How to Brew a Laxative Tea

How to Brew a Laxative Tea



Laxative teas are a simple, natural way to aid your normal bowel function. Here are a few to try at home.







Things You'll Need:





Fruit juices




Organic figs




Apple juices




Buckthorn bark




Organic pearl barley




Castor oil




Plantains




Organic raisins




Peppermints leaves




Oregon graperoots




Nettles




Grape juices




Licorice roots







Licorice Root Laxative Tea




1


Add 1 tbsp. broken licorice root (a good mild laxative) per each cup boiling water.





2


Boil uncovered for 1 hour and then remove from heat, cool and strain.





3


Add apple, grape or other fruit juice to dilute tea if it is too strong.





4


Drink 1 cup in the morning and 1 at night.



Barley Brew Laxative Tea




1


Combine 1/4 cup organic pearl barley, 1/4 cup organic figs, 2 tbsp. licorice root, 1/4 cup organic raisins and 10 cups water in a non-aluminum pot.





2


Cover and simmer until liquid is reduced by half (this takes about 8 hours).





3


Strain and drink 1/2 cup in the morning or at night.



Buckthorn Bark Laxative Tea




1


Add 2 tbsp. each of nettles, Oregon graperoot and plantain, followed by 1 tbsp. peppermint leaves to 6 cups of boiling water.





2


Remove from heat.





3


Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.





4


Add 2 tbsp. buckthorn bark, cover and let stand for an hour or 2.





5


Strain and drink in moderation. The tea may be reheated, but do not boil.








Tips & Warnings










Clean the figs and barley well and crush the licorice root before you put them into the pot of water.








Herbal laxatives deplete your body's energy and therefore should not be overused.








If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health-care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.



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How to Break a Bad Habit

How to Break a Bad Habit



Habits are automatic behaviors that can be changed with patience and persistence.







Things You'll Need:





Journal




Notebooks




Pencils Or Pens




Notebooks









1


Decide how serious you are about breaking the habit. In addition to a strong commitment, you'll need time and energy to pay attention to your behavior so that you can change it.





2


Keep track of when you do the behavior. Keep a notepad or journal handy.





3


Write down when it happens (what is the situation) and what you were thinking and feeling. Writing increases your awareness of when and why you have this habit.





4


Read and think about what you write down. What does this habit do for you? Is it a way to deal with feelings of boredom, anxiety, stress, anger?





5


Think of what you could do instead of the habit that would be a more positive way to deal with the feelings or situation. Write down some simple alternative behaviors that you could do instead. Pick one you want to practice.





6


Try to catch yourself when you find yourself doing the habit and stop yourself as soon as you can. Start the alternative behavior you decided you wanted to do instead.





7


Aim to do this once a week and increase the number of times per week over time. The more you practice a new behavior, the more it becomes the new habit.





8


Get support from others by letting them know you are working on the habit and telling them what they can do to help.








Tips & Warnings










Be patient with yourself. Habits are so automatic and unconscious we don't realize we are doing it until we are already doing it!








Be kind to yourself. Beating yourself up is another bad habit to be broken.



http://www.ehow.com/how_13319_break-habit.html

Feng Shui Tips for Money & Luck

Feng Shui Tips for Money & Luck





Feng shui, the Chinese art of adjusting the energy in your environment, offers many methods to increase prosperity and luck. By observing basic feng shui principles and placing objects in the correct positions in your home or office, you may be able to generate the abundance and prosperity you are looking for.






Clean Your Space


One basic principle of feng shui is that energy cannot flow into a space that is cluttered or dirty. So get rid of unused objects or store them out of sight; empty the trash, and sweep the floor. Pay special attention to creating a clear pathway from your front door to the far left corner of your home or office.


Add Lighting


The light fixture outside your front door must be clean and in working order. Be sure there are no dark, cluttered corners in your space; add a lamp or candle to such spaces, and try to create clean, unbroken surfaces. Hang a mirror or crystal in awkward corners that are difficult to clear.


