Skin Care: Fitness Program for Your Skin (Part 2)

Fitness Program for Your Skin (Part II)

In Part 1 of Skin Care: Fitness Program for Your Skin, we took a close look at how to implement a fitness program for your skin and the benefits this will provide for your skin. We focused on the direct approach by making the best use of skin care products and utilising a step-by-step program to care for our skin.

Part 2 we will look at additional things you can do to promote your skin’s fitness and over all health.

Water & Foods

Water

We all know that if we do not drink enough water, our body will dehydrate and that by the time we get thirsty, we are actually already dehydrated and have a bit of catching up to do. The trick to a well hydrated body and skin is not to get to the point of where you actually start to feel thirsty.

If you’re already drinking at least 2.5 litres of water a day, you can skip this section, but if you are finding it difficult, you just might find some helpful tips on how you can get enough water each and every day in the following few paragraphs.

At the risk of repeating myself, our body will use 2-2.5 litters of water to perform its normal bodily functions (metabolism). It will do this whether we like it or not and if we do not provide our body with the necessary water to perform its vital functions, it will just take it from within the body tissues resulting in dehydration. Because the skin holds a high percentage of water, it is easy for the body to take it from our skin and use it else where, resulting in dry, dehydrated skin.

As the weather warms up, we perspire more and as a result need more water than usual. Also, if we exercise, the metabolism is increased and the consumption of water rises accordingly.

So, before we know it, our body will use up 2-3 litters of water without us even being aware of it. To compensate for this loss we need to consume at least the equivalent amount of water as our body is using and a little extra wouldn’t do astray. But how do we do this?

Well, one way is to start every day with drinking 500ml of water. Yes, I know, that sounds a lot to kick off the day with, but if you’re not used to drinking this amount of water in one hit, start with 300mls and work your way up. You’ll be surprised how quickly you will get used to drinking 500mls and even more. Now, you’ve only got 2000mls to go.

The next thing to do is to carry a drink bottle with you. If you travel to work by car, just sit the drink bottle in the centre console and at every red light (there are bound to be a few) take a sip or two.

If your drink bottle holds 500mls, your aim should be to have it empty by the time you get to work. Then do the same on the way home.

Now, you’ve consumed 1.5 litres and only have about 1-2 litres to go. So, while at the office, have your drink bottle standing next to you on your desk. Your aim now is to drink the first during the morning and a second one during the afternoon of your working day. Again if your bottle contains 500mls, you’ll have consumed another 1000mls during the day and are getting to your minimum amount of water required.

To get the extra, starting about 30min. after finishing your evening meal, have a final 500ml bottle sitting next to you and have a sip during the ad breaks, you’ll finish it in know time unless you’re watching the ABC or another non-commercial station.

After doing this for a while, you will actually feel the difference between the times when your body is getting enough water and when it’s not. You will start to automatically look for your water bottle and be amazed just how much more water you are dirking.

For some of you this will manifest itself in surprising improvements to your health - niggling pains, aches and other minor complaints will suddenly start to disappear. Your digestive system will actually work better and you may even feel a lift in energy levels.


What not to do

One thing you need to remember is that tea, coffee and alcohol will drive water from your body. So, for example if you have 500mls of water either shortly before or after you’ve been drinking coffee or tea, it won’t be long before you’ll need to make a pit-stop. So, be mindful of the power of tea and coffee...

Another factor you’ll need to keep in mind is that instead of water, you may choose to drink isotonic drinks such as Poweraide or a similar. These things contain quite a lot of sugar and therefore calories you may not wish to ad to your body. One or two over the course of a day is probably ok, but if you also add fruit juices and similar hydrating drinks instead of water, you could run the risk of increasing your weight. So, keep in mind that water is the best type of drink to have.

If you work at it a little, you will find that it is not as difficult as one might think to get plenty of water and not get dehydrated.

Foods to increase your skin’s fitness

No I am not going to suggest a diet. I am going to suggest a few simple things you can do to increase the nutrients in your food that will be of benefit to your skin.
So first what are the nutrients that your skin needs?

Beta-carotene (provitamin A)
It is an anti-oxidants, neutralise free radicals.
It is found in foods such as: Sweet Potato, Carrot, Kale, Mango, Turnip, Greens Spinach, raw; Papaya, Red Bell Pepper, Apricot, Cantaloupe, Fat Free Milk, Romaine, Eggs, Whole Milk, Raw Tomato, Broccoli, Green Bell Pepper, Orange, Parsley.

Vitamin A
Is another anti-oxidant. It is essential for healthy hair and eyes, and is also important in the prevention and clearing of infections of the skin. Vitamin A counteracts dry skin, dandruff and wrinkle formation. It is needed for healthy blood circulation which gives a glow to the skin. Helps maintain smooth, soft disease-free skin; helps protect the mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, throat lungs, which helps reduce our susceptibility to infections; protects against air pollutants and contaminants; helps improve eye sight and counteracts night-blindness; aids in bone and teeth formation; improves skin elasticity, moisture content and suppleness; and helps reverse the signs of photo-aging. Vitamin A deficiency can lead to eruptions or dry, coarse, wrinkled skin; dull and dry hair or dandruff; ridging or peeling fingernails; pimples or acne and visual fatigue.

Preformed Vitamin A and/or Carotene is found in: Meat, Chicken Liver, Cod Liver Oil, Cheese, certain green leafy vegetables, such as beet greens, spinach, and broccoli.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is also an anti-oxidant; Vitamin E helps form muscles and tissues to prevent wrinkles and premature aging of the skin due to oxidation. It helps prevent dry, dull skin, age spots, falling hair and dandruff. It improves circulation and healing of scars. Research has shown that large doses of vitamin E double healthy cell reproduction to slow the aging process and forestall premature wrinkling.

