The Safe Shopper's Bible

This is an early post for this week but I know my week will end up to be very busy and I wanted to leave you with some food-for-thought.
Just recently I stumbled across The Safe Shopper's Bible - A Consumer's Guide to Nontoxic Household Products, Cosmetics, and Food by David Steinman & Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. This book is a true eye opener and worth the few dollars that it costs (I bought mine on half.com for $ 5.00). Even though it was published in 1995, this book offers valuable information when it comes to living naturally. The chapters range from household products (cleaning products, paint and related products, pesticides, pet supplies, auto products, art and craft supplies) to cosmetics (eye and face makeup, hair care, dental and oral hygiene, feminine hygiene, nail products, and skin products) to foods and beverages. Interestingly, when I looked under the "Skin Lotion" section, the less common and lesser known brands are the ones mostly recommended compared to well known brands such as Almay, Chanel, Clarins, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Jergens, or even Lubriderm and Oil of Olay. What these well-known brands have in common is that they use fragrances and preservatives some of which can be very harmful. Manufacturers do not have to label them as harmful as often only traces of a specific ingredient can be found. However, used on a daily basis over a prolonged period of time, even the most minimal trace adds up and can be harmful.
Some years ago I had bought a moisturizing facial cream because "advertisers told me" (you know, commercials on TV can be oh so persuasive) that I needed it for anti-aging prevention. I did not think twice, did not read the label, paid $ 40.00 for a tiny jar (and that was cheap!), went home, and used the cream only to frantically wash it off a little while later because my eyes were itching and getting puffy. How upsetting is it to spend so much money on a cream only to be allergic to it?! Synthetic fragrances and preservatives are very often the cause of allergies so if you are like me and experience or suffer from an allergy and have no idea where it is coming from, take a look at what you put on your skin. Stop using your cosmetic products for a while and see if your allergy gets better. Read the labels, research the products online, become an educated consumer. A very good reference site is Skin Deep. Better yet, make your own products! You always know what you put in your own product. You can use different ingredients depending on your need, skin type, or mood if you like fragranced products. Instead of using synthetic fragrances, essential oils are the safest substitute. Some essential oils are photosensitive (e.g. bergamot and any citrus oils) and also can cause an allergic reaction. As it is with any product, test a drop of essential oil on the inside of your forearm.

Be well and live well!

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How To Breathe Correctly

Taking a deep breath in sounds easy enough, right? The question is, are you breathing correctly. When we are born, we automatically breathe the right way; we breathe deep into our belly. If you have the opportunity to watch a baby sleep and breathe, you will see that the belly is moving up and down. As we grow older though, we sometimes forget how to breathe correctly, we tense up, and we start breathing more into our chest. You may now wonder why I am writing about the correct way of breathing. Well, upper chest breathing does not utilize the entire lung capacity. Therefore, less oxygen is being transported into our body. We may feel tense as muscles are not getting the oxygen they need.

In a few very simple steps, you can find out if you are a chest or abdominal breather:
To do this, sit straight or lie down, then place one hand on your chest and the other one on your abdomen. Take a deep breath in and then breathe out. Repeat for at least 3 times before returning to your own breathing rhythm.
Did you notice which hand was moving up and down while you were breathing? Did the hand on your chest move or the hand on your belly? Depending on which hand was moving, you are either a chest or abdominal breather.
If you are a chest breather, you may want to know that there are benefits of diaphragmatic breathing.

• Increased blood flow due to the increased oxygen supply to the brain
• Calmer feeling
• Better concentration
• Relaxed muscles
• Reduced anxiety and panic disorders

There is a simple technique to re-learn how to breathe correctly:
Start by lying flat on your back with one hand placed on your chest and the other one on your abdomen between your navel and your ribs. Breathe in and out and allow your breath to flow all the way to the bottom of your lungs. Try not to move your chest! If you have difficulty with breathing into your abdomen, try taking a book such as a text book, place it onto your chest to serve as a weight to keep you from breathing into your chest.

