Lysine

Feeling like you’re moving in slow motion? You’re not alone. Our bodies metabolize fat to energy, but some days…it’s just not feeling it. Your cells aren’t lazy, but they might be hoping for more l-lysine amino acids to help pick up the pace.

Lysine is a building block for all the protein in our body. It’s important in collagen and bone formation, as well as assisting calcium absorption and hormone and antibody production. Together with iron and vitamin C, lysine helps form collagen. Carnitine, an important energy-producing compound, is synthesized from lysine and may improve fat utilization and energy production. In other words, it helps out with a lot of good things – not just energy.

L-Lysine is an essential amino acid. We need it, but we can’t synthesize it on our own. That’s why eating a diet rich in L-Lysine is recommended, but when that’s not possible, lysine supplements can be an ideal nutritional replacement.

Dietary Sources:

Foods rich in protein are good sources of lysine. That includes meat (specifically red meat, pork, and poultry), cheese (particularly parmesan), certain fish (such as cod and sardines), nuts, eggs, soybeans (particularly tofu, isolated soy protein, and defatted soybean flour), spirulina, and fenugreek seed. Brewer's yeast, beans and other legumes, and dairy products also contain lysine.

Available Forms:

Lysine is available in tablets, capsules, creams, and liquids, and is usually sold in the L-lysine form.

Home remedies for hair loss in women

Home remedies #1: A high-potency multivitamin and multimineral daily. 

• Beta-carotene. Take 25,000 international units daily.
• Vitamin-B complex. Take a supplement containing 100 milligrams of most of the major B vitamins. Also take an additional 50 milligrams of biotin daily.
• Vitamin C. Take 1,000 milligrams twice a day.
• Vitamin E. Take 400 international units daily, with 100 micrograms of selenium to aid its absorption.
• Iron. Take 50 milligrams daily.
• Zinc. Take 50 milligrams daily, with food and with 2 milligrams of copper.
• Silica. Take 250 milligrams twice a day.
• Free-form amino acid complex. Take 2 grams (2,000 milligrams) three times a day, before or after meals.

Home remedies #2: 
In addition to correcting any vitamin deficiencies, women whose hair loss is due to physical trauma, crash diets, or heavy menstrual periods can benefit from supplementation with a high-potency multivitamin and 50 milligrams of iron, together with 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C to boost iron absorption.

Home remedies #3: 
Thinning hair can be a sign of poor nutrient absorption, which in turn can be due to an insufficient supply of stomach acid or bacterial overgrowth in the stomach. Taking one tablet of hydrochloric acid (HC1) and one digestive enzyme capsule after starting each meal, plus 1/2 teaspoon of powdered acidophilus dissolved in 2 ounces of water twice a day between meals, can aid in nutrient absorption.
• Inositol with choline has been found to stimulate hair regrowth in some people with nonscarring alopecia. Take 200 milligrams twice a day.

Home remedies #4: 
Saw palmetto is the first choice of many herbalists for male pattern bald ness. Saw palmetto blocks the formation of dihydrotestosterone, a hormone thought to kill off hair follicles and lead to androgenic alopecia. Take 160 milligrams twice a day.
DS Some people have had success using aloe. It is suggested that you apply the gel to the scalp every night before bed, and also take 2 tablespoons of aloe juice orally each day.

Other remedies:

• Arnica can be applied to the scalp twice a day in the form of a cream, ointment, or hair rinse made from arnica tincture diluted with warm water. Arnica increases local blood circulation, and may thereby help promote hair growth.
• Jojoba oil may help with hair loss when applied to the scalp.
• Emu oil, or kalaya oil, is recommended as a moisturizer and hair-root stimulant to promote hair growth.
• Licorice also contains a chemical that prevents testosterone from being changed to dihydrotestosterone. You can add licorice tincture or extract to your favorite shampoo.
• Rosemary has long been believed to keep hair healthy and lush. Add one part rosemary oil to two parts almond oil and massage the mixture into your scalp for twenty minutes a day.
• Sage has been believed for centuries to help prevent hair loss. Like licorice, sage extract can be added to your favorite shampoo. Or you can use double-strength sage tea daily as a hair rinse to encourage hair growth.
• Safflower is considered to be a good vasodilator. Massage your scalp with safflower oil for twenty minutes a day to increase local blood flow and stimulate hair growth.Jojoba oil may help with hair loss when applied to the scalp.

Essential oils

Essential oils may be the rescue you’re looking for. Using them as part of your hair care routine can breathe new life and luster into your hair. Essential oils also infuse your hair with a burst of fragrance.

