Palos Chiro Blog

Several years ago, I learned a tip for an easy, safe, non-drug way to relieve a tension headache.  I never tried it out until recently because frankly, I did not think that it would work.  Now I wish I had tried this remedy long ago.  How could something so easy and cheap get rid of tension headache pain that is strong enough for me to need to take an over the counter pain reliever? 

 Over the counter drugs have many dangers associated with them; in fact, they can be blamed for a shocking number of side effects and deaths each year. Any time you take a drug, you are putting a toxin in your system, so it is wise to use them only when truly necessary.  But when you’ve got a headache, you’ve got a headache, and you need relief.  Essential oil of peppermint to the rescue!

What’s An Essential Oil? 

 Essential oils are made when a part of a plant, like the leaves or flowers, is steam distilled to remove the oil from the plant matter.  This oil is the “essence” of the plant, where all of the healing components are, and where the scent of the plant comes from.  Essential oils are used for aromatherapy, skin care, and for healing a wide variety of conditions. 

 Essential oils vary widely in price.  Some plant oils are made from plants or trees growing in the wild, so availability will drive up the price, but most are made from plants specifically grown for essential oils, and therefore more abundant and cheaper.  Peppermint is definitely a very prolific plant, so the oil is inexpensive.  You will find small brown dropper bottles of essential oils (Aura Cacia is a common brand) in any health food store or Whole Foods. 

How to Use Peppermint Oil

 Take just one or two drops of the oil onto your fingertip, and rub it onto your forehead and temples.  My tension headaches come from having a stiff neck, so I also rub another drop on the back of my neck.  Then cup your palms loosely over your nose and deeply inhale the fragrance from your fingers to get the aromatherapy benefits.  It smells delicious.  You will feel a pleasant cooling sensation on your skin, and within a few minutes, your headache should be history.

 As far as I know, this only works on headaches caused by tension, not sinus headaches or migraines.  And of course, if you are having repeated or severe headaches, please consult a doctor.  

 Wishing you well,

 Amanda

Dear Amanda,

I am in my 50′s with combination skin & in search of a recipe for facial & under eye moisturizer.

I’d also like to find a natural shampoo that won’t dry out my hair. I do not want to use sulfates which seems to be the choice ingredient on the market. I realize that there are many so called natural products out there I’d just like to try making my own.

Thank you for sharing your hard earned knowledge about chemical free living.

Be well

Bell

Bell,

For a facial moisturizer, I try to keep it as simple as possible. The multi-billion dollar cosmetics industry is built around the notion that your skin needs complicated and expensive products to look and feel good, and advertising can really convince us of that, but the truth is that your skin is an organ, just like your lungs and your liver, and if it is kept healthy, it will be soft and smooth. In my experience, the quickest way to rob your skin of its natural healthy state is to slather it with synthetic chemical concoctions. When I read the list of ingredients on a skincare product, I ask myself if I would be willing to apply this to my lungs or liver. If the answer is no, I leave it on the store shelf.

I have used simple oils to moisturize my body with great success, but for the thinner skin on your face, only the lightest of oils will do to avoid clogging pores. I have made a homemade concoction with jojoba oil (the oil that is closest in makeup to the natural oils in your skin) and other oils that are rejuvenating to the skin, like rose hip oil and sea buckthorn oil. You can find all of these oils at any health food store. Just fill a small bottle with an ounce of jojoba oil, and add just a little bit of the other oils, and shake. I don’t measure an exact recipe, I just mix up a bottle when I need to with the proportions being a little different every time, and it always works. You can add a few drops of essential oils, like rose or lavender (or both) for a nice fragrance, and both of those essential oils are very good for your skin.

When you wash your face, rinse and barely pat dry, leaving some water droplets on your face. Take a few drops of the oil in your palm, and rub it around with your fingertips to warm and thin the oil, then pat and lightly rub the oil into your face. You can use this around your eyes, too. The oil mixes with the water left on your face, sealing in that moisture. It will completely sink in and not feel oily at all in just a few minutes. Whether your skin is dry, oily, or both, using a light natural oil on the skin will balance it out over time, instead of stripping it.

If you want a store bought product, the absolute best thing that I have found in 20 years of trying is from the mail order company DHC. It is called “olive virgin oil”, and it is from the first ultra light pressing of organic olives, done before they press them harder to get the extra virgin olive oil that we cook with. This lovely light oil is the best moisturizer, for any skin type, and in the winter when the air is really dry you can layer it over a creamy moisturizer for extra protection, and it never feels oily. The price will seem high, but you only use a few drops at a time, and I have had a bottle last me for more than six months.

