Herbal Remedies For Acne and Sunburned Skin

Posted on 26/07/2013 by sbonham

There are sooo many products out there for your skin, but sometimes you have to wonder what else exists in the marketplace today that is more “natural” and “organic”.

What many do not know is that some ingredients found in your “everyday” herbal teas and are very good for your skin. Two in particular are called “dandelion” and “burdock root”.

Dandelion

Dandelion is one of the best detoxifying herbs. It will remove waste from your body, specifically that found in the liver and gallbladder.

With regards to keeping your skin healthy, a dandelion herbal tea or “tincture” is perfect. IT has been known to alleviate such conditions as eczema, psoriasis and nettle rash, as well as acne and boils. It is recommended that a tincture should be made from the root for eczema and should involve 0.5tsp diluted with scant ½ cup water, 3 times a day.

Burdock

Burdock is one of my favorite herbs, just because of all of its incredible uses/properties. It is also one of the foremost detoxifying herbs in both Western and Chinese herbal medicine. The root helps the body eliminate waste products in chronic skin and arthritic conditions.

In particular, burdock’s diuretic, antibiotic, and mildly bitter action makes it helpful for skin disorders, especially where toxicity is a key factor, for example in acne, boils, abscesses, localized skin infections, eczema, psoriasis.

Best Way To Extract The Goodness From These Herbs: Tincture Technique

The best way to extract the properties from these herbs is to make a tincture.

How To Make A Tincture:

Recommended Amounts (VERY SMALL QUANTITIES GO A LONG WAY)

SUNBURN AND HERBAL REMEDIES:

Skin rashes and sunburns usually clear up without any assistance, but herbal treatments can speed recovery.

CAUTION: If there are any signs of infection seek professional advice.

Internal Method – Natural Relief from Skin Burn

0.25 oz of each root (burdock and dandelion) into three cups of water
Drink 2 cups of this dilution a day
Repeat for at least one week

External Method – Natural Relief from Skin Burn

Apply aloe vera gel
Apply neat lavender essential oils to the affected area as need to sooth the minor burn or sunburn

ACNE, BOILS AND HERBAL REMEDIES:

The result of local infection, hormonal imbalance or internal toxicity, acne and boils should be treated on the surface of the skin and internally.

CAUTION: Do not squeeze or burst boils or acne spots as the infection may spread.

Internal Method – Natural Way To Clear Up Acne

Pour 0.25 oz of each root into three cups of water
Drink 2 cups of this dilution a day (note: this is just a recommendation)

External Method – Natural Way To Clear Up Acne

Make a decotion using 0.25 oz of burdock root and 0.5 oz of dandelion root
Dilute the strong solution with 3 cups of water

Even more exciting is that Eco-Savy will have a product just like this, soon for purchase <3

Can’t wait!

Cutting Edge New Research On Cranberries & Health

Posted on 16/07/2013 by sbonham

We all have been told that cranberries help with urinary tract infections, but until now the mechanism and understanding of “why” has not been properly understood.

Researchers at McGill University’s Department of Chemical Engineering are shedding light on the biological mechanisms by which cranberries may impart protective properties against urinary tract and other infections. Two new studies, spearheaded by Prof. Nathalie Tufenkji, add to evidence of cranberries’ effects on UTI- causing bacteria.

Key Scientific Findings – Cranberry’s and Urinary Tract Infections

Overall, the research results led by Professor Tufenkji and published in the Canadian Journal of Microbiology demonstrated:

1) Cranberry powder can inhibit the ability of Proteus mirabilis, a bacterium frequently implicated in complicated UTI’s, to swarm on agar plates and swim within the agar

2) Increasing concentrations of cranberry powder reduce the bacteria’s production of urease, an enzyme that contributes to the virulence of infections.

Cranberry’s and Bacteria Inhibition In Medical Devices – Cutting Edge New Research

The findings of this work also point to the potential for cranberry derivatives to be used to prevent bacterial colonization in medical devices such as catheters. In fact, Dr. Tufenkji conducted a joint study with McGill’s processor Dr. Nazhat (a biomaterials expert) and they found that cranberry-enriched silicone substrates (note: silicone is often used in medical catheters and tubing) impaired the spread of Proteus Mirabilis bacteria. The results were published online in the Journal of Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces which point to potential uses for cranberry derivatives to hinder the spread of germs in implantable medical devices such as catheters that are frequently implicated in Urinary Tract Infections. This could also help with keeping bacteria under control at hospitals.

