In the realm of self-care rituals, few things rival the indulgent luxury and transformative power of a good body scrub. From the invigorating sensation of exfoliation to the deeply nourishing effects on the skin, body scrubs offer a multitude of benefits that extend far beyond mere pampering. Join me as we delve into the world of body scrubs, exploring their origins, ingredients, and the myriad ways they can elevate your skincare routine.
The Origins of Body Scrubs:
The practice of body exfoliation dates back centuries, with ancient cultures around the world incorporating various techniques to cleanse and rejuvenate the skin. From the traditional hammams of the Middle East to the ancient baths of Rome, people have long recognized the importance of sloughing away dead skin cells to reveal a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Ingredients Matter:
One of the defining characteristics of a quality body scrub is its ingredients. Whether crafted from natural botanicals, mineral-rich salts, or nourishing oils, the components of a scrub play a crucial role in its effectiveness. Common ingredients like sugar and salt provide gentle yet effective exfoliation, while ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil impart moisture and hydration, leaving the skin soft and supple.
Also consider an emulsified scrub, where an emulsifier is added to combine the oil and water to prevent separation. The benefit of this is that you don’t have to stir a messy jar while in your bliss.
Benefits Galore:
The benefits of incorporating a body scrub into your skincare routine are abundant. First and foremost, exfoliation helps to remove dead skin cells, revealing younger and smoother looking skin. This process not only promotes a smoother texture but also helps to prevent clogged pores and breakouts as well as reducing the appearance of aging and pores.
Beyond its physical benefits, indulging in a body scrub can also have profound mental and emotional effects. The sensory experience of massaging the scrub into the skin, coupled with the uplifting aroma of essential oils, can help to reduce stress, promote relaxation, and elevate your mood. It's a holistic approach to self-care that nurtures both body and mind.
Incorporating Body Scrubs into Your Routine:
Adding a body scrub to your skincare regimen is simple and straightforward. Begin by selecting a scrub that aligns with your skin type and preferences, whether you prefer a gentle exfoliation or a more invigorating scrubbing experience. Then, incorporate it into your routine 1-3 times per week, depending on your skin's needs and sensitivity.
To use a body scrub, start by wetting your skin in the shower or bath. Take a generous scoop of the scrub and massage it onto your skin using circular motions, paying particular attention to rough areas like elbows, knees, and heels. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, and pat your skin dry to reveal a soft, glowing complexion.
Conclusion:
In a world filled with hectic schedules and endless distractions, taking the time to care for ourselves is essential. Body scrubs offer a luxurious yet accessible way to nurture your skin, indulge your senses, and reconnect with your body. So why not treat yourself to the blissful benefits of a body scrub? Your skin—and your soul—will thank you for it.
Serendipity Body Products Sugar Face & Body Scrubs are emulsified and perfect for normal, dry and oily skin yet still gentle enough for the face. They are made from 99-100% natural ingredients (sugar, sunflower oil, mango butter, cetyl alcohol, emulsifying wax, water, natural preservative and essential oils or phthalate free fragrance oils).
This is what our customers have to say about our scrubs:
"This is hands down my favourite sugar scrub; I use it exclusively for my face. It is gentle enough to use daily, and it leaves my face smooth and fairly hydrated. Of course the smell is heavenly, and it's like a treat every time I use it. I don't use other cleansing products for my face anymore, unless I need a bit of help with makeup removal, and I've been gifting this sugar scrub to everyone I know! It seems to work well with folks who have sensitive skin, and dry or oily (and combination) skin. Definitely give it a try!" Chelsea V
"I love the sugar scrub- there’s nothing better then putting it on my legs and then shaving. So smooth!" Kim R
]]>As a Certified Aromatherapist, one of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is that they’re not sleeping well. As I practice holistic aromatherapy (treating the whole person, not just the symptoms), I talk to my clients about other aspects of their health that may be related and 92% of them also reported stress or anxiety in addition to sleep issues. And that’s not surprising as it’s difficult to sleep when you’re stressed or anxious. So we don’t want to treat just sleep issues as trouble sleeping can be the result of stress or anxiety. As an aside, 23% of these clients reported depression and 31% reported headaches. These complaints are also closely related to stress or anxiety.
Clients choose the essential oils for their blends from a selection of beneficial essential oils. If you like the blend you are more likely to use it, right? The most popular blends were Roman chamomile, sweet orange and ylang ylang and clary sage, lavender and neroli. The essential oil used most frequently was lavender. Other oils that were used in blends include thyme, vetiver, juniper berry, rose, basil, mandarin, and sandalwood.
Lavender: Nature's Tranquilizer
When it comes to promoting relaxation and sleep, lavender reigns supreme. Renowned for its calming and sedative effects, this versatile essential oil has been a staple in aromatherapy for centuries. Research suggests that inhaling lavender oil can reduce heart rate and blood pressure, inducing a state of tranquility conducive to sleep. Additionally, lavender's soothing aroma may alleviate anxiety and promote a sense of well-being, further enhancing its sleep-inducing properties.
Chamomile: Serenity in a Bottle
Another beloved botanical ally in the quest for restful sleep is chamomile. Known for its gentle, apple-like scent, chamomile essential oil possesses sedative properties that can help ease tension and promote relaxation. Whether inhaled through aromatherapy diffusers or added to a warm bath, chamomile oil can soothe frazzled nerves and quiet the mind, paving the way for a peaceful night's sleep.
Ylang-Ylang: Floral Euphoria
For those seeking a more exotic sleep aid, ylang-ylang essential oil provides a fragrant solution. With its intoxicating floral scent, ylang-ylang promotes feelings of joy, sensuality, and relaxation. This exotic oil is believed to have sedative properties that can help alleviate stress and anxiety, making it an ideal companion for bedtime rituals.
I also discuss with my clients a convenient format for their blend. If they’re experiencing stress at work, a diffuser blend probably isn’t going to be that convenient, so I make them an inhaler that they can use anywhere. The only problem with inhalers, is they’re not so convenient when you’re sleeping, so a diffuser blend can be helpful. Some clients required a massage oil or lotion based on a third condition they had. After applying these blends, they would inhale from their cupped hands.
In all cases the blends helped to reduce stress and anxiety. In all but three cases, the blend also helped with sleep. Some clients fell asleep faster, woke less frequently or slept longer. In two of those three cases, the clients only had an inhaler to use. The third client felt more relaxed but still had trouble sleeping based on a very stressful life situation, that no oil was going to fix.
In the case where there was no stress or anxiety involved, sleep was an issue because of snoring and restless legs syndrome. Essential oils were selected to address these issues as well and as a result this client slept much better.
Incorporating Aromatherapy into Your Sleep Routine
Integrating aromatherapy into your nightly routine is simple and customizable, allowing you to tailor your experience to suit your preferences. Consider the following tips for incorporating aromatherapy into your sleep ritual:
Here are two sleep and stress/anxiety blends you can try, each makes 5ml:
28 drops clary sage
47 drops lavender
19 drops neroli
17 drops Roman chamomile
52 drops Sweet orange
17 drops Ylang ylang
In a world where stress and sleeplessness often go hand in hand, aromatherapy offers a gentle and natural approach to promoting restful sleep. By harnessing the power of scent, essential oils can help calm the mind, relax the body, and pave the way for a rejuvenating night's rest. Whether diffused in the air, applied topically, or added to a warm bath, these essential oils allow us to awaken feeling refreshed, restored, and ready to embrace the day ahead. So, tonight, why not let the soothing embrace of aromatherapy guide you to a deeper, more restorative sleep?
]]>While mold and mould are the same thing, mold is used in the US and mould is used by the British and in Australia.
Mould is an unwelcome guest that can silently invade our homes, often without us even realizing it. Its presence not only poses a threat to the structural integrity of our living spaces but can also have adverse effects on our health. In this blog, we will explore the insidious nature of mould, its causes, and effective strategies to prevent and eliminate it from our homes.
Mould is a type of fungus that thrives in damp and humid environments. It reproduces through tiny spores that float through the air, seeking suitable conditions for growth. While mould is a natural part of the environment and plays a crucial role in breaking down organic matter, it becomes problematic when it infiltrates our homes.
The most common moulds found in our homes include Penicillium, Aspergillus and Cladosporium.
Common Causes of Mould Growth:
We all know what mould looks like but what about the mould you can’t see? Mould can smell musty so follow your nose to see if you can identify the source of the smell. HVAC systems are a common area for mould, and so is improperly insulated ductwork. If your allergy or asthma symptoms are worse at home, or if you've been having respiratory infections, you might have hidden mould.
If you have any surface abnormalities on your walls such as warping or bubbling, there is a possibility of mould. Moisture can also cause a squishy floor so check for mould under these areas. If your attic insulation is uneven or very lumpy, check your roof for leaks. And finally, check under your carpet for signs of water damage or stains.
At home mould tests are not recommended as they are not reliable and are expensive. Furthermore, there is no existing standard to tell you what a tolerable amount of mould might be.
Exposure to mould can lead to various health issues, especially for individuals with allergies or respiratory conditions, immune suppression, children, seniors and those who are pregnant. Common symptoms include sneezing, coughing, skin irritation, and eye or throat discomfort. Exposure to mould has been shown to contribute to the development of asthma, bronchitis, respiratory infections and eczema. Prolonged exposure may contribute to more severe health problems, emphasizing the importance of addressing mould issues promptly. Be sure to see a health professional.
Prevention Tips:
Remediation Strategies:
If you're doing your own clean up, be sure to use safety glasses, a N95 mask and disposable gloves. Use soap and water, not bleach. Bleach doesn't kill the mould roots. You can also add some eucalyptus, geranium, lavender, lemon or tea tree essential oil to your cleaning solution.
The CMHC has an infographic to help you determine if you can clean up a mould problem yourself or if you should hire trained specialists.
The Government of Canada has more information, including step by step cleaning instructions, a guide on what should be discarded and what can be cleaned, mould prevention and how to hire a professional.
Mould is a stealthy intruder that can compromise the integrity of our homes and impact our health. By understanding its causes and implementing preventative measures, we can create a healthier living environment. If mould is already present, prompt remediation is essential to mitigate its effects and ensure a safe and comfortable home for ourselves and our loved ones.
Key features of our Silky Body Cream include a blend of high-quality ingredients such as organic shea butter, mango butter, and rice bran oil. These ingredients are chosen for their moisturizing properties and ability to replenish the skin's natural moisture barrier.
What makes this different from our regular Hand & Body lotion is the thickness and texture and the added botanicals, which include, hydrolyzed whole oats and allantoin. Hydrolyzed whole oats is known as a humectant, emollient and a barrier protectant which contributes a silky soft quality. Allantoin is a great barrier protectant that softens, moisturizes and increases water content. Sodium lactate and dimethicone are also added for their excellent emollient, humectant and barrier properties.
The texture of silky body creams is a distinguishing factor. Unlike regular lotions, these creams have a thicker consistency that glides smoothly over the skin, creating a sensation of luxury and comfort. The lightweight formula ensures that the cream is easily absorbed, leaving no greasy residue behind.
One of the primary benefits of using silky body cream is its ability to provide long-lasting hydration. The rich formulation helps to lock in moisture, preventing dryness. Regular use of silky body cream can contribute to smoother, more supple skin, making it an excellent addition to any skincare routine.
Beyond its moisturizing properties, many silky body creams are infused with delightful fragrances. These fragrances add an extra layer of indulgence, turning the application of the cream into a sensory experience. Our scents include Hawaiian Plumeria, Serenity (based on one of our best-selling essential oil blends) and Amyris, a mild and sweetly balsamic scent that reminds you of cedar, smoke and musk.
In addition to personal use, silky body creams are often chosen as thoughtful gifts or as a way to treat oneself to a spa-like experience at home. The luxurious feel of the cream contributes to its appeal, making it a staple in many skincare routines for those who appreciate the finer things in self-care.
Our Silky Body Cream is suitable for all skin types. In fact, our customers tell us that it’s the only thing they found that soothed their psoriasis or their chemotherapy dried skin.
