This might look like a modern toothbrush in its case or a spatula of sorts. In reality, it is much more fun than that. It’s shaped like an Aloe Vero leaf, but it’s actually a full-on vibrator. Batteries and all. It’s a nice way of presenting an erotic gift without having it be all veiny and skin-colored, not that there’s anything wrong with that. Yeah, the sex industry is getting creative. Click here for more info.

Aloe Vera is very well the most impressive medicinal herb invented by nature. Of all the herbs I’ve ever been introduced to, aloe vera is the most impressive herb of them all. (Garlic would be a close second.) There is no other herb/plant on this planet that offers such an amazing variety of healing benefits than aloe vera. In a single plant, aloe vera offers potent, natural medicine that:

• Halts the growth of cancer tumors.
• Lowers high cholesterol.
• Repairs “sludge blood” and reverses “sticky blood”.
• Boosts the oxygenation of your blood.
• Eases inflammation and soothes arthritis pain.
• Protects the body from oxidative stress.
• Prevents kidney stones and protects the body from oxalates in coffee and tea.
• Alkalizes the body, helping to balance overly acidic dietary habits.
• Cures ulcers, IBS, Crohn’s disease and other digestive disorders.
• Reduces high blood pressure natural, by treating the cause, not just the symptoms.
• Nourishes the body with minerals, vitamins, enzymes and glyconutrients.
• Accelerates healing from physical burns and radiation burns.
• Replaces dozens of first aid products, makes bandages and antibacterial sprays obsolete.
• Halts colon cancer, heals the intestines and lubricates the digestive tract.
• Ends constipation.
• Stabilizes blood sugar and reduces triglycerides in diabetics.
• Prevents and treats candida infections.
• Protects the kidneys from disease.

Not only does aloe vera prevent these ailments, it also helps with weight control as in my previous blogs and is a natural absorbent. Any vitamins you take with an aloe product is absorb more rapidly into your system than without. What a great benefit.

Drink Real Aloe offers a line of amazing products that highlight all the benefits of Aloe. Our signature product AloeAdvanced™ was engineered to support increased energy, stamina, and cardiovascular health while promoting healthy cholesterol, maintaining blood sugar levels, and providing your body with the building blocks it needs for maximum performance.

• Total nutrition.
• Hundreds of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and
  amino acids.
• Anti-Oxidant support lasts
  up to 24x longer.
• Maintain healthy blood sugar.
• Cardiovascular support.
• Manage cholesterol.

Try a sample at www.drinkrealaloe.com or take advantage of our special offer, over $100 of product for only $14.99 (shipping/handling) straight to your door http://www.drinkrealaloe.usaloe.com/default_specialoffer.aspx Taste the delicious ingredients that will improve your health and change your life.

Questions?

Visit my site and click “contact me”

http://drinkrealaloe.com/

Aloe Vera Juice And Weight Loss

- also see http://drinkrealaloe.usaloe.com/products-aloecontrol.aspx
One of the most valuable health benefits for today’s society is aloe vera’s ability to assist weight loss. Aloe vera works to both reduce and stabilize the body mass index by stimulating the metabolic rate in our liver cells so that we burn more energy.

The energy used for this comes from fat and carbohydrate stores in the body. Drinking aloe vera juice every day has been likened to doing multiple workouts throughout the week.

Another reason why aloe vera works well as a weightloss supplement, is because it has a high content of collagen protein. When you drink aloe vera juice every day, the body has to spend additional energy to assimilate its protein into your system.

This extra expenditure of energy also supports weight loss and muscle development. Aloe vera reduces the amount of time food stays in your intestine, which means that less energy is absorbed from the food.

Throughout history aloe vera has been associated with achieving healthy body weight and it has been known as “the dietary plant” and “the harmony remedy.”

Aloe Vera Juice And Detoxification

Detoxification is another of the health benefits of aloe vera juice. Carrisyn, an extract of aloe vera, has been shown to stimulate the production of infection-fighting blood cells and in so doing strengthen the immune system.

