Eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, can be particularly distressing when it affects the delicate skin around the eyes.
Understanding Eczema:
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, involves an overactive immune response, leading to redness, itching, and inflammation of the skin. While genetics play a role, environmental factors, diet, stress, and lifestyle habits significantly influence its severity.
Factors Contributing to Eczema Around the Eyes:
Holistic Strategies for Managing Eczema Around the Eyes:
Lifestyle Recommendations:
Eczema around the eyes can be challenging to manage, but by adopting a holistic approach that addresses diet, lifestyle, and emotional well-being, you can support your skin's health from within.
]]>Fear is one of the natural emotions that arise during a perceived threat or danger. Acute fear is a crucial adaptive response that helps us survive immediate threats, however, chronic fear can contribute to long-term effects on our mental and physical well-being.
Fear activates our sympathetic nervous system, triggering a ‘fight or flight’ response. This then cascades into stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline to be created which increase our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and inflammation.
Over time, chronic fear can impact multiple systems:
Immune system: Weakens our immune system function, making individuals more susceptible to pathogens or illness.
Digestive system: Reduces blood flow to digestive organs, changes stomach acid levels, impacts gut flora, and alters gut motility function.
Mental health: Persistent and excessive fear can contribute to the exacerbation of anxiety disorders. Chronic fear can contribute to depression, impaired decision-making, hypervigilance, social withdrawal, and negative thought patterns.
Cardiovascular system: Fear can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. Influence lipid metabolism such as cholesterol levels. Impacts blood vessel function leading to hypertension, and can also contribute to insulin resistance.
Nervous system: Physiological changes impacted by being in a chronic fear state can lead to increased heart rate, release of cortisol hormone, and inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system known as the “rest & digest” system.
Sleep disruption: Fear can negatively impact our sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Our emotions are messengers and we are not meant to escape negative emotions and only experience positive emotions throughout life. The human experience is full of different emotions, and fear is another emotion that we can experience, but also understand when we are being impacted by emotions that can create physical symptoms.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice but for educational purposes only.
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Hair loss affects millions of people worldwide, impacting not only physical appearance but also emotional well-being. While shedding some hair daily is normal, excessive loss can be a sign of underlying health issues or lifestyle factors that need attention.
In this comprehensive guide, we delve into the holistic approaches to understand and address hair loss effectively.
Understanding Hair Loss:
Before diving into solutions, it's essential to understand the root causes of hair loss. While genetics play a significant role, various factors contribute to excessive shedding and thinning.
These factors include:
Internal imbalances such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, and thyroid disorders.
External factors like exposure to heavy metals, harsh hair products, and poor scalp health.
Lifestyle choices including diet, stress management, and self-care practices.
Holistic Solutions for Hair Loss:
Stress Management: Chronic stress disrupts hormonal balance and depletes essential nutrients, affecting hair health. Incorporate stress-reduction techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises, and regular physical activity to promote relaxation and support overall well-being.
Nutritional Support: Ensure your diet is rich in essential nutrients vital for hair health, including protein, iron, zinc, vitamins A, E, D, and B-complex vitamins. Incorporate nutrient-dense foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, legumes, fish, and lean meats. Consider supplementation under the guidance of a healthcare professional to address any deficiencies.
Thyroid Health: The thyroid gland plays a crucial role in metabolism and hormone regulation, including those affecting hair growth. Optimize thyroid function by minimizing exposure to toxins, consuming iodine-rich foods like seaweed, and supporting detoxification pathways through proper hydration and dietary fiber intake.
Detoxification from Heavy Metals: Heavy metal toxicity can impair hair growth and thyroid function. Reduce exposure to heavy metals by choosing organic foods, filtering drinking water, and avoiding products containing mercury, lead, and cadmium. Consider periodic detox protocols or consult a healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
Scalp and Hair Care: Choose hair care products free from harsh chemicals and sulfates that strip natural oils from the scalp. Opt for gentle, nourishing formulas like our shampoo and conditioner enriched with botanical extracts, essential oils, and vitamins to promote scalp health and stimulate hair growth. Incorporate scalp massages with our hair growth scalp serum and scalp stimulator to improve circulation and nutrient delivery to hair follicles.
