Like no other time in history, people are diligently seeking alternative medical treatments…why not start a reflexology practice!

Like any endeavor, building a business takes time.  Moreover, it can be a bumpy road.  However, in a growing field such as reflexology, you definitely have time on your side.  Reflexology has certainly found its place in the world of complimentary medicine.  Like no other time in history, people are diligently seeking alternative medical treatments.  So, how do you get a piece of this pie?  Check out the tips outlined below.

1. Time=Value.  In other words, it takes time to build your clientele and to get a name for yourself.  The more feet you work on the more success stories you will receive from satisfied, paying customers.  In a business like reflexology, this is key to success.  The truth of the matter is, one person could be responsible for making or breaking your reputation, but more commonly, it takes many satisfied customers to get a foothold in your community.  Word of mouth is one of the best tools you will have to build your business, so the more people that leave satisfied, the more you will be talked about.
2. If you already have an established business, but don’t have the stable clientele that you need to thrive, try the compare feet technique, as I like to call it.  When you are finished with one foot, kindly ask your client to stand up and compare how their feet feel.  Not only does this put quality into your service right away, but also it sticks the “wow” factor into the equation.  Soon your clients will be longing for the feeling they get after one of your sessions.
3. Make sure you are communicating effectively with your clients.  In other words, you MUST know if you are being too hard on their feet or too soft.  If you are too hard on their feet, and they leave in utter pain, you cannot expect them to return. In the same respect, if they leave feeling no different than they came, you did not do your job effectively enough to warrant a return visit.  Make sure you tell them up front that you can change your degree of pressure to suit their needs.  That is the only way they will know that you can accommodate them and are not just unknowledgeable and inexperienced.
4. Take an active approach in respect to customer service.   Call your client the day after therapy and ask how they are doing.  Furthermore, it is the perfect opportunity to get feedback and invite them back for a subsequent visit.  You will build trust and better yet you will know how well the treatment went and if you will need to adjust your treatment the next time.
5. Make sure your prices match your skill level, experience and reputation.  I wont go into great detail here because prices vary according to many factors, just do your homework before you set your prices and if they are too high, change them.
6. Create your environment carefully.  The setting in which you do your therapy will add value to your service or it will break your service.  If you choose to work out of your home, as many do in the beginning, price your services accordingly.  Also, because reflexology is such a relaxing therapy, create your setting to compliment it.  Avoid areas with clutter and set it up as comfortable as possible.  Soft music and very soft essential oil scents are good compliments to your setup.
7. Finally, you must determine what hours and what services you will offer to your clients.  This will partially be determined by how serious you are about your career.  It is pretty safe to say that the more flexible you are, the more clientele you will attract.  For example, if you will work nights to accommodate schedules, or make house calls, you are setting yourself up for a favorable amount of business.  Furthermore, by offering services such as “self help seminars” where you teach your clients how to do some of the basic techniques, complimented with say aromatherapy or herbal treatments; you add instant value and credibility to your practice.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Toxins are everywhere!

If you are unaware of the importance of detoxification, please listen up.  Toxins are everywhere.  The food we eat, the products we clean ourselves with, as well as the air we breathe all contribute to the build up of toxins in our bodies.  Without effectively eliminating those toxins from our organs, they will eventually cause havoc and we will be led down the path of sickness and disease. In a society that relies heavily on chemically laden prescription drugs, psychotherapy and surgical procedures to “heal” the sick, it is more than time to put matters into your own hands.

Our society has become very curious about detoxification.  In fact, nowadays there are so many products trying to get your attention, that it can be very challenging and overwhelming to know just what is best.  If you search for detoxification online today, you will find everything from detox diet plans and fasting to high priced spa treatments, herbal cleansing pills and patches.

Far Eastern cultures have been using alternative treatments for thousands of years and still do so today.  Even the most technically advanced countries such as China and Japan, appreciate the effectiveness and simplicity of natural medicine.  So why not try a form of therapy that is effective, yet has no side affects?  However, with so many products on the market begging for a sale, where do you begin?  Maybe it is time to introduce you to reflexology.

Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs.  By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body.  Reflexology is not only effective for self-healing, but has made it’s mark as an effective detoxification procedure as well.  And maybe most importantly in today’s society, it is free, depending on which therapy you use and very convenient.  Yes, unlike our current healthcare system, reflexology therapy is available to everyone!

