Showing posts with label natural living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural living. Show all posts

Sunday, May 1, 2016

My Top Three Natural Products - Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil, OreganolP73

Hi Lovelies,




Today I wanted to share with you my top three natural products that I am most happy to have found, and I am also starting a tag on Instagram because I am really curious to see what other people deem their best products! To see my tag post, as well as the comments, click here. And of course, join in the conversation yourself, let's share out best products, be it health, skincare or make up items! I am really excited about this :) 

The idea came about when one morning I was carrying the bottle of OreganolP73 back from the bedroom to it's designated place (I have used it on my younger daughter's soles the previous night, but more about that later) and I thought to myself "I am so glad this came into my life" and it got me thinking what else I appreciate so much? What are my top five items? My top three items that I couldn't live without? So I came up with my top three, asking myself, if everything I have disappeared, what items I would run to buy first?  So let's see what my top three items are and why I love them so much? 




Organic Coconut Oil

It has to be organic, virgin or cold pressed if you want to get the most benefits from it. This is the first "green" item I purchased  when I transitioned into all things natural, and I am so glad I did! It truly has a myriad of uses and can single handedly replace all your skincare for the most part. I like most people find it a bit too much when used on the face, but for body moisturisation you can't beat it, and that's what I actually used for many years. if you mix this with a bit of Weleda's Sea Buchthorn Oil it will smell like toffee, I kid you not, and if you want to be totally purist and frugal, you can use only this for your body moisturisation, you won't need anything else. It is great for softening the elbows, feet, you can use it as a hair mask too, just bear in mind it can be a bit hard to wash off, you will need to shampoo twice to remove it, but it is totally worth it. For the longest time ever this I used as my hands moisturiser too, in fact I used to use it for my skincare so much, that I almost forgot it is edible thing, and very wonderful at that! You can use it for baking, in your bulletproof coffee, as an eye make up remover, diaper cream, you name it, it is good for it, haha! On the more serious note, you can google "101 use for coconut oil" if you are in the beginning stages to give you some ideas, but if you are like me and use it for a good number of years already, it is safe to say it has a million uses, right? Right now I want to get fractionated coconut oil (it is modified to stay liquid) to try and make my own natural perfumes with essential oils.
Coconut oil has a multitude of health benefits, which include but are not limited to skin care, hair care, improving digestion and immunity against a host of infections and diseases.It can actually help you with weigh loss, heart disease, improve immunity and digestion, keep the candida in check and is good for liver, kidneys, and practically for your whole body. I seriously urge you to research the many benefits of it and start using it asap if you are not using it already.
(P.s. if you live in Ireland, go to supermarkets like Dunnes, SuperValu and such and you will get it trice cheaper than in Holland and Barrett. It pays to shop around. One tub of it will last you years too, so invest in a good stuff. Make sure it's raw and organic).




Tea Tree Oil


Tea tree, also known as melaleuca, is well-known for its powerful antiseptic properties and ability to treat wounds. Tea tree oil is derived mainly from the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia has been widely used throughout Australia for at least the past 100s of years. And it is proven in numerous medical studies to kill many strains of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Tea tree oil has hundreds of uses too, from making homemade cleaning products, diffusing it in the air to kill mold, applying it topically to heal skin issues. I truly feel it should be in in medicine cabinet in every house.
Some of the many traditional uses for tea tree include but are not limited to:
  • Acne
  • Bacterial infections
  • Chickenpox
  • Cold sores
  • Congestion and respiratory tract infections
  • Earaches
  • Fungal infections (especially Candida, jock itch, athlete’s foot and toenail fungus)
  • Halitosis (bad breath)
  • Head lice
  • MRSA
  • Psoriasis
  • Dry cuticles
  • Itchy insect bites, sores and sunburns
  • Boils from staph infections
  • Anti-microbial laundry freshener
  • Insect repellent
  • Natural deodorant
  • Acne face wash
  • Removes foot order
  • Removes mold
  • Household cleaner

