Eat Your Vitamins

I debated on how best to present this information to you, my reader.  Why the difficulty?  Well, you see, I’m not a big believer in popping my morning vitamins.  Not that it isn’t very important to get the proper vitamins.  It absolutely is.
However, I believe that it is exceptionally important to get them from the most effective source possible and I am convinced that the best source of vital vitamins and nutrients is food.
Of course, vitamin makers and pharmaceutical companies would disagree, but most everyone else is becoming aware of the dangers associated with trying to get all your daily vitamins from a pill.  I could point you to several studies done on this very subject, but that isn’t what I want this post to focus on.  A quick Google search will turn up enough results for you to do your own investigation.
Regardless of what the commercials tell you, it is actually quite easy to gain all the vitamins necessary from simply eating a balanced, colorful diet.  Yes, colorful.  Red, green, purple, blue, yellow…the more colorful the better!
So, we’ll start at ‘A’ and work our way through to ‘Z’.  I’ll cover the benefits of the vitamin, as well as a few delicious natural sources of it.  This is by no means a complete list and you may find that it grows with time.  It is likely going to be a 3-5  post series, as well, as there are a lot of vitamins to cover!

Vitamin A
Also known as retinol.  You’ve probably heard that it’s good for your eyes, but why, and what else is it good for?
Specifically, it promotes healthy eyes and is necessary for helping your eyes to adjust to light changes.  There is much more to Vitamin A than eye health, though.  It is also necessary for healthy skin and teeth, skeletal and soft tissue,  and the mucous membranes.
Vitamin A is also known as a carotenoid.  A cartenoid is a dark colored dye that is found in plants and is capable of turning into a form of Vitamin A.  A little confusing?  Yeah, I know.  Basically, if a food contains carotenoids it will convert to Vitamin A when consumed.  One of the more common forms of a carotenoid is beta-carotene, which is a wonderful antioxidant.
Antioxidants help protect our bodies from damaged caused by free-radicals.  Diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and macular degeneration can all be helped by antioxidants. Antioxidants also enhance the immune system.  A lack of Vitamin A can cause poor vision, leave you prone to infections and diarrhea and some other nasty symptoms.  Too much Vitamin A can cause nausea, irritability, blurred vision, growth retardation, hair loss, an enlarged spleen and liver, birth defects and may be linked to increased risk of bone fractures.  Oh, yeah…and it can turn your skin orange.
Pretty, no?
If you are relying on a pill for your vitamin A, be wary.  The source is not natural and it is absorbed by your system differently than when you are getting it from food.  To avoid overdosing on vitamin A while still getting the needed daily dose, try munching on some of these foods:
eggs        meat         milk        cheese       cream       beef liver          kidney        cod       halibut fish oil
Natural sources of beta-carotene include:
carrots       pumpkin        sweet potatoes        winter squashes          cantaloupe
pink grapefruit         apricots        broccoli        spinach       dark green, leafy vegetables

Vitamin B
The ‘B’ vitamins are actually six individual vitamins that are often lumped together and called ‘B complex’.   As a whole, the B vitamins are necessary for breaking down carbohydrates into glucose, thus providing energy for the body,  breaking down  fats and proteins which aids the functioning of the nervous system, providing muscle tone in the stomach and intestinal tract and for maintaining the health of the skin, hair, mouth, eyes and liver.  It is rare to find Vitamin B deficiency in the US, but is common in many countries where good nutrition is an issue.  B Vitamin supplements are not needed in most people, providing you have a well-rounded diet. As you will see, it is readily available in  many common foods.

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
B1 converts food into energy and is essential for maintaining the health of the nervous system, muscular system and cardiovascular system.    Thiamine deficiency is most often seen in alcoholics.  It can cause many problems including anemia, paralysis, muscle spasms, short-term memory problems, sensitivity of the teeth, cheeks and gums, as well as cracked lips.  No health issues are associated with too much B1 because the body simply eliminates the excess.  The best sources of Vitamin B1 are:
whole-grain cereals           bread          red meat           egg yolks           green leafy vegetables           legumes       sweet corn          brown rice            berries           yeast                                  the germ and husks of grains and nuts

Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Riboflavin works in conjunction with other B vitamins to process calories from carbohydrates, protein and fat.  It is necessary for growth and red cell production, as well as healthy skin and good vision.  While B2 deficiency is rare, it can cause skin disorders, inflammation of the soft tissue lining around the mouth and nose, anemia and  light-sensitivity.  It can cause painful cracks to develop at the corners of your lips, and inflammation of the tongue.  As with B1, excess Riboflavin is eliminated from the body, so overdosing on B2 is unlikely.   Good sources of B2 include:
whole-grain products            milk           meat              eggs             cheese             peas

Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Niacin is essential for converting calories from protein, fat and carbohydrates into energy, aiding the  function of the digestive system, maintaining a normal appetite and for healthy skin and nerves and reducing LDL cholesterol.  Niacin deficiency can cause pellagra, a disease that, in times past,  was often associated with the very poor and was a major cause of mental illness. The symptoms of pellagra are red and painful tongue, diarrhea, dermatitis and dementia, and, ultimately, death.  This is one of the few B vitamins that can cause negative side effects when too much is taken.  High
doses of niacin can include flushed skin, itching, headaches, cramps, nausea and skin eruptions. Good sources of Niacin include:
meats    fish     brewer’s yeast     milk       eggs       legumes       potatoes           peanuts

Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)
Don’t recognize this one?   Maybe you will recognize it by one of it’s more common associations ~panthenol D.  Remember the girl who swings her long, shiny  hair around in front of the camera while that narrator announces, “made with Panthenol D!”?  B5 is where Panthenol D comes from. It is thought to make hair more manageable, softer, and shinier by filling in cracks in the hair shaft.  While I wouldn’t recommend their product, I would recommend vitamin B5.
Yes, this vitamin, like the others in the B complex, is needed to break down carbohydrates, proteins and fats for energy.  There is so much more to this vitamin, though!
Vitamin B5 is highly valuable in the secretion of hormones, such as cortisone, because of its role in supporting the adrenal gland. used in the release of energy as well as the metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates. It is used in the creation of lipids, neurotransmitters, steroid hormones and hemoglobin.  These hormones assist the metabolism,  fight allergies and help maintain healthy skin, muscles and nerves.
We aren’t done yet, though.  Vitamin B5 is critical to the manufacture of red blood cells,  sex and stress-related hormones produced in the adrenal glands, maintaining a healthy digestive tract and it helping the body use other vitamins (particularly B2 [riboflavin]) more effectively. It is also thought to  enhance the activity of the immune system and improve the body’s ability to withstand stressful conditions.
Acne sufferers may find Vitamin B5 beneficial also.  It helps the skin more readily absorb other nutrients and promotes healing.
B5 deficiency can cause fatigue, insomnia, depression, irritability, vomiting, stomach pains, burning feet, and upper respiratory infections.
Good sources of B5 include:
brewer’s yeast          corn         cauliflower         kale        broccoli          tomatoes     avocado         legumes        lentils          egg yolks turkey duck milk beef~ especially organ meats such as liver and kidney         chicken    split peas  peanuts         soybeans      sweet potatoes        sunflower seeds salmon
whole-grain breads and cereals                  lobster             wheat germ
*Note:
Pantothenic acid can be lost in cooking, when exposed to acids like vinegar, or alkali such as baking soda and,  to a large degree, in canning.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
B6 is essential for red blood cell production  and is needed for more than 100 enzymes involved in protein metabolism.  It assists the immune system and promotes the growth of new cells.  It has been linked to cancer immunity and fights the formation of homocysteine, a chemical detrimental to the heart muscle.  It helps maintain the health of lymphoid organs (thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes) that make your white blood cells, also.  B6 is a valuable ingredient for controlling your mood and  behavior and studies suggest that it may benefit  children with learning difficulties.
It is known to help balance  hormonal changes in women  and helps with pre-menstrual fluid retention, severe period pains, emotional PMS symptoms, premenstrual acne and nausea in early pregnancy.  It is also valuable in the prevention of dandruff, eczema and psoriasis.
Deficiency of B5 can produce  mood swings, depression, loss of sexual drive, dermatitis, glossitis (a sore tongue), depression, confusion, and convulsions
Good sources of B6 include:
brewer’s yeast       eggs     poultry      pork    carrots        fish         liver          kidneys    peas       wheat germ       walnuts      soybeans       oats       whole grains           banana

