I love when Dr. Oz educates us on the benefits of natural herbs – power food! Plants, flowers, roots have many medicinal benefits. Think about garlic, parsley and other herbs we come across everyday that have various affects such as a natural antibiotic, offers nutrition, cleanse and build the body.

Here are some examples:
BASIL: Medicinal properties: Antispasmodic, expectorant, mild sedative.

CHAMOMILE: Medicinal properties: Sedative, anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic.

DANDELION: Medicinal properties: Hepatic, diuretic, tonic, anti-rheumatic,

Many are concerned about using herbs and if they are really safe to use. We have to do the research for ourselves to really understand herbs. Most times you can take herbs with your medications. Certain times you don’t want to mix herbs and meds. Check with your herbalist to be safe.

Where can you purchase herbs that are safe to use? Look for companies that have a serious quality control department like Nature Sunshine Products. They manufacture all their products in-house with a very serious quality control department.

Dr. Oz talked about herbs that help with anxiety, a condition many face.
VALARIAN ROOT: Medicinal properties: Aromatic, stimulant, tonic, antispasmodic, nervine. This herb helps people who have a hard time sleeping. Some children have taken valarian to help calm them down if they are hyper.

LEMON BALM: Medicinal properties: Anti Depressant, Nervine, Sedative, Anti Bacterial, Tonic. This herb relaxed the mind and reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and even eases digestion. It also is an effective treatment of Herpes, sores, ulcers and boosts memory. Nature Sunshine’s Focus Attention has Lemon Balm in it, a great natural supplement for ADD and ADHD.

PASSION FLOWER: Anti-epileptic, antispasmodic, calmative, nervine, sedative. Good for panic attacks, helps tension headaches and widely used for a restful night’s sleep. It has been helpful with seizures, hysteria and helps with nerve pain as in neuralgia and shingles. Nature Sunshine’s herbal blend called Herbal Sleep has Passion Flower in it.

So many people have asked me about herbal remedies for anxiety and panic attacks that I created a special Squidoo lens on how to deal with anxiety naturally.

Go to this link and read the recommendations and testimonies:

http://www.squidoo.com/healing_anxiety

One great natural tip Dr. Oz shared on his show recently is that you can use Witch Hazel to soothe your hemorrhoids naturally.

Photo of Dr. Oz by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Our booth at The African Festival of the Arts

This is a busy time of year. It is a transition into the fall season. The Labor Day weekend has come and gone, the children are settling back in school. Some parents have sent their children off to college and we are staying prayerful for all the young college men and women who have started a new journey.

People tend use this time to start a healthy program for the whole family. It is a good time to work on building the immune system to fight the flu and colds. Some of us have started a new workout plan to shed those extra pounds and began a good detox program. All these steps are good to stay healthy and fight illness.

A group of Nature Sunshine health practitioners joined together to offer the ZYTO Compass scan this year at The African Festival of the Arts in Chicago. The event turned out well. I was excited to participate on Sunday and Monday of the Labor Day weekend event with my new Compass scanner. I am so happy to offer this assessment. It is helping people learn so much about their selves. My family and I have learned some things too. We are starting on the recommended supplements the Compass scan informed us that our bodies needed.

I invite my clients in the Chicago area to contact me if you are interested in a Compass reading. I am willing to travel for group scans. I plan to visit other cities in the near future such as Detroit, Atlanta and Indianapolis.

Contact me for your Compass scan – 708-575-3968.

Don’t forget to “Educate before you vaccinate.” We have natural programs to prevent the Flu instead of getting the vaccine.
READ MY EXAMINER ARTICLE ABOUT THE AFRICAN FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS EVENT with slideshow. (Click on the headline below):

People received scans at the 2011 Chicago African Festival of the Arts

My son Ira at the Health fair display board

I attended The Brilliant Body Health Fair given by Dr. Hugh Jenkins and his wife, Author and Health Consultant Gwendolyn Jenkins. I was inspired, motivated and ready to continue my journey to educate and help people learn the power of natural herbal remedies and healthy living.

This Health Fair was a little different from your traditional health fairs. People were able to learn the benefits of herbs, healthy living and alternative treatments such as acupuncture, colon therapy and massage therapy. People were able to get a special reading from a new technology called the Zyto Compass scan. This machine helps you learn the nutrients your body prefers and take the best supplements for you. I brought my 11-year-old son; Ira and he got a reading. I was so thankful to learn of the supplements he needs for ultimate health. He loves sports and is very active, so I want him to be in the best physical condition, along with my other children. I will be starting him on his program A.S.A.P. The recommended products are through Nature Sunshine. They did a few drawings during the health fair also, giving away NSP products.

