Helpful Herbs: Vanilla

Vanilla is one of the most widely used spices in the world.  When we think of vanilla we thing of mouth-watering vanilla bean ice cream, vanilla-scented candles, sugar cookies, potent little vanilla bean pods and aromatic extracts.  It's comforting and exotic at once. But did you know that this unique and universally popular spice has some potentially great health benefits?

Anti-Cancer
A compound called vanillin is the main constituent of vanilla extracts. It has been studied and found to have an anti-cancer effect on cervical, breast, prostate, and colon cancers.  
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20668316
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15854801
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19679064
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21992488

Anti-oxidant, Anti-Mutagen

Another main constituent of vanilla called vanillic acid is a potent anti-oxidant.  

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20482617

And when combined with cinnamon, vanillin was found to be a potent anti-mutagen. 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17178418

Safe for Skin
Unless someone is allergic to vanilla (which is quite rare), vanilla is non-irritating and non-sensitizing, and safe to use on skin. In fact, when skin comes in contact with capsaicin, the compound in hot peppers responsible for the burning feeling, skin cells can partially neutralize it by breaking it down to vanillin and vanillic acid, which doesn't irritate the skin.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22950880
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18180272

Heart Health
Because of its strong anti-oxidant capabilities, vanillic acid is heart-healthy.  This animal study found that vanillin protected the hearts of rats who were given chemicals that induced inflammation and cardiotoxicity.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21763302  (Poor rats!)

The trouble with vanilla is that we usually eat it with loads of sugar, like in ice cream and cookies, so the pro-oxidant activity of the sugar, refined grains and dairy would likely negate the benefits of the vanilla. But if you can figure out a way to add vanilla to your diet in a healthy way, perhaps in low-carb coconut pancakes, along with other beneficial herbs and spices in an herbal tea, or in a creamy avocado and coconut smoothie, you can get all the delicious flavor and powerful punch of antioxidants that vanilla delivers.

Is Your Flaking Skin Really Oily Skin?

Do you have:

• Flaky patches on your scalp?
• Flaky skin around your nose, mouth, and hairline?
• Flaky skin in the eyebrows, or above the ears?
• Patches of oily skin and patches of flaking skin?

You could be suffering from seborrheic dermatitis.

Seborrheic dermatitis is caused by an excess of oil your skin produces (aka sebum.)  Oil builds up and solidifies in creases of skin (such as around the mouth and nose) and on scalp.  This layering of solidified sebum creates flakes on your skin.  Yeast then can get trapped under those flakes and causes redness and irritation in the skin.  Then, you have flakes and redness, making you believe that you have excessively dry skin, when, in reality, the problem is caused by excess oil, not the other way around.

What to do about it:

If you believe you might have seborrheic dermatitis, visit your dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.  There are other skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea that act similarly to this, so a proper diagnosis is vital to treatment.

Some natural things to try:

If you do get the diagnosis of seborrheic dermatitis, there are some things you can try before you go on topical steroids, or that can work along with steroids to manage the condition.

• Because the underlying cause of the irritation and flaking is caused by excess oil, it is very important to cleanse well and often, especially in the affected areas.  The less oil there is for the yeast to feed on, the less irritation and flaking you'll experience.  Using a natural soap and a warm washcloth to frequently cleanse your face throughout the day will help remove excess oils. Tea tree is reported to be an anti-fungal, so a tea tree oil containing cleanser like our Cool Cucumber may be helpful. (However, we cannot claim that our product will help to cure, treat, or prevent any disease, as it is not a drug.)
• In addition to its mood-boosting, vitamin-D-creating benefits, sunlight can actually inhibit the growth of the irritation-causing yeast growing on your skin.  Getting 15 to 30 minutes of sunlight to the affected areas can help reduce the redness and irritation.  If you have irritation and flaking on your scalp, be sure to part your hair in different ways so the sun can get down to as much scalp as possible.  Of course, be judicious with your sun exposure and don't get a sunburn, as that will cause flaking issues of its own.
•  Omega-3s.  Your excess oil production may be caused by an excess of hormones called androgens circulating in the body.  Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil, flax seeds, walnuts, salmon, and other foods, may help to protect your skin from androgens on the inside, and reduce androgens' effects on your skin.  They also help reduce inflammation throughout the body, and, if you're taking a high enough amount of omega-3s, may actually change the composition of the oils in your skin, making them less desirable to yeast.
• Apple cider vinegar can also be helpful in controlling the yeast growth and in soothing skin.  If you're experiencing flaking and itchiness on your scalp, when shampooing your hair, massage your scalp firmly to remove the buildup of sebum, rinse out well, and then rinse your hair and scalp with either apple cider or distilled white vinegar, 4 tablespoons to a cup of water.  It may sting due to its acidity, but afterwards you will likely notice a distinct decrease in the itchiness of your scalp.  Using this vinegar solution on the affected areas of skin can also help.  Pour some on to a cotton ball and use as a toner solution after cleansing with soap.  

