Poor Dental Hygiene May Account for Poor HealthWritten by Yvonne Takhtalian, C.N.H.P, H.I.
Bright white teeth and fresh breath does not necessarily mean you have a healthy mouth! General health is directly related to gum health. Gum disease has been linked to several medical conditions such as stroke, diabetes, heart attack and worsening lung disease. Healthy gums can reduce a person's biological age by up to 6.4 years. Why? Because studies show that presence of periodontal diseases, most common in people with tooth loss, actually affects longevity. The best of these studies, done at Emory University in conjunction with Centers for Disease Control, indicates that people with gingivitis and periodontal disease have a mortality rate that is 23% to 46% higher than those who don't. Keeping your gums clean and healthy may help reduce risk of many illnesses, including heart disease.Gum Disease Gum disease or periodontal disease, a chronic inflammation and infection of gums and surrounding tissue, is major cause of about 70 percent of adult tooth loss, affecting three out of four persons at some point in their life. Red swollen and bleeding gums characterize gum disease in initial stages and progresses to infections, chronic inflammation and bone loss in later stages. Eventually bacteria are allowed to flow freely through your gums and into your blood stream that activates and stresses immune system.
| | Make Your Own Natural Herbal Healing Save Written by Maggie Julseth Howe
Herbal Healing SalveI'm not really sure what I’d do without my multi-purpose homemade healing salve. I use in on gardening-inflicted sunburns, martial arts blisters, grandson’s chapped cheeks and hands, insect bites, and dog’s scrapes and scratches. Herbal healing salves are gentle, soothing, balms made from natural herbal ingredients; generally speaking they’re safe to use on kids, pets and all people, and are naturally soothing and healing. In this sample recipe, herbally infused oil is chock-full of natural healing powers, Vitamin E oil contributes antioxidants and wound-healing abilities, tea tree oil provides antimicrobial, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, and lavender essential oil works it’s magic on burns (and adds a little soothing aromatherapy to boot!). Basic Recipe: 1 cup herbally infused oil 1 – 2 oz. Beeswax 10 capsules Vitamin E Oil ½ tsp. each tea tree and lavender essential oils In a small pan, gently heat herbally infused oil and beeswax until barely melted. Cut or poke vitamin E capsules open, and squeeze vitamin E oil into beeswax/oil mixture. Remove from heat, and add essential oils. Pour a tiny amount of salve mixture onto waxed paper or into a container to cool. Test it for thickness – if you’d like it to be harder, add more beeswax. If you’d like it to have a thinner balm, add more oils. When you’re satisfied with consistency, pour balm into clean jars and let cool. This all-purpose salve can be used for cuts, scrapes, splinters, diaper rash, burns, rashes, or for dry skin.
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