The Pix Pixy

In my search for at-home spa treatments and home herbal remedies, which I really enjoy playing around with, I came across a product called Emu Oil.

The next time that I was at my local health food emporium buying various essential oils and herbs for my latest herbal experiment, I asked the sales clerk if they carried Emu Oil. She handed me a cobalt blue bottle with a picture of a large, prehistoric-type bird on the label.

I really wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with this yet, but I usually follow my intuition when I feel like I should buy something. It almost always becomes apparent to me within days exactly what I will use it for and I’ll be glad that I have already purchased it and have it on hand. I learned a long time ago to trust that little voice in my head that seems to always be there to assist me, even when I do not fully understand why.

That day I proceeded to create some yummy herbal spa treatment recipes which were quite delightful, but the Emu Oil remained unopened and pushed aside.

It wasn’t until several days later that I found myself on the internet looking for a solution to a problem that I had been having for about a month. The last time that I had visited my hair stylist she had recommended a hair product that would add volume and body, which I needed for the cut that I was currently sporting.

I purchased the product she had recommended and liked the results. But soon I begin to notice that my scalp was having a bad reaction to it. After several weeks of using the product, I finally decided that I needed to stop using it completely. But by this time my scalp had become irritated and itchy.

If you’ve ever felt itchy, you know that it can drive you crazy. I wanted relief and I wanted it NOW!

Online I found some information that indicated one thing that might alleviate my condition was massaging Emu Oil into the scalp.

Hey, how about that! I just happen to have a bottle of Emu Oil in the cupboard, and now I know why I bought it.

Well, not only did it bring me instant relief, it made my hair very soft, as well.

So I started reading about some of the other things that Emu Oil has been touted to have been helpful in alleviating.

Some of the items were:

*Burns, including sunburn and radiation burns

*Heal wounds, minor cuts and injuries

*Relieves eczema, psoriasis and acne

*Soothes discomfort of insect bites and rashes

*Helps prevent scarring of fresh wounds

*Aids in diminishing stretch marks and other skin blemishes

*Reducing pain and inflammation caused by arthritis

*Reduce swelling and muscle soreness

*Improve condition and rate of growth of hair and nails

Apparently there are some people out there who claim that Emu Oil has been effective in reversing hair loss. Is there anything that Emu Oil can’t do?

I don’t personally have any experience with Emu Oil other than using it as I mentioned above. But I certainly would give it a try if I ever needed relief from one of the other problems that so many people say it can help.

Although 100% Emu Oil doesn’t really have an unpleasant smell, it certainly doesn’t contain any of the perfumed scents that are usually added to other products that we purchase over the counter. I found that adding a few drops of my favorite herbal essential oil to the Emu Oil was a great way to have the smells that I like while also being able to enjoy the benefits of the healing properties of Emu Oil.

Copyright © 2005 Sherry Sims

Sherry Sims has spent the last 20 years assisting people as a professional psychic, intuitive counselor, energy healer and teacher. Helping people to resolve personal and relationship issues has been at the core of her work. She gently assists her clients to accept their true power which allows them to begin taking control of their lives through healing, awareness, and self-love.

To learn more about creating happiness and fulfillment in your life you will want to sign up for her free newsletter: SIMPLE MAGIC - Creating the Life You Want.

Find out more about Emu Oil and it’s benefits at http://Mystic-Hearts.com

For more articles by Sherry Sims please visit http://Mystic-Hearts.com

The 12-7-19 Method of Bach Flower Classification

Dr. Edward Bach, developer of flower essence therapy, classified the original 38 essences he used in his practice according to the 12-7-19 method: the Twelve Healers, the Seven Helpers, and the Second Nineteen. In part I of this series, the Twelve Healer flower essences were reviewed, along with the underlying theory of flower essence therapy - here we’ll have a look at the rhymes and reasons of the Seven Helpers.

Dr. Bach prescribed one or more of the Seven Helper essences to patients who did not seem to be responding sufficiently to therapy with one of the Twelve Healers. The Twelve Healer flower essences - Impatiens, Gentian, Mimulus, Clematis, Agrimony, Chicory, Vervain, Centaury, Scleranthus, Water Violet, Rock Rose, and Cerato - were developed by Dr. Bach to address what he saw as the imbalances of the twelve archetypal personality types. It is through the vibrational transformation of these imbalances that healing of overlying disease states can, in many cases, be initiated. However, Dr. Bach found there were individuals that did not respond to flower essence therapy with the Twelve Healers; this lead him to the discovery of the Seven Helpers.

