Bacterial Vaginosis (BV), Yeast Infections, and Vaginal Health

Bacterial vaginosis is simply the result of an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina. It officially counts as inflammation (in one of the most uncomfortable places), and causes symptoms such as:

* Vaginal discharge (gray, green, etc.)
* Unpleasant (fishy) odor
* Pain
* Redness
* Swelling
* Itching
* Burning sensation when urinating

In conclusion, it SUCKS.

Vaginal chemistry is pretty complex and depends on hormonal and bacterial balance. Stress leads to an excess of stress hormones such as adrenaline (short term) and cortisol (long term).

Of course, we all operate at our highest level when we are not under threat or constant stress. Women are especially prone to stress side effects. These include:

* Worse PMS
* Vaginal dryness
* Vaginal discharge
* Fertility problems
* Menstruation irregularity

And...

* Bacterial vaginosis

But back to chemistry.

As everyone who has every watched a yogurt commercial knows, good bacteria must be present to resist harmful bacteria. Hormones and pH levels affect bacteria, and may even kill good bacteria while allowing harmful bacteria to flourish.

One interesting factor in pH is sex.

Semen is on the alkaline end of the pH scale, while the vagina depends on an acidic pH. Acid kills sperm. Fabulous. This is why women often find themselves with unpleasant symptoms after intercourse. Fuck.

There are some wonderful natural remedies for rebalancing pH and restoring vaginal health.

* Boric acid suppositories, like Clean Sweep (with or without tea tree oil)
* Cranberry
* Vitamin C
* Probiotics
* Garlic
* Yogurt

Take care of yourselves, Ladies. Simple preventative measures like taking extra supplements or using a boric acid suppository after sex or when you notice the first hint of trouble can make all the difference. Be proactive when it comes to your health, because your vagina goes with you everywhere...

Boric Acid Vaginal Suppositories FAQs

Clean Sweep - Made by The Balm Lady

Is boric acid safe to use vaginally?

Yes, it is safe to use pharmaceutical grade boric acid tablets as suppositories.

Why is boric acid safe when inserted vaginally but toxic when ingested?

In the stomach, boric acid is absorbed to a greater extent and distributed throughout the body. This process is not the same in the vagina, where the absorption is to a lesser degree and the compound is contained.

Can I have sex while using boric acid?

NO. It would act as an irritant and could potentially cause a rash for both partners. 

Can I use boric acid while pregnant?
NO. NO. NO.

How do you prepare the capsules?

These are made by hand, by us in our apothecary. Everything is sanitized - jars, workspaces, containers, etc- we wear gloves, and everything is stored separately from all of the other herbal items we make. These are made by mixing the boric acid with the tea tree at a therapeutic ratio, then the mixture is encapsulated, and then bottled and labeled.

What is the difference between boric acid with tea tree versus regular?

The regular boric acid powder is very effective without the tea tree essential oil. Some people opt for the tea tree option because it also has antiviral, antiseptic, and astringent properties that can also help with bacterial issues such as UTIs. This may also offer a broader scope of relief. pH imbalance in the vagina can lead to several different problems, not just yeast infections.

What is the usual length of treatment?

Treatment can be up to two weeks, but use precaution after more than a week. Skin irritation could result, and your body may respond better to a different treatment. However, many women report relief from symptoms as quickly as 48 hours.

What is BV (bacterial vaginosis)?

BV is a bacterial infection in the vagina, caused by an imbalance in healthy bacteria. This problem is a common occurrence after a course of antibiotics, since antibiotics wipe out both good and bad bacteria.

I'm experiencing watery discharge the day after using boric acid. Is that normal? 

Yes, that is a common side-effect. The boric acid does not really absorb into the vagina.

Is bleeding normal during treatment? 

No. If you notice any bleeding from the vagina that is not period-related, stop treatment immediately.

Can I use boric acid while I'm on my period?

No. Wait until you stop menstruating to use boric acid.

Boric Acid...and Your Vagina?

"You put what up there?"

I thought I had heard her wrong. But no.

"Boric acid."

"I'm sorry - acid. Up there?"

Apparently it works. Go figure.

"So you're telling me that something that could kill you if you swallowed it...can work wonders in your...vagina?"

Monica assured me again and again, but I still thought she was a little cracked. Maybe this is what happens to Etsy nuts, I thought, they start to go off the deep end. Maybe there's a support group (she) I should be going to...

Then I started to research this phenomenon.

