WHAT IS MEDIUMSHIP

The word 'medium' means a vessel, literally. Mediums have the ability to link with spirit and communicate with them. When the physical body dies, the mind lives on, it is our mind that is our soul, our spirit. The term 'ghosts' are not spirit at all, a ghost is akin to a tape recording the vibrations of that person, and generally the recording is deposited and left behind after a particularly traumatic event in that person's life whilst they were here on earth. The event was so traumatic as to have caused immense distress to that person, all the emotions, feelings and mental anguish made a mark on where these strong emotions were experienced. Generally the so called 'ghost' follows the same pattern, an anniversary of the sighting might be experienced on the same date year after year for example. It is impossible to communicate with a ghost as it is a 'recording' and not a spirit.

So the spirit is the mind energy of someone who was once alive at sometime on earth, and the only difference now is they don't have a physical body. We as humans on earth just now are spirit in a human body that is the only difference.

Mediumship is not something that can be acquired through attending a course like psychic ability, it is a gift given to us by the 'Godhead' to be utilised for the highest good for mankind.

Everything on earth and in 'heaven' has a vibration, an energy, mediums have the ability to 'tune in' to this vibration and interpret ate it; a bit like turning the tuning dial on a radio to locate a station. After all each radio station has its own wave length and by turning the tuning dial we locate another channel. We know that sound waves exist, we cannot see them, but we know they are there for when we turn on the TV or radio, they are responsible for enabling us to watch and listen to our favourite program. This is exactly what a medium is, we have been gifted this 'tuning dial' that is all.

So when someone passes over, I prefer this term to death, it is only the physical human body that perishes, the person's mind still exists, with all the personality and foibles that made that person who they are, their character. Mediums therefore have the ability to tune into each souls vibration and pick up messages for their loved ones they left behind when their physical body perished.

Mediums are also psychic as spiritual vibrations resonate at a higher frequency than that of the psychic so have the ability to work on both levels. A medium cannot conjure up spirit, The link between spirit and those on earth is love and that bond can never be broken and lives on for all eternity. So all the medium can do is to ask for those loved ones to come forward if they have any messages of love to gift for those they have left behind on earth.

Most of the work a medium does is to provide survival evidence. 'Survival' evidence is knowledge that cannot be gained by the medium themselves about the person they are giving a sitting to, it is generally only something that the sitter would know, and often can only be confirmed by another relative, proof that their loved ones in spirit exist. Mediums are not there to foretell the future, the loved ones in spirit may well give a little information purely as proof of survival and as long as it did not hinder any progress in life for the sitter. And remember if you didn't take advice from 'Grandad' when he was alive you don't have to now he's passed over, he still has exactly the same personality and character as he did when he was' here'.

So how do mediums communicate with spirit, we do this with our minds, to be totally honest I have had this ability for as long as I can remember, and truthfully I really don't know, but I have over the years been able to recognise various sensations, that alert me that spirit are around, sensations like differences in temperature, tingling etc.

Mediums communicate in different ways, sometimes through 'clairvoyance' which means clear seeing, where the medium actually sees the spirit, now this can be in one of two ways or even both, where the medium sees the spirit as if looking at someone in real life, in the physical, the spirit may even be transparent or in their minds eye, this is known as 'Mental Mediumship'. Personally myself I see spirit in both these ways.

In 'clairaudience', this means hearing, now this can be actually hearing a voice that you is not your own, or it can sound like your own, but its not your thoughts, and don't worry, I am quite sane lol!

In 'clairsentience', this is feeling, sensing, the spirit, in this the medium senses the emotions, mental state of the spirit, almost as if the spirit imposes their themselves over you.

Most mediums use one or two of these abilities, myself I combine all three, when I link with them, this enables me to experience all their emotions, see what they looked like and hear what they are saying.

Now as I've said everything in the universe has its own vibration, Earth having the lowest in spiritual terms. After Earth comes the Astral realm, it is on this realm that we travel when we dream, its not unusual to see friends etc, in dream state, after all they will be travelling this realm too at night lol. It is on this realm where lower Elementals reside, i.e. wood nymphs, nature spirits, elves and fairies amongst others, and as often as in the case spirit who are trapped unable to move on also reside in this vibration. this is the same vibration used in psychic work. There are several spiritual realms each having a different vibration, with the most Celestial where the realms of the Angels are.

When the medium links with spirit, he or she has the ability to raise their own vibration that bit higher, loved ones in spirit who are around us at a given time, whether it is to help their loved ones on earth or sometimes it is an anniversary of their passing, will have lowered their vibration and the medium is then able to pick up these vibrations and interpret ate them. Unfortunately for the medium, it is not so easy and difficult to maintain this link continuously, hence some information may be lost, complete names for example and sentences to explain: 'the fat black cat sat on the red mat', what the medium might hear because of the fluctuating vibration would be: 'the back sat on mat', hence some information is lost.

