EcoSalon | Conscious Culture and Fashion » personal care

Plastic: The Forever Wonder Substance

Stiv Wilson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:21:13 +0000

seriesPart 3 in a special series on the presence of plastic in our lives.

We all try to do our part. We try to make conscious, low environmental impact choices when we can, but technology has outpaced awareness. Plastic hides everywhere: under our noses, in place sight, in the places we’d least expect. Case in point: a committed java junkie, I try to carry a reusable cup at all times. When I don’t, I order a medium in a large cup, so I can avoid the plastic lid. And then I learned even the paper cups have a thin layer of polyethylene lining.

Most of the scientific literature to date suggests that polyethylene doesn’t leach chemicals, but it doesn’t biodegrade, either, creating a lasting problem. So often, we don’t even know we’re consuming plastic. Even chewing gum contains plastic (poly-vinyl acetate). Check the ingredients; it’s difficult to find a single chewing gum that doesn’t contain a synthetic. Ditto beer. Fans of the hearty, local microbrew will notice the plastic gasket lining the bottle caps of glass bottles. In short: it’s everywhere.

Many face cleansers, for example, utilize plastic in their formulas to work as an abrasive. Everyone wants healthy skin, and we dutifully scrape away those older, dead skin cells to reveal the younger, fresher cells beneath. The plastic particles in the exfoliants wash down the drain, into the rivers and the ocean, where they work as a vector to absorb persistent organic pollutants at highly toxic levels – and can be ingested by fish and bio-magnify up the food chain, right back into tonight’s dinner.

Treatment plants haven’t been able to demonstrate effective capture of these plastic additives, which on personal care labels will go by names like “polyethylene micro-spheres” or “micro-beads.” Brands like Clearasil, Ponds, and Neutrogena all use synthetic exfoliants. (Luckily, there are healthy, green alternatives for younger, fresher skin, from brands like Farm Aesthetics, Burt’s Bees, and Yes to Carrots to homegrown remedies like lemon peel and coffee grounds.)

Coffee, beer, gum, cleansers – does it ever stop? Plastic is even in some brands of whitening toothpaste.

The stuff just doesn’t go away. We’ve been using plastics widely for about 40 years, with consumption spiking about 20 years ago. Within this short span of time, plastic can already be found in every part of the ocean and on every single beach in the world. It’s made of toxic chemicals. It doesn’t biodegrade. It’s accumulating in every light and dark recess of our reality. And we don’t know what it’s going to do to us yet.

Recycling, far from being an answer, is a myth, one that makes us feel good but doesn’t solve the problem. When we throw “it” away, we have to remember one thing: there is no away. There is only out of sight. As we wash our faces, brighten our smiles, and pound our morning lattes, we’re creating an ever-, over-plasticized environment.

Editor’s note: This is part 3 in a special series on plastic. Read part 2 and part 1.

Image: Nick Harris

Best Natural Remedies for the 15 Most Common Aches, Pains and Health Complaints

Sarah Irani — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:27:06 +0000

Is the economy beating you up? It’s time to get creative. Next time you have an ache or pain, forget about a costly trip to the drugstore and test drive some of your grandmother’s remedies instead. It’ll save money and be gentler on your body and the environment. Recessionistas (and Gents), welcome to the DIY medicine cabinet.

Indigestion and Heartburn

It almost goes without saying – but consider why you’re getting heartburn in the first place. Did you overeat? Too much grease or spicy food? Eating late at night? Scout out the cause and try to stop this before it happens. Then, put down the antacids. The belching, bloat and heartburn caused by indigestion come about because you don’t have enough stomach acid to do the job right. A spoonful or two of apple cider vinegar will help break down the excess food that is causing you trouble and bring your stomach back to balance.

Sore Throat

Sore, scratchy throats are usually a sign of a cold or flu coming on, so you don’t want to ignore this symptom, but you can relieve the pain by gargling with warm salt water a few times a day and then drinking a soothing honey-lemon tea.

