Flower Power: The Color of Flowers

 

Good Morning!

Flower Power: The Color of Flowers

About a week ago, my mom shared with me a story about the time she was in the hospital. One of her dear friends came to visit and brought her a single hydrangea flower in a vase...the thing was, the flower was black! My mom, although not sharing her feeling of unease with her good friend (who was unaware of the effects of the flower and its color) shared with me, that it was one of the most disturbing events she could recall.

Color affects every moment of our lives although our color choices are mostly unconscious. Color has a great emotional impact on a person that comes out via the clothes we chose to wear, decorations to fill our homes, personality, foods we choose to eat, flowers we surround ourselves with and many more ways.

It is possible to introduce colors to different areas of daily life to give off more energy, soothing affects, stimulate appetites and sexual motivation or even give a place a clean atmosphere. I asked thirty males from the ages of fifteen to sixty what color bra they would like to see their dream girl wearing to find out what colors are the most sexually stimulating. As I predicted, out of thirty, fourteen chose black, while four chose pink, red, blue and white were also chosen by three each and gray and purple were each favored by one person a piece. I also conducted an experiment to see what colors were stimulating on appetites. I added food coloring to make one flavor of Jell-O turn red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, brown, and pink. Out of fifteen total people, seven chose red, purple and pink were chosen by three a piece, and orange and green were chosen by one each.

Color-Flower Psychology

Blue can either be a calming color or a depressing color, depending on how much one is surrounded by it. Blue most always has a pleasant association. Blue also is associated with a cool, cleansed, relaxed, calm, hopeful, protected, reassuring, trusting and accepting feeling. It inspires mental control, clarity and creativity. Blue has a direct effect on the autonomic nervous system, which helps calm and soothe humans. However, subconsciously it affects us because we associate blue with the night sky, so it makes us feel calm as though we are being soothed by the night sky. On the other hand, dark blue is sedative and too much can give off a feeling of depression. Blue is also an appetite suppressant. This is believed to be that due to the fact that nature does not create a blue food other than blueberries, therefore we do not have an automatic appetite response to blue. Actually, in a decorative perspective, blue is a spacious color that is most suited for deep thought and relief from a stressful, hectic life. If you wear blue, you may feel self-reliant, sensitive or intelligent. It promotes a good imagination and a practical approach to life by feeling responsible for others. Blue wearers are normally quite independent yet feel the need to be surrounded by tenderness, love and affection. In the survey of bra color selection, the three that chose blue, possibly feel the need for love and affection.

Brown is a direct color of nature so it gives off an earth feeling that brings us comfort and support. However, fans of brown are known to often keep emotions to themselves and retreat from fear of the real world. These people sometimes suffer from a lack of self-worth. These people like brown because it helps them with their troubles and it gives them a sense of stability and alleviates insecurity. People who wear brown are normally honest, sensuous and protective because of their desire to be emotionally secure and accepted. They strive for a structured life and they appreciate the fine pleasure of life.

Orange is widely known as the attention grabber and the stimulator of the mind and body. Orange is an anti-depressant color that lifts spirits by giving off feelings of security, warmth, joy, creativity, fun, humor and independence. Like brown, orange frees and releases emotion and alleviates self-pity and self-worth and the unwillingness to forgive. Physically, orange stimulates the sex organs and has an incredibly beneficial effect on the digestive system. Wearers of orange are action-oriented, often impatient, independent and self- motivated. They have a high energy level and tend to be active and competitive. Being surrounded by orange is mentally and physically stimulating and can make a person feel warm, secure and comfortable, though very few people choose to decorate in orange.

Purple is a color of mixed messages coming from both red and blue. Purple is mostly associated with those who are sexy, powerful, and sophisticated. For the people who favor this color are typically dramatic, spiritual, creative, intuitive, inspirational in beauty and art, protective, and wrapped up in a fantasy. Purple balances the mind, brings peace and combats fear. However, fans of purple can be arrogant at times, for they have little interest in lesser people and are only interested in the best of everything. This is probably why the one person who chose a purple bra did; because he takes great interest in only the very best.

