Lady in Red -Zoe Saldana

At the Berlin premiere for Star Trek Zoe wowed the crowed in a red asymmetrical dress by Prabal Gurung. She accessorized with a sexy pair of black Pucci heels and Bulgari jewelry. This was definitely a style star moment for the young actress.

Zoe Saldana in Barbara Bui Heels

At the VMAs, Zoe rocked a sexy LBD paired with a pair of exotic python platform sandals from New York designer Barbara Bui.

Smoke-free campuses are a growing trend; UK volunteers taking action to get compliance with ban enacted nearly two years ago

This summer, Tobacco-free Take Action! volunteers at the University of Kentucky have been circling campus, asking students to put out their cigarettes while on school property. UK is one of about 530 U.S. colleges that have enacted smoke-free policies. (Photo from University of Michigan)

Most of the bans are considered comprehensive, with smoking prohibited on all grounds, including athletic facilities, restaurants and parking lots, reports CNN's Stephanie Steinberg. That is the case at UK, which enacted its ban in November 2009. Then, just 300 college campuses had similar bans in effect. Within the past year, 120 campuses were added to the smoke-free list nationwide. Today, in addition to UK, Bellarmine University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Morehead State University, Pikeville College, Spalding University, St. Catharine College, Union College and University of Louisville are smoke-free, according to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports about 46 million Americans age 18 and older smoke cigarettes. A 2010 American College Health Association report found 4.4. percent of the more than 30,000 students surveyed had smoked every day in the past 30 days. In Kentucky, about 26 percent of adult Kentuckians smoke.

Since UK enacted its ban in 2009, a growing number of people have gotten help to quit smoking at the university. "After the policy's first year, enrollment rose to 146 people," up from 33 the year before, Steinberg reports. "The number of nicotine replacement coupons redeemed by students and faculty also increased from 124 to 470 in the same period."

One of the keys to changing mindsets is to avoid being too heavy-handed, Steinberg reports. "We certainly don't have smoking police," said Ellen Hahn, director of UK's Tobacco Policy Research Program. Instead student volunteers gently remind others of the policy while offering smoking cessation information.

Ty Patterson, former vice president of student affairs at Ozarks Technical Community College in Missouri, predicts that in 10 years almost all college campuses in the country will be smoke-free. "We've gone from pushing smoking out of the building . . . to now trying to push smoking totally off campus," said Laura Talbott Forbes, chairwoman of the 2010 American College Health Association's Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Coalition. (Read more)

Appalachian Regional Commission conference in Prestonsburg Sept. 7-9 to focus on improving access to health care

Featuring the insight of 42 federal, state and local health experts, officials and community leaders, the Appalachian Regional Commission's Healthy Families: Healthy Future conference will be held Sept. 7-9 in Prestonsburg.

The keynote address will look at different ways access to quality health care can be expanded. It will be given by Marcia Brand, deputy administrator of the Health Resources and Service Administration. HRSA is the primary federal agency for improving access to health-care services for people who don't have insurance, are geographically isolated, or are medically vulnerable.

Other conference topics include childhood obesity and diabetes; substance abuse in adolescents; improving access to dental care for children; health information technology; and Appalachian perspectives on infant mortality reduction.

The conference will be at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park in Prestonsburg. To register, click here. Online registration ends Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Oral health grant for 25,000 Appalachian children should be beginning of statewide effort, Al Smith says

In an op-ed piece, veteran Kentucky journalist Al Smith praised the recent announcement that 25,000 Eastern Kentucky children in 16 counties will receive preventive dental care this school year.

The project, funded by a $1 million grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and $250,000 in state funds, will involve painting the teeth of those children with a special varnish that prevents tooth decay. As co-founder of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues and former federal cochair of the ARC, Smith has pushed long and hard for the improvement of oral health in Kentucky.

He spoke of the grant announcement in conjunction with discussions of the continued $900 million expansion of the University of Kentucky's Chandler Medical Center. "Obviously, the bricks and mortar go to serve extremely important life saving and health purposes, but the ARC pilot treatments of children's teeth should persuade all Kentuckians that this care is essential for every county," he wrote.

The project is called Healthy Smiles and was announced by Gov. Steve Beshear last week. "Over the course of 2011-2012 school year, two protective fluoride tooth varnish treatments and educational materials for healthy dental practices will be offered to children in the first through fifth grades at selected schools," Smith summarized.

Counties that will benefit from the project are Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Knott, Knox, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Owsley, Perry, Russell and Wolfe.

The Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues told Beshear about Kentucky's serious oral health deficits when he was running for governor four years ago, Smith said in his op-ed piece. That assessment showed "that half of Kentucky's children had decay in their baby teeth; and nearly half of children ages, 2, 3, and 4 had untreated dental problems," Smith wrote.

Cavities and loss of teeth create problems in later life, Smith asserted. He referred to statements made by Dr. Steve Davis, interim commissioner of public health, who said Kentuckians looking to join the military may be turned away if they have a mouthful of oral health problems: "The Navy, particularly, takes seriously the warning that a sailor stricken by a toothache in the depths of the sea could mishandle a task on a sub and send the craft plunging to the bottom." For a Word version of Smith's op-ed, click here.

NEW FEATURES - Now Check-Out is Faster & Easier

Great News!  You asked and we delivered.  Imagine breezing through checkout, without the hassle of entering payment information every time.  Saved Cards lets registered customers do just that, by allowing them to select saved credit or debit cards to pay for purchases. 

You will find Sign In (for already registered customers) or Register (for first time information) at the very top of the web-site header above the words Home and About Us.  Please feel free to e-mail us or call us at 208-629-0444 if you have any questions. 

The first time a registered customer completes checkout with the Saved Cards feature, the customer will see the following message:



When the customer clicks the "Trust This Computer" button, THEIR computer will be designated as a trusted computer that is able to use saved cards, and the credit or debit card the customer has used to place their order with your store will be saved to their My Account profile. Customers may add new cards, update existing cards, or delete cards at any time, from their My Account page.

When a customer returns to the JESorganics store and places an order using the same computer, they will be able to select the saved card during checkout.

If a customer returns to the JESorganics store and places an order using the same computer, but using a different credit or debit card, the card will automatically be saved to their My Account profile. However, upon order confirmation, the customer will be given the option to remove the card from their saved cards.

