However, here are some facts about the new class of drugs called designer drugs and how to keep your teens safe from them.

The Sad Truth

The drugs mentioned above are illegal. Using, selling or even possessing them will get you jailed. These types of drugs are imported into the country from other places and sold on the streets.

There are now other drugs that have gone high tech. These drugs are created by chemists to replace the drugs that are illegal so that people who use them or sell them can stay out of jail and/or still stay in business.

Designer drugs have been created to mimic the effects of illegal drugs. Their chemical make-up is tweaked so that they don’t contain any illegal substances. Another name for these drugs is “party drugs.” This is where most people encounter them for the first time. Unfortunately, they also encounter the awful side effects.

Toxic chemicals are used to manufacture them and many of these chemicals are often still present in the drug. That includes formaldehyde, phenylacetic acid and others. Formaldehyde isn’t used to preserve animals any longer because of its toxicity, which has been known to cause cancer.

Those who take these designer drugs experience the same euphoric effects as illegal drugs, but with a twist. The first time these drugs are tested is when they are given to unsuspecting drug users who think they are getting one thing but are really being slipped another. Since party drugs are not the real thing, kids think they are safe to use, but too much of a chemical can turn the entire batch deadly, with even just one snort or swallowing of a pill.

The results are devastating and many have died from using party drugs. Taking too much can result in unconsciousness, convulsions and death. The manufacturing process has moved from professional chemists to household kitchens and apartments. The problem is that many of the chemicals needed are purchased separately without raising suspicion.

Here is a condensed list of some designer drugs. You may have heard of most of them:

* Crystal Meth
* Ecstasy (MDMA)
* LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide)
* GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyrate)
* China White
* Ketamine (animal tranquilizer)

Some of these are stimulants and others relax you into a state that creates an “out of body” experience. Unfortunately, many of these designer drugs are derivatives of anesthetics and without observation, can depress heart rate and breathing. Hallucinations, anxiety, euphoria and changes in behavior can lead to violence, accidents and death.

Laws have been enacted to make them illegal to produce and use. Know the facts about designer drugs and inform your children about them.

Talking to Teens about Drugs

First of all, know that the scare tactics don’t work. You can’t scare or bully your teen into not getting involved with drugs. What you can do is place the facts in front of them, be honest, and then believe that they will make the right decision.

It is never too early to talk about drugs. Children are exposed to drugs, alcohol and sex at an earlier age these days. When you try to keep it from them, they will ask their friends, who probably know as little as they do. Step up and give them the opportunity to ask questions of you so that they understand all the ramifications.

Popular Drugs and Side Effects

When it comes to talking about drugs, your children will have questions. Begin the dialogue about drugs and see where that leads you in your conversation. Here are some facts about the drugs on the street these days and what they can do:

* Heroin – This drug comes from the opium plant. It is extracted from the dried milk of the opium poppy. Highly addictive, heroin is injected, smoked or inhaled. It has different street names (horse, smack). A small dose can leave you feeling euphoric as if you have left your body. However, once you come down from your high, you may feel drowsiness, nausea, vomiting and cramps. It is easy to overdose if you are not careful.

* Cocaine – It is also called snow, crack and nose candy. Cocaine is extracted from the leaves of the cocoa plant. It can be inhaled, smoked or injected. The drug is mixed or cut with other substances to gain the purest drug. Some of these chemicals that cocaine can be laced with can lead to overdose or a bad experience (trip) that can leave you physically and mentally damaged. Crack cocaine is a stimulant that can lead to heart attacks even in first-time users.

* Alcohol – This is classified as a drug even though it is not illegal. If you are under 21, you are not allowed to buy it, but many teens find ways around that. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, vision and reaction time. Driving under the influence is one of the number one killers of teenagers. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning and possibly death.

* Designer drugs – This list includes Ecstasy, PCP, LSD, GHB and crystal meth. They were created to give the same feelings as the drugs above without using illegal substances. These drugs have proved just as deadly, as a bad batch can lead to brain damage and death.

* Cough medicine – Over-the-counter medications are being used to get high. The active ingredient, dextromethorphan, can lead to paranoia, dizziness as well as an “out of body” experience some kids are looking for. Chronic usage can lead to brain damage, seizures and possible death.

Teens take drugs for different reasons. Talking to them about drugs and their side effects before they get interested can be a deterrent to ever trying them.