Natural Cleaning

It’s Thursday night and your perfectionist-in-laws are arriving at your house tomorrow.  You know your mother-in-law is going to be scrutinizing the inner rim of your toilet bowl.  She’ll also be  wrinkling her nose at the lingering smell of last-nights fish that you cooked a little too long.  You truly want to be environmentally friendly, but this is an emergency!  In desperation, you reach for the Clorox and break out that plug-in air-freshener  while spraying Oust and Febreeze on every exposed surface.  You can be environmentally friendly later, right?

Been there.

The good news is, you don’t have to do that ever again!  While none of these recipes can boast, “scrubbing bubbles that cut your work time in half”, they do work quite well and won’t leave behind that chemical-smell that has your family rubbing their eyes and noses for hours.

A few things to keep in mind:

You won’t get the same foaming action from natural products that you do from commercial products.  Less foam does not mean less cleaning power.

You won’t get the same ’squeaky clean’ feel  with natural products.  As with skin and hair care, that ’squeaky clean’ doesn’t really mean ‘clean’.

Natural cleansers sometime require a bit more muscle and time than commercial products to produce the same effect.

Let’s take a look of some traditional ‘natural cleansers’.

Vinegar

Most cleaning recipes call for white vinegar.  It is cheap and effective.  I like to be a bit unconventional, though.  I prefer cider vinegar.  It is a little more potent and it’s what I usually have on hand.

Vinegar is said to do everything from cleaning your coffee pot to removing chewing gum, but does it really work?  Well, if you have read any of my other posts, you know I’m a proponent of blending ingredients for the best effect and vinegar is no exception.  Of course, there are a few exceptions to that exception.  Namely, when cleaning your coffee maker.  A straight vinegar/water mix is all that is necessary.

How does vinegar work?  White vinegar is usually derived from alcohol and contains appx 5% acetic acid, which is corrosive, so is capable of working like some of the commercial cleansers by ‘eating’ away dirt and oils, but it uses a natural process that is friendly to both the environment and our bodies.  It also contains tartaric and citric acid.  These are weak acids, but effective for cleaning and sanitizing, nonetheless.

Sodium Bicarbonate

Baking soda is mainly  used as a washing powder and scrubbing agent.  It works wonderfully for safely scrubbing everything from metal pans to teeth.  It has the added benefit of being a natural deodorizer.  A small cup placed in your fridge, on the bathroom sink or in the corner of the closet will eliminate many of the stinky odors that are otherwise difficult to get rid of.

Lemon Juice

Much like vinegar, the lemon contains natural acids that work wonderfully for breaking up mineral deposits, eliminating odors and sanitizing.  Lemon is also bleach alternative.

Borax

This is used as a natural laundry booster, multipurpose cleaner, fungicide, preservative, insecticide, herbicide and disinfectant.

Castille Soap

This can be either a powder or liquid, but I prefer the liquid form.  It is most often made from olive oil, though other oils can be used.  Like any soap, it draws dirt and oil to it so that you can wipe or rinse it away.

Cornstarch

Cornstarch is most often used to pull out oils from fabrics like clothing, carpets and upholstery.  It attracts the oil and eliminates the stain safely.

Essential Oils

It only requires a few drops of essential oil in a mix to make it antibacterial and there are many to choose from.  We’ll look at some of the most effective oils.  When used in a cold-air diffuser,  these don’t just mask odors.  They actually alter the structure of the molecules that are causing odors, thereby eliminating them.  They also increase the amount of oxygen in the air.

This is a simple list, but these basic ingredients have all been used for hundreds (sometimes thousands) of years to clean both our bodies and our homes.  Please, don’t make the mistake of thinking that these ingredients have no negative effects, though.  If you soak your hands in strait lemon juice or vinegar for an extended period of time, you are going to have problems.   If you spray boric acid (borax) in your eyes, it is going to burn and cause damage.  Use some common sense, please.  The recipes and information to follow is intended for cleaning and you should use some basic precautions.  Keep them away from small children and don’t spray them in your eyes/ears/nose/mouth.  That should do it.

General All-Purpose Cleaner:

1 part distilled water

1 part vinegar

1 Tbsp Borax

5 drops each essential oils of  lavender, peppermint and tea tree

This can be used to clean tile, plastic, glass, mirrors, ceramic and vinyl.  It contains ingredients known to be both anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and antiseptic.  It will eliminate odors, germs and minor stains on surfaces.  I keep a bottle of this handy.  Don’t worry.  The smell dissipates when dry.

Abbrasive Cleanser

Lemon slices

2 parts Baking Soda

1 part Salt(common table salt)

Sprinkle the salt/baking soda on the area to be scrubbed (tub, toilet, pots and pans, etc).  Squeeze the lemon gently and scrub over the area to be cleaned.

Air Freshener/Disinfectant

Any of the following essential oils are wonderful for cleaning the air and neutralizing odors.  Add 5-7 drops to 1cup distilled water.  This can be used as an air freshener or sprayed on linens, carpets or any other place you need to eliminate odor and sanitize.

orange

lemon

peppermint

tea tree

eucalyptus

lavender

lemongrass

Dish Washing Liquid

1 cup castile soap

1 Tbsp borax

5-7 drops essential oils (see list above)

Mix well and use as you would normal dish soap.

Laundry soap

1/2 cup vinegar

1/4 cup baking soda

Add to laundry and wash as usual.  This will help with both odor and stains, as well as adding softness to both the water and the clothes.

Another fantastic tip for keeping the air in your home clean and odorless is to load up on the plants.  Live plants remove toxins and odors from the air and physically clean  and purify the air.  They work amazingly well for removing even the toughest odors like cigarette smoke and burnt food.    Here is a very informative article concerning a study preformed by NASA.  It’s definitely worth a read.

So, there you have it.  Some of the simplest cleaning products that are probably already in your cabinet.  Give some of them a try and you just might find yourself throwing out all the commercial products you’ve accumulated!

Menopause Bites

If a menopausal woman has pain or makes trouble, pound her hard on the jaw ~~ Egyptian Proverb, 2000 bc

I laugh every time I read that quote.  While in the throes of a menopausal attack of hot flashes and mood swings,  I have more than once asked my husband to knock me unconscious.   A sore jaw seems a small price to pay for a bit of relief!  To date, he has strongly refused.

The truth is, I know how to control them.  Its implementing the necessary tools that causes me a problem.  I mean, really…between running a business, keeping up a blog, playing in the Etsy forums and being a wife and mom, where would I ever find 20 minutes to do a round of yoga and drink a cup of herbal tea?  Well, okay, maybe it’s a bit more complicated than that.  I should really meditate more often and cut back on the coffee.