Vitamin E supplies oxygen to the blood, which is then carried to the heart and other organs, thus alleviating fatigue. It aids in bringing nourishment to cells; strengthens the capillary walls preventing the red blood cells from destructive poisons (free radicals); prevents and dissolves blood clots.

You will get Vitamin E from foods such as: Avocados, Carrots. Cheese: especially Parmesan, and Cheddar. Chickpeas, egg yolk, green leafy vegetables, legumes, margarine, meats/poultry/fish, nuts and nut oils, oatmeal, olives, parsnips, red peppers, seeds, soy products and soybeans, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watercress, wheat germ, all contain Vitamin E so you should have little difficulty in obtaining enough from your diet.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a very powerful anti-oxidant; Vitamin C, in conjunction with protein, is necessary for the production of collagen - the glue that holds us and our skin together and circumvents sags or wrinkles. It regulates sebaceous glands to keep skin from drying out; helps prevent facial lines, wrinkles and spider veins.

Vitamin C is essential for the health of the hair, eyes and teeth, resistance to infection, healing of wounds and firm skin tissues. Vitamin C is believed to aid skin cells in repairing and reproducing themselves. It is also thought to stimulate production of collagen, enhancing skin smoothness and elasticity. This vitamin is excellent for skin showing signs of aging.

Vitamin C is found in: Acerola cherry, Kiwifruit, green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, turnips, green and other leafy vegetables, sweet and white potatoes, and Cantaloupe. Other excellent sources include papaya, mango, watermelon, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash, red peppers, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and pineapples.

Vitamin B-complex
B-vitamins are vital for clear, luminous skin, youthful looks and for delaying greying of hair. They are essential for healthy skin, hair, and eyes. Studies show that 40 percent of dermatitis sufferers lack B vitamins. B vitamins also counteract stress, which has adverse effects on one's appearance.

Vit. B-complex is a complex of several important vitamins including B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin). Vitamin B1 is needed for nerve signal transmission. Vitamin B2 is needed for the metabolism of amino acids. Vitamin B6 is necessary for the production of many enzymes and chemical messengers (eg, neurotransmitters). Vitamin B12 is needed for red blood cell production and DNA synthesis.

You’ll find B-vitamins in: Whole grain cereals, wheat, Pulses, Nuts, Green leafy vegetables, Molasses, Meat, Liver, and Brewer's yeast.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for healthy teeth, bones and nails as well as for the assimilation of calcium and phosphorus. It promotes healthy eyes, skin and teeth.

It is a vitamin found in foods such as fish, oysters, and dairy products. Also, there are enzymes in our skin that make vitamin D when the skin is exposed to sunlight. A little bit of sunshine is very good for you - more on that later.

Vitamin D is found in: Milk, Beef liver, Salmon, Tuna, Butter, Sprouted seeds.

Protein
Proteins are required for the structure, function, and regulation of the body's cells, tissues, and organs, and each protein has unique functions.

You’ll find proteins in: Avocados, Brewer's yeast, dried legumes, nuts, Sesame seeds, Sunflower seeds, whole grain cereals.

Other Protein foods include: Fish, meats, poultry, eggs, dairy products, pulses, and wheat germ.

Calcium
Calcium and Phosphorus work together for healthy teeth, hair, nails and bones. Calcium helps clear blemished skin and revitalizes lifeless, tired-looking skin.

Calcium is essential for a variety of bodily functions, such as neurotransmission, muscle contraction, and proper heart function.

Calcium is found in: Milk products, whole wheat, leafy vegetables, Salmon, Sardines, shellfish, Soybeans, Sunflower seeds, Walnuts, Oranges, and Lemons.

Phosphorus
Phosphorus is a mineral vital to energy production. It helps build bone and form cell membranes and genetic material.

Phosphorus is found in: Dairy products, egg yolks, fish, poultry, meats, grains, cereals, nuts, fruit juices, and milk.

Chromium
Chromium improves circulation for healthy skin and hair. It plays a role in glucose metabolism and is considered essential in trace amounts in nutrition.

Chromium is found in: Brewer's yeast, cheese, corn oil, liver, clams, meat, and whole grains.

Iodine
Iodine promotes healthy hair, nails, skin, and teeth. It is an element that is necessary for the body to make thyroid hormone. It is found in shellfish and iodised salt.

Iodine is contained in: Iodised salt, Kelp, Onions, Seafood, Vegetable oils.

Iron
Iron is essential for healthy nails, skin colour, and hair growth.
Iron is found in: Egg yolks, blackstrap molasses, dark leafy greens, dried fruits and legumes, lean meat, liver, and whole wheat.

Magnesium
Magnesium is required to prevent skin disorders. A mineral used by the body to help maintain muscles, nerves, and bones. It is also used in energy metabolism and protein synthesis.

Magnesium is found in: Almonds, apples, apricots, bananas, bran, corn, dairy products, figs, grapefruit and lemons, meats, raw leafy greens, Soybeans.

Manganese
Manganese helps to maintain healthy hair. This micronutrient activates one or more enzymes in fatty acid synthesis; it also activates the enzymes responsible for DNA and RNA production. Closely associated with copper and zinc.

Manganese is found in: bananas, beets, bran, coffee, egg yolks, leafy greens, legumes, nuts, pineapple, whole grains and tea.

Selenium
Selenium maintains skin elasticity. It helps prevent and correct dandruff. Selenium is an essential trace mineral. Selenium activates an antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, which may help protect the body from cancer.

Selenium is a nutrient found in: Asparagus, bran, broccoli, chicken, egg yolks, milk, onions, red meat, seafood, tomatoes, and whole grains.

Sulphur
Sulphur helps maintain healthy hair, nails, and skin. It also prevents dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.