If a customer with one or more saved cards returns to our JESorganics store and places an order using a saved card, but using a different computer, they will be given the option to designate the computer as a trusted computer that is able to use saved cards.

Its Kelly Rowland Long Straight Cut with Bangs

Kelly Rowland arrived at the House of Hype's 2011 MTV Video Music Awards after party with sleek and shiny straight hair and lash-grazing bangs.

Kim Kardashian in KaufmanFranco

The Christian Louboutin's Heels

Demi was a silver siren at the VMAs in a beaded mini dress paired with Christian Louboutin's chain toe Maggie platform pumps.

Actress Zoe Saldana

Actress Zoe Saldana arrives at The Foundation Polo Challenge sponsored by Audi at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club on July 9, 2011 in Santa Barbara, California.

Four state agencies give employees time to exercise at work

Update, Sept. 2: A new study has shown giving employees time to exercise during their work day could lead to increased productivity, as reported in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. The study involved employees at a large public dental health organization in Sweden. On group of employees was required to do 2.5 hours of exercise per week during regular hours. "Another group received the same reduction in work hours, but with no exercise program," research-reporting service Newswise reports. Employees assigned to the exercise program said they felt productive while at work and were absent less often due to illness. (Read more)

Four state agencies allow their employees to take time to exercise as part of their work day, part of an effort to improve morale and productivity. The Department of Financial Institutions, Department of Military Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs and the Personnel Cabinet have instituted the policies with varying degrees of participation.

"Some workers are limited to 90 minutes of paid exercise per week, while others can exercise up to five hours while on the clock," reports Valarie Honeycutt Spears of the Lexington Herald-Leader. "On any given day, employees can exercise from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on which agency they work for." (Photo of state employee Lisa Clark by H-L's David Perry)

It is unclear how many state employees take advantage of the policies, but officials feels it is cost effective. "A wellness break is just like any other break time," said Crystal Pryor, spokeswoman for the Personnel Cabinet. "The difference is that this break results in reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, higher employee morale and lower health care costs for the Kentucky Employees' Health Plan, the state's self-funded insurance program."

One 2010 Harvard University study showed medical costs fall about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs. Absentee day expenses drop by $2.73 per dollar spent. Despite the savings, Kentucky is one of the only states to have such exercise policies in place. Montana also does, allowing employees two 15-minutes exercise breaks a day.

"Often these employees are discussing work issues while they are exercising so we really don't see this as cutting back on productivity," said Dick Brown, spokesman for the Department of Financial Institutions. "There are no hard facts around the impact of the program on reduction of sick leave, but certainly that is one of the benefits and trade-offs we hope to see over time." (Read more)

Gucci Sunglasses just $30

FRESH SUGAR PASSION TINTED LIP TREATMENT SPF 15

Red lipstick is a big trend for fall but it can be a bit intimidating. Ease your way into the look with this universally flattering sheer balm, which can go from a light tint with one coat to a more vibrant glossy finish when layered.

WORLD TRAVELER

Angelina Jolie, who recently tested her taste buds with a traditional Scottish meal, leaves her brood behind for a sleek and chic appearance in London on Friday.

Cute Husband and Wife - Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries

After spending some alone time along Italy's Amalfi Coast, newlyweds Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are on the move Friday as they arrive at Naples Airport.

Its Ciara in New York

R&B singer Ciara was spotted leaving her New York hotel yesterday heading for the airport in advance of Hurricane Irene’s landfall on Sunday. She was wearing brown leather pants with a white blouse and her favorite pair of Christian Louboutins. Ciara, 25, is busy recording her 1st album for Epic Records under LA Reid.

Sept. 13 forum in Somerset will explore how rural communities can get healthier and get better care at lower cost

"In an era of tight budgets and strained resources, Kentucky and its rural communities can no longer afford 'business as usual' in the delivery of health care services," write Susan Zepeda and Amy Watts of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. "As health care costs increase and health status declines, the question becomes: How can we ensure rural Kentuckians get better health care at lower costs?"

Zepeda, the foundation's president, and Watts, is senior program officer, see "promising opportunities" for rural communities to reshape health care, such as working with local health departments and civic leaders to "create communities that support healthy behaviors" and better integrate the health system, with special attention for the chronically ill.

These and other issues and ideas for rural health are on the agenda of the foundation's ninth annual Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum, to be held Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset. The forum will include state and national leaders. "Rather than wait for solutions from Washington, forum speakers will share strategies Kentucky’s civic leaders can put into place at the local, state and regional levels. Many will share ways that Kentucky is already doing this," Zepeda and Watts write in an op-ed article distributed to Kentucky newspapers.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Len Nichols, who founded and directed Health CEOs for Health Reform, a group that helped policymakers see that reform of health insurance and health-care can be reformed together. Dr. Kavita Patel, a physician and former RAND Corp. researcher now at the Brookings Institution, will bring insights on how to achieve better care and better health at lower costs. Other experts from Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina will share "practical policy strategies for positive health change in these challenging times," and smaller sessions will allow participants to engage with the speakers, Zepeda and Watts write, saying the forum's goal is to "provide accessible, safe and effective health care to nearly half of Kentucky’s citizens who call rural Kentucky home." More information is available on the foundation’s website, http://www.healthy-ky.org/.

Promising tooth varnish that prevents tooth decay will be applied to 25,000 students in 16 Kentucky Appalachian counties

Using an innovative fluoride technique, about 25,000 children in 16 Appalachian Kentucky counties will receive preventive dental care at school, under a $1.25 million pilot project announced by Gov. Steve Beshear yesterday. The counties are Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Harlan, Jackson, Knott, Knox, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Owsley, Perry, Russell and Wolfe.

In the Smiling Schools program, children in first to fifth grades "will have their teeth painted with two fluoride treatments over a four- to six-month period," reports Mike Wynn of The Courier-Journal. "Fluoride prevents and reverses the early affects of tooth decay and slows the progress of existing problems."
(Photo by James Mann, The Winchester Sun: Emily Havens of Clark County gets the treatment)

The University of Kentucky Dental School will examine the children before and after the tooth varnish treatments to assess the effectiveness of the program. Results of a project that Beshear said inspired the program are promising. About 3,000 children in Clark County had their teeth painted with the varnish and decay rates in a group of sixth graders fell dramatically. By the third year of the treatment, decay rates had fallen from 50 percent to 14.5 percent, one of the lowest rates in the state, said dentist Rankin Skinner, who spearheaded the project.