Aloe vera juice contains amino acids, methionine, serine threonine and molybdenum, which work together to detoxify heavy metals and additionally aid in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and protein. This action prevents a build up of fat in the liver and the arteries.

These detoxification and laxative qualities of aloe vera juice, improve the efficiency of the colon, which is extremely important for good health. Poor colon health results in the re-absorption of toxins into the human body resulting in low energy and un-wellness.

Aloe vera juice contains nineteen amino acids, twenty minerals and twelve vitamins and as such is an excellent, natural nutritional supplement.

For results with Aloe visit us at www.drinkrealaloe.com

This little  drawing is reminiscent of the small self portrait on my profile page. It is five inches tall and three inches wide.

The Body Shop Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF15

From www.thebodyshop-usa.com:

Best if you want to: Protect and soothe your sensitive skin from the sun with a gentle, easily absorbed, non-greasy lotion that has SPF 15.

How it works:

• Community Trade aloe vera hydrates and calms sensitive skin.
• A medium level of broad spectrum UVA and UVB sun protectors guard skin against the damaging rays of the sun.
• Community Trade sesame seed oil and natural oat extract moisturize, minimize the signs of sensitive skin and provide antioxidant protection, leaving skin soft, supple and protected.

My Skin Type:
Actually very oily, but surpressed with BHA exfoliator. Results in generally ranging from very dry to normal/combo skin. Generally dehydrated, very sensitive, and acne prone.

Packaging:
Small, opaque plastic tube with flip-top cap. Very convenient. And here’s the big plus: once I emptied the tube, I can return it to TBS for them to recycle. Neato!

Texture:
Standard lotion. Not too thin, not too thick.

Sun Protection Level:
This product uses Avobenzone as its UVA filter, so protection is broad. With other filters combined, this product covers all harmful UVA and UVB.

TBS Aloe Soothing Moisture Lotion SPF15 Protection Spectrum

For those of you concerned with Avobenzone stability: well, this product contains Octocrylene. We don’t know about the exact percentage, but it preceeds Avobenzone so I assume it’s there in higher concentration compared to Avobenzone. Better to stabilize it, don’t you think?

But exactly because of the unknown percentage, I don’t know how high the UVA protection is. I’ll play safe and assume that it’s UVA protection is rather low.

My General Review:
I waited until I finished my tube before I review it…because I didn’t really love it. I bought this because I read the ingredient list online and was instantly attracted. This all-chemical filter SPF moisturizer seems neat; it doesn’t contain fragrance and preservatives. Instead it incorporate Aloe and some humectant like Glycerin and Sorbitol. It’s not water resistant, so I reckon it’ll be suitable for weekend use at home; when I have nothing to do aside from browsing the Internet behind my walls, thick curtains, and UV-filtering window film.

I assumed due to the SPF15, the protection of both UVA and UVB will only be low. Therefore, I went on to guess that the texture would be relatively light. Imagine how surprised I am to find that it managed to sucks the moisture of my skin, yet feels rather sticky. Paula’s Choice Essential Non-Greasy SPF15 is certainly more elegant compared to this. The TBS Aloe SPF15 actually make me feel suffocated!

Now, of course I wore my sunscreen liberally, but the feeling if too much for SPF15. Even LRP Hydraphase SPF15 PPD12 is much lighter in feeling.

Despite the tackiness of TBS Aloe SPF15, when I wash my face in the evening, my skin would always looked and felt dehydrated. It looked rough, dry, and overall not happy. Go figure!

In the end I decided to use this product on my neck. And hands, sometimes.

What Else You Need To Know:
The Body Shop® difference: Our aloe comes from our Community Trade partners, the Gustatoya Farmers in Guatemala. Part of the income from this fair trade provides children in 200 schools with high-quality visual materials. Ruben Antonio Valdez, an aloe farmer and member of the Friends of the Schools committee, believes Community Trade is not only improving his family life, but a whole generation of children: “The biggest difference is that I am able to receive income and put my children through school. I am also proud of the fact that profits are being reinvested in our children.”