An important mineral component of vitamin B1 and of several essential amino acids. Sulphur is particularly necessary for the body's production of collagen, which helps to form connective tissue. Sulphur is also a component of keratin, the chief ingredient in hair, skin, and nails. By controlling bacteria and exfoliating the skin, sulphur is a popular acne treatment. Sulphur is thought to dissolve the top layer of dry, dead cells and slow down oil-gland activity.

Sulphur is found in: Bran, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cheese, clams, eggs, fish, mushrooms, nuts, peas and beans, and wheat germ.

Zinc
Zinc aids in the formation of collagen. It helps prevent wrinkles, dry skin and stretch marks, and promotes blemish healing. Zinc prevents hair loss, and brittle or spotted nails. Without enough zinc a deficiency of Vitamin A can occur even though the intake of that vitamin appears adequate.

It is a mineral that is vital to many biological functions such as immune resistance, wound healing, digestion, reproduction, physical growth, diabetes control, taste and smell. More than 300 enzymes in the human body require zinc for proper functioning.

Zinc is found in: Brewer's yeast, eggs, lean red meat, seafood, legumes, mushrooms, non-fat dry milk, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, shellfish (oysters), spinach, and whole grains.

Omega 3
Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid. It may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction (severe form of heart attacks) by lowering triglyceride levels and blood pressure and preventing the formation of life-threatening thrombi.

You can find natural sources of Omega 3 in Oily Fish eg: Salmon, Tuna and some others. Omega 3 is also contained in Flax seeds, walnuts, and canola oil.

Omega 6
Omega 6 is another essential fatty acid (should be combined in equal portions with Omega 3's).

It is contained in: Cereals, eggs, poultry, most vegetable oils, whole-grain breads, and margarine.

There is one final consideration when it comes to the food you eat, make sure the foods are processed as little as possible. That means the fresher the better, raw rather than cooked, steamed rather than fried, etc. Just remember the KISS formula - Keeping It Simple Succeeds...

Putting it all together

Topical Skin Care

In Part I we took a step-by-step look at implementing a fitness program for your skin using natural skin care products. We discussed the importance of each of these steps and how they will benefit your skin.

Internal Skin Care

Part II of this article series looked several other factors, including the need for water, and the types of foods that are beneficial to the skin.

To achieve the best possible level of healthy, vibrant and youthful looking skin, you need to implement all of the program aspects, from using the skin care products to drinking sufficient amounts of water and eating the right foods.

You can read Part II - Skin Care: Fitness Program for Your Skin (Part I) here.

What Do You Put on Your Hair?

Consider What Goes On Your Hair May Enter Your Bloodstream...

Shampoos are a classic example of potentially toxic cocktails we seem to be oblivious to. Below is an example of ingredients used by a well-known manufacturer of personal care products who distributes their products worldwide. It is a typical example of the type of ingredients you would find by looking at the ingredients of shampoos on sale in your local shopping centre or at your hairdresser.

The ingredients below are from a 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner. Where possible I provided some comment after the ingredient that provides some insight into the safety of the particular ingredient for human use.

It must be said, however, that the toxicity of some of the ingredients is related to the consumption of the ingredient and while a shampoo is not consumed as such, chemicals can nevertheless be absorbed through the skin and enter the blood stream, essentially being the same as if you had eaten them.

Example of ingredients found in a 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner

Preservatives

• Diethanolamine - Suspected: Carcinogen (causes cancer), Cardiovascular or Blood toxin, Gastrointestinal or Liver toxin, Kidney toxin, Neurotoxin (toxic to your nervous system), Respiratory toxin, Skin or Sense Organ toxin.

Surfactants

• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate - no scientific evidence of toxic effects on humans.
• Ammonium Xylenesulfonate - no evidence of toxic effects on humans. Some minor irritation in rabbits to skin and eyes have been reported.

Emulsifiers

• Cetyl Alcohol - this one is find and dandy,
• Cocamide MEA - derived in part from coconut oil, potentially toxic (International Journal of Toxicology; 18 (Suppl. 2). 1999. 9-16).

Conditioning Agents

• Cetyl Alcohol - not a problem (J Am Coll Toxicol Vol:7, 3 (1988) pp 359-413.)
• Dimethicone - please see: DMDM Hydantoin below,
• Glycol Distearate - no scientific evidence of toxic effects on humans,
• Trimethyl Tricaprylate/Tricaprate - Recognized Carcinogen, Suspected: Neuro- and Reproductive toxin,
• Panthenol - Dexpanthenol is the alcohol corresponding to pantothenic acid (the water-soluble vitamin B5)
• Panthenyl Ethyl Ether - May cause contact dermatitis.

Buffering Agent:

• DMDM Hydantoin - contains Formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen (causes cancer). Causes allergic, irritant and contact dermatitis; headaches and chronic fatigue. The vapour is extremely irritating to the eyes, nose and throat (mucous membranes).
• Methylchloroisothiazolinone - causes cosmetic allergies and potential dangerous neuro-toxic effects.
• Methylisothiazolinone - causes cosmetic allergies and potential dangerous neuro-toxic effects.
• Sodium Benzoate - Suspected: Cardio-vascular or Blood toxin, Gastrointestinal or Liver toxin, Kidney toxin, Neurotoxin, Skin or Sense Organ toxin.

Chelator:

• EDTA - known carcinogen (causes cancer)

I think you get the idea.

Chemicals such as these are not what you would want to put on your body, hair or in fact anywhere near you, I’m sure. Problem is that no one warns us of the potential dangers posed by some of these ingredients and so we use them thinking that regulations and government controls would not permit potentially toxic chemicals to be put into products we use everyday...

Do yourself and your health a big favor - choose Natural Hair Care Products and be safe.

100% Natural Skin Care Products - Are you being mislead?

