There is alot of medical data that talks about the positive effects of fasting, however because we are not used to not eating for long periods of time, it can be quite confusing and intimidating for some people to accumulate all that data and actually put it into practice. Here I will cover the effects of fasting and how it will help you.

Hours, days, months and finally years go by where we just mindless put whatever we feel like into our bodies. We hardly think twice about what we eat and how it plays on our system. For as long as we crave it and it tastes good, that's usually all that matters. With this mindset, one cannot imagine how much the digestive system and the body as a whole goes through. Most of the things we eat are probably not very healthy for us and provide little if not no nutritional value at all.

Fasting comes in when we decided to put the breaks on our eating habits and jump start our whole system. By fasting you are not only giving your body a break but you are also becoming more aware of your body and what you put into it. It has a very profound detoxifying effect as it gives the body an opportunity to flush out everything that it doesn't need. This also creates a change in a persons energy levels, making them feel more grounded and calm.

The saying "You are what you eat", really comes to surface as you realize the change in the way you feel and look. After a few hours of not eating make sure you break your fasting with fresh and healthy foods that are easy to digest. Keep yourself well hydrated and indulge in various food types.

While fasting you may notice changes in your moods and emotions, this is where your mind and your body together change the notion that your food controls you, instead it controls the food. It is very healthy practice to fast a few days in a year and give your body a break from everything. It further helps you appreciate your body and create deep feelings of self love.

One must always eat to live and not live to eat, as that is when true living really happens. Stay healthy and stay happy. Happy Fasting!

Sometimes, we may be in situations that makes us feel uncomfortable or unhappy. When we experience such emotions they need to be properly digested or released. For instance, if I am angry at someone or something, the feeling of anger if not released will accumulate in my physical body. Since I have done this once, I will continue to repress my feelings of anger until one day when I will feel physically unwell and be diagnosed with some serious type of disease or sickness.

Whenever we are physically unwell be sure that its is caused my some emotional or mental imbalance or block that manifested itself in physical form. That is one reason why they always say, express how you feel and avoid keeping negative feelings inside, no matter how big or small they may be. At the end of the day, it's going to be your health on the line.

This is where the beautiful practice of Journaling comes in! Some people simply because of their personality or social surroundings may not be willing or able to express themselves in this manner. In such an instance, all it takes is a piece of paper and a pen and simply start writing everything out. As you keep writing about the incident, the people involved, the feelings involved and your current state, you start to release and get alot of things out of your system that you realize does not need to be there. As you write, you can start to forgive and let it go. It is a great tool for personal development.

This technique is a very powerful form of releasing any negative or unwanted feelings or energies. You may write one page or you may write a book, whatever it is just keep writing and get out all that you do not need. You may also write about all that you desire and how that would make you feel, simply watch how the energy shifts and the healing takes place.

Happy journaling....

One of the most common problems we see people suffer with is neck aches and pains. It can be extremely uncomfortable and is also usually accompanied by headaches, upper back aches and fatigue. There may be several reason reasons why people suffer from this such as poor sleeping positions, stress, etc. however to understand why neck pains actually occur we may need to dig a little deeper to see what's really going on inside you for it to have manifested in your physical body.

Your neck is that part of your body which enables you to turn your head to the left and right so that you can have a clear view of the world around you. Usually if someone is suffering from neck aches because you may be "unable to see the world around you the way you like it". It is often associated with inflexibility and unwillingness to see situations from another perspective. If you are someone who is very rigid in your way of thinking or likes things done in a certain way, refusing to accept others' standpoint overtime you will quite likely develop neck pains. It is not to say that the people around you may be right or wrong in what they are saying, you may be completely right, however it's the "struggle" that creates the problem. So you may want to ask yourself, is someone or a situation being a "pain in the neck"?

The affirmation you can repeat to yourself regularly is: "It is with flexibility and ease that I see all sides of an issue. There are endless ways of doing things and seeing things. I am safe."

Most neck pains are associated with a sense of feeling overburdened, a constant need to trying to fix people and situations, constant resistance and inflexibility. The pain usually intensifies when fears and feelings of helplessness start to kick in.

Some other affirmations to tell yourself which are also very effective are:
1) "I lovingly release others to their own lessons. I lovingly care for myself. I move with ease through my life."