I myself also use this for more than 7 years already, and my main uses are for the skin issues, spots and cuts and grazes and such, where the skin needs to be disinfected and treated at the same time. I can also be used for cold sores, but you might want to dilute it with coconut oil if you find it too strong on it's own. Do not use it anywhere near eyes and wash your hands throughout immediately after using it. Speaking of washing hands, you can add a few drops into your hand soap to make it antibacterial (You know that "traditional" antibacterial soaps are nothing but bad news, don't you? Some countries banned them completely). Again, I strongly suggest you do your own research and be informed consumer. I also successfully removed skin tag with it, no visits to the doctor, no cutting or freezing! You can see it here. My mom (who resisted all my suggestions for the longest time ever) now is also a die hard fan of it, and always asks me to supply more if she runs low.





OreganolP73

This is new(ish) addition to my collection, and by that I mean I use it for the second year running. Yes, I like to test things thoroughly before I speak about them or feature on my blog or social media. Please bear in mind that i am not qualified in medical field to give advice, so I can only talk about how I use it myself.
OreganolP73 is an extract of wild oregano, and not only it is a natural antibiotic, but it is also a powerful antioxidant! Say what? I admit I need it to research it much further myself, and I mainly use it as an antibiotic. Trust me, as a someone with non existent immunity, I used to get sick 8 times during winters (any wonder why I hate winters?) and since discovering this beauty I haven't seen a doctor, nor any of my family members took actual antibiotics in the last two years! I take 2-4 drops in a little of water followed by a large glass of water. It tastes nasty, but boy does it work, so I just put up with it. If you are in the beginning stages of flu, take it three times a day for a day or two and you will be back on your feet in no time, you will see.If your kids just won't take it, rub their soles with it. Be sure to look for P73 on the bottle, because not all extracts of oregano are created equal. I also suggest getting the undiluted version, because some of them come already diluted, but you are better off getting the potent version in the long run, as it will last you years, no kidding. Ours is a family of four, and my first bottle lasted me 1.5 years using it internally and externally. Externally I used it to treat my dermatitis, you can see more of it here, and I have to say it was brilliant for it. You can also use it to treat gingivitis, bronchitis, candida, yeast infections and fungus caused diseases.
Used as an antibiotic, it does not have side effects like the they do, it does not wipe off your good gut bacteria, does not reduce vitamin absorption, does not damage digesting lining causing leaky gut, etc.
As all good natural  remedies this is increasingly hard to find, I got mine in a health shop, but it wasn't on the shelf, I had to ask for it. It is also avail online.
(useful link about dosages/how to use it here)

*Update a couple of years later:

I had to go back to this article and remove a good few links about Oreganol, because for some strange reason information about this wonderful natural remedy is disappearing from internet - and fast! I had to remove links from Live Strong and Mind Body Soul and similar websites. I think it is only a matter of time it will be outlawed - but let's hope it is only my imagination running wild.

 So, let's see the benefits of this thing no one knows about?

Wild Oil of Oregano has the following medicinal properties: Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal and Antiparasitic

First and foremost, wild Oil of Oregano is a powerful antimicrobial. Numerous scientific studies and human experience have confirmed its ability to destroy all types of "germs" causing infection - viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. When you consider how many health conditions are caused by these pathogenic microorganisms, it becomes apparent why Oil of Oregano is such a useful remedy. In vitro studies have proven oregano essential oil to be as effective as leading prescription antibiotics against bacteria. Yet unlike these toxic drugs, wild oregano oil is safe for internal use and does not allow for the development of resistant germs (a.k.a. "super bugs").*

Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Antirheumatic and Vulnerary Oregano Oil Benefits
Oil of Wild Oregano also has strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which makes it useful for many conditions where pain and inflammation is present. For instance, it is excellent for sore muscles and joints, athletic injuries, as well as open wounds and burns. For those conditions where pain and inflammation are symptoms of infection (ie. toothaches), Oil of Oregano is the perfect treatment - it aggressively fights invading pathogens, while relieving discomfort. Many people are surprised at its ability to reduce or stop the pain of severe tissue damage. However, veterans of Oil of Oregano argue that it is "the closest thing to morphine in nature".*

