Leading a healthy lifestyle and avoiding toxins is good for our bodies. No secret there. Did you know it can also improve mental and emotional health issues? Author Tara Mackey shares her journey from prescription drugs to good health in her book, “Cured by Nature”, and you are going to want to get your hands on a copy.

Mental and emotional health issues affect nearly 7% of adults and 3% of children in the U.S., according to Anxiety Disorders Association of America. The main treatment? Prescription medication. While, certainly, some people need prescription drugs to treat their health issues, many are being given antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds to address symptoms without knowing the cause of the imbalance.

Tara Mackey was one of many people suffering from physical, mental, and emotional illnesses from a young age. No surprise, she was prescribed a range of medications to treat the symptoms, while the cause of her maladies was left unchecked.

As an adult, Tara took her health into her own hands and found other, more natural, means to better health. In her book, “Cured by Nature”, Tara spells out in detail how she came to discover toxins were behind her health issues, and the changes she made to get and stay healthy.

Interview with Tara Mackey, Author of “Cured by Nature”

LT: So many people, especially women, are diagnosed with anxiety and depression these days, and subsequently prescribed antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications. Do you think these conditions can be treated other, more natural, ways?

TM: I believe that regardless of if we’re taking medication, we should be incorporating natural methods of healing into our everyday lives. I took pills for over 11 years, for any illness, pain and various diagnosis – emotional, mental and physical – that you can name. They may have masked the problem, or handed me some chemicals, but never, ever actually helped me on my way to being truly healed. The reason it’s important to have natural methods and tools for healing is because at the end of the day, you can’t rely on a pill. A pill won’t do the work. You need to do the work. You need to be able to rely on yourself, no matter what.

LT: Do you feel we are an overmedicated society?

TM: Without a doubt. Walgreens sold over 900 million – almost a BILLION – prescription drugs on 2015. That’s 3 times more drugs than there are people in this country! And that’s just one pharmacy!! 70% of Americans are on some kind of drug! That makes me a very, very small minority.

Some drugs are needed, of course. Even psychiatric drugs, in severe cases. But Walgreens alone sold enough drugs last year for everyone in this country to be on 3 meds at the same time! There is no DOUBT that we’re overmedicated. These companies have investors, stockholders, lobbyists, and CFO’s to satisfy. Their filled prescription drug numbers WILL go up, year by year. I have no doubt about that, and their books prove it. We need to know what we can do for ourselves to make sure we’re not one of the overmedicated ones.

LT: How does meditation factor into a healthy lifestyle?

TM: Meditation is the simplest form of mind-work. Sitting quietly gives us the time and tools to learn things about ourselves we’d NEVER figure out otherwise. One of the first things I learned in meditation was that my normal breathing was totally panicked. Well, no wonder I had anxiety! I didn’t need medication – I needed to figure out how to breathe!

Most of the things that hold us back from our dreams are learned behaviors that we may not even realize we have! It wasn’t until I started meditating that things really started falling into place for me. I was able to give up a lot of ego gratification, which left room for amazing things like new friendships, amazing opportunities and fearless action. Without mind-work, you won’t be able to find the strength needed to conquer learned helplessness, which becomes totally ingrained in us.

LT: You recommend a shower filter for healthier hair and skin. Can everyone benefit from this?

TM: Yes! Many domestic water users are concerned about clearing up the hardness of their water. Hard water requires more soap and synthetic detergents for home laundry and washing, and contributes to scaling in boilers and industrial equipment, skin disease, acne, dryness, hair thinning and more.

Everyone can and should be using a water filter in their shower and sink to make sure that they’re getting the best, most purified water for their bare skin while showering, drinking or taking a bath. When I moved to LA, hard water immediately started doing a number on my skin and hair, and it took me months to identify this as the culprit!

The very week I got a shower filter, a lot of the problems I had been faced with – cystic acne, dry hair, split ends, psoriasis – disappeared completely! I was so relieved & astonished! I’m so passionate about letting others know so they don’t have to suffer, also!

LT: You believe coffee is the skin’s worst enemy. This comes as very sad news to many of us;) What does caffeine do to skin and do you have any tips for eliminating from the diet?

