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Spring is in the air and before we know it, we will be spending much of our free time outdoors. Unfortunately as we get closer and closer to warmer weather, the bugs come out as well. I’m talking about those nasty mosquitoes, and all those other annoying buzzing, biting insects that seem to declare an all out war on all humans. It’s as if our best defenses are not going outside, or spray on loads of bug spray. Of course we will spray on just about anything to keep those annoying little insects from biting, so that we can enjoy our time in the outdoors.
Have you ever considered what might be in the bug repellent that you are spraying all over your body? Chances are the main ingredient would be Deet, (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) which is a chemical that was patented by the US Army in 1946. Deet is used in just about all insect repellents at different concentrations. The reality of Deet, is that it is a pesticide that kills insects. This pesticide is known to melt plastic, prolong exposure can impair cell function, and is even more harmful when mixed with other chemicals, that are commonly found in many every day skincare products such as deodorants, sunscreens, and soaps.
Short term exposure of Deet is not as harmful, and is recommended to not use a repellent that has over 30% concentration of Deet; however there are natural alternatives that effectively repel these insects, such as handmade soaps that have insect repelling ingredients like citronella in them. When I know that I will be working outside, or going hiking / camping, I use a soap bar that is called Deep Woods. It contains citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, bergamot, and lemon grass essential oil, and does a wonderful job naturally repelling biting insects. Sometimes I will just rub the bar as its dry on my neck and arms without any water, and is still very effective.
I highly recommend using natural insect repellents such as these soap bars, or products like Mercola’s Bug Off, which is free of Deet having a fresh lemon scent and natural ingredients, such as vanilla, citronella, lemongrass oil, and peppermint oil. Remember that our skin is permeable, what goes on gets in. As we choose safer skin care products to wash our bodies with, let us not neglect the products that we use which are suppose to protect us from the sun and biting insects as well.
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Of the many wonderful benefits goat milk has to offer for healthier, younger looking skin, exfoliation is one of them. Goat milk contains lactic acid which contributes to skin exfoliation, and is a natural source of alpha-hydroxy acids, which exfoliates the skin by breaking down the glue holding dead skin cells together. Alpha-hydroxy acids are also often used as a base in many lotions, because it has moisturizing properties as well. It is important especially as we become older and our bodies begin to slow down the process of naturally shedding dead skin cells, to exfoliate our skin. Though a goat’s milk soap alone contributes to exfoliating dead skin cells, you can also find goat milk soap bars molded in natural sea sponges, for a gentle exfoliation or in a loofah sponge for more aggressive exfoliation.
Many factors contribute to healthy younger looking skin. Using natural skin care products is definitely a giant step in the right direction, but other factors will contribute to healthier skin as well, such as diet, making sure your body receives plenty of water, and sleep. Do you get enough sleep, or are you like many of others who complain they have difficulty falling asleep, wake up often during the night, or wake up feeling even more tired than you did before you went to bed. Receiving the right amount of sleep will not only prevent pre-mature aging of the skin, but also will boost your immune system, repair damaged muscles, restore your mind, and help the body to cope with daily stress.
Not being able to fall asleep is very frustrating, for years I struggled falling asleep, and I am such a light sleeper that when I fall asleep, often times I am easily woken up, not being able to fall back to sleep. There were times I would take NyQuil or Tylenol PM in desperation to fall asleep, and when I read statistics such as Americans spending more than 3 billion dollars in sleep aid prescriptions in 2007, proves that I am not alone. One day I was approached by family member who was concerned for my well being, and had asked if I had ever heard of Melatonin, which I had not, and immediately begun to do my research.
Melatonin is something that naturally occurs in the body, produced by a small gland in the middle of the brain called the pineal gland, which is inactive for most people during the day and starts to produce melatonin into the blood at night, typically between 9pm to sunrise, which then the levels begin to decrease. Age does determine how much melatonin the body produces. Young children usually have much higher levels than adults, which as you grow older the levels continue to decrease. This would explain why most sleep problems occur among adults and not children.