Application:
I always wear my antioxidant serum day and night, which is even more important considering the fact that this product doesn’t contain any. Since it’s not hydrating enough on its own, I usually apply my usual day moisturizer before I proceed with this stuff.

Availability:
TBS is pretty widespread here in Indonesia, I think every major mall have it. You can buy it from their stores.

Price:
IDR159,000 for 50ml. Pretty expensive, and Paula’s Choice do offer chemical-based SPF15 which is (although its stability can be disputed by some).

It’s retailed for $18 in US.

Ingredients:
Aloe barbadensis, Glycerin, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Octocrylene, Butylene Glycol, Cyclomethicone, Sorbitol, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Myristyl Myristate, Sesamum indicum, Butyrospermum parkii, Panthenol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Bisabolol, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Avena sativa, Sodium Hydroxide, Aqua.

Overall Rating:
3 out of 5. Supposed to be stable, yet rather expensive and not elegant. I’ll need to contemplate on whether I’ll repurchase or not.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

This post on nestmaker made me start looking more closely at plant images in feature films and TV that we watch. Hope I am not breaking too many copyright laws here, and sorry for the poor-quality images.

Disney’s “Jungle Book” is full of tropical flora. Whether or not it is accurately rendered, that’s for someone more in the know to judge, but I enjoyed it and did see in the credits that there were certain animators who worked specifically on the backgrounds.

The titular jungle:

Little Mowgli all tucked in snugly by his friend Balou the bear in an understory plant:

Grouchy but protective panther Bagheera and Mowgli asleep in a tree (can you tell we have the smallest TV on the planet, outside of a handheld?):

And finally, Coach’s wife on “Friday Night Lights” chatting on the phone while taking a pot of aloes outside:

What are your favorite guest-starring appearances for plants on film?

Rashida Jones My Stuff Article from Vanity Fair lists Mi Amante Shampoo as here favorite shampoo in beauty products!

Rashida Jones Article from Vanity Fair

For the most part there are 4 reasons that someone wants to become part of Univera.

First and foremost is the healthcare potential. Rather than depend upon a health insurance system which only works when you’re already sick; take control of your health.

Second is the added income. What does an extra five hundred or a thousand dollars per month mean to you? The mortgage payment? The car payment?

Third is the tax advantages. Ask your account this simple question: is having an at home business of benefit to me? If they say no, get a new accountant. Car, computer, phone, travel, food and others are all things that can be partially or wholly written off because you have an at home business.

Last but not least, Freedom. To most this is what its all about. Why be locked down to a 9-5 job if you don’t have to be? Want to take a week and go to Tahiti, you can have that freedom. Visualize what you want and go for it.

For more than 2000 years humanity has taken advantage of this unique Lily-plant that delivers seventy-five nutritional components including 20 minerals, 18 amino-acids and 12 vitamins.

These unique nutritional components of Aloe Vera deliver an anti-oxidant boost, aid in gastro-intestinal functionality, and help to improve the absorption of core vitamins and minerals.

Aloe Vera has been found described in writings in many different cultures and as far back as the Greek, Egyptians, and Roman eras. References have also been found in writings from the Indian and Chinese early cultures. Ancient records show that the benefits of Aloe Vera have been known for centuries, with its therapeutic advantages and healing properties surviving for over 4000 years. The earliest record of Aloe Vera is on a Sumerian tablet dating from 2100 BC.

Its antiquity was first discovered in 1862 in an Egyptian papyrus dated 1550 BC.  The Egyptian queens and well known beauties Nefertiti and Cleopatra used it as part of their regular beauty regimes. It is said that Alexander the Great in 333 BC was persuaded by his mentor Aristotle to capture the Island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean for its profound aloe supplies, which were needed to treat his wounded soldiers. Antique Greek and Roman doctors Dioskorides and Galenos recommended aloe vera to their patients. Egyptians used aloe juice to embalm their dead.

Every USAloe product developed is, and will be, based on the most-used supplement in human history, Aloe Vera.