For some reason spirit sometimes work with a type of shorthand i.e. symbols, these symbols have to be and worked out by the medium for example to me, seeing a ring might mean a marriage or partnership, it might mean something differently entirely to another medium, we each have our own, it is a way of communicating at a fast vibrational level. When messages from spirit come in to the medium's mind the arrive very fast and to help the medium 'catch' and interpret ate these messages quickly the shorthand helps speed up the process.

One of the most accurate ways of obtaining information from spirit is by doing absent readings, here the sitter is not present and the medium can link in with the sitter either by thinking about them or by viewing a photograph, sometimes an example of handwriting is useful. In this method the medium will ask any spirit links to come forward with any messages for the sitter. This is a particularly accurate method, for the medium cannot read the sitter's body language or by careful questioning gleam any information from the sitter as they are absent, many mediums work best in this area and each medium will eventually find a method suitable for them.

I myself personally like to work with Tarot, this works on the psychic level first of all, and in doing his gives an insight to the sitter's past, present and future, for all that can be picked up from the sitter's auric field: and then I raise the vibration to link with spirit, to bring forward any messages from the spirit realms. With regard to the information from the tarot or any other Mantic tool (A mantic tool is any form of divination aid such as tarot, crystals, crystal ball, angel cards, tea leaves any sort of aid that helps aid the psychic to use as a tool to latch on to the unique vibration of the sitter. The hand of the sitter is a mantic tool in palm reading) nothing is written in stone, God and the Universe gave us 'Free will'

Before we incarnate as spirit in a human body, for that is what we are whilst on earth, we have some sort of basic plan in mind. We have a goal, a series of lessons we have chosen for ourselves to experience and learn, these lessons may be such as humility, compassion, kindness, sorrow, pain and suffering, for in experiencing these emotions and experiences, we develop empathy and understanding for our fellow humans on earth. Each time we go through these experiences, we become more spiritual and closer to God. But we are never left on our own to go through life's traumas, we have our friends and guides in spirit who give us support to undergo these tasks. Sometimes it feels as if we are all alone and this is because of guides have to stand back to let us experience pain and suffering, for only by undertaking these challenges we learn and grown strong. They never allow us to suffer so much that we cannot bear it, we have chosen these experiences for ourselves, so we are responsible for our own spiritual development. They are there to guide and support us in our 'School on earth'. Why is it we never remember what we planned before we came here? Well that is because if we knew what was before us would we want to; I think not!

Often we incarnate in the same soul groups, the soul is neither male nor female, and we choose which sex we will be to experience life and views from that perspective. Sometimes in that soul group we may be the father of the son who was the father in the last incarnation to experience life from both sides to gain empathy and understanding. We tend to incarnate in groups so that we learn from one another, and the power of this in action is that we are often drawn to particular people in our lives here. We are often drawn to these souls, on meeting these people we instantly feel a bond, not necessarily of physical attraction, but we feel some sort of unseen force bond at work, for we had planned this meeting before we came here, and we recognise one another on a subconscious level. Remember though it is up to us whether we choose whether to go through the experience, but generally if we delay the process, we will often have to relive these experiences at a later date or another life, for we know instinctively what is best for us. We choose to do this because we have a common goal we wish to grow closer to God and the Universe.

Spiritual love is the purest love of all, it has no conditions, it does not judge, it has no limits and never ends. It conquers all that is evil and bad in this world and removes all pain. Our common goal is to grow in spirit, and our loved ones in spirit are always there supporting and sending us their love. Mediumship is a gift bestowed upon us to help mankind in order that we can feel the touch of spirit from beyond, to support and teach us and keep us on our chosen path, our path to God.

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"Homeopathy DOESN’T work" Only the ignorant would say this!

I am totally incensed by a flawed study and an article written by someone who is totally ignorant of how Holistic Medicine works

  ***see below

It really annoys me when holistic/complementary medicine is labelled as 'Alternative medicine' Homeopathy is NOT an alternative it is complementary to conventional medicine, it does have it's limitations and will not work if 'too much organic change' has occurred. The word 'disease' is self explanatory and means the body is not at ease, for in holistic medicine we believe disease begins firstly within the spirit. The word 'holistic' means 'mind, body and spirit' after all there is much more to us than simply a physical body. If you can catch disease before it causes too much organic i.e. physical, change you can cure it and it is on this aspect homeopathy works.

As for saying homeopathy has a placebo effect then why are there successful homeopathic vets? and how is it successful on babies and young children? neither of which have the capacity to understand placebos.

Of course if you pick up a bottle of homeopathic pills from your local branch of Boots likelihood they won't work for your ailment unless you have a good understanding of 'taking the case' and understanding the laws of cure and how this system of medicine works.

Homeopathy cannot and should not be compared to conventional science, it just doesn't work in this way as it is a vibrational medicine and works on the spirit i.e. the 'Aura'. It wasn't so long ago the aura was dismissed until it was proven by 'Kirlian photography and I personally believe one day people will understand scientifically how homeopathy works, just because it cannot explained scientifically at the moment we shouldn't dismiss homeopathy as 'Quackery'. There was a time when people believed the Earth was flat and called those who didn't as wrong so look at it with an open mind!