If you want to go the free route, learning the simple massage techniques is all you will have to do, outside of applying it.  Each part of your feet and hands relates to a body system.  By applying pressure and massage to those areas, you will increase blood flow and help push toxins out of the body.  One of the major benefits here is that it is relaxing and therapeutic at the same time.  I use reflexology to relieve tension headaches all of the time and it works!

If you prefer to try one of the many products on the market today, try the herbal foot detox patches.  They are quite affordable and very effective.  By simply applying them to your feet at night before bed, you will help detoxify all of your organs at the same time.  Not only are well-known healing oils and tree extracts used in these patches, but there are no side effects, making them a very popular choice.

If you are really serious about detoxification, and you should be, I would recommend that you not only learn the reflexology techniques, but you use them on a regular basis.  Use it as a first line of defense.  After all, you only have one body in this lifetime, treat it with care.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Did you know that only ten sessions of reflexology could actually help get you in and out of labor much faster?

There are many natural approaches to combating one of the most common pregnancy complaints, morning sickness.  Most people have heard of the age-old ginger remedy for upset stomachs and intestinal gas.  It is an effective remedy that is cheap to use and has no side effects, which is very important to most expectant

mothers.  However, there are many more natural remedies that you can use not only to ease the stomach, but also to ensure a smooth, faster labor.  Yes, it is true, say hello to reflexology.

Did you know that only ten sessions of reflexology could actually help get you in and out of labor much faster?  Yes, it is true.  Furthermore, women that undergo reflexology treatment during pregnancy also appear to have fewer complications during labor.  These benefits are great, but what about the nine-months of uncomfortable, often painful symptoms?

If you are new to reflexology, here are the basics.  Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs.  By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body.  And it is not only limited to the feet and hands, although they are the most widely used areas.  Reflexology can also be used on the face and the ears as well.

Because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body.  Reflexology has been known to relieve many common pregnancy complaints including headache, nausea, backache, stress and anxiety, sleeplessness, fatigue, constipation, swollen ankles and digestive problems such as acid reflux.

Of all of the pregnancy complaints, nausea, or morning sickness is one of the most uncomfortable.  Not only can it last all day and can onset in the blink of an eye, but also can lead to problems holding down food if it becomes severe.  Here is what I would recommend if you are having trouble with nausea on a regular basis.

• Start a reflexology treatment schedule and stick to it.  In a very short time you will feel like you are on top of the world.
• Eat frequent, small meals throughout the day.  This is a common recommendation, but one worth mentioning at anytime.
• Do not eliminate your carbs but rather take in complex carbs instead of simple, sugar-laden carbs.  They will only make matters worse.
• Because prenatal vitamin contain a lot of iron, that can be a cause for upset stomach.  I always got in the habit of taking it later in the day or before bed versus in the morning.
• Another common recommendation, and a good one at that, is to have some saltine crackers on your bedside.  When you wake up in the morning, wake up slowly and munch on some before you rise.  One sure fire way to get nausea going is to jump up out of bed.  Just don’t do it, I learned this the hard way!  It is better to be late than to be sick all day!
• Avoid strong odors and smells.  If you can’t hack a smell, go out and take a light walk in the fresh air.  That will usually do the trick.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands!

Many studies have been done in relation to the effectiveness of reflexology.  If you are unfamiliar with reflexology, here are the basics.  Reflexology is the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs.  By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the f

eet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding organs and systems of the body.  Reflexology is safe and effective for everyone.  Furthermore, it can and should be used throughout a lifetime.

So how can reflexology really help you?  Research has found that not only is it beneficial as a tool for relaxation and stress relief, but it is also an effective tool for improving circulation; relieving pain, detoxification, recovering from surgery, and as an immune and nervous system stimulator.  In fact, many people with illnesses such as allergies; chronic sinus problems; acid reflux; migraines; PMS; menopause; insomnia; fertility problems and even arthritis have been helped tremendously by reflexology treatments.

Because reflexology works to put the body in a state of well-being, it is beneficial to every system in the body.  Reflexology has been shown to relieve many common pregnancy complaints including headache, nausea, backache, stress and anxiety, sleeplessness, fatigue, constipation, swollen ankles and digestive problems.  Furthermore, in one study, women that had at least 10 reflexology sessions showed reduced labor times and complications than women who did not have the treatments.