In 2001, Kentucky children had tooth decay in their baby teeth almost twice as often as the national average, Beshear said Thursday. More than 46 percent of children ages 2 to 4 went untreated that year. "The impact of these dental problems is much more than just an uneven smile or a poor national image, Beshear said. "Dental problems affect overall health and development — everything from nutritional choices to speech development to performance in school." (Read more)

Rachel Parsons of The Winchester Sun reports that the impetus for the project was a December 2007 New York Times story about Kentucky's poor dental health, particularly that of children. Prompted by his son who read the story, Will Hodgkin of the Clark County Community Foundation contacted Skinner, who had learned of the varnish while completing a study in Ecuador, where dentists had noted big decreases in decay rates after using the substance on teeth. The foundation funded treatment for all preschool and elementary students in 2008-09, and the program is now run by the Clark County Health Department. (Read more)

Jewish Hospital cuts 155 jobs, reflecting national trend of patients deferring treatment for economic reasons

In the face of a bad economy and people putting off health care to save money, Jewish Hospital is cutting 155 positions at its downtown Louisville facility. The move is part of a national trend, experts say."People are looking very carefully at any financial expenditure," healthcare consultant Peter Young told The Courier-Journal. (C-J Photo by Matt Stone)

Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare, which owns the downtown facility, saw a 15 percent drop in in cardiology procedures in 2010 compared to the year before. That translates to 7,000 less cases. In total, surgeries fell almost 9 percent, The C-J's Patrick Howington and Laura Ungar report.

This is the second big cut by Jewish & St. Mary's. In March 2010, it eliminated 500 positions. The latest round of eliminations show why Jewish plans to merge with University Medical Center and Saint Joseph Health System is so important. "Health care is changing, and volumes are dropping while bad debt increases," Jewish Hospital officials said in a statement. "To be effective, growing organizations, we must be flexible and adapt." (Read more)

Judge to decide if health board's smoking ban will stand in Bullitt County, as one did in Hopkins County

Whether the Bullitt County Board of Health had the authority to pass a countywide smoking ban is in the hands of Bullitt Circuit Judge Rodney Burress, who heard from the board and representatives of the Fiscal Court objecting to the move Thursday.

In March, the Board of Health passed a ban that would prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants and all public places, including some that are outside. It was supposed to go into effect in September.

But attorneys representing the Bullitt Fiscal Court said the health board has "overstepped its authority by enacting a policy that should have been handed down by a legislative body, such as a city council or Fiscal Court," The Courier-Journal's Charlie White reports.

Margaret Miller, who is helping to represent the board of health, cited the Kentucky statute, which gives boards of health the authority to adopt, implement and enforce regulations to protect people's health.

The Bullitt County Board of Health is not the first in Kentucky to enact such a ban. Health boards in Woodford, Hopkins, Madison and Clark counties did likewise. The move in Hopkins County did result in a legal battle, but the judge sided with the health department and the ruling was not appealed. (Read more)

How to Overcome The Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease in which patches of endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, whereas in normal circumstances is found only in the endometrial lining rahim.Usually endometriosis confined to the lining of the abdominal cavity or abdominal cavity surface.
The misplaced endometrium is usually attached to the ovaries and uterus ligaments backer.

Besides the endometrium can also be attached to the outer layer of the small intestine and large intestine, ureter (the tube connecting the kidney and bladder), bladder, vagina, stomach tissue in the abdomen or chest cavity lining. Sometimes the endometrial tissue grows in the lungs.


Numbers of Incident

Endometriosis is estimated to occur in 10-15% of infertile women aged 25-44 years, 25-50% of infertile women and may also occur in adolescence. Severe endometriosis can cause infertility because of his path the egg from the ovary to the uterus.

Endometriosis can be lowered and more often found in the first offspring (mothers, daughters, sisters). Other factors that increase the risk of endometriosis is to have an abnormal uterus, first gave birth at the age above 30 years and whites.

Causes

High risk of endometriosis found at:

• Women whose mother or sister with endometriosis
• menstrual cycle is 27 days or less
• Menarche (first menstruation) occurs earlier
• Menstruation lasts for 7 days or more
• Orgasm when menstruating.

In addition, there are a number of other factors that could be expected to trigger the onset of the disease. Eg air pollution, visual impressions are quickly ripen axis hormones, diet that contains residues, and low physical activity.

Symptoms

Endometriosis can cause:

• lower abdominal pain is progressive and occurs in close thigh and during menstruation (dysmenorrhea), the cause may be something to do with vascularization and hemorrhage in a nest of endometriosis at the time before and during menstruation.

• Pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), due to endometriosis in the pouch of Douglas.

• Pain during defecation, especially during menstruation. Caused by the presence of endometriosis on the wall rektosigmoid / bladder.

• Infertility, because if tubal mobility impaired because of fibrosis and adhesions to surrounding tissue.

• Network endometrium attached to the bowel or bladder can cause abdominal swelling, pain during bowel movements, rectal bleeding during menstruation or lower abdominal pain when urinating.

• Network endometrium attached to the ovary or the structure surrounding the ovary can form a blood-filled mass (endometrioma). Sometimes endometrioma rupture and cause sharp abdominal pain that arises suddenly.

Sometimes symptoms are not found at all.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the symptoms, pregnancy plans, age of onset and severity of the disease.

Greenpeace finds highly toxic chemicals in branded clothing

(NaturalNews) Earlier this week Greenpeace announced at the launch of its report "Dirty Laundry 2" that traces of toxic chemicals have been detected in products made by 14 big brand top clothing manufacturers.

These chemicals, called nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), are commonly used as detergents in industries including the production of natural and synthetic textiles. NPEs break down to form nonylphenol, a dangerous toxin that has persistent and hormone-disrupting properties. This toxin has been proven to mimic female hormones, alter sexual development and affect reproductive systems.

Greenpeace said it purchased 78 different branded clothing samples (most of them made in China, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines) from 18 countries around the world and subjected them to careful scientific analysis. NPEs were detected in two-thirds of the samples the group tested, including popular brands such as Calvin Klein, Adidas, Converse, Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie & Fitch, Bauer Hockey, Cortefiel, Uniqlo, Gap, H&M, Lacoste, Nike, Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH Corp) and Puma. During the course of the past year, Greenpeace has found that all of these commonly purchased brands are linked to two specific manufacturers.

