What is a wrinkle?

A wrinkle is a ridge or crease of a surface. Most wrinkles appear on the parts of the body where sun exposure is greatest. These especially include the face, neck, the backs of the hands, and the tops of the forearms. Wrinkles come in two categories: fine surface lines and deep furrows.

Causes:
Skin ages all over the body, but much more so where there has been sun exposure. Changes brought on by sun damage include "dryness", sagginess, skin growths like keratoses, and wrinkles. As a person ages the epidermal cells become thinner and less sticky. The thinner cells make the skin look noticeably thinner.
Rapid weight loss can also cause wrinkles by reducing the volume of fat cells that cushion the face. This not only makes a person look gaunt, but can cause the skin to sag. Both UVA and UVB rays cause damage leading to wrinkles, lower immunity against infection, ageing skin disorders, and cancer.
Other environmental factors, including cigarette smoke and pollution, particularly ozone, may hasten ageing by producing oxygen-free radicals. Although people may have a genetic predisposition to severe wrinkling, it is known that sun exposure promotes and exacerbates wrinkling of the skin. Smoking may also negatively affect the skin.

Factors Promoting Wrinkles:
Factors that promote wrinkling include:
Smoking
Light skin type (people with blue eyes and easily burned skin are more prone to sun damage)
Heredity (some families wrinkle more)
Hairstyle (some styles provide cover and protection against sun damage)
Dress (hats, long sleeves, etc.)
Occupational and recreational habits (farming, sailing, golfing, using tanning booths, and so forth)
Some of these factors are beyond our control. The main preventive measures we can take are to minimize sun exposure and not smoke.

Diet:
Eat Healthily. A diet with plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and the use of healthy oils (such as olive oil) may protect against oxidative stress in the skin. Consume chick peas and Soya beans regularly.
Drink plenty of milk.
Practice yoga and meditation regularly.
Drink water.

Prevention:

Avoid spending too much time in the direct sun, especially during the hours when the sun's rays are harshest (between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM). Ultraviolet (UV) rays cause many wrinkles.
Don't go to the tanning salon. The UV light from tanning booths is just as damaging as the sun's - and sometimes worse.
Smoking robs your skin of precious moisture and causes premature (early) wrinkles.
Moisturize dry skin, especially during months when the air is drier.
Don't wash face too often with tap water. (Once a day is enough.) It strips the skin of oil and moisture. In addition, chlorinated water, particularly at high temperatures, poses special risks for wrinkles.
Wash the face with a mild soap that contains moisturizers. Alkaline soaps, especially with deodorant, should be avoided.
Pat the skin dry and immediately apply a water based moisturizer.
Avoid drinking alcohol within three hours of bedtime.
Lie on the back when sleeping. This helps offset the effects of gravity.
Air conditioners and room heaters tend to dry the skin. Hence apply heavier moisturizer if you are working in these conditions.
Do not stretch or pull the delicate skin under eye or facial skin.
Do not go out in hot sun. Carry an umbrella, wear sun glasses and apply sun screen lotions before stepping out in hot sun.

Treatment:
There are several medical (topical medicines and creams) and cosmetic techniques available for reducing wrinkles. They include both medical and surgical methods.
Medical treatments:
Vitamin A Acid -This ingredient, available by prescription, has the longest track record of success in treating aging skin and fine lines.
Alpha-hydroxy acids. These so-called "fruit acids" include glycolic and lactic acid are quite safe.
Antioxidants include preparations that contain the vitamins A, C, and E, as well as beta-carotene. Such creams may provide a certain amount of sun protection as well as mild improvement of fine wrinkles.
Ordinary moisturizers - Creams that don't contain any of the above substances can only make wrinkles look temporarily less prominent
Cosmetic procedures:
Glycolic acid peels -These superficial peels can make a very slight difference in the intensity of fine wrinkles.
Deeper peels do a better job of smoothing fine lines
Microdermabrasion refers to "sanding the skin" with a machine containing silica or aluminum crystals; many estheticians offer this service, usually in "packages" of six or seven sessions.
Dermabrasion is a true surgical procedure, often performed under general anesthesia. The treating physician uses a rotating instrument to sand the skin down.
Laser resurfacing - Using instruments such as the carbon dioxide and erbium lasers, physicians can achieve results similar to those of dermabrasion with greater reliability and precision.
Fractional resurfacing - Newer lasers work through a modification of traditional laser resurfacing. Treatments affect not the whole skin but instead only evenly spaced spots surrounded by undamaged skin.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing- Newer lasers attempt to stimulate collagen synthesis under the skin without peeling or damaging the epidermis.
Heat and radiofrequency- Another variation of noninvasive facial rejuvenation is to heat tissue using radiofrequency devises and infrared light sources.
Plastic surgical procedures - Surgical facelifts, brow lifts, and similar operations can be very helpful for selected patients.
Botox- Injection of botulinum toxin, the muscle poison, can paralyze muscles that produce the "frown lines" on the forehead, fine lines around the eyes, and other wrinkles.
Fillers are injected into the skin to increase volume and flatten wrinkles and folds.