Children can benefit from reflexology in many ways as well.  A few of the most common reasons for conventional medical treatment today are ear infections, constipation, colic and bed-wetting.  Reflexology has been shown to dramatically improve these problems, and many more in children.  In fact, research has actually shown that children with cerebral palsy who received reflexology work actually had increased growth rate over the kids who did not receive therapy.  The list goes on and on.

In a society that relies on chemically laden prescription drugs to cure the sick, especially in the elderly sector of society, reflexology is providing success stories worth examining.  Did you know that elderly patients that routinely get reflexology treatment could reduce cholesterol, lower and maintain blood pressure and treat painful digestion better than drugs?  Not only that but elderly patients that have reflexology mats in their homes experience less pain and a greater sense of control when walking.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.  For patients recovering from surgery, reflexology can be a dream come true.  Studies have shown that patients that received reflexology treatment after surgery experienced far less pain than the patients that received painkillers alone.  Moreover, reflexology was shown to be more effective than catheterization in patients with retention of urine after surgery.

Reflexology has made its mark in the world of alternative therapies because it works.  If you doubt that reflexology works, try it and see the results for yourself.  Once you try it you will be a believer and most importantly, you will be hooked for life.  Find yourself a good reflexologist, or better yet, learn the techniques for yourself.  Having the knowledge to treat yourself and your family is one of the smartest things you can do.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Although reflexology is proven to be beneficial for a multitude of problems, your reflexologist cannot diagnose or claim to cure any diseases. They are not medically trained to do so. The practice of reflexology is meant to bring your body to a state of well-being. Only in this state is your body able to heal itself and perform at an optimal level. If your body is full of toxins, your immune system is severely compromised, making you much more likely to succumb to sickness and disease.

Once you have made the decision to visit a trained reflexologist, you may be wondering what you can expect from him or her. You may also be asking yourself, what if I am embarrassed about my feet, or my feet are ticklish, how will I be able to handle the therapy? All of these are viable questions.

As far as the appearance of your feet, don’t worry about them. All feet are different and there is nothing to be ashamed about. The only possible thing that might come up in direct relation to the appearance of your feet may be if you have a severe problem with corns or the like. In this case, your reflexologist may recommend treatment options.

Ticklish feet are not usually a problem for a reflexologist. Once pressure is applied, the sensation will quickly turn from a tickle to massage and you should be ok. Very, and I mean very few people that claim to have ticklish feet are unable to go through with the therapy.

Your therapy session will begin with a questionnaire or one on one question and answer session. This is, of course to get your personal history and determine where your therapy should be most concentrated. For example, if you are going in suffering from frequent migraines and neck pain, your reflexologist will concentrate on the areas of the feet and sometimes the hands, in areas that deal with the head and neck. Of course, you will be treated in all areas of the feet. In order to bring your body to a state of well-being, you must detoxify your organs and this is exactly what happens during reflexology therapy.

After the initial interview, your ears, feet and hands will probably be thoroughly looked over for discolorations and tender spots. According to the theories reflexology stems from, these things can be warning signs that correlating body parts are not functioning, as they should.

At this point the therapy will begin. It will usually start with rubbing of the ears, hands or feet and then will turn into pressing. It closely mimics acupuncture, but without needles. By pressing in certain areas of the feet, hands and even the ears, the brain will send signals and release neurochemicals to stop pain and relieve tension.

Probably one of the biggest expectations is the relaxation factor. It is true; you will become very relaxed during the therapy. Believe it or not, some people even fall asleep. It is one of the single most powerful ways to relax and eliminate stress in your body. Once you try it you will be a believer, furthermore you will be hooked.

Stress is a silent killer.  In fact, stress is so commonplace in our society today, that associated behaviors, such as road rage, are becoming just an acceptable part of everyday life.  Research has shown that high stress levels not only increase negative hormone levels, the ones responsible for inhibiting sickness and disease, but it also suppresses the immune system.  More than ever before in our history, we are in need of a way to unwind, and care for ourselves in an effective manner.