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Making Soap

Today I unveiled my first self-made soap and I must say I am pleasantly surprised. The entire process was so much easier than what I had imagined especially after reading book after book, articles and internet sites including watching videos on youtube about the cold-process soap making. What initially scared me was handling the lye as every book, article, and internet site warned of the danger that can be involved. However, prepared not only with a ton of knowledge but also with an outfit similar to a deep-sea diver, I felt daring enough to start the experiment. I put on my googles, gloves, had on a long sleeve shirt and an apron in case I spill some lye, and had my kitchen prepped so that all areas that were exposed and even remotely exposed to the soap-making process were covered with paper and towels. I felt safe and got to work.
First I measured the lye, then the distilled water, and next, I poured the lye into the water. Since the lye-water heated up to over 200 degrees, it took several hours to let it cool down to almost 80 degrees. I instantly realized that making soap from scratch includes a lot of patience because I had to wait almost 5 hours until the lye cooled down to the desired temperature. Next time, I will prepare the lye the day before so that I eliminate the waiting period. A note on safety though, if you have children or pets, keep the lye-water mixture out of reach and clearly label the content!!!
After the lye cooled down, it was time to heat up the oils until it reached the same temperature as the lye. Finally both lye and oils had the same temperature and I could begin combining both with a stick blender. Instead of mixing the soap mixture by hand, I had seen on youtube that a stick blender works just as well if not even better. So I poured the lye into the oil mixture and started mixing until tracing began. Initially I had no idea what tracing looks like. Sure I read all about it but then seeing and experiencing it for myself was yet another matter. I think I mixed a bit too long, I had to make sure about the tracing, so in the end, the mixture looked somewhat like vanilla pudding. I quickly mixed my essential oils into the soap and poured the mixture into the prepared soapbox. I scraped off the sides off the pot... ooopss, too late. I later read that one should not do that... oh well... Then I covered the box, covered it with a blanket, and left it alone for 48 hours.
After 2 days of waiting, I put on my "diving outfit" again and headed back into the kitchen to check on the soap. The googles and gloves are a safety precaution because the lye in the soap is still reactive after 48 hours. So I took the soap out of the box and my initial thought was, "hm, looks like a huge bar of cheese" but it smelled wonderfully due to the essential oils. I cut off the top layer, the layer that was from the scraped out sides of the pot. I am still a bit unsure why one should not scrape the sides of the pot but I can imagine that it must have something to do with the lye and that there may be too many traces that have not mixed with the oil. After the top layer was gone, I cut the soap in bars and tiny pieces that I want to give out as samples. After that, I put the bars and pieces into a brown paper bag to dry for about 4 weeks. The paper bag served as my "dry and dark place." That meant 4 weeks of waiting to find out if the soap is usable or not.
So today was the day I used the soap for the first time and like I said, I am pleasantly surprised. The coconut oil in the soap contributes to a fine and foamy lather. Since 5% of the oils were not saponified - meaning the alkali base (lye) combines with the fats or oils - the soap is creamy and while cleansing still gives enough moisture to the skin so that the skin does not feel dry and stripped of its protective layer of sebum. Watch out friends and family, you know what you are getting for the next occasion :-)

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You are what you think

There is great power in our thoughts. We all have it; self talk or the thoughts we think to ourselves. You may already know what I’m referring to. If you don’t, I’ll give you an example: you’ve said something you shouldn’t have or you’ve made a mistake- you think “why did I do such a thing” or “I’m so stupid.” This is harsh and extreme but these are the very thoughts we are having. We’re our own toughest critics, often demanding more than others expect. We need to enforce new habits and retrain our mental processes to do different. Why? Well, because we eventually begin believing our own negative self talk and what we emphasize will ultimately grow. If you think about it: what precedes any action, well, why a thought doesn’t it? It must begin as a thought or idea for it to finally become reality.

I believe the cure to this is in affirmations. Affirmations are statements declared to be true; always in the positive and in the present, as if it already exists. So, let’s (literally) convince ourselves of ways to benefit and grow. I suggest we learn to accept our own self worth, first believing we are loved and deserving of all the good the universe has to offer. Without this basic and primary belief, nothing more is possible or can grow from within us. Once the foundation is set, we can believe and learn to trust anything is possible. And anything is possible; as long as you first plant that seed. When the seed is nurtured and reinforced with repetition, it can and will come true!

Some affirmations I like are:

I love you, I really really love you!
I love and approve of myself.
I am loving and lovable.
I love the world and the world loves me.
(taken from Louise L Hay & Shakti Gawain)

When said in the mirror, they become even more powerful. Make this a habit; perhaps it’s first thing when you get up in the morning. Incorporate it into your routine when you wash your face or brush your teeth. Paste it to your mirror until it becomes something you do naturally and most of all…. believe.

Eventually expand this to other areas in your life as you’d like to see become reality.

I’ll be there right along with you…. Good luck!

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Buddhism

What is Buddhism?

In my life I have made many serious mistakes, disappointments, lies, and have hurt many people. For me the very essence of my spirituality relies on me learning to see the good in bad, no matter how difficult it may be. When I first started to study Buddhism, I learned that the true path to a good life first begins with facing your past. Karma is everywhere, no matter how little or big the evil deeds were. If you want to cleanse your spirit, you have to own up to your past. This to me was horrifying, to have to face all the shit that I have done, but I knew in my heart this was the only way. Buddhism has taught me to face my fears, and never regret. If there is one thing I know in life to be true, it’s that accidents don’t happen. Everything happens for a reason, good or bad, these circumstances in our lives are there to teach us lessons. I can look back at every hardship in my life and appreciate it and can honestly say I have learned from it. Although at the time my lesson learned may not have been clear, I always trusted in my heart that with faith I will always survive. I am the person that I am today, and proud of it, because of my past. You cannot stress over problems you have no control over, for example; if you do not have money to pay rent, worrying yourself sick will do you no good. Instead of worrying…why not take action, so you can’t pay rent….ok …what are your next available options? Another major part of Buddhism I learned is never be afraid to ask for help. Western culture teaches us to suffer in silence, not to let people know your problems, pretend everything is ok, look like a happy family. If you live your life like this then you will truly never know how many people around you were suffering right along with you. We must communicate and express our feelings openly and honestly.
It’s ok to be imperfect; and make mistakes, it doesn’t matter what you look like, it doesn’t matter who you love, it doesn’t matter how much or how little money you have, there is no such thing as being smart or dumb, it’s not about bad or good. In Buddhism we are all equal, we are all reflections of one another, in every person lies a piece of yourself. Buddhism is about loving yourself just the way you are, loving one another with openheartedness. It is being honest even when everything important to you is on the line. It’s about finding happiness within yourself, regardless of your circumstances. Only you can fill the emptiness that lies within you, we all have the capability to do so. As soon as you realize that true happiness comes from within, then you will be able to conquer all of life’s challenges with a smile. Suffering is a state of mind, not surrounding circumstances.

