NATURE’S COMMON SCENTS



Evensong / Nature’s Common Scents

Healthy Skin Newsletter

Summer 2015 Volume 11 Number 3

June 2015



sondrancs@ 540.635.7073 Please Note: I no longer have my Shentel email account. Please contact me only by the above email address.

this issue:

General HealtH

▪ Recognizing, Avoiding and Fighting Lyme Disease

▪ Low Testosterone?

▪ Earthing

Skin Health

▪ Fingernails are Skin Too!

▪ All Things Bad and Beautiful

Herb and Plant Remedies

▪ Plants that Fight Congestion, Allergy and Colds

▪ A Tasty Way to Avoid Bacterial Infections

▪ Avocado Lowers Inflammatory Effects of Meat

▪ Keep Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) at Bay

▪ Putting Lemonbalm to Work

General Health

Recognizing, Avoiding and Fighting Lyme Disease.

(The smallest tick on the left is the one that carries Lyme.)

Though there are other diseases various ticks carry, Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne illness in North America and Europe. You're more likely to get Lyme disease if you live or spend time in grassy and heavily wooded areas where ticks carrying the disease thrive. Once you’ve been bitten by a tick (any tick), a small red bump will probably appear at the site of the bite. This is normal and doesn’t indicate Lyme disease. Tick bites are itchy and should be watched carefully. If over the next few days redness expands around the bite forming a “bull’s-eye pattern, you need to see a doctor. Sometimes flu-like symptoms accompany the rash. Usually if a tick is removed within 24 hours, the development of Lyme disease is unlikely. [Mayo Clinic Website]

Note: Ticks don’t like the smell of vinegar. If you are currently using Insect-b-Gone oil from Nature’s Common Scents, you already know you can make a spray from it. To further repel ticks, add equal amounts water and vinegar.

Low Testosterone? Over the past few decades, men’s average testosterone levels have been dropping by at least 1 percent a year (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism). While testosterone declines naturally with aging, other factors could be involved. Internal belly fat, for example, depresses the hormone further, as do drugs like cortisone and opiates (morphine, methadone, Buprenorphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone, for example). Also BPA found in plastic containers may play a role. Low testosterone causes a loss of sex drive, fertility and bone density, and may also make men feel tired and have difficulty concentrating. There are drugs on the market to alleviate low testosterone, but they may also increase the risk for heart attack (double the rate in men 65 and over after just 3 months of taking it). Also it adds too many red blood cells to the bloodstream and shrinks testicles. In addition, prescription testosterone can shut off a man’s own natural testosterone production rather than enhance it. Obesity and alcohol decrease testosterone levels. Try losing weight. Findings presented at a meeting of the Endocrine Society saw a 15 percent increase in testosterone levels with an average loss of just 17 pounds. Improved mood and energy can be achieved with a proper diet. [John LaPuma, MD, author of Refuel: A 24-Day Eating Plan to Shed Fat, Boost Testosterone, and Pump Up Strength and Stamina.]

Earthing. Preliminary research shows that “earthing” (also called “grounding”) can be good for us. Walking barefoot is foreign to many people today, but studies indicate that direct contact with the ground can favorably affect thyroid function, blood sugar metabolism, and blood thickening, all of which affect heart disease risk. The earth has an electrical current and direct contact with it may be a stabilizing force for good health. Studies also indicate that walking through a wooded area lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, reduces heart rates and lowers blood pressure. [The Holistic Heart Book, Reader’s Digest.]

SKIN HEALTH

Fingernails are Skin too. Your fingernails — composed of laminated layers of a protein called keratin — grow from the area at the base of the nail under your cuticle. Healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. They're uniform in color and consistency and free of spots or discoloration.

Sometimes fingernails develop harmless vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical ridges tend to become more prominent with age. Fingernails can also develop white lines or spots due to injury, but these eventually grow out with the nail.