So why is important? Aren’t Urinary Infections Treated With Antibiotics?

Well, according to Dr. Tufenkji, “more than 150 million cases of UTI are reported globally each year, and antibiotic treatment remains the standard approach for managing these infections. The current rise of bacterial resistance to antibiotics underscores the importance of developing another approach.”

Natural Remedies For Insect Bites

Posted on 14/07/2013 by sbonham

With all this great summer heat unfortunately comes insects. The problem today is that most insect repellants all contain so many harsh chemicals (i.e. DEET) and often make you feel kinda gross while out in the heat.

Below are a list of some natural alternative insect repellents, some may even surprise you:

Basil – Commonly known for its use as a “spice” in North America, but elsewhere it is used extensively in medicine, particularly in India. Indeed, Indians rub the leaves on their skin as an insect repellent, and Africans do the same.

Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemuum muticum) and Pennyroyal – Both of these herbs contain “pulegone”, a powerful insect repellent. Pennyroyal is the more popular of the two, and it has a long and honorable history. In fact, pennyroal goes back to the first century A.D. when people discovered that it was effective against fleas. However, based on personal experience, I would say “mountain mint” works better than penyroyal.

How to apply: Just pick some leaves and rub them on your skin and clothing. Note: don’t use either of these if you are pregnant, as these herbs have been known to increase the risk of miscarriage).

Citrus essential oils: Something about citrus, and plants with citrus-like aromatic qualities, repels insects. The info-graphic below will help you understand how powerful citrus essential oils can be when used as a natural insect repellent.

If you like this post and want more articles like this, please subscribe to the mailing list. It would make me so happy 🙂

Natural Remedies For Your Skin

Posted on 02/07/2013 by sbonham

The Health Benefits of Black Tea

Posted on 29/06/2013 by sbonham

Though they come from the same plant, black tea has a more flavorful taste and richer aroma than green tea. This is due to the fact that the said beverage undergoes a certain process called oxidation, which also gives it its darker color.

Though black tea undergoes more processing than green tea, it still provides an array of health benefits to your body. Here are some of the positive health effects of drinking black tea on a daily basis.

Black Tea Energizes Your Body

Many people resort to energy drinks to boost their energy levels and productivity. However, consuming these beverages is quite unhealthy since they contain certain chemical substances that may be harmful to your body. On the other hand, drinking a healthy cup of black tea can give you the same energy-boosting effects you will find in energy drinks minus the harmful chemical substances.

The reason behind this is that black tea is a good source of caffeine. Aside from that, it also contains small quantities of a certain stimulant known as theophyline. Both theophyline and caffeine can effectively make you more energetic and alert by raising your heart rate.

Black Tea Is Rich in Antioxidants

Just like its cousin—green tea—black tea also contains high level of antioxidants, specifically catechins and polyphenols. These two antioxidants are very powerful. They can effectively eradicate free radicals within your body and prevent cellular damage.

Furthermore, several studies show that antioxidants, especially polyphenols and catechins, can help prevent and fight cancer. For example, in a certain scientific study it has been found that those women who drink black tea on a regular basis have lower risks of developing ovarian cancer than those who do not.

In addition, cancer is not the only disease that black tea is capable of preventing and fighting. Other diseases that this healthy beverage has positive effects on are the following:

–    Atherosclerosis
–    Kidney stones
–    Parkinson’s Disease
–    Diabetes
–   Osteoporosis
– High Cholesterol

Again, it is the high antioxidant concentration of black tea that enables it to prevent and fight these serious health conditions.

Black Tea Is Good for the Heart

Drinking black tea on a daily basis is good for your cardiovascular system. Black tea contains a certain chemical compound called theaflavins. Theaflavins reduce your risk of acquiring heart disease by preventing the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

Furthermore, black tea can also help people who have suffered from heart attacks increase their survival rate. Not only that but also it has been found that drinking this natural healthy beverage can help improve the flexibility or elasticity of your blood vessels. This in turn will help you keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

Not only is black tea delicious, it is very healthy to your body as well. However, in order for you to experience its amazing health benefits you need to drink it on a daily basis. Instead of grabbing a can of soda or a cup of coffee, why not go for a cup of black tea? It will not only reinvigorate your body and increase your productivity, it will also help you prevent and fight various diseases.