]]>Here are some popular essential oils known for their calming and stress-relieving properties:
Here are a few do it yourself recipes. Please note that these generic recipes do not take your health conditions and medications into consideration. Nor will they relieve your other complaints or give you all essential oil options for your scent preferences.
Relaxing Room Diffuser Blend
- 3 drops Lavender
- 2 drops Bergamot
- 2 drops Frankincense
Directions: Add the essential oil blend to a diffuser and let the aroma fill the room.
Calming Body Oil Blend
- 5 drops Chamomile
- 3 drops Ylang Ylang
- 2 drops Geranium
- 1 oz (30ml) Carrier oil (like sweet almond oil or coconut oil)
Directions: Mix the essential oils with the carrier oil in a bottle and use it for a relaxing massage or apply a small amount to pulse points.
FROM MY EXPERIENCE…
As a Certified Aromatherapist, the most common complaint reported by my clients is stress and/or anxiety. This is often accompanied by trouble sleeping and headaches.
Because I take a holistic approach, I usually customize a blend for up to three problems. This often makes the most sense when the conditions are related. For example, someone’s stress could be causing them to not sleep well, and not enough sleep can lead to headaches. However, someone else might have headaches that prevent them from sleeping and the lack of sleep can cause stress. So, treating all three complaints usually leads to success.
However, each client has a unique set of complaints and scent preferences, so I have made 26 unique stress and anxiety blends and in different formats. The most used oils were clary sage, lavender, and neroli. Some clients received essential oil blends for their diffuser, inhalers, lotion, massage oil, or a mist, depending on what was most convenient for them.
92% of my clients found relief with their stress and anxiety blends. The other 8% were inconclusive because they experienced changes in their lives that may have reduced their stress levels.
Examples of the cases and blends are below. Note that these were made for specific individuals and won’t consider your health conditions and medications or scent preferences. Special consideration needs to be made for allergies, pregnancies, children, etc. so it’s important to research the oils and use them cautiously.
I made a diffuser oil blend for a client who, in addition to anxiety, was also having trouble sleeping and suffering from allergies. Before using her blend, she rated her anxiety at a seven out of ten. After using her blend for three weeks her anxiety dropped to a four out of ten.
Diffuser Oil Blend (5ml)
14 drops basil
14 drops clary sage
47 drops lavender
19 drops neroli
Another client was suffering from stress, migraines and sleep problems so I made the following inhaler.
Inhaler
4 drops mandarin
2 drops lemon
10 drops lavender
4 drops sandalwood
For a client dealing with anxiety, memory issues and Parkinson’s Disease I made the following lotion blend.
Lotion (237ml)
227ml unscented lotion
1 ½ teaspoon lavender
¾ teaspoon clary sage
½ teaspoon marjoram
I made a massage oil blend for a client who complained of stress, nasal congestion and night sweats.
Massage Oil (225ml)
½ teaspoon clary sage
½ teaspoon lemon
1 teaspoon lavender
½ teaspoon frankincense
214ml fractionated coconut oil
For a client suffering from stress, weight gain and a low mood I made a mist for inhalation.
Misting Spray (60ml)
9 drops bergamot
10 drops lavender
5 drops black pepper
6 drops patchouli
3ml solubilizer
55ml water
12 drops preservative
Aromatherapy can be a wonderful complementary and natural approach to stress and anxiety relief.
For more ways to manage your stress see four-pillars-of-health-part-1-stress.
To learn more or to book your own Aromatherapy Consultation, please see aromatherapy-services.
]]>Probiotics are usually a mix of different strains of bacteria, and sometimes yeast, and are currently a popular topic among scientific research and everyday conversation. These microorganisms can enhance digestive health and our mental well-being, boost our immunity, help with allergies, clear acne, help with weight loss, and reduce symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
Our bodies host a variety of good and bad bacteria. Probiotics are the good bacteria as they promote a balanced gut microbiome which is essential for efficient digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune system. They work by crowding out the harmful bacterial, using up the resources and taking up space in the gut.
Taking antibiotics frequently or consuming different microorganisms (i.e., eating and drinking in Mexico) can change our microbiome causing an imbalance and lead to an unhealthy gut.
Our microbiomes differ from person to person so much so that they are even more identifiable than fingerprints!
Probiotics for digestive disorders
Probiotics can help alleviate bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation and have been most effective with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Boost your immune system
A significant portion of our immune system resides in our gut. Probiotics help strengthen the gut barrier, reducing the risk of infections and boosting overall immunity.
Probiotics for allergies
Probiotics may help reduce the risk of developing allergies by controlling the immune response and reducing inflammation. They also help reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.
And beware, some probiotics can cause allergies – see Types of probiotics below.
How they affect mental health
Emerging research suggests a connection between the gut and the brain, often referred to as the gut-brain axis. In fact, the stomach has been called the second brain. Probiotics may help boost our mood and our cognitive function and lower stress, depression and anxiety.
Weight loss and metabolism
Some studies suggest that certain probiotic strains can help with weight management by promoting a healthy balance of gut bacteria associated with weight regulation and improved metabolism.
Clearing up acne
Research shows that probiotics may reduce skin eruptions, as acne can be linked to the condition of the digestive system and its microbiome.
Eczema and psoriasis
Although the research on eczema and probiotics is currently inconclusive, eczema has been linked to gut health.
Types of probiotics
There are about 300-500 bacterial species living in our microbiomes. Different probiotic strains offer various health benefits. Aim for diversity in your probiotic sources to maximize benefits. Here are some of the more common strains:
Bacillus coagulans helps with FODMAP intolerances and improves IBS symptoms.
Bifidobacterium longum thrives in the colon, helps prevent pathogens, improves lactose tolerance, prevents diarrhea, reduces allergies, may help prevent cancer, reduces the risk for atheroscelerosis and stroke and alleviates constipation and stress.
B. bifidum is found in the large intestine and vagina, helps break down simple sugars, increases immune function, helps treat candida and fights pathogens.
B. infantis helps with pain, bloating and constipation and plays a critical role in breaking down the complex carbohydrates that our bodies can’t digest.
B. lactis (or B. animalis) is beneficial in people with constipation IBS, it protects intestinal cells from damage by gluten in celiac disease and stimulates the production of antibodies.
Lactobacillus acidophilus helps to digest carbohydrates, is highly resistant to stomach acid, and helps with FODMAP intolerances.
L. bulgaricus, L. buchneri, L. helveticus, L. hilgardi, and L. reuteri can cause histamine reactions.
L. casei can also cause a histamine reaction. It’s found in our mouths and intestines and in fermented foods, it inhibits Helicobacter pylori infections, helps in antibiotic and infectious diarrhea, speeds the recovery of pneumonia and helps chronic fatigue syndrome.
L. plantarum is found in fermented foods and the gastrointestinal tract and prevents pathogens. It has antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic properties and helps with weight loss.
L. rhamnosus is very resistant to stomach acid and bile, it’s found in the mouth, gastrointestinal tract, vagina and urinary tract in women, treats rotavirus diarrhea, eczema but can cause infections in those with weakened immune systems.
Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast that promotes anti-yeast activity, prevents and treats diarrhea, stimulates the immune system, inhibits inflammation, and treats travellers’ diarrhea.
Streptococcus thermophilus helps digest lactose but can cause a histamine reaction in some people. It has antioxidant, reduces the risk of some types of cancer, is anti-inflammatory and stimulates our immune systems.
Where to find them
Probiotics can be found in fermented foods and in supplements. Common fermented foods include yogurt (look for live and active cultures), kefir, sauerkraut (look for unpasteurized), kimchi, miso, kombucha and tempeh.
Supplements come in capsules, tablets, and powders. Some need refrigeration while others are shelf stable. It’s best to purchase them from a health food store, where they understand the appropriate storage conditions.
What to look for when buying
When buying probiotics, you want to look at the number and types of different bacteria, the number of active cells, whether they need to be refrigerated or not, the number of Colony Forming Units (CFU), and the dosage. Some probiotics may be found in the store’s refrigerator only to extend their shelf life, while others need to be refrigerated to keep their potency. CFU is the number of alive and active microorganisms in one serving. When comparing different probiotics, keep in mind the dose. You might need to take it once a day versus three times a day.
Know that probiotics only temporarily modify your gut bacteria, so you need to take them regularly.
Consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian to choose the right supplement for your specific health concerns.
Dose and timing
Probiotics have a better chance of surviving our stomach acid when taken with food. If you’re on antibiotics, the general rule is to take your probiotics at least 2-3 hours before or after a meal. Follow the instructions on the bottle of your probiotic.
Side effects
Side effects are rare but some people may experience mild stomach upset, diarrhea, gas or bloating for the first few days. Sometimes the body just needs to get used to an increased number of good bacteria, or it could mean you have an imbalance in your microbiome.
To reduce the side effects, you can try taking them at night when you have less food in your stomach or decrease the dose for a couple of days and then gradually increase it.
Our guts do a lot more than digest our food. Maintaining a healthy biome with probiotics makes for a healthier you!
]]>Sun damage can’t be completely reversed but treatments from a dermatologist claim to improve the appearance of most types of sun damage. UV radiation changes the DNA in your skin. Sun damage can result in sunburn, age spots, broken capillaries, poikiloderma, wrinkles, rough skin texture, loss of skin elasticity, redness/blotchiness, melasma, and can lead to skin cancer.
Almost all dermatological treatments work by removing a layer or two of skin.
A dermatologist can prescribe retinoids for wrinkles, age spots, loose skin, roughness and blotchiness. Retinoids are more beneficial when treating early signs of sun damage but can cause irritation, sun sensitivity, redness and dryness. Most treatments are for 18 months.
A chemical peel is supposed to help with wrinkles and age spots but may lead to redness, blisters, itching, skin sensitivity, dermatitis and swelling. Possible risks include scarring, reactivation of cold sores, heart, kidney or liver damage and change in skin colour. You will need to avoid the sun for several months. Treatments could be required weekly to yearly and on average, 5 treatments are required. Recovery from treatments range from one to 14 days.
Laser treatments are performed for age spots, wrinkles, loose skin, spider veins, and blotchiness and are relatively pain free. There are different types of lasering. Skin may be pink and irritated and inflamed, and you must avoid UV exposure. Recovery can take a few weeks and redness can last for months for some laser treatments. Usually 3-6 treatments are required, every 3-4 weeks or 1-2 years depending on the laser.
Microdermabrasion can help reduce wrinkles, melasma, age spots and blotchiness and you may experience redness and swelling. There is a risk of scarring, infection, acne breakouts, loss of skin colour, and tissue damage.
And the list goes on with intense-pulsed light, cryosurgery, ultrasound, and non-invasive radio frequency.
I’m not a fan of paying $100+ per treatment and having side effects and recovery time. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, I just prefer a more natural, gentle, and cost-effective method. From my own personal experience, I know that using natural ingredients can certainly reduce pigmentation.
I’ve experienced sunburns most of my life, and they turn into tans. The worst burn I ever had was when I blistered from my chest to my feet. I’m talking big blisters that hung over my pants. I used to go to tanning salons, especially before a trip to Mexico, so that I reduced my chances of bad sunburns while I was there. I confess I’ve always loved the look of a tan and I love the way the heat feels on your skin.
But…I now have age spots, broken capillaries and poikiloderma because of my UV exposure.
About a year ago, I noticed these strange red/brown web-like marks on my neck. My doctor sent me to a dermatologist who had her own clinic. She recognized the marks right away as the common poikiloderma. This is sun damage on the front of your neck, except for under your chin, which is in the shade when you’re outdoors.
She gave me two options. I could use a retinoid cream for 6 months or go for laser treatments for three months. I opted for the cream prescription – I wasn’t in a hurry. Even though it had ingredients I usually avoid, I thought I’d give it a try.
So, I used this retinoid cream for six months to the day, every day, and didn’t see much, if any, difference. That’s when I decided to help myself. I explored what ingredients I could use and found that avocado oil, camellia seed oil, carrot tissue oil, olive oil, and pomegranate oil were beneficial. I decided on camellia seed oil because of its benefits; and it is nongreasy, affordable and has a long shelf life.
Camellia seed oil is an antioxidant and is anti-aging. It heals scars, lightens age spots, reduces the appearance of fine lines, loose skin, and sun damage. And it may help with collagen.