The issue of toxic chemicals in clothing is not only a problem for the developing countries where textiles are made. Since residual levels of NPEs are released when clothes are washed, these chemicals are now inching their way into countries where their use is banned or avoided.

The danger of NPEs
Certain components of NPEs have been involved in the widespread "feminization" of male fish in parts of Europe and also in the disruption of hormone processes in some mammals, according to the campaign group WWF. Even at low levels, this toxin represents a big threat to the environment and to human health. It is no coincidence that use of NPEs is completely restricted in Europe.

Our skin is our largest organ and what we put on it our bodies literally drink in. Everything we consume - including the chemicals that linger on and in our clothing -- either gets assimilated or eliminated. Chemical toxins we expose our skin to through our clothing and skincare/body products can tax our bodies in a major way.

NPEs can certainly contribute to the increasing incidence of health problems linked to hormonal disturbances.

All of our modern-day toxic overload concerns should be considered against the backdrop of a monumental biological shift. Only 150 years ago, girls got their first period at around age 15 or 16 and went through menopause in their late 30s and 40s. However, in modern times girls often begin puberty as early as 9 and menopause generally does not occur until around 50.

Not only have we increasingly begun pushing and trifling with our bodies in ways we never did before, but our environments are also becoming increasingly toxic in ways we are often not fully aware of. This is evident when noting the fact that the period in which women's bodies go through a series of significant hormonal shifts has extended over a much longer period of time, increasing not only their fertile years, but also their chances of getting breast cancer. Toxic chemical exposure through household products, our modern food supply, beauty/care products and clothing certainly all play into this.

The alarming truth about clothing factories
In the past, Greenpeace became concerned by the amount of water used to make the majority of our clothing. On average, fiber for one cotton t-shirt requires 713 gallons of water to make, and traditional wet-dye methods for clothing use from seven to 75 gallons of water per pound of fabric. All this adds up to trillions of gallons of water each year passing through textile factories merely for dyeing alone.

Now Greenpeace has gone on to prove that the water leaves the factories polluted with heavy metals and toxic chemicals that cause serious health problems to animals and people. Recently "Dirty Laundry" has outright accused the manufacturers of well-known textile brands such as Adidas of polluting major rivers in China with chemical waste.

The practices of two of China's major textile dye factories were closely examined within the details the company released of its year-long investigation. To gather the information Greenpeace campaigners wore protective suits and collected water samples from outside the factories being carefully analyzed. The results clearly showed that toxins are spilling into China's rivers on a daily basis.

According to Greenpeace, the discharge from these factories includes heavy metals and "hazardous and persistent chemicals with hormone-disrupting properties were found being discharged from these facilities." Alkylphenols including nonylphenols were found in wastewater samples from both factories examined, and perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) were present in the wastewater from one of the complexes (the Youngor Textile Complex).

Eight samples of wastewater from two factories in the Yangtze and Pearl River deltas, identified as suppliers for the brands, contained "a cocktail of hazardous chemicals": Greenpeace said in last month's "Dirty Laundry" report.

Clothing companies respond -- or do they?
Most of the international brands found to be tainted with these toxins have denied using the dye services at either of the two guilty factories, saying that they are only "cut and sew" customers for these locations. However, that does not change the fact that the practices of these two factories are typical of what you'll find all over China - where most of our clothing is made -- and anywhere else wet-dyeing is used in the production of clothes.

When the Greenpeace report was released, Greenpeace activists dressed as referees caused a ruckus when they surrounded one of Adidas' busiest flagship stores in Hong Kong and demanded that the store eliminate hazardous chemicals in their products. The activists also forcefully urged potential customers to "rethink" their decision to purchase the contaminated clothing.

After storming the store, the activists handed out campaign leaflets to customers and gave store staff yellow warning cards that cautioned the brand line of clothing to "play clean".

Since then Nike and Puma have been the only brands to promise to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals in their products -- but only by year 2020!

One would assume that as the second biggest supplier in the sportswear industry, Adidas has a clearly posed obligation to detoxify its global supply chain.

However, Adidas has ignored repeated requests for comment, according to a Greenpeace spokeswoman. The company previously admitted it uses the Youngor Group -- one of the accused clothing suppliers -- for garment cutting and sewing only and not to source fabrics. Adidas has now asked Youngor to investigate Greenpeace's claims and added that the company has a comprehensive policy on avoiding dangerous substances and chemicals.

Many of the name-brand clothing companies accused have reportedly been working on improving their sustainability efforts and reducing the environmental footprint of their products. However, their plans at no point included clear-cut goals to eliminate toxic dyes.

Greenpeace urges companies: "Detox Now!"
Greenpeace has now launched the Detox Now! campaign to pressure Nike, Adidas and other big clothing companies to publicly agree to eliminate the release of hazardous chemicals from the entire lifecycle of their products.

People around the world are responding rapidly and enthusiastically. Thousands have signed an online petition, and 600 people in ten different countries showed up outside Nike and Adidas stores and did a striptease on July 23rd of this year.

The pressure from the public is beginning to take some effect, but not nearly enough. Puma was the first of the companies last week to take responsibility for the toxins released in the making of their athletic apparel and shoes. However, the company has stated that elimination of these toxins will take up to 9 years. In a statement posted to their website, Puma says:

"...Sportlifestyle company PUMA recognizes the urgent need for reducing and eliminating industrial releases of all hazardous chemicals. According to its approach based on prevention and precautionary principles, PUMA is committed to eliminate the discharges of all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures that are associated with the making and using of PUMA products by 2020."

No word has come yet from Adidas or other brands on if they will agree to Greenpeace's request and eliminate these dangerous toxins from their supply lines.

These toxins are unnecessary harm to our lives
The Greenpeace report is an important step toward educating people about just how hazardous the textile industry is. It's also a good method of putting necessary pressure on big name brands who claim to want to be eco-friendly (and have the resources available) to move the apparel industry into a non-toxic future. You can sign the Detox Now! petition here: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/toxics/water/detox/Tell-Nike-and-Adidas-to-Detox/

Synthetic textiles don't need water in order to absorb dyes properly. The high temperatures these textiles require to get the fibers to take on colors can be achieved without using water at all. This means that these popular apparel brands DO have choices in the matter and could easily eliminate the toxins used to dye their shoes, shirts, and other products.