TM: Haha. I know it’s sad, but unfortunately, it’s so, so very true.

Caffeine, the main ingredient in coffee, is the world’s most consumed psychoactive drug. It is also a diuretic, meaning it’s a dehydrating, appetite suppressant. It disrupts your gut flora, which is where good skin and health truly begins and ends. Caffeine also messes with your hormones, most notably, your stress hormones. NO thank you. If you already suffer from anxiety, coffee alone could be causing it!

I love Teeccino, which is a caffeine free tea that tastes JUST like coffee! You can buy bags of it or a roast to brew. Delicious! Oprah also makes a caffeine free chai tea (Oprah Chai!) that is my jam! If you make it with some almond milk and cacao, it tastes just like coffee! It’s really hard to find caffeine free chai, so hats off to Oprah! If you need a natural jolt, add a capsule of ginseng and stir before you drink up!

LT: Osmia Organics came to your skin’s rescue. Which products do you recommend for treating acne?

TM: I’m still addicted to Osmia’s Black Clay Facial Soap, which converted me to green beauty. I use it once a day and it’s super gentle and effective on my skin. I also adore Osmia’s Detox Mask, which is full of activated ingredients that pull out all the gunk from your pores, as well as nourishing ingredients that don’t dehydrate. Follow with Osmia’s Spot Treatment on the blemishes themselves and you’re on your way to naturally clear skin! I also recommend DIM plus from Nature’s Way for hormonal acne. This supplement truly saved my skin when everything else – including Accutane – failed completely!

LT: What is one thing anyone can do today to improve their health?

TM: Twenty minutes of concentrated movement. Find the time to exercise – seriously. It’s been one of the most incredible things I’ve ever done for my health. No matter how much mind work I’m doing, it never has as much of a positive effect on my health or mindset unless I am spending some time connecting with my body. I have designed two fitness plans specifically for people to be able to exercise easily at home. One is designed to transform your body in just two weeks! Getting just 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a day (you can do it during one of your favorite Netflix shows!) has been proven to help hundreds of health issues, as well as aid you in expanding your lifespan!

Purchase a copy of “Cured by Nature” for yourself and read more healthful tips on Tara’s blog, The Organic Life.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Images via Tara Mackey/The Organic Life

The post ‘Cured by Nature’: How One Author Ditched Prescriptions and Healed Herself [Interview] appeared first on EcoSalon.

Does winter tend to get you down? For many it is more than a little cabin fever. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real problem. Luckily, there is a treatment that is all natural and makes a lot of scents–literally.

Have you ever thought seasonal depression and light therapy was a made up ailment? Not so much. SAD is a form of clinical depression that affects many people each year, mostly those living in the Midwest where winters tend to run long. Symptoms include anxiety, depression, lethargy, mood changes, food cravings, and sleep disruption.

Reduced light exposure is thought to be the main cause of SAD. Natural light affects everything from how we feel to our appetite and sleep habits. Those longer, darker days of winter can lead to chemical imbalance in the brain, resulting in SAD.

Light therapy is the traditional treatment for SAD and antidepressants are often prescribed. Other remedies are taking advantage of sunlight when you can, getting outside, and making sure to exercise regularly.

Before you go pitching a “for sale” sign in your front yard and heading permanently to warmer climates, get this: Research has found that scents may play a role in seasonal depression. Studies show that those who suffer from SAD have a more acute sense of smell than those who are not as negatively affected. Furthermore, natural plant oils may stimulate parts of the brain that control hormonal, immune, and emotional functions.

If what we smell affects our moods and other functions, aromatherapy must be the answer, right? Many people who deal with an annual bout of SAD have seen benefits from using essential oil aromatherapy. Certain oils are uplifting and energizing, while others are calming and help to induce a peaceful night’s sleep.

Ways to use essential oils for aromatherapy are through steam inhalation, massage, mists, and bath. When using essential oils it is important to remember that these oils are very potent and should not be applied directly to skin. If using on the skin combine a few drops with a tablespoon of carrier oil (like sweet almond or jojoba) prior to application.

Wondering which essential oils are best for you? Citrus and mint oils are best for reviving and energizing a lagging spirit. Try sweet orange, grapefruit, bergamot, rosemary, or peppermint. Need help getting to sleep? Lavender and chamomile should do the trick.

