Tag: Natural

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Dry Skin Brushing-Lymphatic Drainage

Why you should Dry Skin Brush

Dry skin brushing is a process of dry brushing skin with a natural brush to stimulate lymphatic flow, improve circulation, and exfoliate skin. The largest organ in the body is the skin. It is responsible for 1/4 of the bodies detoxification

. It is important to eliminate through the skin.

The lymphatic system consists of various sizes of lymph vessels and nodes. The system is part of the immune system, as the lymphatic fluid carries cells that fight off viruses, bacteria, and other harmful substances. The lymphatic system does not have a pump of its own, like the blood vessels which have the heart. It depends on supplementary help to move the fluid around the body. Exercise is a great way to assist the lymphatic system as well as dry skin brushing.

The lymphatic system mobilizes waste and fluid back into the body’s drainage system so that the waste and fluid can be more effectively eliminated. As well, it increases immunity, promotes healing, and balances fluid metabolism in body.

This massage is especially useful for those individuals that feel that their system is sluggish, or those who seem to get regular colds and flu. It is also recommended for people who lead sedentary lifestyles, or those who want to reduce puffiness or swelling.

Manual stimulation directly applied to our epidermis to maintain overall health and wellness has been practiced by many since ancient times. From the Ayurvedic practices of India (which are still active today) to the Greek athletes using skin scrapers for circulation to various Native American tribes who used the sand from riverbeds for both strengthening the skin as well as beautification. These ancient societies were aware that the pores of the skin that need our focus as well as the lymph glands, just beneath o

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ur skin, that become sluggish with toxic waste.

How to Skin Brush 

1. Purchase a natural (not synthetic) bristle brush with a long handle so can reach all areas of your body.

2. Stand in a bathtub or tiled surface to catch any dead skin with no clothes on.

3. Begin brushing by starting at your feet and moving in long sweeping motions toward your heart.

4. Brush several times in each area, overlapping as you go.

5. Take care as you brush over more sensitive areas, like breasts. Your skin will become less sensitive the more you dry brush.

6. It is best to dry skin brush before exercise or before showering.

7. After getting out of the shower, pat dry skin and apply a oil (ex: coconut oil).

8. Dry skin brush everyday for best results. Clean your brush with soap and water once a week. Leave to dry in a clean, sunny spot to avoid any mildew accumulation on your brush.

Benefits of Skin Brushing

Cleanses the lymphatic system
Removes dead skin layers
Stimulates the hormone and oil-producing glands
Tightens the skin preventing premature aging
Increased energy and blood flow
Tones the skin
Strengthens the immune system

For more check my instagram at @dshamptonorganics

References

Lymphatic Skin Brushing for Breast And Body Health.” Lymphatic Skin Brushing for Breast And Body Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.

“Start Dry Brushing to Reduce Cellulite + Toxins.” Dr. Axe. N.p., 04 Jan. 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2017.
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Teeth Whitening Formula- Homemade & Natural

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Ingredients:

  • Coconut Oil
  • Turmeric
  • Activated Charcoal
  • Bentonite Clay
  • Mix these four ingredients together. Below are the approx ratios I used for Turmeric, Activated Charcoal and Bentonite Clay. Mix the coconut oil until you get a smooth paste-like consistency.
    • 3:6 Turmeric
    • 2:6 Activated Charcoal
    • 1:6 Bentonite Clay

Directions:

  • Brush your teeth with this for a few minutes and leave it on your teeth for 2+ minutes before brushing your teeth normally. Sometimes I will leave it on for 15 minutes if I have time.
  • Do not dip your toothbrush into the mix. Use a wooden or plastic spoon NOT use metal. Bentonite Clay & Activated Charcoal both bind to metals and toxins. If you use a metal spoon, you reducing the clay & charcoals ability to remove metals from your mouth.
  • For maximum results, oil pull with activated charcoal mixed into the oil in the AM & use this formula before brushing teeth in PM.

