Kenaf – The Environmental Entrepreneurship Powerhouse

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Kenaf, Hibiscus cannabinus L.is a warm season annual closely related to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.).

Kenaf can be used as a domestic supply of cordage fiber in the manufacture of rope, twine, carpet backing and burlap. Research, in the early 1940s, focused on the development of high-yielding anthracnose-resistant varieties, cultural practices and harvesting machinery.

During the 1950s, kenaf was identified as a promising fiber source for paper pulp. Kenaf fibers have been processed into high quality newsprint and bond paper.

Although kenaf is usually considered a fiber crop, research indicates that it has high protein content and, therefore, is a potential livestock feed. Crude protein in kenaf leaves ranged from 21 to 34 percent, stalk crude protein ranged from 10 to 12 percent, and whole-plant crude protein ranged from 16 to 23 percent.

Kenaf can be ensilaged effectively, and it has satisfactory digestibility with a high percentage of digestible protein. Digestibility of dry matter and crude proteins in kenaf feeds ranged from 53 to 58 percent, and 59 to 71 percent, respectively Kenaf meal, used as a supplement in a rice ration for sheep, compared favorably with a ration containing alfalfa meal.

In addition to the use of kenaf for cordage, paper pulp and livestock feed researchers have investigated its use as poultry litter and animal bedding, bulking agent for sewage sludge composting and as a potting soil amendment. Additional products include automobile dashboards, carpet padding, corrugated medium, as a "substitute for fiberglass and other synthetic fibers," building materials (particle boards of various densities, thicknesses, and fire and insect resistances), absorbents, textiles and as fibers in extraction molded plastics.

Kenaf is in the Hibiscus family, is cousin to Cotton and Okra, and is currently grown mainly in China and India for its high strength fibers. Nobody has focused on kenaf for food because the leaves did not taste good. However, a unique strand known as Whitten Kenaf was developed by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and released for general use in 2005. These leaves taste quite good, a sort of lemony, Cajun taste. This variety of kenaf has wide cotton shaped leaves, can be used for food, has been grown for food in Haiti for 3 years where they love the taste and have developed their own recipes. The leaves, seeds, stalk and core are all separate harvests. The result is multiple uses and benefits.

The kenaf plant is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, much faster than local weeds, so it requires minimal soil preparation and is easy to plant and maintain. Because the soil does not have to be tilled, maximum microorganism density is maintained and chemical fertilizers are not needed Kenaf is an extremely efficient plant that uses minimal resources, with exceptional output. Kenaf plants grow up to 20 feet tall. One acre can produce as much as 20 tons of biomass in 6 months.

Low Water Usage

The stalk and roots have the ability to store water like a camel, so the plant performs extremely well, even in arid/drought conditions where most other plants fail. When planted before rainy season, no follow-up watering is needed. This absolves the need for expensive irrigation and water rights issues.

Leaves Feed Humans

Whitten Kenaf leaves are delicious and high in protein, up to 34%. It is regularly eaten in Haiti in soups, salads, boiled like spinach or added to rice. Kenaf can be eaten within 10 days of planting, when just 18 inches tall, and the leaves and stems can be continually harvested from that point forward. Each planted seed has the potential of creating 80 servings of edible food. Therefore, it can be used as a high protein starvation aversion crop. In fact, 2,000 people in Mirebalais, Haiti used kenaf to keep from starving in 2009.

In Haiti, several kenaf leaf recipes have been developed. Seeds Feed Humans can be ground into wonderful gluten-free flour for baking. In Mirebalais, Haiti they use kenaf flour for several recipes. 1/2 pound of kenaf flour can make 20 to 30 pan sized breakfast pancakes.

There is a long tradition of using kenaf for food in India to produce gongura. There are many recipes and photos of foods based on gongura on the internet.

Money Crop

Kenaf seeds are sold by the pound, which consists of about 20,000 seeds. 1 pound of kenaf seed currently costs $4.00 USD. In poor soil conditions, 1 kenaf plant produces about 200 seeds. 10 acres of poor soil can grow 10,000 lbs of kenaf seed per growing season, representing $40,000 USD of income. Florida research farmer Harry Long, in cooperation Mr. Loftus, came up with an organic formula where they yielded 11,382 seeds per plant!! It takes about 1 year from planting time before local farmers can harvest and sell the seeds as a money crop. They can sell the stalks as firewood at that time, too.

Animal Feed:

Leaves can be dried and turned into different sized pellets as high protein feed for rabbits, fish, chickens, and goats. Rabbit meat is really wonderful for you, being lower in fats and cholesterol and higher in protein than beef. Commercial grade rabbit farming and fish farming (tilapia) can be sustained with kenaf pellets. (The US currently imports $750M of tilapia per year from China.)

A backyard farming method is also being perfected for small scale production of rabbits, fish, chickens, and goats, on small plots of land using home grown kenaf pellets, virtually eliminating feed costs. This provides meat, fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy products for family consumption and for sale/export. This could be a self sustaining source of food and income for the poorest of the poor. They can make $25 per week growing and picking their own kenaf for animal feed, starting within 2 months of planting the seed. This doesn't even take into consideration the income they can receive from selling their livestock.

Cooking Fuel:

Cooking Fuel: The kenaf stalk has a heat value comparable to burning pine. A low cost, safe, smokeless Kenaf Stove has been designed for high efficiency cooking and bio-char (a form of charcoal) production. The Kenaf Stove burns kenaf or wood in an oxygen deprived environment, resulting in a much cleaner, no smoke fire where the fuel lasts MUCH longer. 4 families can have a year's supply of fuel from a football field size of planted kenaf. When the air supply to the stove is shut off, bio-char is created. Making bio-char from kenaf and putting it into the soil as a soil amendment replenishes the soil and functions as a fertilizer and a soil stabilizer.