IUCN (Uniunea Internaţională pentru Conservarea Naturii) a dat publicităţii raportul Species and Climate Change: More that just the Polar Bear (Speciile şi schimbările climatice: mai multe decât doar ursul polar). Acestea sunt:

1. Acropora cervicornis, o specie de corali care trăiesc în apele oceanice din Bahamas, Caraibe şi Golful Mexic; aceştia sunt afectaţi de creşterea temperaturii apelor atlantice.

2. Pusa hispida.  Focile inelate sunt afectate de topirea gheţarilor pe care trăiesc şi pe care se reproduc din Marea Bering, Marea Baltică şi Golful Hudson.

3. Dermochelys coriacea este o ţestoasă cu răspândire cosmopolită dar plajele pe care îşi depune ouăle dispar rapid iar creşterea temperaturilor duce la scăderea numărului de masculi eclozaţi.

4. Aptenodytes forsteri sau pinguinul imperial trăeşte în zonele circumpolar antarctice, habitatul său fiind ameninţat prin topierea platformelor. O altă problemă cu care se confruntă specia este dispariţia hranei.

5. Aloe dichotoma. Aceşti copacii de aloe din Africa de Sud sau Namibia sunt din ce în ce mai puţin răspândiţi datorită presiunilor secetei.

6. Habitatul îndrăgitului peşte-clovn, Amphiprion ocellaris, adică recifii de corali sunt afectaţi iar anemonele în care îşi găsesc refugiul sunt din ce în ce mai puţine din cauza acidifierii apei oceanice şi a încălzirii lor.

7. Alopex lagopus (vulpea arctica sau vulpea albă) este o specie circumpolară din emisfera nordică răspândită în Rusia, Groenlanda, Canada, Alaska şi Peninsula Scandinavă. Ea îşi pierde habitatul şi este în concurenţă pentru hrană cu vulpea comună.

8. Salmon salar, somonul nord American, se confruntă cu fenomene de încălzire a apei şi de scădere a resurselor de hrană.

9. Ursuleţii koala – Phascolarctos cinereus - se hrănesc cu frunze de eucalipt care însă îşi pierd din consistenţa nutrienţilor din cauza efectului nivelului ridicat de dioxid de carbon.

10. Delphinapterus leucas (balena albă sau beluga) din regiunile arctice îşi pierde habitatul şi au noi competitorii pentru hrană.

Sursa: Raportul IUCN şi Comunicatul de presă SSC

Preluarea integrală sau parţială a acestui articol este permisă numai cu menţionarea autorului şi a linkului către sursă.

Photos by Ringed Seal in May 2007 © Kit M. Kovacs/Christian Lydersen, Leatherback Turtle © Brian J Hutchinson, Adult Emperor Penguin feeding chick © Ty Hurley, Clownfish © Flickr – Nemos Great Uncle, Arctic Fox © Flickr – Örvar Atli Þorgeirsson, Koala © Flickr – Daniele Sartori, all used under the press release conditions.

]]> http://goodtogrow.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/monday-lizas-plants-moms-plants-actually/ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:45:30 +0000 goodtogrow http://goodtogrow.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/monday-lizas-plants-moms-plants-actually/

I went up to Cochiti over the weekend, camera in tow. Mom lives in the town of Cochiti Lake, which is a little community at the base of the Jemez Mountains, south and west of Santa Fe. And I mean little – there are only about 400 residents.

I really enjoy looking at other people’s plants, especially Mom’s. Her thumb is super green.

Look at how beautiful her Norfolk Island Pine is! Gorgeous! My Norfolk, Peach, looks pretty sickly in comparison.

I just repotted her last week, so hopefully she’ll grow up to be big and strong like my Mom’s Norfolk.

I don’t know what the name of this is, but I love it. It’s growing toward the window!

Look at the size of those leaves on her Pothos! It’s some weird strain of Pothos I found a few years ago – it’s like a regular Pothos but on steriods.

Mom’s really proud of these little guys. Apparently, my sister inherited a funky Jade plant after Dad died that she was killing. Mom told her to bring some cuttings of it when we met for Thanksgiving. They’re thriving! I don’t know how parent plant is doing (Molly?), but it’s nice to know its children are fine.