Natural Shampoo

As for shampoo, I have tried many so called “natural shampoos” on the market, and most of them contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which starts as coconut oil, but is so refined and processed that what is left is just a chemical, and possibly hazardous to your health. SLS makes for a lot of rich lather, but also strips your hair of its own oils, ultimately making it dry. When your hair is stripped, your scalp will automatically send out a lot of your natural oils to compensate, making your hair oily. This had been a perpetual cycle in my life, until I decided to get really radical and try the baking soda and vinegar method of cleaning your hair. What? I clean my kitchen sink with baking soda and vinegar! But amazingly, it really works. Here’s why—when you stop using harsh products that strip your hair and scalp, you are left with just plain clean hair, which is not oily or dry, it is just normal. All hair products leave a residue on your hair, which attracts and holds dirt, meaning that you have to shampoo frequently, which strips and dries hair even more. Then you need a conditioner, which leaves even more residue, and, well, you get the picture. But when your hair is just clean, with no residue, your scalp is able to regulate how much oil to release to keep your hair in normal condition. If you have been using conventional shampoos your whole life, it may take some time for your scalp to adjust to the new process, but the end result is hair with more body and texture and shine. I have written directions for the baking soda/vinegar method HERE.

Wishing you well,

Amanda

After responding to the post about how to build up your immune system for the cold and flu season, I got to thinking of the some of the other ways that I take care of myself.  I would like to tell you about an easy, quick, inexpensive way to boost your immunity that feels so good. 

THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

 An important part of your immune system is the lymphatic system, which consists of your lymph nodes and the miles of porous vessels that connect them.  When your muscles contract during any type of exercise, the vessels are rhythmically squeezed and released, which pushes clear lymph fluid throughout your body.  The lymph flushes wastes and toxins out of your cells, taking them to the lymph nodes for filtering.  Unlike your blood vessels, which have your heart to pump blood through them, the lymph system lacks a pump to get the fluid moving, so it relies on outside pressure and movement to work smoothly.  One way to stimulate this process is to brush your skin regularly, since many of the lymph vessels are right under the surface of your skin. 

DRY BRUSHING

 All you need is a soft bath brush.  I found a good one with a wooden handle at Bed, Bath and Beyond.  It seems that the ones with the plastic handles have bristles that are too hard.  Do your dry brushing before your bath or shower.  Always work toward your heart, so you will go from your feet up to your chest, and from your hands down to your chest.  Start at your feet and work your way up each leg to your hip, using a light, circular motion with a dry brush. (Hold the brush loosely in your hand, so you don’t scrub too hard.  If you exfoliate your skin too hard, you will actually stimulate your skin’s defenses against the abrasion, which will defeat the purpose of what you are doing here.)  Go over your buttocks and up to your lower back, and up the front of your torso to your chest.  Then reach behind you and go up and down your back.  Then do your hands and up your arms to the shoulders, and sweep from the back of your neck down the side of your throat and to the center of your chest.  Finish with a sweeping motion from the back of your armpit to the center of your chest.  Pay special attention to the areas that have clusters of lymph nodes, like the back of your knees, your groin, and the area all around your armpits.  When you are finished, you will feel fresh, tingly, relaxed and wonderful!  I love it when taking good care of yourself is this pleasurable. 

TO FINISH

 When you are done, just hop in the shower as usual.  A wonderful extra benefit of dry brushing is that over time, your skin will become very soft and smooth, and cellulite will be diminished.  You can dry brush daily if you want to, as long as you are gentle, but once a week or a few times a week is fine.  Once you get the hang of it, it only takes about three minutes, but sometimes I can be too rushed to do it every day.  Honestly, it feels so good that I this is one good habit that I have no problem sticking to!   

 Wishing you well,

Amanda

Welcome to the GoAskAmanda Natural Living Blog.  I thought I would start by writing a post on a subject that many people have expressed interest in.  I have been making homemade laundry detergent for over 20 years now, and it is an easy, simple way to reduce your exposure to toxins and save money at the same time. 

Why make homemade laundry detergent?  Well, conventional detergents have several strikes against them.  They are made from petroleum by-products, which are toxic and we are all aware of the negative issues that petroleum can cause.  They contain synthetic fragrances, which are made from known cancer-causing chemicals.  Detergents leave their residue on your clothing, which can then be absorbed by your skin.  And finally, the cost of a homemade product is much lower.  It is satisfying to know that I can easily make a product that I need that is safe for me to use, and there will be no plastic bottle to dispose of as well. 

