Blood Lead Levels – Standards Up For Review

Every four years, the Center for Disease Control analyzes blood lead levels of children. Children under six whose blood levels test above 5 milligrams of lead per deciliter have enough lead in their body for the CDC to recommend a public health response.  Before 2012, the level causing concern was twice as high as today’s. The level change expanded the potential number of children needing treatment from 150,000 to 535,000. With a new National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey from 2016, there are rumors that the CDC will again lower the reference blood lead levels from 5 mg of lead per deciliter to 3.5 mg.

How Does the Lead Get There?

Lead exposure is declining in the U.S. Levels of lead in children’s bloodstream have fallen over 90% since the use of lead in paint and gasoline was banned almost forty years ago. So where is the lead coming from? The majority of the children above the reference levels of lead are primarily exposed to lead in their homes. In addition to older homes with lead-based paints and toxic soil, contaminated water is becoming common (Flint, MI is only the most publicized case).

Lead does not belong in the body. The fact that the reference level for lead in children’s blood may be lowered again is a good thing, as raising awareness and preventing lead exposure whenever possible is incredibly important. Awareness is good, but for this potential level change, local government follow-through will be likely be limited. The CDC doesn’t actually have any regulatory power with this issue, and local labs and lead testing devices are rarely accurate around the new proposed levels, 3.5 mg.

There is also the issue of cost. Lead safety programs around the country last year were allocated a 17 million dollar budget, which resulted in understaffing and an inability to handle the cases already present. The last time the lead references levels were lowered, the number of children affected by that change almost tripled. If another shift like that occurs without a corresponding budget change, it’s likely communities will be unable to rise to the challenge set by the CDC.

What Can You Do at Home?

The average blood lead level in children 1-5 years old is from 1 to 1.3 mg. Even if you or your children aren’t exposed to lead-based paint on a regular basis, the likelihood of lead being in the body is very high (if only at low levels). While the CDC is raising awareness among medical health and government officials, they are less clear on how you can help yourself.

There are ways to remove lead and other heavy metals from the body (called chelation) by adding common, healthy foods like garlic and cilantro to the diet. The higher the blood lead levels, the more likely a medical professional needs to intervene. You can address your lead level every day before it becomes a toxic overload by doing something as simple as sprinkling raw garlic on your salad or dinner.

Recommended Reading:

 

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Lavender: A Portrait of an Overlooked Panacea

For most people, lavender conjures memories of powdery-scented sachets in lingerie drawers, spray colognes, or dainty English soaps. Because of this nostalgic cosmetic association, this age-old garden plant has been mostly forgotten as a medicinal, even by seasoned herbalists. Lavandula angustifolia or true lavender is a gentle but highly effective multitasking plant ally for children and adults alike. This fragrant shrub in the mint family has tiny, purple flowers, but don’t let the lovely fragrance or size only connote cosmetic pleasantry. Lavender is highly therapeutic. It is capable of combating influenza and strep throat yet mild enough to calm the stormiest of tummy troubles in youngsters.

When infused gently in hot water, this lovely herb displays aqua hues that mellow to mauve as it fills the room with its fragrance. With such fairy glamor charms, this tea makes an easy internal medicine for nervous exhaustion, digestive spasms, tension headache and migraine, anxiety, panic attacks, chest infections, tonsillitis, bowel infections, excessive Candida, cold and flu, insomnia, and fevers including typhoid. Lavender can easily be combined with synergistic herbs such as lemon balm, chamomile, and rose petals to tailor its valuable properties for specific maladies.

On the other hand, lavender essential oils—true lavender and spike lavender–—are some of the most important oils in clinical aromatherapy that are capable of fighting drug-resistant infections including MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) when used topically.

When looking at the body of modern clinical studies, old herbal manuals, and scribbled notes of aromatherapists, it is easy to see why this humble plant should be one of the most important items to keep on hand at all times—in the medicine chest, the kitchen cabinet, and the travel case.

Uses for Lavender Tea

Allergies and Adrenal Support

Lavender is a natural immune booster, but it can also calm an overactive immune system that is responsible for multiple allergies or sensitivities. The adrenals, the body’s stress glands, can play a significant role in promoting equilibrium between both extremes, and lavender can help. When the adrenals are nourished and the more the parasympathetic nervous system kicks into temper chronic fight or flight response, there will be fewer allergies and less severe allergies.

Tip: To prevent the body from neutralizing the effects of long-term use, alternate weeks that you drink lavender tea. For example, after a week of consistent use, skip a week and then resume.

Recommended amount: 1-2 cups a day.

Anxiety, Depression, and Neurotransmitter Balance

Lavender—both its scent and chemical properties within the flowers themselves when ingested—affect the production of serotonin, a vital neurotransmitter found within the gut and the brain. When this neurotransmitter is imbalanced or deficient, a multitude of “mental health” conditions can manifest. An inhibitory neurotransmitter, serotonin plays a major role in taming excessive production of excitatory chemicals that are responsible for low immunity, disrupted sleep cycles, sugar cravings, and heightened pain. Regular consumption of coffee and other stimulants, prolonged stress, hormonal changes, and poor diet compromise and deplete our serotonin levels. In the simplest terms, serotonin imbalance directly affects many functions in the body including digestion as well as emotional wellbeing. When it is disrupted, it can be evident in many ways ranging from hormonal moodiness to eating disorders such as bulimia and certain types of depression to chronic anxiety. Lavender tea can offer wonderful and near-immediate calming effects by lowering the stress hormone cortisol and regulating adrenaline.

Recommended amount: 1-3 cups a day.

Blood Sugar Balance

 Lavender tea has balancing effects on the pancreas and insulation production, therefore it can be beneficial for blood sugar stability, especially for non-diabetic/reactive hypoglycemia.

Recommended amount: 1-3 cups of unsweetened tea a day.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Because of its effects on neurochemicals and the adrenals, lavender tea is helpful for some individuals with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Recommended amount: 1-2 cups of unsweetened tea a day.

Digestive Balance

Chamomile has long been hailed as the quintessential herb for stomach upset, but lavender is also a heavy hitter when it comes to calming nervous bellies, nausea, gas, bloating, and griping pains. A warm infusion of lavender can also increase good intestinal flora while combatting yeast overgrowth. Lavender tea is also an excellent children’s remedy for tummy troubles, school jitters, nightmares, and stomach aches from nervous origins.

Recommended amount for adults: 1-3 cups a day. Recommended amount for little ones: ½ cup twice a day taken by the tablespoon if need be. A little local honey makes it a pleasant drink.

Energetic Properties and Emotional Influence

On the energetic level, lavender can soothe stormy emotions, stimulate peace where there is resentment or jealousy, and lift the mood.

