The issue of losing weight has been a time-honored battle that does not seem to be getting any easier. While it is true that exercise and diet are two of the major influential factors in keeping a healthy shape, progressive thinkers are more and more turning into alternative methods to enhance the process of losing weight. Herbs are defined as those plant extracts that are being utilized to cure a vast number of health conditions and ailments, including excess weight. While they are just starting to obtain popularity in the West, herbal supplements have long been a health maintenance staple in many other countries in the globe.

Majority of herbal products are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration or FDA. This is why, it is strongly suggested that one should see a healthcare professional prior to starting any herbal remedy cures. Bear in mind as well that everyone reacts variously to herbs. What may seem to be suppressing one’s appetite may not do wonders for someone else. The following are some of the most commonly utilized weigh loss herbs that aid in getting rid of those excess weights:

1. Psyllium to make a sense of being full and in turn lessen the chances of overeating - Psyllium is a natural form of fiber. It has been considered to be a helper in the process of weight loss by making a sense of fullness, particularly when consumed prior a meal or with a big glass of water to aid with the absorption.
2. White willow bark to stimulate metabolism of fats - This is one of the weight loss herbs that poses anti-inflammatory properties and increases the levels of norepinephrine, which may lead to the stimulation of fat metabolism and in turn lead to loss in weight.
3. Banaba leaf to control your appetite - Banaba leaf is a medicinal herb that grows in Southeast Asia. This plant is known to cause lowering of blood sugar levels and encourages healthy levels of insulin that are linked to appetite. Maintaining the regulation in these areas may moderate a person’s caloric consumption and cravings.

Herbal supplements are showing great promise in promoting loss in weight. However, bear in mind that while herbs are being considered as natural, this does not automatically imply that they are always safe for human consumption since there are some weight loss herbs that may have an unpleasant side effects.  Some people simply don't like herbal products and would rather have synthetic pills such as the Phen373 pills.
 

Slimming teas are one of the best alternative products in trimming down your weight. You do not have to opt for weight loss drugs if you have a very tight budget because aside from its adverse side effects, it also costs more than teas. Many dieting tea companies have sprouted in the last few years because the rate of obesity is continuously increasing each year. China also pioneered the use of slimming tea as another option.

Laxative is one of the active ingredients many slimming tea has. It is said to aid in the faster elimination of undigested food inside your intestines to prevent further nutrient absorption. It is believed to increase your metabolic rate, too. Buckthorn and Senna are one of the famous laxatives mixed in slimming teas.  However you should really only take laxatives if you are genuinely constipated and they aren't suggested for long-term use.

To make your body stand the forced extraction of the food you eat, tea should contain other ingredients that will energize your body. An energy booster formula is added to relieve fatigue and stress so your body can fully recover from repeated bowel movement. The common energy booster is Shiu Sen, which can be found in China.

Ma Huang, which is commonly known as Ephedra sinica is another main substance of many slimming teas. It aids in suppressing your appetite though studies show that constant use of it may cause insomnia, palpitations, nervousness, etc. However there have been many side-effects noted and as a result has been banned in America by the FDA. Many companies are now using bitter orange as an ephedra-free alternative.

To complete a good slimming tea, there should be an ingredient that acts as neutralizer. Neutralizers lubricate the intestines for proper absorption of essential nutrients in your body. One of the best neutralizers is Malva. It is a compound found from Lotus or Pearl Leaves of China. This plant can also be found in Turkey, Middle East and India, but only China has discovered its weight loss potentials. They have then started mixing it in several slimming tea products available these days. In addition, Malva is also responsible in cleansing your intestines from toxins.

It is very simple to take your slimming tea. If it is in a teabag, just place one teabag in a cup of hot water and let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes to release the active essences of the herbs. Remember not to put it directly in boiling water since it will react indifferently and may destroy its weight loss properties. It is commonly recommended to take one cup of slimming tea during bedtime. Others are advising to take 3 to 5 cups every day. The consumption depends on the kind of slimming tea you are going to take because ingredients and strengths used in producing it differ from each other. Always check the dosage of slimming tea before drinking it.

Whenever you buy any natural slimming tea, always make sure you do further research to ensure that it's safe to drink. Just because something is natural, doesn't mean that it's automatically healthy for you. Also, there have been some companies who have claimed their products are natural when in fact they have been adding in substances such as sibutramine.