This recapturing of waste lands can halt deforestation and desertification as people use kenaf instead of collecting wood for cooking. Any bio-char not used as fertilizer can be molded into charcoal briquettes. The Kenaf Stove can also use grass, waste paper, etc. to make bio-char which is then made into charcoal briquettes. Families can then sell the charcoal for income.

Carbon Sequestration

One acre of kenaf can sequester 8 times as much carbon as an acre of evergreen trees. One acre of kenaf absorbs approximately 10 to 20 tons of Carbon during photosynthesis. When used as cooking fuel on the Kenaf Stove, an additional 5 tons of bio-char is made. When put into the earth, this bio-char permanently stores the carbon in a beneficial way, in the ground.

Kenaf is carbon negative, when you put the bio-char into the soil. If we can change from coal to kenaf for making power, we can sequester enough CO2 per year to completely solve the anthropogenic effect on climate change, impacting global warming

Electricity Generation

Inventor C. Morrison has developed a biomass power plant that can use kenaf biomass to create a hydrogen/carbon monoxide gas called syngas. These gasses are sufficient to run an electrical generator. One power plant can service an entire rural village. The biomass yield for an acre of kenaf is 3 to 4 times higher than for trees. 50 acres of kenaf can fuel 1 power plant, perpetually.

This system is self-contained and poses no air quality, water quality, soil degradation, odor, or noise issues. There are no unique construction or installation requirements. It is as simple to operate as any household appliance and is small enough to fit on a trailer (see picture) or be mounted in a small building. The electricity not used by the rural village can be sold to the electrical power grid as an additional source of income. Imagine a constant supply of electricity being supplied to urban centers by rural villages, this in nations plagued by regular brownouts and blackouts. The only by-product from gasification is a sellable bio-char ash that can be used as a soil amendment for growers.

Organic Fertilizer

An inexpensive organic fertilizer that can be made locally, using bio-char, is being developed. Bio-char acts as a home for microbial activity. This can be used to enhance soil quality even in the poorest of soils, without using dangerous and expensive chemical fertilizers Bio-char as a fertilizer has been known to double plant growth. This will increase the yields and profitability per square meter of the kenaf plants and other fruits and vegetables grown in subsequent years. This will lead to a virtuous cycle of increasing economic prosperity from year to year, using land resources currently viewed as unproductive.

Kenaf bio-char can even be used in treating human bodily waste to convert the nitrogen into productive forms, turning a waste product into a resource. This would improve sanitary conditions and would have been useful during the recent Cholera outbreak in Haiti. 5 gallon buckets can be used as toilets and when combined with biochar, within 6 months the poo and urine can be safely used as fertilizer. If 2 billion people were to use these toilets, then 2 billion pounds of fertilizer would be generated every day. Over time we could even recapture the deserts.

Textiles The bast (thin outer bark) of the kenaf plant is a high strength fiber used to make burlap bags, plastics, industrial and commercial fabrics, cordage, rope and twine.

Paper

Kenaf paper has superior fiber content compared to wood-based paper products, and it takes far less time to grow kenaf compared to trees.

Building Materials

The fibrous outer core of plant stems can be used to make composites, polymers, binders, biodegradable plastic, injection molded panels, engineered wood panels, substitute for carbon, glass, other mineral fibers, fibrous reinforcement of plaster, cement, and wall boards. Construction The Styrofoam-like inner core of the kenaf plant can be used for animal bedding, kitty litter, municipal wastewater treatment, and for oil spill cleanup on land or at sea. In conjunction with recycled wood and recycled concrete, the kenaf core can also be used to make a light weight yet very strong cement block that has great insulation properties and is virtually fireproof. These blocks can be used to build single family homes and multi-story buildings, without using power tools.

A self-sustaining environmental home has been designed using kenaf and other technologies, at a cost between $5,000 and $10,000 (depending on conditions, sewage and electrical requirements and sizes) per house. These homes will provide for clean water, housing, electricity, and sanitation. Intended as a developing nation starter home, construction is so simple that kids can assemble a house in 1 day< and a family can easily add-on additional rooms and rent them out as a source of extra income. This makes it possible for single mothers to become financially independent without having to work outside the home. The societal implications of this are staggering

De-urbanization

This is a side effect from effectively leveraging kenaf as a way to provide food, shelter, and a living wage, in a rural setting. People living in the city slums can move back to their rural origins and actually provide for themselves, sustainably. The Whitten variety of Hibiscus cannabinus L.,is a good tasting kenaf that has the potential to serve as a food source in many countries.

Kenaf is a plant that has the potential to change the world. It is a very old plant used by mankind. Throughout the Bible you read about sackcloth. Sackcloth is made from kenaf. Only royalty was allowed to wear linen or cotton. The poor grew kenaf, spun it and made their clothes from kenaf. They made ropes and cordage from kenaf.

Many people want to help the environment. Many people are trying to find ways to lower the greenhouse gases that are heating up our world. We worry about the Arctic ice melting and the loss of the polar bear. We are all concerned with the more and more violent weather patterns, the floods, earthquakes and volcanoes erupting. We don't want to see sea levels rise and inundate our coastal cities. But what can one person do?

Some people have gotten involved with tree planting projects. Tree planting projects are great. They sequester quite a lot of carbon. The problem is, the people who are involved are operating in what I call an incomplete transaction. The people who have tree planting projects get the resources they need and you get the satisfaction of knowing you are doing something good but there is no return for you donation.

What if there were a way to do something really good for the environment, something that sequesters more carbon than trees...and at the same time it offers you a payback? Yes, that's what I mean. A return on your investment. Sequester carbon, help the environment and earn money at the same time? There is a plant called kenaf that sequesters more carbon than any other species on the Earth. One acre of kenaf sequesters as much carbon as 8 acres of fast growing pine trees.