Read more about toxins in clothing here:
http://www.naturalnews.com/022803.html

Sources used and further reading:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/08/23-1

http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=213789

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/23/greenpeace-finds-toxic-chemicals-in-top-brand-name-clothes/

http://www.naturalnews.com/005342.html

http://organicfamilycircle.com/synthetic-chemicals-make-dangerous-clothing-advantages-organic-fabrics.html

Weekly newspaper in Adair County does a special section on health and sends it to everyone in the county

Special sections on health are good for community newspapers and their readers. Health-care providers have money for advertising in such sections, and a section focused on health can have more impact on readers than individual, occasional stories.

Based on a pilot project it oversaw in 2007, the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues began recommending to rural newspapers that they schedule health sections as part of editions that are mailed to every postal customer in a paper's home county, a standard circulation-building technique. If a newspaper wants to help improve the health of its community, why not reach everyone in the community?

Last week, one Kentucky newspaper did that. The Adair County Community Voice of Columbia included a 10-page broadsheet section on health in an edition that was mailed to everyone in the county. And though it got no advertising from the local public hospital, with which it has been embroiled in an open-meetings dispute, it did get ads from hospitals in other counties.

Newspapers can mail up to 10 percent of their annual circulation to non-subscribers in their home county at subscriber rates, and can sell "sponsored circulation" to pay the extra cost of printing and postage for the extra copies. The 2007 pilot project with another Kentucky weekly, The Berea Citizen, found that non-subscribers said they were more likely to subscribe if the paper regularly included health information. For a copy of the report on the project, click here. The health section is not online, but PDFs of its pages are posted on the Institute website in a 4.4 MB file, here.

Ky., Ohio, Tenn. and W.Va. join forces to fight prescription-drug abuse amid questions about use of Ky. system

Kentucky has formed a partnership with Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia to help fight prescription drug abuse, "even as questions linger over how well the state has used its own electronic monitoring resources," reports Mike Wynn of The Courier-Journal.

The Interstate Prescription Drug Task Force will comprise about 30 experts from law enforcement and drug agencies. They are charged to come up with ways to lessen prescription drug abuse and sales. "We do a good job from a law enforcement standpoint, but by working together, we can better identify prescribers, dispensers and patients who are exploiting our borders," Gov. Steve Beshear said in announcing the task force Wednesday.

Task force members will share drug information the state collects on who receives and prescribes certain medications. Kentucky's system is known as KASPER, short for Kentucky's All Schedule Prescription Electronic Recording system. How well the data compiled by the system are being used came into question last week when House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonburg, pressed the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure to explain why it wasn't analyzing the numbers, which it had asked for permission to obtain, Wynn notes.

Rural hospitals to get federal help for recruiting physicians

Critical-access hospitals will get help recruiting physicians to their rural areas through an expanded loan repayment program that is part of President Obama's new jobs initiative for rural America.

The initiative is called the National Health Service Corps, Alexandra Wilson Pecci of HealthLeaders Media reports. The 1,300 critical-access hospitals can use federal loans to recruit new physicians. A press release from the White House states the addition of one primary care physician in a rural community generates about $1.5 million in annual revenue and creates 23 jobs annually.

Kentucky has 30 critical-access hospitals, which must be in rural areas, 35 miles from another hospital or 15 miles from another hospital in mountainous terrain, according to the Rural Assistance Center. The average CAH creates 107 jobs and generates $4.8 million in payroll annually, the White House says.

The jobs program also includes an agreement that will "link rural hospitals and clinicians to existing capital loan programs to help them buy health IT software and hardware and jump the typical rural hospital hurdle of limited access to capital and lower financial operating margins," HealthLeaders Media reports.

A few days before announcing the jobs program, the White House Rural Council released a report that outlined recent investments in rural healthcare access. Those include placing more than 2,600 clinicians in rural communities and providing distance learning and telemedicine services to more than 2,500 rural healthcare and educational facilities. It also highlighted an investment of 500 projects across the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care system that support rural health care. That includes 404 community-based outpatient clinics and 48 outreach clinics in rural areas.

On average, rural counties had 62 primary care doctors for every 100,000 residents in 2008, compared to 79.5 primary care doctors in urban areas, the Rural Council report said. (Read more)

U of L physicians' group drops open-records appeal, but C-J may still not get records

An organization representing University of Louisville doctors who were trying to keep their financial records private dropped its lawsuit appealing an adverse open-records decision Tuesday. In April, Attorney General Jack Conway ruled that University of Louisville Physicians Inc. is a public agency and, as such, is subject to the Kentucky Open Records Act. Conway's opinion was requested by The Courier-Journal.



Last November, state auditor Crit Luallen released a scathing audit against Passport, which provides managed care for 165,000 Medicaid patients in Jefferson and 15 surrounding counties. The audit accused the organization of "wasteful spending, conflicts of interest and the questionable transfer of $30 million in Medicaid funds to organizations represented on Passport's board, including University Physician Associates," The Courier-Journal's Tom Loftus reports. Because of the audit, the newspaper asked for financial records from University Physicians Associates and University of Louisville Physicians Inc., which is the successor to University Physicians Associates. They refused to hand over the records, and Conway's decision followed.



Though the attorney general determined the organization should be subject to the open-records law, and the doctors' lawsuit has been dismissed, giving Conway's opinion the force of law, The Courier-Journal may not receive the records it has asked for. In its notice of dismissal, University of Louisville Physicians stated it could change "its structure and function in the future which it believes may alter its status as a public agency."



"We are still forming our final structure and function," Diane Patridge, ULP's vice president for marketing and communications, told Loftus. "Once we're up and fully established we may appeal this current determination." Curiously, "Partridge also said that ULP has no records to release to the newspaper as a result of the dismissal of the case," because it has no employees -- even though it was incorporated in March 2010. "She said University Physicians Associates . . . has handled all financial matters and paperwork for ULP to date," Loftus reports.



“This case is another piece of a puzzle,” Courier-Journal attorney Jon Fleischaker said. “It’s another step to try to make sure there’s more transparency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and University Medical Center.” (Read more) "Sounds like a shell game with shell corporations," said Al Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues and associate extension professor of journalism at the University of Kentucky.