If you aren’t so much the DIY type, there are essential oil blends that you can purchase to use right away. Here are some of the best:

Aromatherapy for Energy and Refreshment:

Skinnyskinny Bergamot and Coriander Aromatherapeutic Organic Room Spray

“Bergamot is an excellent choice to use because it is great for helping to alleviate symptoms of depression. On its own, it is an uplifting citrus scent that can cut through the heavy, sometimes suffocating scents at this time of year (like cinnamon, clove, pine, and all those baked goods). Coriander is a fantastic complement to Bergamot and helps to instill some confidence and motivation, which is extremely important when seasonal affective disorder is making you feel down in the dumps.” ~ Clara of Skinnyskinny

Amala Aroma Apothecary Refresh Peppermint Room & Linen Mist

Lotus Wei Radiant Energy Energy Mist

Ila Concentrated Room Spray for an Essence of Joy

Aromatherapy for Relaxation and Sleep:

Amala Aroma Apothecary Relax Lavender Room & Linen Mist

Tata Harper Aromatic Bed Time Treatment

Lotus Wei Inner Peace Balancing Serum

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Image of woman using aromatherapy via Shutterstock

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These 5 natural immune system boosters will keep you happy and healthy all fall season long.

Summer may have you feeling invincible. Well, invincible to everything but the heat, that is. But once autumn makes its entrance, the immune system becomes more vulnerable and you may find yourself dealing with an unwelcome visitor: a debilitating flu or a pesky cold. Luckily, Mother Nature is on your side, and her bounty is well-equipped to help you fight off any sickness that comes knocking. 

1. Probiotic Yogurt

It’s not the yogurt itself that is boosting your immunity, instead, it’s the natural probiotics in the yogurt that make the difference. While the precise mechanism by which probiotics boost immunity is unknown, researchers have found that good bacteria in the gut help to correct deficiencies and increase the numbers of certain T cells, whose primary purpose is to attack infected cells.

2. Oats

Oats contain beta-glucan, a fiber molecule that has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Beta-glucan helps to raise the immune system’s response so that the body can naturally fight off and protect the body from disease.

3. Garlic

When it comes to immunity, garlic is king. It protects the body from all kinds of physiological threats. In one study of people with inoperable colorectal, liver or pancreatic cancer, immune activity improved after participants took aged garlic extract for 6 months. In the Iowa Women’s Health Study, researchers found that women who ate garlic, fruits, and vegetables had a 35 percent lower risk of developing colon cancer than the control group.

4. Chicken Soup

This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise, but chicken soup is actually good for the (healthy) soul. Researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center challenged the age-old folk remedy of chicken soup by testing to see if it actually heals the body. They found that chicken soup blocked the migration of inflammatory white cells, whose accumulation in the bronchial tubes is what causes flu and cold-like symptoms.

5. Mushrooms

Mushrooms have the ability to boost white blood cell count, making them ideal in fighting off infection. Mushrooms are lauded for being anti-cancerous and when it comes to the common cold or flu, they can indeed be the game changers!

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Blowing nose image from Shutterstock

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Ditch the complicated beauty care products and start using the best oils for skin.

One of the best beauty and health care tips I embraced was to stop buying into the sensational firming, anti-aging, silky-smooth claims touted by expensive beauty products. Sure, they may work this so-called “magic” quite well, but coincidentally enough, the best of these brands are often based in natural plant-based oils. So, why load on the extra fillers, fragrances, water and other colorants and preservatives when you can get right to the source?

These oils are incredibly potent, basically concentrated versions of the leaf, fruit or flower they herald from. A few drops are all it takes to transform your skin and your health. Do your bank account and your conscience a favor by embracing the natural benefits of plant-based oils.

Oils reap so many benefits that they simply cannot be ignored. They can be ingested, topically applied and even used as a bottle of incense, so to speak – one whiff and your mood can change! They are non-toxic, chemical-free and all-natural alternatives to store-bought beauty products and often get the job done much more effectively.

Be sure to do you research before applying any oil to the skin, as you want to first make sure if the particular oil complements your particular skin tone and complexion. Certain oils are best for dry skin while others are best for combination or oily skin.