Consult your doctor or dermatologist if you notice changes in nail color, shape and thickness, separation from the surrounding skin, or bleeding or swelling around the nails. Keep fingernails dry and clean. Practice good nail hygiene. Use moisturizer. Ask your doctor about biotin. And don’t use harsh nail care products. Limit your use of nail polish remover, and when using nail polish remover, opt for an acetone-free formula. [Mayo Clinic, February 2015]

All Things Bad and Beautiful. While the European Union has banned more than 1,300 toxic chemicals from beauty products, the FADA doesn’t review cosmetics before they go on the market and has only banned about a dozen. And the main difference between designer cosmetics and their drugstore counterparts is … packaging. Both use the same formulas. Nearly one in five cosmetic products contains traces of formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen. Skip those products that list DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, or bronopol as an ingredient. [Michelle Crouch, Reader’s Digest, 1/2014]

HERB AND PLANT REMEDIES

Plants that Fight Congestion, Allergies and Colds. Two spices and one herb that can help you fight back against the effects of pollen and other allergens are Turmeric, Cumin and Peppermint. Turmeric contains curcumin which can ease headaches, act as a decongestant, reduce allergy symptoms, and wards off colds. It seems to be as effective as some drugs for certain conditions, according to Bharat Aggarwal, PhD, professor of experimental therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Cumin seed, ground or whole, is rich in vitamins A and C and is thought to help fight off sinus infections and colds. And Peppermint is a powerful anti-inflammatory. It may soothe sore throats and reduce coughs and congestion. Grow a pot of Peppermint and use the leaves! [Healing Spices, Bharat Aggarwal, PhD, professor of experimental therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston]

A Tasty Way to Avoid Bacterial Infections. In a study done by McGill University in Montreal, concentrated maple syrup extracts (from syrup purchased at local markets in August 2013) were tested individually, in combinations, and with and without Ciprofloxacin (an antibiotic) against E. coli or Proteus mirabilis (a common cause of urinary tract infections), as well as two strains of bacteria associated with hospital acquired infections. The maple syrup extract alone suppressed the growth of biofilms for all four strains, but pairing it with Cipro, both E. coli and P. mirabilis biofilm formation was reduced by about 70 per cent. The two other strains were reduced by 83 percent and 54 percent compared with control cultures treated with just Cipro. While maple syrup extracts combined with antibiotics haven’t been tested in human trials, it might be a good reason to add a daily dose of the tasty sweet syrup Maple trees give us! [Information gleaned from an article in the Wall Street Journal by Ann Lukits]

Avocado Neutralizes Inflammatory effects of Meat. UCLA researchers documented a harmful reaction within two hours in the arteries of people who ate hamburgers. However, when the hamburger was topped with a slice of avocado, the harm nearly disappeared. [Reader’s Digest, 6 2014]

Keep Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) at Bay. Some dietary choices may help your body ward off urinary tract infections, which affect both men and women. While women seem especially prone to them, did you know in older men a UTI can affect the PSA test negatively? Since we’re sometimes not even aware we have a UTI (especially true of men), it makes sense to add to our diet those things that can help prevent them.

Cranberries help by keeping bacteria from sticking to the lining of the bladder and urinary tract. Cranberry juice that has sugar might not be the best choice because bacteria can feed on the sugar and it is highly caloric. But add fresh cranberries to salads or brown rice, or make cranberry tea. If you are prone to UTIs capsules may help. Blueberries, like cranberries, may also keep bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract lining. Supplements of Vitamin C can help make urine more acidic, which may prevent bacteria from growing, according to geriatrician Dr. Suzanne Salamon, an instructor at Harvard Medical School. She recommends taking a supplement of 500 – 1,000 milligrams of the vitamin daily. You can get Vitamin C from oranges, lemons, grapefruits, strawberries, blueberries, green leafy vegetables and green peppers. If you struggle with UTIs, add lots more of the above-mentioned foods to your daily diet, don’t allow urine to pool in the bladder, and make sure you clean yourself properly after sexual activity or bowel movement. Drinking appropriate amounts of liquid and emptying the bladder often help avoid UTIs.

Other causes of UTIs include catheters, kidney stones and lack of estrogen in the vaginal lining. [Information gleaned from Harvard Health Letter, March 2015.]