Green tea, Oolong and Puerh are probably the safest of all the slimming teas on the market because there have been many studies carried out and there don't appear to be any side-effects. Just make sure you are buying the highest quality of teas otherwise you won't be able to gain all the healthy benefits that you desire. You should look at buying Tava Tea because it's certified organic.

The rapid development of the technological world in the past century has brought about significant change in the way people live their lives. Everything is fast-paced; computers and the internet have taken over this world by storm.

Along with the advancements that improve people’s lifestyles and make everyday tasks easier, this development has also brought busy working schedules with it. More and more people are stressing over their work. Even at home people find themselves glued to their computers working in order to pay for the bills. It has gotten to the point where some people don’t even have the time to cook their own meals or wait for meals to be cooked for that matter. Fast food chains are rapidly becoming a necessity because of the fact that you get food; fast.

While fast food may seem convenient and cheap, it is very unhealthy and causes obesity and other health problems. Most of the items on fast food menus include burgers, fries and fried chicken. Most if not all of them are processed food that are unhealthy, contain trans fat and are packed with calories which are stored in the body causing consumers to get bigger and slower.

To cope with the obesity crisis, some people are taking diet pills or FibreTrim dieting drinks. They already don’t have enough time to cook healthy meals, how can they have time to exercise? Diet pills seem to offer an instant solution to the general public’s problems. With promises of weight loss without having to exert any effort exercising, who would not want to try out these products?

Eating is an important facet of life. Food keeps people full and provides nutrients for the body so that it can perform properly. Not only will fast food products make you overweight, the effect of consuming too much of the unhealthy junk in them can be fatal.

In order to counter obesity, people need to start living healthier lifestyles. Cut back or completely avoid fast food products and other calorie rich consumables and start getting involved in physical activities. If you still drive to a store that is just a couple of blocks away, consider walking or jogging there instead. You will not only save gas, you will also be sparing the ozone layer of any more damage. Apart from those two, you will also be doing yourself a favor because you will be getting some exercise and burning some excess calories along the way.

You may also consider taking diet pills; anything that can possibly help into getting you into shape is of utmost priority.

There are many cosmetic procedures that are popular nowadays and one of them is liposuction, which you might also see being called liposculpture and lipoplasty.  You might be of the mind that liposuction is a fast and easy way to lose weight.  Unfortunately this isn’t so.

There really isn’t a replacement for good old fashioned dieting and exercise.  As boring as this sounds, it’s really something you need to do first before considering surgery.

The problem is that people can end up spending many months battling to achieve the perfect body.  They spend hours at the gym and carefully watch what they eat.  However there are still lumps of fat in different parts of the body such as buttocks, chin, belly and thighs.

For those that think large amounts of fat are able to be sucked away, this isn’t really possible with liposuction.  It’s much more suited towards those with little problem areas.

Luckily, liposuction is permanent so it’s not as if you’re going to have to spend a fortune every few months.  However you are best advised to keep up with your dieting and exercise regime in order to keep your ideal weight.

Liposuction may well be one of the more simple procedures however this isn’t to say you should go ahead without prior research.  Check out the different surgeons in your area and even ask anyone you know who might have had surgery carried out.

If you are a smoker then you really need to look at giving up for at least for 2 weeks before and after your treatment.  This is due to the fact that smoking means your body has more difficultly healing itself.

If you are worried about the recovery time, the good news is that liposuction isn’t all that complicated.  Often you will leave the clinic the same day as your operation.  However, for those of you who are having fat removed from a number of areas you might need to stay in overnight.

There are all different sorts of lipo that you can have including tumescent and ultrasonic.  It’s best that you allow a professional to decide what is the best type for your particular need.  If you’re having cheap liposuction in Dallas Texas, I hope that everything goes well for you.

A lot of people don’t realize how difficult it is for smoker to quit their nicotine habit.  It really is very difficult and often people aren’t successful first time around.  You might have tried a number of different products for quitting smoking before such as nicotine patches and gum but sooner or later you started to smoke again.

If you desperately want to give up and you’re looking for another smoking cessation technique then you might want to consider acupuncture.  As you probably know, acupuncture is an ancient Chinese health remedy which is now being utilized in the West for all sorts of things such as weight loss, pain management and also quitting cigarettes.

When you go along to your local acupuncturist you will tell them that you want the treatment in order to give up.  The practitioner will then examine you for areas of low energy.  After this is done tiny needle will be inserted into your skin.