I used to use Crest White Strips whenever I wanted my teeth to look really white. They worked extremely well within a day or within a few days. People would always comment on how white my teeth were when I used them.
However, my teeth were always sensitive after using them and since I’ve been using them on and off for 10 years are permanently sensitive. I also noticed my bottom teeth are slightly translucent toward the top. Once I started working in finance 3 years ago and not getting much sleep, I was drinking 1-2 cups of coffee s day and noticed my teeth started to get more yellow. I’ve been hesitant since to use the white strips due to the sensitively (being in only 24) and am glad I came up with this formula that’s non-toxic and healthy for your teeth and mouth!

For more, check out my Instagram @dshamptonorganics

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Homemade Organic Dry Shampoo

FullSizeRender (1).jpgAbove is a photo of me using my dry shampoo a few days after getting my hair blown out. 

Ingredients:

  • Arrowroot Powder
  • Cacao Powder
  • Lemon essential oil – to get golden highlights
  • Rosemary essential oil- to promote hair growth
  • Eucalyptus- for a dry scalp

Directions:

  • Use more arrowroot powder for lighter hair and cacao powder for darker hair
  • Massage the arrowroot into your scalp & in first couple of inches of hair if desired.
  • Take note: I personally used arrowroot powder because I wanted to make my hair look lighter.
    • If you decide to mix in cacao, be aware some of this residue could come off onto your pillow at night. I am not sure if it would stain or if any type of bug would be attracted to if (in NYC). I haven’t experimented with this or seen this being an issue in my research but it could be something to keep in mind.

Many of my friends use dry shampoo or baby powder as a dry shampoo on days they want to skip washing their hair or to extend a blowout for a few days.  There have been many links to the talcum in baby powder and cancer. When hearing this, I decided to come up with my own powder very similar to baby powder but one that is beneficial for your skin, hair and body instead of being detrimental toward your health.

In the most recent lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson (February 2016), $72 million dollars was awarded to to a women’s family for using their baby powder which contributed to her ovarian cancer death after 35 years of use. See more in an article here.

For more, check out my instagram at @nychamptonshealth

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Essential Oil Perfume

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I made my own personalized perfume with essential oils from Soapology located in the West Village, NYC.

Soapology has natural products including scrubs, soaps, candles, lotions, perfumes and a few more options are available. I also have their Walnut Polisher and find it to be a great light body exfoliant.

I decided to make my own perfume after finding out 95% of chemicals used in fragrances are synthetic compounds derived from petroleum. They include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, and many other known toxins and sensitizers- capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders and allergic reactions. Its been a 5 months since I have been using essential oils instead of perfume. Now, when someone has too much perfume on, I am sensitive to the toxic smell.

It took me about an hour to come up with my own blend. I started smelling all of the different essential oils (they have about 50) and placed the ones that I liked on a side table. The two women working at the boutique store were very helpful in assisting me. The essential oils that I liked are shown in the photo. I finally narrowed it down to a Ginger, Yuzu, White Tea and Vetiver Blend. After choosing your blend, Soapology writes down the exact recipe saves it for future reference.

I made this blend two months ago in February and it still smells great! I have gotten compliments on it and use it often. This is a great light and sweet summer scent. Soapology also has pre-blended essential oil perfume options if you do not want to create your own. I bought the “Seductive” blend but the scent seems to have changed since I bought it two months ago.

After buying both perfumes, I learned that when making a essential oil blend perfume, you are supposed to use alcohol to preserve and meld the scents. A good alcohol option to use is a non-GMO spiced rum. Now that I have a blend I know I like, I might decide to buy these essential oils from a well trusted brand like doTERRA  and make it on my own.

Below are some benefits of each essential oil I used in my perfume:

  • Vetiver– A plant oil. Heave, earthy fragrance that is grounding, calming and stabilizing. An aphrodisiac.
  • Yuzu– a Japanese fruit with a citrus smell. Yuzu helps with anxiety, depression and nervousness.
  • Ginger oil– when smelt or when applied directly to skin, can help relieve aches and pains, as well as promote normal blood circulation and help with digestive problems.