Sore Muscles and Bruises

After a hard afternoon of rowing with a friend, I resigned myself to a few days of burning muscles and soreness. But my friend saved the day with a tube of arnica cream. He rubbed it on my shoulders and voila, instant relief and absolutely no aches the next day. The humble arnica flower makes an incredible cream that no medicine cabinet should be without. Use it immediately to speed up the healing of bruises, sprains, sore muscles and other general aches.

Stop Bleeding

You’d think it would burn, but a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on a cut will quickly stop the bleeding and actually relieve the pain.

Ear Infections

Ear infections can become quite serious and cause permanent damage, so please see a doctor if your ear ache has become severe. But if you feel like your infection is mild and at the beginning stages, put a few drops of garlic oil or white vinegar into your ear canal and lay down on the opposite side to let those drops do their work. Garlic and vinegar create an environment that won’t support the bacteria causing the infection. Repeat a few times a day until the symptoms disappear. (If your symptoms last longer than a few days, you should definitely see a doctor!)

Burns

So you bumped up against the stove again? Ouch. Rinse first with cold water, but then immediately apply aloe vera gel to the burn. For those of us who don’t have aloe in the house, slice a potato and rub its cool, soothing juices all over the burn. And honey, with its antibacterial properties, is also good topical ointment. If you can catch the burn immediately, mustard is also reportedly a great salve.

Athlete’s Foot

It’s a foot fungus, and it stinks. Air those piggies, then soak them in salty water, wash them with garlic juice, or soak them with diluted white or apple cider vinegar. All of these things will help kill the fungus. But you have to be persistent, consistent and diligent: no matter what treatment you use, do it a few times a day and stick with it until at least a week after you think the symptoms are gone! Fungus excels at hiding out and coming back when you least expect it.

Rashes and Allergies

Prescription and OTC antihistamines can cause some serious side effects. Before you head for the strong stuff, try green tea, which contains compounds with antihistamine properties. You’ll need to drink 2-3 cups a day to get the full effect.

Acne and Sensitive Skin

First you really have to look at your lifestyle, because imbalances in your health can show up in your skin. But in the meantime, wash your face with oatmeal. It’s a gentle exfoliant and draws out oil and impurities.

Flatulence

Some foods, like beans and raw veggies, are more likely to cause gas, but if you find flatulence to be too common of an occurrence, try taking a digestive enzyme with your meals. You can find these at any health food store. In the meantime, make use of digestive spices such as ginger, anise, peppermint, coriander and dill. You can make tea with these ingredients or incorporate them into your food.

Headache and Migraine

Try rubbing peppermint or lavender oil on your temples and the base of your neck; sniffing these oils may also help. Rub a fresh cut lemon or lime on your forehead. Feverfew is a good herbal remedy for headaches. Have a little caffeine by way of green tea, and don’t forget to use an ice pack for 20 minutes to dull the throbbing.

Dandruff

Have you looked at the ingredients in dandruff shampoo? It seems like they contain almost everything in the Toxic Ingredients You Must Avoid list. Better to try something natural first before resorting to chemicals. Many people swear by rubbing aloe vera gel onto the scalp (leave it on for 20 minutes than rinse it out). This will certainly help with dry, itchy scalp. Another remedy is a rinse with apple cider vinegar. Try these remedies a few times before deciding if they work for you. Even dandruff shampoo requires regular use to see results, so give the natural stuff a chance!

Nausea

The classic cure for nausea or carsickness is ginger tea or candied ginger. You can chew on the stuff raw, if you like, but it’s so spicy and strong it might just make you feel worse. Sniffing real peppermint or lavender oil can also help.

Constipation.

First (and we’ll spare you a picture), drink more water and eat more fruit and salads. You’re backed up for a reason and taking lots of laxatives is not the answer. Meanwhile, drinking a few teaspoons of olive oil mixed with a bit of orange or (diluted) lemon juice can help things get moving. Another surefire remedy is 1/4 teaspoon of epsom salts drunk in 1/2 a glass of water. Sometimes calorie restriction or avoidance of healthy fats (such as the good fats found in fish, nuts and avocados) can worsen constipation. And though it’s counterintuitive, some people relieve their constipation by actually cutting back on grain consumption! True, grains contain fiber, but some people don’t digest grains very well. Other causes of constipation include stress, depression, inactivity and nutritional deficiencies. If your constipation is chronic, it may be a sign of a more serious problem, so please seek medical advice and adjust your lifestyle.