As any woman who has ever had a yeast infection knows, a yeast infection can ruin your day. It's hard to sit calmly through a meeting or answer phones in a pleasant voice when dealing with symptoms like:

* Itching

* Burning

* Irritation

* Thick white discharge

* Vaginal odor

* Redness

* Swelling

* Painful urination (and intercourse)

Yeast is found naturally in the vagina. Like most things, though, moderation is key. The pH balance of the environment either keeps the yeast population in check, or lets it grow wildly out of control.

What's the difference between good yeast and bad?

* Healthy = single-cell fungus
* Harmful = branches of yeast cells (mycelia)

Factors that increase the risk of yeast infections include:

* Diabetes
* Stress
* Fatigue
* Anemia
* Allergies
* HIV
* Immunodeficiency
* Chemo / radiation
* Antibiotics
* Steroids
* Menstruation
* Bubble bath
* Lack of ventilation
* Over-use of sprays, douching, tampons, liners, etc.

Boric acid is a derivative of the element Boron, and is found naturally in minerals, hot springs, and volcanic water. It is acidic in nature and has been used for over 100 years in treating yeast infections and vaginosis, among other feminine perils.

Boric acid (which comes as a white powder that looks suspiciously like cocaine), is:

* Antiviral

* Antifungal

* Antiseptic (antibacterial)

BA suppositories (another new term for me) are inserted into the vagina, where the gelatin capsule dissolves while the boric acid restores the environment to a healthy pH status.

Clean Sweep, made by The Balm Lady
Available at thebalmlady.com

Suggested use:

1 tablet (600 mg) before bed for 2-10 days.

Many women have told us that their symptoms cleared up in as little as two days.

Doctors usually prescribe medications or creams such as Metronidazole, Clotrimazole, Miconazole, or Ticonazole. Problem is, these treatments have a bad habit of not working after a while.  Antibiotics also have the unhelpful side effect of wiping out all the good bacteria with the bad. Good bacteria fights the bad stuff, so your yeast infection might be gone, but something just as good will come take its place.

Somehow, BA just knows what to do.

If you're bored, you can take a fun little quiz to test your knowledge on yeast infections.

To learn more, the Pacific Gynecology Specialists Seattle have some great information about Boric Acid and its uses.

Here is an article written by doctors from Kaiser on using Boric Acid.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. The Balm Lady disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

For purchase options, go to The Balm Lady's shop on Etsy. 

FAQ Working with the Elemental Guides

Premise: As a Shamanic Practitioner, I will from time to time, call on the Elements to help me with Healing, or with moving or influencing energy. How I use / call on Elementals is / can be different than how any other practitioner / Witch / Shaman / etc uses them. 

Reminders: 

Our Earth is comprised of all elements - Earth, Water, Fire, and Air / Wind. Everything on Earth is derived from elements as well - the Human body is 70% water, after all.

When working with the Elements (Elementals), you must always remember that Elements have the power to shift - water turns to ice, fire to ash, etc.

.::Here is are a few questions usually asked regarding how to work with Elementals::.

1. Where do I find an Elemental?

They are everywhere. A flame on your candle, water in your sink, ice in your freezer, dirt in your flower box, air that you breathe.

2. How do I begin working with an Elemental?

-Believe in them and their existence

-Open your heart and show love to all living creatures

-Care for animals, plants, and flowers and surround yourself in their energy everyday

-Care for the environment

-Be a good person and show love and gratitude (elementals mirror our behavior)

-Communicate with them - ask how you can help them and watch for their signs

-Ask them to help you in your life

3. What can I ask the Elemental to do or help me with?

You can ask Elementals to help you in anyway - starting a project, opening communication, releasing stagnant energy, purifying objects, etc. All Elementals can be helpful, but each has their area of specialty. 

Earth - Grounding / centering, building stability, prosperity, material possessions, abundance, build solid foundations in business, relationships, the home. Use also for creating peace, growing plants, money magic, growing family,  & fertility.

Water - healing, purification, psychic awareness and protection. Water is the realm of peace, tranquility, but can also be used to create FAST change when needed. Helps with increasing emotions, dispelling dear, and blocking psychic attacks.

Fire - energy, success, courage, transformation, leadership, strength, passion, love, sex, romance, banishing, creating new beginnings, destroy the old to make way for new, & obtain your desires.

Air -clear thinking, new ideas, new beginnings, clear communication, change, and solutions to problems, new thoughts, reason, intellect, knowledge, freedom, memory, and awareness.