Let me just clarify something up front.  I’m an herbalist.  That pretty much means that I believe in the power of many natural healing methods.  So, while my attitude may seem flippant, I assure you that I am entirely serious.  I also want to be clear that the following post is what has worked for me.   That does not mean this particular regimine will work for you or your sister or your sister’s best friend.

Early menopause is predominant in the women in my family.  For me, it started at 33.  It was mild, at first.  Hot flashes here and there, memory blips, occasional night sweats.  No big deal.  I smiled to myself, wondering what all the fuss was about.  At 35, I finally understood.  I woke up one day drenched in sweat.  Suddenly, no matter what the temperature might be, it was too damned hot.  I was becoming intolerably crabby all the time and I could barely remember to go to the grocery store, let alone what I was supposed to get once I was there.

I had to do something and my options were relatively limited.  Hormone therapy or natural alternatives.  Dude, I’m an herbalist, but I’m human, too.  I wanted relief and fast!  So, I decided to read up on hormones.  See just how they worked, where they came from, what were the side effects.  It took me about an hour to solidify my decision.  I wouldn’t take hormones if they coated them in chocolate and wrapped them in dollar bills.

This information is simply the result of my research that led to my decision.  I didn’t write the information and if you have some solid proof against any of the info presented, I would dearly love to be made aware of it.  To date, despite 2.5 years of further research I have found nothing to dispute any of my original information.

First, I checked out the top choice for menopause help.  Estrogen.  I went to this website and read up on one of the most popular estrogen treatments.  I learned that it can cause heart attacks, strokes, breast and uterine cancer and blood clots.  It can also increase your chances of developing dementia, especially in women over 65.  The good news was that, since I was well under 65, I probably wouldn’t have to worry about the dementia.

The next problem that I had with estrogen pills is their origin.  I’ll admit that I laughed when I first read about it.  I thought it was one of those crazy rumors.  Surely it was wrong.  But it wasn’t.  Fresh Pregnant Mare Urine, anyone?  Think I’m lying?  Spreading tales?   Check this out.

Patent info on obtaining estrogen from mare urine

PETA’s info on the subject

Project Aware

Another informative website

Another great resource that goes deeper into the research that led to the use of animal urine is the book, “The Greatest Experiment Ever Performed On Women‘ by Barbara Seaman.

After thinking it through, I realized that it really wasn’t so far fetched.  For many decades, medical testing was done on animals freely and openly.   They were fed toxins and untested medicines, injected with diseases, untested ‘cures’ and things we never want to hear about.  Every imaginable part of their bodies were used in the name of ‘finding a cure’.   Why not the urine?  The principle behind it is sound and there is no question that the mare urine contains potent estrogens.  It is what it is and no one is really disputing this fact.

Not wanting to be accused of only looking at one side of the issue, I wanted to check out a few pro-estrogen places, too.  I couldn’t really find any, except for the websites of the companies promoting the estrogen.  Bio-Medicine says don’t take it.  A Consumer’s Report says way back in 1976 that estrogen is dangerous, too, which really makes me wonder why it is STILL being offered, but I won’t go there right now.  I found lots more sites, medical and alternative, warning against estrogen, but didn’t really come up with any pro’s on the topic.

So, that left natural therapy.  Ah, well, I suppose I knew the answer before I ever started my research.  I chalked the experience up to a re-solidification of my choice to be a naturalist.   I put back on my herbalist-mantle and got to work.

My new line of research included going as far back in history as I could.  How did the Ancients treat menopause?  Did they even have menopause back then?  Yes, they did.  And they used some crazy, but effective, means of treating it.   Ever heard of Ovariin?  It was offered by Merck (yes, the some pharmaceutical company that we have in this century) in 1897 and was derived from the dried, pulverized ovaries of a cow.   It worked, but it was really gross, and to tell you the truth, I didn’t have a dead cow handy, so Ovariin was kinda out of the question.

I turned to my herb cabinet and found a few answers.

Black Cohosh:  Great for help with hot flashes, mood disturbances, palpitations, and vaginal dryness.  It is believed to work by binding estrogen receptors and has been used for centuries.  Black cohosh is being investigated for a possible link to liver damage, but so far, all of the cases involoved have other medical conditions that are believed to contribute to the situation.  Read this article for more info.

St John’s Wort Works wonders on the mood swings.  The down side of taking St Johns Wort is that it will interfere with the effectiveness of other medications you may be taking.  It speeds up the breakdown of the medicines so they become less effective.

Ginkgo This herb is fantastic for those memory lapses.  This herb has been studied in-depth and has proven effective for help with improving brain function.  Ginkgo has been shown to thin the blood, so don’t take ginkgo if you are currently taking other blood-thinners, natural or synthetic.

Sage contains plant estrogens and works well for helping with night sweats and  hot flashes.

These are the herbs traditionally used to treat menopause.  However, there is something within me that forces me to look outside the traditional means.  I have added these herbs to my personal list of ‘menopause’ herbs.

Peppermint I use peppermint a lot.  It is a system stimulant and has an effect of nearly every major organ of the body.  It prods the system into working correctly, promotes circulation, soothes and invigorates.   It eases belly aches, diminishes cramps, soothes a headache, calms heartburn and helps cleanse the system.

Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc.  Dandelion roots and leaves have been used to treat liver problems,  kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, stomach upset, digestive disorders, appendicitis, breast problems (such as inflammation or lack of milk flow), fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, diarrhea, as an appetite stimulant, digestive aid, and for liver and gallbladder function and  to stimulate the excretion of urine.   I think that about covers the entire system.   No negative effects have been reported.

So, I had my herbal concoction ready.  I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t work immediately.  It took almost a week to really notice a difference.  That’s the only negative I can come up with.  Even the prescriptions don’t completely knock out the symptoms of menopause, so I don’t complain too much about the occasional hot flash.

But, I did want to get rid of it completely, so I set out on another research mission and found that several yoga poses are recommended for help controlling menopause.  This site has some fabulous suggestions that I have incorporated into my yoga routine.  I try to do 25 minutes of yoga at least 3 times a week.  I said I try.  I don’t always succeed, and I definitely feel it when I don’t take the time to do it!

I’ve also changed my diet, but I have been doing that for the last 10 years.  I find I have much more energy and I’m more alert and coherent when I get plenty of fresh fruits and veggies.  Canned and frozen do NOT provide the same level of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

And, finally, I try to meditate whenever I get the chance.  Simply quieting the mind and breathing properly provide amazing benefits, both physical and spiritual.   This site has some great info on meditation and other alternative health issues.

I’ll leave you with this quote that I ran across.  It is by George Napheys in his 1869 book, ‘The Physical Life of Woman:  Advice to the Maiden, Wife, and Mother’.  He says, “After a certain number of years, woman lays aside those functions with which she has been endowed for the perpetuation of the species, and resumes once more that exclusively individual life which has been hers when a child…The evening of her days approaches, and if she has observed the precepts of wisdom, she may look forward to a long and placid period of rest, blessed with health, honored and loved with a purer flame than any which she inspired in the bloom of youth and beauty.”

I like that thought.

Oh, My Achin’ Immune System!

Once more for the record:  I’m not a doctor.  I have no formal medical training.  I can’t diagnose, treat or heal any medical conditions.  The info provided is strictly my own opinion and the results of my own personal experience and research.  Always consult a medical professional if you suspect illness or disease.  None of these statements have been approved by any governing agency, domestic or foreign.

What do you really know about your immune system? If you are like most people, the answer is, not a lot. Everyone knows the basics. The immune system is what keeps us from getting sick. It’s the system that kicks out the bad germs, bacteria and viruses.

