February 23rd, 2008 at 06:51pm
Under DIY+ Eco-Solutions
At one point on my life’s journey I wore the (bubbly) hat of a handcrafted soap-maker, creating skin-friendly, natural alternatives to the world of commercial bath products. I’ve always liked the idea of do-it-yourself products made from commonly available ingredients … it still makes me cringe to see containers of bath salts or body scrubs selling for outrageous prices, knowing they contain about 50ยข worth of ingredients (most of which can be found in your kitchen cupboard). No matter how fancy the label or high-end the brand, they are not worth $50. Trust me on this one.
So from time to time be sure to check back to find practical, inexpensive (and eco-friendly) do-it-yourself solutions and recipes for seasonal health woes, skincare issues, cleaning products, and organic gardening.
For example, here’s a link to an easy recipe from WikiHow for a simple make-your-own bath salts.
One caveat: No matter how pretty those chunky bath salts might be in the jar, they do not dissolve readily in the bath water and will feel like little shards of broken glass when you step on them. Ask me how I know. Whether making your own or buying them handcrafted, always look for the ones made with fine-grained salts.
Yours in health …
By admin
February 19th, 2008 at 01:21am
Under CAM+ Eco-Solutions
Both Grandma’s home remedies and native peoples’ healing materials appear to have curative values that science is only now proving through sophisticated technology and research.
We are beginning to see articles in magazines, on newsstands, and through mainstream media about everything from the health benefits of honey to recent studies touting the potential of rice bran as a treatment for diabetes.
The basis of many modern medicines are often rooted, so to speak, in common plants or their components, and are now beginning to be at long last recognized and studied. This is certainly gratifying, but altruistic aspects aside, there is also money to be made as a result. Big money.
According to an article in the New York Times, a study by the European Commission showed that products derived from plant substances generate more than $75 billion in sales each year for the pharmaceutical industry, $20 billion in herbal supplement sales, and around $3 billion in cosmetics sales. The article states, “Although the efficacy of some of the herbal ingredients is hotly debated, their popularity is not in doubt,” and it is estimated that thirty-six percent of adults in the United States use some form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM).
Indigenous “medicines” are showing great potential in eventually leading to cures for our most devastating diseases … what company wouldn’t like be the one to find a cure for cancer or any of the other Holy Grails of the world of medicine in a commonly found plant? This is exciting and heady stuff, but at what eventual cost? Big Business and Big Pharm are joining hands and beating a path to remote areas as diverse as the Amazon rain forests and the Andes in Peru, creating a new economy for the locals but sometimes leaving a trail of ecological devastation in their wake. It’s telling that the aforementioned article was found not in the Travel or even in the Health sections, but in the Business section of the New York Times.*
Whether the indigenous peoples (and their fragile environments) will benefit or be on the losing end, both are often victims of the so-called “bio-pirates”, those who steal traditional knowledge and then don’t give back to the local community. Meantime, the drug companies are investing large sums in the hope of lucrative profits.
* “On a Remote Path to Cures”; New York Times; Jan.1, 2008
By admin