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Since ancient times, people have been looking for ways to maintain their youth and vitality for as long as possible. Fortunately, nature provides us with a wealth of nutrients that can help us fight the signs of aging. Two of the most promising compounds are lycopene and beta-carotene in the battle against aging. At Epixlife we ​​tell you about the benefits of these nutrients for the prevention of aging and how you can incorporate them into your routines and habits. What is lycopene and beta-carotene? Lycopene is a natural pigment found in foods such as tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, and green peas. Beta-carotenes, on the other hand, are a group of pigments found in yellow, orange, and red colored fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, melons, sweet potatoes, and red bell peppers. Both compounds are carotenoids, a class of antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are generated in our body as a result of normal metabolism and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is a process that occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in our body. If the level of free radicals is too high, they can cause cell damage and contribute to aging and chronic disease. Benefits of lycopene and beta-carotene in the prevention of aging Cell damage reduction: Carotenoids are very powerful antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Studies have shown that carotenoids can reduce cellular DNA damage , which may help prevent age-related diseases such as cancer. Improves skin health Carotenoids can improve skin health by protecting it from UV damage. The sun is one of the main factors contributing to skin aging, but carotenoids can help reduce the damaging effects of the sun. Additionally, lycopene can help improve skin elasticity, which can reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Prevents chronic diseases Lycopene and beta-carotene have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Improves eye health Carotenoids are especially beneficial for eye health, as they can help prevent age-related macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of blindness in older people. Strengthens the immune system Lycopene and beta-carotene can also strengthen the immune system by enhancing the response of immune cells, which can help prevent infectious diseases and other age-related health problems. Curious facts about lycopene and beta-carotene Lycopene absorption is higher in cooked tomatoes than in raw tomatoes. This is because the heat helps to release the lycopene from the plant cells and make it more bioavailable. Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, which is essential for eye health. However, consuming too much beta-carotene can lead to a phenomenon known as carotenoderma, which is a yellow discoloration of the skin. Watermelon is one of the best sources of lycopene, but not all watermelons have the same amount of this compound. Red watermelon cultivars are those that contain the highest amount of lycopene. How to incorporate lycopene and beta-carotene in your diet Add cooked tomatoes to your foods, such as sauces, soups, or stews. Eat brightly colored fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, spinach, and Swiss chard. Drink natural fruit and vegetable juices, especially those that contain watermelon, carrot, and spinach. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables as a snack. Conclusion Lycopene and beta-carotene are valuable nutrients that can help prevent the signs of aging and improve overall health. By incorporating more foods rich in these compounds into your daily diet, you can improve your eye health, protect your skin from sun damage, and reduce your risk of chronic disease. Plus, eating foods rich in lycopene and beta-carotene is easy and delicious, making it a great way to stay healthy while enjoying your food. So eat more colorful fruits and vegetables and fight aging from the inside out! Do you know our epigenetic tests? Ask for a free consultation here or order your test EpixLife. Gabriela Ana Holistic Health Coach

A lot of people think of tuna as a health food, and in some ways it is: it’s packed with protein, naturally sugar-free, and has a ton of important nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12. But despite all these benefits, it’s not something that you should eat all that often (or if you’re pregnant or have high mercury levels in your blood, perhaps not at all). Why? Because of its mercury content. Most of us have a general idea that too much mercury is bad, but what exactly does it do to your body, and how much is too much? Read on to learn the signs of mercury poisoning, the primary sources of mercury (including what fish is high in mercury besides tuna), options for mercury poisoning treatment, and more. Some signs of mercury poisoning include: Impaired cognitive function (such as poor memory and difficulty paying attention) Impaired motor function (such as clumsiness or loss of fine motor skills or dexterity) Memory loss Insomnia Fatigue Muscle weakness Dizziness Headaches Kidney dysfunction Tremors Anxiety or depression Behavioral changes, like irritability or excitability Numbness or tingling Beyond the troubling signs of mercury poisoning, there are also concerns about the way in which mercury consumption may increase your risk of certain conditions. Some research suggests that high mercury levels are associated with an increased risk of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. There’s also significant research linking high mercury levels to cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart attacks. In one study of 1,800 men, researchers found that those with the highest mercury levels were two times as likely to die from cardiovascular problems than those with low levels. The Main Sources of Mercury for Humans When you think of sources of mercury, you probably think of tuna, and rightly so: nearly all methylmercury exposure is due to consuming fish and shellfish that contain high levels of methylmercury. This is because when mercury is released into the environment, much of it makes its way into sea water, where it is then absorbed by plants like algae. Fish then eat the algae, absorbing its mercury. As smaller fish that have eaten mercury-containing algae are consumed by larger fish (and then those fish by still larger fish), the mercury accumulates. As a result, fish toward the top of the food chain can have mercury concentrations that are 10 times higher than the fish they eat. Because of this, large fish with longer lifespans — like swordfish, shark, marlin, king mackerel, and, yes, certain kinds of tuna (albacore, big eye, and yellowfin, which are all larger tunas) — are the primary sources of mercury for humans. But you don’t need to swear off seafood — in fact, if you eat seafood, experts advise that you keep it in your diet because of all the important nutrients that fish and shellfish provide (such as omega-3s, protein, minerals, and more). Rather, you just need to be cognizant of the mercury levels of different seafood, and make your choices accordingly. Low-mercury seafood choices include anchovies, sardines, salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, trout, sole, scallops, flounder, catfish, and haddock, among others. If you eat fish regularly, these are all safe options to eat and serve to your family. And if you love tuna or swordfish or other major sources of mercury, you don’t need to swear them off forever — just understand your mercury levels through a blood test and then adjust your intake accordingly. For someone that doesn’t have high levels of mercury, they might be able to have tuna or swordfish as much as once a week, while others might do better with just once a year. No matter how much you eat, opt to have any high mercury fish cooked rather than raw, as cooking is known to reduce mercury content in fish by up to 30%! Women who are pregnant or nursing, however, should avoid high-mercury fish entirely. While fish is the main source of mercury for humans, methylmercury can be consumed through other foods. One study showed that among people who don’t eat seafood, those that consumed wine, rice, vegetable oil, liquor, beans, nuts, or soy all had higher blood mercury levels than those who didn’t consume much or any of these foods. This is because the mercury in the air ends up in vineyards, rice paddies, and soy and other cropland. There are also non-food sources of mercury, though these are much less common and not generally a concern for the average person. For instance, metallic mercury exists in some thermometers, CFL light bulbs, some dental fillings, and certain types of jewelry; however, for a person to be exposed to the mercury in all of these cases, the mercury would need to be released by some breakage (i.e., a thermometer breaking in someone’s mouth, or a light bulb shattering). For dental fillings, mercury from the filling evaporates and is then inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream. People may also be exposed to mercury through their occupation. Mercury exposure is a particular concern for mine workers and those who work in some chemical manufacturing plants and facilities that either manufacture mercury-containing products or use instruments that contain mercury. Mercury Poisoning Treatment Mercury poisoning can be diagnosed with a blood or urine test that measures mercury levels in the body, along with a patient’s symptom profile and information about their lifestyle and diet. Once it’s diagnosed, however, there’s not a simple mercury poisoning treatment. The most important thing to do is simply to remove all the sources of mercury in a person’s life: if they eat a lot of high-mercury fish, they need to stop completely; if they work in an environment where they’re inhaling mercury, they need to find a different job or job duty. If you cut out your sources of mercury, then your body can begin to eliminate mercury from the body faster than you accumulate it, allowing your mercury levels to drop. Depending on your body’s ability to detoxify (perhaps you have a genetic mutation or several on your detoxification pathways) or if your mercury levels are extremely high, your doctor will need to do chelation therapy. Chelation agents are substances that can bond to — or bind — metals in your blood, which then allows them to exit your body through urine. If your mercury poisoning treatment involves chelation therapy, you can get the chelation drugs into your body either via IV or pill form. To completely remove the metal from your body, you may need to take chelation drugs for several weeks or even months. For those who may not have full-blown mercury poisoning but do have high mercury levels, toxin binders are another option. Binders are substances specific compounds that bind up toxins, allowing your body to more easily eliminate them via urine, poop, or sweat. Charcoal is a common binder that can be used for lowering mercury levels. The WellBe Takeaway on Mercury Poisoning Mercury is highly toxic, and we all need to be aware of and vigilant about avoiding its negative health effects. Here’s what to remember about mercury and your health: Mercury is a naturally occurring element that exists in the rock of the earth’s crust. It is released into the air via things like volcanic activity, erosion, and human activity. From there it makes its way into water, soil, and plants There are several types of mercury. The type that humans are exposed to most is mercury’s organic form, methylmercury, which is highly toxic. All humans have some level of mercury exposure. At subthreshold levels, that’s fine. But exposure that’s even slightly above the recommended amount can lead to serious and sometimes long-lasting health issues. This is even more true for sensitive groups, like young children and pregnant or nursing mothers. Experts recommend that you consume no more than 0.045 micrograms of mercury per pound of body weight per day, and keep your blood mercury levels below 5.0 micrograms per liter. The signs of mercury poisoning are quite varied, as it can affect many systems in the body. Common symptoms include cognitive and neuromuscular issues, as well as fatigue, headache, tingling or numbness, and behavioral changes. Fish and shellfish are the main sources of mercury for humans. This is because mercury makes its way into sea plants like algae, which are then eaten by smaller fish, which are then eaten by larger fish. As you go up the food chain, the mercury bioaccumulates. For this reason, large fish like swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tuna have higher concentrations of mercury than smaller fish. You should strictly limit your intake of these fish or avoid them completely. There’s no simple mercury poisoning treatment. The main thing to do is to simply cut mercury sources out of your diet so that your body can begin to process and eliminate what it has built up. If your mercury levels are extremely high or you have genetic mutations making it hard for your body to detoxify the mercury on its own, you may need chelation therapy or toxin binders like charcoal, which is when you take drugs (via IV or pills) that bind to the metal in your blood, allowing it to be eliminated through urine. If you eat fish or shellfish, do you try to avoid or limit your intake of high-mercury fish? If so, what do you eat instead? Listen to this guide on The WellBe Podcast. Citations: Hightower JM, Moore D. Mercury levels in high-end consumers of fish. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Apr;111(4):604-8. Yokoo EM, Valente JG, Grattan L, Schmidt SL, Platt I, Silbergeld EK. Low level methylmercury exposure affects neuropsychological function in adults. Environ Health. 2003 Jun 4;2(1):8. Zahir F, Rizwi SJ, Haq SK, Khan RH. Low dose mercury toxicity and human health. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2005 Sep;20(2):351-60. Salonen JT, Seppänen K, Nyyssönen K, Korpela H, Kauhanen J, Kantola M, Tuomilehto J, Esterbauer H, Tatzber F, Salonen R. Intake of mercury from fish, lipid peroxidation, and the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary, cardiovascular, and any death in eastern Finnish men. Circulation. 1995 Feb 1;91(3):645-55. Guallar E, Sanz-Gallardo MI, van’t Veer P, Bode P, Aro A, Gómez-Aracena J, Kark JD, Riemersma RA, Martín-Moreno JM, Kok FJ; Heavy Metals and Myocardial Infarction Study Group. Mercury, fish oils, and the risk of myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2002 Nov 28;347(22):1747-54.