When you see the phrase Natural skin care products, what do you think is being promoted? Products containing natural ingredients perhaps? Skin care that is based on natural rather than synthetic ingredients? Of course - natural skin care products are products that are made exclusively from natural ingredients and nothing else. Or are they?

Are Your Natural Skin Care Products Natural? Or Something Else?

You are concerned with the amount of toxins your body is subjected to, right? Of course, that’s why you look for and purchase products that do not contain artificial colours, synthetic fragrances or substances that are not intrinsically natural.

So when you see a product or a range of products being promoted as Natural, you rightly believe that if you purchase one of these products you are getting a product which does not contain anything that is either non-natural or is potentially harmful to your health. Right?

You’re even willing to pay more for such products because you are under the impression that paying a little more will ensure you don’t subject your body to anything that may harm it...

Unfortunately you could be seriously mistaken. The fact is that while many manufacturers of skin care products have been marketing their range of goods as being Natural, the truth is that only a very small percentage of the ingredients contained in these products are in fact natural. But...

It doesn’t stop there.

Even worse, most of these so called natural skin care products contain several potentially toxic ingredients such as EDTA, Formaldehyde, and many, many more, which scientists tell us, could result in serious health issues.

Fancy that, and you are not told, but expected to know what all the names and numbers on the label mean - sure...

You need a University degree in Chemistry!

Unless you’re a cosmetic chemist, chances are you have no idea and just belief that because the product is called natural those numbers and almost impossible to read names, are just codes for natural substances... Well, why wouldn’t you? After all surely a product can’t be called natural if it’s not? Can it?

Yes, it can.

There are currently no registrations that stop a manufacturer from calling a skin care product natural or even organic as long as the product contains at least one natural, active ingredient and considering that organic actually refers to carbon, as long as one of the ingredients contains carbon atoms (eg: crud oil) they can even call it an organic skin care product. (They cannot call it certified organic however. That’s entirely different and we’ll get into the nitty-gritty of that in a later article.)

So what are you going to do?

To get back to natural skin care products and their level of ‘naturalness’; imagine you are standing at the counter of a department store looking at the offers of different creams, lotions and are wondering how on earth you are going to choose your next moisturiser.

You ask the 18 year old sales assistant behind the counter about the ingredients in the moisturiser you're considering, but she doesn’t know and also does not have a degree in chemistry - so you look at the label, you try to read the names, think of whether you have heard or read something, anything, good or bad about any of these ingredients, and finally you give up, open the sample jar, have a smell, rub some onto your skin and after considering whether or not this feels and smells good you buy it.

Is that not how it usually goes?

You come home and that night there’s a current affair program on TV and guess what? The topic is toxic ingredients used in skin care products.

You prick up your ears and pay close attention to what these ingredients are - you get you’re new moisturiser out and with a magnifying glass you look to see if any of those ingredients are in your ‘natural’ skin care product ...

Yep, they’re all there, the EDTA, the parabens, the formaldehyde, and all the others that where listed - you feel ripped off.

How are you going to prevent this from happening again? How can you avoid those ingredients?

Well, you can become a cosmetic chemist... No, maybe not; You can make your own truly natural skin care products - no, too messy, don’t have the knowledge or the time; or you can think outside the box...

What do I mean by that?
Well, since most of the products at the beautician's or the department store obviously contain ingredients you don’t want to put any where near your skin, you need to look for different types of outlets.

What type of outlet will have what you want?

Natural therapy clinics, herbalists, people who practice alternative medicine and hold the belief that natural ingredients are superior and safer to use than synthetic or modified ones. Look for companies that are run by Herbalists, Naturopaths, Medical Aromatherapists, because chances are good that they would produce natural products that hold true to their philosophy and training.

Who are these companies?

Good questions, most are almost invisible, and the reasons for this are quite simple - firstly, these 'companies' are primarily run by only a hand full of people who are not high-powered business executives with degrees in business. Secondly, they usually do not make the products for the mass market but for their patients, friends and relatives - word of mouth is usually their best and only form of marketing.

Take Wildcrafted Herbal Products for example, up until recently Wildcrafted did not do any advertising, actually, we still don't, and we have no formal marketing campaign. All we do to promote our business is send out Newsletters to those of you who have requested them, and keep upgrading and expanding our web site.

But I digress...

The key part to all this is that there are a few companies, usually small, not well-known companies that do make great 100% natural skin care products. You need to go looking for them, because like Wildcrafted Herbal Products™, most do not have the big advertising and marketing budgets of the department store brands. But thinking outside the box and looking around is well worth your time and effort if you really want to keep toxic substances in your life to a minimum and are looking to use pure 100% natural skin care products.

Remedial Massage Therapy: An introduction to Remedial Massage

An Introduction to Remedial Massage Therapy

Definition of Massage: Massage is the systematic and scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body, and is performed directly upon the skin in a methodical manner for therapeutic purposes (Tappan, 1994).

Massage is

• Systematic
  
• Scientific
  
• Methodical
  
• Therapeutic
  

Skilfully used, Remedial Massage Therapy can assist the body in its own healing processes, where disease or injury has occurred in muscles, connective tissues, bones, joints and internal organs. Massage can also assist healing through its effect on the psychological condition of the patient, increasing a sense of confidence, well-being and relaxation.

When Do We Use Massage?

There are many situations which cause a metabolic imbalance within the soft tissues of the body. Most of these can be treated with Massage.

The PURPOSE of Massage is to bring about any of the PHYSIOLOGICAL, MECHANICAL, REFLEX or PSYCHOLOGICAL effects attributed to Remedial Massage Therapy. Relaxation, pain relief and increased range of movement can be achieved through the application of remedial massage techniques.

