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We do our shopping and purchase our hair care products and assume we are doing the right things for hair health. Through promotion and marketing we are led to believe that some of the products available today are things we just can’t do without. But is that really true?

To find the answer you must first look at the structure of hair. Below the skin is the hair follicle, the sebaceous gland and blood vessels. The hair itself is made up of protein. When you brush your hair it causes the sebaceous gland to produce sebum. This oily substance coats and protects the hair from the elements. It also stimulates the blood vessels to provide the nourishment your hair needs. Brushing your hair and or massaging the scalp are beneficial to hair health.

With commercial products, most shampoos and conditioners contain harsh chemicals and synthetic products. In shampoos, that means it can over clean your hair and strip it of its precious oils. Now you need to condition it to replace the oils. It can harm the scalp and hair follicles. It is the same with laundry detergents. They are loaded with fillers and less actual soap so that they can sell you more detergent. It’s a money making strategy that has worked so they will continue to do so.

Now if you are like most people, you’ve read the labels but don’t have a clue as to what the ingredients really are and what their function is. Here it is in layman’s terms:

1) Distereate and propylene glycol or glycol are petroleum based (crude oil). They are very cheap which is why they are widely used in the cosmetic industry.

2) Isopropyl alcohol is another very cheap solvent.

3) Propylparaben or Methylparen are preservatives that are synthetic. The human body typically does not understand synthetic, it understands organic.

4) Cetearyl alcohol is an emulsifier and it can be natural or synthetic. Synthetic is often used because it’s cheaper and easier to produce.

These petrochemicals are absorbed through the skin, then down through the organs and tissues. Many believe that long term exposure to these toxins can cause permanent damage anywhere in the body, and yet, governments have sided with big industry to not require them to disclose what these products contain or what they really are. Instead we have big fancy names you can hardly pronounce let alone understand.

The solution? It’s not as hard as you think. It’s as close as you health food store or even your own fridge. Here are some tips:

1) Buy a natural liquid soap from the health food store. Also purchase some essential oils such as lavender (for all hair types), rosemary, clary sage, cedar wood, birch and peppermint (for hair loss) bergamot, rosewood, eucalyptus etc. Also purchase natural oils such as olive, jojoba, or avocado. Here’s what to do; in a clean spray bottle, pour in about a cup of distilled or spring water. Add 1 cup of liquid soap. Then take 2 tsp of your vegetable oil and add 10 to 20 drops of your chosen essential oils. It can be just one or several combined oils. Shake gently. There you have it. Simple as that! (Essential oils always need to be in a vegetable oil base because of its concentration). You should not need a cream rinse after that because oils will be replaced.

2) If you need deep conditioning, try saturating your hair in mayonnaise or warmed olive oil. Wrap tightly and cover with a shower cap and let rest on the hair for approximately 20 minutes, then rinse out. You can also take 2 egg yolks and whisk them until frothy, then add some warm water. Pour over hair and leave on for 2 minutes then rinse well.

3) It’s a good idea to do a final rinse on your hair with something acidic such as cider vinegar, lemon juice, beer or even milk. Add any of these ingredients with some water to rinse your hair with to restore the alkaline/acid balance of your hair and scalp, and take off any residue you may have left on your hair.

There are many good natural recipes for healthy hair but these are a few things to get you started in the right direction. Experiment with different essential and vegetable oils to find what you like best. Natural, your body understands, so here’s to a good hair day!

Willie Jones is an author/researcher who is dedicated to helping people find the resources, books, news and information on health and wellness and other related issues. www.allabouthair.info

Excessive vaginal discharge in addition to your regular menstrual cycle could be quite troublesome if proper care is not being taken by you. This bleeding occurs from the vagina during menstrual periods but is heavier than normal discharge.

Abnormal bleeding of the vagina is caused due to factors such as intake of contraceptive pills causing bleeding during normal periods, hormonal problems produced by thyroid, pituitary glands, and ovaries. Other sexually transmitted diseases are caused by infections of the vagina, uterus, cervix, ovaries and fallopian tubes. A miscarriage is caused by a heavy period after one missed period of a woman.

If you face heavy bleeding in between your normal periods that do not lasts for a long time then it is not necessary that you have some critical disease. This might be caused due to scars, tumors, fibroids or growth of abnormal tissue on the cervix but regular prolonged heavy vaginal bleeding needs attention. You should get proper check up because sometimes it might be due to growths in the uterine lining which may or may not be cancer.