2) "I have the right to be me. I forgive the past. I know who I am. I love myself and others."

Give yourself a few minutes to ponder over what is stated above. Are you feeling feelings that nobody understands you? Are you feeling a constant struggle within of being overloaded and helpless? This could apply to a family situation, friends and/or work. As these new belief systems get embedded into the mind, you will start to notice some drastic differences with the pain your neck. If you continuously repeat the suggested affirmations you are telling your mind that you are safe and flexible and it is okay that others think differently. It is essential to understand that it is not about agreeing with them, it is about understanding that it is okay for it to be different and even if you may not agree you can still accept it to be different and move past it.

Undoubtedly, you will notice the pain dissipate and you will be faced with the core issue of the pain that you can understand, learn and then release.

Note: If you are on medications or seeing a medical doctor, by no means should you stop. Please continue to seek medical help if the pain is very severe, however this article is intended to give you a better understanding of the condition from the mind and body approach.

It is very common to see people who find it difficult to voice their true feelings. Usually it may be because they may face a subject that makes them feel uncomfortable or they may just feel that they don't know how to relate what is going on in their minds. Not every one is blessed with the ability to verbalize their feelings, however they may be blessed with the ability to express through art.

Art Therapy is a means through which one can express their inner most feelings without having to say a single word. All that is required is some quite space, a sheet of papers and some colors in the form of pencils or paints and all they have to do is go with their heart. You don't have to think about it or plan it, just let it flow from within and loose yourself in what you are creating.

This type of art, puts your mind in a "thoughtless state" and just lets you be who you are good, bad or ugly. It is where true healing begins. Nobody needs to interpret the art. It maybe just for you, for your understanding and for your growth.

Art therapy is becoming increasingly popular over the years and has be known to unlock certain matters within you that you may not have known even existed. You start transforming your life, in a way that is only filled with love, joy and abundance.

Here are suggested crystals that can be used for a variety of different ailments, situations or body parts. Hold the crystal on you carrying the intention of healing or place directly on the affected part of the body.

• Allergies: Chrysocolla, Zircon
• Anxiety: Lapis Lazuli, Smoky Quartz, Citrine
• Arthritis: Copper, Chrysocolla, Smoky Quartz
• Asthma: Green Tourmaline, Rhodonite
• Blood Pressure: Blood Stone, Turquoise
• Business Increasing: Citrine, Cinnabar, Quartz
• Broken Heart: Rose Quartz, Pink Topaz, Malachite
• Cancer: Sugilite, Rhodocrosite, Flame Aura Quartz
• Childbirth: Moodstone, Ruby, Jasper
• Circulation: Ruby, Citrine, Pyrite
• Constipation: Rhodochrosite
• Colic: Malachite, Jade
• Depression: Azurite, Kunzite, Topaz
• Diabetes: Amethyst, Malachite, Owyhee Jasper
• Digestion: Red Jasper, Gold Calacite, Citrine
• Ears: Amber, Sapphire, Blue Fluorite
• Energy Increasing: Peridot, Jasper, Amber
• Entity Removal: Serpentine, Onyx, Obsidian
• Fever: Chrysocolla, Blue Lace Agate
• Grief: Obsidian, Lapis Lazuli, Rose Quartz
• Hair: Quartz, Opal, Malachite
• Headaches: Blue Lace Agate, Sugilite, Amethyst
• Hearing: Sodalite, Sapphire, Lapis Lazuli
• Infection: Galena, Ruby, Turquoise
• Insect Bites: Lazulite, Monazite
• Joints: Dioptase, Hematite, Albite
• Kidneys: Honey Calcite, Carnelian, Jade
• Liver: Azurite/ Malachite, Peridot
• Lungs: Chrysocolla, Dioptase, Galena
• Migraines: Jet, Tourmaline, Dioptase
• Money Issues: Jade, Cinnebar, Citrine
• Pain: Boji Stone, Sugilite, Malachite
• Pancreas: Green Moss Agate, Alexandrite, Lodestone
• Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): Moonstone, Hematite
• Smoking: Oregon Amethyst, Adventurine
• Sore Throat: Angelite, Blue Lace Agate, Sodalite
• Thyroid: Peridot, Lapis Lazuli, Chrysocolla
• Weight (increasing): Epidot, unakite
• Weight (decreasing): Labradorite, Picasso Stone, Serandite

No matter how many times a day we go to the gym or how many diets we may be on, one of the most difficult things the get rid of is cellulite. Some times we may need an extra hand to get rid of this "hard fat" and the blend below is one I have used time and time again and has always proven to be very effective.