In addition to the treatment of ill and injured people, massage can be used in Athletics and Sport where it aids in the preparation of muscles, joints and associated structures for strenuous activity, or to assist these same tissues in recovery from strenuous activity. This reduces the incidence of injuries and improves the Athlete’s performance.

Massage is a useful and integral part of the healing process.

While giving a Massage, encourage the patient to understand the potential source of healing which lies within their own consciousness. The patient can be encouraged to not be a helpless party, but to become part of their healing defence mechanisms. Massage can help the patient to develop an increased awareness of their body, and the levels of relaxation and stress that they may experience.

Types of Massage Techniques

There are many types of Massage in use today, for example:

• Essalon Massage is a technique in which both sides of the body are massaged simultaneously. It is a symmetrical Massage technique, very gentle, and designed to enhance maximum relaxation in the patent.
  


• Deep Tissue Massage is a technique which is designed to manipulate the deep fascia layers and deep muscle layers of the body. It is based on the theory that stress can be stored deep within the body, and is arranged in “layers”, trauma after trauma, each layer relating to a different level of consciousness. It can be quite a painful experience for the patient, and is said to evoke emotional responses as each layer of stress and trauma is “unlocked” and released.
  


• Shiatsu / Chinese Massage are techniques with similar philosophical approaches. Each technique works with the concept of body energies. The techniques employed are designed to ”unblock” energy meridians and restore health by balancing the patient’s energy (Qi).
  


• Zone Therapy / Reflexology are techniques which are localised to specific body regions, e.g.: Hands, feet, ears. The various regions are said to have reflex relationships to all parts of the body, and various techniques are used to bring about specific reactions in a chosen body area.
  


• Swedish and Remedial Massage are the techniques with which this Course of study is primarily concerned. The techniques which have been developed and called Remedial Massage are a composite of many other forms of Massage.
  

Many individuals have contributed to the development of Massage as we know it today. “Swedish” Massage concentrates on working on one side of the body at a time. It is more intense than Essalon Massage, and unlike Deep Tissue Massage, it works within the pain / comfort threshold of the patient. encouraging the gentle release of tension and stress.

Remedial Massage makes use of Passive Movements and Joint Mobilising Techniques, working towards a specific goal in the treatment of the patient, and often working on a specific and limited body region until that goal is accomplished.

Local Versus General Massage

When faced with a patient, the massage therapist must decide what approach needs to be taken in order to best help the patient with their specific health problem.

Many people, who do not know much about massage, erroneously think that every massage is a “Full Body” Massage and the longer it takes the better - but this is far from the truth of the matter.

When treating a patient with a specific problem e.g.: Sciatica, Osteoarthritis in the cervical spine, and the like, and Massage is the choice to help with the symptoms of pain or loss of mobility, the treatment approach must be primarily aimed at the treatment of the specific problem area in order to obtain the best results.

On the other hand, if a patient presents with problems of stress, tension and anxiety, a “Full Body” Massage would be the prescription most likely given. Full Body Massage is mostly employed for relaxation therapy, and it is recommended that a Full Body Massage should never exceed 45-60 minutes duration, as after this time the positive effects of the Massage treatment are reversed.

This is based upon the concept of “The Principle of Sensory Adaptation”. Sensory receptors in the body have a characteristic function called adaptation, that is, a change in sensitivity (usually a decrease) to a prolonged stimulus. Receptors associated with touch and pressure in the skin rapidly adapt and can lead to further adaptation in the central nervous system as incoming signals are processed. Excessive stimulii can also produce undesirable Reflex Responses.

The level of general health of the patient must also be considered. Debilitated and very ill persons do not tolerate long duration massage well. Once a patient has had a course of several Massage Treatments and is in reasonably good health, long duration Massage can be given.

Remedial massage therapy has many applications and benefits. It can be use in conjunction with other therapies or as a stand-alone therapyl.

Read the entires article on Remedial Massage Therapy

Skin Care: Going Back-to-Basics

What We Are Told

Almost daily we are bombarded with a new skin care product and are told that if we use this product, our skin will look younger, smoother, more attractive and so on. We are presented with pictures of young, attractive women who have probably never used the products their faces are associated with and probably never will.

We are lead to believe that 'the active ingredient' in these products are a new discovery (usually they also get some sort of pseuo-scientific name) and if we use the product that has this 'magical' ingredient we will end up with 20 year young skin - Sure !

The Truth About Skin Care

Skin care is just that - taking care of one’s skin, nothing more, nothing less. How you do this can depend on many things. The health of your skin, money, time, knowledge and probably a number of other factors will determine how much care you give to your skin.

Let’s review what your skin does for a moment. Firstly, it protects the inside of you body from the outside. That is, the skin forms a barrier between our external environment and our body’s insides. It is water proof and at the same time acts as a defence from pollution, microbes and other potentially harmful factors. In addition, it is partly responsible for eliminating toxins from our body in the form of perspiration, and your skin assists the body in temperature regulation. These and other functions are preformed by our skin on a continuous basis.

So how do we take care of our skin, to ensure that it can continue to perform at its optimal level?

Back-to-Basics of Skin Care

There are 3 basic principles that come together in good skin care.

1. Drinking enough water on a daily basis to keep the skin well hydrated. This involves drinking at least 2 litres of water each and every day, because the body’s metabolism will require this amount of water to function properly. More water is required if we engage in strenuous physical activity or work in a physically demanding environment. You can use the most expensive moisturisers you like, if you don’t drink enough water, your skin will become dehydrated and no moisturiser or beauty treatment will stop this in the long term.




2. Eating good quality, unprocessed foods such as fruits, grains, vegetables, some dairy and lean meat, will help you to provide the skin with the nutrients it requires to keep performing its vital functions. Your skin needs vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, etc., to function properly and while some natural skin care products do provide many of these nutrients, there is no substitute for nutrients gained from high quality food.



