Cleanliness is More than Skin Deep

For those of you who are concerned about the dangers of repeated contact with harsh chemicals on the body's largest organ (YOUR SKIN) I have decided to to share some simple, effective ways to naturally clean and moisturize your most important protective covering.  Our skin is not just a barrier but is a very fine sieve that is designed to absorb, or breath fine particles as well as exhaling or excreting pollutants that would harm the organs it protects, it does this through sweat and cells that have died.  In  Eastbourne, Sussex, on 20th November 1968 studies were done that showed the quick and effective penetration of lipid-soluble substances and gases through the human skin.  If essential oils can be absorbed into the blood stream in as little as 5 to 20 minutes why is it so unreasonable to assume that harsh chemicals cannot do the same thing.

Generally the most popular soaps, body washes and shampoos clean with harsh chemicals, these chemicals are designed to clean by creating a corrosive action that destroys the delicate dermis, epidermis and hair follicles.   Over time, the use of these harsh chemicals can lead to a wide variety of health concerns such as diseases of the eyes, problems with headaches, skin irritations, and even bladder infections just to name a few.  

When we take the time to educate ourselves and our families about these dangers and then make some simple changes with every day foods, enhanced with essential oils we are then feeding, nourishing and protecting while we clean.  Education in my opinion should include the ability to reason it out in our minds and understand that just because our skin may not have broken or torn areas does not mean it has the ability to keep everything out like an exoskeleton might!

A great rule of thumb to use when making up natural recipes is that these types of products cannot sustain a long shelf life and even with refrigeration they must be used quickly.  Adding lemon or lime juice, or essential oil of rosemary or tea tree will help to act as a natural preservative.

Included in this blog is a great, gentle cleanser/toner for the face.  This will help to remove any traces of soap and quickly restore the skin's protective pH levels.  Always start with distilled water or at least purified spring water, this will further ensure your ability to clean and tone.

Mix 1 quart of water with one medium, organic cucumber, 1 ounce of pure witch hazel, 20 drops essential oil of Lemon, 10 drops each essential oil of Rosemary, Tea Tree and Lavender.
Combine all ingredients in a blender until the cucumber is liquefied.  Strain through a fine sieve or coffee filter.  Put in a dark glass bottle with a secure lid and store in the refrigerator.  This is applied to the face and neck after gently cleansing with warm soap and water.  If your soap is not the best, this mixture will remove any traces of the soap.

If you don't want to continue using harsh soap try using a simple mixture of ground oatmeal mixed with cornmeal.  Take about one tablespoon of the mixture in the palm of your hand and add enough warm water to form a paste.  GENTLY scrub your face and neck, then rinse with warm water.  No harsh chemicals!  You could even add a few drops of Helichrysum and Tangerine essential oil to gently glean and oxygenate your skin.

This type of cleaning and toning is very definitely more than skin deep, it is a nourishing meal that will leave your skin satisfied and happy.

P.S.  I bet you will find these simple tips a lot cheaper than commercially produced products even if purchased in bulk sizes.

Never Forget the Nerves

Very often we find it easier to reach for a "quick fix--bandaid" when we hurt instead of looking for a deeper meaning or cause.  Many people don't realize that all of the nerves in the body culminate on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands.  These areas are the most likely to start feeling painful, tired, achy and over used.  Without proper attention the soles of our feet can develop into neuralgia symptoms that can interfere with our life styles.  In this blog I hope to give you some tips and suggestions to help clear and heal blocked or damaged nerve pathways.

Believe it or not, walking through the early morning dew stimulates blood flow in the feet.  For best results, regularly walk barefoot through the dewy grass for about 2 minutes or in winter walk for about one minute through the snow.  These and other types of foot exercises will dilate and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation.  Try the following exercises several times daily:

1.         Take 10 steps each on tiptoe, on the heel and on the inner and outer edges of your feet in succession.  Repeat several times.