Find Your Prosperity Corner


Stand in your front doorway as if entering the house. Which room is farthest back and on your left? That room is where prosperity energy is focused. To rejuvenate your finances, consider repainting and reflooring that room. Scrub the windows inside and out, wash and rehang curtains or blinds, and dust light fixtures.


Create a Prosperity Area


Set up a small table or hang a shelf in the far left corner of the prosperity room (as determined from the entrance to that room) and also in the far left corner of your living room. Add healthy live plants and objects that symbolize wealth, including coins, crystals, photos of desired objects, golden bowls or red paper envelopes filled with currency. Add a creative item you made. Certain objects have special prosperity symbolism in feng shui, including statues of smiling Buddhas, three-legged toads and golden fish. Figurines are available at Chinese gift shops.


Clean Your Stove


The hearth is a Chinese symbol of prosperity; your modern equivalent is your cooking stove. Keep it clean of grease and food debris; clean your oven thoroughly and scrub burners with steel wool. A bowl of fruit placed on the stove or near it will help attract prosperity to your home.


Add Water Elements


Place a fountain or fish tank in your home, but be sure to arrange it so the water is flowing toward the center of your house. Nine yellow or orange fish symbolize money; nine gold coins dropped into the water will do the same.


Close the Bathroom


Bathrooms are potentially negative in feng shui terms, because of their symbolic ability to drain or flush away prosperity. Keep bathroom doors closed at all times. If your bathroom happens to be in the prosperity area of your house, decorate it with wealth figurines, crystals and mirror tiles.

http://www.ehow.com/way_5145055_feng-shui-tips-money-luck.html

How to Identify Authentic Juicy Couture Handbags

How to Identify Authentic Juicy Couture Handbags



Juicy Couture products are hot, not to mention, expensive. Like all other expensive bags, such as Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Coach, there are plenty of fakes on the market. To be certain you are buying an authentic bag, check out these tips on how to identify fake Juicy Couture handbags.









Step
1



Examine the hardware. Any metal hardware on an authentic Juicy Couture bag are heavy copper or gold colored metal and have a Juicy trademark engraved on them such as the word "Juicy," a heart, a Scottish Terrier
dog
or the letter "J." If a bag has plain hardware, it's a fake.




Step
2



Check the leather. All Juicy bags are made of 100 percent cowhide leather. This leather is soft to the touch and doesn't have a sheen to it. Fake leather bags are shiny and are hard and rough to the touch.




Step
3



Look closely at the leather "J" heart. Most Juicy bags have a leather heart with the letter "J" embossed into it. This means the "J" is raised and sticks up from the heart. All bags without the embossed letter "J" are not authentic Juicy bags. If the bag is designed with a flat "J," check out the stitching detail. The stitches should be close together.




Step
4



Inspect the inside. The inside of all Juicy Couture bags are made of 100 percent cotton. Fakes are often made of nylon or some other cheap material.







Tips & Warnings









Always ask a lot of questions. If you're buying a Juicy bag from an online auction site, be sure to ask the seller questions like where the bag came from. Also read any available feedback on the seller.








Never rely on the serial number. Serial numbers on Juicy bags come printed on a piece of paper and are not embossed in the bag anywhere. Fake Juicy bag sellers easily print a bunch of numbers on paper and stick it in the bag. Just because it has a serial number doesn't make it authentic.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2294578_identify-authentic-juicy-couture-handbags.html

How to Identify Authentic Christian Dior Handbags

How to Identify Authentic Christian Dior Handbags



Especially if you are bargain shopping, it's important to authenticate Christian Dior handbags. After a little practice, you won't even hesitate when you find a good buy; you will simply know if it is genuine. Start learning now to become an expert on Dior bags.









Step
1



Find the authenticity card. A high-quality company, such as Christian Dior, always wants you to see they are the real thing. They put an authenticity card in each of their products.