The vast majority of people today are on the go almost constantly.  This is only one of the reasons that people are looking for an effective way to escape the stress of daily life.  Yet most people simply cannot afford a getaway to a luxury spa every time they feel the need for a time out.    Not all of us can be celebrities, and receive the royal treatment every time we need to unwind, that is just not reality for most people.

Reflexology provides an answer to this common problem.  Not only is this form of self-help therapy relaxing and provides immediate relief in many cases; moreover it is free of charge and extremely convenient.  If you are unfamiliar with reflexology, it is simply the practice of strategically applying pressure to areas of the feet and hands as they correspond with specific body organs.  Just like the teeth, the feet and hands are a map to the health of our entire body.  By stimulating nerves on specific areas of the feet and hands, we can stimulate blood flow and eliminate toxin buildup in the corresponding areas of the body.

Reflexology is fairly simple to perform and even simpler to incorporate into your daily routine.  There are many online guides and diagrams that you can use.  Or, if you prefer to have the information at your fingertips, there are many great books you can even get at your local library that will walk you through the process of reflexology treatment.  If you are really serious about learning the techniques, there are numerous online reflexology schools where you can take classes and learn in-depth techniques for more specified sicknesses and diseases.

Try something simple for starters, such as relieving a headache, once you have witnessed the benefits, you may find yourself hooked.  I started using reflexology therapy a few years ago just for the purpose of relieving the tension headaches I was experiencing due to stress.  I can attest to the fact that it works, as I have been successful at curing my headaches without the use of drugs ever since.

In the fast paced society that we live in today, I highly recommend that you take a time out for yourself each day.  Set aside a specific time early in the morning or before you go to bed and practice deep breathing and reflexology techniques.  Before long you will notice a big difference in how you see life and that you are able to manage your day so much better.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

If you are one of the millions of people that have discovered the benefits of reflexology, you may be wondering just how you go about learning the techniques for yourself.  There are indeed many benefits to learning reflexology.  Most obviously, and maybe even most importantly, it is free to treat yourself.  Reflexologists are

very good at what they do, and they are gaining popularity very quickly.  The downside is that reflexologists are expensive, and their services may not be feasible to the average working man or woman.  Taking the time to learn reflexology on your own not only allows you the freedom to treat yourself, but it also allows you to effectively help your entire family without a Harvard medical degree.

The following is a brief outline of some of the benefits of learning reflexology:

• One of the most attractive things about reflexology is that it is simple to learn.  Not to say that there isn’t a technique that should be followed, because there is.  However, of the many forms of massage and healing techniques, reflexology is probably the easiest and fastest form of therapy to learn.  Many believe it is part intuitive and part learned skill.  I happen to agree with this statement.
• Freedom to prevent and cure your own ailments, as well as the health for your entire family without spending big bucks on office visits.
• Gives you the ability to detoxify your body at anytime without expensive herbal treatments.  One of the biggest benefits of reflexology is the detoxification process that naturally happens.  Toxins are everywhere, in the food we eat, the products we use to clean ourselves and in the air that we breathe.  Detoxification is necessary and vital to our well-being.  If you are able to detoxify your body naturally and without the use of expensive products, you are a step ahead of the game.
• Gives you the ability to take a “time out” whenever you need it and relieve yourself of stress and anxiety.  Many people are looking for ways to get away from the stress of everyday life.  Reflexology is probably the single most effective means to reducing stress and anxiety.
• If you choose to learn reflexology from a certified school, you will also be able to start your own business should you choose to do so.  More people than ever are looking into alternative treatment plans.  You could find yourself in a position to help others and earn a lot of money at the same time.

Far Eastern cultures have been using alternative treatments for thousands of years and still do so today.  Even the most technically advanced countries such as China and Japan, appreciate the effectiveness and simplicity of natural medicine.  So why not try a form of therapy that is effective, yet has no side affects?  Maybe it is time to forget the magical pills and fly by night cure-alls and teach yourself reflexology.  As long as you have two hands and two feet, you can self-treat your medical problems, as many have done thousands of years before you.