I added camellia seed oil to my Anti-Aging Face & Eye Serum and noticed a difference over a couple of months.
Since then, I’m much more diligent about using sunscreen or covering up outside. This summer I took a job as a Parks Worker so I’m outside every day, all day. I use my Dry Skin Face Lotion with zinc oxide in the summer (instead of my Anti-Aging Serum) and within a couple of months my neck was noticeably darker again.
So you can bet I’ll be adding camellia seed oil to my face lotions. Camellia seed oil is reasonably priced, doesn’t damage your skin, has no unpleasant side effects and no recovery is required!
]]>I never intended for this to be an all-purpose type of spray – it was complete serendipity! I had been researching what ingredients to use for a bug bite soother, an after-sun spray, and a facial toner. And wouldn’t you know it, they had many ingredients in common.
I’ll review the ingredients so you can see why they are beneficial for so many reasons.
Witch hazel is the main ingredient, and it tones skin, removes excess dirt and oil, and tightens pores. It’s non-irritating and gentle enough for problem skin and is an antioxidant. It soothes cracked or blistered skin, insect bites, poison ivy, minor burns, wounds and minor pain and itching. And it is cooling.
Aside from these, witch hazel has other uses which include healing/soothing bruises, sores, psoriasis, eczema, ingrown nails, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, dermatitis, inflammation, arthritis, heavy menstrual flow, and cellulite. It stabilizes collagen and elastin, produces histamines to prevent allergic reactions, provides some UV protection and improves circulation.
Water is another main ingredient that is used as a carrier and to dilute the witch hazel, which helps to keep the cost down.
Aloe is soothing, cooling, softening and moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-itch, antiseptic, and antibacterial. I know, it’s a lot of antis! It’s good for all skin types, for burns, and repairs damaged skin and wounds.
Aloe is also beneficial for psoriasis, pigmentation, frostbite, osteoarthritis and cold sores, UV protecting, as a skin lightener, anti-allergen, and for stretchmarks.
Peppermint essential oil is astringent, anti-inflammatory, cooling, analgesic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiseptic, it soothes broken capillaries, acne, and rosacea, reduces redness, sunburn, and itching, and helps congested skin, hot flashes, insect bites, and tired aching feet.
This essential oil has many other benefits, including but certainly not limited to, relieving gastrointestinal issues, travel sickness, and food poisoning. It improves gum health, psoriasis, sense of taste, memory health, allergies, hay fever, asthma, sinus infections, bronchitis, respiratory infections, herpes, cold sores, colds and flu, sore throat, hives, boils, fever, sore muscles, PMS cramps, arthritis, athlete’s foot, bruises, circulation, dizziness, headaches, migraines, sciatica, strains, sprains, and weight loss.
Lavender essential oil is deodorizing, hydrating, reduces broken capillaries and redness and scars, helps acne, wrinkles, dry cracked skin, burns, itching, oily and dry skin and rosacea. It’s an antioxidant, is calming to the skin, antifungal, antimicrobial, antiseptic, soothes insect bites and stings and balances hormones.
Additionally, some other benefits of lavender oil are that it is a sedative, antihistamine, disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. It helps repel bugs, high cortisol, dermatitis, psoriasis, varicose veins, warts, cellulite, nervous tension, mental exhaustion, depression, irritability, anxiety, panic attacks, hysteria, burnout, cognitive performance, jetlag, phobias, vertigo, sundowning, headache, migraine, insomnia, arthritis, rheumatism, muscle aches and pains, lumbago, sprains, lower blood pressure, bronchitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, throat infections, whooping cough, allergies, asthma, hay fever, hives, circulation, gastrointestinal disorders, nausea, colds, flu, painful menstruation, fibroids, PMS, labour, stress, abscesses, boils, shingles, athlete’s foot, stretch marks, wounds, and bruises.
We use a solubilizer that is naturally derived from coconut oil to emulsify a small amount of oil in larger amount of water so that it doesn’t separate. It is also gentle, soothing, and non-irritating.
Our natural preservative is antimicrobial and protects the product from contamination, extending its shelf life.
Vitamin E. is a powerful antioxidant, soothes burns, reduces pigmentation, is anti-inflammatory, repairs damaged skin, deeply cleanses pores and balances oil production, smooths skin and increases hydration.
It also boosts circulation, soothes arthritis, and repairs wounds.
Our Lavender & Mint Body Spray comes in two sizes, a small that easily fits in a purse, backpack or gym bag and a medium for having around the house or for family use.
Here’s what a couple of our customers have to say about our spray:
"I live in Ontario ...having just moved from Fort Saskatchewan, AB. I have been buying your spray for a long time to help with hot flashes. You should know it saved my life and I now have friends wanting some. We can’t find anything like it here." Cherie B
"The best thing ever! My son and I are both feasts for mosquitoes and this takes away the itch instantly. Because it isn't itchy our mosquito bites heal much quicker. Leading to much quicker relief! Thank you so much for developing this product!" Nedine T
Tell us, what else do you use it for?
]]>Magnesium is important because it is involved in over 300 chemical reactions in the body. Here are a few of them:
Magnesium can also be used in the prevention and treatment of migraines (migraine sufferers usually have low magnesium levels), metabolic syndrome, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, asthma, insomnia, premenstrual syndrome, constipation, preeclampsia, and cardiac arrhythmias. And it may give you energy.
Those who are more likely to have a magnesium deficiency are those with gastrointestinal diseases, type 2 diabetes, long term alcoholism, and the elderly.
A magnesium deficiency has no symptoms in the short term. However, a chronic deficiency may include the following symptoms:
How much do you need? This table from the National Institute of Health shows your total daily requirement based on age.
The best way to get your magnesium is through a good diet. The following foods are high in magnesium:
If you don’t get enough from your diet, or if you have symptoms of a deficiency, you may want to ask your doctor for a blood test or consider supplements. A friend had asked me about magnesium supplements and sleep. She had been taking 100mg but still wasn't sleeping well. I told her to try 200mg and she reports that she's never slept better!
Magnesium is available in many easily absorbed forms including, but not limited to, aspartate, citrate, lactate, chloride and bisglycinate. If you are being treated for osteoporosis, acid reflux, or peptic ulcers or taking antibiotics, diuretics or high levels of zinc, discuss magnesium supplements with your doctor first.
And finally, you can absorb magnesium topically. Recent studies have found that magnesium permeates the skin through hair follicles, and topical application significantly boosted magnesium levels in blood. One advantage of topical magnesium is that it is faster than oral supplements as it goes directly to your blood stream instead of through your digestive system.
This is especially beneficial for pain and inflammation as you get faster relief.
There is evidence for pain reduction using topicals for post-operative sore throat and pain, back pain, and labour pain. Although I’m fortunate to only experience pain when I injure myself, I have used it on my knees and back for relief.
Last year I was at a market in Fort Saskatchewan when someone asked if I had anything for pain, as he was experiencing a sore neck. He sampled my Magnesium Butter and walked around the market. Not long after, he came back to my table surprised that it worked and bought a jar.
I started making Magnesium Butter when a customer who was also a massage therapist, asked if I made it. She was leaving Alberta and didn’t want to leave her customers without a supplier.
So, if you’re planning to increase your magnesium intake, know that you can’t eat too much magnesium through diet. However, if you take too many supplements you may experience:
Are you getting enough?
]]>Chicken
Let’s tackle chicken first as its probably the most confusing, especially with the marketing being used. We have free run chicken and eggs, which means the chickens must be allowed to move around freely, although not necessarily outdoors. Then there is free range chicken and eggs which means the chickens must have access to the outdoors.
In Canada, laws require that all chicken must be at least free run and hormones are banned. Despite this, some companies label their chicken and eggs this way as a marketing tactic. All chickens are mostly grain fed, with their feed containing at least 85% grains.
The only thing allowed in chicken is antibiotics, but chickens must be residue free before being slaughtered.
Organic chicken requires that they are fed organic feed (no genetically modified feed) and they are given no antibiotics or supplements.
And when it comes to eggs, the colour of the egg is only reflective of the colour of the hen. There is no nutritional difference between white and brown eggs. We are just conditioned that brown is healthier than white (rice, bread, etc.).
Beef
Both synthetic hormones and antibiotics may be used but there can be no residues at the time of slaughter. Cows can be fed Genetically Modified (GM) feed.
Organic beef means its free from hormones and antibiotics and fed organic feed.
For dairy products, synthetic hormones are not allowed, and antibiotics can be used but there must be no residue.
Organic dairy requires that cows are fed organic feed.
Pork
No hormones are allowed in pork and antibiotics can be used but there must be no residue at the time of slaughter.
Organic pork requires that pigs are fed organic feed.
So, to summarize, antibiotics may be given to all these livestock, but no meat should contain any residue. Organic meat means the animals must have been fed an organic diet, and it is free of hormones and antibiotics. Only cows raised for meat can be given hormones. Depending on the source, this is either because:
Currently Canadian meat sources cannot be GM and GMOs are not considered organic. Last year Health Canada announced changes to rules about genetically modified food production in Canada and how it will regulate the sale of gene-edited food, despite the opposition from 100 groups in Canada. There is no clear, independent process for testing, monitoring or identification. Which means there is no way to identify GM products in the grocery store. Health Canada did this with no public statement and no media release.
Even the US requires GMO labelling!
Here's Health Canada’s responses to all the concerns as well as the responses from the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network.
So, it’s up to you to decide, based on what’s important to you. Do you care how chickens live? Are you concerned about hormones and antibiotics even with the no residue rule?
Right now, I feel pretty confident in eating Canadian meat. Because I don’t consume a lot of it, I will continue to buy free range and organic when the price allows, but you can bet I’ll be keeping an eye out for any GMO information. ]]>Herbs have been used for centuries, not just for flavouring food but for their beneficial properties. As we learn more about their health benefits, we quickly come to realize that nature has provided us with a treasure chest of useful plants. In this article, we'll explore some of the herbs that grow well in Alberta and discuss their many health benefits.
Herb? Or Spice?
First let’s narrow the list by defining what a herb is. Herbs are derived from the leafy and green part of the plant, while spices come from other parts of the plant, such as the root, bark, or seeds. Herbs can be consumed as teas, tinctures, or supplements, and some have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, or antibacterial properties.
Spices, on the other hand, tend to be used in smaller quantities and are generally used for their flavor rather than potential health benefits. While both herbs and spices have their own unique benefits, incorporating herbs into your daily routine may help to promote overall health and well-being.
Herbs That Grow Well in Alberta
Here are five herbs that thrive in my Edmonton garden
Note: it is important to use essential oils with caution and consult a healthcare professional before using them for therapeutic purposes.
Happy gardening!
]]>Our Anti-Aging Eye & Face Serum has been our best-selling product for the past two years. This came as no surprise to me as when I first tried it three years ago, I couldn’t stop touching my face – it was so soft!! Although it’s gone through some changes, it keeps getting better.
This anti-aging serum contains rosehip oil, borage oil, camellia seed oil, geranium essential oil, bergamot essential oil, rose absolute essential oil and squalane.
Here’s why it’s a best seller…
You must start with the right blend of carrier oils. There are at least 50 carrier oils, and they all differ in properties (such as absorption and shelf life), benefits and price.
Rosehip oil is a must for any anti-aging product as it contains antioxidants, vitamins A and E and essential fatty acids (it is high in linoleic and alpha linolenic acids). It absorbs easily, is non-greasy and astringent, and has a one-year shelf life. Rosehip oil promotes an increase in collagen, moisturizes, promotes an even skin tone, firms, assists with cell regeneration, reduces the appearance of age spots, redness, broken capillaries, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, stretchmarks, and scars, and is anti-inflammatory, helps eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, rosacea, and burns. It is suitable for all skin types but may aggravate acne. It can be used on its own but it’s pricier than most carrier oils.
Borage oil is high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (it has the highest known source of gamma linoleic acid) and isused in premium skin care products. It has a very slow absorption rating and has a shelf life of 2 years. It promotes cell regeneration, improves the skin barrier, is anti-inflammatory, reduces redness, is astringent, reduces the destruction of collagen, helps atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, and minimizes pores. It is best for dry, damaged skin and is more expensive than rosehip oil.