After an hour of the needles being in your skin, they will be removed and you will possibly be given magnets to wear.  Acupuncture sounds rather scary but you will hardly feel the needles at all.

Bear in mind, that one session is unlikely to be enough for you to be able to give p smoking.  You will need between 4 and 6 sessions to notice any difference.  However people have noticed improvements after only a couple of sessions.

Of course, because there really haven’t been all that many studies carried out it’s difficult to get an accurate idea of the success rate of acupuncture.  In addition to this, you will also need to implement your own will power.  You can’t expect the acupuncture to do all of the work for you.

When trying to locate an acupuncturist, you need to find one that is licensed.  Do a search for  National Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine to find one near you.

Although acupuncture might seem like some sort of miracle cure for your cigarette habit, you should do as much research as you can to ensure you beat this nasty habit for good.

Buying a house anywhere can be difficult enough and very stressful however if you have never bought a property in Scotland it can be a very daunting task.  I am currently looking to buy as a first time buyer and thought I would share some of my own house-hunting experiences along with what I have learnt from seeing friends and family buy and sell houses.

Where To Find Properties To Buy

There are many places that you should look and it can depend on what kind of property you want to buy and where in Scotland you are looking.

Many people place their properties up for sale with solicitors who have grouped together in the different regions of Scotland to create weekly property listings papers and websites.  To find the relevant website for the region you are looking to search, you ought to visit Scottish Solicitors' Property Centres - http://www.sspc.co.uk/

Other websites you should look at include s1homes.com and rightmove.co.uk.  Sometimes people try to save money by selling their property on their own which means they aren't always that well advertised.  To find these properties you should look around the area you want to buy in and also check out the local papers.

If you like the idea of buying a historic property that is in urgent need of renovation you can have a look at http://www.buildingsatrisk.org.uk.  Please bear in mind that this isn't for the faint-hearted because you will probably have to jump through a lot of hoops and cut through a lot of red tape in order to achieve the home you want.

There are also a number of government bodies in Scotland such as Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and Scottish Water who sell off land and properties every year.  To find these properties easily just go to http://www.scottishproperty.gov.uk/search/ and do a search.

How Much To Pay?

A lot of people get very confused about the Scottish system of deciding on a price to pay.  When you see a property advertised you will often see it listed as Offers Over, Offers in the Region Of and Fixed Price.

The idea behind the offers over system is that when there are many people wanting to buy the same house they will pay as much as they can in order to be the buyer.  Unlike a traditional auction, when you get into the offers over system, your solicitor places a sealed bid for the amount you want to pay.

When the seller receives all the bids they will choose who they want to sell to.  Normally they will sell to the highest bidder however sometimes they will look at what entry date you are looking for or anything else for that matter.

When there is a lot of demand for a property you will often find the highest bidder places a bid which is 30 to 40 percent over the "offers over" price.  However it really depends on how much demand there is for the property.  If it's been on the market for many months you should try to negotiate a price instead.

Because of the current recession and the slowing down of house sales, many properties are being listed as "offers in the region of."  This just means it's open to negotiation and you can try to offer a little bit less if you want.

For properties advertised as a "fixed price" this just means that this is the amount the seller would like to receive.  Sometimes the amount is perfectly reasonable and causes a lot of interest so you will probably end up paying the full price.  However if it's been on the market for ages you can go in with a lower offer.

Sold Prices

If you want to get an idea of what you should pay for a property you should find out what similar properties sold for.  You can do this free of charge so there is no need to pay anything to do this.  You can have a look at rightmove.co.uk or nethouseprices.com.  

The main problem with doing this is that you are only told the price it sold for.  Of course, you might have two properties that are side-by-side and look exactly the same as each other but the value might be totally different.

For instance, where I used to live, the house next door was sitting empty for years.  The owner also didn't do any real maintenance on the property apart from cutting the hedge and the lawn.  The result was that when he went to sell the house, no lender would provide a mortgage because they felt the condition of the building was too bad.  Because of this it had to be sold to a cash-buyer at about 20% of what it would have if it had been in good condition.

The only way you would've known this is if you were able to get your hands on the schedule of the sold property so that you could see what condition it was in.  Unfortunately I'm not aware of any companies providing copies of past schedules.  Which is a shame because it's certainly a service I would pay money for.

Note Of Interest

If you are really interested in a particular property but you're not ready to go ahead with buying it, you can get your solicitor to lodge a note of interest with the selling agent.  Basically this just means that if there is a closing date for offers; an offer had been placed on the property or it is being taken off the market, you will be notified of this.