I’ve sat here for an hour now trying to decide the best way to simplify how the immune system works so that I can explain to you how to help keep it strong. What I’ve decided is that there is no easy way to break it down.  Instead, I’ll be pointing you to several other well-written, easy-to-understand websites. I suggest that you check out this article at Howstuffworks.com if you are interested in knowing how the immune system works. Otherwise, just understand that the immune system is affected by and/or related to every single organ of the body and requires some very specific things to keep it working properly.

First of all, it needs to be fed. Vitamins, minerals, elements, enzymes…all of these are necessary to keep your immune system strong and focused. So, is the answer a multi-vitamin or supplement? I don’t believe so. The body absorbs vitamins, minerals and nutrients from food sources much more rapidly and efficiently than when taken in the form of a pill. This is one of those rare facts that homeopaths, doctors, nutritionists and the universe can all agree on.

That doesn’t mean that you need to eat 50 different fruits and veggies a day to get all the nutrients that your body needs. Mother Nature is a multi-tasking expert. Most fruits and veggies contain a whole little package of vitamins and nutrients within them. A few, recently dubbed ‘Super-foods‘, contain a big package of vitamins and nutrients.

It has also been proven that organic foods contain higher levels of these vitamins and nutrients. I know all the arguments…organic costs too much, it doesn’t look as pretty, it’s harder to obtain….I’ve heard and felt them all. The truth is, though, they are cheaper over time. The few extra dollars a week spent on organic instead of non-organic will help ensure a stronger immune system, which leads to fewer sick days, less money spent on medicine and increased energy and productivity.

Many fruits and veggies also contain antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral elements. Imagine them as steroids for the immune system without the side-effects, if you will. Sometimes our immune system will get overloaded with processed foods, environmental toxins, viruses, germs and a gazillion other depressants. It’s hard work fighting off all those enemies! Whose system couldn’t use an extra bit of muscle?

Here are a few foods that will help keep your immune system strong and healthy:

carrots, cucumbers, leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale, etc), eggplant, tomato, broccoli, asparagus, peppers, onions, garlic, oranges, avocado, honey, apples, berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries), lemons, limes, grapefruit, papaya

Raw veggies are best, but really, who wants to munch down on a raw onion? Any form you eat them in (except canned) is great, just don’t microwave them or over-cook them. Try steamed asparagus drizzled with fresh lemon juice and dash of sea salt. A fresh fruit salad sprinkled with some freshly grated coconut, raisins or nuts and a hint of fresh mint. Add some extra onion and garlic to your meals. It doesn’t have to be complicated and you’ll feel so much better!

Our immune system also requires a constant, fresh source of oxygen to function properly. How often do you take the time to just sit and breath? Do you know the best way to breathe? Did you even know there was a ‘best way to breathe’? This is one reason that I always recommend yoga. The combination of breathing and movement helps stimulate the organs of the body, which promotes better function and a stronger overall health.

The skin, too, plays a part in the immune system. It is our first defense against a whole army of deadly bacteria and germs. It is the largest organ of the body and is capable of absorbing just about anything that comes in contact with it. That is why it is incredibly important to have a good skin-care regimen that is free of chemicals and unnatural ingredients that the body often sees as ‘foreign material’.

While your skin will fight it as long as possible, eventually it will catch up with you and suddenly you have a rash from your soap, dandruff from your shampoo and a nasty case of acne from the same kind of makeup you’ve used for years!

Check your labels when you go to buy your next bottle of face cleanser. Remember that just because it says ‘made with natural ingredients’ doesn’t mean it’s made with ALL natural ingredients. Here are a few ingredients to avoid:

mineral oil,  lanolin, PABA, formaldehyde, phenol acid (urocanic, salacylic and others), propylene glycol, parabens (methyl, propyl and others), Sodium lauryl sulfate (also Sodium Laureth , Ammonium Lauryl, and other “sulfates”)

Some natural ingredients to look for that contain antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and other immune-boosting properties ( and many other beneficial characteristics including moisturizing, healing and protecting) include:

shea butter, kokum butter, cocoa butter, mango butter, grapeseed oil, olive oil, sesame oil, aloe vera, honey, beeswax, tea tree, lavender

There are times, though, that even the healthiest diet and a proper amount of exercise aren’t enough and our immune system goes on the blink. What then? Then you make a doctor’s appointment and gladly snatch the prescription he hands you for an antibiotic, right? Well, you could do that. It’s not my first course of action, though. Here is what I do for myself and my family. I’ve gotten a few friends hooked on it lately, too, I’m afraid. Are you ready? It’s kinda complicated…

~I take a lemon and squeeze it til there’s not a drop of juice left. I leave the seeds and pulp in it because they have their own healing characteristics, but you can filter them out, if you prefer.

~Then I add a teaspoon full of some local honey that I always keep on hand.

~I add to that 1 dropper full of astragalus extract. I prefer Teeter Creek Herbs for extracts.

~I stir it all up, then drink it.

Does it work? I think so. It’s been years since my daughter’s last ear infection, which she used to get at least twice a winter. My last bout of strep throat, which used to happen every year in the spring and fall, hasn’t made an appearance in over five years. We haven’t had a sore throat, a cough or the flu in years. For general health and prevention, I take this 2-3 times a week. At the first sign of any illness, even if it’s just that yucky I-don’t-feel-sick-but-I-don’t-feel-good stage, I take a dose every 6 hours until I feel better. I’ve never had to take more than 2 doses. Usually within hours I am back to feeling good.

Why would it possibly work? Well, several reasons.

~Lemon is an antiseptic that helps kill of germs and bacteria while ’sanitizing’ the system. It cleanses the throat and the stomach, stimulates the digestion and helps keep the system clean.

~ Honey. This is often called a ‘miracle food’ for good reason. It was mentioned as far back in history as the Egyptian Hieroglyphics for it’s ability to heal and nourish the body, both inside and out. Besides being antibacterial, it is also anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, helps heal skin cells, moisturizes, speeds healing, stimulates growth and much more. Read more about honey here!

~Astragalus. Many studies have been done on this Eastern herb and they all show the same thing. It is a valuable herb for stimulating the immune system. This herb seems to not only strengthen the immune system, but it actually helps the body produce immune cells. For more info on some of the studies and effects of astragalus, check out this site.

Eczema, Psoriasis and other Itch-Inducers

If you’ve never suffered from a skin condition that causes itchy, dry, painful rashes that have you clawing the skin from your body, consider yourself fortunate. For the rest of us, I think it is safe to say that these skin conditions can drive you to drastic measures. You can find the most amazing tools to use as a scratcher…combs, brushes, knives, pencils…I must admit that I’ve even resorted to bathing my skin with alcohol on occasion because the burn was a relief from the itch. Of course, I don’t recommend it.

I suppose it was because of these experiences that I found it absolutely necessary to create my ‘Skin Soother’ salve. Unlike my Bite and Sting ointment that is specifically targeted to relieve the itch of venom and other toxins found in plants and animal bites/stings, this salve is made to sooth and help heal rashes and other conditions that our bodies inflict upon itself.

As is the case with eczema and psoriasis. While there is no single thing that causes our body to break out in a rash, the one thing they all have in common is that they are all reactions. Too many toxins in the system, skin care products, medications, environmental toxins, skin infections, sun exposure…these all play a part in skin conditions. These can manifest themselves in many different ways. A blistery patch, a dry patch, a sore, redness, inflammation.

Then, there is the trouble of diagnosing the rash. Is it eczema? Dermatitis? Psoriasis? Heat rash? Sun rash? A reaction to the new soap you used? Sometimes, even the best dermatologists have difficulty finding the root cause.