Red is the most powerful of all the colors because of its ability to stimulate the heart and blood circulation so that it raises heart rates. Red is known for its high arousal in all perspectives of the body for it is a sexy, dynamic, daring, vital, powerful, warm, sensual, determined, courageous, angry, impatient and ambitious color. It always has a pleasant association because it helps people overcome negative thoughts although too much red can cause a person to become impatient. Red is a color that is often preferred by the economically stable, secure and the risk-takers. Studies even show that people are more daring to gamble more while under red lighting. Impulsive, excitable, energetic, sexual, courageous and extroverted are ways of describing people who enjoy wearing red. They are ambitious and want things to happen as soon as they say the word. They want to be the best and can be insensitive to others feelings to be the best or the center of attention. Actually, if you make a habit of wearing red it may indicate that you place importance on sexual desire and eroticism. And we all know that most guys place importance on sexual desire and eroticism and that is why ten percent of guys chose red in the bra survey. Also, studies show red stimulates appetite more than any other color, and that explains why seven out of fifteen people chose red as their favorite color Jell-O

Pink and Violet have a gentle stimulation of heart and blood circulation. Just as pink is nearly red, pink nearly has the affects of red, just not so radiant. It elicits simple emotions such as unselfish love, kindness and consideration. It is emotionally soothing and calming, warming, cheerful and nurturing colors that lessen the feelings of irritation and aggression by surrounding us with a sense of love. A study has even been conducted to show that pink has a subduing effect on violent prison inmates. People who enjoy wearing pink are typically affectionate, sympathetic and understanding. They often need the support of others and can often times be child-like. Pink takes on traits of red and white; therefore it is still a sensuous color while being quite innocent. This combination makes pink quite a sexual color, therefore it is self-explanatory as to why four out of thirty guys chose pink as their choice in bra color. And since it has traits of red, the most appetite stimulating of colors, five percent of people chose pink as their favorite color Jell-O.

Green is the color of freshness, peace, freedom, relaxation, security and laziness. It can represent optimism, yet it also represents envy and sickness. Because it is the color of life and vegetation, it helps us to connect with the empathy of others and nature. Green has a balancing quality that regulates our circulation so it is physically and emotionally good for the heart, so we should seek green under stress. Wearers of green are often cautious, quiet, and humanistic and are the types to just observe life and not actually get involved in the action. However, when a green-lover must get involved, they will proceed cautiously to be able to fully control the situation.

Yellow is the warmest, most cheerful, happiest, brightest and most uplifting of all the colors. It stimulates the brain making people alert, clear-headed and decisive. Because it helps aids the brain in these activities, it would be a good idea to decorate an office in yellow so that the worker could do his or her best thinking. It also aids in the powers of discrimination, memory, clear thinking, decision making, good judgment, organization, assimilation of new ideas and ability to see other perspectives. A person that wears yellow is someone that is easily approachable because they seem stimulating, spontaneous, interesting and lively to others, and normally are. However, yellow-lovers desire to find greater happiness, which implies minor conflict in which release is needed.

Black is a very powerful color because of its mystery, dominance and the fact that it is the most sophisticated of all colors. Black is associated with silence, infinite and feminine life-force (passive, uncharted and mysterious.) It is also associated with mourning by the blue-collar and middle aged; however, it is well liked by the wealthy. This is possibly due to the fact that black is the most popular color in formal clothing, that is worn mostly by the upper class. The wearers or black are often strong-willed, opinionated, disciplined and independent. Guys admire these qualities in women and find them sexy. That is why the majority, fourteen of thirty, guys chose black bras on their dream girls. People who love black reject help of others, and feel the need to renounce everything. But this may be due to the fact that they have a little way to go until maturity and are using black to cloak yourself while you discover your true identity. Black is a color that is very popular in clothing; especially formal clothing because it makes things look smaller, meaning it makes people look thin. However, it is not especially smart to make black the dominant color in a room because it will give the room the same affect and could also give a person a negative frame of mind.

White is the color that is always associated with cleanliness, purity, coldness and peace. It gives off the aura of freedom and openness. However, too much white can be cold and isolating or can give headaches and cause eyestrain. White contains all the colors of the spectrum; therefore it shows that people who wear white have a positive, well-balanced, optimistic personality. They also seek a lifestyle free of pressure. White is the most pure color, and this is why ten percent of guys chose white bras. Many males' dream girls are very innocent and pure; therefore they associate a pure girl with a white bra.

At last, gray is the color of individuals. It gives off the impression that you are self-sufficient and have good self-control and prefer to be uninvolved. Gray is associated with independence, self-reliance, and acts as a shield from influence. However, gray gives off a negative feeling and can make a person who is around this color frequently, feel lonely and self-critical. Gray takes on many of the characteristics of black and white since it is a combination of the two.

In the end, color subconsciously plays a vast role in the psychology of humans. It can be a major persuasion factor in our emotions, and they can seriously uplift or bring us down, especially if a person associates a color with one particular idea. However, naturally, color has the same general affect on people.

Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac
http://www.peacefulmind.com/oils.htm
Therapies for healing
mind, body, spirit

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Anti-aging Therapies: 5HTP or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan

 

Good Morning!