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Moisturizing Facial Cream

Today I made a wonderful, nurturing facial cream that is great for mature and sensitive skin. The cream has such a smooth consistency, almost like whipped cream. It leaves the skin moisturized without feeling oily or sticky. It came out so good that I just had to share it :-)

30 ml Almond Oil
3 ml Borage Seed Oil
3 ml Calendula Oil
5 ml Perilla Seed Oil
5 ml Rosehip Oil
5 ml Wheat Germ Oil
4 ml Vitamin E
6 g Shea Butter
6 g Cocoa Butter

2 g Beeswax
6 g Borax
1 g Stearic Acid
15 g Vegetable Emusifying Wax
1 g Xanthan Gum

20 ml Lavender Hydrosol
130 ml distilled Water

8 drops German Chamomile Essential Oils
7 drops Frankincense Essential Oils
4 drops Geranium Essential Oils
4 drops Jasmine Essential Oils
10 drops Lavender Essential Oils

1 teaspoon Honey
1 tablespoon Aloe Vera Gel

If you wish to make this cream yourself but don't know how, check out the step-by-step instructions listed here. 

Enjoy!!!

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Change is inevitable

Today I feel somewhat creative in my writing so I'm posting again. This time, I feel like talking about Change.

It is change,

continuing change,

inevitable change,

that is the dominant factor 

in society today.

by Isaac Asimov

Change is all around us - the seasons change and those living in NorthEastern United States feel that the temperatures got cooler, our environment overall is changing and many countries / regions experience drastic changes like earth quakes, floods, or droughts. Technology is changing and with that our wants, needs, and possibilities are changing as well. Needless to say, our economy is changing as well and our needs change but also new opportunities arise. Sometimes friends move or families relocate and we are left with a void or with a new start. With so many sources of change and often just as many stressors that affect us on a daily basis, we may feel overwhelmed, uprooted, treated unfairly, afraid, and/or out of control. Our first defense usually is to hold on to the past not wanting to go with the change. However, when our mind calms down, when the whirlpool that sucked us to the ocean's ground can go no further, we finally let go. And that is the moment we emerge again, only more stronger and with a new willingness to approach life.

In the spirit of change, this blog will change its format from mainly focusing on skin care and homemade body products to include a broader variety of topics such as wellness, buddhism, spirituality, massage therapy, or body-mind connection. Look out for new topics coming soon. Also, my first homemade soap is ready to be unveiled next weekend so I'm going to write something about that as well.

Be well and live well ♥

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Midterm Time

For many students, this time of year is crunch time for midterms. To get through this time as relaxed as possible, I gathered some tips and suggestions from my own experience as a student which I still am...

Time Management

• Study a little bit on a daily basis instead of cramming the material overnight. 
• Read the material and write it on note cards. The combination of reading, especially reading out loud so that you hear the spoken words, and the mechanics of writing will enhance your ability to remember what you studied. 
• Repeat the material as it is the repetition that makes the brain remember. 
• Start researching for your paper ahead of time so that you only have to write the paper but don't wait to write the paper until the night before it is due. 
• Set aside a specific time per day and keep to that schedule. The routine will help you reduce the stress level that you will automatically accumulate the closer you get to the exam or due date. If you are procrastinating like me, this will actually help you. 

Nutrition

• While junk food is so readily available and we even crave it when we are in stressful situations, try to eat healthy. Instead of potato chips, eat a handful of walnuts. 
• Try to nourish yourself with fresh vegetables and fruits. If the carrot sticks are not tasty enough, dip them in humus or lemon juice. I am more than aware that vegetables may taste a bit bland but herbs and spices can really enhance their flavor. I love roasted zucchini, squash, asparagus, portabella mushrooms, onions, and sliced garlic that I spread out on a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, drizzle with a little olive oil, and bake for about 10 minutes in the oven by 400 degrees. Sprinkle with a little lemon juice and grated parmesan cheese. Hm, so delicious and nourishing. The recipe can serve as dinner or as side dish. If you like something of more substance, mix the vegetables over pasta or rice. Add a piece of chicken or fish and you have a full meal.
  