Toothache.

There’s nothing so bad as the shooting pain of a toothache. You don’t want to ignore a tooth problem, because an infection that close to your brain can be extremely dangerous if it spreads. But in order to reduce swelling and pain while you wait for your dentist appointment, try putting a few drops of clove oil on your tooth and gums, and bite down on a smashed piece of garlic (which has excellent antibacterial properties). This has always worked for me.

Give some of these remedies a try – and share your own tried-and-true treatments, too.

Each week here at EcoSalon, the editors choose a post from the archives that we think you’ll love. The original post can be found here.

Images: FXR, Muhammad Adnan Asin, Mr Wabu, Goldring, Unhindered by Talent, Fotoos Van Robin, titanium22, aussiegall, craig Cloutier, Muffet, tillwe, Stuart Pilbrow, Creative Tools, sh0dan, Fotoos Van Robin, Stephen Brace

Best Natural Remedies for the 15 Most Common Aches, Pains and Health Complaints

Sarah Irani — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 16:03:48 +0000

Indigestion and Heartburn

Sore Throat

Sore Muscles and Bruises

Stop Bleeding

You’d think it would burn, but a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on a cut will quickly stop the bleeding and actually relieve the pain.

Ear Infections

Burns

Athlete’s Foot

Rashes and Allergies

Acne and Sensitive Skin

Flatulence

Headache and Migraine

Dandruff

Nausea

Constipation. First (and we’ll spare you a picture), drink more water and eat more fruit and salads. You’re backed up for a reason and taking lots of laxatives is not the answer. Meanwhile, drinking a few teaspoons of olive oil mixed with a bit of orange or (diluted) lemon juice can help things get moving. Another surefire remedy is 1/4 teaspoon of epsom salts drunk in 1/2 a glass of water. Sometimes calorie restriction or avoidance of healthy fats (such as the good fats found in fish, nuts and avocados) can worsen constipation. And though it’s counterintuitive, some people relieve their constipation by actually cutting back on grain consumption! True, grains contain fiber, but some people don’t digest grains very well. Other causes of constipation include stress, depression, inactivity and nutritional deficiencies. If your constipation is chronic, it may be a sign of a more serious problem, so please seek medical advice and adjust your lifestyle.

Toothache. There’s nothing so bad as the shooting pain of a toothache. You don’t want to ignore a tooth problem, because an infection that close to your brain can be extremely dangerous if it spreads. But in order to reduce swelling and pain while you wait for your dentist appointment, try putting a few drops of clove oil on your tooth and gums, and bite down on a smashed piece of garlic (which has excellent antibacterial properties). This has always worked for me.

Give some of these remedies a try – and share your own tried-and-true treatments, too.

Each week here at EcoSalon, the editors choose a post from the archives that we think you’ll love. The original post can be found here.

Images: FXR, Muhammad Adnan Asin, Mr Wabu, Goldring, Unhindered by Talent, Fotoos Van Robin, titanium22, aussiegall, craig Cloutier, Muffet, tillwe, Stuart Pilbrow, sh0dan, Fotoos Van Robin, Stephen Brace

Sex Lube: Your Own Personal Oil Slick

Stephanie Rogers — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 20:51:59 +0000

We’ve all got one – a little tube in the nightstand drawer, ready for those moments when our bodies seem to be failing at what they’re supposed to do naturally. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, I’m just going to say it: vaginal dryness happens.

Maybe you’re on birth control pills, or maybe your man isn’t spending enough – ahem – quality time before the act itself takes place. But if you find yourself reaching for lubrication, stop and read those ingredients! You might be filling one of the most delicate parts of your body with a bunch of scary chemicals, and even affecting your fertility.

