Extreme stress or shock such as loss of a loved one or divorce, or physical stress including illness, surgery, high fever, childbirth, certain medications, eating disorders, or diets, can cause a sudden, noticeable increase in hair loss. This type of hair loss is called “telogen effluvium” (TE).

photo credit: blumenbiene Like its Mediterranean cousin Olive, which we discussed recently, the aromatic Oregano plant has also been used medicinally since the time of ancient Greece and Rome. Oregano Oil is an essential oil distilled from the aerial parts of the Origanum vulgare plant, and is truly one of nature’s most powerful antimicrobials.

There’s something you’re doing right now that’s not only a proven stress reliever, you’re likely not even aware that you’re doing it: breathing! Deep breathing can be used to train (or retrain) the body’s reaction to stressful situations, and to actually reduce production of stress hormones. This is because slow, deep breathing stimulates that part of our nervous system that relaxes us and calms us down (the parasympathetic system). photo credit: sierragoddess

We’re all familiar with olives, the delectable fruit of the Olea europaea tree, in providing us tasty hors d’oeuvres, and its pressed oil used for cooking, salad dressings, or dipping focaccia into. Less well known, however, are the powerful health benefits of its leaf. For thousands of years, olive trees have been revered in the Mediterranean region and used as a natural remedy for preventing or overcoming colds and flus (often combined with Oregano Oil for this purpose).