The purpose of the Seven Helpers is to address chronically ingrained negative vibrational patterns which may be obscuring the primary personality type. For example, Olive, one of the Seven Helper flower essences, is prescribed for states of exhaustion, where one has been worn out by the struggle of healing or other life event. In this case, it may be difficult to see what the primary personality type of the individual may be, as true fatigue does not let a whole lot else show through - this real weariness may mask other personality traits or patterns.

Or it may be that the chronic state simply prevents progress on the healing path that could otherwise take place. Again, using Olive essence as an example - An individual may clearly be in need of one of the Twelve Healers. Perhaps they live in fear and are in need of Mimulus, and clearing this fear would allow them to heal. However, their fatigue is so great as they do not have the strength to work with these issues - in this case, it may be helpful to use Olive along with Mimulus to offer a more complete support from the flower essence therapy.

The Seven Helper essences can certainly be administered individually as well, particularly if a specific flower essence is strongly indicated. Dr. Bach had also written that if an individual is not responding to other essences, Wild Oat (one of the Seven) may be used: “If ever a case does not respond to treatment, give either Holly or Wild Oat, and it will be obvious which of the other remedies may be required. In all cases where the patient is of the active, intense type, give Holly. In patients who are of the weak, despondent type, give Wild Oat.”

Beyond the original works of Dr. Bach, the Flower Essence Repertory from Flower Essence Services offers descriptions of these seven essences beyond what a physician may see. FES broadens the application of the flowers to include their use for those needing change that may or may not be related to a health condition. This is an important point, as one may have tendencies they may wish to transform, but are at no serious risk. This application of flower essence is encouraged, for any support for personal and ’soul’ evolution is indeed invaluable. So within the following descriptions of the Seven Helper flower essences, a broad view will be maintained, so that the greatest audience may find a suitable essence.

As always with flower essence therapy, in cases of illness, treatment is not a substitute for proper professional care. It may be the case that an illness may have emotional roots, and that flowers can be of help, but one should not solely rely on self-prescription of flower essences as a cure.

And on to the descriptions…

The Seven Helpers:

Olive - As stated earlier, Olive flower essence is indicated where great fatigue has set in. An individual may be pale, worn out and / or exhausted after excessive worry, illness, grief or other struggle. The individual perhaps feels they do not have the strength to continue; that both their physical energy source has been spent. The Olive remedy allows one to tap into a new source of light, helping one see and feel a rejuvenation that comes from establishing (or re-establishing) a connection to a universal energy. This connection may provide the impetus needed for change in other areas, or may be transformative in and of itself through helping on realize that the etheric ’spirit’ body and the physical body are inseparable.

Gorse - This flower essence is used where one has lost will due to discouragement, becoming hopeless and resigned to one’s condition. They have perhaps been giving too much energy to the negative possibilities, solidifying this outlook so no progress can be made. This remedy restores hope to such individuals, so they may be able to have a brighter outlook, perhaps more joy, when confronted with life’s challenges.

Oak - The remedy for those committed to over-striving, regardless if that striving is having a positive result. Those in need of the Oak flower essence have great determination and strength, which can be true assets. However, at times it is crucial to balance this force with subtlety and grace. The individual may have even become resigned to the inevitable failure of their endeavor or succumbing to an illness, yet they continue with their efforts. Oak helps restore a balance, allowing one the freedom of letting up or resting when that is in fact what is required. An important essence in today’s hard-striving world.

Vine - For those who see their way as the ‘right’ way or the only way, Vine essence allows an opening in one’s perception for other points of view. An individual in need of Vine may have a domineering personality, insisting that everyone else follow their lead, including health professionals. Such a point of view can lead to great stress when it is perceived do not share the same ideas, and that harm, or at least lack of healing, may come about. Vine essence may soften this selfish nature, assisting one to understand that other points of view may be entirely valid, and in fact, more complete than one’s own. This allows the individual to receive needed support, often a key component in any personal transformation.

Heather - The Heather type appear self-obsessed, talking continually about their own situations and problems. Such persons are in fact truly lonely and often in great emotional pain. They may feel an emptiness or hunger, which they feed from the attention of others. This flower essence helps one make a connection to the Higher Self, finding peace and solace in the unity of all being. This realization helps one overcome the loneliness and disconnection they may feel, drawing on emotional self-sufficiency and true shared relationship with others for assistance.