Kenaf Could Change the World If We All Got Involved In Planting It And Using It. Here's What Kenaf Can Do:

1. Sequester More Carbon Per Acre Than Any Other Plant

2. Be Food For Humans Anywhere In The World Where There Is Hunger

3. Make Excellent Feed For Livestock including Backyard Fish Ponds

4. The Stalks Can Be Used As Firewood

5. Make Biochar For Fertilizing The Earth Organically

6. Make Beautiful Cloth That Can Be Used For Clothing And Industrial Use

7. Make Biocomposites That Can Be Used For Car Interiors

8. Be Used To Generate Electricity

9. Make A Better Quality Paper Than Pine Trees And Be Ready For Use In 6 Months Instead Of Years

10. Have Seeds That Can Be Made Into Gluten Free Flour

11. Have Seeds That Can Be Made Into A Cosmetic Oil

12. Have Leaves That Make Excellent Potherbs

13. Can Be Cut Back Many Times And When It Regrows It Produces More Food Or Feed

14. Grows Faster Than Just About Any Plant

15. Does Not Use A Lot Of Water - It Grows In Somalia

16. BioChar Made From Kenaf Can Treat Human Wastes And Turn It Into Fertilizer

17. The Inner Core Is Excellent For Animal Bedding Without Dust

18. Many Kinds Of Building Materials Can Be Made From The Bast Fiber

19. The Inner Core Fiber Can Be Made Into A Filler For A Lightweight Cement Block

20. Extracted Kenaf seed oil can be used as a bio-fuel for Diesel engines

This plant could feed people in poor countries. This plant could sequester more carbon everywhere in the world. This plant could provide biological fertilizers. And the plant has so many uses.

We need to build an organization made up of people who want to see less hunger, more firewood, inexpensive homes for poor people in developing countries. The people we seek to connect with are probably doing something green in their lives. They would just like to find a way to make it profitable while being more Green. In other words, having a complete transaction.

There is a need to find people dedicated to planting kenaf and has already developed marketing vehicles for the kenaf fiber and other products. We are actively researching vegetable dyes, making kenaf fabric water repellent with environmentally sound materials. We have plans to make back packs, tote bags, and household items from kenaf. And we are already getting ready to develop our own kenaf handmade paper project in Belize.

We invite you to invest in your kenaf planting as a member of our community.

Kenaf is the environmental entrepreneurship powerhouse with multiple profit centers.

for you. It is not a graduate course in a university. It is a down to earth program.

The climate change is getting worse. But we now have a means to take control of our environmental problems and do something to ameliorate them.

We on this planet are in a battle for our survival as a species.From time to time on this very active planet we have extinction level events (ELE). Most of them are the results of acts of nature. But we are creating our own extinction level event (ELE). When the death rock fell from the sky and wiped out the dinosaurs, they had no warning. They didn't know what hit them. But our extinction level is happening slowly enough that we can take action. We are sentient, we have our minds and our hands. We can take command of what is happening on our world. What can I do you say? We say, "Plant kenaf."

We can plant kenaf or invest in someone else planting it. We can stop global warming.

We can create businesses to make money for you and other investors while you help remove carbon from the atmosphere.We can all actively participate in the real war.

THE WAR TO REGENERATE OUR WORLD.

It's time to get our planet back to normal levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. One acre of kenaf sequesters as much carbon dioxide as 8 acres of fast growing pine trees.

YOU CAN EVEN DO THIS: Planting a small kenaf plot in your garden can help take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and contribute to the battle against global warming. You could use the leaves for high protein greens, and chickens love it, too. Use the seeds for gluten-free flour, and the stalks for dust-free bedding for animals.

Planting one manzana of kenaf in a tropical country, as an investor or as a farmer, could net you thousands of dollars in monetary return, and sequester tons of carbon dioxide, providing you an environmental return.

Kenaf was used for rope and for making sackcloth 6,000 years ago. Its new uses include biocomposites being manufactured for Toyota which plans to make all its car interiors with kenaf.

Kenaf combined with recycled plastic makes an excellent building material as well as raw material for industrial use.

And, at the same time with it high protein content, it can feed the hungry of the world, people and animals.Kenaf can replace tree cutting as it makes tree free paper, can be used for people food as a potherb or gluten free flour, livestock feed, paper, biochar, carbon sequestration, fabric and biocomposites

This ecofriendly plant that has the potential to create a successful green business for you. Grow kenaf in your backyard or in a large plantation.

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Source by Dr Carolyn M Cross

Originally Published Here: Kenaf – The Environmental Entrepreneurship Powerhouse

Itchy Scalp, Natural Scalp Treatments: Using A Natural Home Remedy For Itchy Scalp Conditions

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Yes it can be extremely annoying and embarrassing having a scalp condition like dandruff, eczema, scalp infections or a nasty itchy red rash on your scalp.

If you are suffering from:

itchy scalp, sore scalp or do you have a flaky dry scalp with redness and rashes that drive you crazy?

scalp picking - do you constantly find yourself picking at & scratching?

oily scalp and limp hair leaving you feeling less than your best

embarrassing dandruff falling on your clothes

or even a fungal infection of your scalp...that can lead to lesions or scalp sores.

Hair falling out & patches on your scalp

Your instinct might be to pick up a product from the store shelf or your doctor. Most of these scalp treatments that promise relief from dry scalp conditions sound very attractive until you start reading the fine print.

Sodium Laureth/Lauryl Sulphate (SLS)? What's that? Why do you have to call a Poison Control Center if you accidentally swallow shampoo? And what are those warning labels on the back all about? What does it do to your head if it's that toxic?