Aromatherapy
Diffuse essential oils to stimulate your learning process and boost brain power.

• Bergamot is uplifting and relaxing. It enhances self-confidence. In case you have to give a presentation just dap a drop behind your ears or on your wrists before you go into class. (Note: test for allergies and photosensitivity prior to using).
• Frankincense helps to focus the mind and overcome stress and despair
• Lavender is calming and relaxing. Great to use for anxiety.
  
• Peppermint is great to use while studying. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint's ability to improve concentration and mental sharpness.
• Brain Power™ gives your brain a boost with essential oils that are high in sesquiterpenes. Use it to clarify thought and develop greater focus.  This is a blend from sandalwood, cedarwood, melissa, frankincense, blue cypress, lavender, and helichrysum essential oils. 

If you use an essential oil while studying at home, try to sniff on the same oil prior to your exam and even during your exam. The scent may help you remember what you studied.

How to use Essential Oils?
Diffuse essential oils using a device that disperses the oil into the air in a micro-fine vapor. There are many different diffusers on the market but if you want something stylish, check out the Home Diffuser by Young Living. The diffuser spreads the aromatic benefits of essential oils through the air without damaging their important constituents.

Exercise
Exercise helps get oxygen to your brain which in turn will help you focus and retain the information you learned.

Rest & Relaxation

• Get enough rest. Especially the night before your exam! I know, I know... clubbing and hanging out with your friends, you say, relieves your stress. Well, if it worked for you in the past, that's great but if it didn't (and it won't when you get older) you may want to get some rest before heading for the exam.
• Relax your mind in between studying with exercise, yoga, tai chi, reading a book, listening to music, dancing, etc. 
• And last but not least, stay calm, breathe, meditate...

All the above mentioned tips and hints helped me get through school and especially exam time. Good Luck!

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Wellness is part of this blog thus I do not want to miss to mention that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I just got my annual checkup. Did you?? Breast Cancer Awareness is very close to my heart because my mother is a breast cancer survivor ♥
We cannot raise enough awareness about this important issue. According to the ACS - American Cancer Society, heart disease (26%) is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, followed by cancer (23.1%). Approximately 192,569 women in the US have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2009 (ACS, 2009).
Please get checked! Call your doctor or go to a free clinic in your neighborhood but do not miss out on early detection.
Be well!!!

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Soap & Water

This article (taken from The New York Times) is an addition to the previous article about fighting the flu.

With Soap and Water or Sanitizer, a Cleaning That Can Stave Off the Flu

By TARA PARKER-POPE

Published: September 14, 2009

It sounds so simple as to be innocuous, a throwaway line in public-health warnings about swine flu. But one of the most powerful weapons against the new H1N1 virus is summed up in a three-word phrase you first heard from your mother: wash your hands.

A host of recent studies have highlighted the importance and the scientific underpinning of this most basic hygiene measure. One of the most graphic was done at the University of California, Berkeley, where researchers focused video cameras on 10 college students as they read and typed on their laptops.

The scientists counted the times the students touched their faces, documenting every lip scratch, eye rub and nose pick. On average, the students touched their eyes, noses and lips 47 times during a three-hour period, once every four minutes.

Hand-to-face contact has a surprising impact on health. Germs can enter the body through breaks in the skin or through the membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose.

The eyes appear to be a particularly vulnerable port of entry for viral infections, said Mark Nicas, a professor of environmental health sciences at Berkeley. Using mathematical models, Dr. Nicas and colleagues estimated that in homes, schools and dorms, hand-to-face contact appears to account for about one-third of the risk of flu infection, according to a report this month in the journal Risk Analysis.

In one study of four residence halls at the University of Colorado, two of the dorms had hand sanitizer dispensers installed in every dorm room, bathroom and dining area, and students were given educational materials about the importance of hand hygiene. The remaining two dorms were used as controls, and researchers simply monitored illness rates.

During the eight-week study period, students in the dorms with ready access to hand sanitizers had a third fewer complaints of coughs, chest congestion and fever. Over all, the risk of getting sick was 20 percent lower in the dorms where hand hygiene was emphasized, and those students missed 43 percent fewer days of school.

Young children benefit, too. In a study of 6,000 elementary school students in California, Delaware, Ohio and Tennessee, students in classrooms with hand sanitizers had 20 percent fewer absences due to illness. Teacher absenteeism in those schools dropped 10 percent.

Better hand hygiene also appears to make a difference in the home, lowering the risk to other family members when one child is sick. Harvard researchers studied nearly 300 families who had children 5 or younger in day care. Half the families were given a supply of hand sanitizer and educational materials; the other half were left to practice their normal hand washing habits.

In homes with hand sanitizers, the risk of catching a gastrointestinal illness from a sick child dropped 60 percent compared with the control families. The two groups did not differ in rates of respiratory illness rates, but families with the highest rates of sanitizer use had a 20 percent lower risk of catching such an illness from a sick child.