Immunity

 An infusion of lavender flowers drunk a few times a week is a pleasant immune booster that can prevent illness during the flu season, guard against infections, and balance neurochemicals such as serotonin that play an important role in strong immunity. Lavender tea is also wonderful for sore throats, and an added touch of local honey enhances its healing and soothing properties. The tea can be drunk cold, at room temperature, or hot. The latter is useful in bringing down high fevers.

Recommended amount: 3-5 cups a week, skip a week and then resume.

Insomnia  

The scent of lavender and its effects on calming the body and inducing sleep are well known, but the herb prepared as tea gets little attention. A warm lavender infusion taken half an hour before bed can help the body wind down and calm racing thoughts.

Recommended amount: 1 cup of strong unsweetened tea before bedtime.

Muscle Tension and Headaches

Warm or hot lavender tea  can relieve tension headaches and muscle tightness (anywhere in the body, including the neck), and it may help migraines.

Recommended amount: 1-2 cups of unsweetened tea.

Caution: Because of lavender’s effects on neurotransmitters and insulin, those on antidepressants, diabetic pharmaceuticals, or sleep medications might need less of these drugs and should be monitored. Always ask your physician about contraindications regarding any medication. Also, despite lavender’s gentle effects, some individuals can be allergic to it. If any signs of allergic reaction occur, discontinue use.

How To Make Lavender Tea

Quick Method

Use 1-1 ½ teaspoons of dried organic lavender flowers per cup of water. Place the dried herb in a heat proof Pyrex measuring cup or a tea pot, pour boiling water over the lavender and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Strain before drinking. If preferred, add honey to taste.

Overnight Method for a Larger Quantity

Fill a 1-quart Mason jar with ½-3/4 cup of dried organic lavender flowers. Pour boiling water over the herbs, filling the jar halfway. Stir the herb mixture and then fill the rest of the jar with water until full. Put a lid on and cover with a towel overnight. Strain and drink. If preferred, add honey to taste. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. Individual portions can be reheated.

Topical Use of Lavender Essential Oil

How to Use Lavender Oil Topically

Due to individual skin sensitivity, neat, or undiluted, application of lavender essential oil is recommended via the soles of the feet. Pores of the foot sole are the largest in the body and are therefore ideal for fast delivery of essential oils into the bloodstream. Inhalation of lavender essential oil can also have profound benefits.

Adults: For undiluted application to the soles of the feet, use 3-4 drops of essential oil maximum per foot. Apply to the soft part of the sole between the heel and the ball of the foot.

Children: Use 1 drop essential oil per sole of the foot or 1 drop of essential oil mixed into 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and massage on chest, belly, or any other part of the body. Avoid mucus membranes.

Tip: The easiest way to apply essential oils neat to the soles of the feet is to simply place an index finger over an essential oil bottle, invert the bottle, and then turn right-side up. The amount of essential oil dispensed on your finger should equal 1 drop. Be sure to allow oils to be absorbed before putting on shoes and socks.

Uses for Lavender Oil

Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, and Chronic Worry

Lavender essential oil is the premiere essential oil for afflictions of the nervous system that manifest as emotional or psychological conditions ranging from certain types of depression to PTSD. Dermal (skin) application and inhalation are both recommended for any of the above. Lavender essential oil is best used consistently, even when symptoms are not apparent. For example, a person who suffers from panic attacks will benefit from lavender by using it between attacks as a preventative measure as well as when symptoms are present. When inhaled, lavender essential oil immediately affects the limbic portion of the brain and works with the adrenals to regulate stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol.

Application: 3 drops per sole of the foot daily, preferably before bed. For inhalation, put a drop on a tissue and inhale as needed.

Cardiovascular Health

Dermal application of lavender essential oil has been shown to increase oxygen and decrease inflammation, thus making it beneficial for heart disease or the prevention of this condition.

Application: 3 drops per sole of the foot daily, preferably before bed. Steam inhalation is also beneficial and can be used by dropping 3 drops of lavender essential oil into hot water and inhaling for ten minutes with a towel over the head.

Chronic Pain Syndromes and Inflammation

Rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other pain syndromes respond positively to a topical application of lavender. Lavender is a gentle analgesic that reduces pain, swelling, and inflammation. Steam inhalation of lavender can also benefit the body by reducing physiological stress responses and reducing inflammation.

Application: 3 drops per sole of the foot daily, preferably before bed.

Steam inhalation: add 3 drops of lavender essential oil to hot water and inhale for ten minutes with a towel over the head.

First-Aid and Skin Health 

A drop or two of lavender essential oil applied to cuts, burns, wounds, and other injuries can instantly promote healing and stop bleeding. Immediate application followed up with daily re-application is recommended for best results. A few drops of lavender essential oil added to water in a spray bottle makes a wonderful sunburn soother that can also be used for inflamed skin condition such as acne, rosacea, and allergies. Lavender applied to the skin after radiation treatment can speed healing and ease pain. Lavender has been shown to decrease certain types of skin cancers, especially when combined with high quality frankincense essential oil.

Headaches

A few drops applied to the back of the neck, the temples, and the forehead can relieve headaches stemming from tension, stress, and allergies. Use as needed.

Immunity

Lavender essential oil is a powerful oil to use during the cold and flu season and is best used as a preventative.

Application: 3 drops per sole of the foot daily, preferably before bed. Lavender essential oil can be combined with other immune-boosting essential oils such as clove or organic lemon. If combining, use 2 drops of lavender to 1 drop of lemon or clove.

Conclusion

In the world of alternative health, lavender is an all-around remedy with many more uses than those discussed here. It is also a gift for the frazzled spirit in challenging times. Here’s wishing you lavender’s beautiful benefits!

Recommended Reading:
Where to Find Dried Organic Lavender Flowers:
Author’s Recommended Brands of Essential Oil of Lavender, Spike Lavender, and Other Lavender Species:
  • Birch Hill Happenings
  • doTERRA
  • NOW
  • Young Living
Sources:
Books
  • Back to Eden by Jethro Kloss
  • Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine by Andrew Chevallier
  • Flower Power by Anne McIntyre
  • Goddess Consciousness by Marlaina Donato
  • Healing Oils, Healing Hands by Linda Smith
  • Multidimensional Aromatherapy by Marlaina Donato, CA
Online


How to Handle a Fever

You hear coughing, whining, or those dreaded words, “Mommy, Daddy, I’m sick.” A hand to the forehead tells you your child is burning up. Don’t panic. If your child is sick, a fever is an indication of an active, vigilant immune system hard at work.