To compliment its pain-killing ability, it also has vulnerary properties, so it speeds the healing of wounds and open sores. Needless to say, it is an invaluable item for first-aid kits and a necessity for anyone who spends time in the backcountry. Oil of Oregano is an ideal topical rub for muscles and joints for several reasons: 1) As an essential oil, it deeply penetrates tissue and reaches the source of the problem; 2) Its natural anaesthetic compounds reduce pain; 3) Its anti-inflammatory properties combine with antispasmodic actions, to relax and sooth inflamed and spastic tissue; 4) It is also an antirheumatic, which means it eases the stiffness of joints and improves mobility. Many people have found Mediterranean Oil of Oregano helpful for arthritis, and athletes with reduced joint mobility and muscle injuries have also found it beneficial. It is not surprising that an increasing number of massage therapists are using wild oregano oil in their practice, and are recommending it to their clients.*

Expectorant and Antitussive Oregano Oil Benefits
Oil of Oregano is also a strong expectorant, which means that it loosens phlegm and mucous in the sinuses and lungs. As an antitussive, it relieves coughing. These two properties compliment Oil of Oregano's powerful germ-fighting actions - and the result is a cold and flu remedy that is unmatched by all other natural and pharmaceutical products on the market. In addition to colds and flus, there are other infection-related conditions characterized by congestion and/or coughing - for instance, bronchitis and sinusitis. Many people have successfully treated these virulent infections using wild Oil of Oregano, after years of trying pharmaceutical drugs that have not worked. It's worth noting that Mediterranean cultures have relied on wild oregano for thousands of years, for its ability to conquer respiratory infections while easing congestion and relieving coughing fits.*

Carminative and Choleretic Oregano Oil Benefits
Wild Oil of Oregano is also a carminative, so it relieves gas upset and helps settle the digestive system. As a choleretic, it stimulates bile excretion which aids in digestion. It's anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties further aid in digestion by relaxing and soothing spastic and inflamed tissue within the stomach and intestines. As a result, Oil of Oregano is used for conditions such as indigestion, bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and gas. In some cases, these are only symptoms of a larger problem - infection. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites commonly root themselves within the digestive system, and cause illness. When infection is the culprit, Oil of Oregano aggressively attacks these pathogenic microorganisms while helping to alleviate unpleasant symptoms, and assist with digestion.*

Other Properties
Mediterranean oregano is a potent antioxidant. It has proven in many scientific studies to be far more effective at halting free radical production than most plants and fruits. It is also a cytopylactic (increases white blood cell activity), and a febrifuge (combats fever). Many people are surprised to learn that Oil of Oregano is also an antitoxic and antivenom. It counteracts the effects of toxins and poisons - and neutralizes venom from insect and snake bites! Of course, in the event of a venomous bite we recommend immediate medical attention. However, if Oil of Oregano is frequently applied and taken orally it will certainly help - and may keep you alive while getting to a hospital.*





My natural medicine cabinet


So that is all for now my lovely readers, your turn! I really surprised myself by not choosing any make up item considering how much I love it, but when I come to think of it, the health is more important, right?

What are your Top Three Natural Items that you enjoy or use the most? Please share with me :)


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Lots of love,
Renata.
 