Step
2



Read the basic information included and, if in doubt, have the store run the bar code that was included on the card.




Step
3



Note that such high quality merchandise as a Christian Dior handbag will have a serial number included.




Step
4



Check the lining. Most name-brand purses have a brand-name lining. The tag inside the handbag should be the same color as the leather of the bag exterior. Lettering on the tag should be the same color as the hardware of the bag.




Step
5



Examine the workmanship-leather decoration, seams, metal clasps-a quality product, like a Christian Dior handbag, will have only the top of the line in these areas. The tag is rectangular, as is the zipper pull.




Step
6



Shop for Christian Dior handbags only at trustworthy retail sites. They may put the bag on sale, but it is doubtful that Christian Dior gave a major wholesale contract to anyone.







Tips & Warnings









If you run across a new Christian Dior handbag at a fraction of the expected cost, it is probably stolen or counterfeit.








If you cannot afford a new bag, buy one used from a reputable source.








It is illegal to knowingly buy counterfeit products.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2292816_identify-authentic-christian-dior-handbags.html

How to Identify an Authentic Prada Handbag

How to Identify an Authentic Prada Handbag



Prada Handbags are made by some of the finest craftsman using the finest materials in the world. That's what makes it possible to identify an authentic from a fake. Many have tried to replicate designer bags, and some have come close. Follow the tips below before spending a lot of money on a rip-off.









Step
1



Look at the logo on the outside of the bag. Almost all of the handbags have the authentic Prada logo located on either the center front of the bag, the side or the back depending on the style. The logo is an inverted triangle. The letters and symbols are slightly raised. The color of the logo should be very close to the color of the leather.




Step
2



Find a metal plaque in the interior of the bag. It is attached to the lining of the bag, and should be firmly attached on all sides. Once again, the color of the plaque is very close to the color of the bag. The plaque lettering is in either gold or silver, and should match the logo and hardware of the bag.




Step
3



Study the hardware of the handbag. Prada handbags come with hardware that is silver, gold or rose-colored. Also, every piece of hardware will have the Prada name clearly embossed on it.




Step
4



Look at the lining of the bag. Prada bags will likely be lined in the signature Prada fabric with the Prada name printed on it. The fabric is very close in color to the outside of the bag.




Step
5



Expect certificate of authenticity. When buying an authentic Prada handbag, it comes with a plastic card that lists information such as the name of model. A paper certificate also comes that has even more detail and a bar code.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2095464_identify-authentic-prada-handbag.html

How to Identify an Authentic Louis Vuitton Vintage

How to Identify an Authentic Louis Vuitton Vintage



It didn't last long, but for a short time in the 1970s and 1980s Louis Vuitton licensed the production and distribution of their items within the United States to the French Luggage Company. Due to the company's short contract, the products they manufactured are relatively obscure. The items are also unique in that they don't follow all of Louis Vuitton's identification criteria. Distinguishing an authentic "French Company for Louis Vuitton" item is difficult but rewarding.









Step
1



Examine the bag for a paper tag or evidence of a paper tag that had been sewn into one of the seams. Authentic "French Company for Louis Vuitton" handbags were made with a paper tag sewn into the side seam. The tag states the item was manufactured under license in the United States. Keep in mind the tags are easily damaged and removed. The absence of a tag is not absolute evidence that the bag is a fake.




Step
2



Check for interior embossing in addition to the tag. There may be embossing inside the bag that discloses the item was licensed for manufacturing within the United States. However, it's equally possible that an embossed department store name has taken the place of the manufacturing information.




Step
3



Look closely at any metal hardware. Authentic "French Company for Louis Vuitton" pieces have rivet heads that are plain rather than embossed.




Step
4



Examine the bag's zipper pull. While engraving zipper pulls is popular with counterfeiters, there should not be an "LV" monogram symbol engraved on the zipper pull of a French Company bag. In fact, nothing should be engraved on the zipper pull.