Stop! What you must know is that several chemicals, especially SLS, strip the natural oils from the skin and even corrode it, along with your eye membranes. Have you also noticed that your hair has been thinning? Well hair follicle damage is another little known but very common symptom of these chemicals.

Actually, most commercial shampoos & scalp treatments are designed to meet people's "sensory" expectations...offering instant gratification and the illusion that they are doing their job. So therein lies the problem. For example adding silicone to conditioner induces an artificial shine but in truth can create problems long term including sensitivities.

Most people expect a shampoo to:

Foam up nicely

Smell good

Take all the so-called "nasty" oiliness out of their hair

Make their hair feel squeaky-clean

And that's a reasonable ask - think about it...if your shampoo didn't foam up, smell good, or leave your hair feeling squeaky-clean, would you trust it? Well, here's the thing: 90% of commercial shampoos achieve the foaming effect using the equivalent of engine degreasers to strip off not only dirt and grime but also valuable natural oils that your scalp needs.

Yes --your scalp needs natural oils. Without them, your body has no natural defence - those oils are there for a reason! Your scalp needs to maintain a natural PH balance that if disturbed - can develop into a dry, itchy irritated scalp. The good news is that there are many natural remedies you can use with moisturising oils and natural powerful alternatives to heal & reverse any scalp problem by restoring balance safely. You can easily repair follicle and damage - even boost hair growth and use your own home remedy for scalp cell regeneration. There are also the artificial aromas that are added - its alarming the huge percentage of people who are mildly to severely averse or allergic to artificial scents - resulting in itchy scalp, skin rashes etc and we don't even know it.

So what non toxic itchy scalp treatments and natural remedies can help? Well there are many non toxic shampoos which are nourishing and conditioning while still giving you're the "foam effect", they smell devine with the addition of the natural oils they contain. So you do have a choice and it does NOT have to cost you more - in fact most of them are less - you just have to know what to look for.

So lets have a look at natural oils for treating your scalp...

Here are some of my favorite natural oils you can use for hair & scalp treatments.

Zinc Pyrithione: Wonderful stuff for dandruff & itchy scalp conditions. First synthesized in the 1930's, this is the most widely used active ingredient from a natural source. It's used to treat dandruff, seborrheic dermatitus, psoriasis, eczema and numerous other skin and scalp disorders. It has strong anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties.

Jojoba: Is excellent as a scalp moisturiser and helps to rebalance sebum.

Tea Tree: Oily hair ... Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands, enlivens the scalp and brings the cells & follicles to attention

Basil: Oily hair ... promotes growth

Chamomile: Fine to normal hair ... gives golden highlights

Clary sage: All types of hair ... dandruff treatment

Lavender: Normal hair ... Scalp treatment for itchiness, dandruff, and even lice!

Lemon: Oily hair ... Gives golden highlights; treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Myrrh: Dry hair ... Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Patchouli: Oily hair ... Dandruff treatment

Peppermint: Dry hair ... Promotes hair growth

Rose: Fine hair ... Soothes scalp

Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil: Itchy Scalp, Dry Scalp Excellent for itchy scalp, dry scalp and dandruff

Rosemary: Oily hair ... Dandruff treatment; promotes hair growth

Tea tree: Oily hair ... Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff, lice, and underactive sebaceous glands

Ylang-ylang: Oily hair ... Dandruff treatment

Neem: ... a wonder oil from India. Neem is amazing for all of the wonderful "stuff" it does. It's also derived from a type of tree bark. Neem is an effective fungicide and insecticide (great for head lice when used with geranium, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils). In clinical studies Neem extracts and oil were found to be as effective as coal tar and cortisone in treating psoriasis with none of the usual side effects accompanying the use of Neem as there was with Coal tar and cortisone. Neem extracts and oil removes redness and itching when applied directly to your scalp...and it's a great skin conditioner. Best of all its excellent for relieving itching fast.

The best part of knowing that there are alternatives is that you can have mix these into super powerful blends like a super moisture boosting home remedy for dry scalp, or soothing itchy scalp treatments. Dry itchy scalp can be dealt with fast and permanently without spending a ton on traditional scalp med products.

Here's just one easy remedy you can make today:

Home remedy for dry itchy scalp Take ¼ c oatmeal and soak in water for 20 mins. Mix well and then strain the liquid adding it to a cup. Add 5 drops lavender oil (or lavender stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water. Add 5 drops rosemary (or rosemary stalks steeped in ¼ cup hot water. Allow to cool until tepid.

Mix the liquids together and dab on your scalp...leave in for 10 mins to soothe the itch. This a good temporary soother for itching. Chamomile tea is also soothing!

There are hundreds of ideas that are excellent scalp treatments from dandruff to scalp infections like scalp sores & psoriasis. These remedies combined with the knowledge of what causes itchy scalp and other scalp conditions will enable you to be free from itching, dryness and allow you to grow fabulously thick, shiny beautiful hair also.....so have fun experimenting and "luxuriating" by giving your hair a treat using the many natural gifts from nature that are right under our noses! There are also many natural shampoos that so not use these ingredients and do wonders for your hair such as Akin shampoo, and Thursday Plantation which is fantastic as an effective anti-dandruff shampoo.

I have included a few more remedies and uses for oils below. There are many many more in "Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies " and a list of shampoos that are not toxic. They are nourishing & repairing for your scalp & hair.

SOOTHING & HEALING ANTIFLAMMATORY REMEDY: Apply a mixture of 1 teaspoon of Neem oil (antifungal & antiitching) 1 teaspoon Teatree or Manuka (also antifungal) which much stronger than teatree, one teaspoon of Rosemary oil and one teaspoon of Lavender oil together in 3 tablespoons of carrier oils such as Olive or Almond oil (Wheatgerm and Macadamia carrier oils closely match your natural sebum) and apply to your scalp daily.