Monday, July 20, 2015

How To Remove Skin Tags Naturally

Hello my lovely ladies and gentlemen,


Today i am coming at you with yet more natural discovery, or DIY if you will, I discovered that my beloved Tea Tree Oil can remove skin tags naturally! Yay or what? 
So I've developed a skin tag on my neck and it started to bother me because it was catching on collars and bag straps and it was quite painful/uncomfortable at a times. I poked around the internet and google told me that l can get it freezed/cut off at my doctors office or can get special kits from chemists which retails for about 15-20euros a pop. So I was like, no thank you, and poked around the internet some more, and what did l find? that l can use tea tree oil for the very same purpose! And it is something l always have in my house (you can use it for so many things!) so I grabbed a bottle and started applying tea tree oil on the skin tag in the morning and night, and lo behold, on the day five it fell off! I used the oil straight up with no diluting because l knew that my skin can tolerate it, but for many people it can cause sensitivities/irritation, so proceed with caution! And before you ask, you can use any brand tea tree oil, it does not have to be the same as mine. Mine happens to be organic, but you don't have to go for organic if you don't want to either, just make sure it's 100% pure with no additives to it.
I would suggest you apply small bandage on top to speed things up, at first i wasn't doing that and not much was happening but it fell off after the very first time I used a plaster on it, so you might not even have to wait for five days. Just one little tip, make sure that the tea tree oil touches skin tag only and not the skin around it, as not to get any irritations.
So there you go, hope this post helps someone and saves you money too :)


*And disclaimer, because you absolutely have to these days : I will not be held responsible for what you will do with this information. I am not telling you to do it, l am simply sharing what worked for me. Consult with your doctor before proceeding and always do a patch test before trying new product on your skin first.*

*Update a few years later - I no longer use the brand pictured, I moved onto Neals Yard Remedies & Living Libations - the cleanest and the most transparent brands in my humble opinion.



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So that is all for now.
Much love,
Renata.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Natural Aftersun Care (And A Few DIY's)


Hi there my loves,

Toda's post is all about the natural sun care, or should i say after sun care! Let's say you overindulged in the sunshine a bit and after you've come inside you realise you got a sunburn, your skin is red and hot and you just don't know what to do with yourself! I've been there too, I remember the last time i got a sunburn I ran into the pharmacy asking to give me ANYTHING to help me with THIS!! And I was all in pain and red as a lobster. Taking one look at me the lady behind the counter gave me Clarins (or was it Clinique, l can't really remember since it's been a few years) after sun lotion, which cost me €28, was gone in one afternoon and did not help much! Not fancying shelling out another small fortune for yet another product I decided to have a look at the ingredient list - I should say I wasn't into all things natural then, so this was kinda like a blind shot) - and seeing that the active ingredient is yogurt, I went to the grocery shop and bought giant tub of natural yogurt for less than €2, and all of us rather dubious and apprehensive slathered yogurt on our skin and lo behold, instant relief!! Your skin just drinks it up, I swear! So that is how I discovered yogurt as a natural remedy for skin sunburn. After the holidays I started digging a bit deeper, and now, a few years later and much deeper in all the things natural and green, here is what I can recommend for you my lovely readers!
Aloe vera, yogurt, rosewater (or any floral water for that matter), coconut oil (which I forgot to include in the picture I've just realised, doh!!), cucumber (or it's juice if you prefer), calendula oil, camomile essential oil (blue roman being the best kind for this purpose) or camomile tea, lavender essential oil, these are all your best friends if you've got a sunburt and want to help yourself in a natural way! (much cheaper and better for you I would add).


 And the beauty of it is that you don't need all of these, I am just giving you options! Remember any of these and you will be fine :) I don't use any specific measurements, just use whatever I have on hand at that time, but if you want me to give you some ideas, here they are:
~One cup of natural yogurt for instant relief. Followed by a shower and a few spoonfuls of coconut oil
~A few spoonfuls of aloe vera gel mixed with 2-5 drops of camomile essential oil
~Juice of a cucumber on it's own or mixed with aloe vera gel
~Slice open aloe vera leaf and rub straight onto the skin (make sure to cut sides with thorns off first)
~Pour rosewater into a spray bottle and spray on the skin. You can add a few drops of calendula or camomile essential oil to this, but it's not nessesary. Spray bottle is also not nessesary, you can simply wet a cloth with rosewater and rub it onto the skin, although it will waste more product this way)
~Take 2-3 camomile tea bags and steep in the boiling water for ten minutes. Once cooled down, apply to the skin.