Although the medical community has long known that a fever is the body’s way of fighting a bacterial or viral infection, many doctors still advocate the use of pharmaceuticals to bring down a fever without thought of the consequences – the possibility of a longer illness and a greater need for medical intervention.

Recently, there appears to be a shift in thinking. More conventional healthcare sites on the internet are stating that a fever is a natural and helpful process of the immune system. But even among these enlightened professionals, their opinions vary as to how high a temperature can reach and still be safe for a child or infant.

It is a good idea to know how your health care provider expects you to respond to fevers. When you are upset and worried about a sick child, it is not the best time to discover you don’t agree with your doctor’s treatment protocols.

The following is standard advice from the Web for when to call your doctor if your child is running a fever:

  • Newborn to 3 months old – Call immediately for any elevated temp
  • 3-5 months old – Call if temp reaches 101 or higher
  • 6 months old and up– Call if temp reaches 102 degrees or more

Your healthcare provider should never make you feel uncomfortable for calling with any concern about your child. On the other end of the spectrum, if you don’t call when your provider thinks you should, you might find yourself in an uncomfortable confrontation. Knowing your health care provider’s basic protocols – and knowing whether you agree with them -is an invaluable aid in choosing the right person to advise you. It is also a great tool to aid you in developing a strong and trusting relationship. If your health care provider doesn’t offer these protocols in writing (they should!), ask questions and take notes.

What Temperature is Considered a Fever?

Generally, an oral temperature exceeding 100.40F (which is 380C for those smart enough to be on the metric system) is considered a fever.

Our bodies regulate temperature within a limited range. Although individual baseline temperatures do vary, 98.6o is the typical baseline temperature. But temperature can also vary based on the time of day, activity level, layers of clothing, or even due to weather. It would be helpful to determine your child’s normal baseline temperature and regular variations before a fever occurs.

How to Take Your Child’s Temperature

The various ways to take a temperature produce different results. The most accurate methods are oral, rectal, ear, or axillary (armpit) measurements. The newest method, the temporal artery thermometer (swept across the forehead) is also gaining in popularity with reports of high accuracy. But before you use any type of digital device, read and follow the directions. If you have an old-fashioned glass thermometer, a comparison of results will assure the digital device is correctly calibrated.

The two best things about today’s digital thermometers, ear thermometers, and temporal artery thermometers is how fast they are and how they let you know when the reading is complete. Glass thermometers are very slow and require you to hold them in place for a full two to three minutes to gain an accurate reading. Holding any child still for three minutes is difficult at the best of times, much less when they are sick and fussy and you are holding a thermometer pressed into their armpit or rectum.

It is important to note that a temperature taken from the ear, rectum, or temporal artery thermometer will be half a degree to a full degree higher than an oral temperature. An axillary (armpit) temperature will be half a degree to a full degree lower than an oral temperature. Unless otherwise noted, the oral temperature is the temperature stated in everything from the definition of a temperature to warnings and directions for care unless otherwise noted. So, if you do seek medical care or medical advice for a fever, be sure to communicate the method you used to obtain your child’s temperature. For example, you would say, “103.40 rectal temperature.”

How to Support a Fever, and Let it Break Naturally

For decades, parents have been taught to bring down a fever with pharmaceuticals.

We stopped using aspirin for children in the early 1980s due to its association with Reye’s syndrome. The recommendation switched to acetaminophen (Tylenol).

But recent studies revealed an association between acetaminophen (Tylenol) and autism when it is given after a vaccine or during a viral illness. Also, acetaminophen is very hard on the liver. It is the nation’s leading cause of liver failure.

As far as pharmaceuticals go, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, etc.) is the last choice for fever reduction. It, however, has its own horrific side effects. WebMD offers an eye-opening list. Do you really want to give this drug to your child?

Instead of thinking in terms of treating or eliminating the fever, we should think in terms of supporting the body’s efforts to fight the illness. Fever is a good thing, as long as dehydration is avoided.

If you feel the need to bring down your child’s temperature, a cool damp rag to the forehead or back of the neck can be helpful, but immersion in tepid water is the most surefire way to bring down a temperature. If you choose to do this, don’t torture your child. Start with water that is warm enough for them to feel comfortable. So start with comfortably warm water and gradually cool it down by adding a little cold water at a time.

Bring toys to the tub. Preferably, you will want your child to stay in the water for 20-30 minutes at a time.

Hydrate,  Hydrate, Hydrate

Dress your child in a light layer of clothing and push fluids. If you are nursing, nurse more often. If you are bottle feeding, offer more formula and offer feedings more often. For older children, offer extra water throughout the day. Avoid sugary drinks (including moms that are breastfeeding).  If the body is hydrated properly a fever is likely to move up and down a few times and then break. Being properly hydrated before getting sick can be the difference between a fever that does its job and a dangerous fever requiring intervention. Check out this recipe. The cranberry lemonade can help boost kidney and liver function, which boosts immune function.

A fever that stays at a dangerous temperature is a sign of a dehydrated body. Incidentally, diarrhea indicates a high likelihood of being dehydrated. Mineral deficiencies with an infection cause temporary kidney failure leading to diarrhea, and fevers that don’t fluctuate and break. For more on the immune system see

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Hair Loss in Women: Why It Happens and What Can You Do to Stop It

There are few things as devastating for a woman as seeing her hair fall out at an unusual rate and feeling powerless to stop it. Fortunately, in most cases, hair loss can be reversed by a few lifestyle changes and the help of herbal remedies.

A person has around 100,000 strands of hair on the scalp, and it is normal to lose 50-100 strands every day. However, if more hair falls out, it can lead to bald spots or a thinning hair line — a problem that affects millions of women in the world.

Hair loss happens when the hair follicles are blocked or are not able to function properly. This can be a side effect of poor scalp circulation, vitamin deficiencies, improper diet changes, dental problems, stress, hormonal imbalances, and toxic hair products.

Bring More Circulation to the Scalp

Increased circulation to the scalp helps regrow hair because the scalp cells die or don’t function properly without enough blood and oxygen. You can bring more circulation by massaging the scalp and through the use of hair oils and herbs.

Massaging the scalp also reduces stress levels, another threat to healthy hair.

Massage the scalp at least once a week as a preventative. If you are experiencing hair loss, massage the scalp on a daily basis. If your hair is falling out at an extreme rate, keep the pressure gentle. If you are too rough, you may accidentally rip out weak hair stands.

Use Beneficial Oils in Your Hair

Using hair oils is a popular remedy in India. It is not only used for hair loss, but to grow thicker, longer, and healthier hair. When massaging the scalp, use a few of these beneficial oils to regrow hair. You should rub it on the spots that have been especially affected.