Have you tried an Ayurvedic tea blend yet? These teas are traditional herbal teas made from specific combinations of herbs and spices blended together to move toward balance and nourish the body and mind. They are delightful and soothing and possess healing properties. There are many blends to choose from so you can pick the perfect tea for you. They are non-caffeinated and made from a variety of herbs and spices. Unlike caffeinated beverages, they calm the mind and soothe the nerves. Your digestion, nerves, and your sleep cycles will be much happier when you make the switch from caffeine. You will come into flow with your nature. When we are in flow, we can say no to the things that are not good for us. Why? Because what is flowing is prana. Prana infuses us with Divine consciousness and intelligence and has us wanting to make choices to support our highest self. No need to force, instead allow the transformation from the inside out. Today I’m sharing a recipe for a very special Ayurvedic tea to wake up your inner flow! This tea is designed to open the channels of the body and mind and increases your mental capacity. It supports the kidneys and soothes the digestive tract. Plus, it’s like a hug in a mug, from us to you! It’s very simple to make and you don’t need any unusual ingredients. Most can be found in your kitchen, at your local store or online. Remember to use organic ingredients whenever possible. Ingredients: ½ tsp ground black or white pepper 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp ground kalonji (black cumin) 1 tsp ground green cardamom seeds 1 tsp clove powder Here’s how: Mix well. Store in a closed dry container in the dark. For one cup: boil ½ tsp of the mixture in 8oz (or 250 ml) water for 3-5 minutes, strain, and drink slowly. Enjoy! Original article Hale Pure Gabriela Ana Holistic Health Coach

Many families ask about requesting lab testing for their kids and what to order. First, we should consider implementing a healthy lifestyle consisting of a whole-foods organic diet minimizing sugar, refined carbs, and refined fats, getting our kids to exercise, enforcing abundant sleep, and removing any toxins from the home environment such as mold, plastics, and unhealthy household cleaners and personal care products. But, what if you’re not seeing improvement and can’t figure out why your child is not doing well or not making progress? See your practitioner to see if there’s something they can find such as an ear infection, a distended belly, abnormal tonsils, etc., since many of our kids can’t express their symptoms. If the practitioner can’t figure it out based on history and physical exam, testing can be ordered, and you can discuss getting conventional testing done such as: · CBC- checking for anemia or infection. · CMP- evaluates kidneys, liver, and for electrolyte imbalances. · Thyroid panel (TSH, T3, T4)- thyroid hormonal imbalances can cause many physical and behavioral symptoms. · CRP- tests for inflammation in body although we may not know where it’s stemming from · Vitamins B12 and Folate- deficiencies can cause neurological symptoms. · Vitamin D- common deficiency that can affect immune system and cause neurological symptoms. · Cholesterol- in many cases, it’s low and we need cholesterol to support all of the cells in our body. · Iron- low levels can affect development. · Zinc and Copper- some of our kids have low zinc and high copper levels which can affect immune and neurologic systems. · RAST testing- looking for environmental and food allergies that could affect behavior. Here are functional labs tests if you’re seeing a functional/MAPS practitioner that can be requested: · Urine organic acid test (OAT)- this tests for metabolic waste that is excreted from the body and evaluates for gut health, mitochondrial dysfunction, brain neurotransmitters, detox markers, and nutrient deficiencies. · GI Effects or GI-MAP- evaluates the gut which is abnormal in up to 80% of our kids. · Food IgG testing- tests for food sensitivities and intolerances which will cause leaky gut leading to inflammation. · Hair Elements- will for the most common heavy metals such as lead, mercury, aluminum, and cadmium which are all toxic to the nervous system. · MycoTox- will evaluate for mold toxins which can wreak havoc on our kids. From my experience, these labs have yielded the most information, however each child is unique and there needs to be a personalized approach. Lab work can help guide treatment for our kids, especially if we can’t figure out why they’re regressing or not making progress. . Original article from Hope Health&Wellness Written by Larry Miller Gabriela Ana / Luz Infinita Holistic Health Coach +34 604 398 948 To learn more about how I can help you, schedule a Telehealth consultation today.

Washing the hair, 1908 ‘The necessity of cleansing the hair is imperative from every point of view; as much for health as for cleanliness, since the hair and scalp cannot be healthy, any more than the skin, unless they are thoroughly cleansed of impurities. The oily glands of the scalp become choked and they are irritated to over-secretion, making the hair oily, or dandruff is caused. The hair follicles also become unhealthy, so that the hair grows poorly or falls out.’ (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905) Shampoo was usually homemade in the Victorian and Edwardian era. So there were many homemade shampoo recipes: Some use castile soap as basis, some use natural cleansers, such as egg, wheat bran or salt, and some use saponin-containing plants, such as quillaia bark. I’ve tried some of the shampoo recipes (you find a link “-> tried” under the recipes). If you try one of these historical shampoo recipes, I’d love to hear your experiences. 😀 Related: 200+ Historical DIY Natural Beauty Products How To Wash And Dry Your Hair – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care How To Wash The Hair Use Rain Or Distilled Water (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2) A ‘secret which is well worth knowing is that pure rain or distilled water is an ideal hair cleanser. Washing the hair in very hard water is seldom successful. In the country rain-water is easily obtainable, and, if not perfectly clean, can be filtered before using. In towns it is more difficult to get, but automatic domestic stills are now so frequently employed that where one of these is in use a plentiful supply of soft water can always be obtained. A good domestic still, if placed upon the kitchen-stove while cooking operations are going on, will produce, on an average, about a quart of pure distilled water per hour, and this may be used for both toilet and household purposes.’ Oil Treatment Before Washing The Hair ‘Massage the roots of the hair with almond oil. About ten drops will go all over the head. Frequently five or six drops will do. Don’t wet the hair, but only the scalp. The oil can be put on with a medicine dropper. To apply oil with a medicine dropper, part the hair so as to expose a wide white parting. Drop the oil along this. Use only two drops. Now take the finger tips and massage the open parting, using a gentle little spat, spat, spat.’ (The Intermountain Catholic, 1904) ‘Some hair is so very dry that washing makes it brittle. Such hair should be given an application of vaseline or an oil dressing of some kid the day before it is washed. It will then be soft and silky. The vaseline should be rubbed on the scalp, getting as little on the hair as possible. In washing the hair use water quite warm, with a good, pure soap to make a lather. Tar or castile soap is the best. If the hair is oily, a very little ammonia or soda can be used. Wash carefully, rubbing the scalp well, then rinse in two waters. Roll the hair up in a towel for a few minutes to absorb the water, then let down and rub gently – in the sunshine always, if possible, otherwise near a stove or radiator – till dry. When dry, comb out the snarls, a strand at a time, and brush until glossy.’ (Marin Journal, 1901) How To Wash The Hair (San Francisco Call, 1907) ‘Perhaps the simplest and certainly one of the most successful ways of shampooing the hair is to let it all down first and give the head a gentle fresh hair massage. […] rub the head and scalp gently but firmly and in a way that makes the blood circulate through the entire surface of the head. A loose scalp is a sign of healthy hair, a tight one means that a good deal of massage and special treatment is required to get it into good condition and eventually improve the hair. After massaging rub in a tonic thoroughly. This will soothe the scalp and make it more receptive to the shampooing. […] Warm water is best to start with. This should be well soaped with pure castile soap that it will not be necessary to rub any soap on the hair itself. […] The first rubbing should be very thorough and long, so that every bit of the scalp is cleansed and all the hair from the roots to the ends should be well shampooed. To rinse the hair one of the rubber tubed sprays sold in any of the drug or department stores will be found to give the best service and to save time as well. […] the hair should be thoroughly rinsed with water that changes gradually from warm to as cold as one can stand it. The first drying should be done gently with a towel. Then the hair should be rubbed with the warm palms of the hands until it is nearly dry, after which it should be brushed vigorously with a perfectly clean brush until it is perfectly dry. Just before the brushing is ended a bit of toilet water or perfume that has no harmful chemicals in it may be dropped on the brush to give the hair a pleasing odor and take away the soapy smell that will cling to it for a little while, even if the best of soap is used and the hair most carefully rinsed. Neither the soapy nor the perfume odor will remain long. The fastidious woman never indulges in perfumes that are pronounced. If she uses any they are delicate and fleeting.’ Washing the hair (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905) Washing The Hair With A Shampoo Brush (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905) ‘The next step after the hair has been taken down and straightened and freed from snarls by means of combing is to apply the shampoo mixture with a brush. These brushes are inexpensive and are made for the purpose. An old tooth brush can also be used, but it is rather small and not as effective as the one especially designed. The hair should be parted on the top of the head, and the shampoo applied by means of the brush, first to this parting; then dividing the hair, strand after strand, at intervals of half an inch, scrub the scalp up and down from the top of the head, holding the handle of the brush upwards, which prevents the shampoo mixture from running down the hand and wrist. Scrub as hard as can easily borne. When the entire scalp has been gone over, always in the direction from the centre of the head to the circumference bounded by the neck and ears, then the hair should all be gathered in the left hand and brought up to the top of the head so that the brush and shampoo can be applied easily around the roots of the hair about the forehead, above the ears and at the neck. The brush thus used removes dandruff, cleanses the scalp thoroughly, and, by bringing the blood to the minute vessels that nourish the scalp, greatly benefits the hair follicles. The next step is washing the hair itself. The remainder of the shampoo water is put in the basin and enough water added to wash the hair comfortably. The hair is thoroughly wet, and the head is scrubbed by means of the balls of the fingers. There should be a good lather of soapsuds. When this is well done, the ends of the hair should be washed out as if they were a piece of cloth. Then comes the process of rinsing hair and scalp. This is the most difficult and most wearying part for one to do alone thoroughly. It is easier if an attachment with a spray can be made, but if that is not possible, the water must be dipped up and dashed on the hair by means of a mug. In this and the preceding process care must be taken not to get the soap in the eyes. The shampooing will prove a failure if any of the soap remains in the hair. Rinse and rinse until not a particle remains, or it will be found after the hair has dried that it is gummy and sticky. The last water in which the hair is rinsed should be perfectly clear and clean to show that the soap is all out. This water should be as cold as can be borne.’ How To Wash Dark Hair (1908) ‘Dark hair is more difficult to wash and a great deal more difficult to dry than light hair. Dark hair should be washed with soap jelly […] and dried in the shade. […] The way to wash dark hair is to first wet the hair with a spray of warm water. Then the soap jelly is rubbed in. It is thoroughly massaged into the hair and scalp. The whole hair is piled in a mass on top of the head and pinned there for five minutes with the soap jelly in it. This gives it a chance to soak in. Now the hairpins are taken out and the hair is loosened. It is tossed forward into a basin of water and a heavy spray of warm water is played upon it. Dark hair should be dried in the dark, for the reason that light fades it. The lemon and the salts of tartar recommended for light hair must not be used, for the same reason. Dark hair should be shaken perfectly dry. Every night dark hair should be tossed and shaken again, for this is the only way to keep it from becoming soggy.’ How To Dry The Hair The Drying Process (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905) ‘The drying process is a tedious one. It will not do to leave the hair wet to dry of itself, for it is at this point one is likely to catch cold. Care should be taken, when indulging in washing the hair, to choose a suitable day. If the day is wet, foggy or stormy, it takes the hair nearly double the time to dry. When the hair has been thoroughly rinsed, wring it as dry as possible; after that shake it out and fan it vigorously with the old-fashioned palm-leaf fan. Fanning is most effective. This may be alternated with the use of the towel. If the towels are heated, the process of drying will be shortened. Some establishments have machines for drying the hair which revolve a fan by electricity, and the air is heated by means of gas. To avoid the danger of taking cold, no wet towels should be permitted to remain about the neck; the back of the neck where the hair begins to grow, should have frequent and vigorous rubbings, and the hair should be dried by being wrung out together with the towel, which helps greatly to absorb the moisture. If one is sensitive and likely to take cold after a shampoo, alcohol may be rubbed in at the back of the neck; it is not a good plan to rub it into the scalp as it takes away from the results of the shampoo, for the alcohol, when dried, gives a stale smell to the hair. Combing and shaking the hair help the drying. The last process of all is straightening the hair with the comb. This should be done most carefully to avoid pulling it out, for the tangles are apt to be many and complicated. The comb should never be carelessly dragged through the hair, no matter when it is employed. If a particularly obstinate hair snarl is met with, coax it along until it is far enough away from the scalp for the lock of hair to be wound around the finger, and then any struggle in getting out the snarl will not pull the hair at the roots.’ Drying the hair (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905) Air Drying Hair In The Sun ‘It is the drying of the hair that the average girl does the greatest mischief. She should beware the rough Turkish toweling, using, with as little energy as possible, an old, soft towel. Then let the sun complete the work, lifting the hair both to ventilate it and let the sunlight penetrate to the scalp. This will in a measure ward off the formation of strata of hair in different shades.’ (The Saint Paul Globe, 1902) ‘After shampooing, the hair should be well dried with warm, soft towels, the hair being rubbed or rolled in strands between the folds of the towel. The hair, loose and flowing, should then be exposed to the sun, if possible, or to warm air to dry it. It is better not to dry the hair with a hot air funnel, or at a radiator or open fire-place. Remember that intense heat makes the hair brittle. Drying in the sun is best; with warm, dry towels next best. Drying will be aided and the possibility of neuralgia prevented by a somewhat vigorous massage given while drying. Rubbing the hair between the hands makes it more pliant and softer. Combing and brushing the hair should follow the shampooing. If you are giving a shampoo to a patron at night in her own home, a time and place many ladies prefer and for which they are glad to pay extra, it is well to put up the hair as loosely as the patron will permit so as to assure a perfect drying over night and no ill after-effects, such as cold in the head. Caution your patron, if the weather is damp or cold, not to expose herself to it, until her hair is thoroughly dry. Do not let her leave your parlors, in case she has very heavy hair, until you are thoroughly satisfied as to its perfect dryness.’ (Beauty Culture, 1911) How To Dry Hair Fast ‘If a maiden has only a brief ten minutes in which to dry her dripping hair after a bath it may be restored to beauty and fluffiness in short order by the use of a nickel-plated hairbrush with hollow back and teeth. The brush is so constructed that it separates at the handle, and into the hollow back hot water can be poured. The handle is then adjusted and the hair can be dried in a very few moments. […] Or the tongs may be used if despatch is necessary. The use of tongs once or twice a day is not harmful. Heat the tongs just enough so they will not scorch paper. […] After twisting each lock about the tongs hold them until you can count sixty. The tongs are not too hot, the hair is damp and the pressure is steady and hard. The hair dries under this firm treatment, and the result is a nice, even wave that will stand a good deal of weather’ (San Francisco Call, 1903) ‘In this country, sunny, warm days are few, and artificial methods must, therefore, be adopted for drying the hair. One of these is to dry it before a fire, but this is rather a long and tedious process. Various ways have been discovered for rapidly drying the hair. A method of quickly drying the hair by the fumes of benzoin has been introduced. The lady whose hair is to be dried reclines upon a lounge or sofa with her hair hanging over the end. A pan, properly protected by a cage and containing two or three pieces of ignited charcoal, is then placed in close proximity to it, and a little powdered benzoin is sprinkled upon the lighted fuel. The thick smoke which rises, and is strongly impregnated with benzoic acid, combined with carbonic acid, rapidly absorbs the moisture in the hair, which should have been previously well wiped with towels, so as to be as free from wet as possible. In a few seconds the hair is perfectly dry, beautifully perfumed, and ready for the operation of the brush. Another clever contrivance for rapidly drying the hair after shampooing heats the air by means of a rotary fan, and drives the heated current rapidly through the hair. An effective method is the use of the hot water comb-a thick metal comb with hollow teeth which are filled with hot water. The hair is combed with this until quite dry.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2) Drying the hair (The Manual On Barbering, Hairdressing, Manicuring, Facial Massage, Electrolysis And Chiropody, 1906) How To Dry Hair In Winter (The Delineator, 1894) ‘The best way to dry the hair in Winter is to spread it in the heat of a grate fire or a coal or gas stove. The heat from a hot-air furnace is not advised, as a register usually discharges too much dust; neither is fanning recommended, because the strong current of air thus produced often causes neuralgia and other affections. In Summer the open air or, better still, the warm sunlight is the preferred dryer.’ Homemade Shampoo Recipes – Victorian And Edwardian Hair Care Shampoo Recipes With Bran Hair Wash For Thick, Soft And Glossy Hair (The Woman’s Own Book of Toilet Secrets, ca. 1896) 1 large handful of (wheat) bran 1 quart soft water a little white soap 1 egg yolk Related: Metric, US & UK Conversion Table Boil bran in water for half an hour or more. ‘Strain it into a basin and let it cool till it is merely tepid or milk warm. Rub into it a little white soap, then dip in the corner of a soft linen towel and wash your head with it thoroughly, dividing or parting aside the hair all over so as to reach the roots. Next take the yolk of an egg (slightly beaten in a saucer) and with your fingers rub it well into the roots of the hair. Let it rest a few minutes and then wash it off entirely with a cloth dipped in pure water and rinse your hair well’. Prepared Bran For The Hair (Encyclopedia Of Practical Receipts And Processes, 1872) 1 pound powdered wheat bran 2 oz powdered orris Shampoo Recipes With Eggs Why Use Eggs To Wash The Hair ‘An egg shampoo is supposed to leave the hair in a better condition than any other kind of shampoo.’ (The Manual On Barbering, Hairdressing, Manicuring, Facial Massage, Electrolysis And Chiropody, 1906) ‘One of the reasons why the yolks of eggs are good for shampooing the hair is that they contain sulphur and ammonia; another reason is that they are also emollient. Hair which has been cleansed with an egg shampoo invariably looks full of lustre and brightness, and is soft and silky to the touch after the drying process is complete; but, in order that these results may appear, thorough rinsing is essential, as, if any of the egg preparation remains in the hair, it will be unpleasantly sticky and greasy afterwards.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2) Using Egg Yolks, Egg Whites Or Whole Eggs? ‘Some use the yolk, others the whole egg.’ (The Fountain Of Youth, 1905) ‘Some shampooers favor using only the yolks, and others only the white of eggs for egg shampoo. No sufficient reason appears for the latter variant, the oil and sulphur of the yolk being of distinct value. The reason for omitting the white or albuminous part appears to be grounded on its stickiness, but a thorough beating overcomes any objection on that score.’ (Beauty Culture, 1911) ‘The yolk of an egg cleans the head thoroughly and causes the hair to grow. Only the scalp should be rubbed with the yolk, and the head rinsed in hot water. The beaten white of eggs is also recommended as a simple and efficacious preparation for cleansing the hair.’ (Household Companion: Book Of Etiquette, 1909) ‘Whites of eggs are among the most gentle and cleansing applications that can be made. They are slightly beaten and then thoroughly rubbed over the head and through the hair. No soap is needed unless the scalp is particularly dirty.’ (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910) Egg Shampoo (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910) 2 eggs 2 tbsp water optional: 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda ‘For this raw eggs are beaten, a tablespoon of water being added to each egg. For an ordinary head of hair two are enough. These eggs are rubbed into the scalp and over the hair, no soap being used. Should there be the least trace of perspiration afterward there may be a final rinse in soda water, using a level teaspoonful of bicarbonate to a basinful of water. As this is drying in effect it should not be used unless necessary.’ Woman brushing hair and washing face, Eadweard Muybridge, 1887 Egg Shampoo (Beauty Culture, 1911) 1 egg (well beaten) 1/2 pt. warm soft water 1/2 oz. spirits of rosemary ‘Beat well together and rub thoroughly into the scalp. Rinse off carefully in two or three waters. Always be careful not to rub the long hair in such a way as to tangle it. This can be done by holding the long hair up and away from the scalp with one hand, while rubbing in the shampoo with the other.’ Egg Shampoo (The Manual On Barbering, Hairdressing, Manicuring, Facial Massage, Electrolysis And Chiropody, 1906) 1 egg ‘For an egg shampoo use a fresh egg, break the end sufficiently to allow the white to come out a little at a time and rub thoroughly through the hair. After rubbing the head well the same as with the shampoo jelly, wash the hair out the same as in the ordinary shampoo, but apply a little soap or jelly when you are rinsing the hair.’ Egg Lemon Shampoo (The Progress Meatless Cook Book, 1911) 2 eggs 1 lemon ‘Beat two eggs, add the juice of a lemon, rub thoroughly through the hair, and rinse in several warm waters. Dry in sun and air.’ Shampoo For Brunettes (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910) 2 egg yolks 1/2 pint claret 1 gill water ‘A shampoo suited to brunettes is made by beathing two yolks of raw eggs into half a pint of claret, adding a gill of water. This is thoroughly rubbed over, without more water until the shampoo has been worked in.’ -> tried Soap Egg Shampoo (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910) 1 cake of castile soap 1 pint boiling water Scrape a cake of Castile soap in a saucepan and add a pint of boiling water. Keep it warm until the soap is dissolved, then pour it ‘into a wide-mouthed jar. It is jelly when cold.’ 1 egg white 1 tsp soap jelly 1 tbsp water optional: 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda to each tablespoon (!) of jelly ‘To use, it is diluted with one raw white of egg to each teaspoonful of the jelly and a tablespoonful of water. One-half teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda for each tablespoonful of soap may be added, unless it dries out the hair too much.’ -> tried Easy Soap Egg Shampoo (The St. Louis Republic, 1904) 1 egg soap jelly The hair is ‘shampooed with a soap jelly, thickened with egg, and beaten up with an egg beater, like mayonnaise. This I left upon the hair until it had had time to cut through the dust’. Egg Shampoo With Lemon Juice & Soap (San Francisco Call, 1900) 2 oz soap 1 lemon 1 egg yolk 1/2 pint distilled water ‘About as good a shampoo as can be made is as follows: Two ounces of soap, the juice of one lemon, the yolk of one egg and half a pint of distilled water. Put the soap and water in a saucepan and stir over the fire till the soap is melted. Beat the yolks of the egg and lemon juice together, pour the soap and water on it, stir briskly, and, when cold, bottle for use.’ Egg White Shampoo (The Ideal Cook Book, 1902) 2 egg whites rum rosewater ‘Beat the whites of two eggs to a froth, rub well into the roots of the hair Leave on to dry. Then wash the head clean with equal parts of rum and rose water. Rinse in clean, soft water.’ Shampoo Recipes With Soap The Problem Of Soap Shampoo Strong soaps ‘have an irritating effect upon the scalp, and although causing the hair to be soft in texture and fluffy in appearance for three or four days after washing, the strong reaction of the skin produces afterwards excessive grease, and the hair becomes moist and lax, frequently clinging together in sticky strands.’ (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2) ‘Soap should never be rubbed directly on the hair, as it is almost impossible to get it out of the hair, and it suffocates the tiny strands to which it adheres.’ (1908) ‘In the shampoo the cake of soap was not rubbed directly upon the hair. The soap jelly was applied, but no soap directly. Soap clings to the hairs, and it is very hard to rinse it off.’ (The St. Louis Republic, 1904) ‘Before soaping the hair always wet it well with water. Never rub a cake of soap directly on the head. It is impossible to get the soap out of the strands of the hair. Do not apply soap lather until the hair has been moistened.’ ‘If the hair be very oily, the lather can be rubbed into the hair and washed out. Again the lather is applied. This time it is allowed to remain on the hair fifteen minutes. It is now rinsed out with a dozen waters, the last as hot as can be borne.’ (San Jose Mercury News, 1904) ‘One great trouble with a soap shampoo is that the hair is seldom properly rinsed afterward. Every particle of soap should be removed, otherwise the hair will be sticky, and it will lack the smooth, glossy look it should have. […] Sometimes soap will change the color of the hair, especially if the soap is not of the best. […] A little borax or a tiny bit of soda will make the shampooing easier if these are agreeable to the hair.’ Perfume can be used to ‘take away the soapy smell that will cling to it for a little while, even if the best of soap is used and the hair most carefully rinsed.’ (San Francisco Call, 1907) Outdoor hair washing Castile Soap Shampoo (The Delineator, 1894) ‘A good shampoo may be made with pure white Castile soap, which is more beneficial than a soap that contains much alkali, because the oil used in its manufacture is very wholesome, and enough of it remains on the hair to render it soft and glossy.’ castile soap warm water ‘Shave the soap finely, and dissolve it in warm water, using enough soap to make a strong, thick lather, which, for convenience, should be placed in a bottle. When ready to shampoo, pour a liberal quantity of the liquid upon the hair and rub it well into the scalp with the fingers. When the scalp and hair have been thoroughly cleansed, rinse them with clear water until the soap is entirely removed. It is advisable to use warm water for rinsing, as cold water might shock the scalp enough to produce unpleasant results. After the last rinsing, rub the hair as dry as possible with a coarse towel.’ -> tried Castile Soap Shampoo (The Saint Paul Globe, 1902) castile soap 1 pint boiling water optional: 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda ‘At least once a week shampoo thoroughly with the following mixture: Lay a cake of the purest soap obtainable in a quart vessel, a pitcher affording the best facilities. Add a pint of boiling water and stir until a strong lather is formed. Lift out the cake of soap, and, if the hair is very oily, add a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda. Never use ammonia or powdered borax. Wash hair and scalp thoroughly with this mixture while still warm, and rinse with warm water. Never yield to that very unnatural tendency in hot weather to use cold water for rinsing. The sudden change in temperature is bad for both hair and scalp. If the hair is exceptionally dry, a teaspoonful of sweet almond oil may be added to the final rinse water.’ Tar Soap Shampoo (Beauty Culture, 1911) ‘To tone the scalp it is well to wash the hair once in a month with pure castile soap or tar soap of the best quality. The latter is easily made thus:’ 4 oz. birchwood or beechwood tar 6 oz. castille soap optional: borax or liquid ammonia ‘In washing the hair with soaps of any kind, warm water should be used, followed by massage or rubbing, and then colder water to stimulate or cause a reaction of the circulation in the scalp. A spray tube, connected with the hot and cold water faucets of the basin, is most serviceable for this purpose. Do not use the water so cold as to shock the scalp, but just cold enough to be pleasant to the patron’s head. Use a tar soap only on dark hair, white soap on blond or gray hair. If the hair is inclined to be oily, a little borax, about half a teaspoonful to a basin of cold water, may be used for the last rinsing, but repeated only once in the month , as it has a tendency to make the hair brittle. Its use makes the hair fluffy and lighter in color. Liquid ammonia, a tablespoonful to a gallon of water, is used in the same manner; but the same precautions must be taken.’ Soap Alcohol Shampoo (The Woman’s Own Book of Toilet Secrets, ca. 1896/ San Francisco Call, 1900) 1/2 oz Castile soap 1 quart warm soft water 1 oz alcohol Dissolve soap in warm water, and add alcohol. Shampoo Paste (Henley’s Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916) 2 oz white Castile soap in shavings 2 fl oz ammonium hydroxide 1 fl oz bay rum, or cologne water 1 fl oz glycerin 12 fl oz water ‘Dissolve the soap in the water by means of heat; when nearly cold stir in the other ingredients.’ Shampoo Paste 2 (Henley’s Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916) 4 oz white Castile soap shavings 1 oz potassium carbonate 6 fl oz water 2 fl oz glycerin 5 drops lavender oil 10 drops bergamot oil Mix soap, potassium carbonate, and water. Heat until the soap is dissolved, then add the oils. Liquid Soap Shampoo (Henley’s Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916) 24 parts soft soap 5 parts potassium carbonate 48 parts alcohol 323 parts water Shampoo Recipes With Soda Soda Hair Cleanser (The Woman’s Own Book of Toilet Secrets, ca. 1896) 1 tsp baking soda warm water ‘The hair may be washed in warm water in which has been dissolved one teaspoonful of common cooking soda’. Blow drying the hair, Edwardian ad Good Shampoo (The Progress Meatless Cook Book, 1911) 1 cake Ivory soap 1 pint boiling water 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda ‘Lay a cake of Ivory soap in a pitcher, pour over it a pint of boiling water, and stir till there’s a good lather. Add one teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda, wash the hair and scalp thoroughly and rinse in several warm waters.’ Shampoo Recipes With Quillaia Bark Liquid Quillaia Bark Shampoo (Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, 1910-2) 3/4 fl oz glycerin 1 1/4 fl oz eau de cologne 1 1/4 fl oz liquid quillaia extract 2 1/2 fl oz rectified spirit of wine 4 fl oz rosewater Let the solution stand for 24 hours, then filter. Lanolin Quillaia Bark Shampoo (Henley’s Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes And Processes, 1916) 4 parts quillaia bark 36 parts water 4 parts alcohol Mix quillaia bark and water, let the solution stand for several days, add alcohol, and filter the quillaia extract. 40 parts of quillaia extract 12 parts anhydrous lanolin 248 parts 15% solution of water and spirit of wine Shake the shampoo well before use. Shampoo Recipes With Natural Cleansers Glycerin Lime Juice Shampoo (Manual Of Useful Information, 1893) lime juice glycerin ‘Occasionally the hair may be cleaned with a mixture of glycerine and lime juice. Pomades and oil should be carefully avoided.’ -> tried English Hair Wash (Household Companion: Book Of Etiquette, 1909) 1 teacup salt 1 quart rain water ‘Add a teacupful of salt to a quart of rain water. After twelve hours this brine is ready for use.’ 1 cup brine 1 cup hot rain water ‘To one cupful of the mixture add one cupful of hot rain water. Wash the hair and scalp, rub well, rinse, and dry with a towel.’ -> tried Woman brushing hair and washing face, Eadweard Muybridge, 1887 Shampoo For Auburn Hair (The Progress Meatless Cook Book, 1911) salts of tartar (potassium carbonate) warm water ‘Put five cents worth of Salts of Tartar in a pint of warm water, rub into the hair, making a fine lather. Leave it a short time, and rinse in several warm waters.’ Shampoo For Blondes (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910) 1 part dried rhubarb 1 part strained honey 3 parts white wine optional: bicarbonate of soda ‘A cleansing mixture adapted to light hair, that brightens without dyeing, is made from equal parts of dried rhubarb and strained honey, steeped for twenty-four hours in three parts of white wine. At the end of that period the mixture, which should have been tightly covered, must be strained, and the head and long hair entirely covered with it. The preparation should stay on for at least half an houlr, and until dry. It then must be washed off in clear water, with a little bicarbonate of soda in the final rinse.’ Honey Flour Shampoo (Household Companion: Book Of Etiquette, 1909) honey flour ‘The Chinese, who have abundant, but coarse, hair, use a mixture of honey and flour.’ Oil Shampoo (Advertiser And Central Alberta News, 1909) oil hot water ‘On the day of the wet shampoo a little olive oil may be rubbed into the scalp, and then the hair may be brushed until it is sleek and shiny. After this process the regular hot water shampoo may follow. This will remove the superfluous oil, but it will not impair the luster produced by the oil. When drying the oiled hair do not rub it with the towel. Merely shake it out and rub it between the hands. In this way the hair is dried naturally, and the gloss will be perfect. This treatment is particularly good for blonde hair, whic will glisten like gold after the treatment.’ Tea Rinse (The Ideal Cook Book, 1902) cold black tea Wash your hair every day with cold tea for ‘glossy, luxuriant hair. Black tea is the best. Rosemary Tea Rinse (Household Companion: Book Of Etiquette, 1909) rosemary leaves water ‘The Creoles of Cuba make a decoction of the leaves of rosemary. This water, they maintain, cleanses, strengthens, and softens the hair.’ Dry Shampoo Recipes Why Use Dry Shampoo? ‘Many women injure their scalps by shampooing too often. Of course, cleanliness is as necessary for a hygienic condition of the head as it is for the body, but too much washing dries the oils, deprives the hair of nourishment, causes it to have a dry and lusterless aspect, and finally to fall. A dry shampoo is one of the best kinds of treatment that can be given, and if one can take this the third week after washing, and wait another two weeks before the next wet shampoo, the scalp may be kept clean without exhausting the oils.’ (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910) ‘A dry shampoo will be found useful, when patrons are in a hurry to have their hair dressed. So-called dry shampoos are made of powder that is dusted into the hair, massaging the scalp thoroughly at the same time. The powder should be brushed out at once. This leaves the hair clean and dry and fluffy, the accumulation of oil and dust having been taken up by the powder. The use of dry shampoos is to cleanse and perfume the hair, at the same time getting the benefit of the exercising of the scalp through the necessary massage.’ (Beauty Culture, 1911) Giving a dry shampoo (Health And Beauty Hints, 1910) How To Use Dry Shampoo (Sacramento Union, 1914) ‘A shampoo should never be given oftener than once in three weeks. Meanwhile the tresses may be kept fluffy and soft by airing, scalp massage and an occasional application of the dry shampoo. The latter may be resorted to when it is essential that the hair shall present a good appearance, yet there is no time for the ordinary wet shampoo, drying and curling. Hold the head over the bathtub and sprinkle the hair generously with talcum powder, tossing the locks this way and that until every part of the hair has been well powdered. A little dry orris powder or some delicate sachet powder mixed with the talcum will impart a fascinating and elusive fragrance to the tresses. With the head still held over the bathtub – to save the carpet – toss and shake the hair well until almost all the powder is out. Do not rub it into the scalp with the fingertips on any account, but toss and shake the hair, holding the ends in the fingertips. Finally brush the hair lightly and briskly. Take a clean brush and go over it again. The hair will be soft, fluffy and managable and the powder will not show at all.’ Orris Root Cornmeal Dry Shampoo (Advertiser And Central Alberta News, 1909) 1 tbsp orris root powder 1 cup cornmeal ‘On one day each week let the hair be treated to a dry shampoo. […] The materials of the dry shampoo are finely ground cornmeal and a little fine orris powder. Let the proportions be a tablespoonful of orris to a cup of meal. This mixture is scattered on the hair and allowed to remain about ten minutes, when it is brushed out. Then more of the powder is applied, and the head is then tied up for two hours. When the wrappings are removed at the end of the allotted time and the hair is shaken out, the scalp will be clean and a faint orris fragrance will emanate from the head.’ Powder-Less Dry Shampoo (Hair Culture, 1922) piece of muslin or linen optional: alcohol Because dry shampoo powders can be difficult to get out of the hair, try the powderless dry shampoo instead: ‘Part the hair and rub the exposed scalp briskly and vigorously with a bit of old muslin or linen you have wound around the finger tip. The entire scalp can be gone over in this way and stimulated and cleaned. The friction is very beneficial to the scalp, while the rubbing removes dust and dirt.’ For oily hair, moisten the fabric with a little alcohol before rubbing the scalp. Cornmeal Dry Shampoo (The Progress Meatless Cook Book, 1911) cornmeal ‘Sift yellow corn meal till fine, and rub into the hair, brush thoroughly, and repeat.’ Salt Dry Shampoo (The Progress Meatless Cook Book, 1911) salt ‘Rub dry salt into the hair at night, wear a night cap, and brush out all the salt in the morning, to make the hair lustrous.’ Orris Root Dry Shampoo (San Francisco Call, 1906) powdered orris root optional: powdered saffron ‘If oily and matted, and it is not yet time for the egg shampoo, sprinkle the hair with powdered orris root, allow it to remain on for an hour, or more, then brush it out lightly. This is the best of all dry shampoos. For blonde hair, add some powdered saffron to the orris root.’ Cassia Flower Dry Shampoo (Beauty Culture, 1911) 8 oz. orris root powder 3 dr. cassia flowers (ground coarse) ‘Mix well together and rub through a fine hair sieve. Use not oftener than once a week.’ Violet Dry Shampoo (Beauty Culture, 1911) 1/2 oz. orris root (powdered) 8 oz. cornstarch 10 drops oil of violets ‘Mix as the above and rub through a fine sieve or bolting cloth. Use in the same manner.’ Dry Shampoo For Blonde Or Gray Hair (Beauty Culture, 1911) 2 oz. fine cornmeal optional: 1 oz. powdered orris root ‘Shake well together, then shake or sift into the hair, Rub in somewhat vigorously and brush out ten minutes later. Or cornmeal alone may be used. It is well to get it very finely ground and dry it out by placing in the oven a little while.’ Original post from Sweet Historically Gabriela Ana / Luz Infinita Holistic Health Coach +34 604 398 948 To learn more about how I can help you, schedule a Telehealth consultation today.