Rock Water - For those that are too hard on themselves. Being reflective and aware is one thing, to go so far as to limit one’s (and one’s friends and family) enjoyment of life is another. Flexibility and spontaneity are key components to the ‘life well lived’. Further, a rigidity in lifestyle can prevent one from finding joy, an important factor in healing from many illnesses. This essence is sometimes indicated for those beginning flower essence therapy or those who do not see results, as it may assist in opening the soul to the energies of the plant realm.

Wild Oat - Health and happiness are very much connected with one’s ability to find one’s true vocation. Wandering through life feeling a lack of purpose can lead to distressed states, with addictions or despondency being possible results. Wild Oat flower essence may help align one with their true calling, so that both the individual and the greater environment can benefit. When one finds this sense of meaning, there is a strong inner light that can shine forth, supporting one’s own health, and the health of those around them.

These are the Seven Helpers, as categorized per Dr. Edward Bach’s 12-7-19 flower essence method. It is said that with the Twelve Healers and the Seven Helpers, one can support transformation of many vibrational/emotional states. At the same time, it is important to keep one’s mind open to possibilities; there are a great number of researched flower essences available, one’s that may be even more precisely applied to a particular situation. The Healer and Helper essences are however, a fantastic place to start if one is seeking an effective collection of remedies, suitable for the needs of many beings.

Misty is a Naturopath in Boulder, Colorado. She is owner of Ananda Apothecary, a dispensery of Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils and Organic Flower Essences. Misty employs Bach Flower Essences and Remedies in her professional practice, finding them a gentle way to encourage her clients’ healing.

Memory loss affects thousands of people every year. Memory loss is often attributed to “getting older.” In reality, age-related memory loss is a fallacy. The latest scientific research indicates that memory loss is actually a direct result of decreased use of the memory centers within the brain.

At first, memory changes often appear subtle. For example, you may walk into a room and forget why you are there, or recognize someone you have met before, but can’t recall their name. Early symptoms of memory loss may progress to more significant memory loss. The good news is that the latest documented research indicates that specific areas of the brain, primarily the temporal lobes, can be activated to improve memory.

Anatomically, the brain is comprised of a right and a left cortex. Each cortex contains an area called the temporal lobe. The temporal lobes are responsible for retaining specific types of short- and long-term memory. For example, the left temporal lobe is most related to remembering word lists, processing verbal language, and recalling language spoken in a monotone voice. The right temporal lobe is affiliated with remembering familiar events as well as processing non-verbal information. The right temporal lobe will house memory such as voice-intonated (singing) memory. If one portion of the brain isn’t working at its maximum, memory as well as other functions of the temporal lobe may be affected. This would also include one’s ability to smell and hear.

Fortunately, the temporal lobes can be directly stimulated to improve memory. One treatment modality used to improve memory is olfactory stimulation (smelling different smells such at peppermint or cloves). Olfactory stimulation in one or both nostrils will directly stimulate the temporal lobe (more specifically, the hippocampus). Auditory stimulation in one ear or visual stimulation on one side can also improve temporal lobe plasticity (function). Looking at familiar faces will stimulate the left amygdala area deep in the temporal lobe, while looking at unfamiliar faces will stimulate the right amygdala area. Other modalities which may be used to increase global brain function include T.E.N.S., word searches, mazes, looking at big letters made of small letters, or viewing familiar or unfamiliar faces.

Dr. Michael L. Johnson is a Board Certified Chiropractic Neurologist, one of only 700 in the country, with over twenty years of experience in private practice. He has completed over 850 hours of neurological studies and 3800 hours of postgraduate education. His book “What Do You Do When the Medications Don’t Work? - A Non-Drug Treatment of Dizziness, Migraine Headaches, Fibromyalgia, and Other Chronic Conditions” outlines his groundbreaking work in the treatment of chronic pain and is a national best-seller. It is available wherever books are sold.

© 2005 Michael L. Johnson, D.C., D.A.C.N.B.

Glaciers are receding at a faster pace than at any decade since recordings were started, states The Independent. Glaciologists from the Glacier Monitoring Service, which records 33 glaciers in eleven mountains, guage that between 1851 to 1969 glaciers retreated at a average pace of 33 centimetres a year. From 1969 to 1998 the amount retreating increased to 60 to 80 cm per year. From then the norm has comprised more than one meter per year. The last winter recorded the highest recedings til now of 1.1 m.

Worldwide glaciers are receding at least as fast as the glaciers in this small representative group with potentially calamitous results for nearby communities. In the short run there are likely to be many more deluges, and in the long term, water supplies will disappear, leading to acute water shortfalls.