There is a boutique store only a few blocks away from Soapology called Enfleurage in the West Village, NYC with many essential oils. This is a great place to buy essential oils if you wanted to make your own perfume at home. They do not blend essential oils here for you.

*With essential oils it is important to be buying them from a reliable brand to avoid a company including any type of fillers in the essential oils to lower their costs. It is also important to remember that “natural” and “organic” do not have any official meaning in the beauty industry when placed on products or verbally stated. To find out more about this see FDA on Organic Cosmetic Labeling. Also the term “therapeutic grade” is commonly used within the essential oil industry but also has no meaning and is also used for marketing purposes. It is important to ask questions to find out how the product is made and with what ingredients.  After doing my own research, doTERRA seems like a reliable brand. They have a lot of information available on their essential oils, where they come from and how they are made.  “Scientia Potentia Est.”

For more check out my instagram @nychamptonshealth

References:

“U.S. Food and Drug Administration.” “Organic” Cosmetics. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.

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Homemade Natural Hand Sanitizer

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Ingredients:

  • Rubbing Alcohol 1 tsp
  • Aloe Vera Gel 1/4 cup
  • Cinnamon Essential Oil- 10 drops (natural antibacterial)
  • Tea Tree Essential Oil- 7 drops (natural antibacterial)
  • Distilled Water to get it to your desired consistency (in solid or spray form)

According to the Wall Street Journal’s article “Are Antibacterial Soaps Safe?“, since lab and animal studies both suggest these antibacterial soaps are unsafe, the FDA is recently taking a closer look at this $5.5 billion dollar industry. The FDA states that they will announce whether or not antibacterial soaps will be able to be sold as they are today. This announcement will be in September of 2016. If the vote is unfavorable toward companies producing antibacterial soaps, they will need to reformulate their line of antibacterial products without the harmful chemicals.

The article continues saying “We now know we can measure small amounts of ingredients in blood and that things you put on your skin can potentially be absorbed into the body,” Dr. Theresa Michelle states. Her advice for now? “Wash your hands with plain soap and water, because we do not have enough data demonstrating antibacterial soaps are any better” in fighting disease.

The below ingredients are currently under review. Since it is not proven these ingredients are safe to use on your skin, it would be a good idea to avoid using them, not only in hand sanitizes but also in other cosmetic products you use. All of the recipes I post on my website are all natural.

  • Isopropyl Alcohol- Used in the hand sanitizers nurses and doctors use various times each day, the high concentration and frequent exposure is a concern.
  • Triclosan- This was found in high levels in human breast milk and urine and may interfere with normal development and function in humans and animals.
  • Benzalkonium Chloride- This ingredient comes with potential hormonal disruptions and is a possible carcinogen.
  • Benzethonium Chloride- Possible effects on fertility issues, body weight at birth, growth and development.
  • Iodine- Should never be used on pregnant or breast feeding women.
  • Chloroxylenol- Has been found in internal tissues after skin application.

References:

Landro, Laura. “Are Antibacterial Soaps Safe?” The Wall Street Journal. 15 Feb. 2016. Web. 16 Feb. 2016

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Natural Deodorant for Summer

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Ingredients:

  • Shea Butter (Organic)
  • Arrowroot Powder (Organic)
  • Coconut Oil (Organic)
  • Baking Soda (Organic)
  • Beeswax Pastilles
  • Witch Hazel
  • Activated Charcoal
  • Vitimin E
  • Essential oils.

Sandalwood is great for men and I like Tea Tree and Lavender essential oils for myself.

Directions:

  • Heat Coconut Oil & Beeswax on the stove.
  • Remove Coconut Oil & Beeswax off stove
  • Mix in all other ingredients

Why this is a great summer deodorant: Beeswax Pastilles preserve coconut oil so this deodorant is good for warmer months since coconut oil has a 72 degree melting point on its own.

When switching from antiperspirant deodorant to natural deodorant, ones pores start to unclog and function properly. Therefore, toxins are released and ones body odor may temporarily increase. This purging usually lasts about 2 weeks depending on the toxicity level in the body. Make sure to eat healthy and drink plenty of water to help the purging process be more odorless.