Sometimes such bleeding is caused by injury to the vagina or reproductive tract during surgery or rape or when the tampon is stuck in the vagina. Bleeding disorders that affect the whole body such as leukemia can also cause abnormal vagina bleeding. If fever, abdominal pain, mucus substances along with vaginal bleeding persists then it could be an infection.

Vaginal discharge usually results from abnormal passages between organs due to injuries caused during childbirth, accidents or surgery. Vaginal discharge usually occurs because of infection causing itching, burning and painful urination. It is not necessary that all infections are sexually transmitted diseases and might be due to other causes like inflammation of the vagina due to hole in the vagina, pelvic inflammatory diseases, genital herpes, uterus infection and lack of the hormone estrogen.

If you want to know more, visit our recommended website womensreproductivehealth.info

Olivia Andrews, writer of womensreproductivehealth.info is a freelance journalist and has written many reviews on subjects such as finance, education, health, entertainment, music, apparels and mobile phones.

Many women experience emotional changes that make them feel low during the days before their periods. In some women, these changes may be mild and transient, disappearing with the onset of a period. In other women, emotional symptoms may be severe enough to interfere with normal activities. Common symptoms are depression, anxiety, irritability and aggression, resulting in what is sometimes called the “PMS blues”.

When emotional or physical symptoms of PMS are severe, this condition is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. PMDD occurs in two to ten percent of all women of reproductive age in the United States. Women with PMDD may have feelings of hopelessness and guilt and a sense of being overwhelmed. Many women with PMDD report feeling very tense and become suddenly sad or are overly sensitive to other people. These symptoms may cause them to withdraw from normal social interaction and can seriously interfere with normal activities and relationships at home and at work.

Many of the emotional symptoms of PMS experienced by women are thought to stem from the brain’s reduced ability to utilize a chemical called serotonin during the premenstrual phase. Serotonin has a mood-enhancing effect. Therefore, the mainstay of treating more severe emotional symptoms is a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. These drugs act by improving the brain’s ability to utilize serotonin, thereby stabilizing a woman’s mood.

Some emotional symptoms are worsened by the effect of physical symptoms of PMS. A woman may experience pain and tiredness and not feel up to sticking to her normal exercise routine. Exercise releases natural mood-elevating and pain-relieving compounds called endorphins; less exercise means lower endorphin levels. Weight gain, bloating, and insomnia may worsen anxiety during PMS. Therefore, management of these physical symptoms through exercise, diet, and medication can help reduce emotional symptoms.

PMS provides detailed information about PMS, PMS remedy, PMS symptoms, PMS treatment and more. PMS is the sister site of Ovulation And Conception.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a medical treatment that
combines estrogen and progestin to restore the premenopausal
levels of estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed
for protection against osteoporosis and heart disease, and
relief of menopausal symptoms.

Benefits

It has been well documented for several decades that Hormone
replacement therapy is the most effective remedy for the hot
flashes and sleep disturbances that often accompany menopause
Hormone replacement therapy has also consistently been shown to
decrease vaginal discomfort by increasing the thickness,
elasticity, and lubricating ability of vaginal tissue. Urinary
tract tissue also becomes thicker and more elastic, reducing the
incidence of stress incontinence and urinary tract infections.

Some women and their doctors report that Hormone replacement
therapy can be helpful in relieving the depression and mood
swings that may occur during menopause and can produce a general
sense of well-being and increased energy. Also, some find that
Hormone replacement therapy increases skin thickness and
elasticity, decreasing the appearance of wrinkles. While Hormone
replacement therapy was used initially to reduce the discomfort
from short-term menopausal symptoms, recent studies provide
evidence that it may also reduce some of the negative long-term
health effects of menopause. Scientists are continuing to gather
information to define the potential benefits from Hormone
replacement therapy and to identify the women for whom it may be
most useful. Further research will also be needed to show when
Hormone replacement therapy should be started and how long it
should be continued to achieve the greatest benefits.

Drawbacks:

While Hormone replacement therapy has potential benefits, it
also can have drawbacks. Some of the side-effects of Hormone
replacement therapy are: vaginal bleeding, breast pain, nausea,
cramping, headaches, fluid retention, vaginal discharge,
depression, irritability, weight gain and bloating. A few months
adjustment period is often necessary for women beginning this
therapy. Every woman entering menopause should have a physical
examination and then talk with her doctor about her overall
health, her family history and her physical and psychological
concerns. Working with your doctor to assess your risk factors
accurately should help you determine whether the benefits of
this therapy outweigh the risks for you personally. If you are
concerned about Hormone replacement therapy, consider other
effective non-medical therapies for addressing your needs, and
seek a second opinion before initiating a course of treatment.

For more information, visit http://www.menopauseinfocenter.com