*************************************

Homeopathy is my first love when it comes to Holistic medicine as was the first Holistic therapy that took me on my journey first as a student, then practioner and then lecturer in this field. So when it comes to ailments this is the first place I look. The beauty of Homeopathy is that it is so safe and gentle with no side effects. As you read about individual medicines, you would notice that homeopathic medicines are multipurpose and each of them covers wide range of symptoms. Polycrests particularly cover lots of symptoms that belong to various diseases. That is why homeopathy is capable of effectively treating most of the diseases. The point to note is that when a medicine is selected for a particular set of symptoms, it is not necessary that the person would have or should have all the symptoms indicated under that medicine. At times even key symptoms would only be considered but generally overall picture of the symptoms is considered to make the selection giving special importance to key symptoms. This rule is applied particularly in chronic cases. In acute cases, the methodology is somewhat different. However, each practitioner has own ways of doing it and maintains his own list of medicines

*Origins of Homeopathy, the word “Homeopathy” is derived from two Greek words meaning “similar suffering”. History tells us that it was the Greek physician Hippocrates, who, in the fifth century, first wrote of the medical practice of treating like with like. So far as is known he was the first doctor to treat an illness with a substance that produces, in a healthy person, similar symptoms to those displayed by the person who is ill. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the principle “similia similibus curentur”, (let likes be cured by likes), was quoted by many physicians, including Paracelsus, often regarded as the ‘father’ of holistic medicine. Homeopathy is therefore not new but the form we know today is attributed to Dr. Christian Friedrich Samuel Hahnemann (1755 - 1843), a German Physician who in 1796 prove his "Law of similars". The basic principal  of homeopathy is "Let like be cured by like". There is no scientific proof as to how Homeopathy works and although individual trials have positive results, some researchers have suggested this is down to a placebo effect. However that argument falls down when it comes to work on animals and many vets use homeopathy on animals.

Homeopathic remedies are prepared by serial dilution, the term used for this is called succession, (succession means shaken)  this is known as potentisation. For example  the original solution, known as a mother tincture and one example is a plant or herb, though homeopathic remedies are made from a variety of substances, and the herb is placed in a solution of alcohol. This is left to potenize  and the liquor strained off and this is known as 'Mother Tincture'. In the "C" system of potency or '100', one drop of this mother tincture is placed with 99 drops of alcohol and succussed and this makes '1C'. To make 2C, one drop of 1C is added to 99 drops of alcohol, succussed and this makes 2C and so on some remedies go on being diluted well into the millions e.g. 2M. The medicines are often given in tablet form, though they can be powders or even applied topically as in a cream. To make the tablets/powders a few drops of the appropriate remedy tincture is added to a bottled or phial of lactose tablets/powder and these pills are to be allowed to dissolve in a clean mouth, that is a mouth not tainted with strong flavours such as mint or coffee as they would neutralise the effect of the remedy as homeopathic medicines are very gentle and delicate. Generally 30 mins should have elapsed since eating etc.

Homeopathy works on an energy/vibrational level and treats the whole person i.e. holistically and not just a specific disease or symptom but takes into account of how the patient is feeling mentally, emotionally as well as physically. The homeopath taking the case will want to know, if the weather affects the condition in anyway, does food for example does eating cold food make the patient feel worse or better and taking a case history a patient can expect an hour long consultation as the homeopath is looking for the correct remedy to match the homeopathic drug picture. The homoeopath, views the symptoms as a direct manifestation of the body’s attempt to heal itself therefore a substance is given capable of producing similar symptoms if given to a well person. Homeopathy does not treat diseases but, rather, individuals with specific symptom pictures.

Homeopathy do not have side effects as they work in a totally different way from orthodox medicine however if a remedy is not quite right the patient could end up proving a remedy, where symptoms may show up but no harm will come to the patient. Occasionally, on first taking a Homeopathic medicine, the symptoms become worse. This is one of the "Laws of Cure" and called an ‘aggravation’, and should be regarded as a good sign as it shows that the remedy is working you should stop taking the remedy until the aggravation has passed and only resume if necessary. Aggravations are most common with skin disorders, as the body “throws out” the disease. Higher potencies work at a much deeper level. Occasionally patients may exhibit symptoms of conditions suffered prior to condition under treatment, or their symptoms may manifest in other parts of the body. For this reason only trained homoeopaths should prescribe high potencies because only they can properly monitor such situations. Other users should limit themselves to the 6th and 30th potencies. When you think about how homeopathic medicines are made in effect it can be quite difficult to ascertain how they do work for when the remedies are succussed theres no actually remedy in the solution especially when it comes down to the very high potencies. There are different theories to how this may be one is that the liquor used in making the remedies retains a memory or the original substances and this is transmuted in an energy.

