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CBT MINDFULNESS THERAPY FOR ANXIETY RELIEF

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, involves changing thoughts, its the cognitive part, and actions, the behavior pattern, that interfere with leading a fulfilling and healthy life. The aim of CBT is to help you become your own therapist, and the skills are practical, goal-oriented, and can be practiced every day. Some CBT strategies aim to change thoughts and behaviors, while others promote mindfulness and awareness. Anxiety may cause your thoughts to wander, you may fret about the past, or about what might go wrong in the future. Mindfulness helps focus your attention on whatever you’re doing right now, in the present moment. Acceptance strategies help you cope with, and even accept, uncomfortable situations or emotions that you can’t control or change. THE CBT MODEL OF EMOTIONS CBT breaks emotions down into three parts: thoughts , physical sensations, and behaviors. Say you’re afraid of dogs and you see a dog coming toward you along the sidewalk. You feel afraid—that’s your
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Basil - More Than Delicious Taste

sweet basil - culinary herb
Sweet basil sometimes called Royal Herb although is known more for its pleasant taste than for its medicinal effects. That's cause of Basil contain mild sedative properties. While sweet basil, with its savory clove fragrance is the quint essential Italian culinary herb basils are available in an amazing range of forms and fragrances - from lemon, lime, anise, spice, cinnamon and thyme to incense and sweet camphor.

Gardening Herbs

There are 64 basil species known, all native to the subtropics and tropics, but generally speaking, they are annuals, or evergreen perennials and shrubs, with simple aromatic leaves and spikes of lipped flowers arranged in whorls.

Varieties - Many varieties of sweet basil (O. basilicum) have been developed, particularly in the Mediterranean region. Compact small-leafed forms of sweet basil are popular in Greece and for pot and windowsill culture. They include 'Greek Bush' and 'Green Globe'

Large-leafed sweet basils include Letuce Leaf and Mammoth (both have leaves that are large enough to use as food wraps); the very ornamental 'Magical Michael' and 'Medinette', a large-leafed dwarf form suitable for pot culture.

Colored-leaf forms are widely used as modern ornamental plantings, as well as for culinary purposes. They include 'Red Rubin' and the frilly leafed 'Purple Ruffles: The variety 'Ararat' is green, deeply suffused with purple, and has a licorice-and-clove fragrance.

Citrus-flavored varieties include lemon basil (O. americanum), Hybrid varieties (O. x citriodorum) include Sweet Dani and 'Mrs Burn's Lemon; which are richly lemon-scented and ideal for culinary use. The variety Lesbos or Greek Column contains heady spice, floral and citrus notes. A similar variety, known as 'Greek' or 'Aussie Sweetie' in Australia, is a separate introduction from Greece. Lime basil has a fresh lime and sweet basil scent.

Strongly spice-scented varieties of O. basilicum include Oriental Breeze, a purple-flowered form much used for ornamental and culinary purposes; Cinnamon, Spice (often incorrectly sold as Holy Basil). with its heady, almost incense like fragrance; and 'Blue Spice; which contains additional vanilla notes.

Peruvian Basil (O. campechianum syn. 0. micranthum) is a spice-scented species. Sacred Basil or Holy Basil (O. tenuiflorum syn. O. sanctum), which is available in both green and purple leafed strains, has a mild spice scent and is widely planted in India around temples and in gardens.

Anise Basil (O. basilicum), also sold as Licorice Basil has a sweet anise scent and purple-suffused leaves. The basil encountered in the cooking of Thailand and Vietnam, Thai Basil has a light, sweet anise scent, glossy green foliage and ornamental lavender flower. Several selections have been made, including the very aromatic Queenette and Siam Queen, with a spicy anise fragrance.

Some handsome perennial basils are the result of hybridization between O. basilicum and O.kilimandscharicum, the camphor scented perennial species. They have a spicy clove fragrance, with a hint of balsam. They include white-flowered, green-leafed 'All Year' basil, and the beautiful purple-suffused African Blue.

Tree basil or East Indian basil (O gratissimum) is native to tropical Africa but widely grown in India and South Amenca. The plant is pleasantly thyme and clove scented and makes a substantial bush to about 1.5 m. Another strain of this species sold as Mosquito Plant or Fever Plant, has a strong thyme scent

Position - Basils require a protected, warm, sunny sight with a well-drained soil.

gardening herb - lemon Basil
Propagation - With the exception of the perennial basils mentioned above, basils are generally treated as annuals and propagated from seed. Do not plant seeds directly in the garden until the soil warms. For an early start, plant into seed trays, kept in a warm and protected environment. Grow seedlings on smaller varietes in pots or spaced about 1 ft. (30 cm) apart, larger bush types about 1.5 ft. (45 cm) apart. Basils cross very readily between varieties, so seeds saved in a mixed planting will not grow true to type in the following year unless you prevent cross-pollination by bees. You can also take cuttings from side shoots.

Maintenance - Water regularly. Being a tropical plant, basil grows rapidly at temperatures in excess of 60 F ( 16 C) and is frost sensitive. Pinch out flower heads to promote bushy plant growth and to prolong the plant's productive life.

Pests and diseases - A fungal disease called fusarium wilt can attack plants, causing sudden wilting. Remove and destroy affected plants (do not compost them), and do not replan basil in the contaminated soi1. Consider planting basilss among other plants, rather than en masse. They make a fashionable addition to the ornamental garden.

Harvesting and storing - Harvest mature leaves and flower spikes for fresh use at any time. To dry the leaves, cut bushes at the base and hang out of direct light, then store in an airtight container in a cool place.

Classical Italian

Insalata Caprese (salad in the style of capri) in the colors of the ltalian flag, is a light. Summery salad that showcases the flavor of basil and ripe tomatoes. Arrange tomato slices on a plate. Intersperce with slices of fresh bucconcini (baby mozzarella). Season well. Add a dash of olive oil and a scattering of fresh basil leaves.

Aromatic Basic Oil

Preserve basil the Italian way. Layer the leaves in jar and sprinkle each layer with salt. Then at the top add a good quality olive oil. Seal the jar securely and store in the refrigerator. Allowing several days for the oil to be infused with the flavor of the basil. Use the leaves and the oil for making presto. Drizzle a litle oil over pizzas or saladds. Also try adding a dash to a marinade.

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