Pamela Ruiz Pamela Ruiz

Aromatherapy Specialist.

One of the specialties of Aromatherapy Aromatherapic energy is the least known, which is focused on the use and application of essential oils on the body energy and chakras, and seeks the help of essential oils. For the development of consciousness, to help us grow, to face emotional patterns that limit us and prevent us from experiencing who we really are.

According to Hindu and Buddhists , the seven chakras are energy centers that connect the physical body with the subtle bodies of the being. They are applied to the desired strengthening chakras or energy centers in the (neck, wrists, chest, hands and feet) 2 to 3 times per day.

Vegetarian regime with additions (of the antioxidant vitamins C and E plus selenium and a gram of omega-3 fatty acids per day), yoga exercise, breathing exercises, visualization and progressive relaxation and assistance once a week, and a  support group of other patients who were following the same program.

What foods contain Vitamin E?

Vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy vegetables, fortified cereals are among the most common sources of Vitamin E, we recommend you read the  list of U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, which identifies the contents of alpha-tocopherol to quantify biological changes in the activity of different forms of vitamin E.

Those interested in identifying foods that are easily available in Spain should turn its attention to the vegetable oils (olive, sunflower, soy) nuts, legumes and cereals. Wheat germ oil is very rich in vitamin E. In general products such as corn, nuts, seeds (beans), olives, spinach (and other green leafy vegetables), asparagus, avocado …

Vitamin E and cancer

It is believed that antioxidants like vitamin E may help protect cell membranes against the damaging effects of free radicals, which may contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer. Vitamin E may also block the formation of nitrosamines, which are carcinogens formed in the stomach from nitrites consumed in the diet. You can also protect against the development of cancers by enhancing immune function. Unfortunately, human trials and tests that have tried to associate vitamin E intake on the incidence of cancer have been generally inconclusive.

Some evidence associates higher intake of vitamin E with a decreased incidence of prostate cancer and breast cancer. However, an analysis of the effect of dietary factors, including vitamin E on the incidence of breast cancer on 18,000 postmenopausal women in the state of New York did not connect a higher intake of vitamin E with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer .

A study with women in Iowa provided evidence that an increased dietary intake of vitamin E could reduce the risk of colon cancer, especially in women under 65 years of age. Moreover, a study of 87,998 women in the Nurses’ Health Study and 47,344 males in the study Health Professionals Follow-up Study was unable to support the theory that an increased dietary intake of vitamin E may reduce the risk of colon cancer .

The American Cancer Society recently presented the results of a long-term study that evaluated the effect of regular use of vitamin C and vitamin E in mortality of bladder cancer by nearly 1,000,000 adults in the U.S. The study, conducted between 1982 and 1998, found that individuals who regularly consumed a supplement of vitamin E for over 10 years had a reduced risk of death from bladder cancer. Consumption of vitamin C did not give any advantages.

For now, researchers have a limited evidence and hope that further research could give more insight into the relation of vitamin E and cancer.

Perhaps the best known sleep disorder is insomnia, which we have all experienced at some time. Insomnia can be common in specific stressful situations (exams, health problems, major life changes, etc.), but it can become chronic and is not directly related to the problem that caused it. For us to  talk about insomnia as a disease or disorder, it should be common (3 or more nights a week). Indicators that you may be suffering from insomnia are to wake up before being resting six and a half hours or so, waking up several times during the night unable to sleep again for half an hour or to take more than half an to an hour to fall asleep at bedtime.

People can adopt practices that help minimize the incidence of sleep problems and promote a normal sleep. First of all there are a number of factors that affect sleep quality, such as the environment, exercise, diet or use of substances:

• 1. Substance abuse: It is well known that caffeine affects sleep, as it is a stimulant.. In fact we all have coffee associated with the “waking up”, not “sleeping”. Nicotine has a similar effect of stimulation. Furthermore, the alcohol produces an effect that may go unnoticed to most. Although it is a depressant and can provide you to fall asleep, the quality of sleep is worse, so you must avoid its misuse.
• 2. Environment: Our bodies need certain environmental noise, light, temperature and humidity suitable for sleeping. The temperature should range between 18 and 22 º C and humidity between 40 and 70%. Of course the light should be dim and we must prevent excessive noise.
• 3. Exercise: Although this depends on the intensity of the activity, it is recognized that physical exercise promotes sleep when conducted in the morning or late afternoon, while it can be negative if we do at it bedtime.
• 4.Diet: A diet rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals increases the quality of sleep, whereas proteins promote wakefulness. Las comidas fuertes antes del sueño disminuyen su calidad. Heavy meals before sleep diminish their quality.

