Posted on

Is calendula good for you?

Calendula, also known as marigold, is a herbaceous plant that has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties. Some of the potential benefits of calendula include:

  1. Anti-inflammatory properties: Calendula contains compounds that can help reduce inflammation in the body, which can be beneficial for conditions such as arthritis, eczema, and other inflammatory conditions.
  2. Antimicrobial properties: Calendula has been shown to have antimicrobial properties that can help fight against bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.
  3. Wound healing: Calendula has been used topically to help promote wound healing and reduce scarring.
  4. Skin health: Calendula can help soothe and moisturize the skin, and may be helpful for conditions such as dry skin, eczema, and acne.
  5. Digestive health: Calendula has been used to help soothe the digestive tract and may be helpful for conditions such as ulcers and gastritis.
  6. Menstrual cramps: Calendula has been traditionally used to help alleviate menstrual cramps.
  7. Cancer treatment: Some studies have suggested that calendula may have anti-cancer properties and could potentially be used as an adjuvant therapy alongside conventional cancer treatments.

It is important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits of calendula, and that it should not be used as a substitute for conventional medical treatment.

Posted on

Benefits of solid conditioner bar

Solid conditioner bars have become increasingly popular in recent years as a sustainable and convenient alternative to traditional liquid conditioners. Here are some benefits of using a solid conditioner bar:

  1. Environmentally friendly: Solid conditioner bars typically come packaged in minimal or no plastic, making them a more sustainable choice for the environment. They also tend to be more concentrated than liquid conditioners, which means they require less packaging overall.
  2. Long-lasting: Solid conditioner bars can last longer than liquid conditioners since they are more concentrated and require less product per use. This can save you money in the long run.
  3. Travel-friendly: Solid conditioner bars are easy to pack and carry with you when traveling since they take up less space than liquid conditioners. They also don’t count towards your liquid limit when traveling by plane.
  4. Versatile: Solid conditioner bars can be used for a variety of hair types and needs, including color-treated hair, dry hair, and oily hair. They can also be used as a leave-in conditioner or as a deep conditioning treatment.
  5. Natural ingredients: Many solid conditioner bars contain natural and organic ingredients that are gentle on the hair and scalp. They are often free from harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens, which can be damaging to the hair and the environment.

Overall, solid conditioner bars can be a great option for those looking for a more sustainable and convenient alternative to traditional liquid conditioners.

Posted on

Benefits of handmade deodorant

There are several benefits of using natural handmade deodorant, including:

  1. Free from harmful chemicals: Handmade deodorants are usually free from harmful chemicals like aluminum, parabens, phthalates, and other synthetic fragrances that can harm your health.
  2. Reduces body odor: Natural handmade deodorants contain essential oils and other natural ingredients that help to reduce body odor.
  3. Cost-effective: Handmade deodorants are usually less expensive than commercial ones.
  4. Customizable: You can customize the fragrance and the strength of the deodorant to your liking.
  5. Less irritating: Natural ingredients are less likely to cause irritation or allergic reactions than synthetic ingredients.
  6. Environmentally friendly: Handmade deodorants use natural ingredients, which are better for the environment than synthetic ingredients.
  7. Easy to make: Handmade deodorants are easy to make and require just a few simple ingredients that are readily available at home or at health food stores.
  8. Long-lasting: Natural handmade deodorants can last for a long time and don’t need to be reapplied as frequently as commercial deodorants.
  9. Gentle on skin: Natural handmade deodorants are gentler on the skin and can help to prevent skin irritation and inflammation.

Overall, natural handmade deodorants are a great alternative to commercial deodorants and can offer several benefits for your health, the environment, and your wallet.

Posted on

Benefits of solid shampoo bars

There are several benefits of using homemade shampoo bars, including:

  1. Natural ingredients: Homemade shampoo bars are made from natural ingredients, which are free from harsh chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and preservatives that can harm your hair and scalp.
  2. Environmentally friendly: Unlike traditional shampoo bottles, shampoo bars do not require plastic packaging, which reduces waste and helps the environment.
  3. Cost-effective: Homemade shampoo bars are often cheaper than store-bought shampoos, and because they last longer, you can save money in the long run.
  4. Easy to use: Shampoo bars are easy to use and can be easily stored in a soap dish or travel container.
  5. Nourishing: Homemade shampoo bars can be formulated with nourishing ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, and essential oils, which can help to moisturize and strengthen your hair.
  6. Customizable: You can customize your shampoo bar recipe to suit your specific hair type and needs, which can help you achieve better results.
  7. Travel-friendly: Shampoo bars are ideal for travel because they are compact, lightweight, and do not require any additional packaging.
Posted on

How I fixed my psoriasis

In 2014 I had scalp psoriasis on the back of my head, dryness and cracking in my ears and several rough skin patches on my body. I’d put up with this for 5 years trying all sorts of homemade remedies. I went to the dermatologist who just prescribed cortisone cream and said I’d have the problem for the rest of my life so get used to it.