Alternatively add the oils together minus the olive/almond oil to one cup if water in spray bottle and shake vigorously then spray on your roots. If you can get a teaspoon of hemp oil add that to the mix as well.

GARDEN REMEDY: Go to your garden and get 3 sprigs of Rosemary, and chop up and add to 3 tea bags of Chamomile tea. Boil gently, let cool, strain and rinse your hair with this liquid for a calming antiflammatory effect.

As with all remedies please patch test first and use at your own risk. And but only non toxic shampoos without ingredients that cause your head to react, flake itch and burn....plus more remedies in "Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies "

Heres a little about the oils above which can be mixed to create various formulas to treat different conditions and add condition to your hair found in my eBook "Beautiful Hair & Healthy Scalp Secrets & Remedies ".

Neem Oil: Derived from a type of tree bark it is an effective fungicide and insecticide (great for head lice when used with geranium, rosemary, lavender and eucalyptus oils). It has a very strong odor which can overpower other fragrances but its effectiveness is proven:

In clinical studies Neem extracts and oil were found to be as effective as coal tar and cortisone in treating psoriasis with none of the usual side effects accompanying the use of Neem as there was with Coal tar and cortisone.

When applied to the skin, Neem extracts and oil removes redness and itching while improving the condition of the skin while being treated. In the case of eczema clinical studies demonstrate that even the application of weaker Neem leaf extracts effectively cured acute conditions of eczema with the fresh cold pressed oil with its high concentration of active ingredients.

Neem effectively kills the bacteria that cause Acne and studies prove that Neem will reduce inflammation caused by acne and other bacterial infections.

Its also good for other skin conditions such as Dry Skin, Wrinkles, Dandruff, Itchy Scalp, Skin Ulcers and Warts which can be effectively remedied with soaps and other products containing Neem oil.

Lavender Oil: Lavender is known for its calming properties both emotional and physical. There are different varieties of lavender and certain ones are favored more than others for medicinal treatments. Lavender is effective to soothe itching from skin and sore scalp inflammations such as burning red itchy scalp, and dandruff to insect bites as well as having a powerful calming effect to treat scalp itching and irritated scalp as well as relax you and help you nod off to sleep.

In one study of 86 people with alopecia areata (a disease of unknown cause characterized by significant hair loss, generally in patches), those who massaged their scalps with lavender and other essential oils daily for 7 months experienced significant hair re-growth compared to those who massaged their scalps without the essential oils. It is not entirely clear from this study whether lavender (or a combination of lavender and other essential oils) was responsible for the beneficial effects. Scalp massage is also highly beneficial to stimulate follicles and blood supply to the skin's surface.

Aromatherapists also use lavender as a tonic in inhalation therapy to treat headaches, nervous disorders, and exhaustion. Herbalists treat skin ailments, such as fungal infections (like candidiasis), dandruff, eczema of the scalp, wounds, scalp acne, with lavender oil. It is also used externally in a healing bath for circulatory disorders and as a rub for rheumatic ailments (conditions affecting the muscles and joints).

Tea Tree Oil: One of the strongest known natural antiseptics. Also has punative skin penetrating capacity as an anti-inflamatory, anti-bacterial, germicide and fungicide. The scientific name for it is Melaleuca Alternifolia.

Rosemary Oil: Rosemary oil has a pronounced action on the brain and the central nervous system and is wonderful for clearing the mind and mental awareness, while having excellent brain stimulant properties, as well as improving memory.

It helps with headaches, migraines, neuralgia, mental fatigue and nervous exhaustion and the antiseptic action of rosemary oil is especially suitable for intestinal infections and diarrhea, easing colitis, dyspepsia, flatulence, hepatic disorders and jaundice and relieving pain associated with itchy flaky scalp, rheumatism, arthritis, muscular pain and gout. It also helps for arteriosclerosis, palpitations, poor circulation and varicose veins.

The diuretic properties of rosemary oil are useful with reducing water retention during menstruation, and also with obesity and cellulite.

On the respiratory system, it is effective for asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, sinus and whooping cough. Because of its astringent action, it is also effective for countering sagging skin. Its stimulating action benefits scalp disorders and encourages hair growth.

On the skin, it helps to ease congestion, puffiness and swelling and can also be used for acne, dry inflamed scalp, dermatitis and eczema, but a very popular use of this oil is the use in hair care products, as it has a pronounced positive effect on the health of the hair and scalp. It increases the circulation to the scalpand is therefore also effective for promoting hair growth after having conditions such as dandruff or scalp sores causing hair loss, scalp itching and scratching.

Rosemary oil is effective for mental fatigue, circulation problems, pain relief for the muscular system, decongests the respiratory tract and is a skin and hair booster.

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Source by Mia Wadsworth

Original Post Here: Itchy Scalp, Natural Scalp Treatments: Using A Natural Home Remedy For Itchy Scalp Conditions

Get Over Your Sleep Disorder With Orthomolecular Medicine

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Treating and healing sleep disorders with ordinary amino acids is the basis for Orthomolecular Medicine. Large doses of naturally found proteins called amino acids can repair the imbalance in the brain and repair its malfunction. These amino acids are affordable and are used in therapeutic doses much larger than those levels normally found in food. The concept of orthomolecular medicine is based upon the use of very large doses of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or botanical extracts for the cellular repair and enhancement of normal brain activities.