Tags used in this post: herbal remedy alternative Hoodia

Can’t stop eating? Feel like you are trapped by food? Stop worrying, a magic Weight Loss drug has been discovered. Your obesity problem will be gone and all those extra pounds will be shed. Hoodia truly is the ultimate all-natural weight-loss drug that will actually kill your desire to eat. Extracted from Hoodia Gordonii, a cactus-like plant that grows in the wild in the desert regions of South Africa, Angola, Namibia and Botswana, it has the potential to provide relief to all those suffering due to weight problems. The world’s search for a miracle obesity cure has come to and end. Hoodia is the final frontier for fighting obesity without side effects.

History of Hoodia

For ages, the Xhomani San Bushmen who live in and around the Kalahari desert in South Africa have been eating the Hoodia plant before setting out on their long hunting expeditions in order to keep the hunger-wolf away for days at a stretch. Their long-kept secret has escaped and quickly spread across the globe as the best natural appetite suppressant and Weight Loss drug.

The <tag>Hoodia</tag> plant also very widely known by its Latin name, Hoodia Gordonii, than its many alternative names, which include Xhooba or Xhoba, Ikhooba, Ghaap, Hoodia cactus, South African desert cactus, Bushman’s Hat, Queen of Namib and so on. Although it has remarkable similarities with cactus, it does not belong to the cactus family of plants. Its green and upright stem is succulent, grows up to a meter in height and bears large flesh-colored or pale, purple flowers with a strong unpleasant smell. The plant also tastes quite bitter. Like many of the Hoodia species - there are at least 13 known species - Hoodia Gordonii is a protected plant in the areas extending from central Namibia to southern Angola. In the extremely high temperatures and arid climate there, it matures after several years of growth. Normally, the plant is ready to be harvested at the age of about five years, when it begins to flower.

If you attempt to grow Hoodia Gordonii in your backyard, you will not succeed. Many people have already made such futile attempts to grow it in USA, Mexico, China as well as other countries. However, the plant needs the exact soil and climatic conditions that are prevalent in the Kalahari Desert regions, where it thrives naturally.

As early as 1937, a Dutch anthropologist who studied the life of San Bushmen of South Africa, observed during his study that these people would eat Hoodia Gordonii for suppressing their appetite. In 1963, some of the scientists at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) conducted lab studies on the effect of Hoodia on rats and proved that the plant did in fact possess weight-reducing properties.

Isolating and licensing the appetite suppressant

Later, in 1977, the CSIR scientists isolated a new molecule from Hoodia Gordonii, which was given the name P 57. This new molecule had been proven to be the appetite-suppressing molecule. The CSIR patented P 57 in 1997 and then sold the license to Phytopharm, a bio-pharmaceutical company located in Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. In turn, Phytopharm entered into an agreement in 1998 with the largest pharmaceutical company of the world, Pfizer, based in New York, to collaborate in order to in order to isolate the active ingredients responsible for the Hoodia working as an appetite suppressant. Pfizer, with this collaboration, wanted to develop and market an anti-obesity drug and undertook clinical studies in this connection, which continued quite successfully, until 2003.

However, Pfizer returned the rights of P 57 in July that year. Perhaps Pfizer wanted to synthesize P 57 and commercially produce synthetic P 57 and market it, but as the costs involved in the process were prohibitive, it withdrew from the project. Phytopharm later tied up with Unilever with the intention of marketing an obesity drug based on Hoodia extracts.

How Hoodia works

Although it sounds like a miracle drug, it is not too difficult to understand how it works. The active ingredient P 57 in Hoodia Gordonii works just like when you eat. Whenever you take in food, the levels of your blood glucose rise in your body and the nerve cells in your mid-brain, the hypothalamus, recognize the raised blood sugar levels to give you a feeling of having satisfied your appetite. Now what happens when you take Hoodia Gordonii, which has the molecule P 57 in it, is very similar. Since P 57 is about 10,000 times as active as glucose, your brain senses its high glucose activity and triggers its nerve cells to make you feel full, even though you have not really eaten any food. P 57 thus deceives your brain into thinking that you have had your fill, without even a morsel actually getting into your stomach. In other words, P 57 effectively stifles your appetite and so you don’t feel like eating for considerably long stretches of time.

Phytopharm conducted clinical studies on obese people who were put on P 57 extracted from Hoodia Gordonii and found that their food intake came down by about 1000 calories a day. You can very well estimate that over the long term, this decrease in the amount of food eaten will have a huge effect on body weight as well.