After doing my research I bought some Melatonin in a capsule form, and did not notice an immediate change until after taken the pills for several days. I have just recently discovered melatonin in a spray that allows optimal absorption without having to take any pills, and am very well pleased on how well it works. Melatonin Sleep Support Spray accurately distributes the right amount of melatonin without interfering with the absorption of other vitamins, minerals, and supplements. If you are one of the 84% that have difficulty sleeping, before you go to desperate measures and take prescription drugs or over the counter pills like Tylenol PM, please do your body the favor and try using melatonin which will not only give you much better results, but is much safer to use, not having all the side effects that you see on the labeling of those prescribed and over the counter drugs.
If you are suffering from really bad dandruff and are already using a natural shampoo bar, you do not have to give in, and use a chemically infested product to deal with this problem. there are many natural remedies available and here is one that worked great for me.
Herbal Vinegar Rinse
2cups Apple Cider Vinegar
1/4 cup Rosemary (or) your choice.( I use fresh herbs )
Place the herb in a glass jar with the vinegar, and let it sit for a week.
Strain threw a cheesecloth.
Add 1 Tablespoon of the strained oil to 8ozs. of water
Use as a hair rinse after shampooing.
There are many ingredients that we want to avoid in our skin care products, such as Triclosan, Formaldehyde, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) due of the health threats these subtle ingredients impose. This is why many consumers are switching to natural skin care products that are made with safe ingredients such as goat’s milk, pure essential oils, Shea butter, and beeswax and so forth. One ingredient that has received much attention in the media in the past that is credited to causing Alzheimer’s is aluminum, which is commonly found in many deodorants, including the very popular natural crystal deodorants stones and sprays.
These deodorants are claiming to be free from the types of aluminum found in the majority of antiperspirants, such as aluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum cholorides, aluminum hydroxybromide, or aluminum zirconium. The aluminum that is found in these crystal stones is known as potassium aluminum sulfate, (alum). So if you are really looking to avoid aluminum these crystal stones may not be the best solution. They may claim that the mineral salts are too large to absorb into the skin, but there is no sound evidence that supports this.
Our body is supposed to sweat, this is how it relieves unwanted toxins, and the arm pit area seems to be the place where much of this takes place. It is not a bad thing to have sweaty armpits; we just do not want the unpleasant smell that follows. There are many natural ways to control the odor from down under that do not involve having harmful ingredients such as aluminum. Washing often with just soap and water works great for many, while others need a little more; like perhaps some baking soda. There are many natural deodorants to choose from, and when looking for aluminum free products remember to also check if it is free from potassium aluminum sulfate as well.
Click on the sources link below to read more on aluminum in deodorants
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Some people may think that taking a bath is a waste of time when they can spend just a few minutes taking a shower. Too many people are in a hurry these days and that’s one reason indulging in relaxing activities is so important. Taking a hot bath is about more than getting clean. Hot baths encourage tense muscles to relax and soften the skin.
A Mayo Clinic study found that soaking in a hot bath offers many of the same health benefits as exercise with less strain on the heart. Soaking in the tub can also lower blood pressure and counteract insomnia. Many people enjoy adding scented bath salts to their baths.
Once you have made the wonderful decision of using handcrafted soap bars such as goat milk soaps, it is important to know how to care for your new soap bar. Unlike commercial soaps that are loaded with synthetic ingredients and artificial hardeners, goat’s milk soaps are still in their most natural state, containing all the natural glycerin that occurs during the soap making process. If you were to leave a hand crafted goat’s milk soap bar in standing water it would turn to a mushy mess fairly quickly. This does not necessarily mean your soap is ruined, and that you just completely wasted your money. You can reshape the mushy pile of soap, usually most successfully a ball shape, allowing it to dry and reuse; however your soap will not last as long if you do not let it completely dry out between uses.
The best way to protect your handcrafted soap bars is to place them on soap trays that will keep the soap out of standing water, allowing the bar to dry out. There are many different soap trays to choose from ranging in all different prices. The main purpose is to have the bar in a dish that has drainage so that no water will puddle up. They make soap trays that have suction cups that conveniently stick to the side of the shower wall or nice dishes to place on shelves.