I recently added camellia seed oil to the blend specifically because it helps with sun damage. It’s one of the richest oils in oleic acid and it also contains linoleic acids, antioxidants, squalane, vitamins A and E, magnesium, and zinc. It has a fast absorption rate, is nongreasy and noncomedogenic and has a shelf life of two years. Camellia seed oil nourishes, rejuvenates, restores and protects, strengthens, lifts and firms, hydrates, soothes, softens and smooths, heals scars, is antimicrobial, anti-aging, and anti-inflammatory. It helps cellulite, stretchmarks, loose skin, fine lines and may help with collagen. It’s suitable for dry, sensitive, acne-prone, and mature skin and is a fairly inexpensive oil.
Let’s move on to the essential oils that we selected for this blend. Essential oils have different scent strengths, benefits, and properties. It’s also important to make sure the essential oils blend well together for a pleasant scent.
Geranium essential oil has a fairly strong scent and is good for hydrating and nourishing mature skin. It helps wounds, poor circulation, broken capillaries, shingles, dry cracked skin, balance sebum production, inflammation, psoriasis, acne, eczema, oily skin, fade scars and blemishes, clogged pores, dull skin, rosacea, dry eczema, bruising, and burns. Geranium is soothing, cooling, astringent, eliminates excess toxins and reduces redness and the appearance of varicose and thread veins. It has a shelf life of 4-5 years.
Bergamot essential oil has a subtle scent and great anti-aging properties. It’s good for acne, oily, dry, and cracked skin, broken capillaries, cold sores, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, shingles, and wounds. Bergamot reduces redness and scars, is a skin toner and detoxifier, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and an antioxidant with a shelf life of 1-4 years.
Rose absolute essential oil has a strong scent and anti-aging properties. It’s good for acne, oily skin, dry and cracked skin, mature skin, sensitive skin, wrinkles, clogged pores, broken capillaries, thread veins, dermatitis, psoriasis, and rosacea. Rose is hydrating, anti-inflammatory, promotes healing, reduces redness and scars, has high antioxidant activity, and may help with skin regeneration. It has a shelf life of 5-6 years.
And finally, squalane. Squalane is derived from olive oil and is a luxurious and sophisticated moisturizer that absorbs easily. It is the more stable version of squalene which our body produces but this production declines with age, leaving us with dry skin. It has emollient and antioxidant properties, regulates sebum, moisturizes, soothes and softens, protects from UV radiation, and enhances the skin barrier. Squalane helps skin appear brighter, helps retain moisture, improves firmness and elasticity, reduces redness and irritation, and is cruelty free, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. It is suitable for all skin types, is non-comedogenic, and gentle enough to be used neat. Squalane has a shelf life of 2 years.
Depending on how dry your skin is, place 3-8 drops of face serum in the palm of your hand. Use your fingertips to gently press the serum to your face. Apply once or twice daily.
The Anti-Aging Face Serum comes in a 30ml dropper bottle. If you were to use 6 drops once per day, a bottle would last you about three months.
Here’s what our customers are saying about it:
“Love this product.”
“I’ve been using the Anti-Aging Eye and Face Serum for a month, and I’m really impressed with how my skin has changed. The tiny wrinkles on my cheeks are much less noticeable and the skin around my eyes is no longer itchy and inflamed. I love this serum. It is such a treat to once again have soft, smoother skin.”
“For years I had been using a brand name cream, aware that there were chemicals in it that possibly weren’t as safe as a natural product. The last few years my face always felt dry. My skin needed some TLC. Then I happened to try Serendipity Body Products’ face serum. Within a few days, my face felt softer and smoother and felt moisturized. Thank you Serendipity.”
]]>Most of us have experienced acid reflux after a big meal or coffee or alcohol. It’s when stomach acid flows into the esophagus. However, when this happens frequently, it is diagnosed as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Symptoms can include heartburn, feeling like you have a lump in your throat, regurgitation of food or liquid, trouble swallowing and coughing. It can lead to less sleep and a worsening of asthma symptoms. GERD and asthma seem to be related but it's not known how yet.
GERD should not be ignored. Our stomach acid can cause scar tissue to form which leads to a narrowing of the esophagus which can lead to problems swallowing. It can also cause ulcers and lead to cancer.
If you have GERD, you probably know your triggers. The most common are coffee, alcohol, spicy foods, greasy food, tomatoes, chocolate, overeating and smoking. To reduce symptoms, don’t eat in the evening, eat smaller amounts, lose weight (if you’re overweight), stop smoking, and raise the head of your bed.
And you’ve probably been prescribed antacids, histamine blockers or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Antacids (Rolaids, Tums, etc.) can help your symptoms quickly but won’t heal any damage. Overuse can lead to diarrhea and kidney problems. Histamine blockers (Tagamet HB, Pepcid AC, Axid AR, etc.) provide longer relief and may decrease acid production for up to 12 hours.
A PPI (esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, dexlansoprazole, etc.) blocks stomach acid and allows time for damage to heal. Because doctors give these prescriptions out like candy, it is the most prescribed medication. These can cause diarrhea, nausea, headaches, and low levels of magnesium and vitamin B12. Additionally, they are associated with a decrease in gut bacteria. When you don’t have a balance of good bacteria in your gut this can lead to acid reflux or GERD. Recent studies also suggest long term use can lead to osteoporosis related fractures, infection leading to colitis, malabsorption of calcium and iron, dementia, pneumonia, kidney disease and stroke, atrophic gastritis (inflammation and thinning of the stomach lining), hypergastrinemia (high or low levels of stomach acid), gastric polyps and gastric cancer. You should only take these for a limited time (usually three months maximum).
We tend to assume that any acid reflux symptom is due to high stomach acid levels. However, low levels of stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) have very similar symptoms to those of too much stomach acid. Low stomach acid is often overlooked and not well understood by doctors and even gastroenterologists. And we tend to produce less stomach acid as we age. If you don’t have enough stomach acid, you can’t digest properly which means you can’t absorb the nutrients. This can lead to small intestine bacteria overgrowth (SIBO). It also increases your risk of Heliobacter pylori overgrowth, associated with gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.
This poor digestion can create gas bubbles that rise into your esophagus causing similar symptoms. bWhat frequently happens is you’re then prescribed medication to lower your already low stomach acid, which instead just makes your condition worse. Or you’ve been on PPIs too long and now you’re not producing enough stomach acid (this happened to me). Which is why doing the baking soda test before you visit your doctor is a good idea. One of the symptoms I had with low stomach acid was feeling like I wanted to eat all the time.
The baking soda test is an at home do-it-yourself test you can do to check your stomach acid levels. They are not as accurate as stomach acid tests but are easy and free and give you a place to start. And it doesn’t taste that bad. To conduct the test, mix ¼ tsp of baking soda in ½ cup water. Drink this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and start a timer to see how long it takes you to burp. The baking soda combines with your stomach acid and creates carbon dioxide. If it takes longer than 3-5 minutes, it’s likely you have low acid. Less than 30 seconds usually indicates high stomach acid.
You can also test for and treat low stomach acid by taking a hydrochloric acid (HCL) supplement but consult a healthcare provider first. There are two methods of taking these supplements; one with every meal OR slowly increasing the daily dose until your stomach starts making enough acid again. Knowing when to stop increasing the dosage is tricky business, so get some help or advice. HCL supplements are not for everyone and there may be underlying causes to your low stomach acid which you should have checked out (prescriptions, health condition or bacterial infection).
To help reduce symptoms, essential oils can be inhaled, put in the bath, or massaged (clockwise over abdomen), especially clary sage, ginger, and marjoram. Angelica, anise seed, cardamom, cinnamon leaf, clove, and valerian essentials can also help. To use in massage or the bath, be sure to dilute the essential oils in a carrier oil, liquid soap, or lotion first.
Carob may reduce acid reflux and it’s an excellent source of vitamins A, B2, B3 and B6, copper, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. It’s also high in fibre and protein. And it can replace chocolate if it’s one of your acid reflux triggers! One study found that infants fed a formula with carob bean gum showed significant decreases in all symptoms.
Finally, try a detox. This is what made my GERD symptoms disappear (I followed the detox in the Clean Gut book by Alejandro Junger). A good gut detox removes many acid forming foods from the diet, cleanses the digestive system, and reduces inflammation in the gut, which in turn leads to a reduction or an elimination of many health problems.
Here’s a fun fact for you. Lemons are known to be acidic as well as alkaline. Lemons are acidic (pH of 2) before they are eaten. Once the body processes them, they have an alkalizing effect. Isn’t the body amazing?!
]]>There are over 1600 types of native bees in Canada and most of them are solitary ground dwellers. Honeybees are essential for fruit, nut and vegetable crops. They can learn and communicate and have incredible sense of smell, however they have a low resistance to pathogens and their bodies don’t have a good detox system.
You know those times where a certain thing will come into your life multiple times within a short timeframe? Well, that’s how it was with me and the bees. I happened to take a webinar on Olfaction and the Honeybee, I received a couple of research studies about bees and essential oils, and I came across a book that I was instantly drawn to. For the rest of this article, I will give you the “Coles Notes” version of “A Spring Without Bees” by Michael Schacker (2008). I highly recommend giving it a read.
Starting in 2005 bee die-offs were reported in the US in 36 states. With mites and viruses, a beehive dies a slow death. Mites have been around and causing problems for years. A bad infection can kill a hive in a couple of months to four years. With pesticide poisoning, bee bodies would pile up on the ground below the hive. However, bees had flown off and never returned. Honey and pollen were left in the hive and not stolen by other bees or insects. This later became known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). And this can happen in as little as a week. Most cases happened close to corn, cotton, soybeans, canola, sunflower, apples, and pumpkin crops.
Soon other European countries were reporting the same thing. So, what was going on?
It seems it was pesticides that farmers were using on their crops to get rid of pests. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can approve barely tested chemicals through the loophole of a “temporary emergency authorization”. Hundreds of these get one- or two-year extensions without any further testing. Additionally, these chemical companies give universities huge research grants and donations in exchange for teaching how to use the toxin safely. And dare I say, some advice on what research to focus on.
Organic beekeepers do not use chemicals, instead of miticides they use essential oils. And to be organic they must be in the middle of nowhere, far from places using pesticides.
However, back in 1994, beekeepers in France had noticed CCD. They realized that a new insecticide had just been released and was being applied to sunflowers and it was known to be highly toxic to bees. The suspected ingredient was imidacloprid (IMD) which is like DDT. Bees lose their desire to feed, and they disappear from their hives. In 1994 the beekeepers asked Bayer for a study on how sublethal doses may affect honeybees. Bayer’s original test documents said only the plant’s roots would absorb IMD and that it would never reach the flowers. Additionally, they said 5000 parts per billion (PPB) was lethal to bees. They revised these documents to say the lethal dose for bees was 50-100 PPB. They declared it safe for bees since any nectar would never reach 50 PPB. The beekeepers found flaws in Bayer’s research and honey production was plunging in France, so they appealed to their government. The Agricultural Ministry had close ties to the agrochemical industry. The government spent money on studies to resolve the conflict and the researchers got down to testing less than 1PPB. They discovered that 6PPB could make the bees groggy, impairing their short-term memory and normal foraging.
The beekeepers claimed that the heavy use of IMD coincided with areas of CCD outbreaks. However, the department decided it could not resolve the “contradiction” between their own scientists’ research and that of Bayer so they continued trials for another year as “more study was needed”, a common delay tactic.
The beekeepers were losing their hives and had one last chance. They held a protest to try to convince the agriculture minister to overrule. The protest worked. The minister suspended use of IMD on sunflowers until it could be proven safe.
Bayer defended itself and sued to have the decision cancelled. Bayer lost. They lost again in 1999 when the Netherlands found that IMD persisted in the soil too long, small birds eating the IMD painted seeds got lethal doses and that the honeybee toxicity did not meet safety policies. Bayer fought back, giving the Dutch government mountains of paper and university professor’s opinions, claiming new scientific data. Unfortunately, they won that round.
