Source Naturals

How You Can Naturally Stop The Process of Female Hair Loss

Hair loss in women is becoming a more and more prevalent

and frequent occurrence in women today. It is estimated that over 25 million American women suffer FPB, or female pattern baldness – and they suffer the emotionally devastating consequences this brings with it.

The fact is, many women lose their hair due elements often

felt to be out of their control, like hormonal fluctuations, stress and anxiety, and genetic predisposition for female hair loss. There are ways you can bring these elements under control and regrow lost hair, as well as prevent future hair loss.

What’s even more upsetting is that a large part of menopause symptoms is female pattern baldness (FPB), and this is caused by sharp drops in estrogen and an increase in other “female hair-unfriendly” hormones such as androgens (male hormones).

Most women don’t know that there are actually specific natural remedies that are geared towards a woman’s body and target different causes involved in hair loss than the male formulas do. Think about it – it really does makes sense. Why would you treat a woman’s hair loss the same as a man’s when the very causes of the receding or thinning hair are different due to biological differences between the sexes.

Since the most effective way to provide your follicles with the essential nutrients they need is through the bloodstream – which means an oral remedy is most effective. An effective woman’s hair loss supplement should be taken orally and absorbed quickly, to promote new, healthy hair growth.

The most common type of hair loss seen in females is androgenetic alopecia, or female pattern alopecia. The term Alopecia usually refers to full or partial balding or hair loss. Most times with women, they will notice a gradual thinning of their hair which becomes of a concern, especially when certain patches can become noticeably thin.

Unlike men, where the pattern of balding is seen primarily at the forefront of the forehead (otherwise known as a receding hair line, or widow’s peak), the pattern in women for partial balding is seen primarily in the areas on the top and sides of the head.

Hormones play the majority of the role in hair loss in women. This is why typically the times when a woman will most likely see hair loss start to become an issue is around times of hormonal flux, such as post pregnancy and menopause, or even in times of extreme duress. Stress is a huge influencer of

hormonal balance, and when we feel overly stressed or anxious, this manifests in hormonal fluctuations which can result in skin problems, and hair loss, to name just a few things.

Tips to Keep the Hair You Have, Prevent Further Hair Loss and Help to Protect Current Hair

1.) Scalp Massage. Get yourself a good, stimulating scalp massage oil. My favorite is a natural scalp oil by Jason’s Naturals. It can be found in natural food stores, or you may be able to purchase it online. This scalp massage oil helps stimulate circulation of the scalp and remove dead skin and deposits that may get in the way of healthy hair growth and the health of the follicles which actually are the gateway to

healthy growth and maintenance.

2.) Every time you wash your hair, be sure to massage the scalp as well. Do not choose shampoos that are drying. Instead choose shampoos that are creamier and contain clarifying ingredients. Look for the words “scalp health” or something to that effect on your shampoo formula. This means it contains ingredients that are clarifying to the follicle area and won’t leave debris or residue on the scalp.

3.) Avoid wearing you hair up – at all. Even barettes can have an effect on your hair health and growth. Any restrictions on that are a no-no. Tight ponytails especially. Try to keep you hair as free as possible.

4.) Also avoid processing. This means coloring, straightening, perming, highlighting, blowing dry excessively, straight ironing, curling irons and any other high heat or harsh chemical methods of styling the hair. These will just aggravate your condition by further weakening the internal structure and outside bonds of the hair shaft, as well as drying the scalp and irritating it further, making the hair fall out more easily at the root.

5.) There are also some quality hair thickening shampoos and conditioners that are actually designed for women with naturally thin, limp hair. These types of products are usually heavily fortified with amino acids and proteins, which are great building blocks to healthy, strong and thick hair. Why not use them to your advantage?

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If you have ever been exposed to black mold then you already know how dangerous it can be. That nasty little fungus can do some serious damage and make you very sick. Yet there’s very little information on treating your body after an attack. So what do you do?

Well, the obvious first step should be to visit your doctor. He or she can then confirm whether or not you have been exposed to the toxic stuff and how badly your symptoms are. Your doctor may then want to put you on a medication depending on the severity of the symptoms.

