This is the last post of a 3 part series on the subject of health and pets.  Most pet owners are not getting the benefits of the pet/owner bond because they haven’t developed a deep bond with thier pet.

Of course, creating a deep bond starts with picking out a suitable pet.  Yes all puppies are adorable and tug at our heart strings, but they do grow up.  One thing to consider is the size of the animal.  Large dogs not only take up more room in the house, but their tails may knock things over (like off of tables and shelves), they will also eat a great deal more food than a small dog and they mature faster and die younger than small dogs do.

You also need to consider the needs of the breed.  Dogs were breed for certain traits, that why some dogs love to swim while others disdain being wet, and some dogs need to do alot of chasing and running, while others may be too sedentary.  Certain breeds like terriers and rottweilers have strong wills.  Also find out if the breed is good with children if you have any.  Make sure to teach your children not to pull the dogs ears and tail or try to ride on the dogs back.  This could cause even the most passive breeds to snap or growl not to mention the potential for physical damage to the dog.

Actually learning to train your pet can help create a very deep bond.  Both animals and children feel more secure and free when they understand the expectations.  Extremely important is taking into consideration the differences in physical activity, etc. of pets.  Some pets were bred for hunting or other longevity activities such as biking and running.  Don’t expect a hound dog to go running with you.

Consider how well your pet would react to another four legged friend if you decide to have two or more pets.  Cats especially can be loners that truly resent sharing their turf with another cat.  The result could be as bad as the cat spraying all over the house to mark their territory.  Dogs can also get confused and have problems when there is more than one and they are treated as equals.  Remember in packs, there is a pecking order.

 If you have a condition such as diabetes, dogs have even been trained to work as a “medic alert”.  To wrap up this post, choose a dog that suits your preferences as far as expense, longevity and personality traits.  Make sure you spend time training your pet and interact with them by taking them for walks and playing with them in an appropriate manner.  Some dogs like cathc, but my terrier just stares at anything you thorw as though she doesn’t have a clue what you are doing.  She does however, like to play sock.  Remember pets are as different as people.

Good luck with any pet that you may choose and it is my sincerest hope that you will be able to get the full health and emotional benefits of having a pet.

Who would have ever thought that pets could be so important to the elderly.  Several studies have found that one month after acquiring a dog or cat, seniors had fewer minor medical problems (ie painful joints, anxiety, hay fever, indigestion, colds and flus, insomnia, back pains and headches).

Seniors need something to keep them active and out in the world, a pet can help them do this.  Being isolated is very conducive to depression.  Another observation made in one study was that seniors who owned pets tended to talk about things in the present while those without pets tended to talk about things in the past.  When we live in the past, we aren’t busy living.

I am sure most of you have read about the studies citing that petting a animal lowers the heart rate and blood pressure.  Of course, it’s not just the petting that we want a pet for.  It’s also the interaction, such as laughter and even disputes.  After all pets can do some of the funniest and most annoying things.  One of the most important benefits of having a pet is that feeling of unconditional love they give us and of course, they never say bad things about us, to us or even verbally disagree or back talk, etc.  You know the things that humans do that we frequently have issues with.

Mike was a communications engineer and a type A personality.  He just thrived on the adrenaline rush he received from being under the pressures of constant deadlines.  One day he received a full physical including a cardio stress test and received a clean bill of health.

The following day he had a major heart attack.  It turned out the he had a 100% blockage of the left side and a 99% blockage of the right side.  He was rushed to the hospital and scheduled for surgery the following morning.  Unfortunately that night he suffered another heart attack and was rushed into surgery for a triple bypass.  Mike determined that the heart attack wouldn’t stop him, threw himself into cardio rehab.  He suffered severe chest pains no matter how easy he took the rehab.  Because of this the clinic wanted his doctor to sign a waiver.  When his doctor refused, Mike gave up rehab.

Staying at home Mike became depressed.  He felt there was no purpose to his life.  His doctor suggested that they get a dog.  There was a study published in 1980 that showed that heart attack sufferers who owned pets had a four time better chance of surviving one year.  This study had recruited 96 people, of which 89 had reported monthly for a year.  Fifty of these people had pets and 39 of them did not.  Amazingly enough the death rate for those without pets was approximately 28% and the death rate for those with pets was only 6% that’s less than 1/4.

Mike’s dog would also “remind” Mike to take his medicine whenever he knew Mike was getting stressed.  Yes, animals do react to the way we feel.  Just observe your pet’s behavior (especially if it’s a dog).  Some other interesting studies have shown that after a heart attack dog owners had 8% fewer doctor visits and cat owners had 12% few doctor visits.  Studies have also shown that the pet owning population also took less medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol and didn’t have as much trouble falling asleep at night than non pet owners.

More about the health benefits of pets tomorrow.