Oh, how I detest the big bad corporations.
Research continued and it was found that when the seed was painted with IMD, the nectar itself could have an unsafe level at 5PPB. They also found that IMD degraded into even more toxic metabolites. The French changed their focus to bioavailability. Corn syrup used to feed the bees was contaminated with IMD, along with the nectar they collected as well as the tainted pollen they picked up on their legs. They were drinking IMD contaminated water and eating contaminated honey and pollen.
In 2001 Bayer conducted more of its own studies, but over a short period, in a lab, and found no effects at 20PPB. They swear their products are safe!
French studies detected the presence of IMD in the soil where only one treatment was applied two years prior.
After IMD was suspended for three years, the bees didn’t come back immediately in 2003 and 2004. Bayer said the missing bees was proof that it wasn’t IMD. However, another insecticide, containing fipronil (and sold by BASF), was now being used on sunflowers. Additionally, IMD was being applied to many other crops and was retained in the soil for years.
A case of bee mortality was reported due to fipronil use so the beekeepers demanded its use be suspended too. In 2004, the government extended the suspension of IMD on sunflowers and now corn as well.
In 2004, Bayer and BASF were being investigated in France because the chemicals lacked the proper authorization for widespread use (they were still using that emergency loophole). Bayer’s lawyers delayed the court case and finally handed over evidence in 2007.
Meanwhile, other countries were finding out about these chemicals. Germany turned down the IMD ban request despite the results of the French studies.
In France in 2005, the bees started coming back! In 2006, the loss of bees had stopped. However, the beekeepers continue to fight as Bayer attempts to introduce new insecticides.
Other European countries which hadn’t banned IMD were starting to suffer their own losses from CCD. But these big bad businesses claimed a disinformation campaign, then introduced other theories on mites or viruses, or bee management or a combination of things saying that more study was needed. The industry denied any link between their products and damage to bees. The UK and Canada governments both denied they had CCD despite major losses of hives.
Australia and New Zealand had no CCD and this is backed up by the beekeepers themselves. Both countries stress integrated pest management, which relies on biological controls and the use of pesticide only when counts demand it.
Meanwhile, back in the US, Americans have not been told what’s happening as the press favours sensationalist reporting. A CNN reporter asked where have all the bees gone – nobody knows was her report. No mention of the studies in France. The EPA thinks CCD is a mystery. In 2002, during the Bush administration, pesticides were basically deregulated, and tolerance levels were increased by the EPA, violating their own guidelines. They basically removed the 10X safety factor to protect children and embryos. The public was never told, and neither were the beekeepers. When it was discovered, the EPA was sued.
Ten states without CCD also don’t use IMD. The remaining states use very little IMD. Why does the US claim uncertainty and schedule 5 year long studies while France has perfectly good research? Well, those donations seem to allow corporations to pick and choose the research the university will undertake. And these corporations influence the government through their campaign donations. In France, corporate influence is much weaker.
The EPA held a meeting in 2005 with pesticide industry representatives. Meeting notes show that goal number one was to create loopholes in testing regulations so that children could actually be used for chemical exposure experiments!
This was tried before in Florida in 2004 before it was cancelled. The EPA announced an experiment in Florida where 60 children would be exposed to pesticides and other household chemicals for two years. In exchange, parents would receive $970, some children’s clothing and a camcorder.
Luckily the loophole was caught and no testing of children occurred.
The EPA, without public notice, closed its special library of pollution and test data used by staff scientists to approve or reject chemicals. Those wishing to sue over illegal actions were also cut off. The studies were thrown in boxes and stored in a basement cafeteria. They claim to be digitizing the documents but have no budget or timetable.
In 2007 it’s the beekeepers who took on the entire Establishment, some of the most powerful people in the world. They wrote a letter to the growers’ association, pleading them not to spray before the bees arrived but many growers refused to stop spraying. Beekeepers are hired to bring their bees to a grower’s field and let them go pollinate. As a result, some apiaries refused customers if they planned to use or used IMD. Since then, these apiaries have seen an increase in hives.
So, to make a long article longer, I wondered what had happened in the last 15 years and poked around. Apparently, the EPA’s special library digitization project is still a plan (they’ve been planning since 2006). The EPA says that reported cases of CCD have declined substantially. So much so that they stopped reporting on it in 2014. US beekeepers lost 44% of bees in 2015-16 in a national survey of beekeepers supported by various agencies.
France banned fipronil in 2005 and Europe banned it in 2013. Europe banned IMD in 2018. Fipronil was also banned in Canada and the US. In 2021, Bayer tried to overturn the European ban from 2018 but it was dismissed.
In Canada in 2013, pesticides were found in 70% of the dead bees tested by Health Canada. In 2014, CBC reported that scientists said that pesticides linked to bee death must be banned. Canadian beekeepers sued Bayer in 2014 over pesticides and bee death. Canada was going to ban IMD in 2016 but they received “new information and research” and changed their mind. They did however increase restrictions to protect bees in 2019 (timing of application and restricted areas). As of 2021 it is still in use, with restrictions. This article in May 2022 talks about how we’ve lost 45% of our bee population right here in Alberta. https://globalnews.ca/news/8831682/alberta-honey-bees-high-mortality-rate-2022/
I found Canada Agriculture and Food Museum’s website that stated CCD started in the early 2000s in Canada and the cause is still a mystery!
How you can help:
Gynecomastia is a rare condition where breast tissue grows in boys or men due to an imbalance of estrogen and testosterone. In 2007, three boys reportedly had the condition at the same medical facility. They allegedly were all using topical products containing lavender and tea tree essential oils. The doctor had them stop using these products and their gynecomastia went away. The doctor concluded that tea tree and lavender oil were estrogenic.
However, as experts point out, a sample of three boys is not a significant sample size. The products were not identified, nor the ingredients in these products. So, we can’t be certain that they even contained essential oils! Additionally, many of the products were wash off products or used in small quantities, which would not allow enough essential oils to be absorbed into the skin and into the body to cause any significant effect. The lavender smell could have come from a fragrance oil, which contained phthalates, a known hormone disruptor, or it could have been another ingredient altogether. Many synthetic preservatives contain parabens and parabens are potential endocrine disruptors.
In 2007 a laboratory experiment was also conducted in test tubes using a couple of chemicals found in tea tree and lavender essential oils on breast cancer cells. It was concluded that lavender and tea tree oil have estrogenic and anti-androgenic properties. Well, experts again pointed out the flaws with this study. Because it happens in a test tube doesn’t mean it will happen in the human body. And they used breast cancer cells, not the normal cells that most of us are carrying. Additionally, essential oils are known to leach phthalates out of plastic and guess what? They used plastic containers in this study.
In 2016 and 2019, studies again claimed that the lavender containing products caused gynecomastia. Again, the products used were mostly wash off and there was no evidence they contained lavender. They said the products were purple and smelled like lavender. Real scientific! Lavender oil isn’t purple but synthetic colours are and they contain carcinogens. Again, they used small groups of 3-4 children. It’s unbelievable to me that such bad science is still being conducted.
Why would someone repeat such bad science? Perhaps some were afraid of the natural health movement gaining momentum. Knowing that the media likes to sensationalize these stories, they hoped to curb that momentum.
In 2021, a proper study was done by Jessie Hawkins, which included 556 children, using the complete essential oils and no causation was found.
However, many websites (even respectable ones) reported the earlier findings and have not updated them to reflect this latest study. If you do a search on the web, the first five pages or so give you results saying that lavender and tea tree cause breast growth in boys. And these studies are still being referenced in other studies.
If you’d like to read more, look for articles published by Robert Tisserand, the Tisserand Institute, Dr. Robert Pappas or Salvatore Battaglia.
]]>If you’re planning to use essential oils when you have cancer or are/were receiving treatment, please see an aromatherapist trained in cancer care. And always clear this with your oncologist ahead of time.
Essential oils can help with symptoms of cancer and with the side effects of treatment. Essential oils can reduce bruises, scars, stress (frankincense), anxiety (frankincense), depression, fatigue (frankincense) and pain (lavender, ginger, peppermint). They can also help relieve nausea, redness, rashes, dryness, burning, and itching from treatment.
However, some essential oils can interfere with treatment. Avoid essential oils one week before and one month after chemotherapy. There are some essential oils that protect our cells, and this may extend to cancer cells. Additionally, some essential oils can interfere with the metabolism of chemotherapy drugs, making them less effective. For radiation, some essential oils are phototoxic which could cause worse burns. Additionally, some oils have radiation protective properties which could make treatment less effective.
You may have heard that frankincense oil can kill cancer cells. Well, boswellic acid is antitumoral, however it exists in frankincense extract and not at all in frankincense essential oil.
There are some studies showing promise that some essential oils inhibit cancer cells, help prevent cancer or have anticancer properties, but more research is needed.
And don’t forget the caregiver! Selfcare for the caregiver tends to decline and they can experience anger, depression, fear, hopelessness, anxiety, worry, fatigue, stress, and loss of sleep. Some essential oils to help them include lavender, peppermint, spearmint, bergamot, lemon, sweet orange, lemongrass, ginger, frankincense, and cardamom.
And finally, in the case of estrogen dependent cancers, avoid aniseed and sweet fennel essential oils.
]]>When we can’t seem to lose weight, we tend to blame it on our metabolism, especially as we get older. However, our metabolism plays a minor role in weight loss, with the usual cause being poor diet and inactivity. And a recent study shows that our metabolism hits a plateau from our 20s until we’re 60. After 60, our metabolism only slows by 1% per year.
Metabolism is a chemical process where the body changes food and drink into energy. It’s regulated by our thyroid hormones and determined by our genes.
So, what can we do to boost our metabolism?
Adequate sleep is important in regulating metabolism. Sleep deprivation usually leads to hunger and eating foods high in fat and carbs, late night snacking, and skipping exercise.
Don’t diet! When you don’t eat enough calories, it can decrease your metabolism. Count your calories to make sure you’re not overeating. Monitor your calorie intake until you get the hang of it but don’t obsess over it.
Drink green tea. One study showed that drinking three cups of green tea boosted the metabolism enough to burn an extra 100 calories.
Inhale thyme, pink grapefruit, lemon, and/or patchouli essential oils (they are comforting, curb cravings, increase metabolism, help with weight loss).
Those tips are all good but not that effective on their own. Now if you really want to boost your metabolism and lose weight, you’re going to have to work. The following three tips will get you the results you’re looking for.
As an aside, when you google “detox to lose weight”, the results are pretty much from some health or medical website with a very negative view on them, citing lack of scientific studies and gaining the weight back. I’m hoping this is because of all the commercial fad diets, cleanses and fasts out there. And surprisingly, they don’t even mention that toxins can cause weight gain.
Now if you google “do toxins cause weight gain”, the results are a resounding yes! These results also come from health and medical websites. And if you look for “scientific studies on toxins causing weight gain”, you will find one four-week study that found a reduction in toxins in those that followed a specific detox diet and the same weight loss as a calorie restricted group.
But every detox program is different.
Here’s my own personal experience from following a detox as outlined in the book, Clean Gut, by Alejandro Junger, M.D. I found this book to be an easy read and was excited to try it out. My husband, not so much! For three weeks we eliminated several items from our diet, took supplements and followed the recipes in the book, which I have to say were mostly tasty and easy to make. I easily lost 10 pounds, and that has never happened to me before. My acid reflux also disappeared. My husband, who lost about 13 pounds was able to stop taking his blood pressure medication. It’s been a month since the detox and we’re both still maintaining our weight. Greg even wants to do it again in spring! Our results were so inspiring that our friend Deb is now doing it and has lost four pounds in four days. If you’re thinking of trying it, it can seem like a lot of work if you’re not used to making three meals a day. And the supplements can be expensive. But I highly recommend reading the book and deciding for yourself.
So, there you have it. We probably can’t blame our metabolism for our failed weight loss anymore, but we can probably now blame toxins.