Are you not getting a promotion because you are tired at the office? Are you close to a divorce from fatigue and lack of sleep? Can you not handle your children because you are too tired? Sleep disorders can cause many problems and you may not be able to break the pattern on your own. Sleeping pills can help you fall asleep, but most cause you to sleep too much or wake up with fatigue. Modern orthomolecular medicine can help these problems disappear for many people within several weeks. There may be sleep habits that also need to be altered and dietary changes that should be made. Do not eat or watch television in the bedroom if you have sleeping problems. Stay out of bed until you are ready to fall asleep. Purchase a good mattress and cotton, silk, linen, hemp, or wool linens for the bedroom. Try to avoid caffeine and excess alcohol in the late afternoon and evening. Do not take over the counter sleeping aids.

Orthomolecular Medicine uses several supplements to improve and enhance sleep. These can be botanical products like Kava, Valerian, St John's Wort, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, and Chamomile. The botanicals should be taken on a daily basis for several months. This may take three to five weeks to make a noticeable change in sleep.

Melatonin and a combination of Vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium should be tried for very serious sleep problems. Melatonin does not always work and should be taken in levels of 1.5 to 3 mcg/day about thirty minutes prior to bedtime. You may want to take selenium along with the melatonin to enhance your immune system.

Chinese patent formulas to improve sleep include Amnien Pian, Bu Nao Wan, and Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan. There are at least twelve different patent formulas from China that can aid sleep. The correct formula is selected based upon your needs. Most Chinese patent formulas should be taken for at least six weeks or longer to address the underlying disorder causing the insomnia symptom.

Amino acids needed to enhance sleep include 5-HTP, theanine, and GABA. The addition of bio-identical hormones may be needed for men in andropause or women in menopause. Do not ever take any type of hormone without a blood test or saliva test to determine which hormones are low. Remember that the Chinese have avoided many sleep disorders and hormone imbalances by using food therapy and Chinese herbs. Consider these options with a healthcare provider.

© Dr R Stone, MD-India

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Source by R Stone

Source Here: Get Over Your Sleep Disorder With Orthomolecular Medicine

Dermatitis, Eczema and Psoriasis – What You Can Do

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General practitioners are seeing an increasing number of dermatitis and eczema cases with as many as 1 in 4 children suffering from skin problems! Sometimes linked to allergies, eczema may often be accompanied by asthma and hay fever or may simply be present as contact dermatitis.

Orthodox treatments tend to concentrate on the external application of certain creams, often harsh preparations based on steroid and cortisone, which carry the risk of being absorbed through the skin resulting in long term side effects.

Dermatitis

Dermatitis literally means skin inflammation, and is similar to eczema. The primary cause appears to be contact allergy. You could be allergic to metals in jewellery, perfumes or cosmetics, detergents in shampoos, soaps or cleaning products. If you suffer from contact allergy it is most likely that you have a food allergy too. Dairy products and wheat are the most common allergens. Symptoms will be more aggressive if you lack essential fatty acids in your diet.

What can you do?

Choose organic produce and try to avoid meat. Fish, especially oily ones like salmon and mackerel are fine, but a vegetarian or vegan diet is preferable. Avoid dairy produce and wheat for a couple of weeks and see if there is any improvement. Try a cleansing herbal supplement or a cleansing diet. Add linseed oil and evening primrose oil to your diet and make sure you get enough zinc, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E.

Eczema

The most common triggering factors are a combination of food allergies, lack of essential fatty acids and environmental factors. The environment is increasingly considered to be a serious trigger, starting in-utero when the baby is conceived.

Childhood Eczema

Childhood eczema can in most instances be improved by making changes to the diet and lifestyle.

What can you do?

Breast feed instead of bottle feed. Research has shown that babies who are bottle-fed are much more likely to suffer from eczema.

Babies that are breast-fed and not given any solid foods or cow's milk or eggs in the first 4 months are less likely to develop eczema. Breast-milk contains the perfect balance of essential fatty acids and natural antibodies. Previous studies have shown that eczema sufferers have significantly lower levels of essential fatty acids compared to non-sufferers.

Scientists in Canada have found that an isolated soy-protein formula used as a replacement for cow's milk can significantly decrease eczema symptoms.

• Avoid smoking

Parental smoking has been found to be a significant risk factor for allergic eczema.

• Enrich your diet with omega-3 essential fatty acids

The Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce itching and scaling. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in Linseed oil (Flax) 54%, Echium oil 45%, Chia oil 30%, Hemp seed oil 20%, Pumpkin seed oil 15%, Soya bean oil 7%, Walnut oil 5% and Wheatgerm oil 5%. Use only organic cold-pressed oils. Only to be used cold try it on your salad, rice, pasta or potatoes.

• Help the digestive system with lactobacillus acidophilus

A poorly functioning digestive system causes the proliferation of toxins in the intestines and some of these toxins have been shown to contribute to the development of atopic eczema. Lactobacillus Acidophilus found in live natural yoghurt, is a friendly bacterium that colonises the intestines and can help correct the situation.

• Increase the intake of Folic Acid

Eczema and psoriasis sufferers have been shown to have low levels of folic acid. Folic acid is found in green leafy vegetables and brewers yeast.

• Avoid Gluten

Several studies have shown that a gluten free diet can have remarkable effect on the skin lesions of eczema and psoriasis sufferers. Gluten is a sticky protein found in bread and other wheat and rye products. Rice and corn are gluten free foods.

• No thanks to fats from meat

Meats and dairy products contain arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that contributes to the inflammation experienced in eczema and psoriasis as well as rheumatism and arthritis. Animal fats can aggravate itching and irritation. Many people experience an improvement in their symptoms after introducing an adequate supply of important nutrients such as essential fatty acids from fish and evening primrose oil. Others experience a difference after adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.

• Allergens to avoid

Examples of common allergens in food are; oranges, chocolate, eggs and dairy foods, wheat, peanuts, tomatoes and food additives. Avoiding exposure to dietary allergens for a period of minimum 6 weeks can produce significant improvements.

