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What Are Some Natural Asthma Remedies?

natural asthma remediesMost asthma sufferers are familiar with the inhalers and oral remedies prescribed by their doctors for the treatment of wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath that accompany an asthmatic episode. While these medicines are typically effective in the treatment of the condition, there are people who may prefer a more natural approach to asthma relief, for a variety of reasons. Some people want more natural asthma remedies.

Natural asthma remedies

Any drug introduced to the body has the potential for unpleasant side effects; short term reactions such as nausea and long term concerns such as potential permanent damage from steroids used to decrease inflammation in the lung tissues. So people are looking for natural asthma remedies. There has been ongoing controversy in the medical community regarding the safety and advisability of steroid use. While these can be life-saving, there is concern that the steroids may cause irreversible damage such as muscle weakness and bone loss. To minimize the frequency of use, the asthma sufferer can make some dietary and lifestyle changes to help reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack.

The best “natural” defense against an asthmatic episode is to avoid known triggers. People with sensitivity to tobacco smoke should obviously stay away from it; and if your trigger is cat dander, you’ll just have to avoid petting the kittens in the pet store – no matter how adorable. Stay indoors on “high pollen” days if that is your trigger and always try to keep stress levels down. Using common sense is the first step toward lowering frequency of asthmatic episodes.

Reaching out for natural asthma remedies, asthma sufferers can also make healthy changes to their diets which can minimize asthma symptoms. Beyond avoiding known dietary triggers such as food allergies, nutritional supplements in the form of necessary vitamins and minerals can go a long way toward minimizing asthma attacks. Nutritional deficiencies make for a weakened system that isn’t able to effectively fight unexpected environmental triggers. Asthmatics need to exercise care even when using natural supplements. Make sure supplements are hypo-allergenic so as not to react to those! The need for certain vitamins and minerals may be greater among asthma sufferers than the average person as the condition itself tends to contribute to certain deficiencies. A good multi-vitamin is recommended to compensate for these deficiencies and make for a healthier body, better equipped to ward off reactions. Asthmatics also tend to have very low magnesium levels – a mineral that helps relax bronchial tubes – so a supplemental dose may be advisable. Finally, Vitamin C is believed to improve bronchial functioning.

More and more people are turning to herbal remedies to find relief as natural asthma remedies. While most herbal supplements are not evaluated or endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration, there have been reports of success among those who have used them. Tylophora indica, used in Auyervedic medicine in India, has been getting a lot of positive attention thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects. Additionally, some individuals treated with the herb, Boswellia, reported a reduced number of asthma attacks. Butterbur is another promising herb shown to be as effective as traditional antihistamines in initial studies. As conclusive studies have not been done on most herbal remedies, the asthma sufferer is advised to be cautious when experimenting with these. Not all natural asthma remedies are created equal.

While it is possible to relieve symptoms of asthma, and reduce the likelihood of an asthma attack by avoiding known triggers, making lifestyle and dietary changes, and using certain herbal remedies, it is imperative to listen to your healthcare provider. Discuss vitamin and herbal supplements with your physician, and keep him informed of any changes you make and improvements you notice in your condition. The journey to a healthier life begins with a healthy amount of care and old-fashioned common sense.

As well as natural asthma remedies, are you looking for all natural products to improve your health? http://bit.ly/1tszTTP

How to find Shaklee on FarmVille on Facebook

As you may know, a Shaklee has partnered with FarmVille on Facebook. Click here to learn more about the details.

How do you find Shaklee on your own Farm on FarmVille?

Step 1:  Log into FarmVille on Facebook.  If you haven’t started yet you can join the 35 million (yes million) other players and get your farm up and running today.

Step 2: Go to the Market on FarmVille (see the image below) and check out everything you can buy.

How to find the Market on FarmVille

Step 3:  First (1) search for “Shaklee”, then (2) you can preview the great all-Shaklee home; next you can BUY (3) this great home and add it to your own farm.

Search for Shaklee on FarmVille

If you don’t have enough coins to purchase this Shaklee Home, you can just buy the amount you need.  FarmVille will show you how.

Then you are set!

Here is what the Shaklee Home on FarmVille looks like:

Shaklee Home on FarmVille

Look good to you?

And remember that you can purchase the Shaklee Earth Day Healthy Home Pack for only $30 and get a FREE membership! (A $19.95 value)

CLICK HERE GET YOUR FARMVILLE HEALTHY HOME PACK RIGHT NOW!

But hurry, the offer expires on May 20.

10 Reasons a Real Estate Agent Can be a Successful Shaklee Distributor

The current economy nationwide has made it difficult for many successful real estate agents to earn a living. The real estate market in 2010 is not what it was just a few short months ago.

An attractive alternate income can be built by these under-utilized agents can be found in building a Shaklee business. What skills do they already have that will give them an advantage?