It’s all too easy to just grab whatever the most promising-looking plastic tube on the drugstore shelf. The labels on products like KY Jelly, Astroglide and Durex Play focus on adjectives like “sensual” and “warming”, not safety – and sometimes, ingredients aren’t even disclosed.

Here’s the thing about most conventional sex lubes:

Many contain parabens. KY brand lubricants – aside from the ‘sensitive’ version – contain parabens, a class of chemicals used as preservatives. Even the relatively natural-sounding brand ‘Phyto Soya’ is packed with practically every paraben in existence. Parabens are estrogen mimickers and have been linked to breast cancer. Chemicals like parabens are easily absorbed through the skin, and mucous membranes – like vaginal tissue – are even more susceptible.

They’re often petroleum-based. Any lubricant that lists mineral oil in its ingredient list is made from petrochemicals. An obvious offender is plain old petroleum jelly. If you like putting fossil fuels in your vagina, raise your hand! Yeah, that’s what I thought.

They can cause infection. Whenever you see glycerin or a word starting with “glycol” in the ingredients, you’ve got potential problems. These ingredients – common in lubes like Astroglide – are closely related to glucose, which means they’re a sugary feast for yeast. Not exactly sexy.

They affect fertility. If you’re trying to conceive, think twice about using any old lube. Studies show that lubricants like KY, Astroglide and FemGlide affect both sperm quality and motility, meaning they slow ‘em down and damage their DNA. While a product called “Pre-Seed” proved to be the most sperm-friendly, it does contain parabens, so it’s best not to use artificial lube at all if possible.

That doesn’t mean that just because you’re breastfeeding, going through menopause or taking antidepressants, you have to resign yourself to uncomfortable sex. Check out some of these alternatives:

Firefly Organics – Though not made for use with latex condoms (polyurethane is okay), Firefly Organics is a 100 percent natural, paraben-free personal lubricant made with sunflower seed extract, cocoa butter and shea butter.

Yes Lubricant – Yes brand lubricants come in both water- and oil-based varieties for latex condom compatibility. The oil-based product contains shea butter, sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, beeswax, cocoa butter and vitamin E while the water-based product is made with aloe, guar gum, locust bean gum and flax extract.

Good Clean Love – Totally natural, organic and vegan, Good Clean Love lubricants come in naturally scented versions like lavender rose, almost naked with a touch of lemon and vanilla, and cinnamon vanilla – a spicy scent reminiscent of pumpkin pie, a scent that most men find sexy.

Coconut Oil – Some ladies swear by plain old virgin organic coconut oil as a sex lube, and though no studies have been done on its safety, it seems like a great choice. Coconut oil is naturally fungicidal, so nothing funky will grow in it (which is a common problem in any kind of lube). It’s also antibacterial and silky smooth, but avoiding it in conjunction with latex condoms is probably a good idea.

Image: Zawezome

Tea Tree Oil: 10 Germ-Killing, Super-Cleansing Uses

Stephanie Rogers — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:15:03 +0000

Do you ever pass those big, expensive bottles of essential oils at the natural foods store and wonder who needs that much? Most of us are used to using just a few drops at a time; after all, they’re super-concentrated. But next time, you won’t blink an eye at the thirty dollar price tag on that 4-ounce bottle of tea tree oil. Why? Because it’s possibly the most powerful essential oil there is, with dozens of medicinal, beauty and domestic uses. Seriously: you need tea tree oil. Lots of it. Here are just 10 examples of what you can do with it.

Mold Killer

I recently had a knock-down, drag-out fight with mold. Things got ugly fast when a leak in the basement wasn’t fixed quickly enough, and before long, mold was all over everything that was stored down there. While I had to throw a lot of things away, I saved a lot thanks to a really easy and natural solution that kills virtually all strains of fungus – plain white vinegar with about a teaspoon of tea tree oil added to it, in a spray bottle. Spray liberally and vigorously wipe all affected surfaces, but don’t rinse.

