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Ice to treat injuries is one of the oldest methods of pain control.  Proven to be safe and effective at reducing swelling, relieving pain and decreasing muscle spasms, ice therapy is an easy self-care technique that anyone can administer.  Every mother knows to put ice on a bruised knee after a soccer game or on a teething toddler’s tender gums.  But do you really know how ice works?
Cold therapy, also known as cryotherapy, works on the principle of heat exchange.  This occurs when you place a cooler object in direct contact with an object of warmer temperature, such as ice against skin.  The cooler object will absorb the heat of the warmer object.  Why is this important when it comes to cold therapy?
After an injury, blood vessels that deliver oxygen and nutrients to cells are damaged.  The cells around the injury increase their metabolism in an effort to consume more oxygen.  When all of the oxygen is used up, the cells die.  Also, the damaged blood vessels cannot remove waste.  Blood cells and fluid seep into spaces around the muscle, resulting in swelling and bruising.  When ice is applied, it lowers the temperature of the damaged tissue through heat exchange and constricts local blood vessels.  This slows metabolism and the consumption of oxygen, therefore reducing the rate of cell damage and decreasing fluid build-up.  Ice can also numb nerve endings.  This stops the transfer of impulses to the brain that register as pain.
Most therapists and doctors advise not to use heat right after an injury, as this will have the opposite effect of ice.  Heat increases blood flow and relaxes muscles.  It’s good for easing tight muscles, but will only increase the pain and swelling of an injury by accelerating metabolism.
When it comes to cooling devices, different effects will result due to the device’s ability to exchange heat.  Crushed ice packs do a better job at cooling the body than chemical or gel packs, because they last longer and are able to draw four times the amount of heat out of tissue.  The important difference is that ice packs undergo phase change, allowing them to last longer at an even temperature, creating a more effective treatment.  Most chemical or one-time-use packs and gel packs do not undergo phase change.  They quickly loose their ability to transfer heat, limiting their effectiveness to reduce swelling.  Their short duration of cold is not long enough to produce numbness, also reducing their ability to relieve pain.
Cold therapy should always be used as soon as possible after an injury occurs and continued for the following 48 hours at 15 to 20 minute intervals.  Remember – if you hurt yourself, you need to ice!
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical treatment or consultation.  Always consult with your physician in the event of a serious injury.

The cultivation of olive trees has been traced as far back as 6,000 B.C. in Syria and there is certainly evidence that oil from this marvellous
plant has been used for thousands of years in the Mediteranean regions.There are many references to its’ use in the Bible, both for culinary
and ceremonial purposes, and of course an olive branch has been adopted as a sign of peace ever since the dove returned to Noah carrying one and thus indicating that the flood waters were receeding.

In more recent times the health giving properties that the ancients attributed to olive oil have been substantiated by modern science
and it is now generaly agreed that it has the ability to lower cholesterol levels, thus reducing the risk of heart attacks. In addition
olive oil has very high levels of the antioxidant vitamins E and K which provide a defence mechanism that delays ageing and prevents carcinogenesis, atherosclerosis and liver disorders. It has very high levels of monounsaturated  fats, 77%, and it is this which attributed with the ability to positively alter the ratio between good and bad cholesterol.

The Mediterranean Diet, in which olive oil plays an important part, is now considered to be one of the healthiest in the world with
people from those regions experiencing lower rates of heart diseaes, cancer and other degenerative diseases than elsewhere in the Western World.

The olives are pressed as soon as possible once they arrive at the mills.This is done mechanicaly today and whilst it maybe filtered it is otherwise
untreated and so is totally natural. Olive oil is then graded according to its’ acidity.
Extra Virgin Olive.
Oil Virgin olive oil having a maximum free acidity, in terms of oleic acid, of 0.8g per 100g, the other characteristics of which comply with
those laid down from this category.

Virgin Olive Oil.

Virgin olive oil having a maximum free acidity, in terms of oleic acid of 2g per 100g, the other characteristics of which comply with those
laid down from this category.

Olive Oil.

Olive oil obtained by blending refined olive oil and virgin olive oil, other than lampante oil, having a free acid content, expressed as
oleic acid, of not more than 1.5g per 100g and the other characteristics of which comply with those laid down from this category.

Olive Pomace Oil.

Oil obtained by blending refined olive-pomace oil and virgin olive oil other than lampante oil, having a free acid content expressed as oleic
acid of not more than 1.5g per 100g and the other characteristics of which comply with those laid down from this category.

