The Wealth of Nature

Natural Remedies for Constipation

2012-03-16T12:22:00.001-07:00

Since I've changed my diet to be slightly lower carb (cutting out grains) and higher on healthy fats, coupled with a bit more exercise, constipation is rarely a problem for me. But as I approach 30 I've noticed more and more people my age complaining about it, and often turning to harmful laxatives to get them through it. Like most things I wish more people would treat the cause and not the symptom of what is wrong.. but that's another story.

Sometimes, though, you end up with it either due to illness or from a side effect from another drug. Nobody likes being constipated, plus it can cause other problems like headaches and lethargy - in other words it can really ruin your day.

Some natural options for constipation relief you might consider are:

Exercise, like walking, swimming, rebounding (jumping on a mini trampoline - fun!)
Drinking enough fluids
Probiotics - These help by making sure you're digesting things properly
Prune Juice
Magnesium supplements, like Natural Calm

My personal favorite for mild constipation is good ole coffee. One cup after breakfast is usually enough to do it. Simple, right?

There are also herbal teas available to treat constipation, like:

Smooth Move Chocolate (yum) from Traditional medicinals - they even have this at my grocery store
Get it going - No. 2 herbal tea for Constipation - don't you just love that name?
You can also mix a mild tea together yourself using chamomile, fennel, cardamom and licorice

I have read that people often recommend Senna and Aloe Juice, personally I feel that these might be too irritating and I would only try them if other methods weren't working.

If you have chronic constipation and you don't know why, I would definitely recommend going to a doctor and taking a look at your lifestyle and the health choices you're making. What does your diet look like? Do you have a possible food allergy or intolerance (lactose intolerance can cause constipation)? Are you getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, exercising enough, sleeping enough?

I hope this has been helpful for you. And now for some reason I am craving chocolate...

For more information on constipation, check out these links:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/constipation-000041.htm

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/ss/slideshow-constipation-facts-10

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/poop-health/

Ginger for Nausea - it works!

2012-03-15T13:34:00.002-07:00

Growing up it was tradition to take good ol' Pepto Bismol for any sort of stomach ailment. It does certainly work, eventually. Of course that comes with a side effect of constipation - at least it always did for me.

So when I heard about people taking ginger for nausea and other stomach problems I was curious. I was also hesitant - I've never really liked ginger on its own before and it's a pretty spicy root. But I have found the perfect way to craft it into a yummy drink that does get rid of nausea - quickly - without any side effects.

Here's my recipe (it's really easy!):

Fresh ginger (dried or boxed tea can work too, but won't taste as good or work as quickly)
Raw honey (they've started stocking this in the normal supermarket, woohoo!)
Fresh lemon
Hot water

That's it!

Using a small hand grater, grate about a tsp worth of ginger (after peeling it of course) into a cup. Add raw honey and lemon to taste.

Why raw honey? In addition to just tasting better, it is processed less and has more nutrients. Once you start using raw honey, conventional honey just doesn't taste the same anymore.

Don't worry about the ginger bits - eventually they sink down to the bottom. This drink tastes like gingerbread in a cup. Enjoy!

Argan Oil - the best moisturizer ever!

2012-03-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

I have tried so many types of moisturizers it's not even funny. From generic and drugstore to higher-priced department store brands, I've gone through them all. My skin isn't even that picky - it's slightly sensitive and sometimes dry. I don't really break out that often, and when I do it's hormone related. I do tend to have these annoying bumps on my forehead that you can't really see, but that I can feel.

It's so frustrating, isn't it? To hear promises by these big companies and you get your hopes up, spend your hard-earned money on something you think will finally work. But it never does - or at least it never did for me. I would bounce around from product to product, and when I got worn out from the let downs I would settle on the basic Oil of Olay moisturizer to give myself a rest. Sigh.

But, I believe I have FINALLY found a moisturizer for my face that works, and best of all it's natural and has only 1 ingredient. Woohoo! It's Argan Oil.

What is Argan Oil?

Argan Oil is simply the oil from the kernels of the Argan Tree, native of Morocco. Argan Oil is full of vitamine e, phenols, phenolic acid, carotenes, squalene, and fatty acids. Apparently it's also used for culinary purposes, though I've never tried eating it. Also, according to Wikipedia:

All argan sold today is produced by a women's cooperative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The cooperative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil will not run out and the income that is currently supporting the women will not diminish. The money is providing health care and education to the local women, and supporting the entire community as a whole.

Pretty cool!

How to use Argan Oil?

I use the kind that comes in a small glass jar with a dropper. I use 3-4 drops in the palm of my hands, rub them together, and then rub it into my face. Any leftover oil I use on the back of my hands and my elbows.

I also use Argan Oil in my hair - just a few drops rubbed between my palms and then run through my hair, focusing on the ends.

After using Argan Oil my face was definitely smoother and felt more moisturized, and my "invisible" forehead bumps went away. It has never caused me to break out, and it lasts such a long time!

You can find Argan Oil all over the internet, ranging in prices from high to low. Personally I use Organic Golden Argan Oil from Ecocert, it's pretty cheap at $9 from Amazon.