Laundry Scent and Booster

Anyone who’s ever dealt with dirty cloth diapers, cloth menstrual pads or a post-illness load of laundry knows that sometimes, your clothes and linens need a little something more than just plain old laundry detergent. But don’t break out the bleach. A teaspoon of tea tree oil in your wash water will kill any germs and other gross stuff – just hang them out in the sun to dry and stains will disappear, too.

Insect Repellent and Bite Soother

When all else fails – even trusty old citronella – tea tree oil keeps annoying mosquitoes, gnats and other buzzing and biting bugs far away. Pour about an ounce of tea tree oil and four ounces of witch hazel into a spray bottle, and shake it up before applying. Both ingredients are soothing to existing bites. You can add some cedar, lemongrass, or lavender to make it even more powerful and prettier-smelling, too.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Sometimes referred to as ‘Mother Nature’s most powerful antiseptic’, tea tree oil is a great addition to just about any homemade all-purpose cleaner recipe. Here’s my favorite: add 2 cups of hot water to 2 tablespoons of 20 Mule Team Borax, ½ teaspoon of liquid dish soap and ½ teaspoon of tea tree oil in a spray bottle; shake it and spray it anywhere germs lurk, like doorknobs and toilets.

Relief from Chest Colds

Put 2-3 drops of tea tree oil in a basin of hot, steaming water, then cover your head with a towel and inhale the steam for up to 10 minutes. Since tea tree oil has antiviral properties, it can help keep that cold from getting out of hand, especially if you catch it early enough.

Cold Sores

Nothing says “kiss me” like a hideous, contagious eruption right next to your mouth. Tea tree oil can help make it go away fast, since its antiviral effect subdues the herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores. Apply a few drops to the sore with a cotton swab once a day until it’s gone, and don’t forget to pop some lysine, an amino acid that has been proven to stop the herpes virus from replicating.

Gum and Sticker Remover

Whether it’s a wad of gum someone stuck under your dining table or a stubborn label on a gift, tea tree oil is so astringent that it cuts through sticky substances with ease. Just pour on a few drops on a cotton ball and rub away.

Acne Buster

The active ingredient in tea tree oil, terpinen-4-ol, is thought to kill the the bacteria that colonizes our pores and throws the disgusting, unsightly parties that result in acne. Just a drop added to a paste of baking soda and castile soap makes a super-effective natural face and body scrub that will also buff away the dead skin cells that make breakouts even worse. Some people can be sensitive to high concentrations of this powerful oil, so if you get a rash, discontinue use.

Athlete’s Foot and Other Fungal Issues

As gross as it sounds, the same properties that make tea tree oil such a potent mold-killer make it great for the fungus that causes athlete’s foot, too. The same goes for any other fungal infection, like ringworm, dandruff and nail infections. Mix a few drops of tea tree oil in a base oil like sweet almond, olive or coconut and apply it to the affected area, add it to your shampoo or add it to hot water for a foot soak.

Head Lice Zapper

What do you do when your kid’s got a head full of creepy-crawly, blood-sucking lice? Blast those suckers into oblivion as soon as possible. But many parents inadvertently expose their children to even worse health problems when they resort to noxious chemicals. Try tea tree oil first – research shows that it can dislodge mature lice. Mix a teaspoon of tea tree with 4 teaspoons of either olive or coconut oil, rub it into the scalp and leave it on for 15 minutes; then use a nit comb before washing the mixture out.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

How to Stop a Panic Attack

Sarah Irani — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 12:00:25 +0000

I, like 1 in 3 Americans, have suffered panic attacks in my life, and I’ll never forget how real and overpowering the fear was, paralyzing in its strength. Symptoms of a panic attack include shortness of breath, a choking feeling, dizziness and feelings of disconnectedness from reality and losing control. It is an absolutely terrifying experience. But if you understand how a panic attack works, you can also learn how to stop it in its tracks.

You see, panic is a natural response to a perceived emergency and helps with the fight-or-flight survival instinct. Rest assured that you’re not crazy. But if you feel the panic rising and you know the emergency isn’t immediately life-threatening (like a car coming right at you, or being inside a burning building), you can take control before the symptoms take control of you.