**You can also ask each Element(al) how they can help you in your life!

If you are are learning about Shamanism, you can journey with the Elements and they can show you ways they may be able to help as well as asking them during your journey for things like healing, purification, and assistance.

On Perfume

Making a perfume is much more than throwing together some scents and hoping they mix well, and smell good. Think about the last time you wore perfume or cologne. What was the occasion? Why did you pick that scent? Are there some scents that you cherish and only use for special times? Do you have a signature scent?

There is a reason why we cherish scent the way we do. Our nose or olfactory membrane is the only spot in the human body where our central nervous system comes into direct contact with our environment. This means that we first perceive things through our nose. We smell the cookies baking before we see them or taste them.

Our sense of smell is first processed through the limbic lobe - the oldest part of our brain and the place where all of our emotional impulses are. This is why certain scents and odors can make us feel nostalgic - happy, sad, make us long for people, places, things. When we come into contact with a smell we have already reacted to and our minds are making a mental note of when, where, why, so that twenty years from now, when you are walking down the street and catch a whiff of a past lover's cologne, your memory is triggered to that night you had your first kiss. Or when you enter a bakery, and the smell takes you back to your grandmother's kitchen. Spice does that for me, it makes me remember my dad cooking in our family home.

Whether it's flowers in bloom, bread baking, smoke, or a wet dog, we can tell what each scent comes from without needing to see it's source of origin. Throughout our lives, our nose and sense of smell is recording everything - everything, from the mundane - burnt toast, to the intimate - your lover's cologne. There is no greater power we have that can recall memories, impressions, - all with deep emotional roots and ties within our soul. How exquisite is that?

The perfume or cologne we choose has it's place too - it's the constant smell that will frame your (and those of who you come into contact with) experiences while you are wearing it. Make sure you love it. 💖

Acetaminophen: Killing More Than Pain

When was the last time a doctor recommended you take acetaminophen, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or one of the common NSAIDs for pain and inflammation? This week? 

Me too.

Did your doctor mention the common side effects? Mine didn't.

Consumer Reports wrote about a recent study in Scotland where researchers found that, while we all know that overdosing on acetaminophen can be fatal, a toxic overdose can also be caused over time when people consistently take a little more than the daily maximum. 

This isn't just a problem for people who knowingly overdose or abuse drugs. Just as many people are seen in the ER due to accidental overdose. Why?

Two main reasons:

1. The FDA and the pharmaceuticals manufacturing OTC drugs don't have the same definition for a "Daily Maximum". Is it 1,000 mg, or is it 4,000 mg? Nobody seems to know.

2. Acetaminophen is used in over 600 other OTC medicines, from allergy and cold meds to sleep aids and fever reducers. It's really easy to take more than you intend to.

What are some of the most common problems acetaminophen can cause?

This particular drug is so popular because it doesn't present the same stomach damage potential that drugs like Ibuprofen do. However, Tylenol (acetaminophen) does not decrease inflammation, can be toxic even slightly over the daily max dose, and, combined with alcohol, can cause liver failure. 

Learn more about the pros and cons of 4 of the most common pain killers.

What does this have to do with herbal remedies and pain salves? 

Herbs like turmeric, cayenne pepper, arnica, frankincense, and Devil's Claw are all effective in decreasing inflammation. A knowledgeable herbalist will also tell you that you can't take frankincense internally, but it is very effective in a topical application. The others are safe and effective both internally and externally. Overdosing on herbs is nearly unheard of, both because of common sense and practicality. 

Comfrey is one of the only herbs that includes some warnings and probably shouldn't be taken internally (though not everyone agrees on this). The point is that nature's provisions are just as powerful and plentiful as those created in a lab, and oftentimes more so. 

We all have options when it comes to our health, and it's not a pills-or-pain world. You can advocate for yourself by educating yourself, not just on alternatives to western medicine but also how certain drugs will affect your body. Doctors know a lot, but they don't always know what's best for us.

Thanks Giving

My Gratitude List

• Family & Friends & Fur Babies
• Love
• Healing
• Creativity
• Our Home
• Hope
• The Balm Lady's Customers 😍
• Megan's Business Success
• Change 
• Beauty
• Music
• New Experiences
• Silence
• Coffee 💟
• Sunshine
• Laughter
• Good Memories
• Good books
• Good food

This list is not complete....

Happy Thanksgiving! 