Ira was a happy worker at the health fair

Woman receives the Compass scan at the fair

One of the highlights of the health fair was a special guest who shared his amazing testimony. Mr. Glenn Moore came out and told his story about how he was diagnosed with stage 3-colon cancer and his decision to not take chemotherapy after his surgery to get the tumor removed. He did a full holistic regime with the guidance of his naturopathic doctor (Dr. Jenkins) instead. He shared with the audience how he cut out processed foods, juices regularly, exercises regularly, he stopped eating pork and red meat and he invests in $200 to $300 worth of herbal supplements per month to stay healthy. He also got all negative people out of his life and surrounded himself around only positive people. He knows the power of God and kept the faith. He has been cancer-free for over 6 years now and he looks very good for a man in his 60s. If you met him on the street you would never believe he ever had cancer.

Glenn Moore shares his story

Dr. Jenkins shares the knowledge

Gwen Jenkins made a delicious coffee alternative drink.

I was glad I attended this event at the Oak Lawn Hilton in Illinois. I am very excited to be a part of Nature Sunshine Products.

I am also excited that I am about to receive my own Zyto Compass scanner and will be able to offer this scanning technology to all of my clients. If you are interested in getting your scan call me today for your appointment and start your journey for a healthier lifestyle!

Call for your Zyto Compass scan today at: 708-575-3968

The Zyto Compass scanner

Star Athlete, Derrick Rose

With Chicago Bulls‘ star point guard

in the news recently for dealing with ulcers I wrote a couple of articles on natural remedies to rid ulcers and the benefits of probiotics.

Check out my Chicago Holistic Examiner articles (Click on headline for full article):

Some holistic tips for Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose’s ulcers

Probiotics are beneficial for Chicagoans’ gut health and more

Check my website for this week’s specials – Sunshine Heroes Probiotic Power is on special this week! www.mynsp.com/motherknowsbest

Make it a GREAT WEEK!

Photo by Ophelia Cherry

By Aurelia Williams, Author of Understanding Your Teen

Statistics on teenagers suffering from depression and other mental ailments are alarming. Various studies suggest that 1 in 4 teens suffer from some sort of mental illness. Teenage mental illness, to include depression, can have dire consequences. Teenage suicide is on the rise. It is the third leading cause of death in the age bracket of 15 to 24 years. Dealing with depression in teens is an important step in reducing these numbers in our society.

Many things can lead to depression. A teenager is just learning how to handle the pressures and emotions of an adult. Only 30% of teens suffering seek help. The others just suffer through and do their best to get through. Adults have difficulty dealing with many things, asking a teenager to deal with it on their own, is not be the best option.

Learning the signs of depression for our youth can be difficult. Depressed teenagers are often just seen as being a teen. Signs of irritability, fatigue, withdrawal and changes of eating and sleeping habits, are seen as normal signs of growing up and hormone surges. They are also signs of depression. Learning the difference in your teen’s behavior may be key in getting them the help that they need.

Learning to talk to your teen may be your best investment in their mental health. Parents and adults in a teen’s life struggle with this aspect. They often want to see the teen as still a child where the teen wants to be seen as an adult. Learning to bridge this gap and communicate efficiently may be a daunting task, but can be managed.

An adult should learn to offer support when conversing with a teenager. Let them know you are there for them. Ensure them that you are available to them at any time. Show them that you can listen without being judgmental. Don’t try to talk them out of the way that they feel. Show them that you can understand and give them the help that they need to deal with how they are feeling.

Trust your own instincts. If you have a teenager that is showing signs of depression get them help. Trusting your own feelings and emotions may be what sets the teen on the road to better mental health. They may resist getting help at first. Be firm. Let them know you are there for them and willing to work with them, but insist that they find someone they can work with to help them through this difficult time in their life.

Often a teen will find it easier to speak with someone other than a parent. Consider a peer mentor for your teen. These are teens that are trained to work with others. They become a positive influence. Teen mentors can become a confidant and will be there for the teen that may be in trouble otherwise.

Teenage depression is a serious problem, but can be treated. Learn to recognize the symptoms and get help as soon as possible. Turn the teen in your life into a success story instead of a statistic.

Need More Help?