I said to Mom that I always thought I got my green thumb from Dad, but looking at her plants, maybe I was wrong. She said no, she learned her love of plants from Dad, too.

I think if he could see this plant blog and how his influence has spread, he’d be happy. Thanks Dad!

There’s one very special plant at Mom’s house that is stunning. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to see it, though. In the meantime, this is Parsley she keeps on her kitchen windowsill. According to her, it’s the best thing ever for bad breath. “You could eat an entire onion, then eat a little Parsley and you won’t smell the onion.” I guess I never knew that about Parsley! Cheaper than Altoids, so I’m a fan!

Tomorrow is Flowers and Flowering Plants, hope to see you back. Until then, happy indoor gardening everyone!

Great Christmas Gift--Includes Frankincense. Myrrh. Christmas Spirit™: Orange, cinnamon bark, and spruce.

We can better understand the benefits of Essential Oils by reading the Bible. References are made in the scriptures from the time of the Creation. Some think that Adam and Eve could have lived forever in the garden partly due to the fragrant power packed oils in plants. As it was, spices and oils were used luxuriously to prepare bodies for burial. They were highly prized by the living.

Numbers 24:6 “As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters.”

Psalm 45:8 ” All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory places, whereby they have made thee glad.”

John 19:39-40 “And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

“Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.”

Proverbs 7:17 “I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes*, and cinnamon.” Bible footnote: “Heb. probably indicates a fragrant wood [Sandalwood].”

Solomen’s Song 4:13-16: “Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard.

“Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

“A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

“Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.”

Matthew 23:23 “Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithes of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

At this Christmas time, let me add one more passage we are all familiar with. Matthew 2:11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts: gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”

Frankincense has a sweet, warm, balsamic aroma that is stimulating and elevating to the mind… improving one’s spiritual connection… it has comforting properties that help focus the mind and overcome stress and despair. Frankincense is considered the holy anointing oil in the Middle East.

Myrrh has a rich, smoky, balsamic aroma that is purifying, restorative, revitalizing, and uplifting. It is a helpful aid to meditation.

I’d be very honored with gifts of Biblical oils. Think of someone special in your life to honor with any oil/s listed on aromaemporium.com under ESSENTIAL OILS. More are being added every day.

My interest in alternative medicine started when I was in high school. I had stomach problems, mom took me to the Doctor’s office. After a series of tests they gave me tagament. I took it everyday for a year because I was in so much pain if I didn’t take it. So the journey to finding a different way of fixing this problem started. I went to the local library and studied book on alternative medicine. This is where I read about how Aloe Juice could be the answer to my problem. I went to Wild Oats and bought Aloe Juice Stomach Formula. Took 1-2 ounces twice a day for 4 months and slowly weened myself off the tagament and then sure enough I stopped taking medication and found that the Aloe Juice had healed my stomach in only 4 months of daily use. Of course I also incorporated other lifestyle changes like avoiding certain foods high in acid and not skipping meals which I was notorious for and making better food choices.  I am not the only one that has done this, many patients now are more aware of this type of medicine and are trying these before using standard medical treatment.

When I was in nursing school I noticed that Alternative medicine is not taught but now some nursing schools are changing their curriculum to acknowledge Complimentary and Alternative Medicine. Nurses need to know if a patient is taking any herbal medication, because certain herbs can interfere with standard medications. For instance, garlic (taken for the heart) and ginko (taken to improve memory) can increase the effect of some blood thinners, while goldenseal (often taken to treat colds) can decrease the effectiveness. A nurse may also need to ask the surprised woman who finds herself pregnant while taking birth control pills if she has also been taking St. John’s Wort, an herb commonly used to fight the winter blues, and one that can also render birth control pills ineffective.

In this area JCCC offers a certificate in Complimentary and Alternative Medicine <<<Click here for info>>>

A recent discussion I had from Aromatherapy group discussions, You may be interested.