I refused to believe this because the problem appeared out of the blue. So I embarked on a mission to rid myself of my autoimmune disease.

I researched as much as I could and decided that I needed to work on my problem from the inside. I cut out gluten, sugar, alcohol, dairy and meat. I attended yoga classes several times a week to reduce stress and pump classes to work my muscles. I studied Ayurveda at a local college and did a yoga teacher training course. I substituted black tea with an Ayurvedic herbal tea including turmeric, ginger and galangal. I stayed on my new eating plan for around 5 months, then gradually introduced dairy, meat, sugar and alcohol. My body responded by clearing up all the psoriasis plaques on my scalp. I lost weight, felt relaxed and my gut thanked me!

I haven’t had psoriasis since, so that’s 8 years now. I fermented kefir milk for a while and used that in porridge. Then I researched other fermented foods and started making my own kimchi for gut health.

I also started making my own shampoos and conditioners, skin moisturiser, lip balm, deodorant and skin balms and have been using these ever since.

2022 update – I’m still using my home grown turmeric in my herbal infusion tea several times a day together with ginger, galangal, coriander, fennel, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, cardamon, mustard seeds, celery seeds, etc.
I haven’t had scalp psoriasis since 2014. I also make my own kimchi and use a small amount daily for gut health. I avoid gluten but will have it from time to time, have 2 glasses of wine 4 nights a week, have cheese several times a week and mostly make healthy choices with my diet. I am convinced that all my auto immune problems stem from stress and my gut health, so I feel that I’ve now made lifelong changes to keep me healthy.

Posted on

Turmeric benefits

Turmeric is a yellow spice that is an important ingredient in curry powder. Curcumin, a component of turmeric, has anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant activity and shows promise against psoriasis and other conditions.

I have heard from many others that turmeric can help ease psoriasis. Some people are allergic to the spice, however, and those who take the anticoagulant warfarin should avoid it.

Researchers are looking into the potential health benefits of curcumin, a key component of turmeric. One group found that curcumin inhibits an enzyme called PhK associated with overactive cell growth in psoriasis (Dr. J. Dermatol. Nov. 2000).
I don’t know of any long-term studies on whether people develop intolerance to turmeric. Millions of people in South Asia consume it daily for much of their lives. Whether it would be safe and effective for ongoing psoriasis suppression, however, remains to be determined.

Based on this information, I’m currently applying a paste of turmeric mixed with my body lotion to my scalp. I’m also drinking a herbal infusion of spices based on Ayurvedic medicine which includes thinly sliced turmeric root. I find that the paste softens the plaques but it stains the fingers so that I look like a 5 pack a day smoker. I’ve been using the paste for a week as at June 2014 without any reduction in the psoriasis. I’ve been using the herbal infusion for 17 weeks as at 25/7/2014 and the psoriasis seems to be slightly improved. I’ve also been gluten free for around 5 weeks and suspect that this is helping. Turmeric can relieve many other ailments such as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, alzheimer’s disease, cancer, Crohn’s disease, osteoporosis, digestive problems, weight loss and much more.

Fingers crossed that this is a solution for all those long effected sufferers.

2022 update – I’m still using my home grown turmeric in my herbal infusion tea several times a day together with ginger, galangal, coriander, fennel, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, cardamon, mustard seeds, celery seeds, etc.
I haven’t had scalp psoriasis since 2014. I also make my own kimchi and use a small amount daily for gut health. I avoid gluten but will have it from time to time, have 2 glasses of wine 4 nights a week, have cheese several times a week and mostly make healthy choices with my diet. I am convinced that all my auto immune problems stem from my gut health, so I feel that I’ve now made lifelong changes to keep me healthy.

Posted on

Does your shampoo bar contain lye?