You may also want to drink plenty of water since it can help flush out any toxins that have entered your system. You should drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. This is also a great way to keep your skin looking healthy instead of dull.

If you’re not already doing so, you should also consider adding some exercise to your daily schedule. Working out can make you bring up a sweat, which can actually help you get rid of toxins through your skin’s pores. But if you’re really sick, you should get your doctor’s permission before starting an exercise program.

Depending on your exact symptoms there are many supplements that may be able to help. Just remember that natural is better and stick to supplements that aren’t loaded with chemicals, which could make your situation even worse. An excellent herb to look for is Echinacea since it can help building up your immune system.

If you’re a lover of all things natural, you may find that a detox program is right for you. However, you should consult with your doctor before using any form of detox since it can cause serious health problems for some.

When you’ve tried everything else, rest may be the best option if nothing else seems to be working. When you’re not getting enough sleep your immune system slowly breaks down and you tire easily and become more susceptible to the toxins that are all around us.

Once you can identify your symptoms and can begin treating them however, your body should begin to heal from the black mold attack and become strong once again. Rest easy and stay healthy!

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Do you have acne? That must be hard. But wait – there is still

hope.

Read the following tips for getting rid of that problem:

1. Eat more fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. You can

easily create juices and smoothies using ripe fruit or consume one

salad daily, even as just a side dish. You can also pop in nuts

and dried fruits in between meals.

Brazil nuts have selenium while pumpkin seeds contain zinc – both

these minerals are lacking in people with acne. So take in lots of

these two.

2. Try to drink at least two liters of still mineral water

daily. When the skin is dehydrated, dead skin cells remain on the

skin which may block pores and promote acne.

3. If you have been prescribed antibiotics to control your

acne, remember that antibiotics destroy all kinds of bacteria in

your digestive tract – even good bacteria. Without good bacteria,

you will have poor digestion, constipation, and be less able to

absorb essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

This, in turn, may lead to increased acne production since your

body cannot expel waste effectively. Toxins pass through your skin

instead. To prevent this from occurring, replace the good bacteria

in your digestive tract with a good quality probiotic.

4. You may try consuming some supplements since your diet may

not incorporate every vitamin, mineral and nutrient necessary to

getting and keeping clear skin. Some supplements are really

helpful to people with acne, such as:

o Maca – This is a powdered root vegetable from Peru that

balances and stabilizes the systems of your body while normalizing

hormones. Maca also has a lot of essential amino acids,

phytochemicals, fatty acids, and minerals such as iodine, silica,

potassium, iron, magnesium and calcium.

o Manuka honey – This one possesses strong antibiotic,

antiviral and antiseptic elements. It is great for the skin, as

well as for digestive disorders.

5. Rely only on natural skin-care products. Many skin-care

products on supermarket shelves have chemicals which can worsen

your acne. Too many chemicals can strip your skin of its natural

oils, meaning the skin will overproduce oil to compensate – thus

blocking your pores and causing more acne to show up.

Use only products with natural ingredients or try to use fewer

products to allow your skin to naturally heal.

Should you wear makeup, use formulas that are listed as

non-acnegenic or non-comedogenic.

Some products you can use are:

o Tea tree oil body wash – This product can be used for the

entire body, including the face.

o Tea tree oil – This product has antiseptic, antiviral and

antibacterial functions. It is remarkable for use by acne

sufferers. Use a cotton bud to apply this product to the acne

blemishes.

o Neem soap – This product is very good for acne victims due

to its antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-viral

and antibacterial properties. It also calms and soothes irritated

skin.

6. Cut down on stress as this acts as one of the strongest

precursors of acne, especially after puberty. There are different

ways you can reduce stress and aim for relaxation:

o Exercise – Moderate exercise such as Yoga and Tai Chi

improve skin blood flow and support the healing process. It also

boosts the condition of your internal organs which allows them to

eliminate waste more effectively.

o Try relaxation techniques including meditation and

breathing exercises.

7. Cut down on your consumption of sugar and refined

carbohydrates. Recent research has shown that eating these foods

triggers a process which leads to a production of too many male

hormones. In turn, the skin is moved to excrete huge amounts of

sebum which fosters the increase in skin bacteria – that triggers

acne.