An Introduction to Rolfing

What to Expect in a Session

Rolfing is a deep-tissue manipulation of the fasciae, holding muscles and bones together, a practice developed by Ida P. Rolf in the 1950s. Rolf, along with contemporaries in similar fields such as Alexander Lowen and Wilhelm Reich, was very interested in the human body's interdependent relationship with our environment, gravity, and our emotions.

Rolf's main goal in this deep tissue work was to reestablish "the natural alignment and structural integration of the human body for vitality and well-being," as stated in her book, Rolfing. One focus of this realignment is on maneuvering the body's tissue, which affects bones, muscles, balance, and posture, in order to reestablish a healthy relationship with gravity. 

Gravity is the main force always acting on our bodies and it takes its toll, accentuating the imbalances imposed by injury or internalized emotions, and Ida Rolf's techniques are still used as a paradigm shift for a patient's physicality.

What does all this look like? I went to observe my partner's Rolfing session, and on entering the room the setup reminded me of a massage clinic. The office lighting was low and the atmosphere was calm. Female and male clients remove everything but their underwear and lie under a blanket on the table with their face toward the ceiling. A Rolfing session lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half, and within that time a client will lie on his or her back, stomach, and either side in varying postings.

There is a high level of cohesion between Rolfing clinicians because they all go through the same training and certification process. Most offer a 10-session series that progressively works with different parts of a client's body week by week, but clinicians do not recommend ever repeating the series, though some people come back for occasional "tune-ups". 

Rolfing can be a painful experience, as most will attest, because of the nature of the body manipulation. This is different than a typical massage because massages tend to deal with the points of pain or tight muscles, while Rolfers trace pain or physical problems to their origins, which are often in very unexpected areas of the body (i.e. neck pain being caused by an imbalance in one's feet). They use their fists, elbows, and knuckles rather than thumbs, and though the process is painful, clients report that it is a "good", cleansing type of pain. 

Since every body is different and since we all go through different experiences, some people have more problems with some parts of their bodies than others. Rolfers often see the manifestation of "body memories", which means that when they work on a certain muscle or body structure, an emotional memory might surface for the client, taking him or her back to a moment of injury, pain, or abuse in his or her past. Many clients say that this is an emotive process, and Rolfers correlate certain sessions in their series with the release of different emotions.

Overall, Rolfing is a good way to recalibrate one's body, release pent-up emotions, and work on chronic pain, with results that last longer than any other discipline in the bodywork field.

Giving Thanks for Valerian: Therapeutic Uses and Brain Basics (part 1)

Most nights, if I want to get some solid sleep, both the dogs and I take a Valerian tablet or two. Insomnia lite and general sleep disruption have followed me since I was a kid. Doctors are fond of prescribing heavy drugs for this (half a tablet of Seroquel once left me nearly comatose for a day and a half), but eventually I decided that Klonopin and all the rest could shove it. I was still tired, done with feeling like a zombie.

Then I found valerian. Valerian is a plant that is native to Europe, China, and the Americas. People have been using it for thousands of years as a natural remedy, and it still has a few tricks up its leaves.

Benefits and uses of Valerian include improvements in:

• Sleep
• Muscle pain and spasms
• Menstrual cramps
• Anxiety
• Restlessness
• Focus problems

Forms of usage:

• Diluted essential oil for aromatherapy benefits
• Herbal tea
• Herbal extract
• Tincture

The Nerdy Science Behind the Benefits

The brain’s network of neurons is responsible for processing incoming stimuli and sending out responses. When your hand feels a burning sensation as you accidentally touch a hot Thanksgiving plateful of turkey, that signal travels to the spinal cord and up to your brain in no time, and the responsive jerk of the hand and a choice swear word are the neuronal response that your brain sends back almost instantly.

Those signals are all conducted via neurotransmitters, chemicals traveling along those billions of pathways like a colossal baton race.

Neurotransmitters fall into two categories: excitatory and inhibitory. That’s it. Billions of connections, trillions of cells, unlimited functions, all down to two types of neurotransmitters.

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain, while GABA (gamma-Aminobutyric acid) is the main inhibitor. These two usually balance each other out, but when they don’t, you can experience some severe problems.

With an excess of unrestrained glutamate, your brain cells can experience excitotoxity, or cell suicide. Therefore, researchers believe that this may be related to some degenerative brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Other possible indications are ADHD, Autism, restlessness, addiction, and anxiety.