A standard elimination diet avoiding cow's milk, egg, tomatoes, colours and preservatives can help up to three-quarters of eczema sufferers.

• Choose bottled water not tap water

Tap water with its high content of inorganic minerals, nitrates and nitrites, hormones and other "toxic" compounds has shown to make the eczema sufferers symptoms worse. Plenty of pure, clean spring water is of great importance to our health.

• Avoid chemical loaded personal care products

Try to avoid soaps and detergents as they remove natural lipids from the surface of the skin and make the skin even drier. Chose products made from truly natural ingredients, rich in plant oils and free from perfumes, petro-chemicals, artificial preservatives and foaming agents such as sodium lauryl sulphate. Products containing herbal extracts and essential oils of chamomile, lavender and sandalwood will often help soothe dry eczema.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a completely different kind of skin condition from eczema or dermatitis and does not respond as well to nutritional interventions. Psoriasis may come and go.

What can you do?

Start with a cleansing tonic followed by a cleansing diet. Ensure that you get plenty of essential fatty acids. Limit your intake of meat and dairy produce - fish is all right. Supplement your diet with essential oils such as linseed and evening primrose oil. Make sure you get sufficient amounts of zinc, magnesium and vitamins A, C and E, and give yourself the chance to relax and de-stress.

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Source by A Gubbins

Article Here: Dermatitis, Eczema and Psoriasis – What You Can Do

Restoring Penis Sensitivity of Damaged or Non Receptive Penis Nerves

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Penis sensitivity is reliant on the health of the nerves running throughout it's tissues. The entire penis is filled with different nerves, able to pick up the sensation of touch, pain, pressure, heat, and of course, pleasure. Almost 85% of all the sexual pleasure nerve receptors in the male body are found in the penis, but like all nerves they can become permanently damaged through poor nutrition, injury or diseases. Penis specific vitamins, herbal medicines and common-sense self-care will go a long way to protecting the nerves in your penis to ensure a long and happy life.

Oils

Natural oils are important for the function of nerves. Every nerve in the human body is surrounded by a waxy substance called myelin -- without it nerve sensations cannot be transmitted properly and become interrupted. Myelin is made primarily out of omega 6 fatty acids, such as oleic acid. Eating olives, walnuts, pecans, cashews, linseeds, chia seeds and peanuts are all great ways of increasing oleic acid and other omega 6 oils in your diet each day. In addition, applying oleic acid-rich oils to your penis may support the local health of the skin and nerves. Shea butter, olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil and peanut oil all contain good amounts oleic acid. Cold-pressed oils are all safe for external application, and can be commonly found as bases for many natural creams and ointments.

Nutrients

Nerves need nutrients in order to function optimally. Specific micronutrients, including vitamins, minerals and amino acids, are used by the nervous system to facilitate synaptic messages. When nerve tissues have sustained damage, studies show that some nutrients may benefit the healing process. Vitamin D, B12 and folic acid have been researched for their ability to repair the myelin sheath around nerves. These vitamins may be of clinical benefit to patients suffering from diseases of the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis. In addition, L-carnitine, vitamin C, E and iron are necessary for the formation of healthy skin cells. When the skin is strong, elastic and moisturized, sensory nerves are far more sensitive and receptive.

Botanical Extracts

Traditional systems of healing have used plant medicines for stress, nerves and libido for hundreds of years. Today, science is beginning to understand the bioactive substances these plants contain and how they can benefit penis health and nerve health. St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is one of the most popular herbal medicines used to support nerve health and treat neuropathies. However, at least one study has shown that St John's Wort's action on nerve health may be mild at best. Damiana (Turnera diffusa) has been shown to support libido and sexual health in some studies, most likely acting through the nervous system. Lion's Mane Mushroom (Hericium erinaceus) was studied by researchers from Tohoku University in Japan for its ability to improve nerve function. Their study revealed that Lion's Mane stimulated an enzyme calledNerve Growth Factor, which facilitates the growth and function of nerves throughout the body.

Penis health Crèmes

Crèmes applied directly to the penis can support both nerve health and penis health. Following daily washing, dry rubbing, masturbation or sex, the skin of the penis can become toughened and dry, reducing the sensitivity of nerves. Penis health formulas for male organ health (most professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil) contain a range of vitamins, including vitamin C, D, E and A, which may support the health and repair of nerves, stimulate circulation, and facilitate the healthy reproduction of new skin cells. These nutrients are combined with amino acids and Shea butter for fast absorption, and can be applied daily to promote tissue and blood vessel health in the penis.

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Source by John Dugan

Post Source Here: Restoring Penis Sensitivity of Damaged or Non Receptive Penis Nerves

Foods That Cause Acne

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The embarrassing condition of acne has been blamed on a wide variety of causes throughout the ages. Many people unjustly blame individuals with acne-prone skin of being dirty or failing to wash their faces properly. This is obviously far from the truth as acne can strike anyone, regardless of their personal hygiene habits. Others believe that eating large amounts of chocolate will ensure an acne breakout. This is also not the case, but research has linked acne to choices a person's diet. We are going to discuss some types of foods that cause acne.