Of course, as with any medical condition, consult a medical professional for treatment advice.  This article provided for educational purposes only.  

Helpful Herbs: Clove

Today's Helpful Herb: Clove
Clove is a popular spice used in foods and aromatherapy around the world.  The dried buds of the plant are ground to create the common spice we use in cooking.  The stems, buds, and leaves of the plant are steam-distilled to create an richly aromatic essential oil.  Both the spice and the essential oil have been found to have numerous health benefits.

A Nutritional Spice
The spice clove is a good source of dietary manganese.  It also provides a small amount of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin K, vitamin C and magnesium. (Source)

Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
Clove contains a compound called eugenol that has been found to have numerous benefits.  Clove essential oil contains a concentrated amount of eugenol.   This study shows that eugenol/clove oil is an immune booster that reduces inflammation in the body.

Anti-Cancer Benefits
Eugenol has also been fount to be a promising anti-cancer agent in numerous studies, potent against melanoma, skin tumors, osteosarcoma (bone), leukemia, cervical, breast, colon, and gastric cancers.
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22634840

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22126019

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21939359

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20858534

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21044050

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21044050

Pain Reduction
Clove oil is commonly used as a mild analgesic (pain-reducer) in dental products such as temporary dental fillings, toothpaste and mouthwashes, and has also been shown to improve memory.  (Source)

Anti-oxidant
This study found eugenol to be an anti-oxidant and DNA-protector in liver cells.

Anti-bacterial
This study found eugenol to be antibacterial, fighting the harmful bacteria Streptococcus mutans.

Feeling guilty for that pumpkin pie and gingerbread cookies this season!  Well, you can at least now rest assured that they contain one healthy component--the helpful herb: clove!

We use clove in a number of our deodorants, and in our Cool Cucumber Facial Cleanser!

Are You Giving Yourself Dry Skin?

I'm a bath girl. Always have been. As a child, a shower was traumatic for me!  Shampoo burning my eyes.  Water constantly dripping in my face.  Tiny little water droplets teasing me with their warmth, but never really helping to warm me up on a chilly night. But baths--quite the opposite. You get to sit down. No water constantly spraying in your eyes. You can warm up every part of your cold, cold body. Plus, you get floating toys!

So, it was a habit that I continued from childhood.  9.5 out of 10 times I choose a bath over a shower!  But, the other night I was in a hurry and had to take a shower. It was chilly in the house, so I turned up the heat in the shower, got all clean, and got out.  As soon as I got out, it felt like my skin was tightening up. Soon I felt itchy and so so dry and my skin was red all over! This was weird--I don't typically get dry skin. Was I having some kind of reaction to something? Then I realized it--that darn shower! I wanted to get warmed up, so I overcompensated with the heat of the shower! It was almost a first-degree burn that I gave myself. 

So, I learned an important lesson: hot showers = dry skin!

With heat, your pores open up and you lose hydration.  Plus, the hot water strips your skin of vital oils that keep hydration in. If you have dry skin that seems to get drier in the winter, of course the dry air in your home heating system is one culprit.  But an overly-hot shower could be to blame. No matter how gentle your soap is, a shower that's too hot will strip your skin of moisture.

So, here are some tips for preventing that itchy, dry, tight-feeling winter skin!

Bathe Instead
Take a nice warm, but not too hot, bath.  While you soak, your skin will absorb some needed hydration.  You'll relax and because you'll actually get warm, you won't have to overheat your water. 

Using a bath salt with moisturizing oils can do wonders.  Our bath salts have a small but noticeable amount of oil that you'll notice totally softens your skin and creates a small lipid layer on your skin that will seal in the hydration you took on in the water.

Of course, there are times when you may not have time to bathe and just need to take a quick shower.  Make sure that you keep the water just barely above lukewarm.  

Look At Your Water
Hard water deposits turn in to soap scum on your skin, and that can lead to that dry, itchy feeling.  We're all about water softeners here.  But also, water filters.  Using a shower head filter that removes chlorine can work wonders for dry, irritated, or sensitive skin. 

Humidifier
Using a humidifier can help to compensate for the dry air running through your furnace.  More moisture in the air means more moisture for your skin!

Moisturizing
Of course, after showering or bathing, applying a rich, water-free body butter (like ours!) will help to hold in that hydration and moisturize your skin all day long.


Follow these tips and dry, itchy, flaky skin will be a thing of the past!