Have you ever heard the word “mustard” and thought about something other than a yellow condiment used during summer barbeques? If you’re like most people Stateside, probably not. Our primary association with mustard is that it’s an alternative (or a companion) to ketchup. But did you know that mustard seeds can be of tremendous value—and arguably, even greater value—when used as an herbal remedy in the wintertime? Mustard, which includes a variety of plants in the genus Brassica, produces seeds that play a distinctive role in different herbal traditions. When you have sampled mustard as a condiment, you have likely noted its pungent, spicy quality. This reflects particularly warming properties, and will induce a buildup of quite a lot of heat much how we might break into a sweat if we ate a lot of spicy food. But this intense pungency makes it particularly potent in a variety of herbal remedies (Tirtha, 1998). When considered in the context of wintertime, perhaps the most noteworthy application of mustard seeds is its value as an expectorant. After the body produces heat in response to cold weather, it must then fortify itself to remain balanced. When this fortification becomes excessive, we produce moisture. The mucus we experience through a runny nose or phlegm is a demonstration of this process taking place in excess (Lad, 1984). To assume balance once again, a person with too much moisture in the body can incorporate the use of mustard seeds into their cooking. The pungency and heat of the seeds helps digest the moisture congesting the body. Mustard seed also contains the antioxidant curcumin, which is the same phytochemical found in turmeric (you can learn more about turmeric here), corn, and yellow peppers (Holford, 2004). The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin offer us one theory as to why mustard is also used as an analgesic for reducing pain. A popular remedy in some herbal circles is the use of mustard seeds to relieve pain in the muscles and joints. As a demonstration of the strength of this herb, though, the remedy is to place seeds in a cloth, place the cloth in hot water, and then place the affected joints in the water—not in direct contact with the seeds. Direct contact can lead to blistering (Lad, 1984). Mustard seeds can be a reliable but ultimately potent way to help us stay warm. Just as this heat will make it a valuable antidote to harsh winters, it also makes a case for our not using so much of it during the many picnics and barbeques we attend during the summer! Do you want to learn more? Discover courses here In collaboration and affiliation with Herbal Academy Gabriela Ana / Luz Infinita Holistic Health Coach +34 604 398 948 To learn more about how I can help you, schedule a Telehealth consultation today I provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe. Start Your Health Journey Today! HOLISTIC HEALTH CONSULTATION for people around de World. Request a free discovery consultation here DISCLOSURE The Herbal Academy supports trusted organizations with the use of affiliate links. Affiliate links are shared throughout the website and the Herbal Academy may receive compensation if you make a purchase with these links. Information offered on Herbal Academy websites is for educational purposes only. The Herbal Academy makes neither medical claim, nor intends to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Links to external sites are for informational purposes only. The Herbal Academy neither endorses them nor is in any way responsible for their content. Readers must do their own research concerning the safety and usage of any herbs or supplements. REFERENCES Holford, Patrick. The New Optimum Nutrition Bible, (New York: Crossing Press, 2004). Lad, Vasant. Ayurveda. (Twin Lakes, WI: Lotus Press, 1984). Tirtha, Swami Sada Shiva. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia. (Bayville, NY: Ayurveda Holistic Center Press, 1998).

Summer is in full swing with vigorous plant growth happening everywhere. A favorite friend in my garden during the warm days of summer is lemon balm. It seems like I can never get enough of the happy vibrantly green, lemony leaves! I love to cook with it as much as possible and I want to share this year’s newest creation - a tasty lemon balm cheesecake recipe, oh yum! Studded with little tasty green bits of lemon balm, this cake is made using a combination of thick protein-rich Greek yogurt and neufchatel cheese, with pure honey as the sweetener. Topped with delicious berries and pretty flowers, enjoy this lemon balm cheesecake recipe as a delightful dessert or even a quick, tasty breakfast on a busy summer morning. Make Your Own Lemon Balm Cheesecake If you haven't made cheesecake before, don't worry, it is really pretty simple. Just follow along with this cheesecake recipe and before you know it you will be enjoying a delicious slice of cake! Ingredients The Crust - Try this crust recipe or use a traditional graham cracker recipe. 2 cups of almond flour (not meal) 4 to 5 tablespoons of butter or coconut oil 1 to 2 tablespoons of sugar, optional The Filling- 2 bars neufchatel cheese 3 eggs 2 to 3 cups of greek yogurt 1 cup honey 1 to 2 cups fresh lemon balm leaves ½ teaspoon salt Zest and juice of one small lemon Toppings - Choose something lovely for the top of your cheesecake or leave it plain! Here are some ideas to get you started. Berries of various kinds Fresh lemon balm leaves Fresh edible flowers such as pansies, rose petals, and calendula petals Berry Lemon Balm Sauce - recipe below Directions Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Crust - Melt the butter or coconut oil in a pan. Add the almond flour and sugar if using. Dump into a 9” springform pan and press evenly along the bottom of the pan. Place the springform pan on top of a cookie sheet to protect against leakage. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool while you make your filling. Filling - Place the cheese and eggs in a food processor and whip together until fluffy. Add the yogurt, honey, along with the lemon zest and juice, and blend. Finally pulse in the lemon balm and salt until everything is well incorporated. Pour into the cooked crust. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the center is still jiggly but the sides are set. Turn off the oven and cool while still inside the over with the door cracked open for about 30 minutes. Cool the cake in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours before enjoying. Add your choice of toppings and enjoy! Strawberry Lemon Balm Sauce Recipe inspired by this fine post on Allrecipes. 5 cups of berries - strawberry, blueberry, or raspberry ½ cup of chopped fresh lemon balm 1 big spoonful of honey (about a ¼ cup) vanilla extract or the scraped beans from one pod Directions Place berries, honey and vanilla in a pan and simmer until the berries are soft. Smash them with a spoon or potato masher and let simmer until syrupy. Add the lemon balm and blend a portion of the syrup with an immersion blender. I Love Learning About Herbs, Do You? Here Is Some More Lemon Balm Inspiration From Various Herbalists And Bloggers For Your Herbie Enjoyment! 12 Things To Do With Lemon Balm from the Nerdy Farmwife A Family Herb: Lemon Balm Benefits written by me over at the Herbal Academy Lift Your Spirits With Lemon Balm by Brigitte Mars The Lemon Balm Plant from Herbs With Rosalee Lemon Balm Lavender Scone also written by me over at from the Herbal Academy! Gabriela Ana Holistic Health Coach Request a free discovery consultation here

One of the most exciting fields of current scientific study is undoubtedly longevity research. The more we discover about the science of healthy aging, the more accessible that knowledge and related therapies become for all of us— not just those who can afford cutting-edge treatments. Supplementation to boost cellular NAD is a great example of a longevity treatment that has become more accessible. NAD, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a molecule that plays a key role in several important processes relating to mitochondrial production of energy, DNA integrity, and our cells’ ability to defend against damage. NAD declines with age (a pretty sharp drop off between youth and middle age), resulting in a body that has a more difficult time bouncing back from everyday wear and tear, including metabolic and environmental stressors, overtraining, and viral exposure. When damage outpaces your body’s repair abilities, you begin to see and feel the effects of aging. Raising cellular NAD levels is a powerful intervention for healthy aging that boosts production of ATP (our cellular energy), enhances cellular repair, improves glucose metabolism, and even supports our adaptive immune response. NAD address all 12 hallmarks of aging, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein damage. It’s something that you, or older adults in your life, may want to consider too— now or in the future. David Sinclair’s celebrated book Lifespan , shared that restoring levels of NAD improves how the body defends itself against aging stressors. How do NAD+ supplements work? The body makes most of its NAD from two sources: tryptophan and vitamin B3. While niacin and nicotinamide are among the most popular forms of B3 used in common vitamin supplements, a third form of B3 — nicotinamide riboside or NR — converts into NAD+ more efficiently in the body. But NR doesn't just magically become NAD+. It first makes its way into your cells and becomes nicotinamide mononucleotide or NMN. NMN then becomes NAD+. That's the purported advantage of NMN: it's one step further along the path to becoming NAD+. NMN vs. NR So, if NMN becomes NAD+ more directly than NR, why bother with NR at all? Until recently, research showed that exogenous NMN had to become NR to enter human cells before it could go back to NMN and eventually NAD+. That would be relatively inefficient. More recent studies have shown that there is a specific amino acid and polyamine transporter that's extremely selective for NMN and allows it to enter a cell without first becoming NR. Concentrations of this transporter in the guts of mice appear to increase with age, suggesting that the body tries to get extra NMN from its food supply to compensate for deteriorating levels of NAD that coincide with age. It also indicates that NMN's NAD+ production may be more closely tied to the activity and health of the microbiome than was previously thought. But proving this requires a tremendous amount of additional research. The bottom line is that both NR and NMN can increase levels of NAD+ in the human body. Which one you ultimately choose may have to do with your tolerance for either. If the body becomes better able to absorb NMN directly as it ages, older individuals might want to consider NMN over NR. We believe NMN has a slight advantage based on the research we've reviewed and our own internal usage. But, again, you may find more pronounced effects from NR, as the differences may come down to individual factors like genetics and age. How NAD+ supplements absorb Absorption can dramatically affect the power of an NAD+ supplement. Some companies use traditional capsules filled with a dose of NMN or NR in powder form. Others compound their supplement powder with liposomal technology that uses fats to protect it from degradation in the GI tract. And still others use sublingual powders, drops, lozenges, and even nasal sprays to increase absorption. Those more efficient delivery methods tend to use lower doses than capsule powders since your body is likely going to get more out of them. When you compare a 500 mg capsule to a 50 mg sublingual drop, the 50 mg drop isn’t necessarily inferior. Unfortunately, the precise compounding process for that liquid is unique to each company, so determining the exact difference in efficacy is impossible without obtaining proprietary information. One example of NAD is: Ingredients NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide), apigenin (98%), green tea extract (contains 20% l-theanine), resveratrol (98% transresveratrol), green coffee beans (contains 10% caffeine), vegetarian capsule (hypromellose). Apigenin is the ingredient you're least likely to see in most supplements. It's a flavinoid you can find in many plants including chamomile. It has sedative properties, decreasing your overall stress levels that can also hack away at years of your life. At least one study suggests apigenin could play a critical role in preventing and treating diabetes, amnesia, Alzheimer's, depression, and even cancer. You deserve a better life!! Gabriela Ana Coach de Salud Holística +34 604 398 948