Make the intention to STOP. You’ve got to decide that you can overcome the rush of adrenaline and if possible, put your hands out in front of you and say out loud “STOP!” in a very firm voice. Remember, you are in control, not your emotions.
Refocus your energy. Don’t let yourself follow the train of panicky thoughts. Instead, reign them in and do some kind of simple, repetitive activity to occupy yourself. Wash the dishes, pull weeds, do sit-ups or any other simple activity that doesn’t require mental concentration.
Breathe. Take control of your breath. Breathe slowly, deeply, from the diaphragm. If you’ve ever been to a yoga class, this is the time to make use of the deep, intentional breathing you learned. Your belly should move with your breath.

Accept your feelings. Once you’ve calmed down, take a look at what triggered your panic attack. There’s something very real there that’s bothering you, and your body is telling you that you need to take some action. But appropriate action can only be taken from a calm, settled state of mind.

Again, the important thing to remember is that panic is your body’s hormonal response to a perceived emergency and that it will pass, usually in just a few minutes. You’re not dying, you’re not going crazy, and you can take control. Please let us know about any other tips that have worked for you.

Image: star5112

9 Essentials for Raising a Healthy, Happy Pet

Sarah Irani — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:03:29 +0000

There’s a saying, “animals make us human.” It’s because the way we treat the creatures in our care shows what kind of people we are. If you care about your own health, what you eat and what kind of home you live in, it’s important that you care about the health and happiness of the animals that share your home. Love is important for your pet, but so is proper care and mental stimulation. Here are the essential basics of providing a good life for your pet:

Spay or neuter your pet. With an overabundance of animals in shelters who already need loving homes, there’s no need for you to supply your neighborhood with more puppies or kittens. Why take the risk of filling the world with more unwanted animals? Feral animals breed like wildfire and usually end up hungry, sick and diseased. Besides, your local bird population will thank you, as a few feral cats is all it takes to hunt them into neighborhood extinction.

Feed them what they really need. If you care about the kind of food you put into your own body, you’ve got to care about your animal’s diet too. You don’t have to buy the most expensive stuff, but take a few minutes to look at the ingredients. Dogs and cats eat meat, and although it’s perfectly fine to include vegetarian items in their food, the first few ingredients need to be real meat. Not “chicken by-product meal” (which means ground up bones, beaks and feathers), but actual chicken. Your pet’s long term health is worth it. Avoid grains and fillers.

Appreciate what they bring to you. You take care of your pet, but your pet takes care of you, too! The unconditional adoration from your dog is pretty hard to find anywhere in the human world, and a cat’s satisfied purr as it naps on your belly has got to be one of the most wonderful things in the world. Take time to appreciate their personalities and companionship – being a good human requires more than just feeding them and taking them to the vet.

Exercise with your dog. Part of the responsibility you chose when you decided to keep a dog is to make sure they get plenty of daily exercise. Unless your dog is blessed with a huge yard and a few other doggy companions, you need to make sure you schedule in trips to the dog park, a vigorous game of fetch, some rough and tumble wrestling or a brisk jog through the neighborhood. The active lifestyle will do both of you a lot of good. Consider your dog your best workout partner!

Play with your cat. If you share your life with a cat, you know they like to sleep for hours, but cats get bored too. They need playtime and stimulation, and it’s easy to create simple, inexpensive toys (a feather on a string, a ball with a bell inside) to keep them active and entertained. Most cats go nuts chasing the light from a laser pointer!

Adopt from animal shelters. If you’re looking for a new animals to expand your pet-family, I urge you to adopt from a shelter. The reasons not to buy from a pet store are numerous, and you’ll really be saving an adopted critter’s life by letting them into your heart and home.

As much as you can, go green. From carpet cleaners to flea control, it’s always best to reduce the amount of chemicals in your personal environment. Guest writer Kathryn Hawkins has a whole list of ways to green your pet’s life (which is part of greening yours).