On the surface, things look tidy, but they can be hiding an unhealthy secret. Let’s explore ways that your home could be hazardous and making you sick and how to change the situation.

* Mattresses – No one thinks about the bed they sleep on. It can be fine now, giving you the best night’s sleep. What about when it gets old? Lumpy mattresses can lead to back problems and loss of sleep. A good mattress last for about ten years and then it’s time to replace it. Flipping the mattress every couple of months ensures more even wear. You can also check for stains or problems with the mattress that may need your attention.

* Pillows – They usually contain either synthetic fibers or down feathers. If your child seems to sneeze, cough or have a stuffy nose, it could be the pillow. Cover pillows in pillow tickings to prevent the contents from spilling out and coming into contact with their skin. Also look for hypo-allergenic pillow fillings.

* Dust mites and other allergens – When was the last time you changed your air filters? They are designed to grab dust and other allergens out of the air so the atmosphere in your home is filled with clean, breathable air. Most have a life of three months. Using a clogged filter will not only leave more allergens in the air, but also slow down the efficiency of your heating and air-conditioning system.

* Use an air purifier. Even with regular filter changes, air purifiers can remove additional pollutants around the house such as cigarette smoke, perfumes, cleaning product fumes and other irritants.

* Keep ventilation high in bathrooms. The same moisture that causes mirrors and windows to get foggy after a hot shower is also hanging over the other surfaces as well. It can lead to an increase in bacteria and also to mold. Turn on vent fans and leave doors open after showers and baths to allow the area to dry and keep moisture to a minimum.

* Use fragrance-free and dye-free products. Some skin is quite sensitive to them. Try using dish and laundry detergent that is free of them. When you find a laundry detergent that doesn’t cause itching in the family, stick with it.

How healthy is your home? If you aren’t sure, use the tips above to check it out.

Spring is the time of new life. Trees and flowers bloom and the grass becomes green again. The weather gets warmer as nature awakens from a long wintry sleep. Think of your body. It is awakening, too.

In the spirit of the time of year, it is time to get moving. The body may be a bit stiff from winter, but you can get going as soon as the weather improves.

* Get moving – Exercise is more fun together than done alone. Take a daily trip to the park for a refreshing walk. Do you have bikes? Don those protective helmets and hit a trail in your town or city.

* Take a class – Gyms will be ramping up as many people come out to sculpt a new body for the summer. Find a class that you like: aerobics, kickboxing, step aerobics, spinning, kettlebell workouts or weight training. In a class setting, you get camaraderie and helpful instruction.

* Eat light – As the weather gets warmer, you don’t want to be bogged down with heavy foods. Soups and stews were okay for winter, but now you can eat more colorful fare like fresh fruit, veggies you can carry to snack on, and salads. Add lean meat to your salad or peanut butter to an apple or stalk of celery for added protein.

* Learn to de-stress – The body may need a push to release its pent-up energy. Having a massage can get the blood flowing and unblock the flow of energy throughout your body. Don’t go only for the full body massage; try a facial or foot massage as well. Kids will enjoy this type of pampering, too.

* Play – All movement doesn’t need to be structured. After dinner, throw the ball around in the backyard. Spend a Saturday morning playing volleyball or kickball. Play is not only good for your muscles, but also your mind. Sharing a laugh with the family stimulates the release of endorphins, which heighten mood and makes for beautiful memories.

* Get some vitamin D – This is the sun vitamin. Many of us don’t get outside because we are too busy. This is also the techie generation that spends a lot of time indoors. Make time each day to get your family outside to soak up some vitamin D the old-fashioned way. Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium, which is important for strong bones.

Besides shedding those heavy winter clothes, shed a few pounds with the family and get healthy this spring.

What Is Detoxification?

The body can get filled with toxins. We encounter toxins in the food we eat, our homes, the environment, and internally. Did you know that you could have several pounds of undigested red meat in your colon right now?

Detoxification is the process whereby you rid your body of those toxins and help it to work properly. Toxins can build up in the tissues of your body and lead to poor functioning of your organs. The main filtering organs of the body are the liver, intestines, skin and kidneys. When they are overtaxed by toxin build-up, you might experience illness, irritability, weight gain, weight loss or depression.

Detoxification Methods

There is something that you can do to help your body feel just as clean and fresh on the inside as you want to feel on the outside. While your body has a natural filtering and detoxifying system, sometimes it needs help when the burden is too much.