• 100 ml of Sage carrier oil
• 10 drops of Lavender essential oil
• 10 drops of Marjoram essential oil
• 10 drops of Rosemary essential oil
• 10 drops of Geranium essential oil
• 10 drops of Lemon essential oil

If you can not find Sage carrier oil, another option is to use any other carrier oil such as Almond or Olive and use 10 drops of Sage essential oil in it.

Mix the blend and massage your hips, thighs and belly. To specifically break down cellulite, it would be a good idea to use your knuckles, rolling and pinching techniques to really break down the fat. Also keep in mind that the detox effect is created when you work towards the lymph nodes. It also helps improve blood circulation. It is perfectly normal if it hurts a little bit, however the objective is to be firm and not to bruise the skin. If you do this everyday, in about 2-3 weeks you will notice your skin looking more firm and youthful, without the "orange peel" surface.

There are several reasons why people deal with alcoholism. The most common is when it is on the genetic level and the other is an imbalance on an emotional or psychological level. However, too much of anything creates an imbalance in the body and mind.

The 2 aromatherapy oils that are most effective in treating alcoholism are:

1. Clary Sage essential oil
2. Fennel essential oil

There are several ways they can be used. An aromatherapy massage can be given mixing 3-4 drops in a carrier oil such as Almond or Olive oil. A few drops can also be put in a diffuser or oil burner. A couple of drops can also be put on a piece of cloth and the aroma can be inhaled.

These oils work on a mental, physical and emotional level as they decrease the influence of psychological reasons that push people to consume alcohol. It brings clarity to situations.

Note: By no means should the above be used as a replacement for medicine or other medical practices. It can be used in addition to any treatment.

The Citrine stone is a powerful cleanser and regenerator. Carrying the powers of the sun this is an exceedingly beneficial stone. It's warming, energizing and highly creative. This is one of the crystals that never needs cleansing. Citrine energizes every level of life.

It is also one of the stones of abundance. This dynamic stone teaches how to manifest wealth and prosperity, success and all good things. It is also a generous stone and encourages sharing what you have and yet helps you hold on to your wealth. It has the power to impart joy to all who behold it. Gloom and negativity have no place around Citrine. It is a useful stone for smoothing group and family discord.

Psychologically, Citrine raises self esteem and self confidence. It enhances individuality, improves motivation, activates creativity and encourages self expression. This stone promotes enjoyment of new experiences and encourages exploring every possible avenue until you find the best solution.

Mentally, Citrine enhances concentration and revitalizes the mind. It is excellent for overcoming depression, fears and phobias. Citrine promotes inner calm so that wisdom can emerge. Wearing a Citrine pendant overcomes difficulties in verbalizing thoughts and feelings.

Citrine is an excellent stone for re-energizing and recharging. It is highly beneficial for reverse degenerative disease. Citrine stimulates digestion, the spleen and the pancreas. It negates infections of the kidney and bladder, helps eye problems, increases blood circulation, detoxifies the blood, activates the thymus and balances the thyroid. It has a warming effect and fortifies the nerves. Citrine is an excellent eliminator - it relieves constipation and removes cellulite. As an elixir, it is helpful for menstrual problems and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, balancing the hormones and alleviating fatigue.

It also great when places in the wealth corner of your home/room to attract wealth.

Reiki (pronounced Ray Key) is a combination of two Japanese words rei meaning universal and ki meaning life force/energy, therefore Reiki means Universal life force. It is an ancient laying-on of hands technique that uses universal life force (energy) to heal and balance the subtle energies within our bodies. Reiki addresses physical, emotional, mental and spiritual imbalances. The Reiki practitioner serves as a vessel that supplies healing energies where they are most needed. Reiki's ki-energies flow out of the practioner's body to heal, however Reiki never depletes you own personal energy.

Reiki can be practiced with the breath, eyes, hands and body. The intent of healing is what starts the flow of healing energy. Reiki can be used to heal anything from plants, to health, to situations, to relationships and the list goes on.

