| How to Take a Detox Bath Posted: 14 Dec 2016 04:00 PM PST Sweating is your body's natural way of detoxifying. Soaking in hot water can assist in pulling harmful toxins from your skin.[1] Detox baths can also help ease sore muscles. This ancient remedy assists your body in eliminating toxins as well as absorbing helpful minerals and nutrients. If you struggle with toxins or skin issues, or are just looking for a way to boost your overall health, try taking a detox bath in your very own home. EditPreparing Your Body - Prepare your body. The minerals in a detox bath will help pull toxins from your skin in a process that can be quite dehydrating, so be sure you are well hydrated going into your detox bath.[2] It is recommended that you drink one full glass of water at room temperature before your detox bath.
- Gather your ingredients. Everything you will need for this detox can be purchased at a grocery store. You will need:
- Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate)
- Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate/bicarbonate of soda)
- Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt
- Unfiltered and unprocessed Apple Cider Vinegar
- Favorite essential oil if desired
- Ground ginger (optional)
- Skin brush
- Dry brush your skin. Your skin is your largest organ and the first line of defense from chemicals and bacteria. By helping your body shed dead layers of skin, you are also removing these harmful agents.[3] Dry brushing also speeds up your lymphatic system's ability to eliminate waste.[4]
- Use a dry brush with a long handle so you can reach all areas of your body.
- When choosing a brush, pick one that feels nice on your skin. Dry brushing should not be painful.
- Start with your skin dry and begin brushing your skin at your feet and work up your legs one at a time.
- Move in sweeping motions toward your heart and make your way up your mid-section (front and back) and across your chest.
- Finish by moving the brush up your arms toward your armpits.
- Your skin should feel smoother after just one session.
- Give yourself a lymphatic massage. The lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and organs make up the lymphatic system, which is a part of your body's defense system. Your lymph nodes are responsible for removing microorganisms and filtering bacteria from the bloodstream. With just five minutes, you can stimulate your lymphatic system to help your body detox more effectively.[5]
- Place your fingers under your ears on either side of your neck.
- With relaxed hands, gently pull your skin downward toward the back of your neck.
- Repeat 10 times by gradually starting your movement lower down from your ear, eventually ending with fingers placed on top of your shoulders on either side of your neck.
- Gently massage your skin toward your collarbone.
- Repeat 5 times or as much as you like.
- Know what to expect. Any detox process can subject your body to flu-like symptoms like headache and nausea. These symptoms may result from the toxins leaving your body. Bring a liter of water to the bath with you and drink it slowly during your bath.
- You can add lemon to your water to help settle nausea.
EditPreparing Your Detox Bath - Pick the right time for your bath. Prepare your bath on a day when you have at least 40 minutes available. Pick a time when you can relax and focus on your detox bath without feeling rushed.
- Create a relaxing atmosphere. Dim the lights and light candles if you desire. You can also play some music you enjoy. Take smooth deep breaths to help your mind enter a relaxed state.
- Fill your bath. Use a chlorine filter if possible to fill your tub with comfortably hot water. Add Epsom Salt (magnesium sulphate). Soaking in Epsom Salt helps replenish your body's magnesium level, combating hypertension.[6] The sulfate flushes toxins and helps form proteins in brain tissue and joints.
- For children under 60 lbs, add 1/2 cup to a standard bath.
- For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 1 cup to a standard bath.
- For people 100 lbs and up, add 2 cups or more to a standard bath.
- Add 1 to 2 cups baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). Baking soda is known for its cleansing ability and anti-fungal properties.[7] It also leaves skin very soft.
- Add 1/4 cup Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt. Composed of magnesium, potassium, calcium chloride, and bromides, Sea Salt helps to replenish minerals critical to our skin's metabolism.[8]
- Magnesium is important for combating stress, fluid retention, slowing skin aging, and calming the nervous system.
- Calcium is effective at preventing water retention, increasing circulation, and strengthening bones and nails.
- Potassium energizes the body and helps to balance skin moisture.
- Bromides act to ease muscle stiffness and relax muscles.
- Sodium is important for the lymphatic fluid balance (this in turn is important for immune system function).