Chamonix, has a great amount of glaciers, the consequences of global warming and the retreating of glaciers will be noticeably felt. Perhaps this is why lots of businesses, and families are more knowing of these topics and therefore attempting to undertake steps to limit the use of energy. With luck it isn’t too tardy to stem the results of climate change and assure a future for our youngsters. Therefore think about how you travel when you go to your ski accommodations.

You are about to embark on a journey that only a percentage
of the world’s population has made. Throughout the journey, you will gain insight that will expand your horizons in the evil eye phenomenon.

My name is Aphrodite and I was 15 years old when mother and I took a vacation to Greece; more specifically, the Aegean Islands of Kalymnos, Kos and Rhodes, the island where I was born and lived for the first nine years of my life.

We were visiting our relatives in Kalymnos Island at a time when they were invited to a wedding in Kos Island. The family unit being what it is on these islands meant of course that we were invited as well. So, off we went!

It was a glorious day for a wedding, a memorable event of family celebration and joy which came to an end with well wishes to one and all. It was a day I will not forget!

We then made our way to the harbour to catch the last departure back to Kalymnos, a half our boat ride across the calm blue waters of the Aegean.

What happens next is a mystery.

Between our departure from the wedding party and our boarding the boat to head back to Kalymnos I became quickly ill.

Mother noticed a change in my demeanour and became concerned of my condition right away. My head became heavy and my eyelids even heavier. I became dizzy. I could not stand. I could not sit and only felt some comfort in a lying position and with my eyes closed.

My aunt commented that I must have contacted the evil eye as there was no other explanation for my symptoms.

Could it be? Was I undone by another person’s envy?

Mom agreed and stated that it may have happened during our good byes at the wedding party, as many of the women admired how well mannered and beautiful I was and that I would be an excellent spouse for someone.

That was enough evidence for my aunt who added that since I had no protection from the evil eye on me (in the form of an evil eye amulet, or an evil eye charm); she would get one for me immediately to help deflect such negative brain waves in the future.

As soon as we arrived in Kalymnos, I was rushed to the house and right to bed. My aunt summoned an elderly woman to undo the evil eye and to deflect the harmful energies out from within me.

I liken this ceremony to an exorcism, only instead of dealing with demons, the evil eye exorcist deals with cleansing humans of harmful negative energies; evil and envious brain waves which I have heard it told can even cause death to the inflicted party.

Can this be possible? Would I be flawed in some way for life or cured from this evil eye wrath?

The elderly woman asked for a bowl of water, oil, a censor with charcoal and “livani” incense of myrrh. As the aromas of the burning incense filled the room, she placed three drops of oil in the bowl of water. Right away she recognized that I indeed was imposed by negative harmful energies of the evil eye.

How could she be so sure of this? What did she see?

The recital continued with repetitive words and phrases and a motioning of the censor in a particular fashion over and around me, until it seemed the room was filled with smoke from the sweet smelling myrrh incense.

“All is fine now” she said demanding to leave me to rest in silence.

A short while later, I found myself at the edge of the bed yelling for mom. That startled everyone in the household in a good way as they realized that I had found my voice again and that I was no longer moaning and groaning.

Mother rushed up the stairs lightning quick to help me out of bed and to the courtyard for some fresh air.

I was suddenly feeling well again. My mother with my aunt by her side had tears of joy sliding down their faces. In their eyes, this was a miracle of sorts.

My aunt approached near and presented me with a beautiful blue evil eye charm surrounded with 14 K gold on a chain which she placed around my neck.

To this day I wear it to protect me from evil eye energies.

My relatives were relieved that an inconspicuous admirer’s evil eye envy toward me, did not sour the memorable moments we had as a family during our stay in this majestic land.

After all, we were in Greece. “When in Greece, do like the Greeks”.

LIVE LIFE and ENJOY IT!

John Anagnostou is the e-business manager of AphroditeGifts.com offering evil eye jewelry including evil eye bracelets, evil eye charms and other unique gifts. If you are not familiar with Evil Eye Jewelry, (also referred to as All Seeing Eye Jewelry), many cultures around the world consider it a very powerful, traditional and symbolically protective piece of jewelry worn to ward off harmful energies. For more information visit http://www.aphroditegifts.com

Melanie Slade is the girlfriend of Arsenal footballer Theo Walcott and the latest addition to the real “Footballer’s Wives” stable. She first met the England squad member outside the shop where she worked at West Quay shopping mall in Southampton. Melanie was outside with a basket in her hand when Walcott’s friend announced “the basket is for phone numbers”.