Data leaks are a risk with electronic health records; state says it has safeguards to protect privacy

As hospitals and other health-care providers in Kentucky and across the country are adopting electronic health records to save money and improve care, they do so at some risk. The medical files containing insurance forms, Social Security numbers and doctors' notes of about 300,000 Californians were posted recently on the Internet, available to anyone who might stumble across them or know how to search for them. "At a time of mounting computer hacking threats, the incident offers an alarming glimpse at privacy risks as the nation moves steadily into an era in which every American's sensitive medical information will be digitized," The Associated Press reports.

"When things go wrong, they can really go wrong," said Beth Givens, director of Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit that tracks data breaches. "Even the most well-designed systems are not safe ... This case is a good example of how the human element is the weakest link."

Generally, data breaches are the result of hackers who break into computers or thieves who steal the actual equipment. Sometimes they can just be be caused by human error. Leaks can also happen as data passes through health industry networks. "Dozens of companies can be authorized to handle a single person's medical records," the AP reports. "The further away from the health care provider the records get, the flimsier the enforcement mechanisms for ensuring the data are protected."

One of the biggest breaches was in 2006 when a laptop containing data for 26.5 million veterans was stolen from the home of a government employee. The computer was recovered. This year, hard drives containing personal information of 1.9 million Health Net insurance customers were taken. They contained health histories, financial information and Social Security numbers. The matter is still under investigation.

In the wrong hands, "health records can be used for blackmail and public humiliation," AP notes. "The information can also be used by insurance companies to inflate rates, or by employers to deny job applicants."

Preventing data leaks is on the minds of Kentucky officials setting up the Kentucky Health Information Exchange, the state clearinghouse for EHRs. Participating providers have to sign several agreements in which they attest the information they obtain will be used responsibly. "The golden rule is this data will only be viewed by a provider who is providing care to a patient," said Jeff Brady, executive director of the Governor's Office of Electronic Health Information. To make sure that is happening, Brady said the software has an audit function, in which administrators are able to see who looks at a patient's data, when they did, from what computer and what piece of data was examined. (Read more)

Move to managed care on track for Oct. 1, secretary says

Despite a recent request to delay by an advisory council, and a low number of signups by hospitals so far, the move to managed care for Kentucky's Medicaid patients should be completed by Oct. 1.

"We are prepared to proceed with an Oct. 1 timeframe," said Janie Miller, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, right, as she updated the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee Monday. "I know it is quick and it is coming."

The advisory council had asked the cabinet to delay, saying the Oct. 1 deadline did not give providers enough time to review contracts. Several legislators also feel the move is happening too quickly. "Oct. 1 just seems a little scary for some of us," said Sen. Julie Denton, R-Louisville. She said "doctors, pharmacists and other providers have contacted her to voice concerns that they don't have enough information about which managed care company to sign on with," Deborah Yetter of The Courier-Journal reports.

As of last Wednesday, "Only 15 or so of the state’s [109] hospitals had signed on with one of the three managed care providers," according to Miller, Ronnie Ellis reports for CNHI News Service. "She said she wants to see about 89 hospitals join one or more of the three networks but the contracts provide for “out of network” services if enough hospitals don’t join in rural or isolated areas." (Read more)

The move to managed care organizations is the state's answer to plug a $139 million hole in the Medicaid budget. Privatizing the program by using managed care will mean providers will be paid on a per-patient, per-month basis, which Gov. Beshear said will save $1.3 billion over three years. Right now, providers are paid on a fee-for-service basis, meaning they bill for each service that is provided. The move will affect more than 730,000 Kentuckians and will be run by four MCOs statewide, including Passport. As it has for several years, Passport will continue to provide managed care for 170,000 Kentuckians in Jefferson County and the surrounding area.

Within two weeks, 560,000 Kentuckians outside of the Passport jurisdiction will receive information packets about which of the other three companies will handle their care. Membership cards will be mailed in September, Yetter reports. Before the new program can be launched, the state must showed the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services it is ready. Miller said that if the program is not deemed to be ready, there would be a delay, Yetter reports. (Read more)

Unplug - Protect yourself from EMF exposure

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 by: Lenette Nakauchi

(NaturalNews) Electromagnetic fields, or EMFs, are made of energy that is created by electronic and magnetic devices, such as cell phones, microwaves, refrigerators, power lines, and other common appliances and gadgets. The EMF is especially strong when these devices are plugged into the wall, allowing an increased amount of energy to infiltrate the area around them. For this reason, many people believe that unplugging electronic devices will help protect them against EMF exposure. But can it? Certainly.

A potentially dangerous issue, EMF exposure has been implicated as a factor that contributes to many health issues, including certain kinds of cancer, brain tumors, birth defects, fatigue, miscarriages, cataracts, headaches, stress, nausea, heart problems, and even chest pain and forgetfulness. Whether or not this is true is still, for the most part, up in the air, as scientists and researchers have pinpointed oftentimes conflicting evidence in their quest to determine the true dangers of exposure due to common items, such as cell phones. Though no conclusive answer has been reached, it is safe to say that evidence implies an inherent danger in excessive EMF exposure.

To completely avoid EMF exposure in today's world is virtually impossible, as electricity lies at the core of modern civilization. Do not be worried by this, though, as low levels of exposure will not do a great deal of harm; the problem occurs when individuals experience an excessive amount of exposure over a long period of time. Though many people may succeed in using as little electricity as possible, the fact remains that modern technology has made access to EMF exposure easier than ever. From smart phones and laptop computers to e-Readers and tablets, technology is becoming more portable and is designed to accompany people wherever they may go.

So how do you limit your risk of overexposure? Unplug anything you are not using, including the microwave, television, computer, DVD player, and other household items. Though electronic devices will certainly continue to produce EMF even when they are turned off and unplugged, keeping them functioning at the lowest possible level will reduce the overall amount of EMF exposure that they cause.

Though simply unplugging your electronic devices may seem to be an easy answer to the EMF exposure issue, the process of avoiding as many harmful substances as possible goes beyond unplugging your television. First, you must be aware of the different sources of EMF that exist in your home or office. Then, you should make it a point to stay as far away from these sources as possible. For example, try sitting farther back from the television or not standing in front of the microwave when heating up your leftovers. Simply understanding where the risk lies and reacting in a positive way can greatly reduce your EMF exposure.

Additionally, you could consider replacing your high EMF devices with electronics that do not plug in. For example, try using a battery operated alarm clock instead of one that plugs into the wall. You can also utilize a hands-free device for your phone, to keep the actual body of the cell phone as far away from you as possible without giving up the convenience that the cell phone offers.