In the last few years, therefore, the demand for Hoodia Gordonii has been on the upswing. And so has been its hype. In 2002, in recognition of the ownership rights of the San tribesmen over the Hoodia plant and the ingredients derived from it, the CSIR even granted them a percentage of the profits accruing from the marketing and sale of Hoodia and its products. Due to this, as the Hoodia sales keep increasing, these indigenous Bushmen of South Africa, impoverished for ages, will no longer suffer from poverty from the overwhelming amount of royalties paid them due to the popularity of Hoodia products.

The hype begins

In 2003, with the BBC program on Hoodia Gordonii, the hype in the media kicked off and the very next year the “60 minutes” program on CBS celebrated its beneficial property of being a natural drug for suppressing appetite. Numerous people started taking interest in the widespread media exposure that Hoodia Gordonii received in the few years that followed. With that, many companies clamored for the opportunity to market it and make money.

Unilever, under an agreement with Phytopharm, started marketing shakes and diet-bars containing Hoodia Gordonii, in 2004. And in July 2006, another company introduced into the market Hoodia-lollipops under the brand name PowerPops. There are of course several other companies, a few of them authorized but most others with counterfeit products, trying to cash in on the growing reputation of Hoodia Gordonii. Countless people wanting to Lose Weight have perhaps spent their hard-earned money on the so-called Hoodia Gordonii-enhanced products only to realize that they spent their money on counterfeit products. Their experience means that you must be extra vigilant when choosing your Hoodia products. Read the label to verify that it has genuine Hoodia Gordonii or P 57 before purchasing.

Phytopharm currently has the sole and exclusive license to market Hoodia Gordonii as a Weight Loss product. With the help of its contract with Unilever, Phytopharm expects to begin marking more products containing P57 as a major ingredient some time in 2008. In the meantime, there are a few authentic shakes, diet bars and PowerPops available to help you eat less. Phytopharm has cornered most of the Hoodia Gordonii available now and in the near future for harvesting. Even the small quantities of Hoodia Gordonii that is outside the control of Phytopaharm cannot be taken without a permit granted by CITES (the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).

Hoodia versus other Weight Loss supplements

Hoodia Gordonii products are available in the market as supplements, but are very often counterfeit or and contain other less desirable and unnatural appetite suppressants. It is important to verify that the supplements you purchase are made from pure Hoodia Gordonii. There are a number of other Weight Loss supplements you will find on the shelves that claim to help you Lose Weight. You may wonder whether Hoodia Gordonii works in the same manner as the other available diet pills for Weight Loss.

See, for any Weight Loss to occur, what you have to do is burn more calories than you take in via food. The larger the difference between the number of calories consumed and the number of calories expended, the greater the loss in weight, because that much fat has to be burnt by way of compensating the difference. The amount you put in and the amount you take out will determine your net gain or loss to your account. It is as simple as that. It is possible for you to Lose Weight if you are consistent in doing two things, namely, (a) reduce your calorie intake, either by drastically reducing your food intake, or by sticking to a low-calorie diet, and (b) increase the burning of your calories, either by taking up some vigorous physical exercise on a regular basis or by using diet pills, which most people consider to be the easier option. Nevertheless, as per the experience of most people who use diet pills, their undesirable or harmful side effects make life more miserable than ever before.

Quite differently though, Hoodia Gordonii also works on the principle of burning more calories than those taken in. It just takes away your desire for food by making you feel full even when you have not eaten at all. That means your calorie intake will considerably go down, resulting in some of your accumulated body fat being used up for the energy required for you leading an active life, which translates into Weight Loss. Put differently, you perhaps continue to burn the same number of calories as before, but because you don’t take in as many calories as before due to lack of appetite, thanks to Hoodia Gordonii, you experience a net loss in your calorie account. This results in your losing weight.

There is an added advantage in taking Hoodia Gordonii over other available Weight Loss supplements. It does not have any side effects whatsoever - much unlike in the case of normal diet pills. The San Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert do not experience any discomfort, any pain or any after-effects when they eat the innards of the Hoodia plant. And neither will you. Incidentally, if at all you happen to go to the Kalahari Desert and get hold of the real Hoodia Gordonii plant, first remove its spine and peel off its outer skin, before eating the inside part of the plant, which alone contains the P 57 molecule, the active ingredient that curbs your appetite. This point is also important when searching for Hoodia products on the market. You want to be sure that they use only the insides of the plant.