10 Reasons to be Successful

Real estate agents are:

  1. Selling Machines. Every good real estate agent is already an expert in selling. They know the process of prospecting, creating a relationship with potential customers, and how to put together a winning deal.
  2. Deal Closers. Most agents that are successful know how to close a deal. Identifying the concerns of potential buyers and knowing how to “cross the finish line” are second nature.
  3. Networkers. These successful individuals know how to build long lasting relationships and networks. They understand that it is more important to keep the clients happy so they will return in the future and be a valuable source of referrals.
  4. Accustomed to Rejection. No one is immune to impact of rejection. But in any selling profession the winners will understand that it takes a lot of “no’s” to get to those few valuable “yes’s”.
  5. Experts in Matching Customers with Products. With the experience of matching home-buyers with properties, the agent has valuable experience in presenting the right product at the right time to the right prospect.
  6. Positive. No one with a negative attitude makes it in the selling world.  This can-do attitude works well in selling almost anything.
  7. Possessing Local Networks. A good real estate agent already has access to an existing network of people who are going through changes in their lives. They know their local area and many well-connected individuals that can be invaluable in building a Shaklee business.
  8. Competitive. A real estate agent typically has that drive to succeed. They seek out opportunities where the rewards are available based on the amount of work applied. There is no such thing as blind luck in a long-term sales career. It is only hard work that makes a real difference.
  9. Part-timers. Many agents work in real estate on a part time basis. That is also an approach that can be used in selling Shaklee products. In fact many of the top performers started out in their career almost as a hobby to earn extra income and learned how to be successful.
  10. Motivated by Money.  All good sales people are motivated by monetary rewards. There are other great recognition opportunities, but the freedom that significant income provides opens all kinds of doors.

Will every successful real estate agent be able to be a successful Shaklee distributor? Of course not, but they already possess several advantages that can be used to get started right away. And as the economy continues to struggle, everyone can use a fresh opportunity.

Contact us if you would like more information on how to get started in a successful Shaklee career. We have decades of experience we would like to share.

10 Reasons to Love Basic-H®

1. Stop living in a toxic home.

Some of the most questionable chemicals used regularly in household products are ammonia, chlorine, phenols, dichlorobenzene, and formaldehyde and can be found under your kitchen sink. Basic-H is nontoxic and safe for your family.

2. Eliminate your ammonia based window cleaner.

Basic-H cleans windows without streaking while being a great alternative to leading brands.

3. Everything and the kitchen sink.

Basic-H cleans it all from kitchens and bathrooms to appliances, woodwork, mirrors, painted walls, and floors — it even does windows, so toss those single-purpose cleaners like sink and tile cleaners.

4. Removes the impossible.

From lipstick on a linen napkin to crayons on a painted wall, full-strength Basic-H comes to the rescue.

5. On the cutting edge.

A few drops on your knife sharpener keep knives extra sharp. Be sure to rinse knives thoroughly after sharpening.

6. Does odd jobs.

Two tablespoons of Basic-H in a bucket of hot water lifts off old wallpaper. One tablespoon in a half gallon cleans sticky paintbrushes. Just soak for 24 hours and rinse in hot tap water.

7. Saves money.

Diluted with water as directed, one 32-oz. bottle of Basic-H equals nine 22-oz. bottles of Simple Green®, 4,608 32-oz. bottles of Windex®, or 188 32-oz. bottles of Fantastik®.**

8. Camping and travel companion.

A sample-size bottle of Basic-H is all you need to keep clothes, dishes, and everything else clean. And you’ll help by keeping the great outdoors unpolluted.

9. Easy on the Planet.

Biodegradable and environmentally friendly, Basic-H handles even hardto-clean jobs without phosphates,
borates, nitrates, corrosive chemicals, or toxic fumes.

10. Less in the landfill.

Basic-H is concentrated, so you’ll use fewer bottles of cleaning products throughout the year.

Nontoxic, high performance, economical, and great for the planet.

**Simple Green®, Fantastik®, and Windex® are registered trademarks of companies other than Shaklee Corporation. This comparison of label directions was made on March 13, 2006 and is valid only for the named products marketed at that time.

Click here to learn more about Basic H and all of the Shaklee vitamin supplements.

Toxins in the Home

Cleaning House: What Went Wrong?
By Linda Mason Hunter

My Grandma Nelle used vinegar and water for most household cleaning tasks. She had a few baking soda tricks up her sleeve, and later added and scouring powder to her cleaning cupboard. She didn’t know it, but today we’d call such habits “green.”

“Green” means seeking the least harmful solution for both environmental and human health reasons. If you live green, you strive to reduce your negative impact on the planet in small, everyday ways, living with nature instead of trying to subdue it. It means choosing alternatives that have less of a toxic impact on your home and the environment.

