Banish Depression With the Tree of Happiness

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 44.3 million Americans, ages 18 and older, suffer from a mental disorder. Depression, included in this number, is reaching epidemic proportions. While the media continues to report on the potentially life-threatening side effects of pharmaceutical antidepressants, more and more individuals are turning to herbal solutions. A little known tree in the West, Albizia julibrissin, is beginning to share the spotlight with other herbal antidepressants as an effective remedy.

Antibacterial Agent in Common Household Products Shown to Weaken the Heart and Muscles

Found in a variety of soaps, hand sanitizers, fabrics, toothpastes, mouthwashes and even tap water, researchers have discovered triclosan is far from harmless. Linked to heart failure and decline in muscle strength, the agent has come under scrutiny due to its widespread use in common household products. Considering the Environmental Protection Agency estimates over one million pounds of the chemical are produced each year in the United States, such excessive daily exposure has researchers worried - and for good reason.

Impede muscle strength, stop the heart

More Than Just a Gut Feeling — How Mood and Emotions are Influenced by the ‘Second Brain’

Attitude and outlook may not all be in the head. Researchers have found that the gut can function like a second brain—influencing the nervous system and behavior. High fat intake has been shown to effect this gastrointestinal nervous system, helping to improve emotional balance. But not any fat will do—specific fatty acids are the key to unlocking a bright and stable frame of mind.