]]>Poop, a natural product of our body’s digestive and detoxification systems, and yet still so taboo to talk about, even though everyone does it! It’s not polite conversation unless you’re in health care, a parent of a young one or a long-distance runner (when you run together for 3-4 hours you talk about everything). Even camping among friends, we used to say we were going for a Business Meeting (BM). Not that we need to know the details about each other’s schedules, but we shouldn’t be afraid to discuss what normal is or issues we’re having. Others have been through the same thing so why not learn from them? Besides, your poop can tell you so much about your health!
If this topic makes you squeamish or uncomfortable, stop reading and go eat some fibre.
So how many bowel movements a day is normal? This is different for everyone and will depend on your diet. I recently read a book written in the early 1900s that talked about the most dreaded condition, constipation. The author said that having only one bowel movement every 1-2 weeks was perfectly fine. His theory was that if you were eating healthy then most of your food would be absorbed with nothing left to eliminate. However, that would mean you’re not eating any insoluble fibre and that you’d be accumulating toxins. On the other hand, vegans/vegetarians might go three times a day because of all the fibre in their diet. Today’s “normal” is between three times a day to three times a week. Even if you have fewer bowel movements it might be normal for you, but you should discuss this with a doctor to be sure.
Other things that will affect your frequency include water and fibre intake, exercise, and medications.
What about colour? Any shade of brown is normal, and the colour could very well be affected by your diet (green, red). However, if its black you should see your doctor. Same if it’s red and you haven’t eaten red food. Yellow means you’ve been eating too much fat, or you may have a malabsorption disorder. Pale or white – see your doctor.
And what about floaters? That’s usually a sign of excess gas caused by beans and is normal.
Nobody’s stool smells like roses but if it’s extra stinky, see your doctor. You may have an infection, a food intolerance, or other condition.
Finally, let’s talk consistency. Well, not really. I’m going to draw the line here because you might be eating. But I will tell you there’s a Bristol Stool Chart you can refer to if you want to have a look. Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation, 3 and 4 are normal, 5 means you’re lacking fibre and 6 and 7 indicate diarrhea.
You should also see your doctor if you have severe abdominal pain and indigestion, blood in your stool, or if diarrhea lasts more than a few days.
How can you keep your digestive system happy? Eating whole foods helps you get the vitamins, minerals and fibre you need. Drink plenty of water and get regular exercise. If you want to go the extra mile, do a detox diet at least once a year. And if you’re over 50, be sure to see your doctor regularly for colon cancer screening.
And that’s the scoop on poop!
]]>COVID-19 has made us aware of so many things such as physical distancing, how to wash your hands, how to isolate and quarantine, Zoom meetings, but also smell training. Smell training with essential oils was in use long before COVID hit us. There are several disorders that can affect your smell that can be caused by a sinus infection, viral infection, head trauma, surgery, exposure to a toxic substance or you can just be born with one.
Anosmia is the inability to detect one or more smells and can be temporary or permanent. This is the long-term symptom some people suffer with after COVID.
Parosmia is when you experience normal odours as unpleasant smells.
Phantosmia is when you smell something that isn’t there.
Hyperosmia (or super smellers) is when you are oversensitive to smells.
And finally, hyposmia which is a reduced sense of smell.
In anosmia, aromatherapy can still be used to help physiologically (inflammation or pain) but not psychologically (stress, anxiety).
So how does smell training work?
Smell training is actively smelling (with short sniffs) four essential oils, twice a day, every day, for 20-30 seconds while concentrating on the scent. This can take 2 weeks to 6 months, but most people regain their smell in 2-3 months. Looking at a picture of the scent you’re smelling and trying to imagine what it used to smell or taste like can also help.
So, what scents should you use? It turns out that it doesn’t really matter. Some propose:
Smell training can work for anosmia and hyposmia and may help parosmia and phantosmia.
Hopefully your nose knows. If not, have you tried smell training?
]]>I’ve been making my toner for at least 6 years and it’s still the only thing I use to clean my face.
My formula has changed very little over the years. It’s simple with no exotic ingredients, which may be why it surprises people with how effective it is. It contains witch hazel, water, tea tree, clary sage, lavender, aloe, vitamin E, a solubilizer and a preservative.
I had a friend who was a little skeptical but bought a small bottle. She told me later that she couldn’t believe how much it removed AFTER using her regular cleanser. She now usually buys two bottles at a time.
This product sells best by word of mouth. It’s not something you usually get excited about buying at a market or online. It’s not a sexy product but it’s one of our best sellers. It removes, dirt, oil, makeup (except maybe some mascaras) and your other cleansers’ residue. It tightens and tones your skin while being extremely gentle and suitable for every skin type. Here’s why…
Witch hazel is astringent (tones skin, removes excess dirt and oil, tightens pores), is gentle for problem skin, anti-inflammatory, provides UV protection and heals wounds. It can cause a minor skin irritation in some people so we also use water in our base.
Tea tree essential oil is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, heals wounds, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and is suitable for oily skin.
Clary sage essential oil is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, suitable for oily skin, dry skin and acne, astringent, anti-aging, heals wounds, strengthens skin, balances sebum, and helps with psoriasis.
Lavender essential oil is hydrating, suitable for oily and dry skin, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antioxidant, helps acne and rosacea, reduces redness and scars, heals wounds, and reduces itching.
Aloe vera is soothing, moisturizing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, UV protecting, antioxidant and repairs damaged skin (scars and blemishes).
Vitamin E soothes burns, repairs damaged skin, deeply cleanses pores and balances oil production, heals wounds, stimulates cell regeneration, smooths, increases hydration and prevents moisture loss, is a powerful antioxidant and ant-inflammatory, and may provide UV protection.
Solubilizer is used to emulsify the oil and water so the toner doesn’t separate.
A natural preservative is antimicrobial and protects the toner and you from contamination of microorganisms.
"While I wish this product did a better job of removing my plain ole mascara, non-waterproof, I love how it cleans off the rest of my makeup and the clean feeling of my skin. I notice how smooth and fresh my face/neck feels. My serums and lotions go on nice and absorb well after this toner. I notice my face isn't as oily mid-day. Love Love Love this toner!"
Love our toner? Please leave a review here.
Haven’t tried it yet? Take our toner challenge and see what it removes off your face! For the month of August get our Best Sellers Bundle containing a Facial Toner & Cleanser for $5 off. See here for more details.
]]>Do you use pesticides on your vegetable garden? Most people I know don’t, but we also don’t like having the fruits of our labour (ha ha) eaten or destroyed by pests. And I just had this experience myself. Something had been eating the leaves of my pepper plants. I sprayed the leaves with a solution of water and dish soap which seemed to work but I had to spray repetitively because it rained so much. I tried putting small raspberry branches around my plants but that failed. I tried putting copper wire at the base of the stems. Didn’t matter. I asked a neighbour who thought it might be leaf cutter bees, so I tried bird netting. Nope. My plants were looking worse and worse. It was obvious that this damage was happening at night, so at my wit’s end, I set my alarm for 2am and went out with a flashlight. And there he was! One climbing cutworm.
But what about the fruit and vegetables that we buy? Sure, organic is safer but it’s also more expensive. Here’s the low down on pesticide use in Canada…
According to an independent source, based on data from 2018-2019, Canada is the 5th largest user of pesticides by tons. But we're a pretty big country so if you look at it by tons/hectare then we place 62nd with 2.4 tons/hectare. For comparison, China is 11th with 13.1 tons/hectare. Maldives is the worst with 52.6 tons/hectare. The US is in 60th place with 2.5 tons/hectare.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US), the average person has traces of 29 different pesticide residues in their body. A study on those who usually ate organic showed they had 65% lower levels of pesticides in their bodies.
Glyphosate, also known as Roundup, is an aggressive weed killer and the most popular herbicide in Canada and the world (as of 2020). It is made by Bayer (who acquired Monsanto). Canadian farmers use it primarily on corn, soy and wheat but it’s also used to dry grains and beans.
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that exposure may cause cancer (41-70% increased risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma) in 2015. The University of Washington found exposure may increase the risk of developing bladder cancer by more than 40%. Many countries (Australia, France, Italy, Bermuda, Vietnam) and some US states and cities have banned its use. Even Germany, where Monsanto calls home, banned it. More than 40 countries have some kind of restrictions on its use. Several lawsuits have resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements for victims with thousands of cases pending.
In pets it can cause cancer, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, excess drool and fatigue.
One third of samples of oats and other cereal grains used in popular breakfast products were found to contain glyphosate in tests by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in 2017. 1.3% had unacceptably high levels, with soybeans and barley at the top of the list.
Kellog’s has committed to phasing out glysophate by 2025. And Bayer promises to invest billions to develop alternative pesticides.
The CFIA also found glyphosate in 90% pizza, 88% wheat flour, 84% crackers and fresh pasta, 83% cooked pasta, 80% dried pasta, 75% oats, 70% chickpea flour, and 67% lentils samples.
In 2017, the CFIA reported the highest residues in garbanzo beans, white beans, lentils, buckwheat, bean, soy and wheat flour.
Some US court documents surfaced in 2017 showing that Monsanto colluded with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conceal evidence of glyphosate carcinogenicity, with Monsanto writing a great deal of its own research.
In 2018 CBC reported that environmentalists accused Health Canada of relying on glyphosate safety studies that were covertly influenced by Monsanto.
Pesticide applicants are required to provide Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) with extensive scientific data to show that their product does not pose unacceptable risks to health and the environment, and that the product has value.
Pesticides must be approved by PMRA before they can be imported, sold, or used in Canada. Pesticides are subject to rigorous science-based assessments by Health Canada scientists before being approved for use in Canada. These scientists then establish Maximum Residue Limits.
Last year, Health Canada quietly announced their three-year plan to phase out the use of chlorpyrifos, commonly used on wheat, garlic, canola and potatoes. Chlorpyrifos is an insecticide that affects the nervous system of people, pets and other animals. Serious exposure can cause vomiting, cramps, muscle twitches, weakness, loss of coordination, diarrhea and blurred vision. In severe cases it can lead to unconsciousness, loss of bladder and bowel control, convulsions, difficulty breathing and paralysis. In children, it has the potential to cause brain damage at low levels.
PMRA ignored the required risk assessment and instead relied on an outdated 2000 dietary risk assessment, of which scientists repeatedly questioned the validity. A drinking water assessment conducted by PMRA scientists modelled unacceptable risks to human health and this assessment was not factored into decision making or made public. The PMRA dismissed the relevancy of the US EPA and European Food Safety Authority risk assessments. Chlorpyrifos came into the market in 1969. All pesticides are required to have a 15-year reassessment, but PMRA only completed the first environmental review in 2020. The mandatory health assessment was never completed. Health Canada is being sued for their lack of transparency by several environmental and health organizations.
When chlorpyrifos gets in the soil in can take up to several years to break down. It’s very toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates and to bees and earthworms.
And that’s just two of the almost 8000 pesticide products registered in Canada as of 2019.
An organization that represents manufacturers, developers and distributors of pest control products maintains that there’s nothing to be concerned about as pesticides are highly regulated. Um, sure. Their marketing material claims that farmers can grow so much more food thanks to pesticides, and if pesticides weren’t available, fruits and vegetables would cost so much more. You mean, like organic?
They claim that all growers need pesticides, even organic farmers use them. Sure, organic farmers can use natural sources such as vinegar, soaps, neem oil or sulfurs but they’re not using synthetic pesticides like glyphosate. And they’re using sustainable and natural processes.
And the PMRA just studies that one pesticide in isolation. They’re not thinking about how many other pesticides are used or how they may interact. Just to give you an idea, in the US, more than 50 pesticides are used on broccoli, 110 on apples and 70 on bell peppers.
So what can you do? The Environmental Working Group has published their 2022 list of the Dirty Dozen. These have the most pesticides so buy organic or wash your produce. This list includes strawberries, spinach, kale/collard/mustard greens, nectarines, apples, grapes, bell and hot peppers, cherries, peaches, pears, celery and tomatoes.
They also have a Clean 15. These have the least pesticides: avocados, sweet corn, pineapple, onions, papaya, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, honeydew melon, kiwi, cabbage, mushrooms, cantaloupe, mangoes, watermelon and sweet potatoes.