Be sure to buy organic, pure oils that are extra ensured to be unadulterated and completely pure. Often, oils are diluted in another “carrier” oil, which is cheaper to produce, so make sure to look at the ingredients list to check if the oil you are buying is only what it says it is.  Also, don’t just look at the price tag as a show of quality. Most oils should be stored in dark bottles, as any exposure to light will spoil their quality. Do your research first, then bask in their glory.

11 of the Best Oils for Skin

1. Sesame: Sesame oil moisturizes the skin and hair, has a slight SPF factor, lowers stress and blood pressure and even slows the growth of cancer in cells.
2. Marula: This East African oil has a matte finish and is great for combination or skin, as it doesn’t leave behind any sheen. It is full of antioxidants and omega acids.
3. Rose: If you’ve ever been to the Middle East, you’ll notice the widespread use of rose oil among women as a beauty product. It makes for a pleasant perfume and moisturizes skin and hair, improves hormone balance, treats PMS and menopause and even improves sexual performance.
4. Argan: Argan oil from Morocco already has the beauty world buzzing, particularly for its anti-aging properties. The trend is there for a reason – follow it!
5. Frankincense: I’m not sure how to pronounce this one, but I’ve seen it pop up in some of my favorite raw and organic moisturizes. It is touted for preventing acne and healing burns, rashes, cuts and scrapes. It also improves the immune system.
6. Jojoba: Jojoba oil is light and very easy to find at most drug stores. Its purposes also spread thin. It can be used for all skin types and reaps so many benefits – moisturizes, heals and reduces fine lines.
7. Tea Tree: This oil gets red of fleas, clears acne, kills bacteria, eliminates bad odors, cleans silver and dresses wounds. It is a popular ingredient in natural anti-acne remedies as well as natural toothpastes.
8. Coconut: You can eat it for incredible benefits, but it is just as effective as a moisturizer. Coconut oil is packed with healthy fats that leave you with smooth, supple and young skin. The coconut oil benefits are endless.
9. Grapeseed: Protecting the skin from UV damage is reason enough to rub in grapeseed oil, but it is full of other benefits as well. It is great for oily skin, because it naturally regulates oil production. It also has strong antioxidants.
10. Chamomile: Sip your chamomile tea to relax and apply chamomile oil on your face to reduce irritation. Consider chamomile your one-stop shop to unwind and release tension.
11. Almond: Packed with some sweet benefits, almond oil is light and leaves behind a silky, soft and smooth finish.

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Photo Credit: Kazuhiro Zeino

The post 11 of the Best Oils for Skin: Natural Plant-Based Beauty appeared first on EcoSalon.

The benefits of lemons are wide-ranging.

Lemons were first grown in Assam (Northeast India), and made their way to Europe near Southern Italy around the 1st century AD, during the time of Ancient Rome. The juice of the lemon is 5-6 percent citric acid, which means it’s good for a host of culinary, cleaning, and cosmetic purposes.

10 Benefits of Lemons

1. Freshen your fridge.

Soak a sponge in lemon juice and wipe down the shelves and drawers of your refrigerator. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by the way it freshens up any stale odors.

2. Refresh cutting boards.

If you chop foods with strong odors like onions and garlic, refresh and sanitize your cutting board with lemon juice. Simply rub the juicy side of a halved lemon all over your cutting board.

3. Lighten age spots.

The benefits of lemons are cosmetic as well; the citric acid in lemon can do wonders for your skin. It can lighten age spots or dark spots on your face caused by sun damage. Rub the juicy part of a halved lemon all over your face, taking care to avoid your eyes. Let sit on your face for 5 minutes, unless your skin stings, then rinse before that.

4. Treat sore throats.

Lemon juice can treat infections because of its antibacterial properties. Instead of salt water, gargle with lemon water when your throat begins to feel a bit raw.

5. Create natural highlights.

Create natural highlights to your hair by adding 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinsing your hair with the mixture. Sit in the sun until the mixture dries. Repeat for a few days until your hair is the desired shade.

6. Remove stale odors from the garbage disposal.

Toss lemons in the garbage disposal and run for a few seconds to remove stale odors. It will keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Run with a handful of ice cubes for even better results.

