Thursday, October 22, 2009

Keep Your Pearly Whites Gleaming - Part I

We're going to talk about natural care of your smile. What do people notice when they first meet you? Your smile, of course. Who wants to be remembered for having yellowy-brown teeth? No one. Everyone wants gleaming white choppers. They simply brighten your face.

Most dentifrices available today contain harsh abrasives, saccharin, sugar, detergents, and/or bleaches. Combine these ingredients with the twice-daily use and misuse of toothbrushes (especially the use of "firm-bristled" toothbrushes) and the result is tooth enamel and gum tissue suffering from extra wear and tear. Additionally, if you frequently use commercial, chemical-based bleaching solutions to whiten your smile, these too, can cause thinning of the enamel and gum sensitivity.

You can make simple, yet effective and pleasant-tasting, natural dentifrices at home that will leave your teeth sparkling, breath fresh, and your gums in the pink. Here are 3 recipes for you to try. I'll give you one of my favorite herbal toothpaste recipes in my next blog.

Step Back Plaque

1. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 drop of essential oil of orange, anise, fennel, spearmint, peppermint, or cinnamon. Dip a wet toothbrush into this mixture and brush your teeth as usual to fight plaque buildup, gently whiten teeth, and neutralize mouth odor.

2. Try strawberries for a whiter smile! Mash a very, very ripe strawberry into a pulp. Dip your toothbrush into the pulpy liquid and brush normally. Strawberries produce a slight bleaching action from the mild fruit acid they contain. Rinse thoroughly after brushing. This procedure can be repeated up to 3x per week.

3. Out on a weekend camping trip and forgot your toothbrish? Never fear . . . simply peel a 3- or 4-inch twig freshly cut from a sweet gum (tupelo), flowering dogwood, sugar maple, or sassafrass tree and chew on the end until it is frayed and soft. Now, gently rub your teeth and gums. The twig can also be dipped in water and baking soda, if you desire.


NOTE: The above article was adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Take A Luxurious Milk Bath

Dry skin season is upon us, so why not take a preemptive strike against potential dry skin irritations by using the skin-pampering benefits of milk as an additive to your bath . . . instead of drinking it?? Milk includes many components, such as proteins and fats, that are particularly good for soothing and moisturizing the skin, plus lactic acid that acts as a gentle, natural chemical exfoliator.

Milk - For Softer, Sleeker Skin: 4 Easy Recipes

1) To relieve itchy skin due to sunburn, windburn, or poison ivy or oak irritation, add 1 cup of instant, powdered whole milk, 1/2 cup of baking soda, and 1 teaspoon of olive oil to running bathwater. Step in and soak for 15 minutes.

2) Make a milk-bath bag. In a medium-size muslin drawstring bag, old knee-high stocking, or in a 12-inch square of doubled cheesecloth, place 1 cup of instant, powdered whole milk, 1/2 cup of cosmetic-grade borax, 1/4 cup of ground lavender flowers, and 1/4 cup of ground rose petals. Tie the ends together or wrap with an elastic band to secure. Drop into the tub as it fills with water, step in, and rub the bag over your skin to soften and lightly scent.

3) To combat dry, super-sensitive skin or to bathe an infant's delicate skin, add 1 cup of instant, powdered whole milk, 1/4 cup of finely ground raw almonds, 1/4 cup ground oats, and 1/4 cup of marshmallow root powder to a bath bag (see instructions above). Drop into the tub as it fills with water, step in, and rub the bag over your skin.

4) Try this version of Cleopatra's famous bathing ritual and see if your skin doesn't feel softer and smoother. Add 1 cup instant, powdered whole goat's or cow's milk, 1 tablespoon apricot kernel, jojoba, avocado, hazelnut, or extra-virgin olive oil, and 8 drops essential oil of German or Roman chamomile, lavender, rosemary, spearmint, or rose together directly under running bathwater. Step in and relax.


NOTE: The above article was written by Stephanie Tourles, lic. holistic esthetician, herbalist, aromatherapist, and author of "Organic Body Care Recipes", Storey Publishing, 2007. The information provided is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of the author and she disclaims any liability in connection with the use of said information. It is for educational purposes only.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Testing Your Age

Want to know your skin's biological age? To some of you, that might be a scary question, especially if you've lived the "party life" or seen too many days lounging in the sun! But, to others of you who have taken good care of yourself and pampered your skin, the test results might reveal that your skin is in fact functioning at a more youthful capabity than your calendar years. Let's see . . .

In her book, Natural Hand Care (Storey Publishing, 1998), Norma Pasekoff Weinberg offers this experiment to test the elasticity or stretchability of your skin.

Pinch the skin on the back of your hand and then release it after a few seconds. If you're under 30 years of age, the skin will quickly return to its original contour. If you are between 30 and 50, you can begin to see the skin stand up for a second or two before recovering. At age 50 and beyond, the skin may stand up for a number of seconds, a sign that its support network (elastin, collagen, and subcutaneous fat layer) has been altered or that the body as a whole is undergoing changes that are visible at the skin's surface.

I must add this bit of a "hand aging disclaimer": . . . If, over the years, you've asked a lot of your hands by participating in hobbies such as gardening, sailing, or spinning pots or careers such as landscaping, floral design, house cleaning, house painting, or nursing where your hands are exposed to dirt, sunshine, chemicals, or perhaps you've had to, for sanitation reasons, wash your hands quite frequently, then this test will probably not apply to you. Hands that are exposed to the elements - be they natural or man-made - will age faster and their skin is not usually indicative of the health and youthfulness of the skin on the rest of the body.

A Handy Tip: Try to remember to wear gloves whenever possible to protect your precious hands and frequently apply a thick cream or body butter or protective product that acts as a "glove" to seal in moisture and keep out bacteria.

NOTE: This article was adapted from the book, "Organic Body Care Recipes", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2007. The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles and she disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational use only.