Teens don’t come with an instruction manual, but you can certainly find the guidance to help you understand your teen. Aurelia Williams, Author of Understanding Your Teen

~~~~~~~~~

Also check out the suggested herbal supplements for anxiety and depression:
http://www.squidoo.com/healing_anxiety

One woman’s testimony:

“I was a very moody teenager and communicating helped ease a lot of tension around my home. My mom didn’t want to give me medication so I took St. Johns Wort in some water each morning. I could really see a difference in my mood when I was too lazy to take it.”

A panoramic view of Petit Mountain.

The weekend is here again. Time seems to be flying these days. I am busy keeping up with my studies at SOMA Institute for massage therapy, building my online business and writing for Examiner.com, so I am glad for the weekend.

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend and for all Sabbath Keepers – Peace on the Sabbath.

Here are my most recent article posts for Examiner.com

Perry Harvin

Migraine suffers like athlete Perry Harvin can find relief with natural remedies

Time to do something about the increase of obesity and black girls

Another MUST WATCH youtube video by Dr. Eisenstein discussing how ALL vaccines cause neurological damage. Just like a scripture I like to always quote “my people perish from lack of knowledge.” Watch and listen to this video by Dr. Eisenstein and read all the vaccine information I provide on my site from knowledgeable doctors like him, Dr. Mercola, Dr. Tennpenny and more. All the information I collect is under CATEGORIES on my blog under VACCINES.

Don’t forget to check the weekly specials with Nature Sunshine too.

This week Xylitol and products with Xylitol on special. Xylitol is a healthy sweetener that is good for your teeth!

Go to: http://www.mynsp.com/motherknowsbest checkout the weekly special and take the FREE Health Analysis if you haven’t already.

Make it a good week!

Photo by Simona Balint @ www.sxc.hu

For families in the Chicago area and beyond I recently shared a very useful article if you are weighing the pros and cons of vaccinating your children. Doctor and vaccine expert Russell Blaylock was on Dr. Becker’s show recently revealing some important facts. He talked about everything from vaccines and autism and the vaccine for HPV.

Get the details at my Examiner.com column.

I also posted details on an upcoming health fest coming to Markham, Illinois that you might want to check out if you live in the area.

Click on the headlines below:

Health facts and vaccine information for Chicago families

Back-to-school Health Festival in Markham, Illinois

Photo by Anissa Thompson @ www.sxc.hu

Photo by Simona Balint - www.sxc.hu

TV ads and discussions have been going around lately on the outbreak of pertussis in California. Dr. Tenpenny shares great information on natural health and the “untold truths” of vaccines.

Her latest online newsletter reports “Pertussis is more worrisome in children less than 3 months of age due to the small size of windpipe. Unless you are SPECIFICALLY tested for pertussis with a nasal or throat swab, you may have had it and not known! A persistent cough is frequently diagnosed and treated as “bronchitis”. Most persons who have had pertussis — children of all ages and adults–recover uneventfully with Vitamins D, C, A and lots of water with lemon.”

She stated that there were many posts on her facebook wall from parents sharing that their FULLY vaccinated children had full-blown pertussis.

Dr. Tenpenny created a table to show the ingredients in the pertussis vaccines (DTaP). I  have attached the pdf file – (DOWNLOAD) DTaP components(3) for my blog readers to review, showing the ingredients of this vaccine. Please read and pass along to other parents.

Pimples can be caused by hormone changes but aggravated by poor diet and lack of body cleansing. One of the first things people notice when they do a good herbal colon cleanse is how much better their skin looks because the colon cleanse will cleanse out waste, toxins and parasites, clean the blood and helping to cleanse the liver. This all benefits the skin and clears breakouts.

Products like:
Chlorophyll

Cleanstart colon cleanse

Tiao He cleanse

or the special System cleanse program we highly recommend is good for skin care internally. Contact me for details on the program – momsherbs@gmail.com
All these programs are awesome for detoxing internally.

This week our Acne Treatment Gel is on special and this is a great product to apply topically to the skin to help clear blemishes with natural ingredients.

Acne Treatment Gel
Buy 3 Get 1 FREE – $36.45

We also have other great specials:

Chromium GTF
$1 OFF – $6.65?Buy 4 Get 1 FREE – $30.60

Intestinal/Soothe & Build
$1 OFF – $8.00?Buy 4 Get 1 FREE – $36.00

Checkout all the specials at: http://www.motherknowsbest.net

Cllick on the headline below for past Chicago Holistic Examiner article for natural beauty tips:

How to look younger, with tips from The Doctors TV show

Answer my health question: What is an easy, cheap detox program for the New Year?

Make it a great week!