The "Laws of Cure" from a more important organ to a lesser one i.e. an internal organ to external like the skin, from above down i.e. from pains in the abdomen the pain travels down the legs to the feet then out of the body. And ailments in reverse order, symptoms from old ailments may manifest themselves before leaving the body. You will feel better in yourself, even though you are still suffering from the ailment and the aggravation, where the ailment worsens before getting better.

***  I refer to the article from the Daily Mail below

 

Homeopathy DOESN’T work: New video reveals the flawed science of claims 

• In recent years numerous studies have revealed major flaws in principles
• Extreme dilution can mean none of the active ingredient is left in solution
• There has been no repeatable evidence to support claims of effectiveness
• A recent review of 200 studies concluded it is no better than a placebo

Homeopathic remedies have been used for roughly 200 years as an alternative method to curing ailments – but that doesn’t mean they work.

In recent years, scientists have conducted numerous analyses to determine the effectiveness of homeopathics, all revealing major flaws within the fundamental principles.

Homeopathic remedies are no more effective than placebos, a video from the American Chemical Society explains, and are not only a waste of money, but could be putting your health at risk. 

Homeopathic remedies have been used for roughly 200 years as an alternative method to curing ailments – but that doesn’t mean they actually work. In recent years, scientists have conducted numerous analyses to determine the effectiveness of homeopathics, all revealing major flaws within the fundamental principles

This type of alternative medicine represents a distinct category; not all natural or herbal remedies are considered homeopathic.

The term was first coined in 1807 by a German doctor named Samuel Hahnemann, the Reactions video explains, and focuses on three principles: like cures like (the most famous), dilution, and ‘water remembers.’

Hahnemann believed that medicine in his time was doing more harm than good, so he began to conduct experiments on volunteers and himself.

One such experiment included eating the bark of a cinchona tree, which was then used as a treatment for malaria.

Scientists have since found that this bark contains quinine, an antimalarial drug.

After eating some of the bark, Hahnemann experienced symptoms which he likened to those of malaria, spawning the first principle ‘like cures like.’

The doctor thought that if a substance in large doses causes certain symptoms, it can be used in small doses to cure them.

After eating some of the bark, Hahnemann experienced symptoms which he likened to those of malaria, spawning the first principle ‘like cures like.’ The doctor thought that if a substance in large doses causes certain symptoms, it can be used in small doses to cure them

THE FLAWED SCIENCE OF HOMEOPATHIC MEDICINE

Homeopathy was built around three principles: 'like cures like,' dilution, and 'water remembers.'

The practice was spawned about 200 years ago, and modern reviews of homeopathy studies have concluded that it is only as effective as a sugar pill – a placebo.

The first principle, like cures like, suggests that if a particular substance in large doses causes certain symptoms, it can be used in small doses to cure them.

This goes hand in hand with the second principle, in which the active ingredient is diluted to extreme amounts, based on a scale that increases by factors of 100.

But, recent studies have shown that ‘statistically, beyond a 13C dilution, you have zero chance of finding a single molecule of the active ingredient in your vial,’ the video explains. 

The third principle of homeopathy claims that ‘water remembers,’ which goes to say that the water can ‘remember’ what has been dissolved in it, passing it along to the patient.

There has been no repeatable evidence of this found to date, though. 

The video cites a review from the US National Institute of Health which said that the key concepts of homeopathy are ‘inconsistent with fundamental concepts of chemistry and physics.’ 

So, the remedy uses just a tiny amount of the active ingredient.

To explain why homeopathic remedies are problematic, the video points to the example of coffea cruda, an extremely diluted form of unroasted coffee beans used to treat sleeplessness.

This can be made by putting one drop of the coffee bean extract in a vial containing nine drops of water, and then taking a drop from that vial and putting it in another containing nine drops of water.

The process is then repeated sixty times.

The video points to the example of coffea cruda. This can be made by putting one drop of the coffee bean extract in a vial containing nine drops of water, and then taking a drop from that vial and putting it in another containing nine drops of water. The process is then repeated sixty times

Based on Hahnemann’s work, homeopathic remedies use a dilution scale that increases by factors of 100, which is denoted with a ‘C.’ But as the video explains, ‘statistically, beyond a 13C dilution, you have zero chance of finding a single molecule of the active ingredient in your vial’

Based on Hahnemann’s work, homeopathic remedies use a dilution scale that increases by factors of 100, which is denoted with a ‘C.’

But as the video explains, ‘statistically, beyond a 13C dilution, you have zero chance of finding a single molecule of the active ingredient in your vial.’

That means that by the 60th vial, there isn’t any coffee extract left in the solution at all.

The third principle of homeopathy claims that ‘water remembers,’ which goes to say that the water can ‘remember’ what has been dissolved in it, passing it along to the patient.

But, no repeatable evidence of this has been found to date.