7. Remove scratches from furniture.

Combine equal parts vegetable oil with lemon juice to treat furniture scratches. Rub the scratches with a soft cloth.

8. Create an air freshener.

Slice a lemon and cover with water in a small saucepan. Let simmer over low heat for an hour to fill the room with a vibrant aroma.

9. Brighten brown socks. 

Get grimy socks white again by boiling in water with a slice of lemon.

10. Remove grime from pots and pans. 

You don’t need harsh, toxic cleaners to remove tough grime from your pots and pans. Lemon juice will do the trick. Add a touch of salt to lemon juice and scrub pots and pans clean. Do not use on marble.

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Image: Andrew Comings 

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Instead of resorting to prescription pills this winter season after complaints of seasonal aches, pains, sadness, and colds, embrace natural remedies with essential oils. These remedies are geared specifically towards winter woes.

The topical application of essential oils can be used to relieve depression, anxiety, the common cold and muscle pains. Dab on wrists and neck if you’re inhaling to boost your mood, and use on site specific areas to target pain. A little goes a very long way–you’ll only need a few drops.

1. Ylang Ylang

Cananga odorata, commonly known as ylang ylang, is a tropical tree originating in the Philippines. The essential oil comes from the flowers produced by the tree. Ylang ylang is useful in aromatherapy for its ability to relieve depression. The cold, dark winter months keep us indoors and without much sun exposure, which can result in feelings of isolation and sadness.

2. Orange

Like ylang ylang, orange has the ability to relax the senses and reduce anxiety that characterize the winter season. Aromatherapists often use orange as a tranquilizer on their clients.

3. Chamomile

Chamomile essential oil’s winter-time benefits are two-fold – it has been shown to improve the function of the heart and stimulate the immune system. This means that it can boost circulation of the blood when blood vessels are generally contracted due to cold weather conditions as well as keep you safer from catching the common cold.

4. Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil goes a long way. The iconic aroma is refreshing to your mood as it is beneficial in clearing sinuses. In one study, peppermint was put up against ylang ylang. While ylang ylang showed the ability to increase calmness, peppermint increased alertness. So while ylang ylang may be helpful in the winter months to ease depression, those who need more pep in their step will benefit from peppermint essential oils instead.

5. Clove

Topical application of clove essential oil may help to relieve pain. When joints are stiff in the winter, clove is a great all-natural remedy to mild aches and pains.

6. Ginger

Like clove essential oil, ginger essential oil demonstrates effectiveness in reducing muscle pain, especially after exercise. In the winter, the cold weather contracts muscles and reduces blood flow, which can lead to injury more readily. Ginger is at your service in the event you experience muscle pain in the winter.

Photo Credit: urbanewomen

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At the moment, I am battling the worst cold I’ve had in years. Yes, it is so bad that I have dragged myself out of bed to work, hoping that it will distract me from the constant sneezing, headache, and a nose that feels like it should be tied off. Work will save me, right?

In this case, yes! Because as fate would have it, I’ve been tasked to research homemade cold and flu remedies. Here are five of my favorites.

1. Rinse Your Sinuses

This is one of the all-time top recommendations for fixing your head during a cold. First, you need a neti pot. I was plagued by chronic sinus infections for years until I made the neti pot a daily part of my existence. (This allows you to rinse saline water through your nose.) I’ve been cold/flu/infection free for nearly two years until this current crisis of nose. But that’s not a bad run.

A note on preparation: Never use regular water, as your cells like salt much better. When you mix up your saline solution, make sure it is at room temperature. Cold water will hurt. Add just half a teaspoon of salt to water – water that is too salty will also hurt. You can add baking soda to soften it up, and some recommend five drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract for an antibiotic effect. Make sure your water is filtered, as the last thing you want to put up your nose is more bad things.

Working the Neti: Make sure you tilt your head so the water runs through your nasal passages, not up into them. If you directly pour the water up your nose, you will feel something that might be akin to water boarding. And this might make you throw down your neti pot forever and curse the day you ever read this article. Also, make sure you blow out the water after each “nostril dunking.” You want the water to run through your sinus passages, not straight up in the membranes with all the bacteria that is causing the problem.