Overall, unplugging your electronic devices is a great way to protect yourself against EMF exposure. Though the research on the dangers of EMF exposure is still categorized as inconclusive, the dangers of excessive exposure have been made clear. By staying as far away from electronic devices as possible and by disconnecting them from the wall, you can decrease your exposure and improve your overall well-being.

Sources
http://emf.mercola.com/sites/emf/em...
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/...
http://www.healthy-holistic-living/....

About the author
Lenette Nakauchi is a whole body vibration expert who is passionate about demonstrating to others how to go and stay lean and fit in a fun, healthy, sustainable way. Learn more about vibration exercise and how it's used for fitness, therapy, and weight loss at http://www.thenoblerexk1.com

UK Extension Service launches online challenge to improve physical and financial wellness

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has created an online challenge designed to help people improve their health and financial status. The Kentucky Fall 2011 Small Steps to Health and Wealth challenge starts Sept. 4 and runs to Oct. 2.

The free program asks participants to track daily choices they make about nutrition, physical activity and saving money. As they enter data into 10 categories, participants will earn points and see a comparison of their progress to other participants. Top finishers will receive prize packs. The first 150 people to complete the challenge will get a UK water bottle.

"As individuals work toward improving both their health and personal finances, it is important to realize that small changes do make a difference," said Jennifer Hunter, UK assistant extension professor for family financial management in the UK College of Agriculture. "Adopting only one of the 10 recommended daily practices is a step in the right direction."

To register, click here or call a local extension office.

Here is How to Take Care of Oily Skin

Oily skin is characterized by skin that is shiny and oily to the touch and has large pores. Oily skin is caused by glands that overproduce secretions in the skin. This can lead to both black and white heads developing on the skin. The good news is that oily skin is generally strong and resistant and is less prone to wrinkle or develop expression lines. But just because you have oily skin doesn't mean that you’re doomed to have acne forever. It just means following a healthy skin care routine that can help keep these extra secretions to a minimum. Here are a few tips on how to care for oily skin.

Basic care of oily skin begins with washing the face at least twice a day, and three times if possible. While oily skin may be resistant, many of the stronger ingredients in skin care products are not necessary and a regular cleanser can be used. If you are constantly fighting acne, you may wish to try a cleanser that has salicylic acid. Cleaning the face on a regular basis is more important that using a cleanser for oily skin. Still, soap and products with alcohol should be avoided. Soap can irritate the skin, while alcohol can over dry the skin.

A very important tip for those that suffer oily skin is to always remember to take off your makeup before going to bed. Leaving on the makeup keeps the skin from breathing properly and blocking the pores can lead to the development of pimples or black heads. No matter how late you get home or how tired you are, always get in the habit of removing your makeup at the end of the day.

If you’re in the habit of using a toner, you can continue as long as it doesn’t contain alcohol. The jury is out whether toner can help your skin or not, as many modern cleansers have ingredients that refresh the skin, but it can help eliminate residue from the cleanser and it does feel good on the skin.

Moisturizer is still important, even if you’re battling oily skin. Try to use a moisturizer formulated for your skin type, which will hydrate your skin after the other products have done their work to reduce the extra secretions.

Some More Tips

Oily skin tends to attract more dirt than dry skin. It is important to maintain a regular skin care routine to keep the problem from re-occurring.

Here is a 5-minute oily skin-care routine that is very simple to follow:

Morning

*  Use a wipe-off cleanser for normal-to-oily skin or a soap-free cleansing bar. Rinse thoroughly.

* Tone by using a toner that should be diluted, if it contains alcohol that can be too drying. Moisten your cotton wool with water.

* Moisturize where needed using an oil-free or gel moisturizer.

Evening

* Remove eye make-up then cleanse as above but more thoroughly.

* Apply moisturizer just where needed.

The Top 10 Foods for Clear Skin

Let us look into the top foods for clear skin. It is a fact that these foods good for skin are not only are these foods easily available, these foods can also be easily incorporated into your regular diet to make it a clear skin diet. Without further ado, let me reintroduce you to these healthy foods for clear skin and provide you some important clear skin tips.

Fruits

Yeah, I know that you know that fruits are healthy. But did you know that by including fruits like strawberries, oranges, sweet limes, avocados and all the different kinds of berries will give you clear skin? These foods can become foods for clear skin because these foods have antioxidant properties. They flush out the waste materials and help in reconstructing the collagen in the body. This collagen is responsible to keep your skin firm and in avoiding drooping of the skin. Another great advantage of these fruits is that they have anti aging properties too. A handful of these fruits everyday, not fruit juice, and you are sorted for your lifetime.

Vegetables

Raw vegetables like cucumber, radish, beetroot, tomatoes are all very good to improve the complexion of your skin. These foods are packed with vitamins and antioxidant properties. Vitamin A from these vegetables help in getting rid of the acne and also helps in restoring the skin to its original complexion. The vitamin C helps in maintaining the elasticity of the skin and helps in maintaining flawless skin. It is not difficult to include these vegetables; they just need to be added to your salad.

Water

Technically not a food, but water is an essential element for us. Do not underestimate the power of water. Apart from helping the body in its regular functioning, water helps to keep the skin hydrated thereby acting as a natural skin moisturizer. The skin retains its natural moisture when it is hydrated and the wrinkles take time to show if you do not dehydrate your skin. About 10 glasses of water a day, is the minimum quantity to be included.

Fish

We all know that fish oil is very good for the skin. The omega 3 essential fatty acid present in the fish works very well with the skin by smoothing the lines of the skin. Fish oil also helps in reducing the acne on the face. This oil fights against the free radicals that damage the collagen on the skin. If you cannot eat fish, then there are plenty of fish oil supplements that you go for. Consult your dermatologist as he/she will be able to guide you properly. Your skin will benefit if you eat fish thrice a week.

Soy Products

Soy products are famous not only for their high content of proteins, but are also famous for putting off the pimples from your face. The chemicals in this food, act like estrogen and help in combating skin problems. The vitamin E in soy helps the body in manufacturing new cells in the body. The skin also becomes supple as it becomes moist. Try tofu and soy milk in place of chicken and milk in some recipes to include these foods for clear skin.