- Add 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar. Packed full of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the best ways to cleanse your body of bacteria and boost your immune system.[9]
- Add aromatherapy oils if desired. Some oils, like lavender and ylang ylang, have therapeutic properties. Tea tree and eucalyptus oils can assist in the detoxification process.[10] Around 20 drops is sufficient for a standard bath.
- If you prefer, you can use fresh herbs. Add mint leaves, lavender flowers, chamomile, or anything else that suits your mood.
- Adding ginger can help you to sweat out the toxins. Ginger is heating, so be careful with the amount you add. Depending on your sensitivity, anywhere from 1 tablespoon to 1/3 cup can be added.
- Swish all of the ingredients around. You can use your foot to swirl the water in the tub. When the baking soda and vinegar mix, a bubbling reaction will occur.
- You don't need to mix until all the salt crystals dissolve before beginning your bath.
EditTaking Your Detox Bath - Soak for 20 to 40 minutes. Hydrate during your soak and take care not to overheat.
- Drink water during the first 20 minutes of your soak.
- You will notice yourself start sweating after just a few minutes in your detox bath. This is your body expelling toxins.
- If you start to feel too hot during your soak, add cool water to the tub until you are comfortable.
- Relax. Meditation is a great way to calm your body during a detox bath. Breathing through the nose, loosen your neck, face, hands, and stomach area. Relax and soften each part of your body. Consciously releasing body tension will help you relax in your detox bath.[11]
- Once you close the bathroom door, leave all unwanted thoughts outside. Let go of worries and stress.
- Visualize the toxins exiting your body and the vitamins and nutrients entering in their place.
- Get out of the tub slowly. Your body has been working hard and you may get lightheaded or feel weak and drained. Oils and salts can also make your tub slippery, so stand with care.
- Wrap your body in a soft blanket or towel immediately after getting out of the tub, you can continue to detoxify through perspiration for another couple of hours.
- Rehydrate. Any time your body detoxes you need to replace fluids. It is recommended that you drink an additional liter of water following your detox.
- After the bath, brush your skin down again. You can use your hands, a loofah, or a vegetable bristle brush. This can further aid with the release of toxins.[12] Use long, gentle sweeping strokes aimed toward the heart.
- Relax for the rest of the day and allow your body to continue to detoxify.
- Don't eat immediately before or after the bath.
- Use a deep conditioning treatment on your hair and wrap it up under a cap or towel while you're in the bath. Salt, just like ocean water, can dry out your hair.
- Shower off the Epsom salt if desired, but it's not necessary.
- If you are diabetic, pregnant, have heart or kidney disease, or high blood pressure, consult your medical professional before taking a detox bath.
- Before adding any additional ingredients to your bath, be sure to understand their properties. Some herbs can be harmful.[13]
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| How to Tell if Your Dog Is Depressed Posted: 14 Dec 2016 08:00 AM PST Dogs can suffer from depression, just like humans. This depression usually comes about as a result of a change in routine, such as the loss of a companion, moving house or a new addition to the household. It manifests itself both through behavioral changes such as loss of energy, pacing, and lack of appetite, and through changes in body language like a drooping tail and ears. It is important that owners recognize the signs of canine depression, so that they can take steps to improve their dogs' mental health. EditIdentifying Changes in Behavior - Think about whether your dog has become withdrawn. Most healthy, happy dogs are highly sociable creatures. If your dog is not greeting you as excitedly when you come home – less of a tail wag, less energy and movement – or loses interest in activities he once enjoyed, he may be depressed.
- Instead of running to the door to greet visitors, a depressed dog may slink away and find an out-of-the-way corner to curl up and go to sleep.
- Be particularly concerned if your dog hides from you. Dogs that hide are usually injured, sick, or depressed.[1]
- On the other hand, depressed dogs sometimes follow their owners around everywhere they go, yet show no desire to interact.[2]
- Look for a change from active to inactive. Happy dogs have seemingly endless energy. For every mile you walk, he goes four – out-and-back, and out-and-back again. He nags you to throw the ball repeatedly, and your arm grows tired before his enthusiasm runs out.