An excess of GABA, on the other hand, can impair memory, lower libido, and decrease motivation.

Valerian and GABA are pals. They work well together. This is thought to be the reason that valerian helps with insomnia, anxiety, and pain. The benzodiazepine Valium is even better friends with GABA, and its powerful effects often lead to physical dependence and addiction when a person needs to take more and more of the drug to achieve the same results*.

Valerian root and essential oils do not present this danger, however. Valium is articifically produced in a lab, and valerian is a plant.

* As a side note, chemical dependence and tolerance of a substance is often related to an over-stimulation of brain chemicals, which eventually impairs the brain and body’s ability to self-regulate.

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16857858

http://naturalhealthezine.com/valerian-and-valium/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12662130

http://www.thesleepdoctor.com/2017/06/19/understanding-valerian-hops-how-valerian-and-hops-can-help-you-de-stress-relax-and-sleep-better/

https://theherbalacademy.com/getting-to-know-the-valerian-plant/

Holidays: The Hurriest Time of the Year?

Who doesn't love cheesy Christmas carols and cheesy holiday dishes and cheesy office parties that no one can remember? Who doesn't love racing from store to store or staring endlessly at your computer, flooded with millions of gift options. Buying your least favorite teacher an obligatory -- or appeasing -- glass apple or nondescript box of candy used to be simple. Now? I can easily spend 2 hours just scrolling through options, only to decide on nothing and wish that January would hurry up and get here. 

Maybe that's the problem. Hurry. Now that Black Friday seems to have forgotten its namesake and prefers to stretch from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving to the Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday after Thanksgiving. So it's not Black Friday, just "rush to get that early bird sale before time runs out" week. Ads this year, at least on my accounts, take the position that I merely overlooked my excellent savings options and need a friendly, persistent push to go shopping. To save money. Because how can I save money if I'm not shopping?

"Ok, dear customer, we value you so much that we're going to give you one more chance. 12% off today! For the next 12 minutes!"

No takers.

"Don't worry, dear customer, we've got you covered. We've saved you some last-minute deals: $10 OFF when you buy $200 worth of merchandise! How cool are we? I mean, how cool are you???"

From the time we decide where the family is going to have Thanksgiving dinner, I can almost hear the anxiety and anticipation of making lists, checking them twice, then three times, then always. Perfect gifts, trees, decorations, food!

In their article "Money can’t buy love: Asymmetric beliefs about the link between gift price and feelings of appreciation," Francis J. Flynn and Gabrielle S. Adams report that:

"Across three studies, we identify an asymmetry between gift-givers’ and gift-recipients’ beliefs about the link between gift price and feelings of appreciation. Gift-givers expected a positive correlation between how much they spent on a gift and the extent to which gift-recipients would appreciate the gift because gift-givers assume that more expensive gifts convey a higher level of thoughtfulness. Gift-recipients, in contrast, reported no such association between gift price and their actual feelings of appreciation. This effect occurred regardless of whether the individual’s role and the magnitude of the gift were manipulated or measured in the field. Taken together, these findings cast doubt on whether gift-givers can draw on their personal experience as gift-recipients in order to identify meaningful gifts for others."

As Flynn and Adams found, there is not a positive correlation between the amount of money spent on a gift and the amount of pleasure the recipient gets from the receiving it. So even if I think I'm awesome for spending $100 on a necklace for my lady, if she's more into video games or outdoors adventures and doesn't wear jewelry much, the effect is lost. 

Another helpful reminder is the scene in the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower where Charlie, a socially awkward high school freshman who happily finds himself being inducted into an outsider group of seniors, carefully chooses personalized gifts for each of his friends. With a budget of maybe $50, he touches his 5 friends' hearts, right down to the stoner named Bob who delights in the bottle of kids' bubbles and says, "He knows me...he really knows me." 

This holiday season, what do you want to give to the people you see? A reason to remember you, a reason to feel obligated to you, a reason to smile, a reason to cry, a reason to remember the reason you all stressed over the gifts, decorations, and food in the first place? 

Some suggestions and strategies for slowing down and enjoying the "most wonderful time of the year":

• Turn off the phones, TVs, computers, and iPads regularly
• Journal, jog, meditate, or walk in the mornings to start your day on a level note
• Drop the need to be right or to get your own way (not saying be a doormat or codependent)
• Listen and look at someone when s/he is talking to you
• Silence the phone and put it away if you are meeting someone for lunch, etc.
• Brainstorm what meaningful gifting looks like for each person you are planning presents for
• Re-evalute what you are spending, and on what -- will he really like that tie? will she really like those slippers?
• Ask the Universe or a Higher Power to inspire insight and help you find great gifts for people
• Bust out your dusty hobby, whether it is painting, beading, cleaning, writing, hiking
• Turn off the phones, iPads, computers, TV's...did I already mention that?

