Thanksgiving makes us think about the obvious—family and friends gathered to enjoy a huge meal of turkey and dressing, along with any number and variety of side dishes. But do you remember from your grammar school days why we take an entire day, in November, to give thanks and celebrate by eating?

The first Thanksgiving was observed 390 years ago.

In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition traces its origins to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

While initially, the Plymouth colony did not have enough food to feed half of the 102 colonists, the Wampanoag Native Americans helped the Pilgrims by providing seeds and teaching them to fish. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest. ¹

The practice of holding an annual harvest festival like this did not become a regular affair in New England until the late 1660s. ^²

Thanksgiving Day is currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. Enacted by federal legislation in 1941, Thanksgiving has been an annual tradition in the United States by presidential proclamation since 1863 and by state legislation since the Founding Fathers. ³

So, now that you remember your history, take time this Thanksgiving to give thanks and by all means go ahead and ask for seconds.

1,2,3) Wikipedia

Arnica Montana is a powerful homeopathic anti-inflammatory that helps the body re-absorb trapped blood and fluid more efficiently. These properties make this natural botanical extremely beneficial for bruised skin.¹

Arnica, also known as leopard’s bane, wolfsbane, mountain tobacco and other names has been used for medicinal purposes since the 1500’s. Applied to the skin as a balm, cream, ointment, liniment, salve, or tincture–Arnica has been used to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation, and heal wounds. It is commonly used as a bruise treatment and for injuries such as sprains. As an herb, Arnica is generally used only topically (on the skin) because it can cause serious side effects when taken by mouth. ²

Arnica Montana is a yellow flowering herb that has been that has natural analgesic properties and can be harvested as flowers or roots. Flowers bloom from mid-summer to autumn, and after the leaves die back the roots can be harvested. ³

The plant itself is a perennial that grows to a height of 1 – 2 feet with yellow-orange flowers similar to daisies. Arnica Montana is native to the mountains of Europe and Siberia, and is cultivated in North America. 3  Arnica is found on the Eastern Seaboard of North America and in western states as far north as Alaska. It grows in moist meadows and along the edges of woodlands. ²

1) SkinHealth Technology

2) University of Maryland Medical Center

3) How to Harvest Arnica Montana | eHow.com

A new study released by Harvard University credits vigorous exercise, at least 3 hours per week, with stimulating production of good cholesterol and vitamin D, thereby lowering the risk for heart attacks.  The all-male study was conducted over a period of ten years and concluded a 22% reduction in the risk of heart attack in the participants.

How can exercise produce vitamin D?

Well, it turns out it is not the running or soccer playing.The researchers believe the increased vitamin D levels came from doing these activities outdoors where the sunshine stimulates the body to produce it.

This time of year in the U.S., especially in the northern latitudes, natural vitamin D production wanes. This is because the UVB rays that trigger the internal reaction to create the vitamin become less prevalent due to shorter days, the angle of the sun and cloudy skies.

The good news is that your body can store a good portion of the vitamin D it produces during the warmer months to help carry you through the winter.  Remember though, it only takes 15 to 20 minutes to produce vitamin D from the sun at its peak.

While exercising outdoors, use the Natural Vitamin D UV Activation Sensors by SkinHealth Technology. They are a great way to tell when vitamin D is optimized and sunscreen application is appropriate.

So skip the gym and do your exercise outdoors whenever possible to get a double health punch!

It is not surprising that people who suffer from skin conditions can develop related emotional problems. The two conditions often fuel one another and create a cycle that is difficult to break. What is surprising is the extent to which this occurs.

In fact, there is an emerging sub-specialty of psychology, called psychodermatology, that helps patients deal with this aspect of their condition.

Here are some findings from the American Academy of Dermatology and other skin groups:¹

• Major depression is one of the main results of chronic skin disorders.
• Suicidal thoughts are another consequence. Consider some statistics on psoriasis. About 5% of the 4.5 American adults with psoriasis have suicidal thoughts – three times the rate of the general population.
• Other psychosocial side effects of skin conditions are social withdrawal, anger, frustration, and lack of confidence.
• 26% of people with moderate to severe psoriasis have been forced to change or discontinue their normal daily activities.
• Adults with acne face higher rates of unemployment than the general population.
• Kids with skin disorders suffer, too. Two out of five of these children have some psychosocial impairment.

SkinHealth Technology’s line of effective dermatological skincare products are designed to treat chronic skin conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and benign purpura–the often severe bruising that can occur as skin ages.

1) Grosbart PhD, Ted. “The Emotional Impact of Skin Problems.” Psychology Today 9 Jan. 2010: 9 pars. Web. 26 Sept. 2011. .

Study trial patients, in Ireland, with early-stage multiple sclerosis, will be given vitamin D supplements to determine if a lack of sunshine may contribute to the illness, according to the Vitamin D Council.

A previous study examined discrepancies between MS rates in Donegal, which has some of the lowest sunshine levels in Ireland and has high rates of MS, and Wexford, which is the sunniest part of the country and has lower levels of the disease. The study concluded that a lack of vitamin D from the sun may play a role, but it could be genetics.₁

International studies have indicated that the incidences of Multiple Sclerosis increase the further away from the equator people are…

Doctors are not sure whether the reasons are environmental or genetic, or a combination of both.₂

Consultant neurologist, Dr Chris McGuigan, who works in St Vincent’s Hospital, said the new study, which is scheduled to begin before the end of the year, will be carried out to see if vitamin D supplementation can stop the next “event” or seizure.₃

“There have been international studies which suggest a role for it in MS. Low vitamin D is implicated in other auto-immune conditions,” he said. ₄

1,2,3,4) McGreevy, Ronan, Irish Times,18 October 2011

Anti-aging products are more in demand than ever, but what do you picture when you think of these products? Do you envision wrinkled faces and necks – maybe sun damage on the décolletage (the chest area)? That makes sense, because those are the parts of the body that are the prominent focal point of every personal interaction.

Even so, there are other parts of the body that, receive more than their share of exposure to the main culprit in skin aging – UV rays from the sun. This exposure happens even if you have not been a sun worshiper or suffered many sunburns. The UVA rays that are consistent year round are responsible for the majority of wrinkling, collagen break down, and age spots. The hands and arms receive almost as much of this exposure as the face.

Along with wrinkling and roughness, the skin on the arms becomes particularly vulnerable to bruising as we age. The collagen that provides a cushion between the skin and the capillaries breaks down. The capillaries weaken and can leak blood under the skin, so that every little bump has the potential to produce ugly bruises that are slow to heal. When you see arms and hands with that bruised appearance, doesn’t old age come to mind?

Expanding the anti-aging battlefront to the arms doesn’t have to be a challenge. While there are not as many products on the market that focus on areas other than the face and neck, they do exist.

BruiseCare® X8 Treatment Balm contains arnica montana in combination with peptides, polysaccharides, and skin conditioners – a formula that provides outstanding results for arm bruising. When used over time it can help restore the elasticity, rebuild collagen, and rejuvenate the skin on your arms and hands for an overall more youthful appearance.