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Should a Home Inspection Include Radon Testing?

  • Posted on January 31, 2008 at 4:22 pm



When you have a home inspected, either before buying or selling, issues might come up that will surprise you. Radon might be one of those. How important is it, and should your home be tested for it?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon is a radioactive gas that has been found in homes all over the United States. It comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe. It typically moves up through the ground to the air above and then into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Radon can also enter your home through well water. Your home can trap radon inside.

According to a January 2005 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General, “Indoor radon gas is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States and breathing it over prolonged periods can present a significant health risk to families all over the country. It’s important to know that this threat is completely preventable. Radon can be detected with a simple test and fixed through well-established venting techniques.”

How big of a problem is it in our homes? The EPA says any home can have a radon problem. It doesn’t make any difference if your home is old or new. Well-sealed and drafty homes can have a radon problem, as well as homes with or without basements. The truth is that you and your family are most likely to get your greatest radiation exposure at home because that’s where you spend most of your time.

The EPA notes that nearly 1 out of every 15 homes in the United States is estimated to have an elevated radon level of 4 pCi/L or more. Find out more about radon levels where you live from the radon office in your state.

If you live in an area with lower radon levels than those the EPA considers sufficient for taking action, it may be up to you to decide if the home should be checked for radon. Again, the office dealing with radon issues in your state may have useful information for you.

On the other hand, if you live in an area where elevations of radon are typically low, that doesn’t mean the home you’re purchasing has low levels. Naturally, if radon levels are generally high where you live, you should most certainly have your home tested.

Keep in mind that the EPA and the Surgeon General recommend all homes be tested for radon. Incidentally, Both EPA and the Surgeon General recommend testing all homes below the third floor, since the lower levels are where concentrations of radon are highest.

Testing is the only way to know for certain if you and your family are at risk from radon. You can’t reliably predict radon levels based on state, local, and neighborhood radon measurements. EPA says not to rely on radon test results taken in other homes in the neighborhood for estimating the radon level in your home. That’s because homes which are next to each other can have different radon levels.

If your home inspector doesn’t test for radon, ask for a recommendation of someone who can. Companies offering radon testing may offer different types of radon service agreements. Some agreements let you pay a one-time fee that covers both testing and radon mitigation, if that’s what is needed. Contact your state radon office to find out more.

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Bath Salts, Oils and Gels – Recipes For Self-Care

  • Posted on January 30, 2008 at 9:00 am



Bath products such as bath salts, bath oils and bath gels can provide a holistic method for a natural approach to skin care and relaxation. For centuries people from around the world have enjoyed the benefits of a long, relaxing soak in the tub. In today’s fast-paced world we need to spend more time de-stressing ourselves and cleansing our body, mind and spirit. Baths can be relaxing, healing, and a great way for self-care.

One of my favorite quotes about essential oils comes from the father of medicine: Hippocrates. In 500 BC, he wrote: the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day. Yes!

Since oil and water do not mix, essential oils added directly to a bath will float on top. If you add them directly, be sure to add them after the bath is drawn, and use your hand to swish them around in the water. You may note that there will be a residue in your tub. A better way is to add the essential oils to a carrier, such as a tablespoon of carrier oil such as canola or almond oil. You could also add them to milk or honey as a means of dispersing the essential oils in the bath water.

But this article is about bath salts, oils and gels: fabulous ways to indulge your senses, refresh your soul, and pamper your skin.

Bath salts are very easy to prepare. The following is a base recipe for a single bath:

1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons Epsom salts 3 teaspoons of sea salt 6-10 drops either a single therapeutic grade essential oil, such as true lavender, or a blend of two or three of your favorite essential oils

Please be certain that the oils you use are of only the best quality. Mix all of the ingredients together well, and add to your bath water. Most people make larger batches, and after mixing well, they store them in jars. To make larger batches, simply increase the ingredients proportionately. Put the salts in clean container.

Use beautiful jars for wonderful gifts. Also, children find making bath salts in a lot of fun.

Which therapeutic grade essential oils to use? Check with your aromatherapist for your specific conditions, but here are a couple of my favorite recipes:

For relaxation in the evening before bedtime I like add a blend of 4 drops of true lavender, 2 drops of bergamot, and 2 drops of mandarin or tangerine. I add these drops to the base recipe, and then add the salts to the water, light some tea candles, dim the lights, and relax for about 20 minutes in a medium hot (100 degrees F) bath. Ummmm! Lovely! Had a hard day? Kinda sore with some over-worked muscles? For this my favorite blend of essential oils is 4 drops of true lavender, 2 drops of cypress, and 2 drops of balsam fir or rosemary. Add this to the salts and put into a hot bath (100-108 degrees F). Submerge yourself for 20-30 minutes. There are all sorts of possibilities.