As an herbalist, my job is much simpler. Sort of. In the case of skin rashes, especially. It is my belief that illnesses of any kind, including skin conditions, is simply an indication that your body has overloaded on toxins (this includes both physical and emotional toxins like stress and fatigue) and/or lacked proper nutrition to keep your immune system strong.

Please take care to note: I am not saying that any single herb, ingredient, salve, tea or diet is going to fix all the known ills of man. Not by any means. While I do believe that every illness can be CURED using natural means, I believe it takes a combination of natural ingredients, exercise (especially yoga, tai chi, etc), diet and a positive attitude to achieve this.

That being said, I do believe that many natural ingredients can help us to treat both the symptoms and the root of our problems.

First, you need to use something that will help your body combat any virus, fungus or bacteria that my have entered your system, which is why doctors will often automatically hand you a prescription for an antibiotic of some sort. Please understand that, while this may help for a period of time, your body will eventually become immune to that antibiotic. Synthetic antibiotics do not help boost your immune system. In fact, they weaken it, so when the problem comes back it is often already angry over being tricked like this and comes back stronger, more resistant.

Natural ingredients work differently. Rather than tricking your immune system into submission, many natural ingredients are known for boosting the organs of the body that stimulate the natural immune functions. Now, here is where I could give you a terribly long and boring science lecture, but I won’t. However, if you find that curiosity is eating at you, Wikipedia has a wonderful overview of the immune system and how it functions.

You might be surprised to learn that there is a plethora of natural ingredients that boast wonderful immune-boosting properties. Many are antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic. When applied topically, they are quickly absorbed into the skin and bloodstream where they are carried throughout the body, fighting off the nasties as they go.

Many of these ingredients are included in my Skin Soother salve. Olive, grapeseed, sesame, coconut oil, mango, kokum, shea butter, beeswax, aloe gel, honey, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus all contain at least one of those properties.

Secondly, you need to soothe the itch. Let’s face it, if a product kills off the nasties like bacteria, fungus and virus but doesn’t relieve the pain and itch, who wants to use it? There are several natural ingredients that work beautifully to soothe itchy skin and are included in this Skin Soother salve.

Peppermint is a natural nervine and analgesic which makes it extremely useful for skin conditions that cause pain and itching. It soothes those nerve endings that are causing the itch and helps ease the pain associated with many skin conditions. Other potent nervines included in the formula are hops and chamomile.

Many herbs have also been chosen for their long history of soothing any kind of skin disease. Comfry, basil, marshmallow and burdock have all been used for centuries by many different cultures to soothe inflammation, cool the skin, calm the itch and help remove toxins from the system.

So, I used these ingredients (and a few others) to create my Skin Soother. I can’t give you my formula, of course, but I’m happy to discuss ingredients and how to use them. I can always be contacted through my website, Tamara’s Herbes, or through my Etsy shop.

An Herb for All Your Ills

Warning: Please consult a physician before consuming any type of herb or flower, as many of them will interfere with medications. While we at Tamara’s are careful to use only those herbs considered safe, it is always possible that someone will have a negative reaction. None of the statements made are intended to diagnose or treat anyone or anything! If you are pregnant, please avoid all herbs, as many of them can bring about early labor and other problems.

Have you ever browsed the drug store shelves in search of the cure for that nasty headache or relief for your throbbing sinuses? You have a gazillion different pills to choose from! Heartburn? Grab a pill. Cramps? Grab a different pill. Constipated, agitated or still a bit inebriated? There’s a pill for that, too.

The problem with those pills is that they only mask your symptoms so you think you are better. It’s simply a mind (and money) game. If you really want to get rid of those symptoms, there is a better way!

Eat a weed. Or, more precisely, an herb or two.

It took a while, but my friends and family finally realized that if they are coming to visit me, they better bring their own stash of pills ’cause they won’t find one in my house. Not an aspirin, not a Tylenol, not an antacid… If a headache strikes within the walls of my house, they’ll likely find themselves with a cup of hot tea in front of them!

I’m usually met with a strange look, but few people have the nerve to criticize my methods to my face, so they politely sip their tea while trying to come up with an excuse to run to the nearest drug store. By the time they come up with one, though, they find their headache (or belly ache or whatever ache) has disappeared.

Without a doubt, headaches are the most common complaint, which means my Happy Head Tea is constantly at the ready. Granted, it takes a bit longer to sip that cup of tea than it does to pop that pill, but the long-term benefits blow the pill out of the water! Why? Because the herbs work to correct the problem rather than disguise the symptoms, and works just as quickly. Bonus ~ the headache won’t be back in 3 hours!

Second in line for most-used is the Belly Achin’ Tea. This is one of the few herbal teas that even my kids like to drink. Pleasantly minty and fast-acting, this works great when you’ve over-eaten, have excess gas or just over-did it on the junk food.

And, we can’t forget the popular Sweet Dreams Tea. As a chronic insomniac, there have been many nights that this beauty has sent me gently to sleep when I was certain there was no hope. Unlike sleeping pills, you don’t wake groggy and disoriented and it isn’t necessary to have 7-8 hours of sleep before the effects wear off.

Okay, so this sounds like a sales pitch. However, I needed some frame of reference and my teas provided that. The truth is, though, you don’t need to buy these teas from me. The herbs are available at most health food stores and on several internet sites. I would highly recommend Mountain Rose Herbs for their high quality, affordable herbs. They offer organic and fair-trade herbs at very reasonable prices. Please keep in mind, though, that if you intend to mix up your own blends you need to be careful to research proper dosage and side effects.

Feeling brave? Here are the recipes for a few of my most popular teas and a glimpse of why I chose those particular herbs.

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Happy Head Tea:

Catnip, basil, lavender, lemon balm, peppermint, rosemary, blessed thistle, spearmint, mullein and yarrow.

Catnip

This is a very mild herb that has been used in many cultures as a sedative, pain reliever and blood cleanser for centuries. It is gentle enough to use on children and potent enough to provide relief to adults. It is also known for its use as a digestive aid. Headaches are often caused by stress, poor diet, improper digestion and accumulated body toxins, so catnip is a perfect choice to include in my Happy Head tea.

Basil

The anti-inflammatory action of basil is known to help shrink blood-vessels and swelling that contribute to headaches and its sedative effect helps dull the pain. It is also known to be a system stimulant that helps your organs to function properly, which allows your body to process and release toxins that contribute to headaches.

Lavender

This herb is known to calm the nervous system, promote relaxation, sooth anxiety and reduce inflammation. It has been used for centuries by the wealthy to ease headaches caused from tension and stress.

Lemon Balm

This herb is unusual because it acts as both a stimulant and a sedative. It invigorates the mind and body, while it soothes the nerves, making it a wonderful addition to headache formulas.

Peppermint

Peppermint stimulates the entire system, helping the body to function as its meant to, and also contains wonderful pain-relieving properties. Its minty scent invigorates the mind and help relieve tension, stress and fatigue.

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Belly Achin’ Tea

Burdock, slippery elm, catnip, basil, peppermint, anise, ginger, sage, green tea, hops

anise

While this herb is most commonly known for its use in cough syrups and lozenges, it also a wonderful herb to use for indigestion and other stomach issues. It helps relieve gas and settle an upset stomach. It is believed to have originally been used in ancient times as a seasoning for meat and vegetables, due in large part because of its value as a digestive aid. It is also an anti-spasmodic, which helps relax the muscles of the stomach.

ginger

Ginger cleanses the body of toxic waste and calms nausea. It is an aromatic bitter, which means that it stimulates the digestive system. It helps tone the intestinal walls which helps ease the transport of substances through the intestines. Ginger is also and anti-parasitic, which means that it aids in the removal of parasites such as intestinal worms and other little critters that often cause stomach troubles.

sage

Widely known for its many healing properties, sage is valuable when treating any type of stomach disorder including constipation, nausea, gas, diarrhea and intestinal disorders. It also stimulates the appetite, thereby stimulating the digestive system.

hops

Heartburn, gas, nausea, colic, ulcers and general stomach upset have all been treated for centuries by hops. Often used to calm anxiety, this herb helps relax the body, which makes it wonderful for those belly upsets brought on by stress and anxiety, too!