My shampoo bars are made with lye (sodium hydroxide) in the traditional soap making method but there is no lye left once they have cured. The lye and water cause a chemical reaction to bind with the oils in a process called saponification. This is how we make soap.
The soap then needs to cure for around 4-6 weeks after which time the soap contains no lye – only saponified oils in their hardened form.
It is not possible to make proper soap without lye. Those who claim to have soap made without lye are either referring to syndet bars (short for synthetic detergent) or ‘melt and pour’ soap which is a ready to use form of soap (originally made using lye!).

Posted on

Dog shampoo to reduce itching and scratching

Does your dog have itchy skin, rashes, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis?
I’ve found that my itch relief pine tar shampoo bar is great for dogs to soothe itchy, irritated skin.
Tested on dogs by my sister who is a dog minder and she said it was great.
Pine tar has been used for over 2,000 years to soothe and treat skin conditions. I use Stockholm pine tar which is considered to be the best quality pine tar available.

Itch Relief Solid Shampoo

What is Pine Tar?

Pine tar is the end product of pine wood carbonisation following distillation using extreme heat. An extensive literature search was conducted back to the 1950s for this review. Pine tar has been used in medicine for more than 2000 years to treat a range of skin conditions because of its soothing and antiseptic properties. Pine tar should not be confused with coal tar, which has been produced from coal for approximately a hundred years. Pine tar is thought to exert its effect by reducing DNA synthesis and mitotic activity, which promotes a return to normal keratinisation. In addition, pine tar has been shown to be antipruritic, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. These properties make pine tar suitable for the topical treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed skin conditions. Topical products available over‐the‐counter in Australia today contain up to 2.3% pine tar, and come in several different formulations that can be used on the entire body, including the face. Modern day pine tar is manufactured with increased purity to eliminate toxic phenol and carcinogenic components, which have been of concern in the past. Primary irritation is uncommon. In conclusion, the long experience with topical pine tar therapy and its worldwide usage, together with the evidence presented in this review, suggests that pine tar is an effective treatment with minimal safety risk.

Posted on

Itch Relief Soap and Shampoo

Do you have itchy skin, rashes, eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis?
I’ve found that my itch relief pine tar shampoo bar is great for an itchy scalp and the whole body to soothe itchy, irritated skin.
Pine tar has been used for over 2,000 years to soothe and treat skin conditions. I use Stockholm pine tar which is considered to be the best quality pine tar available.

Itch Relief Solid Shampoo

What is Pine Tar?

Pine tar is the end product of pine wood carbonisation following distillation using extreme heat. An extensive literature search was conducted back to the 1950s for this review. Pine tar has been used in medicine for more than 2000 years to treat a range of skin conditions because of its soothing and antiseptic properties. Pine tar should not be confused with coal tar, which has been produced from coal for approximately a hundred years. Pine tar is thought to exert its effect by reducing DNA synthesis and mitotic activity, which promotes a return to normal keratinisation. In addition, pine tar has been shown to be antipruritic, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. These properties make pine tar suitable for the topical treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed skin conditions. Topical products available over‐the‐counter in Australia today contain up to 2.3% pine tar, and come in several different formulations that can be used on the entire body, including the face. Modern day pine tar is manufactured with increased purity to eliminate toxic phenol and carcinogenic components, which have been of concern in the past. Primary irritation is uncommon. In conclusion, the long experience with topical pine tar therapy and its worldwide usage, together with the evidence presented in this review, suggests that pine tar is an effective treatment with minimal safety risk.

Posted on

Lysine Cold Sore Lip Balm

Cold sore lip balm

Lysine cold sore lip balm contains ingredients that provide immediate relief from cold sores and help reduce the severity of the attack. My customers swear by it and often buy in bulk so they have it on hand as soon as that unpleasant, tell-tale itch starts.

The lysine cold sore lip balm comes in a 5ml windup tube. It contains healing oils and naturally recommended treatments to help lessen the severity of the attack and reduce the skin damage.
Lysine is an effective, natural anti viral treatment of the herpes simplex virus according to many reports – read more here – https://draxe.com/cold-sores/
Also zinc and vitamin C contain properties to fight the virus and lemon balm is reported to be effective in treating cold sores. Peppermint oil is cooling and clove bud oil has a numbing effect to provide relief from the itch.

Continue reading Lysine Cold Sore Lip Balm