The nutrients in the oils help boost blood flow and circulation and also address a dry scalp issue. If the scalp is dry, and if you have dandruff, the hair follicles are blocked, leading to hair loss. Using oils will moisturize the scalp and stimulate the hair follicles to stop hair loss and regrow lost hair strands, and it will keep the existing hair stronger and healthier. A few oils to consider are:

  • Castor oil
  • Argan oil
  • Jojoba oil
  • Emu oil
  • Carrot seed oil
  • Coconut oil
  • Bhringraj Oil

You can also add a few drops of essential oils, such as rosemary essential oils, to speed up the healing process of your scalp.

Apply Herbal and Nutrient Rich Mixtures to Scalp and Hair

There are also many recipes of healthy mixtures you can make and put on your head overnight for nutrients to be absorbed directly into the scalp. This type of treatment is messier than the oils and requires you to wear a shower cap when sleeping, but it has worked for many people. It can also be fun to experiment because there are so many options out there.

  • Indian gooseberry – Mix one tablespoon of Indian gooseberry (rich in Vitamin C) with one tablespoon of lemon juice, massage into the scalp and leave overnight. Wash your hair in the morning.
  • Fenugreek – Make a paste from one cup of soaked fenugreek seeds (protein-rich), apply to hair and leave for 40 minutes.
  • Aloe vera – Use aloe vera juice or gel or the scalp, leave for a few hours, wash it off.
  • Licorice root – Mix one tablespoon of ground licorice root with one cup of milk and ¼ teaspoon of saffron.  Apply to scalp and leave overnight. Wash off in the morning.

Herbs that Are Beneficial for Hair

Ayurveda medicine and Western herbal medicine use herbs for hair health. These herbs boost blood circulation, heal the scalp cells, and promote hair growth.

In Ayurveda, the recommended herbs are:

  • Horsetail – rich in silica
  • Indian gooseberry or amla – vitamin C and antioxidants
  • Neem – fights dandruff
  • Ashwagandha – immune support

Western herbal medicine recommends the following:

  • Hibiscus – against dandruff, prevents premature gray hair
  • Stinging nettle – follicle health (taken internally)

Vitamin Deficiencies — Getting Enough Nutrients

If your body is deficient in vital nutrients, this can lead to hair loss. Simply taking a good multivitamin or even a multivitamin formed specifically for hair health may bring good results. There are also specific vitamins that are most important to hair health: biotin, iron, protein, and healthy fats.

Biotin: The Most Important Vitamin for Hair

Biotin or vitamin B7 is the most important vitamin for addressing hair loss. Biotin improves keratin – a protein that makes up hair, as well as skin and nails. If you have leaky gut or if your digestive tract is not able to absorb nutrients properly, you are probably deficient in biotin.

Food sources for B7 are:

  • Liver
  • Eggs
  • Salmon
  • Cheese
  • Avocado
  • Raspberry
  • Cauliflower

Vitamins and Healthy Fats for Hair

Hair loss can also be caused by a lack of iron (especially if you have anemia), protein, potassium, and protein. You may be experiencing a lack of iron if you do not eat red meat. Other sources of iron are chickpeas, pumpkin seeds, beans and lentils, and spinach.

Hair growth also requires a good amount of protein. If you are vegetarian or vegan, good sources of plant protein are beans and lentils, nuts and seeds, and some superfoods such as algae, goji berries, hemp, and chia seeds.

Potassium brings circulation to the scalp and boosts follicle health. You can get a lot of potassium from bananas.

Finally, it is important to get plenty of healthy fats. Salmon and avocados are two good sources.

Make Sure You Are Eating a Proper Diet

Hair loss can be a side effect of changing a diet too rapidly, switching to a diet that is lacking in nutrients, eating a high-glycemic diet, or going on a crash diet.

As a rule, avoid any crash diets, and avoid diets that are high in sugars (especially fake sugars), and processed foods.

If you just switched or are thinking of switching to a plant-based diet, make sure you do your research to find the best plant sources for all your vitamin needs, especially protein and iron.

Hormonal Imbalance Can Lead to Hair Loss

In today’s world, many of us live under high amounts of stress on a daily basis. This can lead to hormonal imbalances, a poorly functioning thyroid, and poorly functioning adrenals, all of which can lead to rapid hair loss. Addressing these underlying issues, including auto-immune disorders and chronic illnesses, is important for many people to regain a healthy scalp and strong, healthy hair. Also, it is important to recognize that some medications cause hair loss. If this is the case,  you will have to wait until you stop taking them to see real results.

Take Care of Your Emotional Health

Like stress, anxiety and depression can lead to hair loss.  To reduce your stress levels and to help alleviate anxiety and depression,  try yoga, meditation, aromatherapy, and journaling.

Address Dental Health

The connection of dental health with hair health is less known, but more studies have recently come out bridging the gap between the two. What the scientists are starting to find out is that any health issues in the mouth directly affect the rest of the body, including hair. Gum disease, cavities, and infections in the mouth all can lead to hair loss.

Switch to Natural Hair Products

Finally, some people experience hair loss simply from the toxins of the hair products they use. Most shampoos and conditioners, hair sprays, hair dyes, and other products, contain cancer-causing chemicals, as well as chemicals that ruin hair. These chemicals include sulfates, parabens, phthalate, artificial coloring, and artificial fragrances.

Switch to natural, organic shampoos. If you want to dye your hair, use henna instead of commercial dyes. While traditionally henna is red, more companies are now making henna hair dyes in shades of brown and black.

Recommended Reading:
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Food, Nutrition, and Herbs for Insomnia

If your mantra in life is, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead,” you might want to take 5 minutes to rethink this strategy. Driver fatigue is responsible for an estimated 25% of all fatal and serious car accidents and a continual lack of quality sleep is directly linked to weight gain, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. You can pump the weights and crank up the cardio, but if you are not balancing your body with the healing powers of sleep, you won’t be able to stave off these debilitating symptoms and conditions forever. In fact, pushing your mind and body beyond its natural limits without rewarding it with well-earned sleep can result in chronic fatigue, adrenal dysfunction, and hormone dysregulation.

Not convinced? Research confirms that lack of sleep is also directly linked to:

  • Shrinking of the brain
  • Organ failure
  • Infertility
  • Memory reduction
  • Cancer
  • Depression
  • Obesity
  • Chronic illness
  • Premature aging
  • Reduced life expectancy

Luckily, stacking your fork with slumber-inducing snacks is easier than you think. But can you really eat yourself to sleep? Is it possible to create your best dreamscape while stuffing your face? Is your dinner your best doctor? Yes, yes, and definitely yes.

The Science of Sleep

There are more than a dozen interconnected hormones and chemicals responsible for the onset and execution of a successful sleep session. They’re all important ingredients for a dream feast, but having a bite-sized understanding of these primary components will see you to sleep in no time.

