Sunday 30 October 2011

Tea Tree oil your powerful sidekick in everyday battles with anything!

Yes...kinda random tea tree oil? what the what??
I love this stuff!! yes it smells kinda weird but in a good aromatic way, kinda refreshing on the nostrils. but weird smell or no it is a essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca aternifolia tree greatly found in Australia. It has been used for many centuries for the treatment of cuts, abrasions, burns, insect bites, infections and similar conditions in between.

The many uses of tea tree oil.
 Tea tree essential oil is considered to be both a natural antiseptic, meaning able to destroy bacteria capable of causing infections, and antimicrobial, may destroy or prevent growth of microbes which are tiny living things including bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. It is used in various ways in the treatment of many conditions. The most common being prevention or treatment of acne, fungal infections such as athlete's foot, yeast infections and a wide variety of skin conditions. 
Tea tree oil works against bacteria and microbes in a similar way to disinfectants. It disrupts the cell membranes of the destructive microorganisms and disables the proteins within them so they cannot multiply and cause health problems. The main constituents in tea tree oil are chemical compounds called Terpinen-4-ol, Alpha-terpineol and Linaool.


Where can tea tree oil be used?? 
the ten common uses of tea tree oil are
1.) Acne  Apply tea tree oil to affected area as needed. add a few drops to your face cleanser to prevent build up of bacteria that causes acne.
2.) Athlete's foot Apply 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to the affected area on the feet. soak in solutions of 5-10 drops in a bath of warm water.
3.) colds Add approximately 10 drops of tea tree oil in a vaporizer to help clear chest and nasal congestion.
4.) cold sores Apply tea tree oil directly to the sore two times a day.
5.) head lice Add 5 drops of tea tree oil to 1oz of shampoo. massage into wet hair, leave on for 10 minutes, rinse, repeat daily until lice and eggs are gone.
6.) insect bites Apply a drop or two of tea tree oil on an affected area, for cleansing make a solution of 10 drops of tea tree oil in 1/4 cup of warm water and wash affected area with a clean cotton ball or pad.
7.) Dermatits/eczema Apply a small amount to affected area if no irritation occurs repeat on other areas. for cleansing make a solution of 10 drops of oil in 1/4 cup of warm water and wash affected area.
8.) Ear infections Mix 5 drops of tea tree oil in 1/4 cup of warm olive oil. drop a small amount into the ear, tilting the head to one side, using a small cotton ball swab gently to absorb the oil. repeat as needed.
9.) Cuts and wounds  Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to cup of warm water to use as an antiseptic wash.
10.) Dandruff Add 20 drops of tea tree oil into your shampoo and mix, or use three drops mixed with your shampoo in your hand to wash your hair.


Tea tree oil in my opinion is great to have around the house for any of the above and more!! when buying and using tea tree oil look for 100% pure to get the best results and the purest oil possible.  To read up more about tea tree oil and more if its uses check out various health stores or of course the interweb ;)

cheers
xoxoxox Relish

5 important foods for healthy glowing skin

Theres millions of products out on the market to help get that healthy glowing skin we all treasure, and we as consumers spend hundreds trying various skin care methods, moisturizers, toners, masks, creams, facials etc.. of course theres these topical methods but we should realize that what we put into our bodies comes out in our skin and hair. You may notice if your diet or water intake has been lacking it will show through in your complextion resulting in dull lifeless skin. Eating healthy foods and taking in the appropriate amount of water flushes your system and gives your body and skin the nutrients and vitamins it requires to look healthy and glowing. Try adding these five foods to your everyday diet and notice the results in your skin.


H2O!!!!!
 Drinking your daily requirement of water can be more of a chore these days with all the new fancy drinks over crowding the market, but in all reality no matter how dull and tasteless water is it is still very important to our bodies and our overall appearance. our bodies are 70-85% water and therefore is essential to not only hydrate but cleanse and detox our systems. Especially when your feeling a little under the weather or you partied just a little to much over the weekend.
 So as dull and tasteless water is try remembering to drink at least the required 8 8oz glasses of water daily, if the taste of water really bothers you that much try adding lemon or cucumber to add a refreshing taste as well as other health benefits. Lemon water helps with water retention. 




TOMATOES
 Tomatoes may help clear acne because they contain Lycopene (the photochemical that makes tomatoes red) can help lower the acne promoting hormones our bodies produce. try adding tomatoes to your diet 3-5 times a week. Lycopene also defends off the damaging UV rays we encounter in tanning beds and the sun. Lycopene and other Carotenoids found in orange to reddish coloured foods help improve skins antioxidant status. I know a lot of people hate tomatoes (my boyfriend being one of them) but I love them!!! try munching on cherry or grape tomatoes, I could eat these all day, especially with a little side of ranch ;)


GREEN TEA
 I'm sure we all know that Green Tea reaps many health benefits for it is filled with powerful antioxidants and is good for you beyond the benefits of glowing skin. Green tea fights acne based on its ability to lower levels of acne producing hormones called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) it is recommended that 2-5 cups everyday will reap the full benefits of this superT!!! Although like everything else enjoy in moderations for drinking to much green tea can become toxic.

BERRIES
Deeply colored berries such as blueberries, cherry's, strawberries etc. are loaded with antioxidants to help your body fight off blemishes. With everyday obstacles and free radicals fighting against our bodies such as stress, environmental conditions, poor diet etc. all this oxidative stress going on can actually deplete the antioxidants so be sure to include lots of antioxidant filled fruits to your everyday diet.

Fish
 To be completely honest I'm not the best lover of anything from the sea despite all the fatty acids and essential oils they contain, but yes fish like I'm sure we all know contains omega-3 fatty acids, which among many other benefits, can slow down the "wrinkling process" in our skin. Wrinkle development is rooted in inflammation, inflammatory chemicals that are like "acid rain" on the collagen of your skin, Omega-3 turns down the production of these chemicals, Omega-3 also has mood-regulating benefits. If your like me and don't enjoy fish as much try looking for supplements.

BROWN RICE
 Not something I would expect to promote healthy glowing skin however Brown Rice contains Ceramids which are found in skin products. These lipid molecules help skin maintain it's moisture. When your body digests ceramics they become incorporated into the outer later of the skin and therefore naturally help maintain skins hydration.

And so there you have it ladies !! Instead of going out and spending a fortune on all these lotions and potions try adding these foods to your everyday or at least weekly diet. Essentially everything we put into our bodies comes out in our skin so eat healthy, hydrate your body get plenty of "beauty sleep" and relax.

cheers
xoxox Relish