* Body brushing – This method involves using a natural bristle brush to remove dead skin cells and debris from the outside of your body. Pores can easily get clogged up and regular brushing can remove them. It can also help to remove cellulite. Perform the technique in the morning while you are still dry and then shower to remove the impurities.

* Massage – Ancient oriental medicine believes that the body is governed by energy. This energy flows throughout the body, allowing it to maintain a healing balance. When the energy is blocked, that is when you get disease. Regular massage can work to remove the blockages that cause problems in the body. Toxins can flow into the bloodstream and be eliminated from the body.

* Diet – The culprit of some toxins is what we eat. Added preservatives can build up in the body and potentially harm us. By eating more whole foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, the body can remove excess toxins and get back to functioning normally. You gain more energy, increased immunity and faster digestion. This can all lead to weight loss as well.

* Exercise – Exercise gets the blood flowing. It increases the metabolism so more fat is burned for energy. This also releases toxins into the bloodstream to be excreted by the body. As a by-product, you feel better, gain mental clarity and increased cardiovascular health. Sweating releases toxins through the skin to lighten the load.

Are you looking to help your body work more efficiently? Maybe what you need is to detoxify the system. The foregoing are ways that you can begin to do just that.

Having enough magnesium is essential for over 325 different biochemical reactions in your body, including producing energy from the foods we eat, enabling muscles to relax, and regulating blood pressure.

When taking magnesium, it is also helpful to increase calcium intake as calcium will enable more of the vitamins and minerals to enter the bones. Calcium-rich foods such as almonds, tofu, plain yogurt, oats, and seafood can easily be used in a daily diet. If you have a cold already, you may want to avoid the obvious calcium food – milk – as it can make post nasal drainage worse.

Don’t forget to include foods such as carrots, garlic, onions, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, tuna, natural peanut butter, bananas, cantaloupe, kiwi, citrus fruits, brown rice, oatmeal, flaxseed, black beans, and lentils. These are high in vitamins B6 and B12 which may help you recover from a cold quicker. In addition, some of them have vitamin C, long thought to be helpful in the case of colds, and zinc, also now believed to be beneficial in warding off colds, or helping a person recover more quickly from a cold.

Many people believe it’s easier to get the vitamins and minerals they need from over-the-counter products. You can do that, but it is more desirable to get your nutrition from natural sources.

So if you are concerned about your family’s health this winter, you can take preventive steps, and acan also easily eat some of these super foods to keep colds at bay this winter. Let’s face it, super foods taste better than the nutrients which come out of a bottle, so you’ll also be able to enjoy getting and staying healthy during cold season.

Colds and flu are similar in that they’re both respiratory illnesses. They also have some of the same symptoms. While there are similarities, such as both being viral infections, there are also differences.

Symptoms from colds generally begin slowly, and consist of runny or stuffy noses, wet or productive coughs, mild fatigue, and slight body aches.

Flu, on the other hand, makes itself know quickly (often within three to six hours); symptoms include fever, more severe body aches, chills, moderate fatigue, dry or burning cough, severe chest congestion, and headache.

Obviously, preventing a cold is preferable to treating one and you can do much to reduce your chances of catching a cold: washing your hands with hot soapy water, avoiding touching your eyes or nose, getting plenty of rest, staying hydrated, and maintaining a healthy diet. In fact, adding vitamin and mineral-rich super foods to your daily diet can be your front line to avoiding a cold this season.

Start by incorporating more immune-boosting foods such as garlic, onions, mushrooms, fish, oats, tea, and even Mom’s home-made chicken soup. You could also include vibrant fruits such as blueberries, oranges, raisins, and kiwi fruit.

California avocados, ginger, horseradish, and turmeric round out the foods you’d want to add to increase your immune system. Of course, you’d be hard-pressed to find a recipe that incorporated all of these foods at once, and you probably wouldn’t want to. But a little bit each week should help keep your immune system strong.

Some people experience them so often the condition is considered chronic. Most people choose to treat chronic sinus infections with traditional methods, but some choose holistic treatments. What is the difference, and is one better than the other?

If you’ve ever had a sinus infection, you know the symptoms: headache, facial pain and heaviness, low grade fever, fatigue, or stuffy ears. You may feel like your head weighs a ton and you’re miserable. You also want to find relief so you can get back to your life and feel better.