8. Lessen your consumption of caffeine because it hikes the

level of stress hormones in the body, thus making acne worse.

9. Cut down on dairy and red meat products because these are

difficult to digest and raise acid levels in the body. As you try

to digest huge amounts of animal protein in your internal organs,

your body cannot eliminate waste products well and these will be

released through the skin – causing acne.

In addition, dairy and red meat have huge amounts of hormones.

These raise the hormone levels in the body and trigger even more

acne. Furthermore, symptoms of intolerance to dairy products can

crop up as acne.

10. Get plenty of sunshine and fresh air. Sunshine triggers the

production of Vitamin D which is essential to having healthy skin.

Fresh air and sunshine will cut down on your stress levels and

course oxygen through the skin. Learn to tell the amount of

sunshine you need every day though, it does not help to get burnt

in the sun.

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To have beautiful, soft, radiant skin you need to eat plenty of the right fresh fruits, vegetables, fiber, and water. Water and fiber are critical because it helps to move out toxins using the regular channels of elimination rather than using the skin as an exit point.

A word of Caution: Sudden face or body eruptions can indicate a potentially serious medical condition. If your blemishes look large and like welts, this could be caused by a serious medical condition and you would need to see your doctor immediately.

You can deal with you acne or skin problems by, also applying known nutritional and herbal remedies that give you better health and give your skin the nutrients it needs.

The beauty of your skin is a reflection of the health of your organs and upon your psychological condition. The way the inside of your body looks like is reflected on your face, physical appearance and your thoughts.

The amount of work you put into clearing your acne will determine how quickly you clear your face. By being consistent in following good health practices, you will be able to get rid of your acne.

If your acne is heredity, it is not true that you cannot do anything about it. If you know that other members of the family have had acne and previous generations also, then you are susceptible to acne. Knowing this, you can now arm yourself with some powerful nutritional and hygiene habits that will prevent acne from taking hold.

Traditional Medical Acne Treatments

I do not recommend using medications for acne, such as,

* Benzoyl peroxide – opens pores to kill bacteria

* Antibiotics – erythromycin, tetracycline – kill bacteria everywhere it goes in your body and skin.

* Retin A – helps to break open plugged pores, prevents new plugged pores, and helps to prevent scarring.

* Topical steroid, cortisone derivative, drug

These drugs and many others have serious side effects that you will want to avoid. If you are dark skinned and are using Benzoyl Peroxide, you can end up spotting your face as a side effect.

Most of these medications take three to ten weeks to provide results.

All my recommendations are for natural methods to relieve acne.

Different Remedies

In future articles, I will be outlining some of the remedies and steps you need to take to clear your acne. These remedies and natural foods that you use will not only help beatify your skin but will also help you to get rid of acne.

You may have to experiment to determine what works for you. By providing you with many choices, this gives you the best possible chance of you succeeding in gaining better health for your face. Also, not all remedies provide the same benefits to each person.

So this is where your experimental skills come in. You may have to test a few things, but in the process you will be learning about how to take care of your body. This information will stay with you a lifetime.

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Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria Hives also known as urticaria is an allergic reaction which normally takes place when a sufferer comes into contact with a triggering allergen.

Many of these affecting allergens may be difficult if not impossible to pinpoint due to the many underlying factors which might cause hypersensitivity, thus triggering Urticaria.

Symptoms of the condition range in size from a few millimetres to several inches in diameter. Urticaria hives can be round, or they can form rings or large patches which grow and swell into each other, in many cases the swelling may grow and grow especially to the head area, this is a secondary more serious condition called Angioedema.

Hives can occur on most parts of the body and in many cases the whole body, however the symptoms of urticaria rarely affect the palms of the hand or the soles of the feet.

Hives are classified as acute or chronic depending on the length of the episode, most chronic cases are also considered as idiopathic as the reasons are more often than not hard to determine.

The treatment of Urticaria hives depends on the rigour of the symptoms with the most commonly used treatments being Non-sedating antihistamines, including Allegra, Claritin, Clarinex, and Zyrtec, however after much research it’s clear that drugs might not be the best course of action in dealing with urticaria.