Receiving an attunement enables you to immediately become connected to the Universal Source of Ki and have the ability to do Reiki. Reiki can be practiced by anyone.

The Diamond is a symbol of purity. Its pure white light can help bring a sense of wholeness into your life. It bonds relationships, bringing love and clarity into a partnership. It is said to enhance the love of a husband for his wife, it is seen as a sign of commitment and fidelity.

Diamond has also been seen as a symbol of wealth for thousands of years and is one of the stones of manifestation, attracting abundance. The larger the Diamond, the more abundance there is. A large Diamond is also excellent for blocking electromagnetic stress and for protection against cell phones, there for they are great to wear as earings.

It is also considered to be an amplifier of energy. It is one of the few stones that never needs recharging. It increases the energy of whatever it comes in contact with and is very effective when used with other crystals for healing as it enhances their power. However, it can increase negative energy as well as positive energy. On a subtle level, it fills 'holes" in the aura, re energizing it.

Psychologically, the qualities that Diamond imparts include fearlessness, invincibility and fortitude. It also pin points anything that is negative and requires transformation. This beautiful stone also clears emotional and mental pain, reduces fear and brings about new beginnings. It is also a high creative stone that brings about creativity and inventiveness.

Diamond treats glaucoma, clears sight and benefits the brain. It also helps treat allergies and chronic conditions and rebalances the metabolism. Traditionally, it was used to counteract poisons.

Hyssop essential oil grows mainly around a Mediterranean region and is cultivated in Albania, the Balkan States, France and Hungary. The Hyssop herb grows to approximately 60 cm in height, bearing slim, pointed leaves and pale blue flowers. It usually grows in warm, dry, hilly places especially on rock slopes and sunny meadows. For ages it has been knows for its cleaning properties by the Greeks and Romans.

Properties: Tonic, Sedative, Expectorant, Stimulating, Antiseptic, Hypertensive, Antispasmodic.

Circulatory System: Is excellent in regulating blood pressure and can be used as a tonic in states of weakness and during convalescence. It is also known to be beneficial for cardio vascular disorders.

Respiratory System: Good for respiratory disorders as it liquefies mucus, promotes expectoration and relieves bronchial spams. It is an excellent remedy for cough, catarrhal conditions, influenza and bronchitis.

Nervous System: It strengthens the nerves and aids relaxation.

Skin: Very good for bruises and wounds.

Emotion: Clears the mind, creating a feeling of alertness. Brings deep emotions into focus, producing clarity.

This oil is best used in lower concentrations as it may cause irritation on sensitive people.

Asthma as we all know is when a person is unable to breath properly. From a mind-body healing perspective this could give one alot to think about. If someone is suffering from asthma, yes it may be because of the condition of their lungs or esophagus, but then we could be compelled to think, why has their condition become so in the first place?

Usually there is an imbalance in the deeper levels of being before it manifests on the physical level. So since I have chose the topic of Asthma, lets see how the mind has been programed in people who suffer from this 'dis-ease'.

When someone suffers from Asthma it is usually because at a deeper level, they feel stifled and are "unable to breath for themselves". If someone has been very smothered by their parents, or guardians, or spouse and on some level accepted that as their way of life, they would quite likely be bound to suffer from asthma. Also if they were unable to cry as children and have suppressed themselves to shed tears, they will find it difficult to breath. In order to reverse this process, the mind as to be reprogramed with another thought process to ir-radicate the thought that is causing the asthma to appear.

The new thought pattern should be: "It is safe now for me to take charge of my own life. I chose to be free."

If babies or children are suffering from this it may be caused because of some deep rooted fear that makes them not want to live. The fear of life itself. The new thought pattern for that should be: "This child is safe and loved. This child is welcomed and cherished".

As mentioned above these are usually the mind body correlated reasons for asthma. However there may be an incidence of severe violence or the occurrence of an event that could have effected someone like that as well to have made them suffer from asthma.

In any case, if you can reverse the 'dis-ease', just by repeating these new thought process to yourself, what could be better than that. You have absolutely nothing to loose and you simply bring in more positivity into your life.

Let your mind believe that you are free and ready to experience life in a new way and let fresh oxygen flow into your system like never before!