Home Reports

Since 2008, all homes that have been put up for sale need to have what's called a "Home Report." which is the same as having a survey done. Basically the seller pays for this and it contains lots of information about the condition of the property and how energy-efficient it is.

Before the home reports were introduced, it used to be the case that they buyer would pay for a survey.  The problem with this was that buyers would really like a property, have a survey carried out then they would put in an offer and the offer would have been rejected due to being too low.  This process could happen numerous times and thus result in the buyer wasting thousands of pounds.

It was argued that if the seller commissioned the home report, the surveyor would be biased towards the seller.  So if you are worried about this, you can always have your own survey carried out by another surveyor.

Personally, I love being able to get copies of the home report before seeing the property because I can then get an idea of what condition it is in.  If there is too much work to be done, I simply don't bother making an appointment for a viewing.

However, I have noticed that some surveyors are more lenient than others.  In the home report, the surveyor gives a rating depending on how urgent the repair required.  So "1" means that no repairs are needed immediately.  "2" means that work will be required some time in the future, whilst a "3" means that work is needed urgently.

There was one property I saw that had the older style of electrical box.  There was nothing actually wrong with it other than it was the older style.  Yet the surveyor gave it a "3."  On the other hand, another property with a similar older-style electrical box was given a "1."

Things To Consider When Buying A Home

Drainage

Scotland can be a pretty wet and damp place so when buying a house try and avoid a property which is in a low-lying area.  Ideally it should be on a hill or raised area of ground so that the water from surrounding ground can drain away from the house.  If you are looking at buying a house which is in a low-lying area make sure you take extra care to see what the damp meter reading is and whether there's any green mildew growing around the house.

Flooding

Some of the rivers in Scotland can burst their banks when there is heavy rain and/or snow melt.  Hopefully this will not happen too often however if you are buying a house near a river, find out whether it's prone to flooding and how high the ground is in relation to the river.  It's best to choose a home which is a good bit above the level of the river so that if the worst happens, you shouldn't be affected.  http://www.sepa.org.uk/flooding/flood_map.aspx

Noise

Make sure you find out exactly what properties and businesses there are near to the property you are looking at.  One day we went for lunch at Cairndow Stagecoach Inn and we were shocked to hear guns firing.  It turn out that right near by there is a clay pigeon shooting club.  All I know is if I bought a house in Cairndow I would be livid and upset to have to put up with the horrendous racket.  Imagine a nice sunny day and you want to sit outside to enjoy the sunshine and then you hear guns firing!

Wind Farms

We all know that governments around the world are looking to invest in "green" technologies such as wind power.  Most people are in favour of this however when it comes to wind farms people will often object because they don't want it in their "back yard."  These kinds of people are called NIMBYs meaning "Not In My Back Yard."

Personally I don't mind wind turbines as I think there is something sculptural about them.  What concerns me is the "unknown."  If a wind farm is proposed in an area you simply don't know how big it's going to be and how close to habitation it will be.  If you want to avoid buying a property near a wind farm or proposed wind farm you can find a map here:  http://gis.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/mapsWindFarm/

Shared Maintenance

If you are looking to buy a flat then you might automatically assume that if any repairs needing done on the roof or other structural areas will be paid for by all of the other owners.  Normally this is the case however it really depends on what it written in the title deeds.  So try and find these details out before you waste time and money having your solicitor carrying out searches.

Sunlight

As you should know, Scotland has a lot of hills.  The problem is that in the winter these said hills can block out a lot of light because the sun really doesn't reach that high in the sky.  If you are viewing a house in the middle of summer when the sun is at its highest you might think the house is beautiful and sunny.  However you could end up getting a bit of a shock when winter arrives and you realize you're in the shade 100% of the time.  A house in the shade of a hill is also a cold house.  So when viewing a property in the summer, make sure you have a look at where the hills are located to the south of it.

Google Street View

Although a lot of people have complained about Google's new "Street View" I have found it to be very useful for my house search.  Due to the fact that I'm searching in areas that are quite far away and also in areas I've never been to, I can get a really good idea of what the area is like before even going there.

Often estate agents only want to show you the best views of a property and therefore very conveniently omit details of the scrap car yard or the sewage works that's located next door.  Often we have discounted a property because we didn't like the look of the general area.  Therefore it's saved us a lot of time and hassle.