In addition to its’ many health giving benefits olive oil can also be used externally as a beauty and health aid:-

For the softest hands imaginable:
Mix one teaspoon of olive oil with half a teaspoon of salt and massage into your hands. The salt exfoliates and the oil softens. You will be amazed at how soft, smooth and blemish free your hands look. Also useful for removing heavy staining, oil etc. Works well on elbows,
knees, feet and can be used as an all over scrub prior to bathing (probably best to take a shower unless you fancy sitting in the middle
of an oil slick!). For particularly rough skin, substitute sugar for the salt.

For soft, shiny, manageable hair:
Massage olive oil into your hair and leave for as long as possible before shampooing. Repeat weekly.

To prevent dandruff:
Rub into the hair a mixture of olive oil and Eau de Cologne. Then rinse and shampoo as normal.

For a relaxing massage:
Warm some olive oil (place container in hot water for 5 minutes) and add a drop or two of your favourite essential oil.

For Earache:
Warm some olive oil as above, add a few drops to the ear and then plug with cooton wool.

Olives.

In addition to the oil that can be obtained from this wonderful ancient tree the fruits themselves can also be eaten and are likewise a very healthy
addition to any diet. They too are of course high in heart protecting monounsaturated fats and vitamin E and they also contain a variety of
phytonutrients such as polyphenols and flavonoids.

A random list of statements, facts and figures relating to smoking. Hopefully this list will give you the final push to be committed to giving up smoking.If you smoke more than 25 cigarettes a day are 25 times more likely to die from cancer and almost twice as likely to die from heart disease.
Each cigarette on average takes 11 minutes off your life.
Fifty diseases are caused by smoking causes. Twenty of them are fatal.
Seven out of ten smokers say that they want to give up.
Nicotine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases the heart rate and blood pressure.
If you carry on smoking you have a one in two chance of dying from it.
Smoking is the number one avoidable cause of premature death in the UK.
Smoking related diseases cost the UK National Health Service about £1.7 billion a year.
If you want facial wrinkles at an early age just carry on smoking.
£1,600 that’s how much you could save if you gave up your twenty a day habit.
Nicotine is an insecticide.
£800 is what the average smoker give to the UK government in tax each year.

The risk from smoking pipes can be as great as smoking cigarettes.

Cigarettes contain tar, a complex mixture of chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer.

As each year passes, your addiction will become greater and will increase the difficulty of quitting.

Any children growing up in a house where tobacco is regularly used are more likely to get asthma,pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis        become tobacco users themselves. The benefits start as soon as you stop.  Stomach ulcers are made worse by smoking.
In the UK, about Three Hundred people are killed everyday, simply because they were smokers.
You can always benefit from quitting smoking. Even if you are over 70 years of age.
Cigarette smoking increases the risk of having a heart attack by two or three times.
Every year 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital due to the effects of passive smoking.
Smoking causes at least 80% of all deaths from lung cancer.
Less than 10% of lung cancer patients survive five years.
83% of smokers say they would not smoke if they had their life again.
Teenage smokers experience more asthma and respiratory symptoms than non-smokers.

Benzene – A poisonous gas found in petrol fumes. Known to cause leukaemia.
Butane – Lighter fuel.
Ethanol – Used in anti-freeze.
Methanol – Used in rocket fuel.
Ammonia – Used in many cleaning products.
Acetone – Used in paint stripper.
Cadmium – Used in car batteries. Known to cause cancer.
Arsenic – Poison.
Toluene – Industrial solvent.

54% of people want smoking restrictions in pubs.
85% favour smoking restrictions at work and in restaurants.
Passive smoking doubles the risk of acute respiratory illness in children.