Step
5



Search for a patch on the outside of the bag. "French Company for Louis Vuitton" bags often

sport


a plain, oval patch that was meant for personal monograms.




Step
6



Look for a
date
code on the inside of the bag. Authentic "French Company for Louis Vuitton" items did not have date or production codes printed or attached to them.







Tips & Warnings









Just because a seller asks a lot of money for an item, doesn't assume the product is authentic. Even a trusted, established consignment seller gets taken now and then. Always do your own inspection of the item.








If you aren't satisfied with the photo(s) offered by an online seller, ask to be shown additional photos. A seller with an authentic product won't mind.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2044769_identify-authentic-louis-vuitton-vintage.html

How to Identify an Authentic Louis Vuitton Multicolore

How to Identify an Authentic Louis Vuitton Multicolore



In 2003, Louis Vuitton introduced a new line of handbags called the "Louis Vuitton Multicolore" as part of his Spring collection. Since its debut the bag has become one of Vuitton's most popular items. Because of its popularity and high-end pricing, only a small percentage of the Multicolores on the market are authentic. If you've decided to purchase a Louis Vuitton Multicolore

handbag


but are concerned about authenticity, you're not alone. Fortunately, there are some specific ways to tell the difference between a fake Multicolore and a genuine Louis Vuitton.









Step
1



Check the
date
code on the bag. The Multicolore went into production in 2003. If you're looking at a Multicolore monogram bag with a date code earlier than 2003, it's a fake.




Step
2



Count the colors. An authentic Multicolore uses 33 different colors. As of 2007, the black market only supports 20 different colors. If you are looking at a bag with less than 33 different colors, it's a fake.




Step
3



Look closely at the colors. Are any of the "LV" monogram symbols red? Photos of prototypes may include red monogram symbols, but no genuine Multicolore manufactured for sale
sports
the monogram symbol in red.




Step
4



Examine the bag for a barcode. You should not find one anywhere on the handbag. If you do, the bag isn't a real Louis Vuitton.




Step
5



Locate the bag's care booklet. Every Multicolore bag is sold with the booklet to help the owner properly clean and handle their purchase.




Step
6



Examine the seams and outside edges of the purse. Louis Vuitton never cuts into the "LV" monogram on a Multicolore handbag. Regardless of where the individual symbols appear on the purse, they should each be complete.




Step
7



Look for a yellow authenticity card. These cards are popular with the counterfeiters, but Louis Vuitton has never included a yellow authenticity card with any of his products.




Step
8



Look at the handle of your purse. Louis Vuitton never covers the handle with tissue paper or plastic.




Step
9



Check the leather on the handbag. It should be a pinkish color when new and turn into a light brown when aged. It should never be yellow or dark brown. Any leather trim must have yellow stitching.




Step
10



Search for a tag or canvas swatch attached to the bag. Louis Vuitton has never attached tags or canvas swatches to any item.







Tips & Warnings









Don't assume that the handbag is authentic because it costs a lot. Even a trusted, established consignment seller can get taken now and then. Always inspect the bag yourself.








Sometimes sellers on eBay don't offer photographs that allow you to examine an item thoroughly. If you're interested in an item but aren't satisfied with the proffered photo(s), ask to be shown additional photos. A seller with an authentic product won't mind.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2044768_identify-authentic-louis-vuitton-multicolore.html

How to Identify an Authentic Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas

How to Identify an Authentic Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas



Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has been in the business of manufacturing and distributing high-end, couture accessories. One of his most popular purses is the Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas. You can find what seem like Louis Vuitton purses everywhere you go these days, but chances are, only a small percentage of them are authentic. Most of the purses are knock-offs or copycats. If you are interested in purchasing a Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas

handbag


but are concerned about authenticity, you're not alone. It's difficult to keep track of the tell-tale signs of knock-offs. Telling the fake Louis Vuitton from the real McCoy takes a good eye, some patience and a little product knowledge.