A lot of people think of tuna as a health food, and in some ways it is: it’s packed with protein, naturally sugar-free, and has a ton of important nutrients, like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12. But despite all these benefits, it’s not something that you should eat all that often (or if you’re pregnant or have high mercury levels in your blood, perhaps not at all). Why? Because of its mercury content. Most of us have a general idea that too much mercury is bad, but what exactly does it do to your body, and how much is too much? Read on to learn the signs of mercury poisoning, the primary sources of mercury (including what fish is high in mercury besides tuna), options for mercury poisoning treatment, and more. Some signs of mercury poisoning include: Impaired cognitive function (such as poor memory and difficulty paying attention) Impaired motor function (such as clumsiness or loss of fine motor skills or dexterity) Memory loss Insomnia Fatigue Muscle weakness Dizziness Headaches Kidney dysfunction Tremors Anxiety or depression Behavioral changes, like irritability or excitability Numbness or tingling Beyond the troubling signs of mercury poisoning, there are also concerns about the way in which mercury consumption may increase your risk of certain conditions. Some research suggests that high mercury levels are associated with an increased risk of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. There’s also significant research linking high mercury levels to cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart attacks. In one study of 1,800 men, researchers found that those with the highest mercury levels were two times as likely to die from cardiovascular problems than those with low levels. The Main Sources of Mercury for Humans When you think of sources of mercury, you probably think of tuna, and rightly so: nearly all methylmercury exposure is due to consuming fish and shellfish that contain high levels of methylmercury. This is because when mercury is released into the environment, much of it makes its way into sea water, where it is then absorbed by plants like algae. Fish then eat the algae, absorbing its mercury. As smaller fish that have eaten mercury-containing algae are consumed by larger fish (and then those fish by still larger fish), the mercury accumulates. As a result, fish toward the top of the food chain can have mercury concentrations that are 10 times higher than the fish they eat. Because of this, large fish with longer lifespans — like swordfish, shark, marlin, king mackerel, and, yes, certain kinds of tuna (albacore, big eye, and yellowfin, which are all larger tunas) — are the primary sources of mercury for humans. But you don’t need to swear off seafood — in fact, if you eat seafood, experts advise that you keep it in your diet because of all the important nutrients that fish and shellfish provide (such as omega-3s, protein, minerals, and more). Rather, you just need to be cognizant of the mercury levels of different seafood, and make your choices accordingly. Low-mercury seafood choices include anchovies, sardines, salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, trout, sole, scallops, flounder, catfish, and haddock, among others. If you eat fish regularly, these are all safe options to eat and serve to your family. And if you love tuna or swordfish or other major sources of mercury, you don’t need to swear them off forever — just understand your mercury levels through a blood test and then adjust your intake accordingly. For someone that doesn’t have high levels of mercury, they might be able to have tuna or swordfish as much as once a week, while others might do better with just once a year. No matter how much you eat, opt to have any high mercury fish cooked rather than raw, as cooking is known to reduce mercury content in fish by up to 30%! Women who are pregnant or nursing, however, should avoid high-mercury fish entirely. While fish is the main source of mercury for humans, methylmercury can be consumed through other foods. One study showed that among people who don’t eat seafood, those that consumed wine, rice, vegetable oil, liquor, beans, nuts, or soy all had higher blood mercury levels than those who didn’t consume much or any of these foods. This is because the mercury in the air ends up in vineyards, rice paddies, and soy and other cropland. There are also non-food sources of mercury, though these are much less common and not generally a concern for the average person. For instance, metallic mercury exists in some thermometers, CFL light bulbs, some dental fillings, and certain types of jewelry; however, for a person to be exposed to the mercury in all of these cases, the mercury would need to be released by some breakage (i.e., a thermometer breaking in someone’s mouth, or a light bulb shattering). For dental fillings, mercury from the filling evaporates and is then inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream. People may also be exposed to mercury through their occupation. Mercury exposure is a particular concern for mine workers and those who work in some chemical manufacturing plants and facilities that either manufacture mercury-containing products or use instruments that contain mercury. Mercury Poisoning Treatment Mercury poisoning can be diagnosed with a blood or urine test that measures mercury levels in the body, along with a patient’s symptom profile and information about their lifestyle and diet. Once it’s diagnosed, however, there’s not a simple mercury poisoning treatment. The most important thing to do is simply to remove all the sources of mercury in a person’s life: if they eat a lot of high-mercury fish, they need to stop completely; if they work in an environment where they’re inhaling mercury, they need to find a different job or job duty. If you cut out your sources of mercury, then your body can begin to eliminate mercury from the body faster than you accumulate it, allowing your mercury levels to drop. Depending on your body’s ability to detoxify (perhaps you have a genetic mutation or several on your detoxification pathways) or if your mercury levels are extremely high, your doctor will need to do chelation therapy. Chelation agents are substances that can bond to — or bind — metals in your blood, which then allows them to exit your body through urine. If your mercury poisoning treatment involves chelation therapy, you can get the chelation drugs into your body either via IV or pill form. To completely remove the metal from your body, you may need to take chelation drugs for several weeks or even months. For those who may not have full-blown mercury poisoning but do have high mercury levels, toxin binders are another option. Binders are substances specific compounds that bind up toxins, allowing your body to more easily eliminate them via urine, poop, or sweat. Charcoal is a common binder that can be used for lowering mercury levels. The WellBe Takeaway on Mercury Poisoning Mercury is highly toxic, and we all need to be aware of and vigilant about avoiding its negative health effects. Here’s what to remember about mercury and your health: Mercury is a naturally occurring element that exists in the rock of the earth’s crust. It is released into the air via things like volcanic activity, erosion, and human activity. From there it makes its way into water, soil, and plants There are several types of mercury. The type that humans are exposed to most is mercury’s organic form, methylmercury, which is highly toxic. All humans have some level of mercury exposure. At subthreshold levels, that’s fine. But exposure that’s even slightly above the recommended amount can lead to serious and sometimes long-lasting health issues. This is even more true for sensitive groups, like young children and pregnant or nursing mothers. Experts recommend that you consume no more than 0.045 micrograms of mercury per pound of body weight per day, and keep your blood mercury levels below 5.0 micrograms per liter. The signs of mercury poisoning are quite varied, as it can affect many systems in the body. Common symptoms include cognitive and neuromuscular issues, as well as fatigue, headache, tingling or numbness, and behavioral changes. Fish and shellfish are the main sources of mercury for humans. This is because mercury makes its way into sea plants like algae, which are then eaten by smaller fish, which are then eaten by larger fish. As you go up the food chain, the mercury bioaccumulates. For this reason, large fish like swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tuna have higher concentrations of mercury than smaller fish. You should strictly limit your intake of these fish or avoid them completely. There’s no simple mercury poisoning treatment. The main thing to do is to simply cut mercury sources out of your diet so that your body can begin to process and eliminate what it has built up. If your mercury levels are extremely high or you have genetic mutations making it hard for your body to detoxify the mercury on its own, you may need chelation therapy or toxin binders like charcoal, which is when you take drugs (via IV or pills) that bind to the metal in your blood, allowing it to be eliminated through urine. If you eat fish or shellfish, do you try to avoid or limit your intake of high-mercury fish? If so, what do you eat instead? If not, how could you change your diet to lower your mercury consumption? Tell us in the comments below. Listen to this guide on The WellBe Podcast. Citations: Hightower JM, Moore D. Mercury levels in high-end consumers of fish. Environ Health Perspect. 2003 Apr;111(4):604-8. Yokoo EM, Valente JG, Grattan L, Schmidt SL, Platt I, Silbergeld EK. Low level methylmercury exposure affects neuropsychological function in adults. Environ Health. 2003 Jun 4;2(1):8. Zahir F, Rizwi SJ, Haq SK, Khan RH. Low dose mercury toxicity and human health. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2005 Sep;20(2):351-60. Salonen JT, Seppänen K, Nyyssönen K, Korpela H, Kauhanen J, Kantola M, Tuomilehto J, Esterbauer H, Tatzber F, Salonen R. Intake of mercury from fish, lipid peroxidation, and the risk of myocardial infarction and coronary, cardiovascular, and any death in eastern Finnish men. Circulation. 1995 Feb 1;91(3):645-55. Guallar E, Sanz-Gallardo MI, van’t Veer P, Bode P, Aro A, Gómez-Aracena J, Kark JD, Riemersma RA, Martín-Moreno JM, Kok FJ; Heavy Metals and Myocardial Infarction Study Group. Mercury, fish oils, and the risk of myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med. 2002 Nov 28;347(22):1747-54.