Hot baths (100-108 degrees F) help increase circulation, and are good for insomnia and aching muscles. Warm baths (96-100 degrees F) are good for relaxation. Tepid baths (92-99 degrees F) are therapeutic. This is the temperature to use when adding oils to relieve hives, itching, and skin rashes. The heat of the water helps open the pores, allowing the healing essential oils penetrate the skin for therapeutic effects.

Since an important part of being a healer is to practice self-care. I often give students an assignment to practice self-care and report back the next morning what they did. Often, the method of self-care they choose is an indulgent bath with salts laced with therapeutic essential oils.

People who prefer showers can also benefit from the therapeutic effect of essential oils by simply adding a few drops of the oils to a washcloth before showering. In my shower I have a rejuvenating blend of the following essential oils in a jojoba carrier:

16 drops of true lavender 8 drops of rosemary, 8 drops of peppermint, 8 drops of juniper 2 ounces of jojoba carrier oil

After my morning shower, while I am still wet, I take about 1 teaspoon of the blend and smooth it over my skin. Then I lightly pat myself dry with a towel. Wonderful!

Bath gels are very popular today and can be used with either bath or shower. You can customize your gel with your favorite essential oils by blending them with this simple recipe:

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Do Some Foods Cause A Headache After Eating

  • Posted on January 28, 2008 at 3:47 pm



Certain food additives, including nitrites and some food colorings, are also common headache triggers. Like tyramine, these additives may increase blood flow to the brain causing headaches in some people. It is not understood exactly why this happens. Some foods that cause a headache after eating are:

o Blue cheeses

o Brie

o Cheddar

o Stilton

o Feta

o Gorgonzola

o Mozzarella

o Muenster

o Parmesan

o Swiss

o Processed cheese

Other foods that are high in tyramine are processed meats, olives, pickles, onions and certain kinds of beans. Some additives that include nitrates can also trigger your headache, along with some food colorings. Also, beware of products containing MSG, which can also trigger a headache after eating.

Brain Freeze Headaches
Sometimes some of us will get a “brain freeze” headache when we eat cold things such as ice cream too fast. These headaches will be in the middle of the forehead and usually subside within a few minutes. It is said that those who are prone to Migraines are more likely to get “brain freeze” headaches.

Sometimes a food allergy will trigger a headache. If you are allergic to shell fish and you eat it then you may get a headache or have an allergic reaction more severe such a swelling. Some foods contain a lot of iodine, which could cause a reaction in some people also.

Each person is different when it comes to medications and how we may react to them. Knowing what triggers your headache after eating is half the battle. There are medications out there to treat headaches. Knowing which medication is right for you can be a daunting task but if you know, what type of headache you have or possibly what is causing them will help you find the right treatment for you.

Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. You may be prescribed a medication to treat your condition. You may need to take an allergy medication for allergies you might have to certain foods. You may have to stop eating certain foods if your allergy is severe enough.

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Add a Kick to Your Fat Loss – Diet Pills That Actually Work

  • Posted on at 4:45 am

No matter what you do, eventually your fat lose will hit a stall point. You can change up your diet or even your exercise routine. But in the end, your ability to lose body fat will slow down. This is why companies make fat loss supplements.

The point of these supplements are to help your body increase its fat loss. Your body will naturally want to adjust to its diet and exercise routine. When your body starts to adjust, your ability to lose body fat will automatically slow down. This is where the supplements come in to play. The point of these supplements is to stimulate your body. By stimulating your body, it will continue to burn body fat at a high rate.

You want to be careful what supplements to use. Unfortunately all supplements claim to work. The secret is to find the fat loss supplements that have a very low fee for your first months worth. The legit companies will charge a very low fee for the first month because they know that it works. After all, if the supplements works the chances are very good that you will purchase a second months supply.

If the company is requiring you to pay for the first month supply in full, you must be careful. There is a good chance the supplement will not work. All they want is your first months money so they can move on to the next victim.

So give your fat loss the boost it needs with a legit diet supplements. Start to increase the ability to lose body fat as soon as today.