Anti-Aging Therapies: 5HTP or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan

5-HTP is the precise precursor of serotonin. This is often used in the place of SSRI drugs and L-Tryptophan and may help in serotonin deficiency related conditions such as severe depression, epilepsy, anxiety, insomnia, weight loss and addiction. Also studied for PMS, migraine and chronic tension headaches. 5-HTP comes from an extract of Griffonia simplicifolia . Used traditionally in African medicine to inhibit diarrhea, vomiting and constipation, and as an aphrodisiac. The extraction process uses alcohol and produces an oily solid. The oily extract is then purified into a dry solid. 5-HTP can also be made synthetically in the laboratory. The final product is the same as the one made by the body.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that must be taken in through protein containing foods since the body can not synthesize it. Of the eight essential amino acids, tryptophan is the least common, accounting for only about one percent of protein content, and it is used up rapidly by the body. About ninety-percent is used in protein synthesis. The rest is divided between serotonin production and niacin production, which requires 60mg for every 1mg of niacin produced. However, 5-HTP is only used in serotonin production. 5- hydroxytryptophan is also able to pass through the blood-brain barrier easily, unlike tryptophan, which can only pass through the barrier by using the same transport molecule that carries leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Considerable research has been conducted on the activity of 5-HTP which includes:

Mood enhancer: Dysregulation of serotonin metabolism in the central nervous system has been shown to affect mood. 5-HTP helps to normalize serotonin levels and thus positively affect mood. In a double-blind study using objective assessments of mood, researchers in Zurich reported significant improvements in mood with 5-HTP. (Psychopathology 24:53-81, 1991)

In a separate double-blind, multi-center study in Germany, researchers reported significant improvements in both objective and self-assessment indices of mood. (Arch Psychiat Nervenkr 224:175-186, 1977)

Sleep: Many studies have shown that depletion of serotonin results in insomnia, which is reversed by administration of 5-HTP. Soulairac and Lambient reported that 100 mg of 5-HTP resulted in significant improvement for people who complained of trouble sleeping (Ann Med Pychol 135:792-798, 1977). As serotonin is metabolized to the hormone melatonin, another way of increasing melatonin is through administering 5-HTP. Melatonin is known to help regulate the sleep cycle.

Appetite: Food intake is thought to suppress appetite through the production of serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan. Because it is an intermediary in the conversion process of tryptophan to serotonin, 5-HTP may reduce appetite in a similar manner as food intake, but without the calories. In a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study, subjects taking 5-HTP lost significant weight compared to control subjects. A reduction in carbohydrate intake and early satiety were seen in the 5-HTP group. (Am. Jrl. Clin. Nutr 56:863- 867, 1992)

Fibromyalgia: Studies show that 5-HTP enhances serotonin synthesis, which increases pain tolerance and sleep quality. Patients with fibromyalgia have reported an improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and somatic pain (number of painful areas and morning stiffness).

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Serotonin production increases with light, meaning the darker the day is, it is not utilizing seratonin into action. Some symptoms include depression, marathon napping, low self-esteem, obsessiveness over little things, irritability, shyness, and panic attacks. People with seasonal affective disorder may also sleep poorly (although for many hours), partly because they don't have enough serotonin to convert to the sleep substance melatonin.

Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and people generally recover completely around April or May - once the days become longer. I always recommend light therapy first and then supplementation. However, there are things you can do yourself that can help boost serotonin levels.

*Subject yourself to bright indoor light. This is the key to seasonal affective disorder treatment. A 300 watt bulb within three feet for 20 minutes three times a day can help, although the boost in serotonin may be temporary.

*Exercise. This is very hard to do when caught up in the seasonal affective disorder cycle. But if you can force yourself to start, 15 to 20 minutes of dancing to the radio or fast walking can reduce a sweet tooth and improve mood.

*Eat wisely. This means, pushing away the leftover cake and eating sensible carbs to stimulate serotonin. Sweets and simple carbs, like white rice and white bread, quickly raise blood sugar, flood you with insulin, and then drop you in a hole. Eating wisely also means watching the caffeine, which suppresses serotonin. If you must drink coffee, save it for after the meal.

*Protein should be eaten three times a day. Another good rule is to eat four cups of brightly colored veggies a day. Vegetables are carbs, but the kind that work into your system slowly.

*Vitamin B-6 helps convert 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5HTP) into the mood chemical serotonin, and it also helps in making dopamine. Aim for roughly 2 to 10 milligrams a day if you supplement. B-6-rich foods include bell peppers, cranberries, turnip greens, cauliflower, garlic, tuna, mustard greens, and kale. 5HTP standard dosage ranges between 50-100 mg.

Side Effects

Rare side effects are generally mild and include mild nausea, heartburn, flatulence, feelings of fullness, and rumbling sensations. These side effects are often reduced after extended treatment (four to six weeks).