Home remedies:
Apply egg yolk once in a week for 10 minutes.
A mixture of honey, olive oil and cream give very good results.
Apply nourishing mask once in a week.
Apply pure castor oil as it softens the skin.
Prepare a natural sunscreen lotion with cucumber juice, rosewater and glycerin. Apply it on the face and remove after 15 minutes.
Another easy way to reduce your wrinkles is to keep your skin well moisturized. Simply create a special herbal facial mist. You would need a small bottle with pump sprayer for this. Fill the bottle with distilled water. You can add ten drops of your favorite essential oil. Good choices include lavender, neroli and rose.
Neem is a powerful blood purifier and it is used to maintain healthy skin.
For dry skin, mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 2teaspoons of milk. Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.
Make a puree of 1 banana, 1 papaya, peach or avaconda.Apply and rinse with warm water after 20 minutes. Then apply a moisturizer.


Herbal remedies:

To make an aromatherapy mask, simply mix one teaspoon of facial-quality clay (use bentonite clays, if possible), one teaspoon of instant oatmeal or oat flour, two teaspoons of pure honey, half a teaspoon of powdered milk, one teaspoon avocado, two drops of frankincense essential oil, and two drops of lavender essential oil. You can also use rose or neroli essential oils to substitute the lavender. Mix the ingredients well and apply the paste evenly to your clean face. Next, leave the aromatherapy mask on for ten minutes, but keep the mask away from your eyes. When you put the mask on, try to lay down with your feet slightly elevated. Cover your eyes and relax. After the ten minutes, rinse the aromatherapy mask with lukewarm water, then follows the initial rinse with a splash of cool water.
Another easy way to reduce your wrinkles is to keep your skin well moisturized. Simply create a special herbal facial mist. You would need a small bottle with pump sprayer for this. Fill the bottle with distilled water. You can add ten drops of your favorite essential oil. Good choices include lavender, neroli and rose.


Also visit http://www.herbsncures.com

 

 

 

 

Our journeys are about making choices. Whether it is a choice about
where to go, how to go or when to go, the choice determines our
outcome. Soul satisfying journeys are mindful trips that include self-
awareness and a look within ourselves. This pertains to any journey,
be it from place to place, action to action or decision to decision.
The sum of our choices constitutes our life. The journey we take from
start to finish. We may not always make the proper choices, but we
are always allowed the ability to make another. No matter how far
down the "wrong" road we may be, this road we chose, we chose for a
reason. Here in lies life's lessons. Learn the lesson, then make your
next choice. This is how we discover the daily journeys in a span of
time that is ours and ours alone.

"Life is designed by our soul and spirit as our moment-by-moment
opportunity to expand our consciousness."

Tips for a Soul Satisfying Journey

1. The Power of Positive Thinking: Negativity is the root that
undermines our free flow of thought. The negative ideas we think can
manifest in the words we speak. The minute the words leave your lips,
is the minute they manifest. Change your thoughts to positive,
uplifting ones. Think hope not hopelessness. Think goodness, not
evil. Think joy not despair. Energy follows thought. Program thought
to be positive and your energy will reflect it!

2. Networking: When traveling on any journey, take the time to meet
those who cross your path. If you believe in Universal Attraction,
then your purpose for those you meet will unfold.

3. Find Quiet Time: Turn off the cell phone, power down the laptop,
cut yourself off from the constant world of communication. Try doing
it for 15 minutes. Then add another 15 minutes. Build your time up to
an hour, two hours, perhaps all day. Do you remember time before
these communication tools?

4. Find Time To Meditate: Become aware of your breath. Learn to close
your eyes, sit comfortable and smell the air around you. Enjoy the
sounds of nature or your favorite music. Enjoy the many meditations
in the meditation village.

5. Enjoy the Company of Those Around You: If you are on vacation with
your significant other, your family or children, give them your full
and undivided attention. Not only will you understand your will power
but you will truly show your loved ones how important your time is
with them!

6. Pamper Yourself: Take this time to enjoy a massage. Take a yoga
class or give yourself a soothing bath or spa treatment. Do something
for yourself that you would not normally do.

7. Be Flexible: You have a rigid, set schedule at work, with the kids
or in your daily routine. Learn a lesson from the willow tree and its
ability to bend in the great wind. Where as, when we are rigid like
the old oak tree, we can easily break apart under the stress of
change. Learn to relax and follow the path unfolding before you.

8. Become More Mindful: Mindfulness is the act of being fully aware
of what happens in each moment. Try living in the NOW. Be present.
Honor each moment you are given. Acknowledge each task you take.

9. Really Appreciating: what we DO have as opposed to what we would
like to have, makes a significant difference. This is always an
important element in any journey that is often neglected.

10. Find Happiness in Simplicity: and you will find the greatest joys
yet revealed to you. Smile when you talk on the phone. Great everyone
you pass by or meet today, with a smile. Appreciate the smell of the
air, the warmth of the sun and the laughter in children. Make that
the stepping stones of your travels.

"The journey is not finding satisfaction in the end but savoring each
moment on the road there." 