You get the idea :)

Here's what I will be taking on holidays with me this year for our family of four : two or three tubs of good quality coconut oil, two spray bottles with rosewater, camomile essential oil and aloe vera gel.

And one more natural after sun cooling and moisturising DIY:

~Here I took small glass jar and filled with coconut oil and the flesh of aloe vera leaf from my plant (I highly suggest growing one even if you don't grow anything at all, it's so beneficial for you and will come in handy for any kind cuts and scrapes, although l like to use it for skin and hair masks better) and a 10 drops of camomile essential oil (always make sure to dilute essential oils well).

P.s I know lavender essential oil and apple cider vinegar would be beneficial too, but I am from the minority of people who don't like the smell of lavender, so I don't have it in my house, and I've never tried using vinegar on sunburned skin as I am too much of a chicken to do that.


So that is all for now, wishing you all fabulous time in the sun and remember this blog post if you will overdo it :) Have you tried any of remedies here? Or maybe you know some other remedies for sunburn? Please share them below, let's talk :)


Lots of Love,
Renata,

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

How To Have Healthy Hair Again The Natural Way

Welcome back :)

I was posting a hair and scalp mask DIY picture on Instagram and suddenly the idea hit me, I ought to make a blog post about healthy hair, or rather how to have healthy hair again. Rather I should explain I lost 50% of my hair once i stopped breastfeeding, and my doctor brushed it off as "it will grow back".. So as the months passed and it didn't grow back, I decided to take matters into my own hands and do it natural way.
By the way, are you following me on Instagram? If not, you should :) here's the link :)
Back to business! Do you have frizzy hair and endless dandruff that is not going away no matter what you do or what expensive medical shampoo you buy? Guess what? You weren't born that way honey! It is the products you use that is the source of your problems. Yes, you read that right, your eyes aren't deceiving you. It took me a long time time to realise this and get to where I am today, so if you want to make a shortcut and save yourself ten years or experimenting and research and just jump straight to the good stuff and my two cents on it, aka advice :)

Switch to natural shampoos (no sls)
That is non negotiable! Let me tell you what conditions cured themselves almost overnight what i ditched sls (aka sodium laureth sulfate or sodium lauryl sulfate) - frizzy hair, dandruff, itchy and sensitive scalp AND backne! If that doesn't convince you, just go on and check the ingredients label on your dish washing soap or washing powder. Yes, there is a method to my madness - these products AND your shampoo have the same ingredients in them, yes, you guessed that right, SLS. What is it? Cheap harsh detergent that washes everything right off, so you are left with scalp that is squeaky clean, with no natural oils left on it. Yes, you will have clean hair, but at what cost? And especially if you do that every day? You can't expect your hair and scalp to be in their best condition if you take away all the natural oils that are there for a reason, can you? And what's worse, your scalp is one of the most absorbent places of your skin, so all the "lovely" bunch of chemicals get absorbed into your head every day.

Cut down on heat
It damages the hair big time, and gives you brittle hair and split ends! If you can't give up it all together, please just promise me don't do it two days in the row, as the second time you do it, the moisture is pulled out of your hair and it will become straw like. Nobody wants that, right? also I recently learned from Whitney or Eco-Vegan Gal from youtube (check out her youtube channel and a video on haircare) that the hair dryers and styling products emit the same high level of radio active waves as the microwave, so basically we ladies are successfully microwaving our heads every day! How scary is that?
Supplements
There are lots of unnatural supplements to choose from, but I wanted something natural, so I will tell you what I used and you can pick and choose what you want to try.. I tried amla (same powder as I used for hair masks can be taken internally, since it's food grade.) it's sour-ish powder that you take a teaspoon or so per day, try to bump it up as it's packed full of natural vitamin C. I just mixed it with water and drank quickly but you can add it to your smoothies or yogurt. Next is MSM, I got mine in raw form from Nourish, and it definitely made a difference, just it tastes quite nasty sour and to be honest l never repurchased it after my course. Biotin is a form of vitamin B and it is also fabulous for the hair, makes it grow so fast! One of my recent discoveries is baobab powder, which has more vitamin C than oranges, more iron than red meat and is a source of alkalising minerals including calcium, potassium (gram for gram, five time more bananas) and magnesium. But as I mentioned, it's new to me so l want to give myself time to see if I recommend it or not, in theory it should be good.
And let's not forget, to have healthy hair you need protein, so consume your fair share of proteins, preferably in food form, not those powdered ones. I like to eat nuts and seeds too, as they have lots of proteins (one tablespoon of sunflower seeds will have your daily quota). Eat them as a snack or sprinkle on yogurt or salads.