            2.         Try to use your toes to pick up a handkerchief or a pen from the floor.

3.         While seated, rotate each foot clockwise at the ankle joint 10-20 times; repeat counterclockwise.

4.         Stand, heels apart, with your big toes touching.  Rise up on the balls of your feet, and then slowly lower your heels back to the floor.  Repeat 10 times.

            5.         Using a rubber ball or a ball with bumps/spikes on the soles of your bare feet in circular motions, will encourage circulation as well as strengthen the muscles and stimulate the nerve connections

The B vitamins are essential for proper nutrition in healing and supporting the nerves, therefore assessing vitamin B deficiency should be one of the first lines of defense.  A poorly balanced diet or a history of frequent alcohol consumption will greatly enhance this deficiency.  A good, well balanced vitamin is “ALIVE” which is made with whole food factors.  This brand comes in capsules, tablets and liquid.  Eating foods that are rich in vitamin B is essential for helping to correct neuralgia.  These foods include whole grains, especially brown rice, beans, green vegetables, eggs and red potatoes.

Essential oil blend AMEND was created to help with damage to nerve pathways.  Using ¼ cup of unscented salts add 5-6 drops of oil, mix the salts until all of the oil is uniformly blended throughout them.  Add the salt mixture to 1 cup of pure apple cider vinegar; make sure the vinegar is unfiltered such as BRAGG’s.  Pour this mixture into a hot foot bath and soak for 15-20 minutes morning and night.  As the nerves begin to assert themselves and show signs of healing, small amounts of cayenne can sometimes be used in the water as well.  Cayenne is a blood stimulant.

A great herbal tea mixture to nourish the nerves is made from Licorice root, St. John’s Wort, Lemon Balm, Nettle and Chamomile.  Drinking a quart iced or hot will help to heal the nerves from the inside while you are working on repairing them from the outside.

Never ignore the nerves, I promise they won't let you forget them.  Nerves are great at getting our attention.

Hope these simple tips and exercises help.  Blessings Always Lily

Wow, Time Flies

Someone recently asked me about my blog to which I replied, "I haven't done anything with it for quite sometime."  That was an understatement!  It has been almost a year since I have written anything, imagine my surprise!  I will try to make an effort to be more up-to-date.

One thing that has been on my mind a lot is how effectively the human body is capable of healing its self, if given the opportunity and the right tools.  Wholesome foods, meaning foods in their entirety is a very important tool to use when trying to achieve a healthy lifestyle.  Nature is perfection, so a natural food product is created perfectly and design to perfectly feed your body, mind and spirit.

Take for instance the humble Dandelion.  This wonderful plant that has been relegated to the bottom of the food chain,  grows prolifically almost everywhere but who can remember anything about it?

The first recorded reference to dandelion use can be found in Chinese Medical Texts dating back to 600 BC where this wonderful food source was used to as the first "greens of spring" in salads and soups.

Dandelions contain a wide variety of acids, complex sugars and other nutrients which include Iron, Zinc, Boron, Calcium, Silicon, and especially Potassium.  Our humble dandelion also has concentrations of  vitamins A, B complex, C & D.  Extracts of dandelion have been shown to have antimicrobial and antibacterial effects with moderate anti=inflammatory and antioxidant properties.  Even some recent test tube studies have shown a link of anti-tumor activity against liver, colon and melanoma cancer cell lines. Dandelion has long been respected as one of the best foods for building the blood and combating anemia.  Many cultures also you the juice of Dandelion root to treat diabetes.

The leaves of the Dandelion can be lightly steamed like spinach or endive, the roots can be dried and brewed into a coffee substitute or fermented into a beer, while the flowers are used to make wine.

The propagation of the Dandelion is not difficult, so it doesn't take much work to raise a healthy crop.  Leaves and flowers can be harvested as long as the plant is productive and then in the fall is when the roots should be harvested, as the plant is dying back.  The roots can be pressed for juice when fresh or dried for use in other preparations.

Remember that time can really fly by fast,  so even though the Dandelion is very prolific its growing season for leaves and blossoms can go by really quickly.