I recommend a REPUTABLE company that supplies Lavender essential oil. I have for many years treated burns with undiluted Lavender E.oil with amazing results.To date I have not had any negative responces from using High Grade Ess.oils. Applications also need to be frequent in the early stages( every few mins).
A High grade ess.oil is not cheap.
Aloe vera is good however it’s affect is very short term and once the leaf has been picked it’s therapeutic value is lost with in a couple of minutes if that.
Some people may react and this can happen with any treatment for any condition, at any given time.
The recommended treatment is to run water for at least 20 mins. and cover with a non stick sterile dressing or plastic wrap.
If a burn is 2nd or 3rd degree then I suggest you go to your closest emergency centreI recommend a REPUTABLE company that supplies Lavender essential oil. I have for many years treated burns with undiluted Lavender E.oil with amazing results.To date I have not had any negative responces from using High Grade Ess.oils. Applications also need to be frequent in the early stages( every few mins).
A High grade ess.oil is not cheap.
Aloe vera is good however it’s affect is very short term and once the leaf has been picked it’s therapeutic value is lost with in a couple of minutes if that.
Some people may react and this can happen with any treatment for any condition, at any given time.
The recommended treatment is to run water for at least 20 mins. and cover with a non stick sterile dressing or plastic wrap.
If a burn is 2nd or 3rd degree then I suggest you go to your closest emergency centre..

Dating back to ancient Egypt, Aloe Vera has been a true miracle plant. Most know Aloe Vera as a natural remedy for scars and wounds — but did you know that Aloe also holds the same type of power to heal internally? Recent studies show that ingesting the plant can have some powerful healing and medicinal effects. Aloe can be ingested different ways — from a capsule to actually chewing on the leaves. But a simple way to get maximum dosage with minimum effort is to drink the Aloe in a juice form. For our money, Euforia by Nuverus makes the top juice on the market. And one serving of Euforia has all the Aloe Vera needed for your wellness regime.

Check out this article by ABC News to learn more about the power of Aloe — and when you’re done reading, check out the informational video at the end of this post.

From ABC News

For thousands of years, humans have turned to a cactus-like plant that has mysterious abilities to heal wounds.

But aloe vera, a succulent that is actually a member of the lily family, has often been shunned by the scientific community because no one could figure out how this native of northern Africa could work its miracles.

Now, scientists are inching closer to understanding why the cooling liquid from the fat leaf of an aloe vera plant can make the hurt go away.

It doesn’t take a pharmaceutical company to make it work. The plant does it all by itself, which is why the ancient Egyptians turned to it more than 3,500 years ago, and the ancient Greeks and others used it to heal wounds and even clear up constipation.

Gooey and Nutritious

The picture is still a bit murky, because every researcher who tackles the problem seems to come up with a different answer. Some say the gooey gel from inside the leaf reduces inflammation, thus helping the healing process, and there is substantial evidence that’s at least part of the equation.

Keep reading….

That’s what Drink Real Aloe is here for – to share incredible products and an outstanding opportunity with our friends, families, and associates. With more than 37 years of experience in nutritional health, Drink Real Aloe supports USAloe’s mission is to develop the best products (AloeAdvanced, AloeBoost, AloeControl and AloeRest)the world has to offer from our state of the art facility, and lead our industry with a ground-breaking sales and marketing program. It is as simple as bringing together the past, the present, and the future of Foundational Health.

Yours in Fitness and Health,

Drink Real Aloe

• Nuts and seeds (especially sunflower and pumpkin seeds), yellow and dark green fruits and veggies (especially green peppers, broccoli, and other leafy greens), nutritional yeast, lean meats, organ meats, poultry, fish, milk, rice bran, citris fruits (and the white inner peel), tomatoes, buckwheat, wheat germ, sweet potatoes, molasses, legumes (especially soybeans), raisins, mushrooms, and eggs.

Avoiding certain substances can help with the absorption of nutrients, as some things we ingest can prevent our body’s from being able to use the good things we ingest. For example, caffeine should be avoided at mealtimes. Here are a few other things to avoid if possible:

• Alcohol, many medications (including birth control pills, antibiotics, aspirin, diuretics, and others), excess sugar, and smoking.

