st johns wort

HOW TO SURVIVE WINTER SKIN MISERY!

id you know over 70% of adults with dry skin issues like, eczema, psoriasis, and even sensitive skin, dramatically worsen during the winter? That’s not something to look forward to, however there are solutions.

It’s good to know:

# 1 You Are Not Alone! #2 There is A Solution! #3 That Natural Herbs work!!!

One hand scratching the other dry itchy hand — Dry Itchy Hands

Let me begin by sharing with you my own recent experience. It all started when the palm of my hands began to itch horribly. Recognizing this was something more serious than “at home” remedies, I visited my dermatologist, who prescribed a strong cortisone based ointment with instructions to apply twice daily for 14 days. After doing this for several weeks, I knew I was in trouble when simple movement of my fingers caused the skin to split at the joints. The RX was too strong and thinned my skin! By this time the itch was primarily gone but my hands were left extremely dry, to the point they were cracking, flaky and peeling. I threw the ointment away, began to apply my Avani Herbal Balm and went to see an Allergy Specialist. It turns out I had “Hives” and he said the cortisone actually made the condition worsen! He suggested use of an antihistamine if the red-itchiness reoccurred and to continue applying my all-natural balm. So I went home and applied abundant amounts of my Avani Herbals Balm for Dry Skin. Both of my hands began to dramatically heal….finally!!!!

Dr Cork from The Free Library said: “Anyone wanting to protect their skin, should use an intensive moisturizer which helps replace some parts of the skin barrier which are reduced in the winter….”

Avani Herbals Balm not only replaces that protective barrier against the elements but provides relief and especially rapid healing.

Why does The Balm work so well?

Because of these Amazing Herbs…..

Comfrey causes “rapid” new cell growth, that means faster healing.
Calendula is an anti-inflammatory and attacks the inflammation with a vengeance!
St John’s Wort reduces stinging, burning and pain!

All three of these amazing herbs…….

“Come from my garden to your skin”

To Learn more about how to winterize your skin, be sure to read my Blog: “Itchy Skin: Prepare your Skin for Winter.”

If this information has been helpful, please leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!!

Itchy Skin? Prepare Your Skin for Winter

by Shepard Kathleen Leave a Comment

he first signs of fall are noticed when the leaves start to change into amber, gold, magenta and other brilliant colors. This is nature’s tap on our shoulder that we need to start thinking about winterizing our homes. And, “Guess What?” It’s also time to think about winterizing our skin!

Did you know that our outer skin is the largest organ of the body and occupies about 20 square feet! It is the first point of exposure to the elements and our 1^st line of defense against overexposure to wind, heat and cold. It helps to prevent infection, absorb the much-needed vitamin D from the sun and converts it into calcium, promoting healthy bones, to name only a few of our skin’s many attributes.

Is it any wonder our skin becomes dry, flakey, itchy or cracked? These symptoms are our body’s cry to replenish the moisture of our skin. Recently I was visiting a friend in Colorado Springs. I had no idea how dry it could be there. One of the remedies she used was a humidifier in her home to replenish moisture into the dry air. So what can we do for dry itchy, cracked skin; how do we restore and protect our skin against the elements?

MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE!

Lotions are a very temporary moisturizer and great for people with normal to oily skin. Creams are thicker and longer lasting for normal to dry skin. But if you suffer from dry skin conditions with burning and itching, the best applications are Oils or Balms for deeper absorption and longer lasting relief.

There are many oils to choose from. Personally I like using Sunflower oil in my Balm, which is high in antioxidants with Vitamins A, C & E, and prevents free radicals from damaging your skin by working as a protective barrier and moisturizing solution. Jojoba oil is another favorite of mine, it is also a natural antioxidant, wonderful for all skin types and happens to be the only oil closest to our own body’s naturally produced oil, which is called the sebum. In my Creams and Mt Mist Body Oil I also use Grapeseed oil that is beneficial for people with sensitive skin due to its natural non-allergic properties, plus I love that it absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue.

Here are some of my favorite herbs that I use in my remedies for dry skin:

Calendula – Relieves and calms inflammation and helps prevent infection.
Comfrey – heals wounds and broken bones and creates rapid new cell growth promoting rapid healing of bones, skin, muscles, and other areas of the body.
Lavender – Healing properties for all skin types, calms inflammation, and dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Practical Ideas to prevent and protect dry skin:

Use lotions, creams, balms or oils to moisturize the skin
Avoid exposure to the sun, which causes dryness, wrinkles and other conditions.
Don’t take very hot showers or baths, which can be very drying to the skin
Use all natural quality soaps or liquid castile soap; avoid harsh antibacterial, or synthetically scented soaps
Do increase your intake of daily water
If you live in a very dry environment, use a humidifier in your home.

If this information has been helpful, please leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you!!

My Top 3 Herbs For Pain

by Shepard Kathleen 4 Comments

hen it comes to pain, you want to use a product that is all natural or organic; that means: The herbs were grown without use of harmful ingredients as in unnatural pesticides; that the ingredients do not contain parabens or other synthetic preservatives, or petroleum chemical bases of any kind, which includes artificial fragrances. (I’ll create a blog soon about what ingredients to avoid in skincare products.)

In my massage therapy practice, the main pain I wanted to address was the muscular and joint pain of my clients. I am grateful today, that after researching which herbs work best for pain that I was able to create a salve for pain relief that went above and beyond my greatest expectations! Here are some of the herbs I use topically for their natural healing and pain relieving properties:

St. John’s Wort – is used externally for bruises, sprains, burns, skin irritations and some nerve pain. It is a pain reliever, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and known to calm the nerves. (Read more about St Johns Wort.)
Arnica – Is an analgesic, relieving pain, an anti-inflammatory and wound healer. It is a favorite for using on sports related injuries, sprains and bruising and general muscle and joint pain. (See Avani’s Muscle Ease Bath Teas.)
Valerian – has been used for centuries as an antispasmodic relieving muscle spasms and strain, and rheumatoid symptoms. It is also very effective as a sleep aid, without the after effect as other sleep related drugs have. (Go to my Salve for Pain Relief.)

Healing Herbs – St John’s Wort

by Shepard Kathleen Leave a Comment

trong anti-inflammatory properties speed up the healing of 1^st degree burns, inflammation including arthttphritis, gout, and skin irritations. Studies have shown that the flavonoid fraction of St. John’s Wort is an analgesic, reducing pain.

WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT SAINT JOHN’S WORT

St John’s Wort is also used on bruises, sprains and minor abrasions, bug bites, as well as general wound healing and decreased formation of scars. There have been some reports of improved foot conditions related to diabetes and bone disease.