Oils Shine and Moisturize

For centuries, people have used essential oils for a variety of medicinal and cosmetic purposes. The beauty industry eventually caught on, marketing luxurious aromatherapy shampoos, serums, and other hair care products -- with equally luxurious prices.

Today, you don't have to spend a fortune for essential oils. Many health food stores sell inexpensive versions. Here are some essential oils that experts recommend for dry hair.

• Almond oil soothes and moisturizes the scalp.
• Cedarwood oil stimulates the scalp and promotes hair growth
• Chamomile oil adds shine and softness to hair, and soothes the scalp
• Clary sage oil promotes hair growth and stimulates the scalp
• Coconut oil softens hair and increases shine
• Geranium oil strengthens hair
• Jojoba oil moisturizes the hair, adds nutrients, and stimulates the scalp
• Lavender oil deep conditions the hair, keeps it shiny, and helps control dandruff
• Moroccan argon oil moisturizes, nourishes, and provides antioxidants to hair
• Rosemary oil stimulates the roots, improves hair growth, and increases circulation in the scalp
• Sandalwood oil helps with dry ends, and adds fragrance to the hair

How to Use Essential Oils

You only need a few drops of an essential oil -- mix one or more types in a shampoo or conditioner. Or mix the drops into 2 ounces of a "carrier" oil, such as olive or jojoba.  Experts suggest these combos.

• Cedarwood, clary sage, and lavender
• Jojoba, clary sage, and cedarwood

After you apply the oil mixture, cover your head in a towel or shower cap.

You can either wash out the treatment after 30 minutes or leave it on overnight and shampoo in the morning.

Remember to wash out oils completely. When you leave them in too long, they weigh down hair, leaving it limp and oily.

If You Have Allergies

Take note if you have sensitive skin:

If you apply some essential oils directly to your scalp, they may cause irritation. Diluting them is the answer. Read label instructions for how to dilute oils, and never use them in higher-than-recommended amounts.
If you're allergic to plants such as ragweed, test the oil on a small area of your skin or hair to see if you have a reaction.

Other Reasons of Hair Loss: 

• A lysine deficiency may cause hair loss. The hair across your scalp may appear sparse or your hair may break easily while you are washing or brushing it. Excessive hair loss may be embarrassing to certain people; however, normal hair growth typically returns once your lysine levels return to normal. 

Home Remedy Treatments for Cold Sores

Small, painful, fluid-filled blisters on the mouth or nose, cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Lasting about 10-14 days, cold sores are very contagious. Triggers can include fever, too much sun, stress, or hormonal changes such as menstruation.


Cold sores can be unsightly. That's the tough reality of these extremely painful blemishes. Still, while you can't do much about the way a cold sore looks, you can do a few things to help decrease discomfort, speed healing, and keep it from coming back. You can even take steps to prevent passing on your cold sore to others. Here are some home remedies:

Lysine
Lysine is an essential amino acid, meaning that we must get it through food or supplements because the body can't make it on its own. It's used to make protein, which we need to produce infection-fighting antibodies, enzymes, hormones, and body tissues. Lysine has been found to inhibit the spread of the herpes simplex virus.

Although we get lysine through food sources such as red meat, milk, eggs, cheese, wheat germ, brewers yeast, and fish, what appears to be most important is the ratio of lysine to another amino acid, arginine. They compete with each other for absorption in the intestines, so the less arginine there is in the diet, the more lysine is absorbed. Foods that are rich in arginine include chocolate, peanuts, and almonds.

In addition to these temporary dietary changes:Lysine supplements (e.g. 1,000 mg taken three times a day) may help to shorten the duration of cold sores.

Foods containing arginine:

• gelatin
• nuts
• chocolate

Foods containing lysine:

• milk
• soybeans
• meat
• lentils
• spinach

Lysine ointment - a pilot study by the Southern California University looked at the effectiveness of a lysine-containing ointment in 30 people. Researchers found that the ointment produced full resolution in 40% of participants by the third day and in 87 percent by the end of the sixth day. No adverse effects were reported.

Cover it with a protective petroleum-based product. Covering it with petroleum jelly will speed healing and help protect it from secondary infection with bacteria.
Don't cover it with makeup. Unfortunately, attempting to camouflage a cold sore with makeup often aggravates the problem, as the chemicals in makeup can make the sore worse. And don't share your lipstick or makeup either.
Change your toothbrush. Get a new toothbrush after the blister has formed and again after the attack has cleared up. Toothbrushes can harbor the virus.
Reach for aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen. Cold sores can be quite painful. Over-the-counter painkillers can help.
Avoid salty or acidic foods. Things like potato chips or citrus fruits can further irritate cold sores and add to the pain.