And if you haven’t invested in a neti pot? You can even inhale or “snort” the same solution up your nose. This will hurt, but it will hydrate your sinuses passages. And finally, you can always take a steamy shower.

2. Sooth Your Cough with Ginger Tea

A steaming cup of tea will keep you hydrated and just make you feel better. And as the doctors will tell you, (this is me putting my doctor coat on between sneezes,) hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, help prevent dehydration, and can soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.

This particular recipe from health expert Kim Goddard uses garlic as a broad spectrum antibiotic (and honey to mask its taste).

1 inch ginger root
½ sliced lemon, peel and all
1 clove garlic, mashed
2 cups water
One spoonful honey

Place water, ginger, lemon, and garlic in saucepan. Bring it to boil, then turn down heat and simmer gently for 20 min. Strain into mugs and add lots of honey. The tea will get stronger if you let it sit.

3. Boost Your Immune System with Cranberry Fruit Mash

This recipe will help you sooth and hasten your cold while providing a good source of vitamins C and B. It combines dark-colored fruits which are high in antioxidants. Plus, it is delicious.

1 bag cranberries (or two cans of low sugar cranberry sauce)
½ cup blueberries
½ cup raspberries
1 ½ cup of water
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon ginger extract

Combine ingredients in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer for 13 minutes, careful to stir the sauce at times. Cool and refrigerate.

4. Nurture Your Nose with a Bag ‘o Peas

Remember back in the old days of the start of this article, when I mentioned that I was sick as a dog? Yes, still sick. And I just ran across a suggestion to take hot or cold compresses to your sinuses. Because I am as desperate as a snowman in July, I stumbled to my freezer and pulled out a bag of frozen peas. (Natch, USDA organic.)

And so, I gingerly balanced the bag of peas on the bridge of my nose. It hurt a bit. But then a miracle happened – two minutes later I could actually feel my sinuses clearing up. I’m now wondering if I can sleep with the peas attached to my face – do they make pea slings?

5. Ease Congestion with Hot Chicken Soup

Sure, it’s the old school remedy. But it turns out that hot chicken soup is actually a potent mucus stimulant. Yeah, gross, but when you’re sleeping in a bed filled with soggy tissues, trust me, you won’t care. You can also load up with pepper, garlic, hot curry powder, or other spices that helps to thin mucus in the mouth, throat, and lungs.

Further, studies show that hot chicken soup improves the function of cilia, the tiny hair like projections in the nasal passages that protect the body from foreign bacteria and viruses. Steaming chicken soup may also improve the motion of disease-fighting white blood cells.

Naturally, you want to keep your chicken soup organic – and here’s a fantastic recipe to do just that.

Be well!

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

Image: Kanko

The post 5 Fool-proof Cold and Flu Remedies You Can Make Yourself appeared first on EcoSalon.

If I were to wish one thing on my worst enemies – or say the executives of British Petroleum and everyone else who so callously destroyed the Gulf of Mexico – it would not be disease or famine or anything so terrible. It would be worse. I would wish those responsible to be covered from head to toe in acne. Biblical boils. Why? Because acne is bad, bad news.

Okay, so maybe I’m being just a smidge dramatic. But who doesn’t think back to teen times when a big honkin’ zit threatened to ruin the prom/Homecoming/big date with the captain of the football team? (Yes, it’s a 1955 movie starring Doris Day in this article.) Many of us lived a teen life dedicated to drying out our faces. Moisturizer was a sick joke available only for supermodels and masochists. And sunscreen? That was only for noses and shoulders.

And while some of our parents practically bought stock in Clearasil, some of us turned to home remedies. Hot towel to “draw out” impurities? I would often burn my face sitting wrapped in one. Alcohol-soaked makeup pads to run over spotty foreheads? I wouldn’t think of going to bed without one. And let’s face it, teen years may be the primary time for acne. But most of us deal with it in some form or another in our entire lives.

What to do? Check out some of these home remedies next time you feel acne making an appearance.

Acne Face Wash – Baking soda and lemon juice are great way to clean out your clogged pores. Take ½ cup of warm filtered water and combine one teaspoon of baking soda with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Mix in a bowl. Using a clean cotton pad, wash your face and rinse.