Melatonin

Melatonin is a hormone that is produced by the pineal gland in the brain. It’s a vital element of the system that regulates your internal body clock and natural sleep-wake rhythms.

How and when your body creates and releases melatonin is contingent upon light exposure in the day and the gradual onset of darkness in the evening. Levels start to rise from early evening, remain high and steady throughout the night, and begin to drop off in the early morning hours.

Healthy levels are attributed to the ability to fall asleep quickly, to reduced or eliminated sleep interruptions, and to being able to wake easily at consistent times. In addition, melatonin is a powerful antioxidant. It is capable of free radical scavenging throughout the entire body due to its ability to penetrate cell membranes and navigate the blood-brain barrier.

Though there is still much to learn about this heroic hormone, there is growing evidence that supports the positive impact melatonin may have on countless biological functions. From heavy metal chelation, Alzheimer’s Disease treatments, and obesity prevention to insomnia, immune function, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) treatment, melatonin is king.

Studies show, melatonin has a hand in:

  • Immune function
  • Jet lag recovery
  • Headache reduction (particularly cluster headaches)
  • Managing sleep cycle disruption due to night or shift work
  • Delayed sleep phase syndrome treatment
  • Controlling sleep disorders associated with autism, cerebral palsy, blindness, and ADHD
  • Reducing withdrawal symptoms after quitting smoking
  • Medication or pharmaceutical induced insomnia
  • Helping to fight certain types of cancer (particularly brain, breast, colon, lung, and renal)
  • Reducing the side effects associated with chemotherapy
  • Reducing the impact and instance of tinnitus
  • Protection from radioactivity
  • Prevention of gallstone development
  • Improved fertility

Studies suggest that it may be especially useful to treat sleep issues that are due to behavioral, developmental, or mental disorders.

Tryptophan

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is responsible for making melatonin and serotonin. Humans cannot synthesize it, and a lack of tryptophan would be lethal; it must be obtained from plant or animal sources.

This vital molecule is helpful in dealing with sleep disorders including sleep apnea, insomnia, and bruxism. It may also have a serious psychological impact, with low levels showing a correlation with depression, anxiety, irritability, and aggression. Conditions such as PMS, ADHD, and Tourette’s syndrome all show symptom relief when consistently healthy tryptophan levels are present.

Due to the link with both serotonin and melatonin, tryptophan induces feelings of calm, relaxation, well-being and sleepiness. It also assists your body in manufacturing and assimilating proteins for cellular function and efficiently assists with niacin production and conversion.

Cortisol

Cortisol is the flight-or-fight hormone responsible for a wide range of functions and reactions in the body. Produced in the adrenal glands, it is transported throughout the body via the bloodstream. Cortisol creates the rise and shine impulse that wakes you up in the morning. Maintaining homeostasis of this hormone is an essential component to finding that sweet sleep spot.

Cortisol levels peak between 8-9 am. and respond to daily activity levels. Production sharply declines between midnight and 4am. This balance creates what is known as a diurnal rhythm (being awake during the day, sleeping at night).

Depending upon the cells it is interacting with, cortisol can have a directly positive impact on your stress response, blood pressure, and inflammation reduction. It also influences blood sugar control, metabolism regulation, and memory formation.

However, both high and low cortisol levels will have a negative influence on your ability to fall and stay asleep.

Cortisol regulates energy by selecting the right nutrients the body needs to function. When elevated for extended periods of time, cortisol can interfere with weight, immune function, and chronic disease.

Experiencing a spike of cortisol late in the day or evening can induce an elongated stress response due to adrenaline release that prevents the yummy wind down after a long day. Similarly, dysregulation can cause unhelpful hiccups of cortisol through the night that interfere with a solid sleep state and those vital REM periods.

Excess cortisol may present as an inability to shut your brain down at night and racing thoughts that often focus on negative experiences in the past or worries about the future – otherwise known as being “tired but wired”.

Overproduction of cortisol can be caused by being overworked, routinely stressed, worn down, or chronically ill. Over time, this can manifest as adrenal fatigue, insomnia, sleep disruption, and depression.

Low levels will reduce the “cortisol awakening response”. Energy is often at a bare minimum, inducing a state of chronic fatigue. This can prevent initiation of other hormone cycles or incite overreaction of others, creating a negative feedback loop.

GABA (Gamma Aminobutyric Acid)

GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter and the most important amino acid for sleep, muscle relaxation, and anxiety reduction. In short, it turns off the worrying thoughts that impede restful sleep and prepares the mind for mood balancing subconscious decongesting. These sedating effects have a huge impact on sleep quality and quantity.

GABA can be helpful with relaxation and the ability to fall and stay asleep. It has also useful in dealing with restless leg syndrome, muscle spasms, and even epilepsy.

Low levels of GABA can prevent you from going into a deep sleep, which allows minor distractions to wake you up and prevent you from nodding off again. In addition, low GABA is linked to depression, anxiety and other psychiatric disorders.

Poor diet, illness, age, and exposure to environmental toxins can all affect the GABA levels.

When to Eat

Eating yourself to sleep involves diet consciousness. Get familiar with the best foods for supporting those 40 winks.

Make sure you’re not consuming the wrong stuff at the wrong time. It confuses the natural flow of chemicals and hormones that orchestrate revitalizing rest, which can be a tripwire for general system dysregulation. All sources of caffeine should be consumed before 2 pm. For sensitive folk, this includes chocolate. Additionally, avoid taking Vitamin D supplements or Fermented Cod Liver Oil after 2 pm. Ideally, you should stop eating for 4 hours before bed, but at the very least, skip heavy, spicy, and/or difficult to digest meals within that time frame.

If necessary, eat a small high protein/high fat snack at 7pm or earlier to tide you over and keep your blood sugar balanced. A handful of nuts promotes tryptophan production. To keep nighttime interruptions to a minimum, stop drinking about 2 hours prior to bed.

Foods and Substances That Prevent Sleep

Trans fatty acids and industrial seed oils (vegetable, canola, margarines, and shortenings) promote systemic inflammation, that encourage biological stress. Foods with a high glycemic index will also interfere with natural sleep patterns by spiking blood sugar and cortisol response. These include simple carbs, sugar, fruit juices, sodas, and energy drinks.

Pharmaceuticals, Over the Counter Meds, and Substances

Medications can be seriously disruptive to sleep, but also very sneaky. It’s often difficult to ascertain whether those tablets are tampering with your sleep, particularly if you are taking multiple medications. Have a rifle through your medicine cabinet to check whether one of these top culprits is causing problems.