My main problem with Google Stree View is that you are taken to the centre of the postcode which means it’s often a struggle to find the property that’s up for sale.  Especially if it’s a rural property and the postcode covers a large area.

Please note that I am not a solicitor or an estate agent and the above article is based on my experiences and research that I have done.  Hopefully you will have found it of assistance and will have learnt something new.

If you are interested in the environment, gardening and wildlife then you will more than likely want to start your own compost if you haven’t done so already.  For those who have no experience in composting you might think that it’s going to be very difficult.  The good news is that it’s pretty easy as long as you do your research beforehand.

Types Of Compost

As with most things, there are a number of different types of compost you can create in your garden.  If you want something very simple and easy then you can buy plastic compost bins.  Basically they have an open bottom which is placed on the ground and then there’s a lid on the top that allows you to add the composting ingredients.

The problem with the type of compost bin described above is that only worms can get into the compost.  Worms are fantastic and are very much encouraged, however if you want to be truly wildlife-friendly you will want to attract other creatures.  For those in the UK, this means you’ll want to attract hedgehogs and toads plus other creatures.

This means you will need to build a compost heap which is easily accessible for these animals.  The simplest form of compost is literally just a heap of organic matter covered up with an old carpet.  Unfortunately these compost heaps don’t look particularly attractive.  However if you create a screen made from a trellis or bamboo then you can hide it pretty well.

What To Add To Your Compost?

There are two main ingredients of a compost and these are dry items and wet items.  Dry items include paper, cardboard, wood chippings, sawdust and leaves.  Wet items include fruit, vegetables, lawn clippings, seaweed, tea bags and coffee grounds.

It’s imperative that you aim to add equal amounts of dry and wet items to your compost.  If your compost is too dry then you will have problems with it smelling badly and it will also attract flies.  If it’s too dry then the compost won’t break down.

There are some things you shouldn’t add to the compost either.  Don’t add in cooked food, meat and fish because this will attract vermin.  Don’t use perennial weeds because this will cause them to spread to your compost.  Also be careful about adding roses with thorns on the stems because they are slow to break down.  When you go to use the compost you might accidentally cut yourself on the thorns.

Where To Place Your Compost?

First of all it’s a good idea for it to be fairly near to your kitchen so that you don’t have to walk too far to add kitchen scraps.  Otherwise, it doesn’t really matter where you locate it.  However it must be on bare earth to allow worms into the compost.  The worms are very important in processing the organic materials into a useable form.  

Slugs and snails will also find their way into the compost to help the decomposing process.  You might not like the idea of encouraging slugs and snails into your garden however think about it this way:  if they’re happily munching away on the food in your compost, they won’t have any reason to leave and start munching your prized plants!

How To Get Oxygen Into The Compost?

The reason why composts are so beneficial the environment is because they don’t create methane gas the way that organic materials in landfill does.  Why is this?  Well, it’s simply because of the oxygen in the compost.  Landfill is so compressed there is no way for oxygen to get in.

There are different methods of getting oxygen into your compost and some of them involve quite a lot of work whilst others are pretty simple and straightforward.  The most tricky method involves turning the compost over.  So basically you take the top layers off the compost and put them somewhere else so that eventually the bottom layer of compost is now sitting on the top.  The involves a lot of work and also space in your garden which you might not have.

The simpler way to oxygenate your compost is to use a garden fork or compost turner/aerator to mix the contents of the compost.  Please note that you might have a hedgehog or toad living in your compost so be careful you don’t use the fork too violently.

Another way of keeping oxygen in the compost is too add items such as egg boxes, twigs and cardboard toilet rolls in along with all of the other ingredients.  Simply by doing this you will create air pockets in the compost.

Although all of the above information might seem like quite a lot if you have no previous experience in composting, the truth is that it’s really simple.  You don’t have to have “green fingers” in order to start a compost and it should be able to fit into any garden - big or small.

In Scotland, the average smoker spends £1,750 a year on cigarettes which is an incredible amount of money.  Especially when you consider the majority of people who smoke come from low-income and high unemployment areas.  £1,750 is a heck of a lot of money for anyone and you could pay for a really fantastic holiday with that money.  However it’s not just the cost of the ciggies you need to take into consideration.  There are many other hidden expenses most people don’t even consider.

Health Insurance - If you have taken out an insurance policy you will end up paying more for it than if you didn’t smoke.  You might feel that this is penalizing you however it simply comes down to “the bottom line” for insurance companies.  As a smoker you are more likely to become sick and need medical care.  Therefore you will be charged more.