Onions also have antimicrobial properties that can help fight acne-causing bacteria. Smash a bit of fresh onion and apply it directly to your spots. Onion juice has also been shown to help with acne scarring.

Lavender oil is known to have antiseptic properties and can help keep your pores free of bacteria. The same goes for tea tree oil.

PlanetGreen offers this fantastic last minute tip: Grab an avocado and “mash up a little bit and apply to the offending area to zap inflammation and redness.”

Have some of your own acne home remedies you’d like to share? Please feel free to leave a comment!

Image: Auntie K

The post Check Out These Natural Remedies for Acne appeared first on EcoSalon.

The same springtime allergies that may cause you to suffer from a runny nose, itchy and watery eyes and sneezing can affect your pets, too. Some dogs are allergic to pollen, mold spores, dust mites, fleas and other indoor and outdoor allergens. Since this year’s allergy season is one for the record books with astonishingly high pollen levels – likely because of climate change – your dog may be exhibiting more symptoms than usual.

Allergies in dogs typically appear as skin problems causing inflammation and itchiness that not only cause discomfort, but also leave skin vulnerable to infections. You might notice your dog incessantly licking his paws to relieve itchiness, obsessing over a hot spot (which is nothing more than a patch of infected skin), or suffering from an ear infection due to an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria in the ear canal.

Since you can’t just hand your pup a box of tissues and an allergy pill, here are three natural remedies to prevent allergy attacks before they start.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

In the same way that fish oil is healthy for humans, fish oil can do wonders in helping some dogs’ skin and improving the condition of their coasts. Because omega-3 fatty acids are natural, anti-inflammatory agents, they can help calm skin and reduce the inflammation that often occurs with allergy prone pups. You can purchase supplements at the pet store, but it’s best to consult your vet for proper dosing recommendations. Additionally, you can look for dry and wet dog food formulas that have fish oil, omega-3 fatty acids, salmon or krill listed on the label.

Probiotics

Studies have shown that Lactobacillus acidophilus, one of the live and active cultures commonly lurking in yogurt, can help with pollen allergies, hives and eczema in humans. Veterinarians also speak highly of the benefits of probiotics in preventing dog allergies. Again, ask your vet about appropriate supplements, or look for one of the many brands of natural dog food that includes probiotics in the recipe.

Reschedule Walks

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, your doctor may have told you to avoid outdoor activities in the early morning and evening. Similarly, you can try to keep your dog inside during those hours. But if you work 9 to 5, that may be next to impossible. If you can, shorten your a.m. and p.m. walks – leaving a longer stroll up to the dog walker – consider wiping your pooch down with a cold wet cloth to remove some of the allergens that may be clinging to her coat when you come inside.

Image: ccho

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Seasonal Allergies at an All-Time Suck

Whoa – did you feel that? That wasn’t another earthquake. That was the collective sneeze of 40 million allergy sufferers. Thanks to a wetter-than-usual winter and warmer temps this spring (likely linked to climate change), we’ve been graced with an explosion of beautiful blooms”¦ and a near-record high pollen count to go with it.

If you’re not one to stop and smell the roses for fear of your head exploding, there are some safe and natural treatments to try before reaching for potentially dangerous prescription meds. Keep windows closed, change clothes after coming in from outside (and maybe even take a quick shower), try natural herbal remedies like capsaicin and Quercetin and use a neti pot to flush offending allergens from your nasal passages.

FDA May Wash Its Hands of Triclosan

Natural health advocates have been saying it forever and now the federal government is catching on: triclosan – the germ-zapping ingredient in hand sanitizers and antibacterial soaps – is potentially unsafe for humans and wildlife. The chemical additive has long been accused of disrupting the body’s endocrine system and possibly helping to create antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The FDA, at the urging of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), will review the safety of the ubiquitous chemical later this year.

Nap It Out

Stumped on how to solve a tough problem? Sleep on it! A recent study published in Current Biology concludes that napping after working on a difficult task may make the job easier to do upon awakening. Researchers believe that the dreaming brain can see connections it might not notice when it’s awake, boosting its ability to process and store information tenfold.

Image: Sydigill


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