Melons

These huge fruits are full of chemical which help in maintaining a great skin complexion. Melons burst with compounds which are similar to carotene. This carotene helps in restoring the collagen in the skin and thus, postpone the wrinkles. Melons also help people with flaky skin, by nourishing it deeply. A slice of melon a day, keeps the wrinkles at bay.

Oatmeal

One of the excellent foods for clear skin, oatmeal contains a lot of fiber. This fiber helps in filtering the dirt from the skin and keeping the skin clean. Clean skin helps in promoting clear skin. Eating oatmeal has another benefit; it assists in the body in new skin growth. Making it a breakfast food, oatmeal can easily be consumed everyday.

Yogurt

Plentiful in probiotics, eating some yogurt daily helps to balance the levels of bacteria in the body. The skin benefits as there is no or less place for bad bacteria in the body due to all the good bacteria from yogurt. A couple of spoonfuls everyday should be enough to work the magic.

Brown Rice

Brown rice contains fibers and multivitamins. The fibers help to keep the digestive tract clean and this benefits the skin too. Another reason for brown rice to be one of the foods for clear skin, is that the vitamins in the rice act as clear skin vitamins and are helpful to improve the tone of the skin. Switching to brown rice might take some time. However, try different recipes and enjoy this wonderful food.

Walnuts

Walnuts are great sources of fiber as well as essential fatty acids. The fiber eliminates all the toxins from the body and helps to maintain a healthy body, which is the ticket to clear skin. The fatty acids in walnuts help to dissolve all the fatty deposits in the pores of the skin. Once, these deposits are dissolved, the pores unclog enabling the skin to breathe normally which, in turn, help to get clear skin. A handful twice a week should be sufficient.

How to Maintain Dreadlocks

 Here we go:-

• Wash the dreadlocks at least once a week. Use a residue-free shampoo for washing. You may need to wash your dreadlocks more frequently if you sweat a lot on your head.
• An alternative to cleaning dreadlocks with shampoo is to use a mixture of apple cider and water in the ratio of 1:3. This is a natural and excellent cleanser and the best answer to the question 'Dreadlocks - how to wash it naturally?'.
• Twist the dreadlocks right after taking a shower, i.e. when your hair is wet. This will ensure a longer life of the dreadlocks.
• Massage your scalp twice a day. It will maintain proper circulation of blood. This will, in turn, help in releasing natural oils in the scalp, preventing dryness and natural breakage of dreadlocks.
• Massaging will also tone up your scalp. This will decrease or completely eliminate the need for using conditioners and other hair care products on dreadlocks.
• In case your dreadlocks look frizzy and brittle, you will have to apply conditioner on them for preventing breakage. If you wish, you can apply the conditioner only on the dreadlocks.
• Try to use chemicals as low as possible because it will attract dirt, dust and other chemicals and will eventually lead to dreadlocks damage. The best idea will be to use hair care products especially made for dreadlocks.
• Whenever you use shampoos or conditioners on your dreadlocks, rinse them completely. Dreadlocks act like sponges and absorb chemicals. Rinsing them well with water will remove any chemical trapped in them. This is very necessary for good and long-term health of your hair.
• Check for the fabric on which you sleep. By sleeping on fabrics like cotton or flannel, you may damage your hair over time as they cause the dreadlocks to pull against them while sleeping.
• The fabrics that are considered to be the best for maintaining dreadlocks are silk and satin. However, if you have to use cotton bed sheets then wrap your dreadlocks with silk scarf while you sleep. More on dreadlocks head wraps.
• You will often find build-ups in your dreadlocks. They are suitable for microbial growth. This may give rise to infection on your scalp. An ideal option to prevent microbial infection on scalp is to sterilize it with an antiseptic agent on a regular basis.

Enjoy

Here Is How to Make Dreadlocks Fast

The following is a tried and tested method on getting dreadlocks :

The Back Sweep Method

Also called the back combing method, it literally means to comb the hair in the opposite direction towards the scalp, so that the hair gets frizzier along the way. Here are the steps you would need to follow if you are making your own dreads. Though it would be reasonable to request a friend to assist you in this seemingly easy but rather exhausting task. If you do it alone there is a high possibility that the dreads on the back of your head will be ill formed. Follow these instructions step by step:

• Do not condition your hair for at least 7-10 days before the day you intend to get your dreadlocks done. This will ensure that your hair has lesser moisture or oiliness.
• Wash your hair with a non residue shampoo and then allow it to air dry.
• Once your hair is dry, part your hair into small sections, take as much hair as you would like, depending on how thick you wish your dreads to be. They will get fluffier over time, so be careful not to take too much hair per dread.
• Now take one section at a time, while you secure the rest of the free hair with a rubber band.
• Take the section and twist it real tight, or simply roll the section over your finger. Always tie the ends of the hair with a rubber band. Now slowly begin to comb your hair backwards towards your scalp from the tip of the hair.
• Now apply some dreadlocks wax or bee wax all over the section, this will ensure that the hair retains its twists.
• You will need to twist the section once more while massaging the wax into the hair section. Then secure the rubber band again.
• Avoid dread waxes which have petroleum in them, as they are meant to help give shine to already time tested dreads. Petroleum, causes new dreads to loosen out.
• Repeat this process with the rest of the hair sections. The entire procedure will take about 4 hours or so to complete, if you have shoulder length or longer hair.

Of course you could get neater dreads if you get them done from a professional. The fact being that this hairstyle unlike others is more permanent in nature. Therefore would it not be safer to seek professional help? They would be able to give unique designs on the scalp, while twisting the dreads with perfection. None the less if you do choose to dread your own hair, you need to make sure that your hair is long enough to be twisted even if they are relatively short. Hair that reaches till your nose would do just fine, and can be made into dreads easily. Though you will need to learn all about how to maintain dreadlocks properly. Apple cider vinegar mixed in water works great in cleansing the scalp and keeping the dreads dust free. Also once your dreads are made, try not to wash your hair for another 10 days or so. If you can't stand the grime or feel it's getting too dirty, use a cotton swap or a sponge dipped in apple cider vinegar so as to clean the hair.

The back sweep combined with the twisting method works the best for making dreads at home, since it makes the job relatively easier. Your dreads will take a month or more to completely form, and you will need to wax them every time you begin to see loose strands or your twists begin to loosen out. Hopefully now you know how to make dreadlocks on your own.

By Rohini Mohan