Regular soap and water and alcohol-based hand sanitizers are both effective in eliminating the H1N1 virus from the hands. In February, researchers in Australia coated the hands of 20 volunteers with copious amounts of a seasonal H1N1 flu virus. The concentration of virus was equivalent to the amount that would occur when an infected person used a hand to wipe a runny nose.

When the subjects did not wash their hands, large amounts of live virus remained even after an hour, said the lead author, Dr. M. Lindsay Grayson, a professor of medicine at the University of Melbourne. But using soap and water or a sanitizer virtually eliminated the presence of the virus.

Frequent hand washing will not eliminate risk. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, a bystander might be splattered by large droplets or may inhale airborne particles. In a recent Harvard study of hand sanitizer use in schools, hand hygiene practices lowered risk for gastrointestinal illness but not upper respiratory infections.

Still, it is a good idea to wash your hands regularly even if you’re not in contact people who are obviously ill. In a troubling finding, a recent study of 404 British commutersfound that 28 percent had fecal bacteria on their hands. In one city, 57 percent of the men sampled had contaminated hands, according to the study, which was published this month in the journal Epidemiology and Infection.

“We were surprised by the high level of contamination,” said Gaby Judah, a researcher at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Ms. Judah added that many of the contaminated commuters reported that they had washed their hands that morning. They may have been embarrassed to admit they hadn’t washed, or they may have picked up the bacteria on their hands during their commute.

For all those reasons, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with other health organizations around the world, urge frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers. (They also repeat some advice you may not have heard from your mother: cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not your bare hands.)

And as hospitals put stricter hand hygiene programs in place, absentee rates during cold and flu season also drop.

“Statistically, you can’t determine a causal relationship, but it’s very suggestive,” said Dr. Neil O. Fishman, infectious disease specialist at the University of Pennsylvania. “Our vaccination rates remained relatively stable, so what else changed? The only thing different was that hand hygiene rates increased.”

Join the discussion at nytimes.com/well.

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Fight the Flu

Now here is another article from the New York Times that is worth sharing. Maybe some of you have seen it when it was published in September 2009 but in any case, it is of interest now more than ever after all the scare of the H1N1 Virus (Swine Flu Virus). 

The Claim: Cinnamon Oil Kills Bacteria.

By ANAHAD O’CONNOR

THE FACTS

In a country obsessed with germs and sickness, antibacterial soaps and sanitizers are becoming more and more common. But because such products contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, some researchers recommend sanitizers made with cinnamon oil, which has been shown in many studies to have powerful antimicrobial properties.

A recent study by a team of surgeons, for example, found that a solution made with cinnamon oil killed a number of common and hospital-acquired infections, like streptococcus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. The study found it was just as effective as several antiseptics widely used in hospitals. Another study by French researchers in 2008 had similar results, showing that at concentrations of 10 percent or less, cinnamon oil was effective against Staphylococcus, E. coli and several antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

Dr. Lawrence D. Rosen, a pediatrician in New Jersey who dispenses natural health advice on his blog, wholechildcenter.org, recommends a tried-and-true recipe for homemade hand sanitizer called thieves oil. “I add cinnamon bark, lemon oil and eucalyptus,” he said, adding, “The recipe goes back to the Middle Ages, where it was used by these thieves who would go around stealing jewelry from dead bodies, and they never got sick.”

Cinnamon oil, when applied topically, is generally safe. But in some people it can cause an allergic reaction.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Cinnamon oil has antiseptic properties. ANAHAD O’CONNOR scitimes@nytimes.com

scitimes@nytimes.com 

Here is some additional information worth mentioning: 


This is an excerpt of Young Living Cinnamon Essential Oil: "The warm, spicy aroma of cinnamon has been sought throughout the ages both as a valuable commodity and for its ability to improve wellness. Young Living Therapeutic Grade™ cinnamon bark is meticulously tested to ensure that no dilution from similar-smelling oils has occurred. Cinnamon is thought to promote healthy cardiovascular and immune function, and acts as an antiseptic. You can also use it to enhance your cooking, or dilute and massage into chakras to create a soothing, relaxing sensation."


Other Essential Oils that help fight the flu are Thieves, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Ravensara, and Myrtle. 


Tips to stay healthy:
❀ Diffuse pure and high grade essential oils on a daily basis in your home and/or in your work environment. This will help keep the air free of toxins. 
❀ Wash your hands frequently.
❀ Rub a few drops of any of the above mentioned essential oils into the palm of your hands, bring them to your nose and cup your nose with both hands, inhale a few times. This not only kills the bacteria on your hands but functions also as aromatherapy and will help to support your immune system. 
❀ Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water. Junk food, while tasting delicious, not only makes us sluggish but also has an impact on our immune system. 
❀ Get a good nights sleep. I use my essential oils to enhance my sleep by putting some drops of lavender essential oils on my hands and then rubbing my pillow with my hands. I also use lavender essential oil on my feet to help me calm down. 
❀ And don't forget to move your body... exercise, walk, do yoga, tai chi or whatever you like... according to weight watchers, vacuuming and cleaning your home for 45-60 minutes will burn calories (I believe I got 1 or 2 points for this when I was on their program). 