Use a vegetable wash (available in your produce section) or soak in soap and water and then rinse, or soak your produce in a vinegar wash (three parts water to one part vinegar). And you can add a couple drops of lemon essential oil as it has the ability to dissolve petroleum oils.
A study done on the preparation of potatoes showed that peeling removed the greatest amount of pesticides (although that’s where most nutrients are) and washing and cooking removed some as well.
Eating your fruits and vegetables is important to your health. My plan is to grow what I can and buy the Dirty Dozen as organic whenever possible. I will soak my other fruit and vegetables in a soap wash or a vinegar wash. I'm also going to try to make my own Vegetable Wash and see which I like best.
]]>Have you returned to working at the office? Here are some essential oils to help you cope!
Stress and Anxiety
Maybe you can’t be happier about returning to the office. For others, after working at home for two years, there are so many things that can stress you out or make you anxious about returning to work: finding something to wear that still fits, traffic, parking or public transit, interruptions, huge increase in human interaction, masking or not masking, potential increase in exposure to COVID-19, loss of freedom or flexibility, etc.
Essential Oils: bergamot, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, helichrysum, jasmine, juniper berry, lavender, lemon, mandarin, manuka, Melissa, neroli, palmarosa, patchouli, petitgrain, rose, sandalwood, sweet orange, vetiver, yarrow, ylang ylang
Confidence and Courage
Maybe you need a boost of confidence or courage for that live presentation.
Essential Oils: bergamot, cardamom, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, ginger, grapefruit, marjoram, petitgrain, sweet orange, yarrow, ylang ylang
Mental Fatigue and Exhaustion
We can experience this when we’re trying to get caught up. As well, being social can be exhausting for introverts.
Essential Oils: cardamom, coriander seed, helichrysum, lavender, Melissa, rosemary, spearmint, tea tree
Concentration
Unless you have an office door to close, you may find it difficult to concentrate with all that other noise.
Essential Oils: basil, cardamom, cedarwood, eucalyptus, galbanum, juniper berry, lemon, petitgrain, rosemary
Comfort and Security
If you worry about your future, or the increased chance of being exposed to COVID-19, the oils below will help ease your mind.
Essential Oils: black pepper, cedarwood, frankincense, geranium, myrtle, sandalwood,
If you have a scent-free office, there are still ways to use essential oils discreetly:
If you’re unsure about using your oils, talk to your surrounding coworkers, your boss or your HR representative.
]]>Essential oils are very beneficial for most, if not all skin conditions. And there is a myriad of skin conditions that we may experience! I’ve listed some of them in alphabetical order with the essential oils that may be beneficial. You’ll notice that bergamot, carrot seed, chamomile, sandalwood, tea tree and especially geranium and lavender are mentioned frequently.
Below that I explain how one might go about creating a blend and how an aromatherapist would create a blend for you.
Acne: balsam fir, basil, benzoin, bergamot, black spruce, cajeput, camphor, carrot seed, cedarwood, chamomile Roman or German, cinnamon bark or leaf, clary sage, clove bud, cypress, frankincense, galbanum, geranium, grapefruit, helichrysum, juniper berry, laurel, lavender, lemon, lemongrass, lime, litsea cubeba, mandarin, manuka, melissa, myrtle, palmarosa, patchouli, peppermint, petitgrain, plai, rose, rosemary, rosewood, sage, sandalwood, orange, tea tree, thyme, turmeric, vetiver, yarrow, ylang ylang
Age spots: carrot seed
Anti-aging: bergamot, clary sage, geranium, oregano, rose, rosewood, ylang ylang, carrot seed, frankincense, galbanum, myrrh, spikenard, orange, lavender, niaouli, patchouli, sandalwood, sweet fennel, turmeric, vetiver, citronella
Athlete’s foot: benzoin, cedarwood, lemon eucalyptus, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemongrass, myrrh, patchouli, peppermint, pine, sage, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme, turmeric
Boils: basil, bergamot, chamomile Roman or German, clary sage, clove bud, galbanum, geranium, helichrysum, juniper berry, laurel, lavender, lemon, myrrh, niaouli, palmarosa, peppermint, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme
Broken capillaries: bergamot, chamomile Roman or German, cypress, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, peppermint, rose, rosewood
Burns: benzoin, carrot seed, chamomile Roman or German, clove bud, eucalyptus, geranium, helichrysum, lavender, marjoram, niaouli, Ravensara, tea tree, yarrow
Cellulite: angelica root, black pepper, carrot seed, cedarwood, chamomile Roman, cypress, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, juniper berry, lavender, lemon, lime, mandarin, patchouli, rosemary, sandalwood, sweet fennel, orange
Dermatitis/eczema: basil, benzoin, bergamot, black spruce, blue tansy, cajeput, carrot seed, cedarwood, citronella, eucalyptus, geranium, rose geranium, chamomile Roman or German, helichrysum, hyssop, jasmine, juniper berry, lavender, litsea cubeba, manuka, Melissa, myrrh, oregano, palmarosa, patchouli, peppermint, pine, rose, rosemary, rosewood, sage, sandalwood, spearmint, orange, tea tree, thyme, vetiver, yarrow
Psoriasis: angelica root, benzoin, bergamot, carrot seed, cedarwood, clary sage, frankincense, geranium, chamomile German, helichrysum, juniper berry, lavender, myrrh, niaouli, oregano, palmarosa, patchouli, peppermint, rose, sandalwood, tea tree, thyme
Rashes: benzoin, blue tansy, carrot seed, chamomile Roman or German, cinnamon bark of leaf, palmarosa, spikenard, tea tree, yarrow
Rosacea: bergamot, carrot seed, cypress, frankincense, geranium, chamomile German, helichrysum, lavender, lemon, neroli, patchouli, peppermint, rose, rosewood, sandalwood, vetiver
Shingles: basil, bergamot, lemon eucalyptus, eucalyptus, geranium, chamomile German, lavender, lemon, oregano, palmarosa, Ravensara, ravintsara, tea tree
Sun damage: blue tansy
Varicose veins: basil, bergamot, carrot seed, chamomile Roman, cypress, frankincense, geranium, juniper berry, lavender, lemon, myrtle, niaouli, palmarosa, rosemary, sandalwood, tea tree, vetiver, yarrow
Okay, let’s walk through an example. Say you’re concerned with anti-aging. You have an average to above average knowledge about (or experience with) essential oils and you have some on hand. You check the list above and have orange, lavender, and patchouli. You smell them together and decide to use one to three of them. You look up the safety of each oil just to be sure and get the green light. You decide to make a serum because it’s easy and you already have some almond oil on hand. You might put different combinations of essential oils on cotton balls until you find the blend you like best. Or maybe you live on the wild side and just start adding drops of the essential oils to your almond oil until it smells good. And if all goes well, you’re happy and looking great!
That sounded pretty good, so what would an aromatherapist do differently? Well, this aromatherapist (me, Deena) would want to know how old that orange essential oil is for starters, as with exposure to light, air and time it can become oxidized.
An aromatherapist would agree that almond oil isn’t a bad choice but would look for a carrier oil or two that may offer more benefits or feel less heavy. And maybe add some other beneficial ingredients such as vitamin E or squalane. Or if you prefer a lotion to a serum, an aromatherapist could whip that up for you. An aromatherapist would check contraindications, and that the oils wouldn’t interfere with your medications. The aromatherapist would have a bigger selection of essential oils to choose from, which leads to more scent choices but possibly better options as well. The aromatherapist is also familiar with top, middle and base notes, the strength of each oil and knows how to blend them together for a scent you’ll love. The aromatherapist is also aware of the dilution rate that should be used. An aromatherapist will tell you how to apply it, how often and for how long. And what if you also suffer from rosacea or psoriasis? An aromatherapist can do that too!
This aromatherapist, also offers lifestyle recommendations, such as diet, exercise, supplements, etc., as additional ways to achieve the results you’re looking for, at no extra cost. And this aromatherapist also does a free follow up to see if you have any questions or issues with your blend.
If you’re a do-it-yourselfer and want more information on essential oils, for skin or any other conditions, see Essential Oils and Essential Oil Benefits. If you’d like to book an appointment with a Certified Aromatherapist, Contact Us or for more information see Aromatherapy Services.
]]>At the risk of receiving spam, and embarrassing or offending some people, I’m going to talk about Erectile Dysfunction (ED) because it’s the most common sexual problem among men, affecting 25% of those over 50 years old. ED is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. It’s important because it’s a major risk factor for heart disease. It can also cause depression, a lack of confidence and relationship problems.
Now the good news is that it is usually reversible, but completely curing it depends on the cause.
Most often the cause of ED is diabetes or atherosclerosis. But that doesn’t mean you have one of them. ED can also be caused by hypothyroidism, nerve damage, psychological issues, use of drugs (antidepressants, beta-blockers, antihistamines, anticancer drugs, antihypertensives, anticholinergics, antipsychotics), alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hormonal imbalances, smoking, stress, anxiety, depression, and lack of sleep.
It becomes more common as you age but age does not cause ED. Men are capable of erections well into their 80’s.
Now, what about those bicycle seats? It’s thought that the seats can compress arteries and nerves causing temporary “numb nuts”. But can it lead to ED? Older studies seem to have suggested that bike seats did increase your risk of ED however more recent (and better studies) say that it’s just not true. For more information and adjustments you can make to your bike see https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-cycling-cause-erectile-dysfunction.
Before we look at natural treatments, let’s have a look at those little blue pills. Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra all work by increasing nitric oxide which increases blood flow. Common side effects include headache, painful or prolonged erection, upset stomach, heartburn, itching or burning during urination and back pain. Occasional side effects include hearing loss, fainting, chest pain, and heart attacks.
So, what can we do naturally to increase blood flow and get that tent pole up?
Essential Oils
Some essential oils increase circulation, balance hormones, calm and boost your mood and are aphrodisiac. Clary sage stimulates blood flow, balances hormones, calms nerves and is an aphrodisiac. Lavender, when combined with a pumpkin pie scent (what?), increased penile blood flow by 40% in one study. Rose increases testosterone levels and improved function in those with depression and those on medication. Ylang Ylang was helpful in those with depression and stress and is an aphrodisiac. Patchouli is an aphrodisiac, regulates hormone production and helps with stress.
Cinnamon is an aphrodisiac and ginger may also help. Aha - the pumpkin pie connection!
You may have to try more than one essential oil to find what floats your boat.
You can use the essential oil in a diffuser or dilute it in oil for the bath or for an abdomen and lower back massage.
Diet
Zinc increases the level of testosterone, and you can find it in pumpkin seeds, oysters, soybeans, liver, nuts (especially cashews), and legumes. Be sure to get enough fiber and vit E, and avoid food high in saturated and trans-fat, and minimize refined flour and sugar.
Supplements
Studies on gingko biloba show that its helpful when ED is caused by antidepressants or diabetes. Potency wood (muira puama) also showed improvement. Carnitine, grape seed extract, and arginine (in maca) may also help. Human studies show inconsistent results for ginseng though.
Exercise
Exercise of all kinds improves blood flow and circulation. Even walking has shown successful results. Some studies show that squats increase testosterone and blood flow and strengthen pelvic muscles.
Men can do kegels too! Many studies show they strengthen the pelvic muscles, particularly the bulbocavernosus muscle which squeezes blood into the penis and squeezes urine out.
]]>If you suffer from allergies, you know when spring is in the air!
Allergies have become quite common over the years, and you can pretty much be allergic to anything. Essential oils can cause allergies, but they can also help reduce your symptoms too. Balsam poplar, niaouli, chamomile roman, and ravintsara are often the essential oils used for allergies by aromatherapists, but if you’re allergic to ragweed you should avoid chamomile roman. Helichrysum, basil, cypress, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, lavender, lemon, neroli, patchouli, peppermint, thyme, and turmeric are the more common oils that can be used.
For allergies, you can use these oils in an aromatherapy inhaler, a spray, or a diluted bath or massage oil.
As always, be sure to check the safety information of these oils, particularly for children, in pregnancy, and with medical conditions and medications.]]>If you’ve been a subscriber for some time, you know how I love documentaries! I just watched Toxic Beauty on CBC Gem (watch it here). Here’s the official description: “A whistleblower, her lawyer, world-class scientists, cancer survivors and those who have lost their lives, strip a dominant pharmaceutical company of all credibility in this powerful documentary film while exposing the hard truths about dangerous, unregulated chemicals and toxins in cosmetics and care products.”