- However, when depressed, your dog no longer pricks his ears up when you get his lead, and instead of charging off across the park, he trudges head-down at your heel. When you stop to talk to friends, he may sit, or even lie down.
- This change from active and energetic to inactive and lethargic may indicate depression.[3]
- Watch for pacing. If your dog wanders from room to room and can't find a place to settle down, he may be depressed.[4]
- Observe any changes in your dog's sleeping patterns. All dogs sleep a lot, particularly when their owners are gone. However, you should be concerned if your dog continues sleeping when you get home, or if he stays curled up instead of coming to the window or door for things that once attracted him, like the mailman or a passing dog.[5]
- Note changes in your dog's diet. Most dogs will eat less and lose weight when depressed.[6] On the other hand, just like humans, some dogs may eat more as a form of comfort.[7] Watch for:
- Refusing treats that he once loved.
- Weight gain or weight loss.
- Consider whether destructive behavior or accidents in the house might be due to depression. Tearing up shoes or chewing on walls, books, furniture, or pillows are often signs of lack of exercise, which may lead to depression. Depressed dogs may also be more prone to have accidents in the house. Try not to be angry. Take them out more to ensure they have plenty of time to pee or poop outdoors.[8]
- Watch out for aggression. If your dog begins to growl, snap, or otherwise act aggressively when you try to interact with him, this may be a sign of depression.[9]
EditObserving Your Dog's Body Language - Pay attention to your dog's eyes. Dogs squint, making their eyes appear smaller, when they are in pain, stressed, or depressed.[10] Depressed dogs may also be reluctant to make eye contact with anybody, even you.
- Of course, some dogs have "sad" eyes at the best of times, due to naturally droopy eyelids rather than depression, so exercise a little common sense when interpreting sad eyes as a sign of depression.
- Observe your dog for droopy or pulled back ears.[11] Depressed dogs tend to display a lack of responsive ear movements to noises going on around them. For example, your dog may fail to prick up his ears at the sound of things that normally interest him, such as you calling his name, or his collar and lead being fetched prior to a walk.
- Watch for paw licking. Licking or chewing their paws is a comfort mechanism for dogs, and can be a sign of depression.[12]
- See if your dog hangs his head. Depressed dogs tend to keep their heads lowered when standing or sitting. When lying down your dog prefers to rest his chin on the ground, and rarely raises his head in response to activity going on around him.
- Monitor how your dog carries his tail. When a dog is depressed, the tail is held down or between the legs[13] and doesn't wag as readily. When you encourage your dog to wag his tail, the motion is subdued and half-hearted. [14]
- Be aware of your dog's overall body position. Depressed dogs tend to stand in a passive way, with their heads down and tails lowered, barely reacting to encouragement. Your dog may give the impression of feeling sluggish, and will lack interest in what's going on around him.
- Watch for extra shedding. When dogs are stressed, they tend to shed much more heavily.[15] If you pet your dog and your hand comes away covered in hair, or if you are suddenly having to vacuum much more often, your dog may be depressed.
EditKnowing What to Do Next - Ensure that your dog is not sick. If your dog is behaving in an unusual manner, it is wise to get him checked out by a vet. There is often a cross over in symptoms between depression and sickness, and it is not always easy to tell the difference because both sick and depressed dogs tend to be off their food, and are reluctant to exercise.[16]
- Understand what may have triggered the depression. A healthy dog is unlikely to become depressed for no reason, therefore it is helpful to know if a recent event has impacted your dog's mental well-being. Dogs are routine driven, so the most common trigger for canine depression is a change of routine.[17] Changes in routine that can trigger depression may include:
- Stress: In doggy terms stress includes anything that stops him from getting the attention he is used to.
- A stay-at-home owner who now goes out to work.
- A new baby, or puppy, in the household.
- The sudden loss of a companion (human or canine).
- Moving house.
- Being re-homed.
- Major building work or renovations in the home.
- Spend more time with your dog. Go for more walks, play games your dog likes (fetch, tug-of-war), try a canine sport like agility, train your dog to do tricks, head to the dog park. When you watch TV, sit on the floor at your dog's level instead of in a chair. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is fun for both you and your dog. Spending enjoyable time with you is the best way to help your dog overcome his depression.
