Natural Body Guru

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Moist, supple skin is the product of both hydration and a good skin care regimen. Drinking eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day will keep you from having dry, sagging skin, eczema, cracked flaky skin, acne and pimples.

Stay hydrated with water-rich foods like cucumbers, 97% water; tomatoes and zucchini, 95% water and peaches, 87% water. Grains, beans, and pastas are also good sources of water because they absorb a lot of water while they cook. Use a good quality chemical-free natural moisturizing product to keep your skin moisturized on the outside too.

A facial scrub is used to exfoliate the skin and unplug pores. It will also leave the skin looking fresh and new as the dead layer of skin cells is sloughed off. You only need about 1 teaspoon of material to make your scrub and you can use foods you already have in the kitchen as your base. Good bases that you may already have are oatmeal, dried peas, almonds and hazelnuts. Whichever base you use must be ground up in a blender or by pestle and mortar so that it forms small, gritty lumps like coarse sand. The starches and enzymes in the cereals, peas or nuts will be triggered during treatment and will work on cleansing the face.

Oatmeal is commonly used in cosmetic products and when combined with ground almonds, it makes an excellent scrub. Mix one teaspoon of oatmeal, one teaspoon of ground almonds, and one drop of either lavender, clary-sage, or basil essential oil. Roll this combination over the surface of your face with damp fingers then rinse it off with warm water. Basil essential oil is very good for this type of scrub because it lifts dead skin cells and rejuvenates the skin tone.

Basil is an important ingredient in the following revitalizing face scrub which is best to use if you have normal to oily skin: 1 teaspoon ground almonds, 1 teaspoon dry oatmeal, 1 pinch salt, 1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar and 1 drop basil essential oil. Mix the vinegar, salt and basil together then add the almonds and oatmeal. Again, use damp fingers to roll the mixture over your face and then finish by rinsing your face well with warm water.

There are multiple factors that contribute to acne: genetics, hormones, certain medications, stress and bacteria, to name a few. Acne results when bacteria, dead skin, dirt and oil become trapped in the pores. Typically, blemishes consist of whiteheads or blackheads, and can be accompanied by redness, peeling, changes in skin texture and an increase in oil production.

There are several solutions to getting rid of acne, such as all natural skin care beauty products and a better diet.  There are also some commercially available acne medications, but many of them contain chemicals that can be harmful to sensitive skin.

No matter how careful you are, we are all bound to catch the common cold at some point during the year. It might be during the cold season or even worse during the warm summer months when we are least likely to be thinking about catching a cold. Whenever you are around a lot of people, you are susceptible to catching their cold symptoms. In these days of Covid 19 it is even more important that we guard against catching anything, luckily, wearing a mask helps with that.

You can use essential oils to relieve the symptoms of a cold in several ways:

1. Mix 3 drops of eucalyptus, 2 drops of tea tree, and 3 drops of lemon essential oils in a hot bath. Lie back, relax and breath deeply.
2. Mix 1 drop each of thyme, tea tree, lavender, and clove in a bowl of steaming water. Cover your head with a towel, lean over the bowl and breath deeply for 5 minutes, taking a break as needed.
3. Place 1 drop each of thyme, peppermint, eucalyptus, and clove on a tissue and inhale deeply as needed. You can carry the tissue around with you all day.
4. Massage the chest, neck, and sinus area (forehead, nose, and cheekbones) with 1 drop of lemon, 2 drops of eucalyptus, and 3 drops of rosemary essential oils diluted in 1 teaspoon of sweet almond oil.
5. Rub the soles of your feet with 1 drop each of thyme, peppermint, eucalyptus, and clove diluted in 1 teaspoon of almond oil. Put socks on your feet and go to bed.

Having a cold can be a miserable experience for you or your family but you can ease cold symptoms quickly by using essential oils that contain no alcohol or harmful chemicals.

Essential oils can be used in either of two ways: in the environment around you or directly on your body.

Environmental Methods

Diffusers – Room diffusers can be electric or with just a tea light candle. Just follow the directions that come with the diffuser.

Sprays – You can easily make a very effective anti-infectious room spray using water and essential oils. Since water and oil don’t mix, you can add an emulsifier such as a little colorless alcohol or a vegetable oil like red turkey oil to help emulsify them, then shake your spray bottle well before each spray. I keep a bottle at work to spray when sick people come to work. That helps keep me healthy.

Physical Methods

Body Sprays – Body sprays are easy to make and you can keep them with you, either in your pocket or your purse. Blend your choice of essential oils, add water and a small amount of emulsifier. You can use a hydrolat instead of water because they have antibacterial properties of their own. Whichever you use, shake the mixture very well and store it for 24 hours before using. Shake the bottle a few times during the 24 hour wait. When the time is up, filter the blend through and unbleached paper coffee filter and add it to a spray bottle. You can spray this around you in the room and on your body.

Baths – Aromatherapy baths are excellent for relieving the symptoms of colds and flu or for sore and achy muscles. When my muscles are sore after a strenuous workout, I like to use 8 drops of rosemary and lavender blended in my bath and I’ll soak until the water starts to cool.

Body Oils – For body oils, use a carrier oil like sweet almond oil or jojoba oil blended with no more than 30 drops of essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. Choose oils that work for you symptoms and apply the body oil before bed so the essential oils can work while you sleep. You can also apply the body oil before taking a bath so the body absorbs the oil by osmosis and inhalation.

Inhalation 

Paper Tissues -Use 1 or two drops of your choice of essential oil on a tissue and inhale as needed. I like to use this method at work since I don’t need anything special – except my essential oil. I like to keep a bottle of peppermint oil at work for those times when I get sleepy, a couple of whiffs of peppermint and I’m good to go again.