A good place to begin a program of green living is by evaluating your household cleaning products. Green cleaning is simple, yet powerful, both intimate and global. By choosing eco-friendly formulas and tools, you transform your shelter into a place of comfort and health while doing your part to protect local waterways, soil, and landfills, promoting the health of the entire community. We can, as Gandhi implored, be the change we wish to see in the world.

Soap: A Brief History

I am a child of the 1950s, prepubescent witness to the advent of television in every living room. With “Howdy Dowdy” and “Winky Dinky’s Magic Window” came commercials for an increasing array of household cleaners. Though only seven or eight years old, I watched in wonder the early evolution of video advertising.

Household cleaning products were some of the first products advertised. After a couple of years, the same brand promised “New Improved” making me question: What was wrong with the product in the first place? What was added to make it better? Why does it matter?

During the 1960s synthetic chemicals initially developed for warfare found their way into America’s cleaning products and into our homes. Cheerful ads promised to get clothes “whiter than white,” “cleaner than clean,” and bring “sparkle” to the toilet bowl. “Better living through chemistry,” as a popular advertising slogan from DuPont proclaimed.

To date, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 75,000 synthetic chemicals are registered; 250 billion pounds produced each year in the U.S. alone. Only a fraction of them have been tested for human health concerns.
We’re beginning to learn just how harmful exposure can be. One recent study, for example, conducted over 15 years, found that women who work at home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than those who work outside the home. Scientists concluded this was a direct result of increased exposure to toxic chemicals, many of which are found in common household products. Not good news.

The cleaning aisle of a typical grocery store contains more than 400 synthetic household products, everything from all-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, glass cleaners, carpet cleaners, polishes, pesticides, stain removers, oven cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners, mold and mildew removers, spot removers, and air fresheners. Our near-obsession with cleanliness has become an $18 billion industry that pollutes the environment, harms our bodies, and may endanger future generations.
We’ve become dependent on these chemicals. The average American family uses 40 pounds of commercial cleaners a year. Whenever we have a housekeeping problem—whether a coffee stain or mold and mildew or a dirty kitchen floor—we reach for a commercial product concocted in a laboratory, a brew of harsh chemicals designed to get the job done quickly but almost never gently or even safely.

Buyer Beware

Scientists at the National Toxicology Program found 150 chemicals present in the home are associated with allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological disorders. Some of these chemicals may be in common household cleaners. They include:

• Ammonia: Glass Cleaners may contain ammonia. The fumes from ammonia can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory system.
• Aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene, organic solvents, trichloroethane): Used in degreasers, deodorizers, air fresheners, all-purpose cleaners, liquid laundry detergent and pesticides. Many are likely human carcinogens.
• Alkyphenols: Found in multisurface cleaners, liquid laundry detergent. May have hormone-disrupting effects.
• Butyl cellosolve: Found in metal polishes and grease removers, a petroleum-based solvent that can irritate nasal passages and cause liver and kidney damage.
• Phthalates: Found in air fresheners, multipurpose cleaners. May cause birth defects and reproductive disorders.
• Petroleum distillates: Found in floor waxes, furniture polishes, degreasers, all-purpose cleaners. Can damage lung tissues and dissolve fatty tissue around nerve cells.
• Chlorine: Found in sanitizing and bleaching agents, tub and tile cleaners, and pesticides. Ranks high in the causes of child poisonings in the U.S. and may cause reproductive, endocrine and immune disorders.

You get a whiff of their unnatural odor just walking down the cleaning products aisle of a grocery store. You can tell they’re harsh during use because they redden your hands, make your eyes water or your nose run.

At the same time our industrial lifestyle is harming our bodies, it is polluting the environment. Phosphates, nitrates, and borates in detergents essentially “kill” lakes and streams by causing algae to grow out of control. Toxic waste is another problem; the average home generates over 25 pounds of hazardous waste each year, much of which can be attributed to cleaning products. Tap water, too, is a concern. Many synthetic chemicals – from agriculture, industry and household cleaners — end up polluting rivers and streams, eventually finding their way to the local wastewater treatment plant. And because utilities are only required by law to test for 87 of the most harmful chemicals and microorganisms, many synthetic chemicals are not treated and can easily end up in your tap water. Such alarming facts have spawned a growing interest among consumers of green products.

But it is “Buyer Beware” in the marketplace. The prevalence of “greenwashing” muddies the waters, confusing consumers. When investigating whether a company has “green” credentials, look for these words:
* Biodegradable
* Formulated without dye
* Nonflammable
* Contains no ammonia, acids, alkalis, solvents, phosphates, chlorine, nitrates, or borates
* No volatile organic compounds

Searching out eco-cleaners with integrity is worth the extra effort because home is a place where you can take control. By switching to healthy cleaners, you do your part to make the earth a healthier place for all living things.