 

 

 

 

Our Mother Earth is wounded
At the mercy of mans greed
Raped of her resources
Consumed by careless need

The trail of mans destruction
Leaves nothing in its wake
Species lost forever
It's no 'ignorant mistake'

Direct mail through our doors
Allure promise to lower cost
Irony steeps this lavish waste
Hectares of forests lost

Our sea levels are rising
The threat is very near
Seasons bring diversities
Do these warnings seem unclear?!

The beauty of this life on earth
Now wears an ugly shroud
Lifestyles built on idleness
Beneath this carbon cloud

The sand of time is running low
The time to act is NOW
Responsibility lies with you
So ask not 'When?' but 'How?'

Our Mother Earth needs healing
If life we're to preserve
Small changes make big impacts
Recycle, care, conserve! 

The Healing Power of the Sea

by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

Every summer I take my long needed vacation to the sea. This powerful source of nature yields some of the most essential healing tools and additional benefits that are hard to compare with anything else. We already know the necessary and soothing abilities water offers.

The mysterious and amazing healing power of water has been utilized for centuries. Water cleanses, refreshes and restores all life. We are always drawn to water. Be it a soothing fountain, majestic waterfall or the churning sea. Water is a carrier. It flows. It moves along the line of least resistance to find its way to the ocean where comes and goes in the ebb and flow of tides and waves. The appeal is inexplicable! We crave water, maybe because our bodies are made up of a large percent of it. Maybe beacuse we instinctively know how it can heal us.

Here are some of the best tools and tips the sea can offer:

1. Sun - is the best source of Vitamin D. More than 15-20 minutes can be harmful when you are not protected. The sun is the source of all life and it sure feels good on our face, especially after a long, cold winter. Prevention and precautions are the most important methods when you go out in the sun. Applying sunscreen (SPF 15, at least), wear UV-protective sunglasses, and limiting your time in the sun will help avoid this problem. Stay out of the sun when it's high in the sky; this is when the UV rays are more intense (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Choose clothing that covers your skin - hats, lightweight, long-sleeved shirts. Pure aloe vera rubbed into the skin can help to heal. Take antioxidants to help block the chemical reactions that can trigger cancer's uncontrolled cell growth.

2. Sand - is a natural exfoliator. These finely ground seashells become an amazing tool for cleansing your skin. Wet your skin in the sea and rub it gently all over your skin. Use some in a bowl to create a Zen garden or sea display.

3. Salt Water - the healing abilities of salt water are profound and well documented. Salt water is an astringent and speeds wound healing. A cup or handful of water in your hand or neti pot is a wonderful cleansing therapy. Slowly inhale the salt water into your nose to cleanse your sinus and open up the air passages. Floating in sea water is an extreme release of tension and stress of the day. Allow yourself to float weightlessly in the water. You deserve it.

4. Sponge - a natural cleanser and exfoliator, sponge can be dried in the sun and placed in your decorative bowl or on the bathtub. Rewet your sponge and use it in the bath or shower.

5. Coral - comes in many forms. When this beautiful "art of the sea" washes up on the beach and bleached by the sun, it's beauty can be awe inspiring. Coral is rich in calcium. This "stone" can be used as pumice to exfoliate dead skin cells, bring blood and circulation back to the feet when used as a massage stone and can make a wonderful decorative piece.

6. Sea Air - deep breathing of ocean air helps us to relax and let go. The faint smell of salt in the air can take us to a place of pure joy. Sea air has a certain aliveness found no where else. This deep breathing can help release tension and the problems associated with it.

7. Exercise - yoga, body toning, running on the beach, breath exercises are all great ways to stay fit and take advantage of all the outdoor activities offered us in the summer. Make them enjoyable to you. In the summer months it is a good idea to exercise early in the morning or late afternoon. Make sure you drink plenty of water before, during and after activities to ensure hydration.

8. Seaweed - rich in iodine, and other minierals, seaweed and other sea vegetables are fat-free, low calorie and one of the richest sources of minerals in the vegetable kingdom since they have access to the abundance of minerals in the sea. One of seaweed's most beneficial health properties is its ability to remove radioactive strontium as well as heavy metals from the body. Seaweed is generally categorized into brown and red algae. Seaweed can also be ground into a wonderful exfoliant and used in mineral and mud treatments.

9. Seashells - these magnificent works of Universal creation are wonders to behold. Finding and searching them out is a great past time that can last for hours, take us away from ourselves and gives us a care free adventure that is rewarding on many levels. Your favorites can be taken home and cleansed. They can make beautiful decorative pieces. Display them in a bowl. Place them in any room in the house, especially rooms with water. Seashells are natural vessels that can be used for cleansing and make a great carrier for sage or incense. They can be placed on your personal alter as a reminder of good times or as a tribute to nature and all her powers.

10. Stress relief - the best combination for stress is combining the above element of light, air and surf to create the best prescription for good health and relaxation. Take advantage of any of the above suggestions. They will melt away stress and bring you back to nature. Leave your laptop and cell phone behind (for once, please!)

References

1. Sundance Natural Foods, Inc. "Neptune's Garden - Vegetables of the Sea".

2. Shirley's Wellness Cafe's "Water the Great Healer".