- Socialize your dog more. If your dog has recently lost a canine companion, consider getting a new one. If your dog is home alone for long hours, try daycare a few days a week or having a walker come by. Also plan trips to the park so that your dog can socialize.[18]
- Reward your dog's positive behaviors. The mistake many owners make when dealing with a depressed dog is that they fuss over them when the dog is behaving abnormally.
- For example, if you make a fuss out of your dog when he doesn't eat, you inadvertently send him the message that he is doing a clever thing by not eating.
- A much better way of handling the situation is to put the food bowl down and ignore the dog until he decides to eat. Then once he takes a mouthful, heap him with praise.
- This reinforces positive rather than negative behaviors and will help to lift your dog from his depression.
- Make your dog feel more secure by maintaining a normal routine. Try to keep a depressed dog in his regular routine, since this helps him feel secure, and reassures him that all is well with the world.
- See a veterinary behaviorist if your dog's depression continues. It is possible that your dog has a chemical imbalance and may need drugs like Prozac, as well as a behavioral modification program, to overcome his depression.
- When looking for signs of depression in your dog, keep his usual body language and habits in mind. A dog who is usually submissive may not get up to greet strangers, so this behavior is not out of the ordinary for him and should not be a cause for concern. On the other hand a generally outgoing and sociable dog that refuses to get up could well be depressed.
- A canine that is depressed while you are home is not a good sign. Lack of attention, Walks, Leaving him/her alone in the yard may suggest you don't know what's in their best interest. Canines are pack animals; leaving them alone days,weeks, months, a lifetime alone, could be considered abusive.
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| How to Make a String Ornament Posted: 14 Dec 2016 12:00 AM PST Here's a fun, new, craft ornament idea to try with the kids––string ornaments! They're easily made as ovals ("eggs" for Easter) and orbs (Christmas and just "decorative balls"). Their very simplicity is what makes them so delightful to behold––they have a texture people love to touch and they're equally at home with rustic themes through to more sophisticated decorating. - Prepare your work area by covering it in plastic or vinyl. This has the potential to become messy if you're not careful.
- Set out your supplies and prepare each item as follows.
- Inflate the balloon(s) to your desired size. Anything from 2-6 inches (5-15cm) can work well. Bear in mind that larger sizes will require more string.
- Pour white glue into a small shallow bowl. Thin the glue slightly with water. You will need to dampen the string with the diluted glue before using it on the balloon.
- Cut the string into 3 or 4 ft (91cm - 121cm) sections to make it easier to use and less likely to tangle.
- Dip the string into the glue, taking care to avoid tangling it. You can use a bolt or some hex nuts to hold the string under the surface of the glue to get it thoroughly wet.
- Run the dampened string between your pinched fingers to remove excess glue. Your object here is to dampen the string, but not have it dripping with glue.
- Wrap the string around the balloon. There is no "right" way to do this––just wrap. Continue to wrap the string around the balloon in a latticework, leaving no more than a finger width between strings.
- Dab some extra glue on any string ends or loops which do not stick well to the other strings on the balloon.
- Change string colors as you wish
- Continue until the balloon is surrounded by a latticework of string. There should be no gaps in the latticework that are larger than the tip of your index finger.
- Check to be certain there are no loose ends, and that all strings are stuck to each other somehow.
- Add any shape embellishments you like. Glitter, for example, can go well on these ball ornaments.
- Hang the string covered balloon where it can dry.
- Place something under the hanging balloon to catch any stray glue drips as the whole thing dries.
- When the glue is dry and the string latticework is stiff, pop the balloon and remove it from the center of the latticework.
- Display and enjoy your homemade ornaments
- Add additional glue soaked string shapes, such as hearts, stars, circles, etc., to the outside of the string ball. "Tack" them down with a final wrapping of string which overlaps each one, to help hold it on the ball.
- Threading the string under a few heavy washers or bolts in the glue bowl can help you in getting it all thoroughly moistened with glue.
EditThings You'll Need - Colored string; embroidery floss, thin yarns, friendship bracelet string, etc work fine
- White glue
- Bowl
- Small balloons (water balloon sizes work well)
- Scissors (for cutting string and later on popping the balloons)
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