From this, we can have a set of guidelines to facilitate sleep:

• 1. Not to abuse substances such as coffee, tobacco or alcohol, especially before sleeping, and do not take sleeping drugs without medical supervision.
• 2. Dine a reasonable time before bed (2 to 3 hours before) and make sure the dinners are neither too scarce nor too abundant. Reduce fat foods and sauces. Eat the following foods that exert a sedative action. Apricots, garlic, cabbage, lettuce, apples, peachs and honey. Consume foods rich in vitamins A, B1, B6, D.
• 3. Create a habit of sleeping, lying up and waking up always at the same hour.
• 4. The bedroom should have the appropriate environmental conditions. The bed should be comfortable (neither too soft nor too hard). The conditions of temperature, light, humidity and noise must be controlled.
• 5. Exercise often, this is healthy in general, not just for sleeping. It is better if you exercise in the morning and do not wait for the last minute.
• 6. Avoid spending too much time awake in your bed, because we must ensure that the body does not get used to it.
• 7. As bedtime approaches try to wind down your mental and physical activity. For example, read something easy  and listen to  relaxing music, but do not watch action movies or play videogames.
• 8. After dinner drink a herbal tea of orange, Lime or a glass of hot milk
• 9.Aromatherapy:get a massage with the following sssential oils: Basil, Lavender, Chamomile, Torojil.
• 10. Phytotherapy: Valerian tea, lime tea.

Think about the importance of this, we spend third of our lives sleeping, is it not worth doing it in the best possible conditions?

one of the most important elements  needed  for survival for every living being. Water also has invaluable benefits when used in various types of therapies for human beings.

Etymologically, we find the origin of the word in the Greek terms’ Hydor ‘(water) and’ Therapeia ‘(therapy).

Although hydrotherapy techniques were used in ancient times, Hippocrates (460 to 337 BC), for example, mentions some of them; they were abandoned for a long time and only started to create a buzz in the eighteenth century through the work of doctors Sigmund Hahn (1664 1742) and his son Johann Sigmund Hahn (1696-1773). From this work, Vinceriz Priessnitz (1799-1851) created  the cold water therapy by associating it to sudorific implement . But who really renovated modern hydrotherapy was the Protestant pastor Sebastian Kneipp (1821 -1897), whose basic tenet was that the disease in humans happens when their natural force is undermined by an inadequate diet and unnatural lifestyle. His methods, known today as the “Kneipp cure” included not only complete and partial baths of hot and cold water, but jets of water, exercise, use of medicinal herbs and a healthy diet.

. Hydrotherapy then consists of applying water showers at different pressure and temperature according to different disease to treat, according to a progressive and treatment with graded doses  as weak incentives tend to weaken the body and strong stimuli hurt it too  (hot water calms and tones the nervous system, but if the temperature is excessive or the duration of the bath is very long may cause nervousness and insomnia).

There are different ways in hydrotherapy:

– Cleasings: Apply a thin film of water in certain areas of the body using a cloth. Usually done early in the morning (with cold water) or evening (with warm water).

- Jets: It consists of applying water jets with different pressure and temperature. Se suelen aplicar a una distancia de 2 – 4 metros de la persona utilizando una manguera de presión de 3 – 4 mm de diámetro. It is usually applied at a distance of 2-4 meters from the person using a pressure hose of 3-4 mm in diameter.

- Baths: Baths improve body metabolism and is indicated for the treatment of problems of hypotension, migraine, circulatory problems, rheumatism, skin diseases, depression and anxiety states, but are contraindicated in hypertension, heart failure , swollen varicose veins, myocardial infarction and thrombophlebitis.

- Sauna: Use of sauna is recommended to boost defenses and prevent colds, if problems in the joints and circulatory system, and also when there is physical or mental exhaustion.

– Inhalations: recommended for bronchial asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, respiratory infections and bronchitis.

- Wraps: It consists of wrapping the body part concerned with a damp cloth soaked in cold water, thus absorbing heat from the body, improves circulation and is used to treat inflammations, contusions and muscle aches or joint pains mainly.

a. Does the food we consume maintain and renew the personal conservation system?
Many of these foods are toxic long-term and cause cancer, heart disease and degenerative diseases, immune deficiencies and even chronic lethargy.

b. Do these foods maintain and renew the conservation system of the human species?
The system of food production and distribution creates a chronic hunger in a world of abundance. More than two thirds of the world’s population lives in poverty and scarcity. Todos los días mueren más de 40 mil niños a consecuencia de una mala nutrición y enfermedades relacionadas con la falta de alimentos. Every day over 40 thousand children die as a result of poor nutrition and diseases associated with lack of food.

c.Do these foods maintain and renew the system of life on the planet?
This same economy of food production drains fertile soils, wastes the scarce fresh water, pollutes the environment, kills other living species, and turns the forest into deserts and the cultivated land dead (1).