Regular check-ups. I know, I know, it’s not easy getting your animal friends to the vet. They always seem to know what you’re up to and hide out in the hardest to reach corners of the house. But it’s important they get checked out regularly, because a condition caught early on is much easier to treat than something full blown. Remember the adage: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” (this goes for you too!). Don’t be afraid to explore alternative treatments like animal acupuncture and pet massage.

Teach kids respect for animals. If you have children or kids that visit your home often, it’s important you teach them how to care for and respect your pets. Take the time to show them how to gently pet, and not pester, these critters who are trying to relax in their own home. Kids always learn best by example.

Images: greefus groinks/cloneofsnake/fazen/ElBosco/left-hand/Dr.Hemmert/BigTallGuy/Claudio Matsuoka/masochismtango/annia316/Maschinenraum

Best Natural Remedies for the 15 Most Common Aches, Pains and Health Complaints

Sarah Irani — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:00:49 +0000

Indigestion and Heartburn

Sore Throat

Sore Muscles and Bruises

Stop Bleeding

You’d think it would burn, but a sprinkle of cayenne pepper on a cut will quickly stop the bleeding and actually relieve the pain.

Ear Infections

Burns

Athlete’s Foot

Rashes and Allergies

Acne and Sensitive Skin

Flatulence

Headache and Migraine

Dandruff

Nausea

Give some of these remedies a try – and share your own tried-and-true treatments, too.

Mouthwash Increases Risk of Cancer

Sarah Irani — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:41:50 +0000

For the love of your friends and colleagues, freshen your breath, but pass on the Listerine unless you want a little cancer to go with that minty mouth. An Australian study of 3,200 people has found that alcohol-based mouthwashes actually increase your risk of developing oral cancer, and that risk increases nine-fold if you smoke or drink. It’s thought that the ethanol in the mouthwash helps cancer-causing chemicals like nicotine absorb into the skin.

Listerine has long been considered a smart part of a healthy dental care regimen. We’ve all seen the cute cartoon animated commercials where germs are sent scrambling. But this may be one case where the cure is worse than the disease. Thankfully, you’ve got better options:

Jason’s Healthy Mouth mouthwash is free of alcohol, saccharin and anything else you wouldn’t want swishing around your mouth. Try a 16 oz bottle for $7.36.

Prefer DIY? Here’s an easy single-serving recipe:

2 oz. of water
1/4 tsp. baking soda or sea salt
1 drop peppermint oil
1 drop tea tree oil

Mix, rinse, and spit. Ahhhh…now you can smile and breathe easy.

Image: razee

Pbbbthhhhh!

Sarah Irani — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:00:11 +0000

Behold, the tongue. Pent up (most of the time) in our mouths, it’s easy to take for granted, but why not stick it out and give it a gander? For thousands of years, checking the condition of the tongue has been an important diagnosis tool in Chinese medicine.

Because the tongue is always covered in saliva, and saliva contains electrolytes, mucus and enzymes, any imbalance in the saliva (signaling an imbalance in other parts of the body) can change the tongue’s appearance.

Medical practitioners who look at the tongue’s condition check out things like the size, color and the coating. Open up and say “aaaaaah” and see what you find on yours.

Swollen tongue: This is a sign of edema (fluid retention) in other parts of the body.

Pale tongue: This could be an indicator of anemia.

Red tongue: Hyperactivity in certain systems of the body.

Purplish tongue: There may be congestion and blockages in the body.

Thick coating: Digestive problems.

Thick, clumpy coating: Your immune system may be fighting off a Candida (yeast) infection.

Peeling coat: Weakness or damage in your body’s systems.

Yellow coating: Inflammation or infection in your body.

In Chinese medicine, different areas of the tongue point are said to represent different systems in the body, such as the adrenals, the digestive, nervous and immune systems and more.

It’s a good idea to pay attention to your tongue and take note if you see any sudden changes. The interconnection of the various systems of the body is a fascinating thing. This post is only a very basic overview, so in order to get a truly accurate diagnosis, see a Chinese medical practitioner.

Image: Michael