11 Home remedy tips for treating Urticaria Hives

1. Calamine lotion-applying to the effected area can offer some short term relief from the constant itching.

2. Milk of magnesia applied to the lesions, provides some relief. As milk of magnesia is an alcalescent solution it helps in removing the irritating itchy sensation

3. Stop the itching get 1/2 a container filled with warm water, add 1/2 cup cornstarch and 1/2 cup baking soda. Soaking yourself at least once a day can make a lot of difference.

4. Applying aloe Vera gel or vitamin E oil to the affected area at least twice a day may offer some relief.

5. Drink nettle tea which is made by mixing 2 tsp of powdered nettles in to hot water. add natural honey or freshly squeezed lemon to taste if required

6. Cayenne pepper preferably natural or the capsule variety may help reduce the swelling and so speeding up the healing process.

7. Green tea is very good for health and contains natural antioxidants as well as anti-inflammatory.

8. To relieve pain and swelling, apply a cool gel pack or ice pack to the affected area.

9. Make a paste with 2 cups of oatmeal and 3 tablespoons of cornstarch. Add a little liquid to make it into a paste. Apply to affected area for 15-30 minutes. It dries the hives up within a couple of hours.

10. Excessive amounts of vitamin C, is well known to aid many skin conditions which includes urticaria, try the powdered variety and stick to Vitamin C d2

11. Peanut oil rubbed into the legions is thought to help many sufferers

These are all natural ways of dealing with the symptoms of urticaria, but by far the best way of dealing with any chronic condition is to address the problem at its roots so you never have to put up with further attacks.

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Choosing the best natural sugar can be very difficult.

Maybe you find yourself in the store, scanning over labels, looking for a treat you can eat that doesn’t have white sugar in it, or maybe you are trying to decide which juice to give your child, or maybe you heard that you should use honey instead of sugar because it is better for you.

But what about maple syrup, or fructose, or Turbinado, or raw sugar?

You may or may not know this, but the title is actually a trick question. In order to understand why it is tricky, though, we first have to take a little journey.

Sugar Basics

To answer the question about which natural sugar is best for you, you first have to understand exactly what makes something a sugar.

Sugars are carbohydrates. And as far as carbohydrates go, sugars are the most basic and simple that there are. Carbohydrates all have the unique property of being able to snap together simple carbohydrate molecules to form long chains of more complex carbohydrates.

Many of these simple sugar carbohydrates you probably know by name. You have probably heard of glucose or fructose, some of the simplest carbohydrates. A little more complex sugars sucrose (table sugar) is actually a glucose molecule attached to a fructose molecule.

Longer chains of carbohydrates consist of simply stacking together more and more simple glucose molecules, so when your body digests something like wheat bread, it simply pulls the glucose molecules off of the bread and absorbs them.

A Look as Sugars

Okay, now that we know what a sugar looks like, let’s see what makes up both the natural and not-so-natural sugars that we eat:

Sucrose or table sugar: Sucrose (99%)

Maple Syrup: Glucose (trace), Fructose (trace), Sucrose (up to 80%)

Honey: Glucose (40%), Fructose (40%)

Fructose: Fructose (99%)

Turbinado: Sucrose (up to 99%)

As you can see, there is not much difference in any of these sugars. What maple syrup, honey and Turbinado sugar have that white table sugar doesn’t have is extra vitamins and minerals. Maple syrup is high in iron, zinc and a few other trace minerals.

But here is the question you need to ask yourself: are those small amounts of vitamins and other nutrients worth what happens when you eat those sugars?

Let’s take a look at what happens when you eat these simple carbohydrates.

Body Meets Sugar

To your body, there is no difference if you are eating honey, white sugar, maple sugar or high fructose corn syrup; they all cause a similar rise in blood sugar. So while you may feel good about eating a snack bar with honey in it, or giving your child fruit juice instead of soda, to your body, there is no difference. For example, a typical glass of juice contains about 35-40 grams of sugar, which is the exact same amount of sugar in a soda can.

While it may seem trivial that you or your children are consuming large amounts of sugar, your body feels far different. High amounts of sugar in the body are linked to obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes and even heart disease and other diseases. While there is currently no medical or governmental association who would tell you that eating simple carbohydrates is bad for you, they are wrong. There is mounting evidence that these powerful, high octane simple carbohydrates do damage to your body.