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Sweet Dreams Tea

Hops, catnip, peppermint, lavender, chamomile, mullein

You’ll notice that each of these herbs were used in the other formulas. One of the beauty of herbs is that they often have a variety of medicinal constituents. This allows them to treat many different bodily systems in many different ways.

Some herbs, like peppermint, are known for their ability to treat the entire system. Combining peppermint with other herbs enhances a particular aspect of it, for example: combine peppermint, hops and anise to make a powerful remedy for stomach issues. Combine it with lemon balm, basil and catnip and you have a potent headache remedy.

In the case of Sweet Dreams Tea, it is combined with herbs like chamomile, lavender and hops which are all known to relax the mind and body. Easing away tension, stress and over-stimulation will provide your mind and body with the opportunity to drift off to sleep a bit easier. You won’t notice an overwhelming tiredness, as happens with synthetic sleeping aids. This herbal blend works gently, so that all you need to do is add a little darkness and quiet to the mix and you wake refreshed and ready to face the day, rather than groggy and disoriented.

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Note: I don’t recommend mixing these blends yourself unless you have studied each of the herbs carefully and understand proper dosage and the benefits/risks of each herb. While each of the herbs used is considered safe, they can affect other medications you may be taking or medical issues that you have. Always consult your medical adviser before taking any herbs.

A Simple Experiment

BE WARNED: THIS POST CONTAINS A PICTURE OF DAMAGED FLESH AND BLOOD!

One of the first herbal products I created was born of necessity. It was my Herbal Healing Wash, a product that is a constant in my medicine cabinet.

It came about because, as the mother of three small children, I was constantly doctoring minor cuts and I was never really comfortable using alcohol and triple antibiotic ointment on my little ones. In my search for an alternative, I stumbled across a basic recipe in a fantastic book called, “Back to Eden” by Jethro Kloss. I whipped up my first batch and was pleased with the results, but in time I knew it just wasn’t good enough.

So, I made some modifications. What I ended up with is my Herbal Healing Wash. What I didn’t know at the time was that I had created something that would go far beyond cleaning simple cuts. In the ten plus years that we have been using this, it’s helped speed up the healing of everything including those simple cuts, deep wounds that had the meat spilling out, bruises, sprains, strains, bumps, cysts, acne and so much more!

While I do wish that I could take credit for the awesome healing abilities of this wash, the truth is, it’s all about the ingredients.

In the beginning, I used a bottle of Everclear pure grain alcohol as a base. It works great, but the downside is that it burns like hell! So, I found a suitable alternative. T.N Dickinsons’s Witch Hazel is gentle but highly effective for toning and cleansing.

Goldenseal

I absolutely love this herb and it is one that I use in many of my healing products. Goldenseal is a plant native to North America that contains antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and astringent properties far above those of most other herbs, which has contributed to its status as endangered (and extremely expensive!). It contains calcium, iron, manganese, Vitamins A, C, E and B-complex, as well as other nutrients and minerals. Berberine, a chemical contained in goldenseal, is said to have the ability to fight infection caused by some bacteria, fungi, and yeast. This herb is also known for its ability to stimulate the immune system, which allows the body to heal itself.

Echinacea

Like goldenseal, echinacea is a wonderful immune booster that has been used for more than 500 years. It contains a wide array of chemical compounds including polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkamides, volatile oils, and flavonoids. While it is well-known for its ability to help fight off the common cold, few people realize its value in treating wounds, acne and other skin issues.

Cayenne Pepper

The healing effects of cayenne pepper are often overlooked, but are truly phenomenal. Used internally, it is known to stimulate the entire system and is profoundly valuable for diseases such as diabetes, heart conditions, colds, cancer and many more. It contains capsaicin, which is a powerful pain reliever and antioxidant, and helps with itching. It also contains high levels of Vitamin C which are known to help stimulate the immune system and ward off infections. Cayenne helps stop bleeding while preventing clotting…a bit of an oxymoron, but it works!

Plantain

Yes, this is the same plant that probably grows wild in your front yard. A common weed, if you will. What you probably didn’t know about it is that it was called ‘life medicine’ by American Indians. It can be used as an antibacterial, antidote, astringent, anti-inflammatory, atniseptic, antitussive, , demulcent, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic, laxative, ophthalmic, poultice. What does all that mean to you? It means that it will stop bleeding, ease pain, reduce swelling, fight infection, cleanse and promote healing, not to mention helps with a whole host of complaints when taken internally. It also contains a chemical called Acubin, which is listed in the Journal of Toxicology as a potent anti-toxin.

Still, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and while all of the ingredients that go into this wash are supposed to work, the real question is, do they?

Always one to experiment whenever I can, my son provided me the perfect opportunity when his hand went through a window last week. Here’s the results:

Day 1: The wound was rather deep (about 1/8″) and the hospital recommended stitches, which we politely declined. The meat was exposed and the skin was loose and jagged. The two puncture wounds to the side, while not as large, go straight down and we removed shards of glass appx 1/4″ long. As you can see, this happened on June 9, 2008.

Day 3: The wound was healing up nicely. The meat was no longer exposed and a clean,soft scab had formed.

Day 5: The wound is almost completely healed with little more than a hard scab to show it was there. Notice, too, the smaller wounds to the side have healed up quite nicely.

We are on day 8 and he has little more than a scab to show the wound was there and he has full use of his hand. Not bad, considering the doctors in the ER told us to expect it to take 2-4 weeks to heal.

Please keep in mind that this was hardly a scientific experiment. We applied the Healing Wash and fresh bandages twice a day and did little else, but I hope it gives you a good idea of how wonderful these herbs are for treating wounds!

Don’t Be Itchy!

Mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, spiders, chiggers…all sure signs that summer is in full swing. Of course, they can’t just exist in peace with us humans. They far prefer to bite every inch of exposed flesh and leave us running for the bug spray and benadryl.

But, the bug spray and Benadryl come with their own set of problems. Here’s a few alternatives that will help you deal with these critters more naturally.

Load up on the garlic. Insects hate it, especially the biting ones. Besides being a natural immune booster that helps protect you from several health problems like high cholesterol and the common cold, it wards off biting insects because they don’t like the taste of it. A clove or two a day is all you need!

Then, we have the miracle liquid…apple cider vinegar. I cannot even begin to list all the amazing benefits of organic apple cider vinegar. It flushes your system, it boosts immunity, it helps with arthritis…and it wards off biting insects. As with garlic, it builds up in your system and insects can’t stand the flavor. A teaspoon twice a day and you’ll feel like a new person…one that is free of bug bites!

There are also several essential oils that make wonderful insect repellents and are much easier on the entire body than commercially available products. Here is my recipe for a natural bug spray:

1/4 cup vegetable oil (I prefer olive or sesame, but just about any of them will do)

1/2 cup distilled water

4-5 drops each of the following essential oils: rosemary, basil, pennyroyal, peppermint

7-10 drops of citronella essential oil

Spray on liberally and you are ready to go!