Foods that are highly acidic tend to cause acne as they create an imbalance in your body's pH levels. The foods you should avoid include the following:

• Vegetables: lentils, squash, corn
• Fruits: currants, plums, prunes, cranberries and blueberries
• Grains: barley, cornstarch, oatmeal, wheat bran, amaranth, rice, rye, wheat germ, noodles, macaroni, spaghetti, bread, soda crackers, white flour, rolled oats and wheat flour
• Beans & Legumes: chick peas, green peas, kidney beans, pinto beans, red beans, soy beans, black beans and white beans
• Dairy Products: butter, ice cream, processed cheese, butter and ice milk
• Nuts & Butters: peanuts, pecans, walnuts, cashews and peanut butter
• Animal Proteins: bacon, beef, pork, salmon, lamb, fish, clams, cod, mussels, sausage, scallops, turkey, venison, shrimp and lobster
• Fats & Oils: canola oil, lard, olive oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, hemp seed oil and safflower oil
• Sweeteners: corn syrup, sugar and carob
• Alcohol: spirits, hard liquor, wine and beer
• Condiments: vinegar, pepper, ketchup and mustard
• Drinks: coffee and soft drinks
• Drugs & chemicals: aspirin, pesticides, tobacco and herbicides

If you want to prevent or minimize acne breakouts, you should replace acidic food with alkaline food choices. Some examples include carrots, cucumbers, garlic, lettuce, tomatoes, apples, grapes, lemons, pineapples, raisins, strawberries, peaches, oranges and almonds. You may be surprised to see so many citrus fruits on this list. The reason is that the specific citric acid they each contain has an alkalinizing effect on your body that will actually reduce the level of acidity, rather than increase it.

Rather than making an effort to avoid one specific type of food, it is better to avoid groups of acidic foods that will enhance your acne. Replace some of the choices in the first list with more alkaline foods from the second list. You will soon discover that small changes in your diet can produce big results!

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Source by Jordan S Ashton

Post Source Here: Foods That Cause Acne

Alcohol – An Alternative Fuel For the Future

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Alcohol fuels such as ethanol have recently been touted as cutting-edge, future fuels, clean alternatives to gasoline or diesel. Alcohol is a completely renewable resource, as it can be fermented or chemically extracted from practically any substance containing carbohydrates (most commonly starches or sugars). The use of alcohol as a vehicle fuel could greatly contribute to oil independence in the very near future, but just how 'green' is it, as an alternative to petroleum based fuels?

Henry Ford's first vehicle used an alcohol-powered motor, and Ford envisioned alcohol as the primary vehicle fuel as early as 1925, telling the New York Times that, "The fuel of the future is going to come from fruit ... or from apples, weeds, sawdust - almost anything," he said. "There is fuel in every bit of vegetable matter that can be fermented. There is enough alcohol in one year's yield of an acre of potatoes to drive the machinery necessary to cultivate the fields for a hundred years." Although frequently discredited for his private viewpoints and political associations, no one can honestly claim that Ford was anything less than a visionary when it comes to automobile technology. A farmer himself, and champion of the American farm industry, Ford made his first car out of hemp plastics and fueled it with plant-based alcohol. He envisioned the growth of the automobile industry going hand-in-hand with that of the farming industry. So if we've known about this alternative fuel for over a century, why have we not been using it?

This sustainable vision of the future was largely suppressed by heavy lobbying from the petroleum industry, which included a smear campaign against Ford, claiming that his plan would make farmers rich at the expense of the common consumer. Some historians and theorists even credit Rockefeller, the billionaire oil tycoon, with heavily funding the prohibition movement in order to eliminate the potential competition from alcohol fuels. Until recently the falsely low prices of gasoline outweighed the environmental effects for most consumers, but as we are faced with the staggering effects of global warming our collective conscience urges us to seek alternatives. The earliest internal combustion engines, such as the Model A, were designed to run on either alcohol or gas, and small, inexpensive modifications can be made to allow modern vehicles to run on alcohol. In fact, over two million cars in Brazil have been modified to run on alcohol, which is no coincidence as Brazil has a huge industry in place that distills ethanol from sugar cane. The United States has also launched a massive ethanol production industry, using corn as its feedstock. Growing crops specifically for ethanol production, however, has sparked much debate about the practicality of this practice. The main arguments are: vast tracts of land are deforested, or the natural habitat destroyed, to make room for corn or sugar cane farms, thereby negating any possible benefits concerning global warming; and world food shortages may be exacerbated by dedicating fertile land to fuel production. Both of these issues can be addressed by using alternative 'feed stocks' for ethanol creation and many alternatives have been proposed. As Henry Ford said, "almost anything" can be used for ethanol fermentation, including agricultural wastes or food byproducts. Some of the most interesting alternatives are rice straw, which is typically burned in the fields (releasing vast quantities of greenhouse gasses) and human waste, which we currently spend billions of dollars and fossil fuel generated electricity to process. Let us imagine, then, that we can create a completely carbon-neutral process for generating alcohol fuels. How clean burning is the fuel, and what are its advantages and disadvantages in comparison with gasoline or diesel?

The famous Indianapolis 500 has used methanol as its official required fuel since the 1960s, because it is not a variable mix of chemicals like gasoline, delivers more power in correctly adjusted engines, and burns cooler than gasoline. Using currently common engine technology, alcohol has less power per volume, thereby delivering fewer miles per gallon. So, alcohol fuel tanks might need to be larger to deliver the same kind of travel distance as gasoline or diesel. One of the greatest advantages conferred by the use of alcohol is the elimination of extremely harmful compounds like tetraethyl lead, benzene, toluene, sulfur and many others. The high "octane" rating of alcohol, rather its resistance to premature detonation, eliminates the problem of engine "knocking" (which was the original reason for creating leaded gasoline). Alcohol is also safer than gasoline because of its lower volatility, meaning that it is less likely to ignite from heat or sparks. Sounds great, right? But at the moment of combustion, when used in a vehicle engine, how do the emissions of this fuel alternative stack up? Alcohol is actually a remarkably cleaner-burning fuel, emits up to 95% less carbon monoxide and delivers great reductions in or complete elimination of volatile chemicals and poisons. The total reduction of greenhouse gas emissions can be as high as 75% when using high-proof alcohols.

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Source by Samuel Lewis

Source Here: Alcohol – An Alternative Fuel For the Future