Microscopic algae, including Spirulina, are an appropriate response in order to lessen the impact on the social and environmental health of mankind. “Algae are microscopic marine phytoplankton, the base of the food chain that keeps all life above. The nutrient-rich upwellings caused by ocean currents that reach the continental shelves, as well as the contributions of the great rivers maintain the growth of phytoplankton. These microalgae are important for its unique ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen into organic forms. This phenomenon is very important because organic nitrogen is essential for the synthesis of complex proteins and amino acids from plants and animals (2).

Spirulina provides the highest protein content of all natural foods (65%).It has higher proportions of protein than meat (15-25%), soybeans (35%), milk powder (35%), groundnuts (25%), eggs (12%), cereals (8-14 %) and whole milk (3%). Not only that, for the first time we have a complete vegetable source of high quality protein because it contains all essential and non essential amino acids (3). According to studies and analysis and verified facts, the daily consumption of 36 grams of Spirulina (12 to 16 capsules) provides the necessary protein. (4) Analysis of protein nutrition classified according to their net use value determined by the quality of the amino acid digestibility (proportion digested by the body) and its biological value (proportion retained of it). From this point of view and taking into account the amount of protein they have, Spirulina is second after the egg (5) . Additional to the above, the consumption of Spirulina reduces the chances of increasing levels of cholesterol in the blood because its content is much lower than any other source of protein coming from an animal.

Its content of beta carotene (more than any other vegetable source), thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, vitamin C, D, E, biotin and inositol are also important. That means that Spirulina is an excellent formula to prevent the risk of all cancers, including lung, throat, stomach, digestive tract, breast and cervix. As the increase in cancer incidence appears related to environmental factors, particularly diet, scientists say they can offset the increasing presence in the diet of 96 protective factors, including beta-carotene.

At the same time, it is the natural food which has more iron content (7) and therefore important for combating anemia and immune deficiencies resulting from deficiency of this mineral. It is equally rich in calcium and magnesium, which is valuable when it comes to preventing osteoporosis, and maintaining keeping neural transmission to bones and muscles (8).

For its abundance of essential fatty acids, especially linoleic (LA) and gamma (GLA), also in the human diet, Spirulina promotes the normalization of cholesterol and blood pressure. It is known precisely, thanks to investigations of recent years that the absence of GLA is responsible for the increase in alcoholism, aging symptoms, schizophrenia, heart disease, premenstrual syndrome, obesity and arthritis (9).

A study in Japan suggests that consumption of Spirulina increases the population of lactobacilli in humans and can increase the effective absorption of vitamin B1 and other vitamins in the diet. This indicates that the product can maintain the correct status of the intestinal flora and prevent infection of the colon, improve digestion and stimulate the immune system (9) .

1.       Microalga Spirulina, superalimento del futuro, Robert Henrikson, p. 1.
2.       Idem, p. 27 3.Earthrise F arms 1982
3.       Jassby, 1983, FNB, 1975 3
4.       The Whole Food Revolution, Switzel; p. 4. 21
5.       “Dietary VitaminA and Risk of Cancer in the Western Electric Study”, Shekelle, RB.
6.       Department of Agriculture United States, YSK Int Corp.1982-88
7.       Idem l,p.54 7.
8.       Evening Primrose Gil, Passwate 1; RA 8
9.       “Intestinal Infection and Malnutrition”, Nutritional Research, 1985, Vol. 6 N° 10 9.

Alternative medicine recommends:

1 .- Meditation.

Hence the powerful action of therapeutic massage that helps us reach a state of deep relaxation and pleasure where brain waves are in alpha frequency, much slower, a meditative state that allows us to recharge even more than sleep. While one is in this state the body produces endorphins (hormones that relieve pain and induce feelings of euphoria and contentment).
Research has shown that a massage enhances immunity and improves the response of leukocytes to stress.
It helps the muscles retain their flexibility, combat depression and negative moods, increase the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, ie, maintains the red cells and white cells in the blood.

2 .- Relaxation.

Breathing correctly is essential for total relaxation, complete, and an accurate awareness of our here and now because breathing reduces stress and thus the mind can remain calm and controlled.

3 .- cold water bath

Immersion cold baths help stimulate the nervous system and circulatory system.

4 .- Spirulina-based, fruit and vegetables food.

Spirulina is the richest source of vitamin B12, which helps overcome stress..It also contains a wide range of B vitamins and essential amino acids that help to calm nerves.

5 .- Exercise or Yoga

6 .- Take tizanas or orange blossom teas (orange, valerian, mint).