Car Insurance - Although smoking isn’t going to make your car insurance more expensive with all companies, there are some insurers who will offer discounts to non-smokers.  This might seem a little odd.  The problem is that most smokers smoke whilst driving and this increases their chances of having an accident.  So because smokers tend to have more accidents you will be penalized financially.

Home Insurance - Unfortunately there are a number of smokers who are not very careful about their cigarettes and leave them unattended.  Sometimes people fall asleep whilst holding a cigarette and this then goes on to cause a house fire.  The Association of British Insurers claims that smokers are 35% more likely to make a claim on their house insurance and that in 2006 £394million was paid out by insurers for fire damage.

Employment and Income - Because smoking is so bad for your health, smokers tend to take a lot more sick days than their non-smoking colleagues.  Although there are many employers who will pay their employees for the days they are off sick, many don’t.  So if you are off sick you don’t get paid and this will greatly affect the amount of money you earn.  

And because of the number of sick days smokers take per year, many employers refuse to employ them.  So if you are currently looking for a job and you are a smoker, you’re going to find it more difficult thus reducing your chances of getting a well paid job.

Slashes Your Car Value - When smoking in your car the tar and nicotine will get into the fabric of the interior and make it stink and look a disgusting yellow/brown colour.  This becomes deeply ingrained and it would be fruitless to try and get rid of it.  Therefore a non-smoker is highly unlikely to want to buy a car from you.  Which means as a smoker, you’re going to have to look for another smoker to buy your car.

Pay More For Rental Properties - If you want to rent a property you will find that many of them say “non-smokers only” which means you will need to find a landlord who is willing to rent to a smoker.  If you do find a smoker-friendly rental property, you will also probably need to pay for the place to be redecorated and carpets thoroughly cleaned.

I really hope that people who currently smoke try to find a way to quit smoking cigarettes because it’s a truly horrible, unhealthy and expensive habit to have.

People in the UK have very different opinions when it comes to whether Marijuana is addictive or not and whether it’s safe for consumption.  The debate has really been heated with scientists coming out with very differing opinions.  In 2004 the British government downgraded cannabis from Grade B to Grade C however in 2009 was upgraded to Grade B again.

It’s been widely believed for years that it’s not addictive yet more and more people are coming forward to say that they are addicted and need help.  When Marijuana was originally downgraded in 2004, the numbers of people seeking help doubled which is why it was upgraded again.  Yet despite this, there has been no slow down in the numbers of people seeking help with their addiction.

There have also been studies to show how addictive different substances are.  Compared to tobacco, alcohol and heroin, the percentage of people who take cannabis and then go on to become dependant is incredibly low at only 4% compared to tobacco which is 21%.

Addiction vs. Habit

Some people claim that cannabis is addictive whilst others say that it’s just a habit.  However what is an addiction and what is simply a habit?  This is pretty difficult to quantify.  People turn to cannabis for a variety of reasons.  Perhaps they are feeling stressed, depressed or anxious.  When they take the cannabis they feel more relaxed.  Some people can even take it as way of celebrating.

When you do something on a regular basis it can easily turn into a habit however it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re addicted.  You can get into the habit of putting your slippers on as soon as you get into the house - this doesn’t mean to say you are addicted to slippers!

Of course, if the habit of taking cannabis becomes so great that it starts to have a detrimental effect on your life then it’s a serious problem that needs to be resolved.  Cannabis can become an emotional crutch and can therefore be a sign that the individual needs psychiatric help.

Withdrawal Symptoms

With other kinds of drugs, if you stop taking them your body will suffer from withdrawal symptoms.  In some cases people can even suffer from seizures which is why you need to have good medical supervision.  

It’s said that side-effects don’t happen with cannabis however people will still have to deal with their lives devoid of their emotional crutch.  Because there is no physical withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking cannabis, some people argue that this means cannabis isn’t addictive.  Conversely there are people who say that there are physical side-effects from cannabis, therefore it is addictive.

Weed vs. Skunk

There are many different terms used to describe Marijuana such as Cannabis, Ganja, Hash and Weed.  However in the 1990’s a new kid on the block appeared known as Skunk.  It was developed through selective breeding and was found to grow very well in colder climates using a growing system called hydroponics.