The Answer

So, which is the best natural sugar for you to eat? The answer is there are no good sugars for you to be eating. While there are trace amount of vitamins and minerals in so-called natural sugars, they really don’t provide a good enough reason to be putting very concentrated carbohydrates into your body.

To be sure, staying away from sugars is a hard thing to do. We are all addicted to sweet tastes. Taking small steps and removing as many sweets from your diet will go a long way toward ensuring that you live a long and healthy life.

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Even if your vagina doesn’t smell or taste bad, you may still want to improve it. Having a vagina that tastes and smells good makes you more confident during sex and feels healthier.

1. Proper hygiene

While the inside of the vagina usually keeps itself clean, the outside can use a little help sometimes. Wash every day with a gentle, additive-free soap to keep your vagina fresh and smelling nice.

2. Shaving

Whether or not to shave the pubic hair is a personal choice, and you shouldn’t do it if you feel uncomfortable with it. If you don’t mind the idea however, consider that once that pubic hair is gone, things like sweat and stray urine droplets won’t get trapped in the area. If you notice your vagina smells bad, it could be scents trapped in the hair and not the vagina itself. Shaving will also improve the taste of your vagina, much the same way as it improves smell.

3. Flavored oils

There are flavored massage oils available that can be used on the vagina to improve the taste and smell. These are only to be used during sex though, not during everyday activities. Still, if you’re looking for a quick improvement in taste and smell for an intimate moment, massage oils are a good option. Make sure the kind you get is specifically intended for sex, and always test a small amount first so you know your vagina isn’t too sensitive for the product.

4. Drinking juice

Cranberry and pineapple juice have both been reported to improve the taste and scent of vaginal discharge. Cranberry juice naturally combats unhealthy bacteria in the urinary tract system, so this will help improve the smell of urine as well. Even if you only drink a glass of one of these juices a day, you can still see changes. The pineapple juice trick works for men too, so if you live with your partner, consider getting him to try it with you.

If you notice a persistent bad vaginal smell, you may be suffering from some kind of infection, so see a doctor if these natural tips don’t improve your condition.

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Congratulations! You’re going to have a baby! If you are reading this, you are probably reached the advance stages of your pregnancy. By now you might be tired to wait your baby to arrive – especially if your baby has reached – and passed – his estimated delivery date (EDD). You might also feel exhausted due to the day-to-day aches and complaints regarding pregnancy. I am happy to tell you that there is good news! As long as your professional pregnancy care provider agrees, you can induce your labor naturally and help things along without medical labor induction.

Inducing your labor naturally is a great alternative to using other forms of induction. Most of the natural labor induction remedies don’t cause side effects to worry about, your baby’s health won’t be placed in unnecessary jeopardy, and you won’t suffer any ill consequences. Some of the best ways to naturally induce labor are also safe and simple. Two common ways that you can induce labor naturally are by walking, and sexual intercourse. Some women may feel more pressure when they walk. This is due to the force of gravity and the baby’s head descending into the pelvic region. In fact, when many women are in labor, their midwife or health care provider will have them walk to increase or speed up labor. You can do this on your own, before labor even begins.

Sexual intercourse is also known for inducing labor naturally. When a woman experience orgasms, the body releases hormones involved in childbirth, among other functions. A group of hormones that stimulate labor to start by ripening the cervix is Prostaglandins. These may be in synthetic form through a medical prescription, but you can bypass the medical alternative and access Prostaglandins naturally. Semen contains Prostaglandins and when you partner ejaculates during sexual intercourse, the Prostaglandins in the semen will help soften and ripen the cervix, therefore inducing labor.

When women climax their bodies release the hormone Oxytocin. Oxytocin helps the uterus to contract and will strengthen the intensity of your contractions. Therefore, you can see that sexual intercourse helps stimulate or induce labor from hormones released in both the man and the woman. In fact, the medication known as Pitocin is used to induce labor and strengthen contractions and it is a synthetic form of Oxytocin.

Another method of inducing labor naturally is nipple stimulation. Nipple stimulation also releases Oxytocin. Please remember, however, to apply nipple stimulation according to instructions from your midwife or doctor because vigorous nipple stimulation could cause to very strong labor contractions.

