Updated Jan,2006

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Tips for Battling the Common Cold

When it comes to battling this unwelcome visitor, Wal-Mart pharmacist Lori Mendoza recommends hand washing as your first line of defense. “Colds come on gradually and spread easily, usually through hand contact or from sneezing and coughing,” she says. “Wash hands frequently and be sure to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth since these are the easiest areas for germs to enter your body.”

Other ways to prevent the spread of the cold are simple:

* Avoid close contact with people who have a cold. Stay away from crowded places. If your child has a cold, wash his or her toys after play to minimize the risk of spreading the virus.

* Get plenty of rest. Staying well rested keeps your immune system strong so it can fight off germs. It also helps keep stress at bay, another trigger that can weaken the immune system and make you vulnerable to colds.

* Practice common sense. It sounds simple, and it is. Change washcloths, sponges, and dishtowels on a regular basis. Replace your toothbrush frequently. Clean surfaces you touch with a germ-killing disinfectant.

* Prepare now. Before cold season hits, stock up on the essentials -- nasal decongestant, cough suppressant, tissues, and pain reliever -- so that you are ready at the first signs of a cold.

Despite your best efforts, colds are extremely difficult to prevent entirely. If the cold catches up with you, expect to experience a stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, and mild fatigue. These symptoms show up between one and three days after you are infected by a cold virus and typically last for about three days. At that point the worst is over, but you may feel congested for a week or more.

While there’s no cure for the common cold, over-the-counter medications can provide temporary relief of symptoms. “As soon as you feel a cold coming on, start treating your symptoms,” said Mendoza. “Adults with a cold might want to start with something as simple as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help body aches.”

For other cold symptoms, like coughing and congestion, Mendoza recommends a nasal decongestant and cough suppressant like DayQuil during the day or NyQuil for nighttime use. And there’s no substitute for bed rest and plenty of fluids to ensure a speedy recovery. Remember, antibiotics are ineffective against viruses, so they won't help your cold.

For help choosing the right over-the-counter medications for your cold symptoms, check with your local Wal-Mart pharmacist. If you have unusually severe cold symptoms, high fever, ear pain, or a cough that gets worse while other cold symptoms improve, call your doctor.

Natural Relief from Colds, Flu
========================================= 

These  products will help ease some of the various symptoms associated with the misery of colds & flu. We're talking about Herbal Hugs.

Did you know that:
* the Herbal Mint scent helps provide temporary relief from sinus and chest congestion
* eye bags act like a mini-massage on sore eyes by evenly applying gentle pressure over the eyes and on the acupressure points around the eyes
* lavender and mint are both great scents that help ease headaches
* heated Hugs help fight off the chills associated with fever
* rose & chamomile scent is very soothing to those suffering from nausea
* Baby Hugs are a perfect size to help ease ear-aches in little ones
* Packs are a good size for adult-sized ear and tooth aches
* Packs are a great size for lower back aches and Wraps for full spine comfort
* PMS symptoms like cramping and bloating are eased with a heated Hug

There's no end to the ways a Herbal Hug can help make you feel better when you're at less than 100%. Let Mystic bed and bath help you feel better.

Herbal Hugs will be offered soon, an e-mail will be sent to announce this new product line so don't forget to sign up on our e-mail list!!

Six Ways to Help Create a New You This Year;

1. Focus on who you are. What are your gifts, talents and dreams? What can you do to uncover your hidden assets? How many lives have you touched? How is the world a better place because you have been here? (think "It's a Wonderful Life"!)

 2. Fight negative self talk. Speak lovingly and positively to yourself. Remind yourself how truly wonderful you are! Consistently look for the good and praise it.

3. Be grateful. Take great pleasure and joy in being alive. Learn to be grateful for all that you do have and for all the things you are allowed to experience. Life is too short to spend it being miserable over external things that will disappear over time.

 4. Pamper your body. Whatever makes YOU feel cherished, special, and/or decadent, indulge yourself in. Take good care of you - you're all you've got!

 5. Do something everyday that brings you joy!

6. Exercise. Not because you have to, but because it's the loving thing to do. Moving your body in whatever way speaks to you is an act of self love. By keeping yourself fit, you're ensuring a better level of health, and a healthy body is much more able to live life to the fullest!

Barb Greenwood, President & CEO - Green Valley Aromatherapy

STROKE IDENTIFICATION: 

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food, while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening.  

  Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

It only takes a minute to read this-

          Recognizing a Stroke 

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed an getting to the patient within 3 hours which is tough.

            RECOGNIZING A STROKE 

Remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn!

Many times symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify.

Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: 

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE. 

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. 

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)  

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. 

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions.  

They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.