The problem with Skunk is that’s a totally different beast from the Hash that the hippies smoked in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  Skunk is way more powerful as it contains 10-14%  THC compared to the traditional cannabis of only 2-4%.  The result is that the effects of the Skunk is potentially very different with many people claiming to experience an effect more similar to LSD.

Unfortunately more than 80% of the cannabis sold in the UK is of the Skunk variety, whereas in 2002 the percentage was only 30%. I think this seriously adds to the confusion about whether it’s healthy, addictive or should be legalised  I think there needs to be a very clear distinction between the two and at the moment there doesn’t seem to be.

Addictive Personalities

When it comes to trying to decide whether cannabis is addictive or not, we need to consider the fact that some people have addictive personalities.  It’s believed that this is inherited through our genes and some people find it very easy to become addicted whilst there are others who don’t.

People Can Get Addicted To Anything

My personal opinion is that you can develop a habit or addiction to pretty much anything that has an effect on the chemicals in your body.  You can get addicted to eating salads and drinking lots of water because it makes you feel healthy.  You can get addicted to exercise because it releases endorphins.  You can get addicted to bungee jumping because of the adrenaline that surges through your body.

And perhaps the most addictive substance on the market is food.  People are addicted to greasy, sugary and salty food.  As a result more and more people are getting obese and therefore suffering from all the other illnesses that surround it.  

Think about the amount of money that the NHS is spending on weight loss surgery and drugs for those who have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease to name but a few.  People develop a habit or addiction towards junk food in many of the same ways they develop a habit for cannabis.  It makes you feel good and is an emotional crutch.  

Conclusion

There are certainly a lot of things to consider when looking at the issue of whether Marijuana is addictive or not.  We need to take into consideration:-
 

• Why people feel the need to take it in the first place and what is it about their lives that makes them think cannabis will help them
• Whether the individual has an addictive personality or a family history of it.
• The difference between the traditional cannabis and the super-potent skunk variety.

Please note that I do not have a medical background nor am I condoning or condemning cannabis.  I believe that as individuals we need to be as educated as we can do then go onto to make our own decisions.

Cannabis is illegal and therefore if you are buying cannabis from someone you are also buying from a criminal.  Do you really trust a criminal enough to buy a product you are putting into your body?  For instance, a lot of growers cover the plants in glass powder which helps to bulk out the product and make it look like you are getting more for your money.

Of course, this article is about whether it’s addictive or not.  You need to do further research on the health risks and whether it should be legalised.

I understand that this is a very emotive subject therefore everyone will have their own thoughts and opinions to share.  You are welcome to leave a comment however please make sure you keep it civil.

Many people simply don’t realize the health-risks involved in being diabetic.  Because so many people have been diagnosed with diabetes it’s sometimes seen as being an illness which isn’t really that big a deal.

Unfortunately for many sufferers it is a big deal and there are those who have lost their vision and even had to have their feet amputated.  This doesn’t sound pleasant at all which is why fully understanding this illness is important.  Whether you have diabetes yourself or know someone who does you should aim to be as knowledgeable as you can.

Looking after your feet is necessary if you are diabetic and there are a number of things you need to be careful about.  First of all you should never walk about barefoot.  Even in your own home.  There could be pins, screws, stones, toys or any number of other things lying around.  You don’t want to step on anything hard like this as you can damage your skin.

Also be very mindful about the temperature.  Avoid extreme temperatures if you can and if you have been outside in freezing cold temperatures, make sure you don’t warm your feet up too quickly in front of the fire.  This can cause chilblains which can be very painful.

Look at your feet everyday to make sure you don’t have any cuts, swelling, blisters, corns and such like.  When you notice any problems you can then take action.  Some people try to self-medicate but just make the matter even worse.  Instead you should go to a podiatrist for help.

When cutting your toe nails, you need to avoid causing them to become ingrown.  To do this, you should cut the nail straight across and not too short.  If the edges of the nail are sharp, you can use a nail file to make them more rounded.

When it comes to wearing socks you need to avoid the regular type with the tight elastic band.  Instead you should buy socks specifically for those who are diabetic because they will be looser and not cause problems with your circulation.

The same goes for shoes.  If you buy regular shoes you might find that they are too tight.  There are actually shoes designed specifically for diabetic sufferers.  If you do decide to wear sandals without socks, make sure you remember to use a high SPF on your feet to prevent them from burning.

Although the above tips might seem really dull and boring, it’s for your own good.  Don’t become complacent because if you are neglectful of your feet you could end up having them amputated.  Not very pleasant, eh?