How often do you take yourself out? I don’t mean on a date or out to eat. I mean outside. Taking yourself outside is a key part of promoting balance and harmony in the body and mind. It also moves you in the direction of sattva and strengthens prana, or life force. Prana is naturally flowing energy. It’s what heals us. When you walk through nature and feel the breeze on your face, breathe from the inside and open up the cells to receive prana. Spending time in nature helps us remember our essential nature. Ayurveda recognizes that we are intimately connected to the natural world, and that spending time in nature can help us tap into our own innate healing abilities. When you take yourself outside, you connect with the five elements – earth, water, fire, air, and space. These elements make up the universe as well as your body, and connecting with them assists in feeling grounded, calm, and centered. Being outside can take many forms. It may be for a short walk, exercising, or playing with your kids. It may be allowing the sun on your face, the wind in your hair, or noticing the fragrance of flowers or trees in bloom. Being in nature is inherently balancing. It makes you feel good, literally. Here are a few loved suggestions from myself and the team. Take a hike over the weekend. If you live near the ocean, lake or river, take a swim. Go to a park, take off your shoes, and walk in the grass. Lie under a tree, no matter the season. It’s beautiful anytime. Stargaze. Take a camping trip, solo or with others. Cycle to work, to lunch, or with a friend. If possible, sit on your balcony or patio to work. You may be inspired to create an intimate garden. Take up gardening and spend time planting and tending to your own vegetables, fruit trees or flowers. Explore a public garden, reserve or park. Picnic with yourself (can even be in your own yard). Go on an evening walk to take in the stars and moonlight (it’s just as lovely an experience as walking in the sun). If you have a dog, take them on your post meal stroll or a long leisurely walk. Go to your local farmers market when buying groceries. Practice yoga asana or meditation outside, whether in your own backyard, a local park, or at the beach. Take a nature photography walk and capture the beauty of your surroundings. Join a nature conservation, cleanup effort or voluntary help in your community garden. These actions spark joy. They also assist you in recognizing that you’re a part of a larger web of life. Your health and well-being are intimately connected to the health and well-being of the natural world. By cultivating a deep connection with nature, you’ll tap into your own innate healing potential and experience greater balance, harmony, and vitality. AUTHOR: HALE PURE GABRIELA ANA HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH +34 604 398 948

… if your (colon) microbiome is in the wrong place? Since our level of knowledge about the microbiome has increased significantly in recent years, research is now increasingly focusing on SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Incorrect colonization and overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine is becoming more and more common as a clinical picture. But what exactly happens here? Is this an answer to therapy-resistant, unexplained abdominal pain? Come and explore this topic together with us! It should be mentioned at the outset that SIBO usually also manifests itself through non-specific complaints . This can make it difficult to distinguish from irritable bowel syndrome . Pathophysiology (study of the disease processes and functional disorders) in SIBO. (1) More specifically, it is an “excess” of bad bacteria in the small intestine , leading to symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, and changes in bowel movements. It can even go so far that fats, proteins and micronutrients are no longer properly absorbed by the body ( malabsorption ). In addition , surgeries that affect the movements of the small intestine increase the potential for SIBO . In fact, the stomach and the beginning of the small intestine contain very few bacteria . The amount of these is largely kept in check by stomach acid , bile , enzymes (enable chemical reactions in the body) and immunoglobulins (protein molecules that fight pathogens), and intestinal movements (peristalsis). As shown in the picture, you can clearly see the increase in bacteria as you get closer to the colon. (2) The closer you get to the large intestine via the "conduction" of the small intestine via the ileocecal valve (separating the two structures) , the more bacteria can be found that are actually at home in the large intestine. Normal, forwarding intestinal movements and a functioning ileocecal valve are prerequisites for preventing bacteria from "migrating backwards" from the large intestine to the small intestine. So now SIBO can arise either from anatomical , immunological , as well as enzymatic problems, or if the two most important regulatory mechanisms, intestinal movements and gastric acid production , are altered to control the number of bacteria in the small intestine. Intestinal contraction aims to further transport the food pulp, as well as microorganisms . If this movement is restricted, for example by certain medications or diabetes mellitus, this can impair the ability of the small intestine to clean itself . The exact definition of SIBO is therefore: Bacterial overgrowth defined by an abnormally high level of bacteria and at the same time the presence of “wrong” (colon) bacteria in the small intestine, which can ferment carbohydrates into gas. Furthermore, this can damage the mucous membrane of the small intestine, which can lead to essential building blocks (carbohydrates, proteins, fats, iron, vitamin B12) no longer being able to be absorbed from food. These building blocks in turn serve as food for the microorganisms, which subsequently (through fermentation processes) leads to bloating/flatulence , acidic stools , or deficits in the supply of nutrients . Therapy for SIBO is therefore as follows: 1. Correction of underlying diseases or anatomical peculiarities - if this is possible 2. Antibiotic therapy or use of vegetable substrates 3. Diet adjustment 4.Reducing fermentable carbohydrates is an effective dietary adaptation to control symptoms. In summary, it should be emphasized again how important it is for us to take good care of our microbiome, drink enough , exercise enough and eat healthily . All of this supports digestive processes and movements so that they can take place properly and your bacteria do not stray from the large intestine to the small intestine. Find out now what SIBO has to do with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland) . Do you know how your microbiome is made up? With the myBioma microbiome analysis, you can find out from the comfort of your own home how your intestinal bacteria are doing and whether they help to keep you healthy. Author Ina ARITICLE IN AFFILIATION WITH MY BIOME Request more information. First free consultation! Gabriela De Pasquale Nutritional Consultation Estepona, Spain +34 604398948 iamgabrielaana.com https://www.mybioma.com/en/the-analysis/#test4 Publications/Sources: (1) dr medical Martin Wilhelmia; Diana Studerus, EBSD with MDPD with SV (02/28/2018). ” The Answer to Intractable Abdominal Discomfort?; SIBO: "small intestinal bacterial overgrowth". from https://medicalforum.ch/article/doi/smf.2018.03208. (2) https://reizdarm.one/opathies/duenndarmfehlbesiedlung-sibo/ (3) https://www.pexels.com/photo/exercise-female-fitness-foot-601177/ (4) https://www.pexels.com/photo/flat-lay-photography-of-vegetable-salad-on-plate-1640777/

The fire of transformation Agnihotra, a cleansing Vedic fire ceremony, is one of the most powerful practices you can do to heal your environment and support everyone in it. At Hale Pule, we practice agnihotra at sunrise and sunset every day to purify the land and ensure a bountiful harvest from our organic garden . In just three years, our Kaua'i farm, Durga Farms, was transformed from a barren agricultural wasteland to a lush and thriving homestead.Anyone can perform agnihotra and be part of the healing of ourselves and the planet. We have available agnihotra kits that provide the container and tools. You will need rice, ghee ( learn to make your own ghee)), and dried cow dung to practice this ceremony at sunrise and sunset (we recommend the Agnihotra Buddy app or iAgnihotra to get the exact sunrise and sunset times). Chant the short mantras below, one in the morning and one in the evening, to join Hale Pule and thousands of others who are healing the planet and themselves through this powerful ceremony. How to perform agnihotra: Approximately 10 minutes before the exact time of sunrise or sunset, place some pieces of dry cow dung in the agnihotra pyramid, so that the air can pass through it. Apply ghee to a piece of cow dung and light it with a match. Then use this piece of dung to ignite the rest of the dung inside the pyramid. It is helpful to support the pieces so that they rest against each other inside the pyramid, for example two pieces of dung resting against each other. You can add additional ghee right next to the flame to help it spread to the rest of the manure. Once the fire is lit, place a small amount of rice in the palm of your left hand or a copper offering plate and add ghee. Separate the rice and ghee mixture into 2 mounds. At the exact moment of sunrise or sunset, chant the mantra below, and just after the first "swaaha" offer a pile of rice and ghee to the fire, using your right hand. Then make the second offering with the second "swaaha" and finish chanting the mantra. After you have finished the mantra, sit quietly or meditate with the fire until it is out. Leave the burned ashes in the pot until the next fire, at which time the ashes can be collected for medicinal use for people or plants. Mantra of Dawn sooryáya swáhá, sooryáya idam na mama(after the word swáhá, add the first portion of rice and ghee to the fire) prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama(after the word swáhá, add the second portion of rice and ghee to the fire) This completes the morning agnihotra. Sunset Mantraagnaye swáhá, agnaye idam na mama(after the word swáhá, add the first portion of rice and ghee to the fire) prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama(after the word swáhá, add the second portion of rice and ghee to the fire) This completes the evening agnihotra.Send us an email if you want to request a herbs kit agnihotra. We offer free training and advice for anyone interested in practicing agnihotra.To find Agnihotra supplies in your local area, visit International Homa Therapy website . Serial no. explanation1 Creation of a ring of spiritual emotion (bhav)2 Attraction of the Supreme God Principle2A Creation of a ring of the Supreme God Principle3 Attraction of a flow of Divine consciousness (Chaitanya)3A Creation of a ring of Divine consciousness3B Emission of Divine consciousness in the form of Air3C Emission of Divine consciousness to the person and creation of its ring4 Attraction of the Sun Principle after oblations (Ahuti)4A Creation of a ring of Sun-predominant Principle5 Attraction of a flow of Fire-predominant Principle5A Creation of a ring of Fire-predominant Principle5B Emission of rings of Fire-predominant Principle6 Emission of a flow of energy from the mantra (Mantra-shakti)7 Spreading of Divine Energy (Shakti) particles8 Emission of the Absolute Fire Principle (Tēj-tattva)8A Creation of a ring of the Absolute Fire Principle9 Spreading of Divine Energy particles in the form of Divine consciousness10 Purification of the Kundalini-chakras11 Spreading of vital energy (Prāṇa-shakti) particles11A Obtaining vital energy12 Spreading of Divine Energy particles13 Creation of a protective sheath around the body Source : http://www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org/articles/id/spiritualresearch/spiritualhealing/how-to-perform-agnihotraLearn more about how people around the world are using the powerful healing practice of agnihotra. Gabriela Ana HOLISTIC HEALTH COACH +34 604 398 948 REQUEST A FREE DISCOVERY CONSULTATION