♥ Stay healthy and be well ♥

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Exciting News

I am so excited that I cannot keep this information to myself. I would like to share some amazing news with you. In the upcoming weeks (starting in October), five guest authors have agreed to contribute to this blog. Wow, how amazing is this?! Not only are all authors living examples of mindfulness but their positive energies radiate outward and one cannot help but be inspired. Their contributions will be incredible, inspiring, thought provoking if not life changing and such a wonderful addition to this blog and to our lives.


While staying on the mindful path, it is important to not only be aware of what we use on our skin or to use only natural products but much more important is how we treat our Self as well as others. Respecting our Self and others, being kind not only to others but also and very important to our self is one message that this blog is trying to pass on. The daily hassle lets us often forget to take care of our Self. We run around all day long, take care of family, run errands, work a job or two (or even more) that treating our Self kindly is often pushed into the background and postponed sometimes indefinitely.
Well, the time is right now! It is our choice! In that context, it is the vision of NATURALLY to include a wider topic range from Body-Mind Connection to Massage Therapy to Meditation to Mindfulness to Recycling to Living through Legacy and Spirituality.

So, keep checking this blog on a weekly basis as this is the frequency that this blog is updated. This weeks post will be on how to fight the flu with essential oils followed by a post for students and how to get through midterm time. Another upcoming blog is about soap and my first attempt to make it from scratch. The waiting time to use cold-processed soap is horrendous! I have to wait 5 weeks in order to finally "unveil" the product. Look for this blog in about 2 weeks. 


In the meantime, be well an be happy. 

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Cocoa Butter - What it can and cannot do

From New York Times

THE FACTS Cocoa butter has many uses, but one of the most common is combating the linear marks that result from rapid growth, especially in pregnancy, and weight gain.

The problem afflicts most pregnant women, not to mention many body builders, teenagers going through puberty and people who are overweight. Cocoa butter is a popular solution, but studies have found that it produces rather unimpressive results.

The largest study on the subject was published in 2008 by a team of dermatologists and obstetricians. It followed 175 women in their first pregnancies, some randomly assigned to apply a cocoa butter lotion each day and others assigned to use a placebo. Neither the subjects nor the researchers knew who was using which treatment. After many months, the researchers found no difference in the development or severity of marks, known medically as striae, over the abdomen, breasts or thighs.
For those looking for an alternative, scientists have found that vitamin E creams are more effective. In a similarly double-blinded study of 100 pregnant women in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2000, for example, researchers found that those who were assigned to use a cream containing alpha tocopherol, a form of vitamin E, developed fewer marks than those given a placebo.

Surgical and radiofrequency treatments are available, too, but they carry a higher price.

THE BOTTOM LINE According to research, regular application of cocoa butter does not reduce stretch marks.

scitimes@nytimes.com

Now, in cream-making, cocoa butter is used for its easy absorption, it's fatty acids, and richness in Vitamin E. Furthermore, it is a great thickening agent in creams. Cocoa Butter is gentle and good for sensitive skin and it is a great moisturizer. Read more about Cocoa Butter properties on Botanical.com and its cocoa butter subsite.

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Cleopatra's Milk Bath

(from wholeliving.com and ezinearticles.com)
The Legendary Queen of Egypt was known for her exquisite complexion. One of her secret beauty treatments, the milk and honey bath are still being used today.

One of the main ingredients, Milk, contains lactic acid, which helps to exfoliate your skin. The lactic acid in milk is an alpha hydroxy acid, which helps to cleanse the deepest layers of the skin. 

Honey has an abundance of health properties.
First of all, it is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose so it is also a gentle alpha hydroxy acid. It’s made up of both minerals and vitamins to help nourish and heal the skin. Since it also contains phytochemicals that kill viruses, bacteria, and fungus, it’s has a natural anti-inflammatory effect which heals wounds quickly. This makes honey a good substitute for wound dressings.

Here are a couple of ways to enjoy these 2 main ingredients found in her ancient beauty secrets.

Cleopatra Honey & Milk Bath

Ingredients
• 1/2 Cup Powdered Milk
• 1/2 Cup Raw Honey
• 2 teaspoon Jojoba Oil (optional)

Mix ingredients in a large bowl and pour your warm bath. Soak for up to 20 minutes to infuse these beneficial ingredients in your skin. This recipe makes enough for one bath.

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Parabens are Preservatives

Today's entry is about parabens (see picture of chemical structure) or preservatives used in cosmetics to add extra shelf-life to the product and make them last much longer than just the average shelf-life of a homemade cream.

1) What exactly are Parabens?