Helpful Herbs: Chamomile

Today's Helpful Herb: Chamomile

There are two common varieties of chamomile: German Chamomile and Roman Chamomile.  German Chamomile, Matriacaria chamomilla, is the most widely used, and is also known as Blue Chamomile.  Chamomile has been used for centuries for a number of applications, from a tea to help ease digestive problems, to a healing poultice for wounds. It's estimated that around the world, we drink over a million cups of chamomile tea a day!  But is chamomile's reputation as a helpful herb backed by science?  What are some of the proven benefits of chamomile?

 

Skin Benefits
Chamomile has long been used on skin to help heal wounds and soothe irritation.  And indeed, research has found it to be a helpful topical anti-inflammatory. It is thought that it inhibits the release of prostaglandin E(2) (an inflammatory hormone-like substance in the body), as well as certain enzyme activity that helps reduce inflammation in the skin.  One study looked at chamomile's healing effects on patients who had undergone dermabrasion of tattoos.  Chamomile significantly helped the patients' wounds heal more quickly. Another study also found chamomile sped the healing of wounds faster than corticosteroid medicines.  Finally, a double-blind study found that topical application of Roman Chamomile helped heal eczema better than hydrocortisone cream.  

 

Anti-cancer

A compound in chamomile called apigenin has been studied for its effects on skin, prostate, breast and ovarian cancers, with promising results. Chamomile extracts containing apigenin were found to have an anti-estrogenic effect on breast cancer cells (thus, not stimulating their growth.) A recent study found that chamomile was toxic to cancer cells, but not healthy cells, and a standardized chamomile extract was found to help shrink prostate tumors in both lab and in animal studies.  

Heart Health

Chamomile is rich in flavonoids, which are thought to help reduce the risk of heart disease.  A five-year study of over 800 men aged 65-84 found that flavonoid intake "was significantly inversley associated with mortality from coronary heart disease."  In other words, the more flavonoids in their diet, the healthier they were.  

 

Digestive Health
Chamomile extracts have been studied and found to reduce stomach acid output and increase the secretion of mucin, a protective mucus lining in the stomach, thus helping to protect from gastric ulcers.  Researchers found this extract lowered stomach acid as effectively as a commercial antacid.  

 

Hormones
There are internet rumors that chamomile or chamomile essential oil is "estrogenic" and that women with estrogen dominance or other hormonal imbalances should avoid this herb. However, the opposite is true.  Chamomile has been found in numerous studies to be an anti-estrogen that helps prevent bone loss.

 

Blood pressure, General HealthChamomile has been found to help normalize blood pressure and promote general wellness.

"The health promoting benefits of chamomile was assessed in a study which involved fourteen volunteers who each drank five cups of the herbal tea daily for two consecutive weeks. Daily urine samples were taken and tested throughout the study, both before and after drinking chamomile tea. Drinking chamomile was associated with a significant increase in urinary levels of hippurate and glycine, which have been associated with increased antibacterial activity. In another study, chamomile relieved hypertensive symptoms and decreased the systolic blood pressure significantly, increasing urinary output."

Pregnancy
Traditionally, chamomile has been used to induce labor and many medical websites advise women to avoid it during pregnancy. Howevever, there are no studies that suggest that chamomile induces labor or causes miscarriages.  The science behind it would suggest otherwise, as chamomile has been found to reduce prostaglandin E2, a natural hormone-like substance that induces labor. So, if chamomile is indeed a labor-inducer, the function whereby is unknown.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995283/

This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.  

My Recommendations Part 5: Men's Care

Men's Care

Hey guys!  We didn't forget you!  Here are our top picks for products for you!

Shaving Cream
Dr. Bronner's Shaving Gel
Wow, a certified organic option!

Bubble & Bee Organic Bar Soaps
Our soaps work great for shaving!  Create a rich lather, apply and shave! You can pair it with a bristle shaving brush and create some crazy-good lather! The extra vegetable glycerin in our soaps give a nice glide for a clean, close shave.

Aftershave
Miessence After Shave Balm

Weleda After Shave Balm

Deodorant
One of our most frequently asked questions is "what deodorant works best for men?"  Well, first of all, we have to say that there's no one deodorant that works for a particular gender, as it's completely dependent upon body chemistry.  However, we can give you some recommendations for scents that are more masculine, and methods of application that are best suited for men.

Super Spray
This lovely blend of lemon, clove and patchouli is effective and smells great.  We recommend the spray because it gives great coverage over the hair and down to the skin.

Spearmint & Tea Tree Pit Putty
Fresh and minty, this one works great for guys.  With added baking soda for odor protection, and arrowroot powder to help absorb sweat.

Truly Herbal Stick
The first formula we ever made.  It worked then, and works now!  Guys like the ease of application and it's a blend that works well.  (Do note that over-application can stain light clothing.)