According to the video, all of the foundational principles of the practice are ‘bunk,’ citing a review from the US National Institute of Health which said that the key concepts of homeopathy are ‘inconsistent with fundamental concepts of chemistry and physics.’

This type of alternative medicine is not evaluated by the FDA.

And, a 2015 report from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council looked at the results of roughly 200 studies on the effectiveness of homeopathy.

Through this, they determined that these are no better than a sugar pill, and are not proven effective for any health condition.

This means that some patients could be skipping necessary care and putting their lives at risk.

The video points to the example of a homeopathic asthma inhaler; an untreated asthma attack can be fatal, and a patient turning to this type of remedy is essentially using a placebo.

For less severe medical uses, they say it is at best a harmless waste of money. 

Astrid Brown (Author)

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THE DANGERS LURKING IN MAKEUP BAGS

When I trained as a beauty therapist we were very aware of the dangers of cross infection and I still practice the hygiene techniques I learned then. Make up is one of those mediums that can be rife with micro-organisms, thriving in a makeup bag in the corner of a handbag. Dirty makeup brushes are a real bug bear of mine, you wouldn't leave your hair unwashed for weeks even months, yet many women are happy to use filthy brushes on their eyes and face and they wonder why their skin breaks out. It's essential you have at least more than one set of brushes so they can be washed with a mild shampoo and allowed to air dry and at the very least every week. Cosmetics should never be shared unless you use a technique where products are scraped with a clean spatula onto a clean palette and applied from that. I personally don't use the brush provided in mascara but use a disposable one every time and I never double dip (disposable brushes and applicators are cheap). And you would be amazed (I'm not) at the dirty makeup bags many women use that have never been washed for months even years. Next time you go shopping and you're buying new makeup, never put the tester eye shadows anywhere near your eyes or any of those testers on your face, think of all the fingers that have been there before you. Use the back of your hand and your finger pads as a substitute for lips to test lipsticks, take some sachets of wipes with you to clean up afterwards.

When you think of it you wouldn't put used dirty cutlery back in the drawer or used plates back in the cupboard without washing! so why do the same with brushes and applicators

One of the best places to buy good quality makeup brushes is here 

CLICK HERE

The article below is from the Daily Mail

 

How your make-up bag could wreck your health: One in five women hoard cosmetics for years - risking urine infections and meningitis

• 25% women hoard mascara for a year - 9 months past its use-by-date
• And 20% keep cleanser for 12 months - twice as long as recommended
• Study: Old cosmetics harbour bacteria including life-threatening meningitis
• Women admit carrying things like cat biscuits and KY jelly in make-up bags

A fifth of women hoard their make-up for more than five years, risking blood poisoning, urine infections and gastroenteritis, a survey has found.

Some 25 per cent of those polled admitted to keeping their mascara for up to one year, despite warnings by health and beauty experts to replace it every three months.

And 20 per cent said they keep their cleanser for at least one year — twice as long as recommended.

Almost 10 per cent use lipsticks more than three years old – two years beyond its expiration date.

The poll comes after a study by London Metropolitan University found old cosmetics contain unsafe levels of potentially lethal bacteria.

A fifth of women hoard their make-up for more than five years, a survey has found. The poll comes after a study found old cosmetics are rife with bacteria that can cause blood poisonin and gastroenteritis

After testing five products including a blusher, foundation and lip gloss, researchers discovered enterococcus faecalis bacteria – one of the mains cause of meningitis.

Other potentially-deadly bacteria found included eubacterium, which causes bacterial vaginosis and aeromonas, one of the causes of gastroenteritis and wound infections.

Researchers also discovered staphlyoccocus epidermidis, a nasty bug which is resistant to antibiotics as well as propionibacterium, one of the main causes of acne and other skin conditions.

Moreover, the tests revealed enterobacter, which causes urinary and respiratory tract infections.

And while the new survey, carried out by beauty company LiB Group, highlighted the health risks of keeping make-up past its sell by date, having a professional makeover fared little better.

DEADLY BUGS FOUND IN OLD COSMETICS

Out of date cosmetics contain a plethora of disease-causing bacteria, a study found.

Researchers from the London Metropolitan University tested five products including a blusher, foundation and lip gloss for bugs. 

They found a range of deadly bacteria, including:

Eubacterium – which causes bacterial vaginosis

Aeromonas – one of the causes of gastroenteritis and wound infections

Staphlyoccocus epidermidis - a nasty bug which is resistant to antibiotics and is deadly for people in hospital or who have catheters or surgical implants.

Propionibacterium - one of the main causes for acne and other skin conditions

Enterobacter – causes urinary and respiratory tract infections mainly in hospitalised patients with compromised immune systems. 

Source: London Metropolitan University

Some 7 per cent of those questioned said their makeover experience was 'horrendous', with one woman contracting viral conjunctivitis afterwards.

This to a detached retina - which can cause blindness.

Another likened her new look to 'Malibu Barbie' adding “there was a lot of pink” and a third claimed she ended up looking like a 'jaundiced drag queen'.