Parabens are preservatives with the main function of preventing the cream or product from getting spoiled or rancid. Nevertheless, the natural course of nature is that everything spoils or rots eventually due to bacteria or also called microorganisms. Parabens are additives that protect the cream against various microorganisms hence adding extra shelf-life to the product. A pot of cream may last for a year or much longer. I used to think that if I paid that much money (and some creams cost as much as $ 50.00 or more for as little as 1.7 oz), I want to the product to last as long as I care to use it. Today, I feel differently about that as I am making my own products without any added preservatives. Some oils as well as Vitamin E are natural preservatives that makes a product last about 3 month. This is enough time to use an ounce of facial cream twice a day.

2) How are Paraben labeled?

Parabens are commonly labeled as methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, or butylparaben. They can also be listed as 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy, P-carboxyphenol, P-hydroxybenzoic acid, P-salicyclic acid, 4-hydroxy-benzoic acid, or 4-carboxyphenol.

Ususally parabens are used in combination with other parabens to function as a wide-spectrum preservative against a wide variety of micro-organisms. A lower level of each individual paraben is used to increase the overall preserving activity.

3) What products can Parabens be found in?

Parabens or preservatives can be found in a variety of products: shampoo, conditioner, skin lotion or cream, anti-wrinkle creams, tooth paste, body wash, tanning lotions, exfoliants etc.

4) Are Parabens toxic or safe to use?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labels parabens safe to use whereas Skin Deep rates Parabens with level 7 (on a range of 1-10 with 10 being the highest hazard level).

5) So what is the hype about Parabens?

Several studies have been conducted with varying results. The FDA is aware that parabens have been connected to studies about cancer but they still say that the products are safe to use due to the low level of parabens used. Andrew Weill, M.D., also writes that other sources of estrogen (other than paraben) cause a much greater risk.

I have listed two studies that actually refute each other:

Darbre et al. linked concentrations of parabens to breast cancer in a 2004 study (Journal of Applied Toxicology, 24). Whereas, Golden et al. stated in a study about the implications of parabens for potential risk to human health (2005) that it was "implausibe that parabens could increase the risk" for breastcancer in connection to daily exposure of parabens and estrogen levels (Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 35).

It seems that there is almost no way around not using parabens as they are in just about everything unless you really make your own cosmetics. I only can say, be an educated consumer, be aware of what you eat, drink, or put on your skin as whatever you put on your skin is absorbed by your bloodstream. You are not only what you eat but also what you put on your skin.

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Let's talk about Lemons

Lemons, the yellow tangy fruit that make my mouth water by just thinking about them, are not only rich in Vitamins C, B, and A, but they are also a great disinfectant, have anti-haemorrhagic properties, and keep the cholesterol level in check.

Lemons already have a long-time history and it is said the first lemons grew in India and China and later were introduced to Persia, Iran, and Egypt. Christopher Columbus brought the lemon seeds to the Americas.

Lemons are used for culinary uses, in skin care, and are a household multi-tasker:

• In skin care, lemons are used to treat blemishes. Mix some lemon juice and honey, apply it to your cleansed face and rinse with warm water. Your blemishes will heal due to the astringent and antiseptic properties.
• Lemons deodorize, disinfect, and remove grease and stains especially when mixed with baking soda.
• Lemons are used in the treatment of wood and cashiers use lemons to moisturize their fingers when dealing with a lot of bills.
• Lemons are a natural bleaching agent and can be used to remove stains as well as clean grout in the bathroom. Mix lemon juice with water and brush the grout with a toothbrush.
• Lemon juice cleans silver, brass, and copper.
• Lemons get rid of garlic odor on hands. Just rub your hands with a lemon slice and rinse with warm water.

The lemon rind has equally many uses in the culinary world as well as otherwise.

• Lemon rind with Espresso - I've always wondered why I am being served a tiny piece of lemon rind with my espresso. So far, I have not been given a definite answer but several versions of applications have it that

1. a) the lemon rind cleanses or disinfects the outside of the cup or the spoon (rub the yellow part around the edge of the cup or the back of the spoon)
2. b) if the espresso is too bitter, the lemon wedge neutralizes the bitterness with its acidity. Be aware that the use of the lemon rind may just be an insult to the person who served you the espresso!

• The rind is also used to make an Essential Oil which has various uses as well

1. a) I use lemon essential oil in my drinking water or to flavor my foods. Important: use only 100% pure or Grade A essential oils for internal use!
2. b) Lemon essential oil is a great air-freshener when diffused
3. c) Lemon essential oils is also a mood enhancer as it lifts the spirit and works against depression.
4. I also used lemon essential oil to clean glue and tape from my wooden floor.

As the saying goes "when life deals you lemons..." I only can say to use them wisely and remember, they disinfect, cleanse, deodorize, are great for your health, are antiseptic, and enhance your mood :-)

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Making Essential Oils

Just recently somebody asked if it is possible to make their own Essential Oils. While I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, making Essential Oils at home is very difficult unless you are able to distill the plant parts.

I found some instructions about distillation at home on wikiHow.