Additionally, there are many herbs that have been used for centuries to help induce labor. Before using any herbs, you should consult with your health care practitioner or midwife. Evening Primrose Oil, Blue and Black Cohosh, False Unicorn Root, and Red Raspberry Leaf are some of the most popular herbs that are used to naturally induce labor. Before using any herbs, be sure to let your health care provider know.

Evening Primrose Oil can be very helpful in ripening the cervix due to the Prostaglandins it contains. Evening Primrose Oil is applied by inserting an oil capsule into the vagina. It is extremely important not to use any herbs for inducing labor naturally during the early part of pregnancy, as these can have serious consequences.

Finally, one of the safest natural labor inducing remedy is acupressure. Acupressure for labor is among the most studies ones and proven to be safe and effective. Because the technique is simple, this labor acupressure could easily be used at home.

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It’s funny really. Every musician I’ve ever known has had that dream at one point or another. But the truth is, there really are no clear cut ways, or information available that tell you how to get a songwriting record deal. You are kind of on your own here. But I’d like to try and point you in the right direction at least, so that when you do get to the point that you want some free band promotion, or songwriting tips and resources, at least you’ll know where to turn, instead of trying to pin the tail on the music donkey with your blindfold on.

Songwriters are actually a dime-a-dozen. Seems like everyone I know is a songwriter, or would like to be. My mother has even written a few lines on a napkin here and there, but at least she never claimed to be a songwriter. She thinks she’s a poet. Songwriting is a very demanding field. There are many thing you must learn before you can even begin to write a good song. Structure, rhythmic elements, not to mention being able to find a word that rhymes with sweetheart. But all these things CAN be learned from various places. Online courses are all over the place, and I can’t count the number of books available on the subject.

And then there are the naturals. Those people who are just born with a talent to write good songs. Do you know one? It will be that guy (or Gal), who plays guitar and sings at parties, and when he’s done everyone says “who sings that?” and of course he’ll say “I wrote that”, and everyone is absolutely blown away by it. Assuming that it’s early and the keg is still full, that person is probably one of the naturals.

But enough about that. You want to know how to get a songwriting record deal, right? Well, the fact is, you can do it, but it will not be easy. First, you should be one of the naturals, or have educated yourself to the point where you can fake being one. Sorry, but NOT EVERY SONG has the potential to be a top ten hit. I know you may think your’s does, and hey, it very well may. But be realistic about your odds at the beginning so that you are not let down in the end.

Songwriting is an extremely competitive market. Not only do you have to worry about other songwriters beating you to the punch, you are up against all of the existing successful songwriters who already have a track record behind them. In the music industry, it is more tru than ever that “it’s not what you know, but WHO you know”.

Because of this fact, I’m going to reinforce what you have probably heard 1000 times before, and that is, if you are serious about your music, and it deserves for you to be serious about it, then you absolutely need representation. There are music row attorneys who do nothing else but shop songs to the major record companies and publishers all day long. Agents are in a similar situation, they are already connected within the industry, so it is ten thousand times easier for them to get a song heard by the A&R department than it would be to try and do it on your own.

Publishing houses are an avenue that the independent artist CAN use to get their music into the right hands, but all these methods rely on one key element, and that is the way that you approach these people. You simply must have a professional attitude and demeanor when dealing with Nashville, or LA, or New York. Wherever you may be, these people are professionals, approach them with less than a professional appearance and you are toast. If you remember nothing else, remember that.

Prepare your professional image materials well in advance of needing them. Your Bio, and Promo package should be done and ready to send before you ever get on the phone and start connecting. Use a professional designer for your materials if you can afford it. This is a business, like it or not, and it’s going to require a little investment, just like any other venture where you plan on making money. If you do not know what goes into a Bio or Promo package, that just means that you are not ready to start marketing yourself to the music industry. Go find out these things.

You will need a music industry directory, for obtaining contact information, because you are going to be calling A LOT of people. Everyone’s submission policy changes just about on a weekly basis. When they receive a certain number of submissions, they will shut down for a while sometimes just review what they already have, then at some point they will start requesting submissions again.