An over-enthusiastic makeover with an eyebrow pencil by one in-store beautician led to one woman questioned to observe 'my eyebrows were made to look like the Nike logo'.  

Katie Tillard, Chief Operating Officer for LiB Group said: 'We all have one or two unusual items in our beauty collection but it’s clear from this research that lots of women also keep stuff they just don’t use.

'We advise that women should listen to their friends when it comes to the latest beauty recommendations, and should try sample sizes so that if you don’t end up liking it, you’ll be saving on space in your make-up bag and money in your wallet,' said Ms Tillard.

The poll also revealed the most unusual items women keep in their make-up bags, including horse shampoo, KY jelly 'to use as hair gel', a screwdriver and cat biscuits.

Other peculiar objects included  guitar plectrums, pubic hair dye and a hamster grooming brush.

The research questioned 5,000 women across the UK about their beauty habits.

One woman said: 'I use cat biscuits to distract my cat whilst I try to do make-up. He likes to play with the brushes,'

Another confessed to keeping a tube of haemorrhoid cream handy — to rub on the bags under her eyes. 

The survey suggested women’s habits are evolving when it comes to shopping for cosmetics, with over half (51 per cent) questioned saying they also now use the internet to purchase beauty products.

Old cosmetics contained a range of deadly bacteria, a London Metropolitan University study found. This included bacteria that causes meningitis - a life-threatening disease

In total six different types of bacteria were found on the five types of everyday high-street cosmetics that were tested. Mascara that was four months out of date carried enerobacter - which can trigger urinary and respiratory tract infections

Astrid Brown (Author)

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RECIPE FOR AROMATHERAPY ANTI AGEING/ANTI WRINKLE FACE CREME

Before using any new product particularly on the skin its a good idea to patch test on a tiny area where you wish to apply it and leave it unwashed and alone for 48 hours, if there is no reaction then its safe to go ahead and use the product.
WARNING THIS RECIPE MUST NOT BE USED BY PREGNANT/NURSING WOMEN, THOSE SUFFERING FROM EPILEPSY OR CHILDREN
Aromatherapy oils MUST NOT BE USED UNDILUTED and for the face the dilution is 1%, this is because the face is close to the nose and therefore the limbic system.

For this recipe you will need a base creme and its best to obtain one from an aromatherapy supplier as they are designed to be used for blending. The active ingredients in this recipe are the essential oils themselves and not the base creme.

Essential oils

Frankincense
On the skin this oil helps regenerate helps smooth out wrinkles, it has a firming action, and helps balance sebum levels. The ancient Egyptians used this essential oil in mummification, therefore if it helped preservation it makes sense that it will help preserve the skin.

Lavender
Helps promote new cells again has a balancing effect on the skin and speeds up healing, so its especially effective at dealing with break outs.

Patchouli
This essential oil is also a good skin oil, particularly for rough dry areas and soothing for inflamed areas.

You will also require the contents of a Vitamin E capsule or a few drops of wheatgerm oil (which is high in Vitamin E) this extends the shelf life of the creme but more importantly Vitamin E is a powerful anti free radical agent and helps sooth the skin.

This creme is best used at night however if used during the day you would require the addition of a sun protection factor as UVA light ages the skin (see earlier articles on the skin)

To make a 1% dilution the ratio is as follows 1drop of essential oil to 100 drops of carrier oil/creme

1% dilutions
5 ml:1 drops
10 ml:2 drops
15 ml:3 drops
20 ml:4 drops
25 ml:5 drops
30 ml:6 drops

Therefore if you use a 30 ml jar of base creme you will need 6 drops of essential oil in total so for this recipe add 2 drops each of Frankincense, Lavender and Patchouli, add the contents of the Vitamin E capsule and stir well with a clean spatula. The preparation should last for 3 months and should be kept in a cool place out of direct sunlight.

Astrid Brown (Author)

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NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES

This is an interesting article I came across in the Daily Mail today. Like so much articles on NDE before there is a common theme. Interesting is the views of a neurosurgeon in the video above

 

People who have had near-death experiences explain what dying REALLY feels like

• Users responded to the post 'How does death feel?' on Quora Q&A site
• Many described feelings of peace and were no longer afraid of death
• Some met other people and relatives who had died before them
• One man said he was guilty and ashamed for not reaching life goals
• All had been brought back to life after medical emergency 

Whether you expect to be reunited with lost loved ones in a heavenly place, or don't believe anything awaits once you have passed away, what really happens after death remains one of life's great mysteries.

But now a group of people who have experienced death and believe they can offer an insight to what it's really like have taken to the question and answer site Quora to explain how it feels. 

Their experiences range from 'blissful' feelings to disappointment at not reaching personal goals to terrifying emptiness. 