In brief, the picture below shows in simple illustration the distillation process that is needed to get an Essential Oil:

a) The dried plant parts go into the retort (or still).

b) A steamer on the bottom of the retort allows pressurized steam to flow through the retort that holds all plant parts (e.g. flower petals).

c) Vapor is being produced and the volatile oils of the plants are released.

d) The steam then passes through a condenser where the hot air is flowing out and cold air is being introduced.

e) This process allows the volatile oil mixture of the steam to separate into floral water and essential oil.

A really good or therapeutic grade essential oil is steam distilled with the exact right temperature and pressure to ensure high quality oils. Too much pressure or to little or high heat can damage the plant parts hence damage the volatile oils in the plant. The result will be disappointing.

If you would like to learn more about the distillation process of plants, please check this link from Young Living Essential Oils - Distillation Process.

The quality of a homemade essential oil cannot be compared to the standards of a Grade A or 100% essential oil from e.g. Young Living, Primavera or any other company.

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Safe Cosmetics

I just came across this article and thought it needs to be shared... the article talks about skin care and the most commonly used irritants in our cosmetic products. By "going natural" and using homemade products or products without any preservatives or other additives, you can eliminate unnecessary toxins from your body and life. Cleaning your house with Lemon, Vinegar, Thieves Essential Oils Cleaner, or other biodegradable and non-toxic cleaners is just as important as using body products made with only natural ingredients. We are surrounded by toxins on a daily basis. Just as an example, there are 63 pollutant sources in my neighborhood coming from the air, ground, water, and radio waves within a 10 km (6 miles) radious. Most computers / laptops work with wireless now and cell phone usage has gone up from 63 million to 203 million within the last 10 years (Accuconference). There seem to be 28 cell phone towers, 3 sources point toward water pollution, 1 source to ground pollution, and 31 sources to air pollution close to where I live. Since these pollutants are out of my control, the only thing I can do is control what I use in my household and for myself.

Be courteous to yourself and treat yourself with lots of TLC! Try to stay away from chemicals as much as you can and recycle as much as possible!

Resources:

Accuconference - http://www.accuconference.com/blog/CellPhoneStatistics.aspx

Article mentioned in this blog - http://www.SelfGrowth.com/articles/safe_cosmetics_may_save_your_sensitive_skin.html

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Lavender

This entry is dedicated to my favorite plant - Lavender

The lavender plant (officially Lavendula angustifolia) is a true multi-tasker:

Lavender can be found in many gardens; it's flowers are being used for decoration, in wreaths, and potpourris. The dried flower buds are often sown into small pillows to be used as relaxing aid or in meditations. This plant is not only known in the botanical world but left its mark also in the culinary circles. The French cuisine is infused with lavender. Beekeepers know the value of this flower just as much as pastry chefs who use the flowers as decoration.

The history of lavender essential oil is just as rich as the preset uses. Lavender was used in Roman times when it was used in baths. Parts of the plants were thrown onto the floor to fumigate homes during the middle ages when it also was carried around to ward off plague. During WWI, the medicinal properties of lavender were used to disinfect floors and walls.

Lavender today decorates homes, enhances food, and is widely used as an Essential Oil. The flowering top are steam distilled to make this precious oil that can be used in a few different ways:

1. Apply neat* - straight from the bottle for first aid for burns, to disinfect a minor cut, sunburns, insect bites and insect repellant.
2. Dilute it with a base oil such as Almond Oil or even Olive Oil for eczema, dry skin, chapped skin or lips, or as deodorant.
3. Use as aromatherapy and diffuse a few drops of Lavender Essential Oil for migraines, depression, insomnia, or for motion sickness.

Personally, I use Lavender Essential Oil in most of my creams, I place a few drops on my pillow or diffuse it during meditation or after a hectic day. A study by Ryoko Masago et al (2000) showed that pleasant odors such as lavender can reduce tension and depression. The same study reports that inhalation of Lavender Essential Oil causes a reduction in alpha activity. Alpha waves are brainwaves that show up on an EEG during wakeful relaxation.

*Note: Always test the Essential Oil on a small spot on your skin such as the inside of your wrist for an allergic reaction before applying the oil neat.

Reference: Masago, R., Matsuda, T., Kikuchi, Y., Miyazaki, Y., Iwanaga, K., Harada, H., Katsuura, T. (2000). Effects of Inhalation of Essential Oils on EEG Activity and Sensory Evaluation. Journal of Physiological Anthropology and Applied Human Science. 19, 1. 35-42.

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Wash your hands!

Now here is an article published by CNN that talks about how drugs can get into our system by just touching money, that is if you handle a lot of money on a daily basis. Our skin absorbs the particles that we come in contact with just by touching something... I posted this article to illustrate how quickly our skin absorbs something. The same goes for bacteria. Bacteria often breeds in moist and hot environments so the humid summer month are perfect for contracting a summer flu for example. Wash your hands frequently especially if you are touching foreign objects or come in contact with many people in order to stay healthy...

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/08/14/cocaine.traces.money/index.html

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