Disposable Face Masks

If you are traveling via train or plane, it is good to wear a disposable face mask. Don’t wet the mask because that negates its purpose. Simply add a drop of either eucalyptus, lavender or tea tree on a tissue and place the folded tissue inside the face mask. Let the oil disperse on the tissue before placing it inside the mask.

1. Joint issues and discomfort – Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant that demonstrates inflammation-cooling properties in joint issues, muscle sprains and other injuries. Add a few drops directly to the pain area. Be careful about getting turmeric on your clothes. It’s bright color may stain clothing.
2. Digestive aid – Turmeric may help reduce symptoms of digestive issues. Add 1 drop to a favorite tea. You can also apply it topically to the abdomen with a carrier oil.
3. Cancer-fighting properties – Turmerone and curcumin in turmeric oil both display the ability to fight colon cancer in animal studies. This may make it an effective assistant in fighting cancer. Take 1 drop internally morning and evening mixed in your food or beverage.
4. Neurological health – Turmeric oil’s aromatic turmerone is thought to be a promising way to support neurological health. You can diffuse it, apply it topically or take it internally with food or drink as above.
5. Mood and mental health – Turmeric essential oil is considered to be a strong relaxant and balancer. Studies have shown that it can help fight against depression and anxiety. Diffuse it throughout the day to improve mood and encourage positive feelings.
6. Possible seizure soother – the anti-convulsant properties of turmeric oil may fight some seizures. Take 1-2 drops internally or regularly drink hot turmeric tea.
7. Liver detox – Studies show that turmeric is liver-healthy. This is due in part to turmeric’s inflammation-soothing properties. To boost liver health, take it internally or apply it topically to the area.

1. The main therapeutic ingredient in peppermint essential oil is menthol. It has local anesthetic properties and reduces throat irritations. Menthol is similar to the ingredient in cayenne or hot peppers, capsaicin, which stimulates heat sensors without really causing a change in temperature. Menthol, however, has a cooling effect on the body without changing the actual body temperature. Some medications may adversely interact with peppermint oil so please consult a physician it you have concerns about drug interactions.
2. Muscle discomfort – Peppermint oil can reduce discomfort and relax muscles – dilute 2 to 4 drops and apply topically to the affected area. Use with a carrier oil such as sweet almond oil if you have sensitive skin.
3. Respiratory health – Peppermint oil acts as an expectorant and can relieve some symptoms of respiratory issues. Dilute 2-4 drops and apply topically to your chest and the back of your neck. Or add 10 drops to boiling water, put a towel over your head and breath in the aroma for 5 minutes.
4. Energy boosting – Because it is invigorating and stimulating, peppermint oil can help fight fatigue and improve focus and concentration. Diffuse it or apply it directly to your temples, wrists and the back of your neck. You can also inhale it directly from the bottle or add a drop or two to a tissue and sniff as needed.
5. Allergy symptoms soother – Peppermint relaxes the muscles in the nasal passages and clears out mucus and pollen during allergy season. Diffuse 5 drops, inhale it from the bottle or a tissue as above or dilute 2-3 drops and apply it topically to forehead, neck and chest.
6. Headache relief – Peppermint oil may improve circulation, soothe your stomach and relax tense muscles. It can also help clear your nasal passages when you suffer from a sinus headache. Apply it to your forehead and temples for relief.
7. Digestive soother – Peppermint oil helps relax the muscles in the intestines and reduce bloating, gas and nausea. It can also serve as a natural remedy for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS.) Diffuse it, apply it topically to your abdomen or take 1-2 drops internally mixed with hot tea.
8. Fresh Breath and Healthy and Gums – Peppermint  oil has anti-microbial properties that will freshen breath and may kill bacteria that lead to cavities and gum issues. Add 1 drop to your toothpaste or mouthwash or place one drop under your tongue before drinking a glass of water.

Shea butter is a 100% pure and natural cream containing vitamin A and vitamin E which has exceptional healing properties for the skin. The vitamin A in shea butter is important for improving skin conditions including blemishes, wrinkles, eczema, and dermatitis as well as properties that treat skin allergies, insect bites, sunburns, frostbites, and many other common skin conditions. The vitamin E in this rich creamy extract may serve as an anti-free radical agent that aids in preventing the harmful effects of the sun and environmental exposure on the skin.

Shea butter is derived  from the seed of the shea tree and is extracted and prepared without the use of chemicals. The best shea butter for skin use is prepared by cold press methods without the use of added chemicals or preservatives. You can get pure shea butter with no added ingredients or a shea butter blended cream that includes liquid shea oil.

Shea butter is a marvelous product that can be used on any skin type for the following:

• Dry skin
• Skin rash
• Skin peeling after tanning
• Blemishes and wrinkles
• Itching skin
• Sunburn
• Shaving cream for a smooth silky shave
• Small skin wounds
• Skin cracks
• Tough or rough skin (on feet)
• Cold weather protection
• Frost bites
• Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy
• Insect bites
• Healthy skin
• Muscle fatigue, aches and tension
• For before and after strenuous exercise
• Skin allergies such as poison ivy or poison oak
• Eczema
• Dermatitis
• Skin damage from heat (hot grease while cooking, radiation treatment for certain medical problems, etc.)

Shea butter is a yellowish or ivory colored natural fat that comes from the seed of the African shea tree. Extracting shea butter from the seed is a social activity for African women elders and young girls who crush and boil the seeds by hand.  Shea butter is used in Africa for cooking oil, as a water proofing wax, for hairdressing, for candle-making, and also as an ingredient of medicinal ointments.

The main industrial use of shea butter outside Africa is in cosmetics, such as moisturizer creams and emulsions, and in hair conditioners for dry and brittle hair. This versatile cream can be used to correct many skin conditions which we’ll discuss in a later post.