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A group of people who have experienced death and believe they can offer an insight to what it's really like have taken to the question and answer site Quora to explain how it feels

In answer to the question, 'How does death feel?' users responded with tales of near death experiences and coming back to life after being declared clinically deceased. The posts received more than 948,000 views on the question and answer site 

In answer to the question, 'How does death feel?' users responded with tales of near-death experiences and coming back to life after being declared clinically deceased. 

Megan described her near death experience as 'blissful, serene, exciting, peaceful and relaxing'.

'I feel like there isn't an accurate word in English that describes how truly wonderful it feels,' she said. 

The users' accounts of their glimpses of what happens after death have racked up more than 948,000 views and Vera's story was one of the most popular. 

Almost 16,000 people read her account of being poisoned by carbon monoxide from a faulty water heater when she was 11 years old and living with her mother in the former Soviet Union.

'I can just see it now, lulling me to sleep, covering me with its heavy and invisible blanket of death,' she recalled. 

Megan said that her near death experience felt 'blissful, serene, exciting, peaceful and relaxing' and said that it took away any fear she had of dying 

 Almost 16,000 people read Vera's account of being poisoned by carbon monoxide from a faulty water heater when she was 11 years old and living with her mother in the former Soviet Union

'Next, I felt my heart racing, my head literally buzzing as if there were a bee hive inside it, and it felt as if there were two knives stuck in either side of my head. I knew that I was going to die right then, right now. 

'It was a certain feeling of total emergency one gets, like an internal alarm that screams and hijacks your mind, and I knew that I only had moments to save my life, if only I could figure out what to do.'

Clinging to consciousness, they tried to call for help but ended up blacking out.  

'We were dying. And nobody, nobody in the world could hear us,' Vera explained. 'Next, I remember seeing something like a plasma of colors all around me, with a very strange visual perspective. 

'It first looked like liquid clouds, something like the telescope pictures of galaxies, with colors melting into each other, neither far, nor near, and all around me and "through" me, in a pan-vision. 

Barbara claimed to have experienced death on three occasions and said that she felt very calm and relaxed

Lori's experience of dying was also positive and she described seeing a lot of different colours, which made her feel peaceful and safe

'I thought that was so beautiful. I felt a certain lift all over, like my body was a huge lung and it just inhaled and disappeared, and suddenly, an instant release from what now I constantly feel - gravity. 

'It felt like being rising up, with a definite sense of direction, and inhaling and expanding. I tried to look at myself, but I was not there.

'That shocked me, but did not scare me. Also, I did not feel alone. There were "others" whom I could not see, but only knew that they were there because they "talked" to me. 

'It was as if they were encouraging and welcoming me. I felt this infinite vastness, but also the absence of time, like everything was collapsed into a zero and happened at the same time. 

'The last thing I remember is wanting to be somewhere else and being instantly there, and that surprised me and delighted me. I was so infinitely happy.'

Vera was saved by her father who called an ambulance when he found the pair of them collapsed. Doctors told him it was too late to save her, as she had been clinically dead for between 15 and 45 minutes.

Bryan said that having experienced death his only sadness would be the loss of the amazing experiences, passions, loves and wisdom he had encountered in life  

Scott stated that when he eventually passes away he hopes it will be as peaceful as the first time, when he experienced death as his heart failed

But her father insisted that they try to revive her and medics managed to bring Vera back, and she said she's now at peace because she knows there's a heaven.  

'Even when I die someday and change my physical shell to something else, there will always be an I, and the I will never be alone,' she concluded. 

Barbara shared her story, saying she'd had not one but three experiences of death when her heart stopped during various operations, due to a rare drug intolerance.

'Although I could hear perfectly - the beeping of the monitor as I flatlined, the code on the PA, the squeak-squeak of the crash cart wheels, everyone talking at once - I had no other sensation,' she explained.

'As I was sinking into unconsciousness, I felt very cool, relaxed, no need to breathe, no cause for alarm, no pain of any kind, totally peaceful. Everything grew dark around the edges until there was only blackness.

Dea met her cousin in heaven who told her to go back to her body. She then felt herself slamming on to the hospital bed and heard medical staff urging her to stay with them 

Emmanuel described dying as a feeling of 'infinite sadness and nothingness' and said he was inclined to believe that there was nothing after death

'And then, they revived me, each of three times, the first time by adding Narcan to my IV, the other two times with CPR, after which I spent the night in the cardiac unit at the hospital.'

Lori had also been through more than one experiences of being clinically dead, and like Barbara she had a positive experience. 

'I died at the age of six on the operating table during a surgical procedure, and was revived 10 minutes later. I do remember being at peace,' she said.

I felt guilt, shame, and profound disappointment for not achieving my personal goals. I accepted my fate in some way. The physical sensations were almost nonexistent. I wasn't scared. I was just disappointed. 

'I felt comfort. I felt like I was not alone. I saw many colours. Not light, but color like my eyes were covered with a tie-dyed t-shirt or something.'

Her second experience was at 23 when she had an allergic reaction to a prescription drug, and was revived within six minutes.  