3. A daily skin care regime that will unclog pores, remove dirt and dead skin cells, as well as provide nourishment to the underlying, living skin cells, is an essential step to good skin care. Now this regime can be quite simple or more involved.

At its most basic, skin care can involve as little as using a loofah on a daily basis when showering or bathing, to remove the dead cells from your body’s outermost layer of skin. Using a loofah not only removes the dead skin cells, but also promotes blood circulation to the outer layers of your skin, providing it with nutrients and oxygen.

In addition, use a mild, natural, pH-balanced (slightly acidic) soap to keep your skin clean and you’re done.

Let’s face it, many people don’t even use a loofah, and couldn’t care less about what sort of soap they use to wash their face and body with. However, more concerned folk, who have an interest in maintaining the health and look of their skin for as long as possible, may be prepared to go a few steps further than that by implementing a good, daily skin care regime utilising natural skin care products.

Implementing a Good Skin Care Regime

A sound, basic skin care regime is more than enough for most people. Using a loofah for their body’s skin, a cleanser, toner and moisturiser for the face, plus an all-over body moisturiser is all that’s required most of the time. In addition, using a clay mask once or twice a week will help to remove dead skin cells and deeply imbedded dirt from the facial skin and pores. An exfoliant can also be used, probably 2-3 times a week, if you’re not using a loofah.

Increasingly, consumers are becoming aware of the potential health risks presented by artificial and other non-natural ingredients in beauty products. We all, well most of us, avoid foods and beverages which contain artificial preservatives, flavours, emulsifiers, etc., for sound health reasons. These days, we’ve extended this concern to other areas of products we use on our body and in our home.

Making use of natural skin care products that contain as many organically grown ingredients such as essential oils, herbal extracts, cosmetic butters and the like, are a preferred option for discerning customers. There are positive health benefits associated with using holistic natural ingredients rather than isolated active compounds, because the body is able to better utilise natural substances and the chance of negative side-effects is reduced.

Choosing the right skin care system for your skin type is the final aspect to good skin care. Most people have two different facial skin types, for example, the forehead, nose and sometimes chin may be slightly oily, while the remaining areas of the face and neck may be slightly dry. It is important to identify your skin type before buying your skin care products, because the ingredients in the products should benefit the skin type you are trying to normalise. You may need to purchase two different skin care systems to accommodate your different skin types, however, more often than not, especially if the skin types differ only marginally from ‘normal’, you may be able to just aim between the two skin types for your choice of toner, and buy a second cleanser and moisturiser to accommodate the two skin types.

Let me give you an example. Let’s stick to the example above, where you may have an oily T-zone with otherwise dry facial skin.

If you have a close look at Wildcrafted’s systems for oily and normal skin types, you’ll discover, that the two systems only differ in one product - that is, the facial clay mask for the oily system is our Green Earth Medicine Facial Clay, while the Yellow Clay Mask is used in the system for Normal skin. Now, the system for dry skin, is somewhat different and there are actually two systems - one for primarily dry skin, the other for dry and sensitive skin.

The key here is to identify whether the oily or dry facial skin is the primary problem. That is, which is giving you more trouble? If it’s the oily part of your skin, than use the system for oily skin and use the Papaya day cream on the dry areas of the face rather than the Avocado cream, although, the Avocado Day Crème is okay to use even on slightly dry skin. If on the other hand the dry facial skin is more problematic and there are areas where your facial skin is not just dry but also sensitive, use the Hydrating Cleanser and Rose Day Cream to cleanse and moisturise instead of the Lemon Cleanser and Avocado Day Crème. Choose the Green Clay mask for the T-Zone and the Red Clay mask for the dry and sensitive areas of your skin.

By mixing and matching the different products you can ‘make’ a system that will suit your skin types and you do not have to purchase two entirely different systems, which of course is another option and you don’t have to think about it too much.

Back-to-Basics of skin care is really about applying common sense, a little knowledge and making the right choice of products. By providing your body with sufficient amounts of water, quality, unprocessed food, and using natural skin care products you can’t go wrong and the health of your skin is likely to stay with you a lot longer.

Cellulite: What is it and How can you get rid of it?

The first sign of cellulite is every woman’s nightmare. Cellulite is an irregular accumulation of fatty cells immediately underneath the skin, which leads to a dimpled appearance known as cellulite or ‘orange skin’. So, let’s take a closer look at cellulite, what it is, why mainly women get it and how you can get rid of it.

What is Cellulite?
In addition to the secretory portions of sweat glands, the hypodermis (subcutaneous connective tissue which lies just below your skin) contains lobules of adipose tissue (tissue containing fat-cells), which are separated by strands of collagenous fibers, called septae. When these septae become excessively filled with well-nourished adipocytes (fatty cells), the surface of the skin becomes dimpled and the appearance is known as cellulite.

Cellulite occurs around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Because of the close proximity of cellulite is to the surface of the skin, it creates a dimpled appearance in those body regions.

It occurs mostly in women as well as in some men, and can affect most age groups. Even if you do not have a weight problem, eat healthy food, drink plenty of fluid and exercise on a regular basis, you can still have cellulite.

It is estimated that about 85% of women have some cellulite. Cellulite can begin developing in teenagers, but more commonly begins to show itself in the late 20’s, early 30’s. Factors that are attributed to the development of cellulite are: age, genetic predisposition, Hormonal changes, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. However, even fit and healthy top athletes can and do get cellulite. Basically the reason women get cellulite is because women have to store fat to give them enough calories to get them through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

What Can You Do and What Works To Rid Yourself of Cellulite?

For starters, be patient. Anything you are going to do that will ultimately bring results will take time.