Maybe our best bet for this stressful time of year is to say adios to the hurry. Let it go on its way. Say goodbye to strange expectations of "perfection". This is not a stage production. Whether you recognize the historical backdrop to Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Chinese New Year, or others, why are we even bothering with all the bother, if not to build relationships and connect with people we care about? 

Why I Broke Up with Burt's Bees

Burt's Bees is a company with an inspiring start-up story behind it, and I was one of the people who splurged on the $3-4 lip balms and savored the sensation. Then, of course, I was introduced to even simpler, cleaner formulas being mixed and poured in my own kitchen and work room. There was a lurking sense of guilt, too, whenever I stood in line at Sprouts and surveyed (or didn't make eye contact with) all of Burt's cool stuff.

One day, I did happen to pick up another tube to look at the ingredients. I was thinking that, because the label looks so innocent and cute, there would only be 4-5 ingredients, and they could all be found in a field or forest. I was mostly right, up until the lanolin, canola, and soybean oils.

Nothing terribly wrong there, but after an ingredient list of:

* Beeswax
* Shea or cocoa butter
* Essential oils
* Sweet almond oil

...it's just not the same...

Natural Deodorant versus Dove and Secret: What's the big deal?

If you are like me (and possibly millions of consumers) and are secretly terrified of social rejection based on body odor, you may have used Dove or Secret deodorants and anti-perspirants. For the last several years, I have enjoyed forgetting that my armpits even sweat or smell.

As we began to research the ingredients that top brands use, however, we were shocked to learn of potential risks to using these products. For example, common chemicals or substances used in Dove, Old Spice, and Secret products include:

* Aluminum
* Parabens
* Triclosan

The list of ingredients and side effects goes on, but these components are directly or indirectly linked to cancer, whether they themselves are carcinogens or alter your body's hormone production.

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to toxic products. Many bloggers have chronicled their experiences with terrible natural products that do not prevent noticeable body odor issues (and thus increase likelihood of rejection from human society, which the human brain registers as a threat comparable to death), so we were unsure of how this experiment would proceed.

For the last year, we have formulated, tested, and adjusted our recipes.

Ingredients:

* Coconut oil
* Cocoa butter
* Shea butter
* Arrow root powder
* Corn starch
* Pinch of baking soda (only in the regular formulas, not the sensitive skin recipe)
* Essential Oils
* Beeswax

Don't just take our word on it, though. Look at the reviews on our Etsy shop. The benefits beeswax brings to skin are manifold, and several customers have reported increased softness of underarms after consistent deodorant application.

One issue that does come up is that these natural products are not designed as anti-perspirants. Biologically, underarm hair is supposed to wick bacteria out of your body as you sweat.

Researchers have presented somewhat conflicting conclusions as to the risk of cancer connected with underarm shaving and the resultant absorption of toxic ingredients in products, where the body cannot slough the toxins because the sweat glands are artificially plugged and there is no hair to drain sweat and bacteria.

Of course, your body's functions are unique based on gender, age, diet, location, heredity, and ethnicity. Shop around and see what works for you. It helps to expect your experience with natural products to be different, but there is also a beauty in letting your body be itself. We are human and we make a mess wherever we go, but some like to think it's a beautiful mess.

Someone who has lived with chronic pain for years can tell you what it is like to always think of your limitations first when presented with an opportunity; to make sure you have enough pain medication to last through the weekend or holiday; to get caught up in something you love, only to realize that the pain has worsened and you have to stop. It is like living in an ever-shrinking box.

The frustrating fact is that ongoing pain is not always caused by physical problems in the present moment, but rather by the neuronal memory stored by your nerves through your body and in brain pathways. 

To picture this better, imagine that you live in the center of a vast grassland. In every direction, you are surrounded by grass and bushes as high as your waist, and to get to anything else, you have to go through the unmarked fields. At first you may not know where to start or what direction to take because you have never ventured out, but once you get your bearings and find out that Trader Joe’s is to the South, Walmart is to the Northwest, and McDonald’s is to the East, among many other attractions, you will soon find that you choose favorites. These are the paths, then, that get larger and well worn. If you are a Trader Joe’s hippie and hate all things Walmart, your Walmart pathway will disappear as the grass grows back over it and the Trader Joe’s path will become smoother, broader, and more comfortable for travel. In fact, when you have some friends over and they need an outing, you are more likely to take them on the path you know the best. 