 

It is considered normal to have anywhere from 3 bowel movements a day to 3 a week.  That seems like a big difference to me.  Many say what is normal is not necessarily healthy and I agree.  After all bowel movements are your body’s mechanism for releasing toxins.

Beware of consistent use of laxatives.  This can weaken the muscles of the bowel so that you actually become “addicted”.  Laxatives can also drain your body of energy giving minerals and protein.  Here is the alternative to laxatives and buying fibre.

Of course you should stimulate the intestines with water.  Practioners of traditional Chinese medicine recommend you either squeeze the juice of a lemon into 8 ounces of water (warm or hot) or put some citrus peels into the hot water and drink that.

We have all heard about the importance of fibre.  When you think about 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, it may seem like alot of food.  However, look up what is considered a serving.  Servings can be as small as 1/4 cup and are usually no more than 1 cup (8 ounces).  Three servings of “whole” grains and one serving of beans is also recommended for your daily intake of fiber.

Also, health oils such as olive and canola (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) are known to act as digestive lubricants.  You can sautee your vegetables with it or put 1-2 tablesppons on your salad.

If you have ever had a cold sore, you probably know that it is caused by a herpes virus.  This virus reproduces itself by binding to the site of the cell via the amino acid arginine.  However, if lysine is at that binding site, the virus will have no place to call home.

Some foods that are high in lysine include turkey, ricotta cheese, avocado, eggs and chocolate.  Also avoid foods high in arginine such as nuts (almonds, cashews, peanuts and walnuts), seeds (such as sunflower and sesame), pork, milk and most cheeses.  Most people know about acidophilus bacteria which are found in some brands of yogurt.  Two to 3 cups a day of this type of yogurt can serve as iether a preventitive measure or a remedy for assisting in the healing of the cold sore.

Some Naturopaths say that a virus won’t do well in a cold environment and it is recommended that you hold a piece of ice (wrapped up in a cloth) to the area of the outbreak for a total of 15 to 30 minutes.  Take a break when the cold becomes too uncomfortable.

When you take a nice warm bath, do you feel relaxed and revitalized?  It may be because you are actually releasing some toxins from your body.  Some alternative practitioners actually believe that a hot bath releases stored toxins from fat cells, which then travels through the blood and then to the skin where it can be released from the body.

The way this works is to first take a shower and remove all of the excess oil and dirt from your skin by using either a rough wash cloth or a loofah.  It is important to rinse thoroughly to make sure you remove this debris and then take your bath.

You should immerse your entire body in the water (up to your neck).  Be sure to test the water temperature with your hand or foot before entering.  You don’t want to get scolded.  Because the releases of toxins can make you feel slightly weak, you should take short baths (about 5 minutes) to start.

You can gradually increase the length of the baths to 30 minutes, but it is suggested that you don’t do this more than 3 times a week.  Those with severe heart diseases or multiple sclerosis should not use this technique.  Once you are able to take a 30 minute bath without feeling week, it is advisable to cut back to one per week.

My next post will be about a Herbal antihistamine.

When I was a little girl, I remember my parents giving me honey when I had a cold.  For some reason I had forgotten about that, until I came across this article:  http://paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?207467.  Now as a grown up I like my honey with some tea and some say you should add some fresh lemon juice as well.

 I’d be very interested to know if any one else uses honey as a remedy (especially if it’s a specific type).  My daughter swears that it needs to be local honey.  I will write a post later about the different types of honey.  If any one is interested in any specific information about honey, just leave a comment and let me know and I will see if I can find the information for you.  I guess most of you know honey can be processed and refined just like oils, etc.  This is part of the reason why some honey has a different color than others (some darker).

Any way, drop a comment and let me know what you would like to learn about.

Stress, tension and pressure on the blood vessels and nerves can lead to debilitating headaches. Everyone experiences them occasionally and the most common treatment is taking aspirin or other pain relievers. One of the problems with taking drugs to relieve the pain is our bodies’ tendency to build an immunity to them. If you’d like to avoid taking pills, there are a number of natural home remedies that can help relieve your headache.

Aromatherapy can be used to reduce the pain from tension headaches. Sandalwood, eucalyptus and peppermint are especially effective and have a soothing effect that can relax the nerves.

Also, self massage can relieve tension. Many headaches occur because of tension in the neck and around the shoulders. Massaging these areas reduces the tension and can either ease or eliminate the pain from the headache. If you don’t have someone who can massage your neck and shoulders, you can do so yourself by using your fingertips.

Certain foods and beverages also help to alleviate headaches. For example, grape juice, bananas, fish and spinach have been known to relieve the pain. Foods that have a high level of magnesium such as whole grains and dark green vegetables can also reduce the symptoms.

If your headache persists, try placing a cold or hot pack on your neck. Some people respond better to cold packs while others respond to hot packs. You’ll need to try both to see which works best for you. Headaches are commonly caused by stress and tension. Most of the home remedies described above are focused on eliminating the source.