Massage

Lymphatic drainage massage, and specific massage strokes such as effleurage, frictions, tapotement, and kneading will help to remove the build up of fat deposition. You will need to have regular massages, at least once per week for 6-12 months, depending on the amount of cellulite needing to be removed. As the months pass, however, you will start to see a difference, very slow at first, but if you continue this form of treatment, you will see a difference.

Lotions/Creams

The use of essential oils in lotions and creams can indeed help to break down cellulite. Essential oil of Mandarin, which is a citrus oil, will help to break down fat. The way to get the best effect is to use a product like Wildcrafted’s Mandarin Toning Lotion, applied to your thighs and buttocks, or where ever you have cellulite, rap this area with Glad wrap, and allow the lotion to work for about 20 minutes. Repeat this at least 3 times per week.

The best results are obtained by applying the lotion to the affected area, wrapping Glad wrap around these areas followed by 15-20min of gentle exercise, such as going for a walk, riding a bike (exercise bike) or using a treadmill.

In addition, combine this regime with a healthy diet, ample intake of water and some exercise, and you will start to see a difference over time. Again, be patient. This will not work in a day or two.

Aromatherapy Oil Bend to help reduce cellulite
Using the same essential oils as are contained in Wildcrafted's Mandarin Toning Lotion, namely, Mandarin, Lemon, Cypress, Juniper Berry, Lemon grass and Peppermint you can make an oil blend using 6 drops each into 50ml of Almond or Apricot oil. After a bath, shower or exercise gently massage a few drops of the oil into the affected areas of your body. Do this twice a day.

Various Machines

There are a couple of machines that seem to provide results. One of these is called the Tri-Active and the other the Velasmooth and both of these machines do improve the problem, however, they are expensive, and only the Velasmooth is available in Australia at a cost of $150.- per session! Results are starting to be noticed after 4-6 months of weekly sessions.

Your best bet is to combine the massage with a lotion such as the Mandarin Toning Lotion, a regular exercise regime and a good, healthy, well-balanced diet.

Assault Your Cellulite

Usually doing one thing on its own will not produce long-term effects. For example if you decide you will exercise every day for 20 minutes, focusing on your thighs, you will get trim muscles and you will loose some of the cellulite, but even athletes have cellulite, so what chance have we, non-athletes, got?

On the other hand if you go on a diet, the same sort of thing happens. You will loose weight, probably, and you will start to feel healthier and more energetic, but the cellulite will likely only reduce and not disappear.

Similarly, you can buy a variety of products, all of which claim to work, and many of them probably could, but in the long-term, it is not likely that you will be able to get rid of the cellulite totally.

The only way that you can get rid of cellulite is to combine the three. Eat fresh, wholesome foods, do not eat processed food; stay away from coffee, alcohol and sweet soft drinks. Instead drink diluted fruit juice/vegetable juice, at least 2 litres of water every day and keep all other drinks to a minimum.

In addition, exercise at least 3 times every week. Find an exercise you enjoy, because if you don't, you won't do it long-term. The exercise you choose needs to become a hobby, that way you look forward to doing it rather then a have to do.

Finally to specifically target the areas of cellulite deposition, use a cream or lotion that contains a range of essential oils that include Lemon, Mandarin and others.

Citrus oils break down fat. They also are readily absorbed through the skin and thus directly affect the fat cells stored just below the superficial layers of the skin. One such product is Wildcrafted's Mandarin Toning Lotion. It contains the mix of citrus oils that are known to target fat cells in the skin.

The best results are achieved if after you apply the Mandarin Toning Lotion, you wrap the body-parts in Glad wrap and do some gentle exercise such as going for a walk or a gentle bike ride. After this exercise, have a shower, reapply the toning lotion and rest for 15 minutes.

If you do this and follow the suggestions above with respect to diet and fluid intake, you will see significant result, but only if you stick to it and continue the process over several months (6 months plus).

Another form of cellulite treatment is getting regular massages. Yes, they certainly can help in reducing the cellulite, but again it will take many months before you start to see the results.

Treating cellulite is a long-term multi-facetted approach and there is no such thing as a quick fix here.

I hope this little article will help some of you begin to get a grasp on how to go about getting rid of your cellulite. Be persistent, patient and make it fun.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's): Do they belong in Natural Skin Care Products?

What exactly are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA's) and What do AHA's do?

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA’s) are Fruit acids, which are weak organic acids derived from various sources such as, grapes, apples, sugar cane, maple, pineapple, papaya, willow bark, lemon, lime, sour milk, blackberries, yoghurt and cider, and play an important role in skin care.

Fruit acids are natural exfoliants that perform a number of functions at the level of the stratum corneum on the skin's surface. They loosen and dissolve dead cells from the skin's surface and help to regenerate new skin cells, aid in the control of acne, smooth rough dry skin, improve the texture of sun-damaged and aging skin and retain moisture which leaves your skin healthy and vibrant.

Using an exfoliant is one of the most important steps in skin care - I would go as far as saying it is the most important. If you think about it, what is the point of using a good moisturiser on your dead skin cells? None, right? So, using a facial clay once or twice a week and / or using a mild natural exfoliating gel is a great investment in your skin and your skin's health. Useful links to product information: Skin Renewal Gel - gentle exfoliating gel Earth Medicine Facial Clay - come in either Mask or Gel types

That is basically a good thing, but as usual, many companies are using concentrated extracts, or worse still, synthetically manufactured AHA’s or BHA’s (beta hydroxy acids), and that is not a good thing. Excessive concentration, or rather out-of-balance ingredients in skin care is definately to be avoided and I would not consider this type of products to be 'natural'. Yes, they may be natural extracts and added to a cream or lotion in concentrated form, thus arguably they are natural, but that is not what 'natural' skin care is about.