I have been making my own homemade soap trays, by just using window trim. Making your own soap tray is simple and fun, and they make great gifts. All you will need is some window trim, a saw, sand paper and polyurethane. If you know a carpenter you could ask for scrap pieces, all you really need is it to be about 4 inches long, and go with the ¾ inch rather than ½ inch thick trim. If you cannot access any scrap pieces, for less than $16.00 you can buy an 8 foot long piece of trim and make about 19 soap trays. That’s whole lot of gifts you can generously give out or you could decide to make a few dollars. Make sure to sand and polyurethane the soap tray for a final finish that will be water resistant.
Goat milk soap is one of the most sought out soaps recommended for sensitive skin, due to the moisture attracting properties of milk, and lack of useless harmful chemicals that are commonly found in just about all commercial soaps. Research has revealed that goat milk has anti-aging properties, leaves the skin close to the natural PH, and aids to the regeneration of collagen under the skin. Some may hesitate to the sound of putting milk that comes from a farm animal on their skin, doubting its skin care and cleansing abilities, but the truth be told; goats milk soaps go far beyond keeping your skin clean. The high levels of lactic acid from goat milk naturally exfoliate dead skin cells, and are abundantly rich in vitamins and proteins as well, contributing to healthier younger looking skin.
Goat’s milk soaps are the gentlest of soaps that are often complimented with therapeutic essential oils such as lavender, and tea tree oil, accommodating all types of skin, whether it being oily, rough, or really sensitive skin, I am confident in saying that you will notice a tremendous difference when using goat milk skin care products.
Rosemary officinalis is native to the Mediterranean regions which would limit our growing season here in the Northeast, unless we invited this wonderful plant into our homes for the winter. Rosemary is famous for its many uses in the kitchen, but also has gained great recognition in the skin care industry as well. These are the two biggest reasons we wanted to have this herb easily available to us all year round. We can cut fresh rosemary in the middle of February for spicing up a delicious meal, and also have available for making new batches of soap, such as our shampoo bar, in which one of the ingredients is rosemary, for it stimulates circulation and increases the blood supply to the skin, which is why it is commonly found in shampoos.
Rosemary is one among many herbs such as basil, oregano, sage, lavender and many others that do well in containers placed in windows, that receive plenty of sun; typically a window that receives southern exposure. Be sure to have your plant in a container that has drainage, and minimally in a 4-6 inch pot using potting soil, rather that soil from your garden. Potting soil will have fertilizer and all the nutrients the plant should need to get through the winter. If however your plant looks pale you should fertilize with a diluted house plant fertilizer once every two weeks. Also make sure not to over water, letting the plant dry out between watering.
Epsom salts are so effective in offering healing properties to the body due to one key component and that is Magnesium, which regulates the activity of more than 325 enzymes. Magnesium is an electrolyte that aids to proper muscle and nerve functions, aids calcium cells, and can help lower blood pressure decreasing the risk of heart disease and strokes. Magnesium is also noted to lower the risk of diabetes by increasing the effectiveness of insulin, and is famous for reducing inflammation and relieving aches and pains.
There are several ways we can obtain magnesium, but the most effective way to receive the desired amount our body needs, is to soak in an Epsom Salt bath. Not only do you receive the wonderful mineral magnesium, but Epsom Salt also delivers sulfates. Sulfates help detoxify the body by flushing out toxins. Sulfates also improve the absorption of nutrients, can prevent headaches, and helps form brain tissue, mucin proteins and joint proteins. Sulfates are very difficult to absorb from food, but are easily absorbed through the skin, which is another great reason to bathe in bath salts that contain Epsom Salt in them.
It is recommend to use 2 cups of Epsom salt for a standard size tub, and to double the amount for larger tubs. I know that most of us live very busy lives, and hardly ever have the time to soak in the tub; however if you can find the time to bathe in warm water with Epsom Salt for minimally 12 minutes, your body and overall well being will greatly benefit.