Cheeky Theo scribbled his mobile number on a scrap of paper and tossed it into Mels basket and his friend did the same. The romance had begun and Melanie Slade and Theo Walcott have been an item ever since.

Walcott said they are not a typical “footballer couple” and would not let the media attention affect them. He said: “We haven’t been to any footballer parties at all. We’re not people who like to party.”

Walcott has told the media he and Melanie made a bet as to who could pass their driving test first and Melanie won, as Theo failed his first test and Melanie passed hers at the first time of asking.

There were no hard feelings on losing the bet and Theo spent £20,000 on a white VW Beetle for Melanie, affectionately known by as the ‘Love Bug’. Theo even registered the private number plate T4M symbolising ‘Theo for Melanie’ for his girlfriend.

Melanie shot into the media limelight when 17-year-old boyfriend Theo became a shock selection for England’s 2006 FIFA World Cup squad even though he had not featured in club Arsenal’s Premiership campaign and manager Sven Goran-Eriksson hadn’t seen him play.

Melanie has since become a firm tabloid favourite and there was little surprise when in May, a leading UK tabloid newspaper reportedly offered her £160,000 for a topless photo shoot. She accepted the offer and appeared topless in the newspaper although she did preserve her modesty by covering up with her hands.

She is using her new found status to support the 2006 Race for Life event organised by Cancer Research UK but has also asked for privacy whilst she revises for her exams.

Melanie is also the daughter of a now locally famous man. Her father, John Slade, recently became the 784th mayor of Southampton at a ceremony at the city’s Guild Hall.However, she missed the ceremony as she had jetted off to Portugal to join Theo’s World Cup preparations.

Melanie has stated she will not make any further decisions about the various media offers she has received until after the World Cup, although she could be a permanent fixture in print and on screen over the next 12 months.

In the season finale of the apprentice Donald Trump Hired Sean instead of Lee to be his apprentice and oversee a big time real estate project. That project will pay him a quarter of a million dollars per year. Sean beat out several candidates for the job during a 15 week job interview. He succeeded at several tasks and did pretty good on the final task as well. For the final task Sean had to set up a benefit concert for a band called the Bare Naked Ladies. His benefit seemed to go pretty smoothly although he made a few mistakes. One was the lack of Pontiac signage at his event and another was his obsession with Tammy and other contestant that was fired a weeks earlier.

Lee on the other hand had to do an event for a celebrity hockey game which did not go to great. The director of the event shot down a lot of his idea which limited what he could do. Their also seemed to be poor communication with the celebrities when they arrived. From watching the show Lee actually lost the final task when he picked such a poor team. He picked his team based on what his buddy Lenny suggested rather than going with his gut which was very poor. Overall the best man got the job hopefully he will be a success as the apprentice.

Nominated for 3 Academy Awards and 3 Golden Globes, including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, The Phantom Of The Opera was one of the most talked about movies of 2004. Taking the smash commercial success of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage production to the big screen is no easy task, but long-time Hollywood director Joel Schumacher is more than able to get the job done. He takes an otherwise poorly written screenplay (minus the awe of a live performance no less) and manages to thrill the audience with the visual aspects of a film chiefly intended to rehash a successful stage musical. The costumes and set are simply magnificent, and Art Director John Fenner (Raiders Of The Lost Ark) helps Schumacher put together a fabulous production that’s well worth a movie-goer’s time…

The Phantom Of The Opera centers around a mysterious character who dwells underneath the Paris Opera House, imbibing himself on the music that emanates from above. Known as The Phantom (Gerard Butler), he wears a half-mask to cover the hideous facial scars that have plagued him since birth. A musical genius, the phantom is infatuated with the opera, and when he falls in love with the voice of a young chorus girl named Christine (Emmy Rossum - The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Mystic River (2003)), this love of the opera morphs into an outright obsession. The phantom provides Christine with one-on-one voice lessons, while during his spare time, he terrorizes the opera house in an effort to land his protégé the opera’s leading role. When Christine finally rises to that position, however, she is reunited with childhood friend Raul (Patrick Wilson), and the two begin a torrid love affair. Vengeful and jealous, the phantom kidnaps Christine and holds her prisoner in his underground lair, and Raul is the only one who can save her…