SIDEBAR

Home Green Home

Good planets are hard to find. We should do everything we can to minimize our destructive impact on this one. Here are some suggestions for greening your home:

• Shop wisely. Buy green products whenever possible.
• Avoid excess packaging.
• Purchase products that are easily recycled.
• Purchase unbleached paper products.
• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents.
• Choose furniture made of natural fibers, whole wood, metal and glass.
• Avoid using aerosols.
• Use low-VOC paints and low-VOC adhesives.
• Don’t use chemical pesticides on your lawn or garden.
• Have your air conditioning and heating systems inspected annually.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle.
• Conserve water. Fix leaky faucets and install low-flow showerheads.
• Drive a fuel-efficient vehicle (40 miles per gallon or better); or bike, walk, car pool, or ride the bus to work and run errands.

Linda Mason Hunter is the co-author of Green Clean. $16.95, Melcher Media, 2005 and Creating a Safe and Healthy Home, $21.95, Creative Publishing International, 2005.

Shaklee’s Top Tips for Green Value

Times are tougher than ever. Money is tighter than it has been. These are all the more reasons to go green.

True, it’s good for the planet, but did you know it can also save you a huge amount of money down the road? Shaklee Get Clean® products offers you safe, powerful, and budget-friendly cleaning solutions that can help you and your family live happier, healthier lives. Here are a few back-to-basics tips to help get you going:

LESS IS BEST

  • It’s a simple equation Use Less = Spend Less! You pay less per use with concentrated cleaners. In fact, you’d have to spend more than $3,400 on major-brand cleaners to get the equivalent cleaning power found in the Get Clean Starter Kit.
  • A 16 oz. bottle of Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate alone can make:

    • 214 bottles of ready-to-use all-purpose cleaner
    • The equivalent of more than 5,000 bottles of ready-to-use window cleaner
    • 36 bottles of ready-to-use degreaser
  • Visit your local library. Take the kids on a Saturday, have them pick out 2 of their favorite books, and return them next week! It’s free and it’s green.
  • Carpool! If your drive to work is 25 miles each way and at least half is stop-and-go traffic, you’ll save almost 10 percent of your monthly carbon emissions by carpooling. Not to mention the gas dollars you’ll save.

CONSERVE ENERGY

  • Run your dishwasher. It can actually help the environment while saving you time and preserving your manicure! Many studies show that dishwashers actually use less water than dishes by hand and you can save a ton of water, energy and money by only running the dishwasher when it’s full—especially if it’s Energy Star-approved.
  • Throw in a concentrated, phosphate-free detergent such as Automatic Dish Wash Concentrate
    that is so powerful a pre-rinse isn’t required, and you earn extra eco-warrior points!
  • Use Rechargeable Batteries. Investing in rechargeable batteries can save you some money over time. In general, the less you rely on single-use, disposable items, the less money you’ll burn through.
  • Check Out the New CFLs. CFL bulbs use 80% less energy than standard incandescent light bulbs, and last up six to 10 times longer. You might not be aware of the newest designs from cutting-edge manufacturers, including a new range of pleasant color temperatures, dimmable CFLs, bug lights, 3-way models, candelabra and flicker tip styles and more.
  • Turn Off Your Computer – Save energy, wear on your hardware and an average of $90 each year on electricity costs by shutting down your computer at night. The Department of Energy recommends shutting off your monitor if you aren’t going to use it for more than 20 minutes, and the whole system if you’re not going to use it for more than two hours.

PRESERVE THE EARTH

  • Bulk shopping is good for the environment because it reduces packaging and waste plus it means fewer trips to the market and less gas used so you save money.
  • Save money and the planet, ounce by ounce with both Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate and Fresh Laundry Liquid Concentrate available in 64 oz. sizes.
  • Jettison Junk Mail – Around 100 million trees and 28 billion gallons of water are used to send junk mail to Americans every year, according to greendimes.com. You can stop 75% of unsolicited mail by registering on the Mail Preference Service on the Direct Marketing Association website (for a fee of $1).
  • Stop Idling – Idling for more than 10 seconds wastes more gas than is needed for startup. Overall, Americans idle away 2.9 billion gallons of gas a year, worth around $78.2 billion.

RECYCLE & REUSE

  • Rather than going through rolls of paper towels, cut up old t-shirts and towels for cleaning rags. If DIY isn’t your cup of tea, try Shaklee Super Microfiber Cleaning and Window Cloths. They are ridiculously absorbent and can be washed and reused hundreds of times.
  • Ditch bottled water! The cost adds up and the bottles pile up in landfills to pollute our planet. Save big bucks and keep waste out of the landfills by switching to filtered water. The BestWater® PerfectPitcher® is NSF-certified and serves up delicious, clean water that can be poured into a glass to be enjoyed at home, or a portable, reusable water bottle if you’re on the go.
  • Washing out and using plastic storage bags can save more than $5 a week!

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