In relation to the brain, once you have sustained an injury that caused significant pain and whose healing took time, your nerves become accustomed to sending those pain signals from the original site of injury along the neuronal pathways, through your dorsal horn in your spinal column, and up into your brain. 

Meanwhile, the pleasure pathways have been crowded out by weeds because the pain of that ruptured ligament or smashed cartilage overpowered everything pleasant until all you could feel was pain. This often means that, by the time your body is fully functional again, your nerves have dug such deep pain signals that they almost default to that setting as a general, unprovoked response. 

The added problem is that chronic pain has a spiraling effect. Since the experience of pain produces the stress hormone cortisol, which also allows us to feel the pain more acutely, the two build on each other, breaking down your immune system in the process and making you vulnerable to other problems. 

The problems with NSAIDS and opiates and narcotics are numerous. Anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen can damage your liver and eat through your stomach lining if you take them without food or take them too often, in general. Opiates and narcotics, of course, are many addicts’ drug of choice. They are all designed for damage control, not healing. In the long run, our bodies build up a tolerance to man-made drugs, which means that gradually you need to take more and more to get the same level of relief. 

Herbs, on the other hand, do not come with the usual host of tolerance and toxicity. As someone who was raised in Western culture, I believed that herbal remedies were a soft option that acted more as a placebo. I’ll make my conversion story short: I am now a believer. 

No matter what kind of pain you are in, there is an herb that is designed to help. Designed by the inventor of symbiotic ecosystems and the planets, I might add. 

The “pain relief” heading neglects the subtlety of the herbalist’s understanding. Arnica, comfrey, and Devil’s Claw are all meant to treat pain, but while Arnica is great for bruises, swelling, recovery from childbirth, sprains, dislocations, and general trauma injuries, Devil’s Claw is better suited to back pain, arthritis, tendonitis, and joint pain. Devil’s Claw, as a side note, is also a mainstay herb for people trying to lessen their dependence on pain medications.

In treating my chronic pain, I needed something I could safely use everyday that would not harm me in the long term. The key to coping with chronic pain is to keep it at a low level consistently. If you keep your pain steady at a 3 instead of letting it spike to an 8 and then trying anything you can swallow to numb out, you have more options. You are not held hostage by your condition. Consistency in pain management also means you are giving your neuronal pathways a chance to experience something other than pain — the chance to re-learn and feel pleasure again. 

http://www.blessedmaineherbs.com/chpare.html

Natural Tooth Whitening Alternatives, Plus Remineralization!

I think it is fascinating that we spend some much time caring for our teeth. Think about it, Americans love having beautiful, white teeth! I can't think of another culture where teeth are so well cared for, can you?

I care for my teeth too, although I am more about function and health than looks and presentation.  I have never worn braces to fix the gap in my upper front teeth, and probably never will.  I love coffee so I don't worry about keeping them gleaming white either. 

And to be honest, most of today's commercial tooth whitening products contain many ingredients that actually cause your teeth and gums to deteriorate quicker, not to mention are a literal pain in the mouth.
The number one ingredient in tooth whitening gels is carbamide peroxide (which is what most people use to remove ear wax also) - a chemical which almost always causes severe allergic reactions in it's users. Check out this article at Prevention. 

I know that people say they want beauty at any cost, but when you have to experience physical pain and get hives from ONE product, I think it might be time to change your approach. I have been working on tweaking my remineralizing toothpaste recipe. First off, I decided I would try making a tooth powder that would do two things - remineralize and whiten teeth. So far, I am happy with the results, and my testers are too! It's all natural, of course, and I have added Organic Sage leaf powder to help promote teeth whitening.

There are other natural herbs and fruits that can whiten teeth - strawberries!
Turmeric is also another herb that can help get your pearly whites nice and bright.  I've also heard of guava leaf, lemon juice and olive oil can also get the job done, naturally and with far less to no side affects. 

Mo'Teeth Remineralizing and Whitening Tooth Powder
available at BalmLady.Etsy.com

My tooth powder is available for you to try if you are interested in both whitening  and remineralizing your teeth.