It’s 78 minutes long, was released in 2019 and focuses mostly on Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder. Talcum powder may contain asbestos and has been linked to endometrial and ovarian cancer and is a probable respiratory toxin. It’s always shocking to find out what goes on in those big corporations and disturbing when you discover that money, not our health or safety, is the bottom line. We put so much trust in these corporations and assume they’re doing the right thing. Cosmetic companies are no better than big pharma, tobacco, and pesticide companies. And it’s the same story over and over again. Someone raises concern over a product, some testing is done, the big greedy corporation completely denies and laughs at any “preposterous” allegations, citing that their product is completely safe, and they are full of ‘truth and integrity’. They cite their own studies that show their product is completely safe, meanwhile in legal proceedings, their other internal studies, memos, and reports show that they are well aware of the harm their products are causing. It pisses me right off and motivates me even more to support small businesses.
Because I’m always researching, I quickly noticed the documentary’s two shortcomings. The first is the mention of lavender as an endocrine disruptor in boys. This was a wrong conclusion in a scientific experiment that was published everywhere and since this documentary was released in 2019, I can forgive them for that. The other is that it confuses the way cosmetic ingredient safety is handled in Canada versus the US. (see How Health Canada Regulates Cosmetics)
In 2021, after a two and a half year assessment, Health Canada concluded that talc is harmful to human health, has added it to the Toxic Substances List and restricted its use in cosmetic products. If you look at Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder today, you’ll see they are using cornstarch instead of talc.
There are currently no restrictions on talc in the US. However if you're a resident, check out the Consumer Notice's guide on talc that includes risks, tips and alternatives.
The restriction of talc is the only update to my Ingredients of Concern. Get your copy here.
]]>Chances are if you haven’t fasted, you know someone who has. I have done successful annual cleanses myself with Isagenix (a meal replacement system) but I haven’t tried a water or juice detox – I’d be way too hangry! After overindulging during the holidays, I found the cleanse a great way to lose a couple of those extra pounds and get me back on the healthy eating wagon. I have a couple of friends that are intermittent fasting with varied results, and my husband has told me about his experience with an olive oil and lemon juice fast (yuck!).
There are, of course, different types of fasts, just as there are different reasons for fasting. There’s a liquid fast, where you drink just water or vegetable juice for about three days. A cleanse generally includes the addition of some food and can be done for a longer period of time. An intermittent fast is an approach that has planned periods of fasting and eating (healthy food) throughout the day or the week and is usually done long-term. “Intermittent fasting has superior outcomes compared to other fasts”, says Aftab Ahmed et al (2018). For more information on intermittent fasting see here.
Fasting dates back to Hippocrates when he would recommend it for certain health conditions. Fasting was and is still used in some religions. There’s hunger strikes and fasting for tests and surgeries.
Our body is designed to detox naturally but we often don’t give it all the nutrients it needs, and we’re inundated with more toxins now than ever before. Fasting allows your body to detox and heal. Weight loss is common, along with increased energy, lower heart rate and blood pressure and a prolonged lifespan. If you do a liquid fast or a cleanse you lose bonus weight because it literally cleans out all the crap stuck to your intestines.
And in case you think you’re not exposed to many toxins, sadly, there are thousands of them which are detectable in every one of us, including metals, tobacco smoke by-products, phthalates, PCBs, dioxins, furans, pesticides, herbicides, and disinfectants (Murray, 2012). Toxins are stored in our fat and when we break down that fat they are released into our bloodstream.
According to Michael Murray, N.D. and Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., you may want to detox if you:
And they also recommend improving your liver function if any of these apply to you:
There is significant scientific research that shows fasting is helpful for obesity, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, allergies, eczema, IBS, depression and it helps prevent cancer and diabetes.
If you’re thinking of trying a fast of any kind, be sure to consult your physician. If you have a high toxin load, the toxins could exceed safety levels in your blood, and some fasts (longer than three days without food) require supervision. You should not fast if you’re pregnant, a child or teenager, have diabetes, GERD or kidney stones, an eating disorder or have medication that needs to be taken with food. Side effects can include headaches, diarrhea and tiredness while your body eliminates toxins.
If you'd like to use essential oils to support your cleanse or fast or to help with the side effects, consider these:
References
Ahmed, A., et al, 2019, Impact of intermittent fasting on human health, https://scholar.google.ca/scholar?q=fasting+scientific+studies&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart
Murray, M & Pizzorno, J., The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, 3rd edition, 2012
]]>If you haven’t seen the [Un]well documentary on Essential Oils (2020), it’s an interesting, but not really helpful, 54 minutes of entertainment (currently available on Netflix). This image is taken from the documentary - please don't take essential oils orally!!
Unlike a lot of documentaries I’ve written about (see Health Related Documentaries), this one has no narrator and no apparent position on the matter. The opinions come from the interviewed individuals themselves, which range from hopeful to cultish. The intent seems to be to shock and wow instead of inform.
It starts off well with a clinical aromatherapist who talks about how essential oils are being used in hospitals to help patients with anxiety and pain. A mother talks about the therapies they’ve tried with their autistic daughter and gives essential oils a try. Then a chiropractor, Dr. Z, and his wife Mama Z, use essential oils for everything and run a for-profit ministry. A renowned aromatherapist, Joy Bowles, talks about the lack of scientific evidence for the benefits of essential oils. A Doterra rep claims essential oils saved her from brain cancer. Another woman talks about the rash she developed and how she was encouraged to keep using the essential oils until her whole body was covered in this painful rash. A lawyer who worked on a class action lawsuit against Young Living claims its a pyramid scheme. Hear about Young Living’s founder, Gary Young, who repeatedly performed unlicensed medical services, including a fatal attempt to deliver his own baby who he'd left under water for an hour (for more on Young, see this).
However, the biggest problem is the shots of the MLM reps and their disregard for safety (taking essential oils orally, applying them undiluted to the skin).
In the meantime, we can look forward to the release of the documentary Uncommon Scents, which is supposed to feature information from only reputable experts. See here for more information.
]]>I want to start by saying that I’m not a medical professional, but I am completely passionate about exploring natural (and often healthier) alternatives. I am not against doctors but rather for combining allopathic and natural medicine. This blog is meant to provide you with options to explore. Do not stop taking any medication you are on without discussing it with your doctor first.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is when the cartilage at your joints breaks down. Symptoms include joint stiffness in the morning, pain with movement, swelling, joint cracking and tenderness and restricted mobility. It usually affects the knees, hips, spine and hands and usually occurs after the age of 40.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease where the immune system attacks the joints. Symptoms include painful swollen joints preceded by fatigue, fever and stiffness. The joints are usually warm and tender, and the skin may have a purplish colour. It usually affects both hands, feet, wrists, ankles or knees and has a gradual onset.
Risk factors include family history, increasing age, previous joint injury and obesity. Carrying extra weight puts stress on joints, particularly the knees, hips and spine.
Common essential oils that are helpful for relieving OA include: black pepper, Roman or German chamomile, clove bud, eucalyptus, frankincense, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, juniper berry, lavender, lemon, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, pine, tea tree, thyme, and turmeric. For RA, try basil, Roman chamomile, clove bud, myrrh, vetiver and yarrow. All essential oils need to be diluted before applying topically.
I couldn’t find many studies using essential oils. Some animal studies were found, one used a blend of 16 different essential oils and had some positive results while another found that rosemary and peppermint essential oils reduced the pain in rat’s knees. Unfortunately the only human study I found was one funded by doTERRA and included researchers that were doTERRA employees (hence a potential for bias). Their study involved hand massages in 36 participants with OA, RA and chronic inflammation with their own essential oil blend mixed with copaiba essential oil. The study was randomized, double-blind and placebo controlled. Their results showed that the essential oil group had a decrease in pain, increased finger strength and took less time to complete dexterity tasks.
Capsaicin gel or cream can be applied topically but it may increase pain in OA for the first 3-4 days. In a double-blind randomized study, patients with both types of arthritis used capsaicin cream or a placebo. The RA patients had a 57% reduction in pain and OA patients experienced a 33% reduction in pain, some in as little as two weeks. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1954640/
Glucosamine sulfate appears to address the cause of osteoarthritis by promoting cartilage synthesis and helps repair damaged joints. It has a 72-95% success rate when taken for four weeks (as demonstrated in more than 20 published clinical trials). It even reduced pain and inflammation more than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). The longer it is used the better are the results. (Murray, M., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods)
This study in 2016 states that patented crystalline glucosamine sulfate demonstrates superiority over other glucosamine formulations.
It is recommended to increase your intake of antioxidants (cherries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries) for both types of arthritis. For OA, increase your intake of garlic, onions, Brussel sprouts, cabbage or supplement with methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), as sulfur helps repair cartilage. Consume 1g ginger powder or ¼” slice of fresh ginger daily. OA sufferers should avoid nightshade vegetables (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers and tobacco). Those with RA should eat a vegetarian diet, avoid common food allergies (wheat, corn, dairy, milk, beef, nightshade vegetables and coffee), and increase omega-3s by consuming more halibut, salmon, herrings, sardines and mackerel (or fish or olive oil). RA flare ups can be reduced by drinking pineapple juice with fresh ginger or turmeric. Ginger is also found to be helpful. (Murray, M., The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods)
A study from 2014 found no improvement on pain and inflammation in RA with antioxidant supplements. A pilot study from 2008 found that an antioxidant-enriched margarine significantly reduced the number of swollen and painful joints in RA, even though laboratory measures of inflammation were unchanged. As this was a pilot study, there were only 8 participants and no control group. Many articles stated that of the studies available, most of them were of poor quality.
The Mayo Clinic says that moderate exercise is crucial for those with arthritis as it increases strength and flexibility, reduces joint pain, and helps with fatigue. Your doctor or physiotherapist can recommend range of motion, strengthening and other exercises.
Despite much scientific evidence, there are safe alternatives you can try. Try a diluted essential oil blend or see an aromatherapist, try an over the counter capsaicin cream, or try crystalline glucosamine sulfate (or glucosamine sulfate sodium chloride). And increasing your antioxidants and getting regular exercise will only do you good.
What about you? Have you had any success with alternative treatments?
]]>An enlarged prostate, otherwise known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), is when the prostate keeps growing and compresses the urethra, making urination difficult and making you more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs). Believed to be caused by changes in hormones, BPH happens to most men as they get older. Growth can start at 40 years old but it’s more common to have symptoms starting in your 60s. Fortunately, most men have minor symptoms.
Symptoms may include dribbling at the end of urination, inability to urinate, incomplete emptying of the bladder, incontinence, straining to urinate, strong and sudden urge to urinate, weak urine stream and increased frequency of urination at night. Treatment options include monitoring your condition, lifestyle changes, medicines, and surgery.
Lifestyle changes include:
As for essential oils, again, there aren’t many studies. I found one from 2019 on rats where lime essential oil (LEO) was effective. LEO was chosen as it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It prevented or delayed prostate growth and with a high dose, lowered prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels.
Other suggested oils for prostate health include: Scotch pine, frankincense, myrrh, orange, sage, peppermint, geranium, fennel, myrtle, lavender, benzoin, bergamot, black pepper, cedarwood, chamomile, cypress, elemi, eucalyptus, jasmine, juniper, lemon, niaouli, patchouli, rose, sandalwood, spruce, tea tree, and thyme.
I also came across The Prostate Protocol, written by Scott Davis, which claims to treat BPH naturally. From what I gather, it discusses how gut bacteria affects male hormones and provides advice on probiotics to get your gut bacteria back to healthy (most of us have poor microbiomes due to stress, not enough sleep, eating processed foods, and taking antibiotics). It sells for $49 but beware of sites offering a free download. I’m not promoting the book and I haven’t researched it thoroughly but it’s an option you may want to look into.
If you have symptoms, be sure to see your doctor to rule out other conditions and diseases and seek appropriate medical care. These natural treatment options should also be discussed with your physician.
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