Step
1



Look to see if your Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas purse comes with a yellow authenticity card, a tag or canvas sample swatch attached anywhere to the item. Louis Vuitton has never used a yellow card, nor has it ever attached tags or canvas swatches to any item in any of their lines. If your purse has any of these items, it's a fake.




Step
2



Look at the handle of your purse. Louis Vuitton never covers the handle with tissue paper or plastic.




Step
3



Look at the leather details on the purse. It should be a pinkish-flesh color when new and a light, honey brown when aged. It should never be yellow or dark brown. Any leather trim will also have yellow stitching.




Step
4



Check to see if your purse has a base or bottom that has been sewn on. Authentic Louis Vuitton purses are made from one single, unbroken piece of leather or canvas.




Step
5



Look very closely at the seams of the purse. Are any of the "LV" monogram symbols cut off? Louis Vuitton never cuts into the "LV" on a monogram canvas item. Regardless of where the individual monogram symbols appear on an item, they should all be whole. One possible exception is on the Ellipse.




Step
6



Turn the handbag around and look at the back. The monogram symbols should be upside down. If they're not, the bag is not an authentic Louis Vuitton Monogram Canvas.







Tips & Warnings









Don't believe an item is an authentic Louis Vuitton just because a seller asks a lot of money for it. Even a trusted, established seller can get taken now and then. Always do your own inspection of the monogram canvas.








Sometimes sellers on eBay either don't know how to photograph an item in a way that allows you to examine it properly, or they are trying to prevent you from doing so. If you see an item on eBay you're interested in, but you aren't satisfied with the available photo(s), ask to be shown additional photos. A seller with an authentic product won't mind.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2044767_identify-authentic-louis-vuitton-monogram.html

How to Identify a Real Diamond

How to Identify a Real Diamond



Those who enjoy shopping for vintage jewelry in unconventional places know that there are valuable treasures waiting to be discovered. Whether you're looking at antique shops,
thrift
stores


, consignment shops or even yard sales, it's always good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to help you better determine if that flashy stone or meek, dirty gem is really a diamond.







Things You'll Need:





Sandpaper



Newspaper



Diamond tester









Step
1



Observe the mounting. Real diamonds will be set in precious metals, and most likely in an open setting. Though not a guarantee of a fake, if the setting has a closed back, then more than likely the gem is not a diamond.




Step
2



Breathe on the stone. Diamonds are excellent conductors of heat, so you should not be able to observe any condensation on the stone if it is a real diamond.




Step
3



Rub sandpaper across the surface. A diamond will not scratch or nick from this procedure, but a fake might. If you're buying directly from an individual and they refuse to let you do this, then you can be confident that it is probably not real.




Step
4



Be skeptical of scratched glass. Though this is a popular technique, keep in mind that glass is only rated 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale. While a diamond is rated a 10 on the Mohs scale, anything higher than a 5.5 will still scratch glass. Quartz rates at 7.5 and cubic zirconium rates in at 8.5, so this test won't work at all.




Step
5



Place the diamond on a piece of newspaper over the text. If you can see the letter at all, whether clearly or as a hazy likeness, your gem is not a diamond. A diamond's brilliance, even a poor specimen, refracts light so dramatically that you won't be able to see anything through the stone.




Step
6



Use a diamond tester. These handy gadgets will run about $100, but if you're regularly on the hunt for diamonds it may be a good investment.




Step
7



Look for flaws. Diamonds are not perfect, and even the best specimens will have tiny flaws. If the stone is perfectly clear then be skeptical of it being a diamond.







Tips & Warnings









Some auction houses and antique dealers will offer free appraisals.








Nothing is a sure fire identification except an evaluation by a certified gemologist.








Though any jeweler will be able to identify a stone as a diamond, they may not be able to tell you the true value of a piece of jewelry beyond the materials used. If you have an antique piece, take it to an antique dealer to learn its true value.



http://www.ehow.com/how_2159782_identify-real-diamond.html