 Hair masks
 Here is my usual arsenal of hair loving ingredients, and you can pick and choose what do you want to use and off you go to mix your own concoctions ;)
Rosemary (fresh or dried), egg, yogurt, honey, banana, avocado, amla (none other than gooseberry), neem powder, coconut oil, water and milk, castor oil.
There are no specific measurements here, but if you want recipes, l will tell you a couple of one I am using, but to be honest here I am using whatever I do have on hand at the time. 
All these masks should be kept on for at least 20 mins, with oil masks the longer the better!
Coconut water and milk mask. Take some coconut milk from a can - scoop the thick part from the top and mix it with coconut water, and apply to the scalp and the hair. Keep it on for at least 20 mins, the longer the better. You can totally use coconut milk by itself, next time you are making your family curry, save a spoon or two for your mask. I usually have those two ingredients frozen in the ice cubes in my freezer and defrost only the amount I need.
Coconut oil and amla mask. You may want to add a few drop of rosemary essential oil too, as this ingredients is amazing for your hair! For a mask you will need a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and about a teaspoon of amla (or neem, esp if you are trying to regrow your hair). 
Egg, honey and oil mask. Take an egg, and equal amounts of honey and egg and after mixing everything together apply to your hair. When washing this out, make sure to use lukewarm water if you don't want scrambled eggs in your hair!
Avocado or banana mask. Take a very ripe banana (or avocado), mash it up and apply to the hair. I have to tell you I haven't done these in a while, because these masks are a pain-in-you-know-what to wash out! But your hair will be happy, believe me!!


Scalp masks
 All the mentioned above masks are good for the scalp, so don't forget to rub it into the scalp too! I am a big fan of oiling the scalp and try to do a coconut scalp & hair mask at least once a week. Think of your scalp and hair as a soil and the flowers, to have beautiful flowers you need healthy soil, and for some reason or another we tend to overlook the scalp more often than not.

Herbal Rinses
Nettle is a fabulous hair friend, and it makes a perfect a perfect rinse. Take a handful of dried nettle (a few handfuls if using fresh) and steep in the boiling water for 30 mins. When cooled to the room temperature, use as a final rinse for your hair. You can rinse it out, but I usually don't.
Rosemary or sage rinse. Use the same way as a nettle rinse.
Rosewater rinse or spray. I recently found out that Indian beauties spray rosewater on their hair to make it shiny and beautiful, but i need to research a bit more about it. Inspired by this fact I made this little spray I try to use everyday if I remember  - equal parts of rosewater, rosemary and nettle. I spray it on my scalp and massage it in to lock the goodness in :)

Scalp massage
Let's just agree that is important to give the hair follicle the oxygen, so let's massage the scalp from time to time, or lay on the bed with your head hanging down from the side of your bed for two minutes each day (the flow of blood surely will benefit your hair) or even do like your grandma used to do and "brush your hair 100 times a day" with natural bristles brush. (speaking of brushes, l noticed tremendouss difference in my hair health and shine levels once l swapped my plastic brush to boar bristles brush. Choose wooden brush if you don't want animal products)


*Disclaimer: consult with your doctor before using supplements first. I am only telling you what worked for me and can not be held responsible for what you will do with this information. 

That is all my friends :)
Take care, 
Lots of Love,
Renata.