Of course, the occasional bug is going to find its way to your tender flesh and it will sink its mean little teeth in. When that happens, I grab my Bite and Sting ointment. It contains ingredients that are known for drawing toxins from the skin, reducing inflammation, calming the itchies and healing damaged tissue. Check out some of these ingredients:

Burdock promotes the healing of wounds and is a classic remedy for skin conditions which result in dry, scaly skin and cutaneous eruptions (eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, boils, carbuncles, sties), relieve bruises and inflamed surfaces generally. It restores smoothness to the skin and contains a good amount of several vitamins (especially A and B2 - thiamin) as well as minerals, especially iron, chromium, cobalt, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, zinc, and potassium. It is alleged to neutralize and eliminate poisons in the system.

Black Walnut Hulls contain natural chemicals that are astringent, which helps improve the firmness of the tissues. These chemicals are also active against inflammation, can balance sugar levels in the blood, and detoxify your body. It has the ability to fight against fungal infections, and acts with an antiseptic property which helps fight bacterial infection. It cleanses the system of toxins and poisons.

Basil is a detoxifier, stimulting sluggish and congested circulation of the skin and can be used for acne and minor skin infections. It is also reputed to have antiseptic value and to neutralise the toxins of bites and stings.

This ointment isn’t just good for bites, though. It works wonders on stings from bees and wasps. When one of us inevitably gets stung, we pinch off the site to keep the venom from circulating through our system and lather on the ointment. Within minutes, the pain is gone and, if we catch it right away it doesn’t even leave behind a red mark on the stung area. This ointment is a total necessity in our house!

That’s not all, though.  The most amazing thing ever about this fantastic ointment?  You know those nasty spider bites?  Two of my customers ended up with some ugly, oozing holes in their skin from a brown recluse.  After antibiotics and painful scrapings that did no good, they tried this ointment.  I’m proud to report that after 3 weeks, the bites completely healed.  The scarring was minimal, the pain was gone and they now keep a tube of ointment nearby…just in case!

Hair in Crisis

It happens to the best of us.   Commercial shampoos, harsh hair treatments, poor eating habits,  environmental pollutants…they all wreak havoc with our hair at one time or another.  You know the symptoms, don’t you?  Brittleness, frizzies and split-ends are just a few of the problems that commonly pop up.

If you are like me, you’ve probably tried everything from hot oil treatments to salon therapy.  Some of them work a time or two.  Maybe three.  Then, nothing.

It’s frustrating.  Aggravating.  Discouraging.  Sometimes, it makes you wanna just chop those locks off and start over.  Before you do something drastic, you might consider trying a natural solution.

There are so many natural ingredients available that work wonderfully on damaged hair that it would be nearly impossible to list them all.  These are a few of my favorite stand-bys, all of which are available in my Hair Therapy and Rinse Combo.

~Honey ~

For the hair?  Absolutely!  Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it has the ability to attract and retain water, a valuable  characteristic if your hair is parched and dry.  Honey also contains natural antioxidant properties that make it ideal for helping to protect your hair from environmental damage including harsh UV rays and pollutants.

It doesn’t end there, though.  Honey also contains a wide range of B vitamins including B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3, as well as copper, iodine and zinc.  These vitamins and minerals are fantastic when you are dealing with hair loss, dandruff and graying.

Don’t forget honey’s natural  soothing properties and anti-bacterial action, which are wonderful for helping with an itchy scalp.

~Sesame Oil~

Besides being antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant, Sesame oil quickly penetrates the hair and skin, attracting toxins that can then be carried out of the system as waste.  It also has the ability to protect the hair from future damage and helps regulate cell regeneration, which can lead to better hair growth and less graying.

~Grapeseed Oil~

This wonderful oil is high in antioxidants, vitamins A, B & C, polyphenols and resveratrol, which makes it a powerful antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-bacterial oil.   As a protectant, it adds moisture and lightly coats the hair to add a beautiful shine without being heavy.

~Shea Butter~

This rich, luxurious butter has been used for centuries to nourish and protect the hair.  It absorbs quickly into the hair and scalp to provide moisture and protection without clogging pores.  It is particularly good for repairing dry, brittle, damaged hair.  It has long been used as a natural hair conditioner because of its ability  to soften the hair without leaving it heavy or oily.

~Catnip~

This is one ingredient that always draws comment from my customer.  The most asked question is ‘will this make my cat attack my hair’.  The answer is no.  What it will do is promote hair growth and add luster to dry, dull locks.

~Rosemary~

This wonderful kitchen herb has been used for ages to promote strength in weak hair, to stimulate the hair follicle and to help promote a healthy scalp.  It has also been reported to help with graying and dandruff.

~Apple Cider Vinegar~

This is by far one of my favorite hair care ingredients.  It helps regulate the natural pH of both the hair and scalp, adds amazing softness and manageability, promotes hair growth and cleanses the hair and scalp of dirt and toxins.  It is a natural anti-fungal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial and is full of potassium which is essential for healthy hair.

So, before you head back to the salon for your next hair treatment, give some of these natural ingredients a chance.  You might find that you can cancel that appointment…

Fun in the Sun ~ Naturally

After months of bitter cold Summer has finally arrived, and with it comes the dry skin, sunburn, poison ivy and a whole host of other summertime complaints. Don’t get me wrong. Summer is my favorite season! Lazy days on the river bank, camping, float trips, music festivals…I love the summertime! I’m just not so crazy about the thought of coating my skin with commercial bug repellents and toxic sunscreens.

So, what’s a body to do?

If sitting inside in the air conditioning is your idea of summer fun, more power to you and this blog post probably won’t hold much for you. If you wanna get out there and soak up the sun, though, read on, my friend!

First of all, let me just say this…

With all the pollution, thinning of the ozone, global warming and the coming of the next ice age, our skin is facing grave danger every day. As someone with highly-sensitive, whiter-than-white, super dry skin, I know how important it is to keep it protected and moisturized.

I’m an avid swimmer and have been since I joined the swim-and-dive team at 6 years old. I swam before I walked. Literally. I even have pictures to prove it somewhere! I was at the pool bright and early from the day it opened until the night it closed for the season. Trust me when I say that chlorine, sunscreen and all your other summertime chemicals can really do a number on your skin and hair!

By the end of my 20’s, I had a whole host of skin and hair issues. I developed fabric sensitivities (nylon, rayon and a bunch of others), detergent sensitivities, hygiene product sensitivities (soap, shampoo, conditioner), psoriasis, eczema…I got them all. I was an itchy, flaky, acne-riddled mess with some fried-out hair to seal the deal.

Personal care products? I tried them all. Over-the-counter, behind-the-counter, under-the-counter, catty-corner-from-the-counter. Name brand, store brand, no brand. My bathroom had bottles and jars from every bath and beauty manufacturer known to man (well, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but you get the idea, right?) Some of them would work for a few days…a week…maybe even a month. Never much longer than that, though.

It was about that time that I was beginning to study herbalism. Now, sometimes I’m not too quick. Even after all that I was learning about herbs and their ability to heal and protect the body, it took a while for the idea of herbal skin care to evolve for me. After all, the 90’s were not really about natural anything. We were a generation of quick, cheap and easy.

Finally, the idea dawned, though. It was an idea that changed my life. Simplified it, really. I wish I could say it was a quick fix and overnight my skin and hair magically changed. That wasn’t the case, though. I started small. Moved to a more natural soap (I thought), then ditched the soap all together. Yes, I still use soap for all those vital parts like between the toes, within the recesses of my inny-belly-button…places like that, but never on the parts that are most sensitive like the arms and legs or the belly or back. And never, ever, ever on my face. My face hasn’t felt soap on it for almost 5 years. Or acne. Or dry patches.

