Natural Body Guru

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.

Want to go all natural? Then try using organic essential oils in your beauty routine. These are extracts from natural sources that promise a multitude of benefits for health and beauty.

Do a little research on essential oils and what they can do for you. Whether you’d like to de-stress, energize, or cure a common ailment like a cold, there is an essential oil that is sure to fit your needs. Check out online catalogues for more information.

Did you know that you should eat your carrots because they can help you have great eyesight? This is something my grandmother used to tell me and I thought it was an old wives tale. Now I know that the beta carotene which gives carrots their orange color has been shown in studies to help protect the eye, particularly the cornea, and to be useful in the prevention or slowing down of cataract formation and age-related macular degeneration.

Carrot oil is also an abundant source of carotenoids or antioxidants which  are important for fighting the effects of harmful oxidants, or free radicals in the body. Free radicals can attack and destroy healthy tissue, causing many health problems, one of which is cancer. Because of the antioxidants it contains, carrot oil can reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and it is often used in sun tan oils to prevent over exposure to UV radiation from the sun.

Are you confused about whether to use an ointment, a lotion or a cream to relieve your dry skin? These terms describe the way skin care products are prepared. Ointments are prepared using oil and may stay on your skin longer but many people don’t like them because they are  greasy and don’t soak into the skin. Creams are less oily than ointments and can be made from natural products so they do soak into the skin easily. Lotions are water-based and get absorbed into the skin quickly, causing instant, but not long-lasting, relief. For longer-lasting relief, choose ointments or creams.

If you have dry or itchy skin, avoid using too much soap, antiperspirants,  hot baths or anything else that removes your natural oils. Skin dryness and itchiness is worse when the humidity is low and you should definitely avoid stress, too much exposure to the sun, and smoking or secondhand smoke.

Natural hair styles for African American hair include braids, french braids, twists, cornrows, afropuffs and locks. These hairstyles are very cute on my granddaughters but they really did not like to get their hair done. We have now found an easy way to comb their hair and get the kinks and snarls out without hurting their tender scalps.

We use a spray that quickly and safely removes braids and weaves, and allows us to comb through natural hair without damaging it. It is excellent to use after washing, before preparing and while conditioning your hair. The medicated formula will help fight dry scalp and treat fragile hair. It can be used on both natural and synthetic hair. Anyone who is tenderheaded will love this spray.

What can’t green tea extract accomplish?  That seems to be a better question than what else it can do.  Green tea extract is one of the most amazing substances known to man, and it’s because of its antioxidants that it can be so good for our bodies.  Green tea skin care is quite prominent these days, and the antioxidants in green tea are used to rejuvenate skin in tandem with other beneficial substances like Aloe Vera and Vitamin E.  When our skin ages, it becomes thinner, less vibrant, and begins to wrinkle.  But with green tea skin care, we can help our skin continue to look more youthful.

The proper regiment of green tea skin care over time can even lead to having more years of youthful skin.  If possible, start caring for your skin with green tea and moisturizers at a young age; this will help to prevent damage and aging to the skin over time, and give you more youthful looking years.

Acne always seems to crop up when we least expect it and “backne” (acne on the back) usually comes when you’re stressed and at the most inconvenient times too, like prom time or sundress time. What can you do about backne?  You can eat right, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep and exercise regularly to help control breakouts.

When you get hot and sweaty it is important to shower to prevent your pores from becoming clogged. Use an acne-fighting soap for your back and make sure that you exfoliate gently on a regular basis.  Then use a good moisturizer on your back to help clear up acne and treat dry skin.

Many people find quiet respite through the use of aromatherapy, such as candles, diffusers or incense. It’s generally believed that diffusing essential oils throughout a room and then inhaling them can provide valuable health benefits. There’s no doubt that the practice can at least clear the mind of everyday stresses and work-related issues that would otherwise be a burden. But there’s no reason to limit your sensory stress relief to olfactory pleasures alone.

Aural effects can be therapeutic in their own way. The soothing sound of a babbling brook is particularly relaxing, and when paired with aromatherapy diffusers the result is pure heaven. Tabletop fountains can offer just the right sonic backdrop for the occasion – just loud enough to be heard but not harsh or distracting enough to break your concentration. A few minutes spent in this environment will reinvigorate you for the rest of the day.

Ron at the White House

Don’t you hate it when you get a cold in the summer? I certainly do and almost every time I travel by airplane I get a cold from being cooped up with strangers all breathing the same air that is circulated over and over! It’s no wonder that my husband (not me this time) ended up with a terrible summer cold when we returned from a family reunion in Washington, DC recently.

My husband dislikes being sick too so I wanted to help him get over his cold as quickly as possible. I had him drink a cup of my summer cold tea which is hot water with honey and lemon plus one drop each of any two of the following essential oils: eucalyptus, ginger, lavender, tea tree or oregano. All of these essential oils have either antiviral or antibacterial properties and will help you get quick relief for a summer or winter cold. Just drink a cup every four hours until you start to feel better.