10 Herbs That Can Balance Your Adrenal, Thyroid and Ovary Hormones

Please read full here(Source): healthy-holistic-living.com

1. Astragalus

Commonly known as milk vetch, this herb is used in Chinese Medicine to treat a wide variety of health issues, including heart disease, liver problems, upper respiratory infections, and asthma. It is now commonly used for its immune stimulating action as well as its anti-aging effect. The latter is attributed to the compound cycloastragenol in the herb which activates the enzyme telomerase that protects the DNA of cells during cell division.  

The hormone balancing property of Astragalus helps in regulating blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Astragalus has a protective effect on the beta cells of the pancreas that secretes insulin. It counteracts insulin resistance where the receptors of insulin become progressively desensitized to it because of high levels of circulating hormone. Insulin resistance is a leading cause of type 2 diabetes.

2. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Ashwagandha is a popular herb in the Indian system of medicine Ayurveda. Its wide-ranging action on the endocrine system makes it an excellent adaptogen. Ashwagandha has a balancing effect on the adrenal glands and thethyroid. People with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are both benefited by taking Ashwagandha extract.

Ashwagandha can reduce stress, improve blood circulation, and prevent premature aging. It is considered an aphrodisiac, and is used to treat erectile dysfunction in men, but its ability to relieve stress is thought to be behind this effect. A similar effect on women is attributed to increased blood flow to the reproductive organs.

As the species name ‘somnifera’ suggests, Ashwagandha improves sleep. It has a rejuvenating effect on older people, helping them to regain physical vigor and vitality. It also improves memory.

3. Maca root (Lepidium meyenii)

The root of this turnip-like plant belonging to the cabbage family is called Peruvian ginseng after its native place. It is no relative of true ginseng though. The highly nutritious root is used as a vegetable, and is consumed in the Andean cuisine.But what made it popular is its energy boosting effect that is thought to have provided strength and stamina to the Inca warriors of old.

Athletes now use powdered Maca root to increase stamina. The hormone balancing effect of this root provides additional benefits like stress relief.

Maca root has plant hormones that confer special benefits to women such as relieving premenstrual syndrome and menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats.

4. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius)

American ginseng is a true ginseng, although it has a milder and more controlled action compared to the Chinese ginseng. It supports the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, helping maintain correct hormonal balance. However, it does not overstimulate the endocrine system.

American ginseng works by strengthening the immune system and relieving stress. It improves digestion, absorption, and assimilation of nutrients from the diet, which goes a long way in building up strength and stamina and improving general health. It has special benefits for male reproductive health too, since it improves sexual drive and performance.

5. Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens)

The berry of Saw Palmetto  is used in herbal medicine to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Taking this herb may help increase sperm count and reduce chronic fatigue. It relieves stress and improves immune function too.

The 10 Secrets Of Resilient Characters

Source: http://writerswrite.co.za/the-10-secrets-of-resilient-characters


'Damaged people are dangerous. They know they can survive.' ~Josephine Hart

The key to surviving in this world – and any fictional world you create – is resilience. It is not the strong who survive, but those who can weather change, because life is nothing but change. You do not need to be braver or bigger or louder. You do need to be able to bend with the wind, get up when you fall, and move forward when it seems impossible. This resilience strengthens you emotionally in either a positive or a negative way, and allows you to continue.

This is why your two most important characters – your protagonist and your antagonist – need to be resilient. Resilience is neither good nor bad, which is why it works for all characters who have goals and the desire to achieve them.

Are your main characters resilient enough for your story?

Resilient characters:

1. Accept help when they need it
2. Adapt to change
3. Learn how to cope with setbacks and disappointments
4. Focus on finding ways to get around problems, rather than on the problems themselves
5. Make mistakes and then learn from them 
6. Learn to accept constructive criticism
7. Make the most of their strengths
8. Recognize their weaknesses
9. Recover from failure and rejection
10. See the bigger picture in challenging situations

We do not enjoy reading about static characters who are trapped by their thoughts and circumstances. We want them to find that self-belief that forces them out of the prison of their heartaches, tragedies, and even the limitations of their victories.

So dare to create dangerous characters who have more moments of strength than moments of weakness. We love characters who are strong enough to withstand anything we throw at them - these are the characters worth rooting for.

5 Things You Need to Know About VoLTE

Source: cio.com

Voice over LTE (VoLTE) means better sounding voice calls and the ability to use voice and data at the same time, among other things. Here are five facts you should know about the next-generation wireless network technology.

Meet the latest telecom buzzword: VoLTE, short for Voice over Long Term Evolution (LTE).

Unlike many buzzwords, VoLTE refers to something wireless customers should actually care about and will probably appreciate: better quality voice calls; the ability to use voice and data at the same time; and more network efficiency, which translates into better service.

Simply put, VoLTE is a way to route voice traffic over the 4G LTE networks carriers use to transmit data. (Check out this detailed explanation of the technology for details.)

Here's a look at what the four major carriers offer in the way of VoLTE, as well as some information on what the technology means to you.

Simultaneous Voice and Data Calls

Say you're on the phone with a friend while you're out and about, and you decide to take in a movie. If you're not sure what's playing, you'll want to check the listings while you talk. If you're an AT&T or T-Mobile customer, you've been able to do this for years. That hasn't been the case for Verizon and Sprint subscribers; you'd have to end the call to get on the Web. Now that Verizon rolled out VoLTE, it's no longer a problem. Sprint says it will adopt VoLTE, but it is not clear when.

Better Quality Voice Calls

VoLTE enables what's called high definition (HD) voice calling. It's hard to quantify the higher quality of these calls, but they are a significant improvement over traditional calls made via cellular networks. There is, however, a catch. To make an HD voice call, you need to use a phone that supports VoLTE, in an area with 4G LTE service, and the person on the other end must also meet the same requirements.

No Increase in Voice Charges

Since HD calling utilizes the data network, you might assume that your HD voice minutes affect your data allotment. Fortunately, that's not the case. The networks are smart enough to identify voice packets, and they don't lump them into your data usage.

Not Every Phone Supports VoLTE

On the iPhone side of the house, only the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus support VoLTE. On Verizon, your other choices for VoLTE phones include the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the LG G2. On T-Mobile, there's the LG G Flex and Samsung Galaxy S5, Galaxy Light and Galaxy Note 3. For now, you need an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus to utilize HD calling on AT&T’s network.

Be the BEAST

You are the result of 4 billion years of evolutionary success, on a water covered rock, swinging 10,000 miles per hour, around a ball of fusion, in a very dark and dangerous corner of the universe. 

You are a human being, a creature powerful enough to take down mammoths and whales. The most dangerous thing this planet has ever seen.

So far as we know, man is the most powerful and limitless being this universe has to offer. We have conquered the land, the sea, the air. We have landed on other worlds. We have met the speed of sound and blasted through it. We have held the power of the suns in our laboratories. 

This is our planet and the blood that flows through your veins , flowed through the minds and bodies of the most terrifying beast imaginable, a beast without limits, a beast that can see its own shortcomings and overcome them.

You are that BEAST. It’s about time you act like it.

~ Unknown