  • Alpha-blockers and Beta Blockers
  • SSRI antidepressants
  • Angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs)
  • Cholinesterase inhibitors and ACE inhibitors
  • Second-generation (nonsedating) H1 antagonists
  • Glucosamine and chondroitin
  • Statins
  • Corticosteroids

Nicotine and THC (marijuana) could also be a factor.

The Best Sleep Diet

Let’s eat! It’s time to breakfast, lunch, and dinner ourselves into bed. These dietary additions will manufacture the building blocks of structural hormone and chemicals to balance and promote the best sleep.

Follow an organic, anti-inflammatory diet that excludes processed products and is high in whole foods, healthy fats, vegetables, and some fruits. Along with plenty of nuts and seeds, you’ll be able to load up on important antioxidants and phytonutrients while maximizing fiber intake. Be sure to keep your Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acid intake ratio within the 1:3-1:4 range.

Top Foods for Melatonin Management

  • Tart cherry juice
  • Bananas, oranges, pineapple
  • Tomatoes, bell peppers, sweet corn
  • Barley, oats, rice
  • Flaxseed, walnuts, almonds
  • Fenugreek and mustard seeds

Top Foods for Tryptophan Production

  • Seeds and nuts
  • Soy
  • Cheese
  • Red meat
  • Poultry
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Beans and lentils
  • Eggs

Top Foods for Cortisol Control

  • Cold water fish
  • Beef liver
  • Eggs
  • Greek or fermented yogurt
  • Flaxseed and walnuts
  • Chard (swiss, ruby, rainbow)
  • Citrus fruits and papaya
  • White beans

Top Foods That Promote GABA

  • Black, green, oolong tea
  • Halibut, mackerel, shrimp
  • Beef liver
  • Fermented foods
  • Jumbo oats and rice bran
  • Almonds and walnuts
  • Lentils

Other Foods for Sleep

There are lots of additional options and substitutes for getting the most delicious sleep. Switch regular potatoes for beta-carotene rich sweet potatoes, and that greasy side dish for some steamed dark leafy greens. Cook with coconut oil and drizzle a fresh salad with extra virgin olive or avocado oils. Incorporate grass fed gelatin and a dash of creamy milk into your smoothies.

In the evening, make up a brew of your favorite herbal tea. Chamomile, mint, lavender and St. John’s Wort are particularly soothing.

What Supplements Promote Good Sleep

Finding the right combination of supplemental additions to your diet and routine is extremely personal. There is no one-size-fits all approach, so careful experimentation and observation is an important part of finding what’s right for you.

Herbs

Vitamins and Minerals

Supplements and Extracts

Final Thoughts

Stop hiding your sleep worries under the bed. Make integrating these balancing practices into your routine a daily, lifetime habit. Eat yourself to sleep, sleep yourself to life.`

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Holistic, Natural Remedies for Hyperhidrosis (Excessive Sweating)

Hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, is a medical condition that affects an estimated 3% of the population. Night sweats, sweaty hands and feet, dripping sweat from the face or excessive underarm sweating may not sound like such a big deal if you have never experienced it, but drenched clothing is embarrassing as is sweat dripping off your nose and chin when the person next to you is totally comfortable.

Aside from the social ramifications and embarrassment, excessive sweating can be very disruptive. Night sweats can be so severe you wake up with a drenched pillow and sheets, your hair or pajamas soaked through. Hands can sweat so much that simple tasks are difficult. Imagine trying to do paperwork, type on a keyboard, shake hands, dress your child, or turn a doorknob.

According to conventional medicine, the cause may be an underlying medical condition or it may be caused by a mild dysfunction of the nervous system. If doctors cannot find an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, menopause, Parkinson’s disease, medications, certain cancers, hyperthyroidism, etc., they really don’t know the cause. As usual, not knowing the cause does not get in the way of the medical profession treating the symptoms.

Current conventional treatments include the following:

  • Antiperspirants: Many use over the counter antiperspirants. Others use prescription grade aluminum chloride solution on the hands, feet, underarms, and hairline. It is believed that they work by absorption of the active ingredients and plugging up the sweat glands. The body recognizes the sweat glands are plugged and stops producing sweat. Despite many claims made over the past decades to the contrary, The National Cancer institute denies any link between aluminum and cancer (specifically breast cancer), and the Alzheimer’s Association denies any link between aluminum and Alzheimer’s.
  • Iontophoresis: Used for the hands and feet, this is a process where hands or feet are immersed in a tub of water. A low dose of electricity is passed through the water. The patient feels a tingling sensation. Patients initially receive 2-3 treatments per week. Subsequent treatments are needed once a week to once a month. If this treatment works, patients may choose to purchase the device to treat themselves at home.
  • Botox: Botulinum toxin injections are said to inhibit sweating. Shots are effective for  4-5 months.
  • Pharmaceuticals: Oral medications must be taken with care as they inhibit sweating so well patients can overheat.
  • Surgery: Surgical procedures include severing nerves to affected areas as well as removing sweat glands.

Obviously, we can’t recommend any of these treatments.

Causes of Hyperhidrosis

If no cause of excessive sweating can be identified, primary hyperhidrosis is diagnosed. The current belief for the cause of primary hyperhidrosis is that a particular type of sweat gland, the eccrine glands, are overstimulated by the nervous system. There does appear to be an inherited or genetic predisposition, therefore a mutated gene may be indicated.

Secondary hyperhidrosis is diagnosed when a cause or trigger for the excessive sweating is identified. Triggers or causes include:

  • Candida Abundance
  • Obesity
  • Pregnancy
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Menopause
  • Anxiety
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Certain prescriptions like anti-depression medication
  • Certain illegal drugs
  • Withdrawals from drugs or alcohol
  • Certain infections (like TB, HIV)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Blood or bone marrow disorders such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma
  • Smoking (marijuana, tababccoo, smoking anything)
  • Gout
  • Diabetes
  • Tumor
  • Mercury poisoning
  • Lymphatic Infection
  • Endocrine Infection

The truth is, there is always a cause. Doctors, especially Western conventional doctors, are just not good at finding causes for ailments. From a holistic perspective, there are a couple of direct causes of excessive chronic sweating. Oftentimes the body is running hot due poor liver and kidney health, which makes the blood sluggish causing poor circulation. There is a host of hormonal imbalances that can cause it. Like with every disease, sickness, or ailment, there are always many causes, but it all comes down to cellular malfunction due to toxicity and a lack of nutrition.