Putting Lemonbalm To Work. Last summer I came across a recipe for a lemon tonic that helps restore electrolytes. I embellished it with Lemonbalm (Melissa officinalis), which has so many excellent properties, and keep it in the refrigerator most of the time, especially for my husband who spends long, hot days outdoors mowing and otherwise tending to our property. Despite its healing qualities, it is a wonderfully refreshing drink, worthy of any outdoor gathering! First make your Lemonbalm tea: bring a quart of water to a boil. Add 1 cup stuffed full of fresh Lemonbalm leaves. Cover; remove from heat. Let steep about ten minutes. Strain, cool and freeze in a freezer-safe pint container. You may double or triple the quantities so you always have this wonderful tea available. In a very large container, stir 2 cups of your favorite honey (more or less to taste) into1 cup hot water until well blended. Add 2 cups lemon juice (squeezed or bottled) and 1 teaspoon salt. Blend well. Add 1 gallon cold water and the frozen Lemonbalm tea (1 quart). I use round plastic containers so I can add it and let it slowly melt (see photo). This tea becomes a healthy tonic: antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, astringent, calming, and mentally soothing.

If you received this newsletter from Nature’s Common Scents, you personally gave me your email address for that purpose. However, we all get too much in our email boxes and have to make choices. If you wish to discontinue, e-mail me at sondrancs@ putting the word “discontinue” in the subject line and I will take your name off right away. Or if you wish to be sure you are on the list, send me an email saying “newsletter” in the subject line. If you are unable to receive bulk emails, these are often treated like junk mail and are returned, in which case I have no choice but to remove your name from my list even if you intended to receive it. Be sure to check on this.

Evensong/Nature’s Common Scents. Twenty acres of wild and naturally growing trees, plants, shrubs, and herbs, most of which are healing in one way or another. We teach about them and how best to use them, provide herbal walks and “quiet days” for interested persons. Also we make old fashioned, easy-to-understand therapeutic skin care products to heal troubled skin and teach how to make “teas, tonics & tinctures” from local and/or readily available plants and herbs, believing you should be able to understand and pronounce everything you put in and on your body. This newsletter is written and edited by Sondra Johnson, a member of the American Herbalists Guild and the Herb Society of America. She is not a doctor; recipes and facts in this newsletter are researched from many areas and passed on for informational purposes. Comments are editorial, and the opinion of the author. People with health problems, new or ongoing, should consult qualified medical personnel. Anyone can become allergic to anything at any time. Even if you have never experienced allergies to plants, when you make or use one medicinally, you should always do a skin test first to see if you can tolerate the plant and the ingredients in the product. (Rub a small amount of the product on the upper, inside of your arm. Observe for 8-10 hours. If rash develops, discontinue use.)

Note: With few exceptions, plants or herbs noted in this newsletter are what would be in regular use in your home on a daily basis in and for food. This newsletter only confirms their good use for your health as researched by the scientific community. If, after self-treatment, your symptoms don’t begin to improve, or if you have a fever above 100.4 F see your doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing as well as anyone who is under the care of a physician for a specific malady should always use caution when self-treating as many herbs are contraindicated. Always tell your doctor if you add herbs for healing to your regular daily routine.

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Upcoming Workshops and Events

June 13, Soapmaking Workshop

Note this is my last workshop scheduled until September.

Several of you have expressed a desire to have me schedule another “Teas, Tonics & Tincture” workshop, as well as another Soapmaking Workshop this summer. If you are interested in either of these, let me know the dates that suit you and we’ll try to work it out!

To visit my workshop anytime, just give me a call (540.635.7073) or email.

 

Did you know … [“Flaxseeds] are at least as good as any medication on the market” for lowering blood pressure readings when 3 heaping TBS a day are eaten for six months.

(Canadian researchers, after observing results of their clinical trial.

Health & Nutrition Letter, March 2015)

 

Did you know … [“Flaxseeds] are at least as good as any medication on the market” for lowering blood pressure readings when 3 heaping TBS a day are eaten for six months.

(Canadian researchers after observing results of their clinical trial.

Health & Nutrition Letter, March 2015)

 

Did you know … Approximately 80% of your immune system is in your digestive system (gut), so the importance of eating the right foods and herbs can actually boost your ability to ward off colds, flu and other diseases.

 

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