your skin will be with you for the rest of your life. Your skin serves you and your body in a number of ways.  It aids in sensory perception, protects you from injuries, provides a barrier against dehydration, assists in temperature maintenance, removes toxic wastes, aids in the manufacture of vitamin D, and provides structure to the organs and tissues within your body.  To put it lightly, your skin is an integral part of your life.  It’s essential that you care for it and maintain it in a healthy state so that it will continue to function well for you as you age.
Knowing Your Skin
We glance quickly at the skin on the rest of our bodies when we shave, and we know to cover our skin when it’s cold.  But do we really know our skin?  Is it dry or oily? Sensitive or thick?  How often do new moles or wrinkles develop?  Does your skin react differently when you change your lotions, cleansers, and creams? Do you have a skin care routine?
Your skin is very important to your overall health and well being.  Take time to really look at your skin, and get to know its various features and subtleties. If you are not satisfied with your current skin care products, look for higher quality natural organic products that will improve the condition of your skin.
Skin Care Tip: Enlist the help of a natural skincare expert to examine your skin, point out trouble spots, and monitor the condition of your skin.  A dermatologist can also help you understand your particular skin type, and recommend skin care products that would work best for you.
Protecting Your Skin
The ultraviolet rays of the sun are damaging to your skin and to your health.  Sun exposure can lead to premature aging, sagging, wrinkles, skin discoloration, and the development of cancer. And while a suntan will eventually fade at the end of the summer, the damage to the skin from sunlight will continue to accumulate over time. Take measures to protect your skin from the sun and its damaging rays.
Sun Screen: Sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 helps block the damaging rays of the sun, and it should be used every day for adequate protection.  Even if you don’t plan on sunbathing, you are exposed to the sun when you drive in the car or walk into the grocery store.  If you tend to sweat heavily, or if you are exercising vigorously, reapply the sunscreen every two to three hours throughout the day.
Reduce Sun Exposure: In addition to wearing sunscreen, it’s a good idea to reduce the amount of ultraviolet radiation your skin is exposed to everyday.  Limit your time outdoors between 10:00am and 3:00pm when the sun is directly overhead and strongest.  Wear protective clothing such as wide brimmed hats and sunglasses to block the sun’s rays.  And when you do have to expose yourself to the sun, try to build up your tolerance in modest increments each day.
Cleansing Your Skin
Next to sun protection, proper skin cleansing is the next best thing you can do for the care and protection of your skin.  Washing your skin helps to remove the dirt, pollutants, dead skin cells, bacteria, cosmetics, perspiration, and debris that accumulate on your skin. Choose a gentle skin cleanser based on your skin type and special skin care needs (i.e. anti acne, or sensitive skin.)  And wash your skin as necessary to keep it clean, fresh, and functioning properly.
Skin Care Tip: do not rub skin care cleansers into your skin. Instead, lather the soap or gel into a foam in your hands, apply to the skin and rinse off well.  This will keep the cleansers from overly drying, blocking, or irritating the skin’s pores.
Maintaining Healthy Skin
Moisturizers: Skin care moisturizers smooth and soften skin and help to lock in its natural moisture.  They can be particularly soothing to dry or sensitive skin.  And they provide great protection for the skin during wet, cold, or chapping (windy) weather.
Lifestyle:  Your skin needs a good balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in order to function and remain healthy.  Adequate exercise helps improve circulation and move waste and nutrients through the system.  Eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise to keep your skin, and the rest of your body in tip-top condition.
Skin Care Tip: Drink at least six to eight glasses of purified water throughout the day to hydrate the skin and circulate essential nutrients. Also avoid chlorinated pools and hot tubs. Chlorine is very damaging to the skin. Get a shower filter to filter out the harmful chemicals from your city water supply.

cancer is the most popular cancer. Every year, more than 1,000,000 skin cancer cases are diagnosed and tens of thousands of skin cancer patients die in the U.S. alone. The number of skin cancer exceeds that of all other cancers combined. Among more than 1 million of skin cancer cases, 100,000 are melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer and there is no cure for it.
The skin cancer risk is more serious to the children because they are young and more susceptible, and they expose to more sunlight than adults due to their extensive outdoor activities. Half of the total life time exposure for an individual is received during his childhood. So special care is needed for the children.
Usually, skin cancers come years later after the subjects get exposed to too much sunlight. So just because you do not see a skin cancer right away does not mean you are free of skin cancer risk. So careful protection is the key.
The government health officials are working hard to alert people of the skin cancer risk. They try to have schools to take measures to protect students against excessive exposure to the ultraviolet light.
Both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B can cause skin cancer, which means some ultraviolet light once thought safe can be dangerous. In the summer, it’s advised that people avoid sunlight from 10 a.m through 4 p.m. when the sunlight is strongest and you are likely to get sunburn. Sunburn can be defined as a condition that your skin receives so much sunlight radiation that a skin color change is noticeable. Rules of thumb to avoid sunburn is, if your shadow is shorter than you are, then the sunlight is too strong and you can get sunburn. If you have to go outdoor, wear something protective such as clothes and big wide-trimmed hat to shield as much sunlight as possible. In the hottest day, the sunlight can burn your skin in a couple of minutes or less. Statistics indicated that people get one or more blister caused by sunlight will have 2 or 3 times higher risk of getting skin cancer than the general population. Both occasional heavy exposure and mild chronic exposure can cause skin cancer.
Also keep in mind that ultraviolet rays exist not just in the summer, or hot days only. In the spring or even winter, you do not feel the heat when exposed to the sunlight, but the ultraviolet rays are there. You can still get sunburn in such cool days. So do not take the sunlight lightly. Other than the sunlight, sun lumps and tanning facility that emit ultraviolet rays can also pose a serious risk of skin cancer.