Picture a car engine that’s struggling to produce enough power, getting hotter and hotter as it tries. If one were to get the body to stop sweating without addressing the cause, like removing the car’s radiator, this could be dangerous. And excessive sweating can also be the body’s last-ditch effort to rid itself of enough toxins to keep functioning. Another reason for excessive sweating can be an endocrine system flaw, causing the body to sweat when it does not actually need to. On the other hand, this indicates a very toxic body, and arguably, is just another case of the body being overwhelmed and needing to detoxify through sweat glands.

In my experience, if the sweating is significant and common, it’s always an endocrine system issue. While this article goes into some tips and tricks to reduce accessive sweating and detoxify the body, Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones may be a better fit, especially if there are symptoms for other illness. But if you really want to get to the heart of the matter, first start with healing the gut. Everything else is secondary.

In other words, anyone who suffers from hyperhidrosis is dealing with a toxic, overwhelmed body that needs healing.

Alternative Treatments Begin with Diet and Detox

Seeking an herb or a natural supplement to “get rid of the problem” mimics the conventional path. To heal the body, it is important to treat the whole body through a combination of nutrition and detoxification and allow the body to heal itself. Hyperhidrosis indicates a body with much wrong. As Raymond Francis states, “One cell, one disease,” and this wisdom proves to be true.  In every case of disease, something is wrong at a cellular level.

We begin with nutrition. A plant-based, whole food, organic diet delivers the most bioavailable nutrition. The healthiest diet consists of 80% fresh, raw, organic produce, more vegetables than fruits, healthy fats, and plenty of clean water. If meat is eaten, it is important that it be organic.  This means preparing your own food. Do not trust businesses to do it!

Last, but not least, it is vital to stop polluting the body. Soap, deodorant, shampoo, hair colorings, lotions, powder, make-up – everything you place on your body is absorbed. If you put chemicals on your body, chemicals will seep into your body.

Whatever you inhale enters your body. Smoking, chemically scented perfumes and air fresheners (included scented candles), off-gassing from chemically treated furniture, carpets, paints, glues, etc. Do not pollute your environment. Purchase supplies, building materials, and furniture wisely with indoor pollution in mind. You should be sleeping 8 hours a night. Is your bed filled with chemicals? Or have you purchased an organic mattress?

Back to the food you put in your body. Avoid all fake food! Eliminate all artificial flavors, coloring, and preservatives. No MSG. GMOs, or trans fats. Limit or eliminate alcohol and caffeine.  If you have any kind chronic condition, there is a good chance your gut is sick and overrun with Candida.

If all of these dietary restrictions sounds like too much to consider, just simplify it. Eat real food! If it comes in a box, a can, or a bottle, trade it in for something that comes right off the vine or the tree. Real food heals the body.

More specifically, your diet should consist of huge, diverse salads with fresh herbs, cranberry lemonade, and fruits and nuts in moderation. Try some quinoa stir fry’s, rice and beans, and other whole food options for dinner. Check out Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included.

Skin

As mentioned, everything you place on your body is absorbed. Consider this when picking out clothes. Unnatural fabrics play havoc on our endocrine system and our lymphatic system. You can’t rid the body of toxins well with a layer of toxins on the skin. Natural, breathable fibers are a must.

This also includes bedding and mattresses. Breathable, all natural fibers with no toxic off-gassing may be just the trick to getting a dry nights sleep. There is a huge toxic load we contend with when we sleep on conventional mattresses, or with conventional bedding and clothes.

Fitness

Sweat may be just what an excessive sweater needs to quit excessively sweating. For anyone dealing with hyperhidrosis, a serious fitness regimen is in order. Squats, yoga, and running are awesome exercises to stimulate organ and system functionality to facilitate detoxification.

Supplemental Alternative Treatments for Hyperhidrosis

Once the need for proper nutrition and detoxification has been addressed, supplementation to speed the process can be considered.

Vitamins & Minerals

B vitamins should be considered first and foremost. Hyperhidrosis indicates severe hormonal imbalances. Anyone with hormonal imbalances has a problematic endocrine system and poor gut health, which makes B vitamin production and assimilation difficult.

Vitamin D is a potent modulator of the endocrine system. After diet and exercise, improving vitamin D and vitamin B levels often eliminates hyperhidrosis. But with a very toxic body, there is more work to be done.

Herbs for Hyperhidrosis

Witch hazel is a powerful astringent that can be applied in liquid form to the skin. Traditionally, witch hazel was used to for insect bites, irritated skin, and bruises. Some are reporting witch hazel can help eliminate excessive sweating as well.

Burdock helps to jump-start the endocrine system and the lymphatic system, and some claim that burdock actually helps the body to redirect sweating fluids through lymph nodes, kidneys, and bowels.

Astragalus, from northeast China, has many health benefits, and one of those benefits is balancing and reducing sweat response. Excessive sweating is often thought to be the result of an unhealthy spleen. Astragalus can help heal and detoxify the spleen.

Sage is typically considered one of the best herbs to treat hyperhidrosis. Sage is an adaptogen, which calms the nervous system and helps the body deal with emotional and physical stress. Sage contains lots of thiamine and magnesium. These minerals soothe the sweat glands and calm the nervous system. Sage also contains rosmarinic acid which is known to inhibit sweat.

Schisandra grows in China and in the United States. The tiny red berries from the tree have many beneficial medicinal properties. The berries are also an adaptogen, which helps the body to cope with stress and reduce excess sweating.

Though not really an herb, asparagus has been used traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat excessive sweating. Asparagus contains the chemical, asparagine, that decreases sweat production. We recommend eating them cooked and raw; try putting them in your salad.

Candida

If you suffer from hyperhidrosis, it’s a very safe bet that you have toxic got biology and suffer from an abundance of Candida and are dealing with a host of other symptoms and ailments. Your endocrine system is overwhelmed and your lymphatic system is toxified. You won’t get over any of this without fixing the gut, which means killing excess Candida and developing a healthy gut ecosystem.

Fungal Supplement Stack – Knock Out Yeast, Candida, Mold, Fungus

The first three should be plenty for most people, but for a very sick gut, or for impatient people with a bigger budget, I’d recommend all of these:

Conclusion

Chronic illness tells us the body is heavily burdened and radical changes need to take place to achieve homeostasis. When hyperhidrosis is present, it is a good indication that the body is in serious trouble. Health starts in the gut. If you suffer from regular excessive sweating, your body is way over-taxed and it’s time for an overhaul. While the aforementioned supplements can help alleviate discomfort without side effects, anything short of a holistic approach will result in new ailments. Be sure to ccheck outHow To Heal Your Gut.

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Stop Exfoliating, Toning, and Moisturizing – Make Your Own Bacteria Your Beautician

Cosmetic companies have created an empire that has paved the way to dermal disaster. Bright, shiny bottles. Glittering labels. Designer fragrances. Million dollar ad campaigns. It’s no wonder modern beauty products are so appealing. Unfortunately, most of the beautifying blends consumers rely on for vanity, anti-aging, and hygiene are packed full of harsh chemicals and unregulated poisons. There’s more than an even chance these products are causing serious, lasting harm.