Certain herbs can provide moisturizing and healing effects to skin due to their emollient and vulnerary characteristics. They give elasticity to tissues and membranes and promote growth and repair both internally and topically. When applied in a natural oil base (especially olive, almond, apricot, and coconut oils which are high in vitamin E) externally they can be used just where they are needed, and are safe to use for extended periods of time, both during pregnancy and after birth. Such herbs include:

• Comfrey (Symphytum Officinale), chickweed (Stellaria Media), and violet (Viola Odorata). 

The number one product marketed to pregnant women to avoid, minimize, and treat stretch marks are hydrating creams. Lotions enhanced with vitamin E and aloe are at the top of the list. And while these lotions may help to prevent stretch marks if used liberally all the time, they are unlikely to treat stretch marks effectively.

• Cocoa Butter and other over-the-counter stretch mark creams may make your skin soft, and perhaps help to minimize the stretch marks during pregnancy, but they do not penetrate the outer layer of skin to repair the deeper tears. Thus, cocoa butter, although marketed well, is probably not the miracle treatment you are looking for.

• The most effective skin creams contain the following ingredients: elastin, collagen, emu oil, and liposomes. Creams with these ingredients may help to fade stretch marks over the course of a few weeks or months. Fortunately, they do not have to be expensive to be effective, but finding the right cream can be a trick. This article has a few tips on how to find the right brand of cream for you.

Other treatments used to treat stretch marks include laser surgery, surgical skin resection, and microdermabrasion, but these are typically expensive and access to them may be limited. It is far easier to focus on prevention. And of course, essence of time should also help to reduce our battle scars of motherhood.

Have you tried a cream, herb, or supplement that made a noticeable difference to your stretch marks? Please share!

References

Frye, Ann. “Holistic Midwifery: Vol 1″. Labrys Press: Portland, OR. (2008). p188, 212-216.

Perri, Susan. “Home Remedies for Stretch Marks”. The Birthkit, Issue 32

R, Heather. “The Low-Down on Stretch Mark Cream and Treatments: Do They Really Work?”. Spa Sentiments <http://www.spasentiments.com/Articles.asp?ID=142>

RMK’s Recovery Gel works overnight to solve a multitude of beauty problems.

The multi-action, intensively moisturising product nourishes skin through the night, while anti-inflammatory ingredients soothe redness and irritation.

Eucalyptus and seaweed extracts boost collagen production and  the tiny massaging capsules boost blood circulation as it’s applied. Packed with microspheres containing Ceramide D for intense moisturization.

This treatment gel is jam-packed with natural goodness like:

Yeast extract(Moisturizing component)

Kyonin extract(Moisturizing component)

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate (Anti-inflammatory)

Grapefruit Extract

Aloe Extract

Raspberry extract

Ceramide D

Fragranced with pink grapefruit in a gel formula, it’s wonderfully cooling on the skin.

It’s best used at night. Its ‘sealing’ effect allows the goodness to permeate and prepare a soft and plump canvas overnight for your next morning make over.

I find this light, refreshing gel very pleasant to use; It recharges my skin with moisture & vitality ( I had tried this on my post flight, weather assaulted skin ), and the capsules work miracle on the damages and re-strengthen my skin.

Despite the sealing effect, i don’t find this gel occlusive. If the beauty consultant hadn’t cautioned me against daytime usage, i would use this as a daytime moisturiser underneath my compact foundation.

Artwork by Junko Mizuno

Univera provides a 90-Day money back guarantee for AgelessXtra^®.  To quote Univera,

Simply take agelessXtra^® twice a day for 90 days. If you don’t notice a remarkable and powerful improvement in how you feel — from improved energy and stamina to mental clarity, stress relief, and joint comfort* — we will give you your money back.**

Xtra™ provides benefits you can see, feel, and measure. And while some of these improvements can be felt almost immediately, it’s important to remember that the full metabolic effect of this product is experienced over time, usually 60 to 90 days.