The recipe is simple.  Just purchase a box of Borax, which is found in the laundry aisle of any store, a box of Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, which is found with the laundry products in some hardware stores or grocery stores, and about 4 pounds of baking soda.  If you belong to a warehouse club, you can buy a 12 pound bag of baking soda and use one third of it, you don’t have to weigh it or be precise, just estimate.  Place all of the powders in a large container and stir together thoroughly.  And that’s it!  You have homemade laundry detergent.  If you would like to have a scent, you can use any essential oil, such as lavender.  Just stir about 10 drops of essential oil into the mix.  Put the mix into an airtight container, such as a canister or plastic tub with a lid, and use about one half cup for a load of laundry. 

Borax is a cleaner and disinfectant that works as well as bleach; in fact, it is used in hospitals in Europe instead of bleach; because they understand that bleach is very toxic.  Washing soda is sodium carbonate, a naturally occurring mineral that is amazingly effective at removing dirt and grime. Baking soda will soften your wash water, to assist the other two ingredients in removing soil. 

If you need a fabric softener, just fill your softener dispenser with ordinary white vinegar, that will do the job.  No, you won’t smell any vinegar on your clothes!  They will just smell clean. 

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial, and I look forward to answering questions about this or any other subject.

Wishing you well,

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

Super foods? I don’t know what they are but I’d be interested in some recipes.

The thing that’s on my mind alot is the immune system. There are so many factors in daily living that tear down the immune system. Can you suggest natural (and inexpensive) ways to get it working at its best? Of course, the flu is a big concern lately. Is there anything that will help specifically to ward off the flu?

Darline

Darline,

Super foods are those foods that are so nutrient dense that they offer a lot of benefits in a single serving, such as blueberries, walnuts, salmon, leafy greens, etc.  I also add fermented foods to that list, because their benefits seem to be unlimited. 

The experts say that “80 percent of your immune system is in your gut”, and a healthy gut equals a healthy immune system.  I have certainly found that to be true in my own case.  I have struggled with low resistance for years, and I have tried many, many supplements and ideas to improve my immunity with some temporary successes, but nothing has had as big of an impact on my health as improving my digestion. 

Our bodies are designed to have a balance of good and bad micro flora (yes, that means bacteria!) in our digestive system, which helps us absorb the nutrients in our food and convert those nutrients to energy.  Things like drinking chlorinated water, having a poor diet, and stress can tip the balance more toward the harmful bacteria, and then you end up with digestive problems and lowered immunity.  Building up your probiotics (good bacteria) is the answer, and you can take probiotic supplements but I find them to be very expensive, and since the bacteria are alive in those capsules, improper storage or too much heat during shipping can kill them.  A much better and cheaper way to get all the probiotics you need in a very absorbable form is to regularly consume fermented foods, like yogurt, kefir, kombucha, and fermented vegetables.  My favorite is kefir, or cultured milk.  You can learn how and why to make it yourself with my article, All About Kefir, here.  

As for warding off the flu, I have always been a “flu magnet”, getting it nearly every year.  I am not a fan of the flu shot.  I think the concept of getting a vaccination is valid, but the preservatives and other inactive ingredients in the flu shot are toxic, and the terrible effects that some people have suffered after getting one makes me very leery.   I have discovered an alternative that has worked beautifully, which is the homeopathic “flu shot”.  In a future post, I will explain how homeopathy works, but briefly, it is a safe way to stimulate the body’s ability to heal with very small amounts of natural substances.  The homeopathy manufacturer Boiron prepares the current flu strain for each year homeopathically, which is a much safer way to introduce your immune system to this year’s flu virus so your body can build immunity to it.   The remedy for this year is called Influenzinum 2010/2011, and I believe I have seen it at Whole Foods, but I usually order my homeopathy from the website elixirs.com.    I have used this flu remedy for the last two winters, and I have not gotten the flu.   Another good remedy to use with the Influenzinum is Thymuline, which is a homeopathic remedy for the thymus gland, which boosts your immune system. 

Starting in late fall, you take a dose of both of these remedies once a week throughout the flu season to keep your immune system strong.  If you are exposed to someone who is sick, you should take additional doses of thymuline. The website gives full instructions, and you can even phone or e-mail the homeopath that runs it for free advice if you have any questions.

Wishing you well,

Amanda