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Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has been used externally to treat various skin conditions such as cuts, burns and eczema. for a long long time by man going back to the ancient mists of time. It is widly known that the sap from the Aloe Vera plant will ease pain and reduce inflammation, in the 1990s tests carried out showed that the healing time of moderate to severe burns was reduced when the wound was treated on a regular basis with Aloe Vera as compared to the healing of the same type of wound covered in a standard bandage. Aloe Vera's multi beneficial properties may be attributed to mucopolysaccharides present in the gel of the leaf, especially acemannan, Cosmetic companies add alo vera to many of their products such as soaps, shampoos,
makeup and moisturisers to name a few products, Aloe Vera gel is also useful for dry skin conditions, especially eczema around the eyes and sensitive facial skin, One should always use the inner gel of the plant and not the Aloe Vera latex which is the yellow substance that comes from the inner side of the skin of the plant which can be an irritant, If you grow your own for your own use always remove all skin and any yellow substance before using Aloe Vera on yourself, If you are not sure about this then the safest way to use this is to buy Aloe Vera Liquid Gel in a squeezy plastic container and use that, this would be the method I would recommend as it takes the hassle out of acquiring the Aloe Vera gel other than growing it yourself, The Aloe Vera Gel used should be completely clear, odorless and tasteless, as well as using Aloe Vera on your skin some people take it orally but this should only be done in consultation with your doctor.
If you want to grow your own plant or plants then this is a relatively easy job and it is a nice plant to have in the house, the thing to remember is when the new shoots come out from the base of the plant don't transplant them to make other plants but leave them in place as these new shoots will provide support for the plant structure. Aloe Vera is relatively easy to care for just keep it in a frost-free environment. The plant requires well-drained sandy potting soil in moderate light such as the sun. If planted in pot or other containers ensure sufficient drainage with drainage holes. The use of a good quality potting mix to which extra perlite or coarse sand are added is the best growing medium.
Aloe Vera is native to northern Africa and is a stemless or very short-stemmed succulent plant growing to 100 cm tall, spreading by offsets and root sprouts. The leaves are thick and fleshy, green to grey-green, with a serrated margin. The flowers are produced on a spike up to 90 cm tall, each flower is pendulous, with a yellow tubular corolla 2-3 cm long.
Copyright 2007
Asthma precautions at Xmas
Very good and helpful advice when winter comes for asthma sufferers is to take care and avoid making your asthma symptoms worse in the cold weather.
Going on a ski holiday is a great way to beat the winter blues, but for asthmatics sky holidays are known to negatively affect their symptoms if due care and precaution is not taken.
Cold weather can have a dramatic effect on people with chest problems, on a cold and windy winters day use your reliever inhaler before going out and always wrap a scarf around your face to reduce the effect of cold air on your lungs, the effect of an asthma suffer going from a hot house to the cold frigid outside air can be quite a trigger for your asthma.
At Christmas a big factor to avoid if you can is stress because this is well known to be a major asthma trigger try to insure that you don't become too over stressed during the festive time, try to plan everything well in time and delegate tasks to other members of the family and this will help to reduce the impact of stress levels on you. but remember controlling stress is not the only factor in controlling your condition there are plenty of items around the home that can trigger an attack.
Christmas tree gather mould from being left out in the open in wet conditions and mould spores are a well known asthma trigger. Ideally one should buy a artificial tree to avoid any mould and always vacuum it and all your other Christmas decorations to remove dust particles , If you must have a real tree allow the tree to dry fully before bringing it in to the house.
Other things to avoid at this festive time are, artificial snow sprays and fragrance sprays and also fabric decorations should be washed in hot water before displaying this will rid them of any dust that has been gathered while it was in storage, plastic glass or metal decorations should be used as they wont collect dust mites.
Don't forget if you are lucky enough to be going on a skiing holiday this year, get a letter from your doctor outlining your medical history and the severity of your symptoms, also check will any medical insurance you take out will specifically cover an asthma attack and ensure that your medication is carried in your hand luggage with spare supplies in your main luggage, the main thing to remember here is to have a back up of your back up asthma medication this way if your luggage is lost you will still have your inhalers etc.
Fit healthy people with well under control asthma should have no problems coping with high altitudes provided they ascend slowly and recognize their limitations, One more thing .. in freezing conditions prescribed inhalers may not work properly and so should be warmed up inside your clothes or hands before you attempt to use them or keep them close to your body at all times to keep them at body temperature.
With the right fore planning, sufferers of this condition should experience a happy and stress free holiday at Christmas.
