Recently, when doing a little grocery shopping I accidentally crossed paths with a friend of the family who is in her late 70’s. She looks great, lives at home with her husband, doesn’t wear glasses, is very active (still participates in a tennis league), and mentally is a sharper than most half her age. But for me what made this grocery store chance encounter stand out was how many alternative herbal health remedies were in her shopping cart.

There was saw palmetto for her husband’s prostate and to protect against hair loss, echinacea for immune system health, and ginkgo for mental agility. There were also a couple of supplemental formulas as well including two big bottles of fish oil, along with glucosamine and chondroitin for bone and joint health. She also had some healthy food items as well, including low fat yogurt, flax seed bread, and an array of fruits and vegetables, including blueberries and broccoli. I would have never guessed it. In all the years we have known each other alternative herbal health has never been a topic of conversation.

You can clearly see that this woman (and her husband) are advocates and committed users of alternative herbal health products, supplemental formulas, and a natural style of living that minimizes the need for prescription medications, in an attempt to achieve both longevity and quality of life. She was not going to be reliant on prescription medications to solve all her woes, no she was going to take the bull by the horns and do her best to avoid those woes in the first place.

This is the real untold story about alternative herbal health. It is a way of life that when combined with a healthy diet and exercise can improve overall quality of life, and in some cases longevity.

But what is this alternative herbal health stuff anyway? One of the beauties of alternative herbal health is that the ingredients in most herbal remedies are fairly mild and work with your body to achieve the desired goal. The downside is sometimes they may interact negatively with prescription or non prescription medications. For this reason it is always a good idea to consult your doctor before deciding on alternative herbal health remedies.

The use of leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, bark, and roots is nothing new, and has been a mainstay in many Asian and European cultures for hundreds and in some cases thousands of years. Herbal remedies come in many different forms including capsules and tablets, tinctures (liquid concentrates), teas, and ointments that contain ingredients taken from nature to treat diseases and maladies of all kinds. Some of the more common alternative herbal remedies include ginger root (nausea and motion sickness); ginkgo (circulation and memory); chamomile (flatulence); valerian (anxiety, insomnia); saw palmetto (hair loss and prostate); and St. John’s wort (depression).

In summary, alternative herbal health remedies are not for everyone, but most would agree that they can be a helpful tool in the quest to achieve overall good and enduring health, and longevity. Whether they are right for you, well that is a question best left between you and your doctor.

To become an occupational health and safety professional you
must have educational qualifications and experience. You also
must pass certain written examinations. All occupational health
and safety specialists and technicians must go through on the
job and classroom training, to learn about the relevant laws and
inspection procedures.

The federal government and some other employers require that you
have a 4-year college degree in safety, or some allied subject,
to be eligible for some specialist positions. To apply for some
positions, it is also necessary to have relevant working
experience. To be successful in this field, it is essential to
be aware of the principles of safety and occupational health
training.

Certification

Certification is available through the American Board of
Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) and the Board of Certified Safety
Professionals (BCIP). The Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH)
and Certified Associate Industrial Hygienist (CAIH) credentials
are offered by the ABIH. The Certified Safety Professional (CSP)
credential is offered by the BCIP. Certification is voluntary,
though many employers encourage it.

The Council on Certification of Health, Environmental and Safety
Technologists is a joint effort between the ABIH and BCIP. It
awards the Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
credential. For certification, you must first meet the
qualification and experience requirements and then write an
examination.

Being Up To Date

Health and safety training services aim to keep you informed
about the latest changes in workplace safety, risk assessment
and management, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene,
laboratory design etc. Nuclear safety, radiation waste
management, radiation protection and environmental management
are also covered. The principles of safety and occupational
health training need to be followed for the training programs to
be effective.

Getting a Buy-In

As per the principles of safety and occupational health
training, before starting a workplace health and safety training
program it is better to do a survey to identify the underlying
concerns of the employees to get clarity and to get a buy-in
from employees of all levels.

Employee Health and Safety

Employee health and safety training programs are initiated with
the objective of making employees take responsibility for their
own health. This can be done through programs for enhanced
fitness, weight control, better nutrition and stress management.
Programs for giving up smoking, better use of medical services
and control of chronic illnesses are also organized.

These programs can make employees feel that the employer cares
for their well-being. They can reduce absenteeism, lower health
care costs and make employees more fit to work. Professional
counseling can help employees to deal with issues like substance
abuse and family problems. This is as per the principles of
safety and occupational health training.