Doctors will often prescribe an antihistamine or decongestant if you visit them to consult with them about your sinus infection. These medications will help keep your sinus passages open; they also allow the congestion to drain.

Some people use over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays, but using them for more than three days at a time can lead your sinuses to become dependent upon the spray to remain open. The possibility of becoming “addicted” to these sprays is so great that it would be best to talk with your doctor or nurse about using them at all.

You may notice your sinus pressure and discomfort lessening after you take a warm shower. This is because the moist heat loosens the congestion and allows it to drain. Using a damp, warm washcloth placed on the forehead or over the bridge of the nose and onto the cheeks (where sinuses are located) can also help. Be careful about the temperature of the cloth, however, as you don’t want to burn yourself.

Non-traditional and holistic treatments vary. Some of them include, but are not limited to:

* Aromatherapy which uses essential oils from flowers, fruits, and herbs to alleviate sinus congestion. Common essential oils to treat sinuses are eucalyptus or benzoin.

* Ear acupuncture, or auricular therapy, is used to stimulate a precise point on the ear by applying direct pressure. Since the ear has many nerve endings and blood vessels, manipulating the right spot can aide in natural healing and achieving proper balance within the body.

* Color light therapy is another holistic approach which may help those suffering from chronic sinus infections. Claims are made that unhealthy bodies can be made better by concentrating on specific colors to achieve healing. Those suffering from chronic sinus infections can get relief with green-colored light.

* Herbal remedies have been shown to be effective in treating sinus infections and many other conditions. Mullein has decongestant properties and will also soothe the mucous membranes. Walnut leaf tea helps stop nasal discharge and post nasal drip. Stinging nettle is a natural antihistamine. Blood root is used to treat nasal congestion and sneezing.

* Mesotherapy, which is used primarily in France, involves injecting tiny doses of medication into the affected area. Herbal and homeopathic medications are also used. This allows the sinuses to drain and is proven to be helpful in treating sinus pain and migraine headaches.

Both methods of treating chronic sinus infections can be effective. Is one better than the other? That depends on who you listen to. Traditional medicine is more widely accepted and easy to obtain. Holistic treatments, on the other hand, may not be readily available where you live.

Ultimately, the choice of which treatment to use to treat chronic sinus infections is up to you, but at least you have a better understanding of the options to be able to make an informed decision.

–

You may also want to try a gargle made with hot water, powdered ginger, lemon juice, and honey. The ginger has anti-inflammatory properties, and honey is a natural antibiotic. Add the astringent properties of the lemons and you have the perfect sore throat gargle.

Add one teaspoon each or powdered ginger and honey to 1/2 cup hot water and the juice of 1/2 lemon. Of course, you may want to use the same ingredients in tea, instead.

Cooler weather often brings sore throats for young and old alike. Learning how to soothe a sore throat naturally can not only solve your sore throat problems, but it can also save you money.

There’s a reason people have been using these tried-and-true remedies for sore throats – they’ve been proven to work. Why not try one of these remedies the next time your throat feels sore? It will save time, and money.

Generally speaking, they also accompany colds and flu as well. Whatever the reason, many people want to know how to soothe a sore throat naturally, especially when the weather gets colder.

Sore throats are caused by inflammation to the back of the throat. Generally it’s more a nuisance than anything, but it can develop into something more serious. Dryness, burning in the throat, painful swallowing, and hoarseness are often associated with sore throats.

They can be caused by bacterial of viral infections and be part of the common cold or flu, as well as more serious diseases such as mumps, measles, and tonsillitis. There are a number of different ways to treat your sore throat naturally without spending a lot.

You can purchase sore throat lozenges or sprays to help a sore throat feel better, but why spend the money when there are a number of options you can try from the comfort of your own home for pennies instead of big bucks. These tried and true natural remedies may be right at hand, as the ingredients are commonly found in most homes.

Gargling with lemon juice in water is one of the most common home remedies for dealing with sore throats. The juice acts as an astringent which helps shrink the swollen tissues in the throat. It also creates a hostile environment for bacteria and viruses to live, much less thrive.

Mix a teaspoon of lemon juice into a cup of water. Fresh lemon juice is best, but pre-squeezed lemon juice you can find in the store will work just as well. To make the gargle even more effective, use warm water. It will soothe the throat as well as provide the above benefits.