Then, we moved to the country. Now, I don’t know if you really know what I mean when I say country, but imagine this. It’s the Ozark Mountain Foothills. Rolling Mountains covered in dense, rich forests for as far as the eye can see. Even the power lines that connect us to the rest of the world are absorbed among the trees and mountains. To get home, we drove 3.7 miles down a dirt and gravel road before we reached our driveway, which was another quarter mile. Forget to grab milk on the way home? That’s too bad because it’s a 25 minute drive to the nearest gas station where they sell you a half-gallon of milk for $4.00. That’s the kind of ‘in the country’ I’m talking about.

My skin was so not happy. With country living comes mosquitos, ticks, chiggers, fleas and a whole host of other biting and stinging creatures that you just don’t see much of in the city or town. There is also the gardening to be done because that’s about the only way you are going to find fresh fruits and veggies in the middle of no where. And, there was tending to the animals…feed the horses, groom the horses, ride the horses, feed the chickens, feed the goats…a never ending stream of ‘to-do’s that had me out in the blistering Missouri sun through some of the hottest hours of the day.

At the end of one particularly miserable day in August I’d had enough. It was almost 110 degrees outside, I’d been stung twice by wasps, after which I stepped barefoot onto a patch of stinging nettle while getting the laundry off the line. My fair, sensitive skin was blistered because, like an idiot, I ran outside to do a quick chore without applying the usual layers of sunscreen and bug spray, and it turned into an hour long ordeal that ended with me covered in seed ticks and a severe sunburn. I was quite miserable and ready to peel my skin from my body.

So, I took a vinegar bath then coated my skin in aloe vera, sat down at the computer and embarked upon a journey that led me to where I am today…the owner of a bath and beauty business that is doing amazingly well and allowing me to help others who suffer from some of the many issues that had me a miserable mess.

I told you all that for a few reasons.

~ I feel like it is important for you to understand that I know whereof I speak. I’ve been there. I’ve felt that misery and pain and that wishing that someone would just dip your body in a vat of acid because being skinless might hurt a lot less than dealing with all the skin problems.

~I’m not gonna bullshit you. Sure, I hope you’ll buy some of my fantastic products. Of course, I do. Would you believe me if I said otherwise? However, more than that, I just want you to know there are other options out there that really have worked for me. I’ll share my ingredients with you. I’ll share my knowledge with you. I got into this business to help people. Making a buck is secondary. If I ever lose that philosophy I’ll close the doors on my shop.

And, now that I’ve rambled on a spell, I’ll get to the point of this whole blog. How to handle summertime a little more naturally and a lot more comfortably.

Let’s talk SPF. If a product claims to have a certain SPF factor, you can be pretty certain that it contains one or more of the chemicals listed here. These are bad chemicals. Chemicals that will hurt you. Remember, the skin is the largest organ of the body and absorbs more chemicals and toxins faster than any other organ. These chemicals will seep into your skin. The debate arises with two questions. Do the benefits outweigh the risks and are there any alternatives?

So, do the benefits outweigh the risks?

You have to answer this question yourself, but my answer is a resounding NO! I hate sunburns. There are few things in life more miserable and uncomfortable than that first sunburn of the year. In fact, the only think I can think of that is more miserable than that is the itchy, dry skin, mild nausea and possible cancer that comes with most sunscreens.

Are there alternatives?

Most definitely. However, because natural ingredients often vary from batch to batch, it is nearly impossible to set an SPF value on them. The process of testing the SPF is long and very expensive and would have to be done on each batch of product that is made. I would imagine, too, that as the natural ingredients age and lose potency the SPF value would change. This is why most natural sunscreens cannot list an SPF. That doesn’t mean they don’t have one or that they don’t work just as well. A point I set out to prove four summers ago with remarkable results.

I studied avidly. While the rest of my family slept, I spent hours poring over books and websites. I contacted scientist (I’m fortunate to live in a small college town with very friendly professors!) and reached out to other herbalists and B & B makers. Then, when I was sure my brain was going to explode from all the info, I saved up some money and invested in a whole mess of natural ingredients to experiment with.

I mixed and blended and screwed up and repeated. When I had a couple formulas that I thought might work, I recruited volunteers from among my friends and family (and even a couple of brave strangers). All summer long that first year they slathered my crazy concoctions over their bodies in place of their favorite sunscreen, though I suspect many of them kept a bottle handy just in case! The first year produced mixed results. There were a couple of sunburns and a couple of rashes, though none severe.

When the summer was over, I sorted through my notes and studied the results. I tweaked and twiddled the formulas, took out something here…added something there. By the next summer, I was sure I’d perfected it.

I was pretty close to right. At the end of the second summer we had no sunburns and only two rashes, one of which we later discovered was a reaction to the natural latex in shea butter. I worried about this, since shea butter is one of the most magnificent natural UV protectants known. Still, I created a small batch without the shea butter that worked wonderfully, but I kept the original formula for the rest of us.

Despite it being one of the hottest, driest summers on record for Missouri and long hours spent outdoors, I’m happy to tell you that we had a rash and sunburn free summer last year. As an added bonus, this formula left everyone’s skin super-soft and flake free and only had to be reapplied every 4-5 hours.

I bet you want a batch of this stuff, don’t you?

Sorry. It’s not for sale. Yet. And, even when it is, I won’t call it sunscreen. I can’t. That would be making a medical claim and I’m not a doctor.

Here’s a few of the ingredients that are in it that are known for their superior ability to block UV rays, as well as some that are great for restoring and protecting skin from damage, though. Maybe you can mix up your own experiment!

~Unrefined, unprocessed Shea butter ~

Recent clinical studies have found that shea butter protects skin against climate and UV aggressions and is also capable of helping regenerate and heal damaged skin cells. It was shown to prevent wrinkles and is a natural emollient. Shea butter forms a breathable, water-resistant film on the film that makes it a great ingredient to use in sunscreens that you don’t want to have to keep reapplying.

~Unrefined Mango butter~

Like shea butter, mango butter is known for its ability to moisturize and heal, as well as protect, the skin from UV radiation. It fights wrinkles and leaves the skin soft and supple.

~Honey~

This natural antioxidant has been used in skin care for more than 5000 years. It is a natural moisturizer that contains antimicrobial properties (which means that micro-organisms cannot grow in it) and has been used to help protect the skin from damage by the sun’s rays.

~Grapeseed Oil~

An Ohio State University study found that when applied topically, grape seed oil helped wounds heal faster with less scarring. It works by building epidermal and connective tissue. The tissue, amazingly enough, grew back denser. Bulkactives.com has a website that explains the findings of a recent study concerning grape seed oil and UV radiation. It’s pretty amazing stuff!

~Zinc Oxide~

Remember the white-nosed lifegaurd image? Yeah…that’s zinc oxide. It works primarily by reflecting and scattering UV light so it can’t be absorbed into the skin. You can find some great info on zinc oxide (and titanium oxide, which is also in the formula) at Pinkquartzminerals.com. While you’re there you really oughtta check out her mineral makeup, too. Its absolutely fabulous!

If you check out my posts on natural ingredients, you will find a wealth of information on many of these ingredients. If you would like more info on my little experiment, all you gotta do is drop me a line.

In the meantime, here are a couple of other fantastic sites to check out for more info on SPF and natural ingredients.

http://www.majesticjus4u.com/gpage2.html

http://www.pureknowhow.com/content/sunscreen.php

http://www.raw-beauty.com/ingredients.asp

Oh, and remember that August day that was so miserable for me? It also inspired me to create this fantastic Bite and Sting ointment that is available at Tamara’s Herbes. That’s a post for next time, though….