Body Spray, Cologne

Make a blend of your own with our Design-a-Spray

Recommended blends:

Spruce--Tea Tree--Spearmint

Spruce--Vanilla

Patchouli--Clove

Patchouli--Cinnamon--Orange

Lime--Tea Tree

Styling Gel

Intelligent Nutrients Styling Gel

Face Cream

Bubble & Bee Organic Men's Face Cream
A little goes a long way!  Apply lightly to a clean face.

Hand Cream

Bubble & Bee Organic Chai Guy Lotion Stick

Bubble & Bee Organic Unscented Lotion Stick

Body Wash

Bubble & Bee Organic Lemongrass Rosemary Shower Gel

Bar Soaps
Bubble & Bee Organic Mint Tea Soap

Bubble & Bee Organic Lemongrass Ginger Soap

Bubble & Bee Organic Unscented All Over Bar

Tough Guy Hand Scrubbing

Do you work in the garage or yard and get grease and dirt on your hands? A great way to get your hands seriously clean again is to use our salt scrubs!  The Peppermint Vanilla seems to be a favorite for this.
Bubble & Bee Organic Peppermint Vanilla Salt Scrub

My Recommendations Part 4: Hair Care

Cleansing

Shampoo
Of course I recommend our shampoo!  Have hard water?  E-mail me for a super-secret solution!  (And it has nothing to do with baking soda.) stephanie@bubbleandbee.com

Conditioner
Instead of using conditioner with our shampoo, we recommend a vinegar rinse (instructions included with shampoo.)  There are other options, like lemon juice or citric acid that you can use as well if you don't like the smell of vinegar.  E-mail me for more details!  

Also, there's:
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Hair Conditioner
I have tried this product so I can tell you a few things about it. It is pricey.  Once you pay for shipping it's a $40 bottle of conditioner (and only 6 oz of product.)  Because of the lack of quats and other chemicals, it doesn't spread like other conditioners, and you end up using a lot of product in order to feel fully conditioned.  It does have a strong smell that lingers in your hair afterwards.  Some love it, some hate it.  I didn't mind it, although it was somewhat earthy and masculine to me.  (However, we all experience scents differently.)  The upside: totally certified organic conditioner, and it worked pretty well if you're looking for a vinegar alternative.

Note: My recommending a product, does not mean that I endorse the entire brand.  I never recommend on brand alone, only individual ingredients lists of products.  

Styling
If you haven't figured it out by now, I'm pretty low maintenance.  I don't use hair products very often and haven't tried these so I can't give you a full review of how they work.  But, ingredients-wise, these are my winners!

Hair Spray
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Perfect Hold Hair Spray

Aubrey NuStyle Organic Hairspray

Hair Gel
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Styling Gel

Pomade
Intelligent Nutrients Certified Organic Pomade

Styling For Ethnic Hair
Kinky Curly Curl Custard actually isn't too bad! 

You've probably noticed by now that I recommend Intelligent Nutrients!  These products I've listed are on par with our standards.  However, do avoid their Harmonic line of products, as they contain quaternary ammonium compounds and other chemicals.  

In the picture on the left, I achieved this hair style with no styling aids whatsoever.  I simply dried after washing until my hair was just damp, then used a curl dryer to finish my hair.  You could also achieve the same result with a larger barrel curling iron (2"). Dry hair until just barely damp, and then using the curling iron.  

My hair, once it's dry, is pretty difficult to curl.  I have to use the highest heat settings possible, and then an hour later it's flat again.  But, if I curl it when it's damp, the curl holds.  I prefer the curl dryer to a curling iron, as the hold seems to last longer, and I love anything that simplifies my routine.  Curling and drying at the same time...I'll take it!

This photo is from when my hair was a bit shorter, but I styled it simply with a straightening iron.  I recommend a ceramic straightener, preferably a Chi.  It doesn't tug or rip at my hair, it heats up fast, and works great, even on slept-on-when-wet wavy hair. I had a Hot Tools for a number of years, but once it gave out, I got a new Hot Tools.  The new one tore up my hair because the plates didn't meet up smoothly.  So, I replaced it with my Chi and haven't looked back.

If you have naturally curly hair, using a quality straightener on a semi-regular basis can actually make it feel more "healthy" because it smooths and straightens the hair shaft.  We have a tendency to equate smooth hair with healthy hair, when that may not necessarily be the case.  Using a straightener does have its advantages, however, you can end up damaging your ends, so I try to use it sparingly.  

Most of the time, though, I just let my freak flag fly, and just go with my natural wave/curl.  Humid days are the best for that!  I'll maybe touch up some spots and make some spiral curls with a curling iron if I want a more polished look.  I'll achieve this look by brushing it a little when wet and letting it just air dry.