Case studies proving Hoodia works

While investigating the Hoodia Gordonii story, two journalists, each working for a different employer, gave a vivid account of their experiences, which strongly support the role that Hoodia Gordonii plays in suppressing appetite. Tom Mangold’s report (which was aired on the BBC in 2003) states that he and his camera operator ate about a half-a-banana size part of Hoodia Gordonii somewhere in the Kalahari Desert one evening, and soon after felt full. Both of them felt very good about the experience of eating the plant and did not think of food at all for almost four hours as they drove down all the way to Cape Town. In fact, they skipped the dinner that night and the breakfast the following morning, because their brains did not trigger the message of hunger. Their normal appetite returned gradually, but only after about 24 hours. In 2004, CBS reporter Leslie Stahl said that she felt no after-effects of eating Hoodia Gordonii. She felt “no funny taste in her mouth, no queasy stomach, and no racing heart.” And she did not feel hungry at all for the entire day that day, after eating this magic appetite-killing plant. The appetite suppressant powers of Hoodia Gordonii cannot be attested better.

Phytopharm has also conducted a double-blind clinical study on two groups of healthy but overweight people, in 2001, to study the effects of P 57 extracted from Hoodia gordonii. One group was given P 57 and the other just a placebo. The study revealed that the group that received P 57 showed a significant reduction in calorie intake as well as in body fat, but did not experience any undesirable side effects. The people in the P 57 group on an average consumed 1000 fewer calories per day than those in the placebo-group, which was a significant difference that has to be attributed to the powers of Hoodia Gordonii.

The two journalists, Tom Mongard and Leslie Stahl, only confirmed by direct experience what Phytopharm had known earlier through its clinical study. There is no dispute about the effectiveness of Hoodia gordonii as a powerful means of staving off appetite. There is no doubt that with suppressed appetite you tend to take in less than normal calories. There cannot be any question about the fact that Hoodia Gordonii thus helps not just in the prevention of weight gain but actually promotes Weight Loss. What is more, it does not produce any adverse side effects. Hoodia gordonii is therefore absolutely safe.

Hoodia Gordonii provides an easy solution to all those millions of overweight and obese people, who adopt desperate measures of dieting and exercise for Weight Loss, but fail due to the lack of will power or consistency. They won’t have to fight any untimely cravings for snacks and food items, if they take Hoodia gordonii, as it successfully curbs their appetite for long periods. Several others who at first succeed in shedding some weight in a short time span by taking one crash course or the other, but later gain back all the weight with full force once they stop that course, also stand to benefit from Hoodia Gordonii, as it offers a long-term solution. And those others that suffer more from the side effects of a badly conceived Weight Loss program than their overweight find in Hoodia gordonii a safe bet, as it is a completely natural substance free from any adverse effects.

Now that you need no more convincing about the miracle powers of Hoodia Gordonii, you might like to get some advice on how to procure genuine Hoodia gordonii. Look for new products offered by Unilever in 2008, or purchase PowerPops, supplements or shakes with Hoodia in the meantime. But if you are impatient, you want to lay your hands on any Hoodia Gordonii supplements that are not counterfeit, then make sure that the Hoodia Gordonii you buy comes from the heart of the plant harvested in the desert regions of the Kalahari, in South Africa. The product should contain only the inner part, but should not include the spine or the skin of the plant. Remember, only the heart of Hoodia Gordonii holds the active molecule P 57 - the miracle appetite suppressant.

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Grapefruit seed extract is said to have 180 uses and is claimed to be the world’s most useful product. For over 30 years it has been used by naturopathic clinics and it has been proven to be an effective and safe remedy for countless of uses. It is thought to be a natural antibiotic that is capable of killing a wide range of pathogens; it is hypoallergenic and can be taken for several months quite safely in order to eliminate stubborn infections. Grape seed extract is available in a wide range of products and products may vary in strength so it is essential that you follow the directions for the particular product or your doctors advice. Many of the solutions are concentrated and so have to be diluted; of course different products require different dilutions, so again make sure you read the instructions. The diluted formula can be taken with carrot, vegetable, orange or grapefruit juice or alternatively some health food stores sell it in capsule form which is usually taken just after or with a meal.