When scientists, pharmacists or chemists comes across a ‘new substance’, so to speak, they have a tendency to want to make it better than nature’s version… more concentrated for quicker, immediate results… and so on. Unfortunately, this usually brings with it side effects and sometimes actual physical damage.

A natural ingredient – just what exactly does that mean? Does it mean it is a substance that nature created and it has been added to a product in order to make that product natural? No, a natural ingredient is an ingredient that is, where ever possible, present in it’s natural, preferably wholistic form, for example AHA’s can be extracted and then added to a product, thereby the maker of that product can claim it contains ‘Natural ingredients’. Or the AHA’s can be used in a product in the form of an extract of Papaya with all the other ingredients present in Papaya fruit. This is a more balanced set of ingredients which work together to achieve a desired effect, thus it is a truly natural ingredient.

Many people do not react well to AHA's in skin care, and this is usually due to the fact that these women use skin care that have concentrates of AHA's in them, not the fruit extract in it's wholistic form. Many Woman come to us with irritated skin, saying '...but I use this natural skin care product...', when looking at it more closely we generally find that either a synthetic or natural extract/concentrate was used - the result: Irritated skin.

One of the best sources of AHA's is found in papaya fruit. When used in a cream such as the Papaya Day Creme, you will soon see the old layers (not dead yet) peal off - this is what is supposed to happen and there is no need for alarm. On the contrary, this is what you want to happen and shows you that the products is working on renewing your skin!!! Papaya Day Creme is used by individuals with dry & mature Skin type. If you have dry and sensitive Skin, then use the Rose Day Creme For an oily skin types Avocado Day Creme is your product of choice. Useful links to product information Natural Skin Care Systems - for a complete skin care approach for your specific skin types

Let me illustrate: Aspirin (a very commonly used pain killer) is derived from the bark of the White Willow Tree. The substance or the active ingredient is called Salicylic acid, a Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA). This is the stuff that reduces pain. It is also the stuff that can cause Stomach ulcers….

Now, the herbal extract of the White Willow Bark does not (or is much less likely to) cause Stomach ulcers. Why? because the herbal extract contains many other ingredients that are contained in the bark, which the extraction process brings out. Some of these substances are mucilaginous (Porridge is mucilaginous, or 'slimy') which means they are slippery and when taken internally, they cover the membrane of the Stomach (the lining) and prevent the salicylic acid from causing ulceration – clever, isn’t she, that Mother Nature woman?

Sometimes you will hear these additional ingredients referred to as “phyto-chemicals”. This is a very current topic today with respect to Vitamins and other ‘natural’ supplements. The term 'phyto' refers to plant, so what they are actually saying is plant chemicals.

Should AHA's be in your natural skin care products?

What does all this have to do with natural skin care? Well, as I have written before. Natural skin care is not necessarily natural and one could debate back and forth what ‘natural’ is, or what it should be. One thing is certain, natural skin care products should not contain any ‘un-natural’ ingredients, be they synthetically produced or in ‘purified / isolated / concentrated form’. Natural should be as close as possible to the way it is found in nature.

That is not to say one should not use Vitamin E as a principal ingredient in a cream, but it should not be of a synthetically derived form. Wheat germ oil, for example, is very high in Vitamin E and contains many other phyto-chemicals, which are nourishing to the skin.

At Wildcrafted Herbal Products we choose to define natural as ‘the way nature created it’, so we prefer not to use isolated natural ingredients. Instead, we choose to use traditional plant extracts, essential oils, carrier oils, hydrosols and other natural ingredients according to Naturopathic and herbal medicine principles, which preserve the integrity of the plant or relevant plant parts.

AHA's are a good ingredient to be included in natural skin care products, as long as the AHA's are still in their original content, ie: as part of a fruit hydrosol for example. That way, the ingredients in the fruit (other than the AHA's) will buffer the acidic effect of the AHA's and thus your skin is far less likely to be irritated or have an adverse reaction to the product.

We hope this clarifies some of the confusion which is propagated in the media and provides you with information you can use when next looking at ingredients on natural skin care products.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter – it’s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2007

Hair Dyes Cause Cancer

Research into the toxicity of hair dyes by Japanese researchers has demonstrated that certain hair dyes are carcinogenic and present a serious threat to users of permanent hair colouring products. Their findings list several chemicals which were responsible in causing a number of different cancers in rats, including ovarian, bladder and other cancers (Read Abstract).

They warn hair dressers in particular and women who frequently use permanent hair dyes about unwittingly increasing their risk of developing cancer through frequent, long term use.A natural hair dye is henna, which was found to be safe for use as a hair dye and poses no genotoxic risk to consumers (Read Abstract).

These and similar finding is why we at Wildcrafted Herbal Products, an Australian, manufacturer of natural skin and personal care products, continuously scan the scientific literature for new findings related to ingredients used by the beauty, cosmetics, skin care and personal care industries.

There is an ever increasing demand by customers for products that are totally natural and are safe to use. "Our aim is to identify potentially harmful substances in order to keep our products as pure as nature intended", said Susan Siegenthaler, director of R & D at Wildcrafted Herbal Products."As scientific investigation techniques are becoming more sophisticated, more chemicals both natural and synthetic are receiving increased scrutiny by the scientific community as to their safety and effectiveness", said Susan."

At Wildcrafted we look for scientifically validated information on a wide range of ingredients, in terms of their actions, effectiveness and safety, as a pro-active measure to avoid using any questionable ingredients in our products. We just want our customers to know they are not slowly poisoning themselves when using any of our range of products", states Susan."

I think consumers have the right to know what is in the products they are using and whether or not these ingredients have the potential to cause them harm," insists Susan. "I am very surprised that the finding from the Japanese research team has not made major headlines in news and current affair programs, and I have to wonder, Why?", asks Susan.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter – it’s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.

© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2007