Onscreen, The Phantom Of The Opera is weak by the standards of a traditional film. The cast does its best to make the most of a screenplay peppered with rigid dialogue - a script designed to sell “the music of the night”. The supposed magnetism between Christine and Raul is non-existent and not really believable. As such, the audience is forced into believing that the phantom (who, by contrast, is quite charismatic in this rendition) would end up playing second fiddle to a man who makes Al Gore seem animated. Overall, however, other aspects of the film make up for this flaw…

Based on Gaston Leroux’s 1925 novel of the same name, The Phantom Of The Opera loses much of its original edge given the phantom’s transformation from a frightening and mangled lunatic to a watered down half-scarred/half-babe-magnet figure complete with likeable characteristics. But inevitably, that’s the mark of an enduring franchise - its malleability in the realm of numerous genres and the public’s willingness to embrace such changes. But arguably, the small changes in the original novel’s plot were necessary to achieve Lloyd Webber’s goal of a melodramatic and stirring Broadway musical boasting mass commercial appeal. In a year in which the Oscar nominations were mostly dominated by lower-budget, surprise hit films (such as Sideways, Million Dollar Baby, and Finding Neverland), The Phantom Of The Opera holds its own in many aspects (given its pre-production designation as a commercial success). But those who have not seen the stage version are unlikely to be won over to the ranks of the franchise’s numerous fanatics. My advice is to definitely see the film if you’ve ever seen the stage performance or listened regularly to the soundtrack - otherwise, you might be disappointed. After all, no matter how good The Phantom Of The Opera translates to the big screen, there’s a reason musicals are not the dominate genre in Hollywood…

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of The Phantom Of The Opera (DVD).

Fitness centre refers to a place where exercise equipment are kept for the purpose of physical exercise to be carry out there. And there are some specific fitness centre which are made for female to be doing their exercise and if thet are on the move they dont allow male to enter there, because the place is meant for only female not male, and there is also some fitness centre that they set up for only male to be carry out their exercise there and at the time of exercise they dont allow any female to enter there at that particular time of their exercise.

Most fitness centre have their main workout area, which consist of free weight like dumbells. In this particular fitness centre Mirror is available so that peoper that are doing exercise can maintain the position in which you hold your body when doing the exercise.

Fitness centre is also made up cardio theatre which include many type of cardiovascular training that consist of these related equipmen, Rowing machines, Elliptical trainers, Treadmills and stationary exercise bikes. Number of audio-visual displays also included, placed on the walls around the area itself, is present in order to keep exercisers entertained during long cardio workout sessions.

By qualified fitness instructors, most newer health offer group exercise classis that are run throughout the week, and many types of group exercise classes exists, but generally these include classes that based on aerobics: which is especially design to improve the function of the heart and lung, cycling: which involve in riding a bicycle.

the best time to carry out all this fitness activities is if you have time very early in the mornings or late at night. There are two great benefits to this practice is the gym will not be crowded allowing you to exercise on whichever machine you choose.

One of the most popular myths I hear from my patients is that eating golden raisins soaked in gin will cure arthritis. There is no good research to support this notion. Save your money.

A recent popular diet, the Dong diet, advocates the elimination of fruits, red meats, and dairy foods. Not only is there no scientific evidence to support this diet but there may be potential harm. By eliminating so many potentially nutritious foods, there is the danger of causing a deficiency of important nutrients. Elimination diets though, have their supporters and selective elimination under the strict supervision of a registered dietician may be something to explore if you’re absolutely convinced your symptoms are food-related.

Another diet advocates the removal of dairy products. There are some who claim that dairy products make arthritis worse. The concern here is that total purging of dairy foods can lead to severe calcium deficiency and subsequent weakening of bones.

For years, there has been a myth that states the elimination of nightshade vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, and peppers will cure arthritis. The theory is that these plants produce a harmful toxin that causes arthritis. To date there is no scientific data indicating that these foods produce the supposed destructive ingredient that is responsible for inducing arthritis. Nightshade vegetables actually are low-calorie and contain important nutrients that might help arthritis sufferers.

Another popular “tonic” is the combination of vinegar and honey. Again, no reliable concrete evidence backs this as a “cure” for arthritis.

The advice: Thoroughly check out any story you hear. Don’t be fooled. Talk with a reputable rheumatologist and dietician before embarking on a food “experiment.”

Dr. Wei (pronounced “way”) is a board-certified rheumatologist and Clinical Director of the nationally respected Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and has served as a consultant to the Arthritis Branch of the National Institutes of Health. He is a Fellow of the American College of Rheumatology and the American College of Physicians. For more information on arthritis and related conditions, go to: http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com