'I experienced the exact same thing. A feeling of being surrounded by something familiar. A feeling of peace and safety, and those colours. I do not care if anyone does not believe me or my statements. This was my experience,' she stated. 

Scott also had a feeling of peace when he flatlined during a cardiac arrest. 

'I just drifted off. No pain, nothing bad,' he said. 'As far as what happened once my heart stopped -- I have no recollection. When I eventually die on a more permanent basis, I can only hope it's as peaceful as the first time.'

Aaron described his brush with death as 'remarkable and unforgettable', but didn't have the same feeling of peace.

Aaron felt disappointed in himself for dying without achieving his life goals, especially as his mother was in the room willing him to stay alive 

'The moment I realised I was on my way out was sad. Particularly because I was aware my mother was in the room watching as medical professionals did their best to keep me alive,' he explained. 

'I felt guilt, shame, and profound disappointment for not achieving my personal goals. I accepted my fate in some way. The physical sensations were almost nonexistent. I wasn't scared. I was just disappointed.'

He also described how all his senses disappeared one by one, followed by the ability to move.  

'First thing I noticed gone was my sense of touch. Followed by hearing. At this time my sense of smell and taste could also have left me. I simply have no idea,' he recalled.

'The last thing to go was my sight leaving me with a field of whiteness, and thoughts which seemed to be further and further apart as my only perceivable experience. 

Terrance said that his brush with death had taught him to appreciate the important things in life such as being around to see his son grow up 

'Suddenly I felt a tremendous pressure against my chest. All senses came rushing back to me only to drift off into white nothing again. This pattern repeated three times to my memory, but who knows, until my heart was able to continue beating on its own.'

Bryan didn't detail the circumstances of his near death experience but said that he'd come to the conclusion that his only regret would be 'the loss of some amazing memories, ideas, loves, passions, insights, and bits of wisdom that I've had.'

Dea added that she had died back in 2009, although she didn't give much detail about how it happened.

'My first thought after I saw a gorgeous white light at the top of a mountain in front of me was, "Oh my God. I'm dead",' she said. 

People who have been through an NDE commonly report seeing bright lights, intense feelings of peace, seeing life flash before their eyes, and making a conscious decision or being encouraged by others to return to their bodies

'There were many other people walking up the mountain towards the light. But I was furious. All I could think about was how I had been to the emergency room so many times and had been blown off and "now I'm dead." 

'I did not look down at my own body unfortunately, but the other dead people just looked like regular people. I had for the first time in many years absolutely no pain at all. I was just angry. 

After a few minutes, my cousin sort of popped right in front of me and told me, "Deanne, go back." 

'I haven't been called Deanne since I was a kid and she was one of the few people who knew me as Deanne. 

'When I turned around to see what she meant by "back," I was slammed into the bed at the hospital with seven doctors and nurses all around me yelling at me to "stay with us". 

NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES

The term Near Death Experience (NDEwas first coined in the 1975 book Life After Life by Dr Raymond Moody. 

People who have been through an NDE commonly report seeing bright lights, intense feelings of peace, seeing their life flash before their eyes, and making a conscious decision or being encouraged by others to return to their body.

Some also report an 'out of body' experience in which they can see themselves being operated on or treated by medics. 

Scientists believe that physical changes in a stressed or dying brain, imperfect anaesthesia and the body's neurochemical response to trauma are possible explanations.

'The pain returned. I was in shock. I'll never forget my two and a half minutes being dead, though, and I am lucky to have been brought back to life.'

Emmanuel, however, offered a bleaker picture to some of his fellow posters. 

He said that a few years earlier he'd been suffering a severe case of pneumonia which had gone untreated and undiagnosed for several weeks.

He ended up in intensive care and believes he experienced near death while he was there.  

'There wasn't anything even remotely exciting in what was coming. In fact, it wasn't even anything. No light, no hope, no nothing. Only darkness and loneliness,' he said. 

'There was no pain, just darkness, extreme vulnerability, extreme fragility and nothing. It wasn't even revolting or scary, just infinite sadness and nothingness. 

'After a while in intensive care, my life came back to me, and then it was another story entirely. - I learnt that excruciating pain is actually a very good sign, something that belongs to the living and that welcomes you back to life.

'I have actually quite a cheerful memory of it, even though it was horrible. But at least, "horrible" exists. Based on this experience, I'm inclined to feel that there is nothing after our life.'

Terence explained that he'd had 'an experience' although it sounded as if he was merely close to death as opposed to dying and being brought back.  

'There's no bright light, Jesus didn't appear through the fog. It's just an acceptance of reality, a definite end - like finishing a book,' he said. 

'Also it depends on the speed of dying mines was slow, so I felt body parts numbing the lost of motor skills, people telling me the changes in my skin color. 

I just laid there waiting for or shall I say holding on for an ambulance, I can feel life slipping away, getting real tired and all can think of is the things I didn't accomplish, the real important things like watching my son grow.'

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