As long as there is breath in the body, there is life. When breath departs, so too does life. Therefore, regulate the breath. - The Hata Yoga Pradipika

Emotional Freedom Technique also known as EFT is based on the chinese meridian system; acupressure and acupuncture. This very simple technique was developed by Dr. Gary Craig and can be used to heal literally ANYTHING, yes I said ANYTHING in your life.

It is done by tapping on certain energy points in your face, body and hands to stimulate it and thus let the healing begin. A lot of doctors, nurses, psychologists and people who come from the background of conventional medicine are also using these techniques to help their patients. EFT can be practiced anywhere and by people of all ages.

Here is a link to get a free manual on how its done and some more information about EFT, but before you rush to see it, don't miss the video posted below. Happy Tapping!

EFT FREE MANUAL http://www.emofree.com/

Champissage (Indian Head Massage) has been used in India for centuries to banish headaches, muscle tension, eye strain and stiff neck. It remains as popular as ever today, especially amongst Indian women who believe that a regular head massage, along with natural vegetable oils, keeps the hair healthy, shinny and really strong.

Traditional Indian head massage combines physical massage with the more subtle form of chakra or 'energy center' balancing. With its firm yet gentle rhythm, the massage helps unknot blockages, relieve tension and rebalance the body's energy with powerful effects. Advocates swear that just 30 minutes a week makes life brighter and better. The real beauty of the technique however rests in its simplicity - it can be done anywhere as long as there is a comfortable chair and a willing pair of healing hands.

I FORGIVE YOU. 3 simple words. But what does it really mean to forgive? Do we REALLY forgive or do we still hold on to different types of ill feelings and resentment for years inside us just because we cannot let go of the pain? Forgive and forget? But how can we forgive if we cannot forget?

Forgiveness is a word that most people do not understand. Yet it is a word that we are taught ever since we are kids, by our parents, teachers and practically every religious book we have ever read. So.. what does it really mean to forgive? and why is it so important?

Forgiveness means that even though what happened to you is not ok, you are willing to let go of toxic or negative feelings associated that person or event. When you do not forgive someone, you hurt nobody but yourself. You believe that you are a victim and for as long as you believe you are the victim, you will always be nothing but that. When you choose to hold on to those negative feelings, you create stress in the body and mind, which in turn is the root cause of most diseases and disorders, for which there is really no logical reason for you to live with.

You can start by first forgiving your parents, your friends, your partner/s, and everyone around you, until you reach a point when you can start forgiving yourself. Forgiveness happens when you face the truth. It will hurt, but it is the only way you can make room in your life for pure unconditional love, that can heal you wholly and completely. By forgiving yourself you can forgive others and receive forgiveness, and only once that's in place can everything else around you change.

You know you have forgiven someone when you think about that person, hear their name or see them and no longer have an emotional reaction. When someone can touch what used to be a wound and it no longer hurts, then you know you have truly forgiven.

Heal yourself and shed all those negative emotions and watch how all your aches and pains start to vanish. It's the law of the universe, the Law of Attraction.

In the ancient civilizations before the birth of conventional medicine, one of the most common ways of treating people was by performing a variety of therapeutic massages for different ailments. A blend of herbal oils were poured on the skin and special techniques were used to release stress and tension. These techniques vary depending on what the imbalance is.

Long sweeping strokes is to warm and soothe the muscles while fast friction is to breakdown tension so is the kneading and pounding. Today in the east the practice of applying pressure on certain points of the body have also proven to be so effective that there is usually no need to take a painkiller, if suffering from any type of muscular ache.

One of the most beneficial types of massages is a back massage. A back analysis can also be done if the massage is given correctly to check for congestion or imbalances in the organs or other areas of the body. A good back massage should be relaxing yet uplifting. The pressure should be firm and tight muscles must be targeted correctly so as to avoid future complications.

It is very important for people to get massages done regular as a way of taking care of their over all health. People of the ancient times understood massages to be a necessity and not just a luxury unlike today. It is a preventative measure for any diseases or imbalances that may be caused due to stress. There are many spas and massage center in every area that offer massages however please make sure that you book in with a qualified therapist to obtain maximum results.

From all the different types of massages to choose from give your self at least an hour every 2 weeks to maintain overall balance and wellbeing.