good for your heart: Cycling is associated with improved cardiovascular fitness, as well as a decrease in the risk of coronary heart disease.