It has been successfully used in the treatment of internal and external infections due to viruses, bacteria and fungi; it has been known to detoxify, support and boost the immune system and is particularly high in vitamins C and E and also bioflavonoid.

Grapefruit seed extract is also beneficial in helping to alkalize the blood and it is non-toxic. One of the reasons why it is so popular is that there are no harsh side effects when taking it and so is becoming an alternative due to its lack of side effects and the wide range of problems that it can help with.

The list of illnesses that it has been known to help is exhaustive, but some of the most common ones include

· Digestive and gastrointestinal disorders

· Diarrhea and food poisoning cases

· Bacterial, fungi, yeast and viral infections

· Chronic fatigue

· Disorders of the gum and tooth problems

· Colds and flu including sore throat

· Inflammation of the ear and earache

· Skin infections, warts and wounds

· Poison ivy and rashes

· Relief from the various symptoms of the aids virus

There have been many studies into why grapefruit seed extract is particularly effective, there are many scientific explanations but the simplest is that the extract doesn’t allow germs to build up a resistance to it. Whatever the reasons behind it working there have been many studies into the effectiveness of the extract with many positive results.

Grapefruit extract is made by taking the seeds of the grapefruit and the pulp and converting them into a very acidic substance. This liquid is then loaded with various compounds such as helperidin, campherol glycoside, neohelperidin, naringin, apigenin, rutinoside and poncirin. The end product is a yellowish viscous amber product that tastes acidic and bitter, the bitterness and acidity is reduced by adding pure vegetable glycerine, the liquid of the grape seed extract has a pleasant slight citrus smell.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates all the prescription drugs available in the United States, as is well known. It is also well known that the US law has allowed, since 1994, the availability of a number of over-the-counter herbal remedies under the ‘dietary supplements’ category, over which the FDA has no regulatory control.

The chief implications of this policy decision are: (a) there is no need to examine and verify the claims of the people who market a particular product about its composition, the purity, the quality and the quantity of the ingredients used; in simple words, this means that any type of quality control is unnecessary; and, (b) it is also unnecessary to carry out any scientific investigations into the possibility or otherwise of any adverse reactions to herbal products when used either alone or in combination with other drugs. Obviously, the FDA does not wish to shoulder any responsibility in establishing any scientific credibility of the herbal remedies allowed only as dietary supplements, but not as medicines to heal ailments.

Quite a few of American consumers shop for and use herbal remedies, which are prominently displayed on the shelves in the aisles meant for ‘dietary supplements’, blindly believing the tall claims on the labels. Sometimes the herbal remedies may not have any curative properties; instead, they may contain uncertain harmful ingredients with many side effects, in the guise of natural products. If you look a little more carefully at the different brands of the same product, you may notice considerable discrepancy in matters pertaining to the recommended dosage or to the particular part or parts of the herb that are the source of the extract marketed in the product. The possible reason for such a discrepancy can be the lack of any FDA regulation or control applicable to such cases.

What lends credibility to herbal remedies is scientific research, the validated results of which form the ground for the common people to accept them. Due to this, producers of herbal remedies as well as those that have a stake in their marketing, in their own interest, sponsor quite a number of researches. Usually, they tend to highlight only those aspects of the results that are helpful to their commercial interests, while underplaying the ones that are not. Moreover, the results of different scientific studies are not always consistent, because of which the reliability factor suffers.

A very special characteristic of herbal remedies of Chinese origin is their Chi (or Qi) effect. Practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) study the herbs on the basis of the impact of the Chi effect of herbs on the various parts of the human body and use them accordingly. Herbs are used in a way that they correct the energy imbalance in the body (the imbalance being the cause for an ailment), and thereby bring about the intended cure for the diagnosed ailment. It is rather difficult to institute scientific studies in order to statistically evaluate the intangibles of the Qi factor. That is why the credibility of TCM depends more on history and less on science.

There are too many herbal remedies and too few authentic scientific studies on every one of them to assure the people about the dependability of their curative properties in varying circumstances. It is well beyond the FDA to exercise any reasonable control over them and, therefore, most herbal remedies are made available only as ‘dietary supplements’.