The bioenergetic nutrients (Ornithine alpha-ketoglutarate, B3, Pyridoxal-5-phosphate and Cordyceps) need to reach maximum tissue absorption levels. Protectin™ takes time to get to sore and stiff joints. And the reduction of stress — derived from improved energy and mental clarity ” doesn’t happen overnight. All the benefits of Xtra take consistent and ongoing use. The longer you use Xtra, the greater the impact on cell renewal.* That’s why we offer a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Try it, you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.

**Note: Customers receive 100% refund within 90 days, shipping costs are not included. Returns : A pre-approved Return Merchandise Authorization Number (RMA) must be obtained by calling Customer Care at 877-627-4787. The empty, partially used or unused product package(s) or container(s) must be returned to Univera. Please refer to Policies and Procedures, Section 7 for full return policy.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Facial Contour Mask Powder è una combinazione unica di ricchi ingredienti, scelti per le loro proprietà speciali per tonificare la pelle e pulire i pori.

È stata ideata per essere miscelata in modo ottimale con Aloe Activator, per ottenere una formula facilmente applicabile sul viso e sul collo.

Aloe Activator è gel stabilizzato di Aloe Vera con Allantoina, un agente organico per la crescita ed il rinnovamento delle cellule. Contiene anche Metilparabene, in minima quantità, utile per conservare la freschezza e proteggere dalla contaminazione microbica.
L’Aloe Activator è un eccezionale prodotto idratante, contenente enzimi, aminoacidi e polisaccaridi.
È il partner ideale per agire in sinergia come base liquida con la maschera Facial Contour Mask Powder per ottenere idratazione, pulizia e miglioramento dello stato della pelle.

Le vecchie cellule morte verranno rimosse dalla maschera e quelle nuove daranno un look fresco e più luminoso al viso. Il suo valore di pH 4.5 lo rende delicato anche per le aree più sensibili, come la zona attorno agli occhi. Aloe Activator è incredibilmente versatile.

Sebbene sia uno dei componenti principali dell’Aloe Fleur de Jouvence, è utile per la pulizia del viso e come astringente. Per questo uso, basta applicarlo su un batuffolo di ovatta e cospargerlo su viso e collo.

Gli sportivi ne sono entusiasti, lo ritengono un efficace antidolorifico applicandolo direttamente sulle lesioni minori, perché allevia le infiammazioni ed il disagio.

LI TROVI ALLA CATEGORIA PROTEZIONE PELLE QUI >>>>

Aloe was used to great effect by Greek and Roman physicians. Researchers have found that both the ancient Chinese and Indian used Aloe Vera.

In the Philippines it is used with milk for kidney infections.

Aloes are referred to in the Bible, and legend suggests that Alexander the Great conquered the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean to secure supplies of Aloes to treat the battle wounds of his soldiers.

Aloe vera, being one of the most healing herbs, contains strong anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It is bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal. Aloe vera promotes cell growth and is strengthening to the whole immune-system. It is neurologically calming, acting also as a powerful detoxifying agent that helps to clean the morbid matter from the stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder, and colon. Aloe vera is very beneficial in case of coughs, ulcers, lesions, hemorrhoids, diabetes, cancer, headaches, arthritis, constipation, indigestion, asthma, IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), and radiation. Being one of the best herbs to clean out the colon, it soothes all kinds of stomach disorders. Aloe vera promotes menstruation when it is suppressed. It expels pinworms after several doses. It helps reduce the effects of aging and increases the quality of life of the elderly. It is recommended for smokers and ex-smokers as it helps heal the chronic catarrh.

External use: Aloe gel is used for topical treatment of wounds, burns, cuts, sores, skin irritations, skin ulcers, itchy skin, eczema, acne, stings, insect bites, and joint problems. It helps prevent the formation of liver spots in aging skins. If aloe vera is applied regularly and for long enough it will often cause established spots to disappear. Aloe vera is one of the best anti-aging herbs available, helping to rejuvenate aging skin and combat wrinkles.