The Institute for Vibrant Living - You're source for a vibrant life

Aloe is often used as a houseplant that also offers useful medicinal properties in everyday life. Derived from ‘alloeh’ meaning bitter in Arabic, Aloe vera, grows in close to 240 varieties across the dry regions of Africa, Europe, Asia and America. The most popular form of Aloe that is used commercially is Aloe barbadensis miller.

It is a genus of plants of the Asphodelaceae family, related to the likes of onions and asparagus. Extracted from the aloe plant, Aloe vera has a multitude of medicinal properties and is thought to…

The dreaded Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is an infection caused by the Staphylococcus Aureus bacteria. This superbug is a strain which has developed a resistance to antibiotics and can be fatal. It is found mainly in hospitals and nursing homes and consequently it affects those who are sick and the elderly who have weakened immune systems.

Cases of MRSA have soared since the 1980s and it cost $6 billion last year in the USA alone, not to mention taking 19,000 lives. MRSA kills tens of thousands of patients…

The dawning of the New Year marks a fresh start and most of us go into it with great intentions and lofty resolutions. The concept of making New Year’s resolutions is nothing new. In fact, the tradition dates back thousands of years to the Roman Empire. The symbolism associated with a new beginning still motivates people to attempt to make positive changes in their lives. Unfortunately, less than half of the people who make resolutions actually manage to keep them.

According to a study conducted at the University of Scranton,…

When we were children, the sweet anticipation of the holiday season was enough to send visions of sugar plums dancing through our excited little heads and Christmas couldn’t get here fast enough. Unfortunately we often lose those magical feelings when we become adults and the frenzied pace of the holiday season becomes something to dread instead of something to look forward to. Social obligations, over-stimulated children, tight budgets, huge crowds and endless to-do lists can bring out the scrooge in anybody.

But it doesn’t…

The traditional fragrances associated with the holiday season never fail to trigger treasured memories and Mother Nature provides us with everything we need to kindle the holiday spirit. This year, consider making aromatic pomander balls to delight the senses and add a touch of natural holiday cheer to your home. While they are easy to make, they do take some time to assemble so plan to start right away in order to have them ready in time for the holiday season. Get the whole family involved in the process so everyone in the house can take…