Why Cleansing is Corrosive

Poplar cleansers are offered in the form of creams, milks, lotions, foams, and mousses. Each one claims to target a specific skin type or problem. The surfactants commonly found in these cleansing products wash away sebum and dissolve the skin’s protecting enzymes and hydro-lipid barriers, eliminating the skin’s natural acid mantle. This diverse microbiome of beneficial bacteria acts as the skin’s natural defense to keep the good bacteria in and the bad bacteria out as it maintains natural moisture levels. When the microbiome is destroyed, pollutants, toxins, and harmful pathogens gain instant access to vulnerable skin.

Surfactants are comprised of sulfate, sulfonate, and phosphate-based ingredients and can be found in both standard and so-called natural cleansers. These stripping chemicals can stay on and in the skin for as long as 4 days, allowing deep penetration that can trigger systemic reactions. This can manifest as acne, dry dull skin, melasma, and premature aging. Antibacterial products are immediately and continually disruptive to the skin and encourage microbial mutation, making the skin a breeding ground for superbugs and pathogens.

Why Exfoliating is Problematic

The uppermost dermal layer of the skin is comprised of dead skin cells. This fact has given rise to the belief that these dead cells are useless and dirty and that they should be removed through daily diligence, but these cells also act as a protective barrier. Exfoliation leaves the young, underdeveloped cells underneath stressed and vulnerable, incapable of dealing with exposure, intruder invasion, and inflammation.

Most multi-step skincare regimens include an exfoliation component that makes you believe you’re properly clean because you’ve given yourself a thorough scrubbing. Plastic microbeads are an abrasive commonly found in everything from high-end bath gels to toothpaste. When used as an exfoliant in skin scrubs, they can cause tiny fissures to form that cause redness, itchiness, irritation, and sensitivity. Microbeads are an ecological disaster contributing to the vast plastic wasteland in the sea and contamination of the food chain (more on microbeads).

Why Toning is Harmful

Toners are often touted as balancing tonics for fresh and ultra clean skin. The truth is, toners are usually alcohol based astringents that disrupt and remove your natural acid mantle. Consistent use will cause low-grade inflammation that eventually weakens the dermal layers. Eventually, your skin will be broken down to a level of vulnerability that allows destructive substances to have a direct line into the bloodstream.

While toners seem to offer some relief for sufferers of oily skin, in actuality, excessive removal of oil will stimulate the sebaceous glands into secreting even more oil to compensate. Those with dry skin will only exacerbate their condition, leading to chronic dehydration and premature aging.

The effectiveness of this practice is short lived and counterproductive, leaving those with problematic skin to believe that their issues are simply on the increase. The reality is that they are continually destroying the delicate balance of beneficial bacteria that regulate the homeostasis of healthy skin.

Why Moisturizing Can Cause Damage

From rich and creamy to light and airy, modern moisturizers would have you believe that every (expensive name-brand) product was formulated with your exact skin type in mind. With alluring botanicals and stem cell technology, products claim that everything from freckles to crow’s feet can be banished with their modern hydrating formula.

Aside from the fact that the average options are full of alcohol derivatives (very dehydrating!) and fragrant irritants, these products are teeming with laboratory synthetics and man-made ingredients. They are held together with controversial preservatives like parabens, which were recently found to be present in 99% of all cancerous breast tissue.

After removing all traces of the skin’s natural defense system through an atomic cleansing routine, slathering on moisturizing concoctions significantly increases toxic exposure. Repeated contact increases the likelihood of cell mutation and abnormal cell development. Not only is this deeply aging, it could easily lead into cancerous territory.

How to Make Bacteria Your Beautician

The outlook may seem bleak, but there are wonderfully effective methods that use safe, truly natural, and elemental organic ingredients. Healthy, beautiful, glowing skin is not the preserve of airbrushed images and clinical trials.

A Better Way to Cleanse and Moisturize

Set aside the multi-step approach! Oil cleanses, tones, and moisturizes all at the same time. Just as you need nourishment to perform, so does your skin. Though it may seem counterintuitive to put oil on your skin, especially if you have acne or oily skin, this method is truly the only way to find balance. Feed the good bacteria in your natural skin microbiome with a stabilizing beauty routine of organic oils.

Jojoba Oil

Simply place a quarter-sized amount in your hand and massage it over your face. Remove with a tissue. Repeat if necessary. To moisturize, dab on a little extra oil and away you go.

Jojoba oil gently and effectively removes dirt, excess oils, and makeup. It dissolves hardened sebum deposits that accumulate in the pores, but it doesn’t strip the acid mantle or disturb the microbial balance. While nourishing and supporting the dermal layers, it cultivates and preserves your hydro-lipid barrier and protective enzymes. Plus, jojoba oil never goes rancid, so you can buy it in economical quantities that will keep forever.

Castor Oil

For a much deeper cleanse, try adding a small amount of organic castor oil into your oil cleansing routine. It can be implemented daily for problematic skin or weekly for general maintenance.

Only a tiny amount is needed, as it can be quite drying if applied excessively. By adding 10-20% castor oil to the mix, you will purge out impurities while maintaining adequate hydration and the integrity of your skin structure.

Castor oil is excellent for congested and acne prone skin. So often, these issues are dealt with by a sledgehammer approach that is ultimately damaging and counterproductive. By gently nudging the bacterial and sebum production into balance, you can reduce the sensitive, inflammatory nature of greasy or blemish prone skin. It preserves the acid mantle and encourages healthy cell turnover for a glowing complexion.

How to Exfoliate with Ease

Exfoliation itself isn’t the enemy; over application is the real problem. It can be useful to exfoliate in moderation, but never vigorously or more frequently than once per week. This can increase circulation of blood and lymph, as well as gently assist the body’s cell turnover.

Try dry brushing with natural bristles to boost this process. Body brushing with lymph stimulating oils such as rosemary, cypress, or eucalyptus will stimulate healthy circulation and gently even out the skin’s surface.

Soft pony bristle brushes can be used on the face for circulatory and lymphatic stimulation, using small, careful, upward strokes. Baking soda may also be used as a facial exfoliator. Mixed into a paste using oil or water, it can make for a zesty ablution now and again.

Final Thoughts

When you nourish your skin with replenishing, revitalizing, and rejuvenating oils you allow your skin to thrive by strengthening its own intelligent design. If you cultivate the perfect environment for a thriving community of beneficial microbes, you will accomplish better, lasting results.

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