Drug Interactions

A case of scleroderma-like (hardening of the skin) illness has been reported in a patient taking L-5-hydroxytryptophan and carbidopa (medication often used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease). An earlier case reported a similar interaction between carbidopa and 5-HTP. This interaction may be due to an alteration in tryptophan metabolism. More research is needed but it is advisable to avoid 5-Hydroxytryptophan if you are currently taking carbidopa.

Individuals taking antidepressant drugs, including MAOIs (such as Nardil or Parnate) and selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (such as: Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) should consult with their physician before taking 5-HTP.

Vitamin D: Are You Getting Enough Sun Exposure

 

Vitamin D: Are You Getting Enough Sun Exposure
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Fifty percent of women around the world are at risk of having weak and soft bones, which can potentially lead to deformed legs. This condition is known as "rickets" in children, and "osteomalacia" in adults. The primary cause of this disease is vitamin D deficiency.

Have you seen the animated series "Heidi, Girl of the Alps", which was based on a popular children's story "Heidi"? In the story, Heidi's friend named Clara was also suffering from weak muscles and rickets. She eventually became stronger after being with Heidi for sometime in the mountains. She was cured by getting exposed to sunshine and goat's milk!

## Vitamin D Deficiency and Rickets Cases is On the Increase Worldwide

Rickets is more prevalent in girls than in boys. At present, new reports show that there is definitely a widespread case of vitamin D deficiency phenomenon. If left untreated, muscle weakness, and bone and leg deformity may occur. There is also a risk of getting bedridden.

## How to Treat Vitamin D Deficiency

Remember the old adage "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"? Since rickets is predominantly caused by vitamin D deficiency, I bet that you already know the corresponding remedy. Yes, that's right. Vitamin D deficiency can be treated simply by getting adequate exposure to sunlight, which sometimes called "sunshine vitamin"!

## Can You Only Get Vitamin D from the Sun?

Eating foods rich in vitamin D, taking vitamin D supplements, or drinking milk, juices, and other beverages fortified with vitamin D, are the other major sources of vitamin D, which can prove helpful especially in the winter.

During the summer, though, sunlight exposure is still the best way to get vitamin D.

In just 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure every day, your body is capable of converting the sunlight to considerable amount of vitamin D.

Later in this article, we'll let you know how you can have sun exposure without the risk of sunburn, wrinkles, and freckles.

## Is Your Baby at Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency and Rickets?

Actually, babies seldom need vitamin D supplements. Babies who need these supplements need them mainly because of insufficient sun exposure.

Below are the three main factors that can put your baby at risk of developing rickets:

1. Breast-fed babies whose mothers are exposed to very little sunlight or are not exposed to sunlight. Remember, the amount of vitamin D in breastmilk depends on the mother's vitamin D status. If the mother has no adequate sunlight exposure or is not consuming supplements or foods containing vitamin D, then the baby needs to get enough sun exposure.

2. Mother and baby have dark skin. People with darker skin pigmentation will usually require up to five times more sun exposure than those with lighter skin to get the same amount of vitamin D.

3. Baby cannot get sun exposure. This happens if you live in far northern latitudes, where solar radiation is quite weak throughout the year.

## The Secret Cure is in the Palm of Your Hands

"I'm afraid of getting sunburnt, wrinkles, and freckles, from sunlight exposure. What should I do?"

It is not necessary for you to stay under the sunlight until your skin burns to get the necessary supply of vitamin D per day.

According to our studies, it is not even necessary for you to expose your entire body to the sunlight (ultraviolet rays). In fact, each exposure can only last 15-30 minutes, all by just exposing the palm of your hands.

Yes, you read that right. Exposing only the palm of your hands for 15 minutes to 30 minutes to the sunbeam will give enough energy to your body to produce vitamin D!

By doing this, your body can absorb vitamin D much more effectively while protecting your face and skin at the same time.

Of course, you should not use any sunscreen or sunblock cream as these will only disrupt vitamin D synthesis.

Alternatively, you can buy an ultraviolet ray bulb, and you can expose the light directly to your palm. This method is very helpful especially for elderly people.

I'm pretty sure you've never heard of this technique before. You should be lucky today after reading this article.

In addition, we also recommend you to take vitamin D-rich foods, too such as:

- Tuna fish
- Mackerel
- Dried whitebait
- Dried mushrooms
- Enokitake (golden needle mushroom)

Getting adequate sunlight exposure and eating vitamin D-rich foods together with the PYRO-ENERGEN therapy will make you free from various diseases and conditions.

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About the Author:
Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher involved in electromedicine. In 1968, he invented PYRO-ENERGEN, the only electrostatic therapy machine that effectively eradicates viral diseases, cancer, and diseases of unknown cause.
Free newsletter: http://www.pyroenergen.com/newsletter.htm
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