NO ONE in the main music industry hubs accepts unsolicited material, so don’t even try it. It will mark you as an amateur, and you will have an even harder time overcoming that, than if you had just called and asked for permission in the first place. Well, maybe there’s one guy who does, but trust me you don’t want to get involved with him.

That brings up another point. Never pay someone to listen to your music. They are not in the music industry. They are in the listening to your music for money industry. No one who is legitimate will ever ask you to pay them, that’s why it’s so hard to get them to listen to it! These people are only looking for top ten hits, album cuts are just filler for your CD when you record it.

As I said before, if you have an attorney representing you, or a reputable agent, it will mean that these people believe in you, because you are not paying them up front. That gives them much more motivation to shop your songs for you. They don’t get paid until the song sells either. Plus, if you are involved with an attorney, you are much less likely to be taken advantage of regarding your contract. It doesn’t happen as often as it used to, but you never know.

Independent record labels are another source for how to get a songwriting record deal. These companies are a lot less strict on their submission policies, (you should still call first) so getting to the decision maker is a little easier than with the majors.

I recommend calling first for two reasons. One, it gives you an idea if they are actually accepting submissions at the time, who you need to send it to so it doesn’t wind up in the pile with 100 others, and what formats and actual materials they require. And two, if you can actually talk to the person who will be reviewing your songs, you can make an impression on them before they ever get your CD. It won’t always happen, but sometimes it will.

One last thought for this article. You’ll have much better success calling record companies and publishers if you know the name of the contact person, and can ask for them, rather than saying lamely to the secretary, “can I talk to someone in A&R?”.

Also, keep very good notes as you are making your calls, they may not need anything right now, but they may tell you when to call back and check again.

There are some excellent music industry contacts here: Free Musician’s Resource Directory [http://www.iimusica.com/directory.html]

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Our whole world is so full of pesticides and toxins that we seem to be bathing in them and when it comes to our pets, they often literally are. We’re a society of quick fixes and we want quick and permanent relief from pests that annoy and irritate us. It’s only natural that when our pet brings home an infestation of fleas, we want to turn to chemical insecticides to rid the house of the pets quickly and thoroughly.

However, it isn’t necessary to soak your household with chemicals and toxic products to get rid of fleas. Chemical products are marketed by advertisers who want you to believe you must use their product to be flea-free. They are not going to tell you that there are safer, family-friendly ways to remove fleas from your pet and home that don’t place your family’s health at risk. It’s up to us to become a bit wiser and to realize that the way we think about these things is largely the result of clever marketing over time.

You can avoid insecticidal or chemical treatment soaps and sprays and still rid your pet and home of fleas. They aren’t necessary for flea removal. After all, what did people do before this chemical age? Regular soap is perfect for killing fleas, so you can wash your pet once or twice with pet shampoo to rid it of the pests. The soap suds act with the water to drown the fleas, others will be washed off by the flow of the water and if outside will often drown in the puddles created. When your pet is dry, comb it well with a flea comb to remove eggs.

To prevent re-infestation, you will need to get them out of your home before your pet comes back in. If your throw rugs and blankets are small enough, toss them in the washing machine and wash with laundry detergent in hot water. If your washing machine is too small, most bath tubs will be large enough to completely cover them with soapy water and drown the fleas. Any fabric item that your pet likes to rest on also needs to be washed thoroughly. If your pet enjoys sleeping on a pile of your clothing (cat owners will understand this), those shirts and pants will need to be washed as well.

Carpets can crawl with fleas which love to hide in the tiny fibers. It is therefore essential to completely clean your carpet to remove all fleas. Vacuum first. Vacuuming can remove fifty percent of the fleas on a single pass. After you vacuum, your carpeting can be washed with soapy water, but soak it well. A token scrub with a soapy rag isn’t going to be enough to kill fleas or eggs. A steam-cleaning job by a professional is probably the best way to go to clean carpets and rid them of fleas.

Once you have thoroughly cleaned your carpets and rid your home of fleas, it is necessary to vacuum often and wash your pet regularly in soapy water using a flea comb afterwards, in order to prevent re-infestation. This care, however, will be worth it to you in time and trouble and of course, family and pet health.

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