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Osteomyelitis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods

  • Posted on January 26, 2008 at 6:54 pm



Osteomyelitis is an acute or chronic inflammatory process of the bone and its structures secondary to infection with pyogenic organisms. It can be usefully subclassifed on the basis of the causative organism, the route, duration and anatomic location of the infection. In kids and teens, osteomyelitis usually affects the long bones of the arms and legs. Bacteria can infect bones in a number of ways. Bacteria can travel into the bone through the bloodstream from other infected areas in the body. The infection that causes osteomyelitis often is in another part of the body and spreads to the bone via the blood. Affected bone may have been predisposed to infection because of recent trauma. The approach to osteomyelitis depends upon the route by which bacteria gained access to bone, bacterial virulence, local and systemic host immune factors, and patient age. Infections of the leg and arm bones and those of the vertebrae are usually acquired through the bloodstream. If left untreated, the infection can become chronic and cause a loss of blood supply to the affected bone. When this happens, it can lead to the eventual death of the bone tissue.

It is one of the more serious infections of childhood, and was once a major crippler of children in the days before antibiotics. People of any age can develop osteomyelitis, though it’s most common in children and people older than 50. The bacteria or fungus that can cause osteomyelitis, however, differs among age groups. In adults, osteomyelitis often affects the vertebrae and the pelvis. There are two forms of osteomyelitis – acute and chronic. Osteomyelitis may also occur where a piece of metal has been surgically attached to a bone, as is done to repair hip or other fractures. In addition, individuals with diabetes who develop foot ulcers are more susceptible. In any of these situations, the organism has a direct portal of entry into the affected bone. Osteomyelitis can affect both adults and children. People with osteomyelitis often feel severe pain in the infected bone. They may have fever and chills, feel tired or nauseated, or have a general feeling of not being well. The source of the blood infection is usually Staphylococcus aureus, although it may be caused by a different type of bacteria or fungal organism.

Causes of Osteomyelitis

The common causes and risk factor’s of Osteomyelitis include the following:

A result of an injury to the bone.

Intravenous drug users.

Prosthetic bone devices, such as screws, plates, or wires.

Poor circulation.

An infection in the body carried by the blood to the bone.

Artificial joints, such as a knee or hip.

Trauma to the skin or bones, such as surgery, deep skin cuts, and bone fractures or breaks.

Weakened immune system.

Fungal infection.

Symptoms of Osteomyelitis

Some sign and symptoms related to Osteomyelitis are as follows:

Pain in the bone.

Pus drainage on skin.

General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling ( malaise ).

Fever and chills.

Fatigue.

Sweating.

Recurrent bone pain.

Weight loss.

Muscle spasm.

Ongoing, severe back pain that is worse with movement.

Treatment of Osteomyelitis

Here is list of the methods for treating Osteomyelitis:

Antibiotics will be given to destroy the bacteria that are causing the infection.

Bone grafting.

If antibiotic treatment fails, the infection may need to be surgically removed. Surgery may include draining the infection, removing infected bone and rebuilding the spine.

A new prosthesis may be implanted in the same operation or delayed until the infection has resolved, depending on its severity.

Hyperbaric oxygen.

Spinal instrumentation and fusion may be used to correct spinal deformity and provide permanent stability to the spinal column.

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Parkinson’s Disease and the Benefits of Massage Therapy

  • Posted on January 22, 2008 at 6:39 am



Bodywork therapy can provide tremendous relief to people suffering from a multitude of diseases, Parkinson’s disease being one of them. Parkinson’s disease, also called Parkinsonism, is a disorder of the central nervous system, and results in involuntary movements of the body. The disease results from the degeneration of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Some symptoms include tremors, slow movement, rigidity, and poor balance. Since western medicine has yet to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease, many people are turning to various forms of alternative treatment methods for relief, including massage therapy.

Although massage therapy is not to be considered a cure for Parkinson’s disease, it can offer valuable therapeutic symptom relief. Many people suffering with this disease experience severe muscle pain and tightness, which can be alleviated with manual therapy. If you are already working with, or are thinking of working with a client who has Parkinson’s disease, make certain you are aware of ALL medications they may be taking, as there may be serious massage contraindications present. Many medications prescribed for those with Parkinson’s disease often have side effects that can deter certain forms of massage from being performed. It is also important when working with these clients that you maintain close contact with their physicians.

You may need to alter your normal massage session slightly to better accommodate your Parkinson’s patient, but the results will prove worth the effort. Studies have shown that receiving regular massage treatments can reduce tremors and improve overall daily functioning, which is a huge triumph for someone with Parkinson’s disease. Your clients will be grateful for helping them reduce their frustrating symptoms, making massage therapy an ideal form of treatment.

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