Lifestyle Modifications: Implement lifestyle changes to support overall health and hair growth, including adequate sleep, hydration, regular exercise, and reducing exposure to environmental toxins. Prioritize self-care practices like journaling, spending time in nature, and fostering meaningful connections to promote holistic well-being.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your diet, lifestyle, or treatment regimen.
]]>The body's various systems and components work in harmony to maintain equilibrium, support vital functions, and adapt to internal and external changes.
Disruptions in one system can have effects on others, potentially affecting the skin and its associated structures.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice but for educational purposes only.
]]>Fear is one of the natural emotions that arise during a perceived threat or danger. Acute fear is a crucial adaptive response that helps us survive immediate threats, however, chronic fear can contribute to long-term effects on our mental and physical well-being.
Fear activates our sympathetic nervous system, triggering a ‘fight or flight’ response. This then cascades into stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline to be created which increase our heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and inflammation.
Over time, chronic fear can impact multiple systems:
Immune system: Weakens our immune system function, making individuals more susceptible to pathogens or illness.
Digestive system: Reduces blood flow to digestive organs, changes stomach acid levels, impacts gut flora, and alters gut motility function.
Mental health: Persistent and excessive fear can contribute to the exacerbation of anxiety disorders. Chronic fear can contribute to depression, impaired decision-making, hypervigilance, social withdrawal, and negative thought patterns.
Cardiovascular system: Fear can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output. Influence lipid metabolism such as cholesterol levels. Impacts blood vessel function leading to hypertension, and can also contribute to insulin resistance.
Nervous system: Physiological changes impacted by being in a chronic fear state can lead to increased heart rate, release of cortisol hormone, and inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system known as the “rest & digest” system.
Sleep disruption: Fear can negatively impact our sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep.
Our emotions are messengers and we are not meant to escape negative emotions and only experience positive emotions throughout life. The human experience is full of different emotions, and fear is another emotion that we can experience, but also understand when we are being impacted by emotions that can create physical symptoms.
Disclaimer: This is not medical advice but for educational purposes only.
]]>One effective way to achieve this is through the use of a scalp serum formulated with organic ingredients such as burdock, horsetail, aloe vera leaf juice, castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, amla oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, rosemary oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and Canadian wildcrafted red clover.
These certified organic herbal extracts work synergistically to provide numerous benefits to the scalp and hair. The serum helps to moisturize and hydrate the scalp, soothing any dryness or irritation. It promotes a healthy scalp environment by reducing inflammation and balancing oil production. The serum's nourishing properties supply essential nutrients and antioxidants directly to the hair follicles, stimulating growth and improving hair strength. Additionally, the scalp serum can assist in improving blood circulation, unclogging hair follicles, and preventing dandruff and scalp infections.
By incorporating a scalp serum with these organic ingredients into your hair care routine, you can enhance the health of your scalp, paving the way for stronger, shinier, and more vibrant hair.
Burdock: Burdock extract is derived from the roots of the burdock plant and is revered for its cleansing and purifying properties. It helps to alleviate scalp irritation, detoxify the hair follicles, and promote a healthier scalp environment, which is essential for optimal hair growth.
Horsetail: Horsetail, rich in silica and other essential minerals, has been used for centuries to support hair health. Its properties help to strengthen the hair strands, prevent breakage, and enhance the overall vitality of the hair.
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice: Aloe vera is a versatile ingredient known for its soothing and moisturizing properties. When used in a scalp serum, aloe vera leaf juice helps to hydrate the scalp, reduce inflammation, and provide a nourishing environment for hair growth.
Castor Oil: Castor oil is a thick, viscous oil known for its remarkable hair-strengthening properties. It helps to improve blood circulation to the scalp, supplying vital nutrients to the hair follicles. Additionally, castor oil's high concentration of ricinoleic acid nourishes the hair shaft, promoting thicker and healthier hair growth.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a popular ingredient in hair care products due to its ability to penetrate the hair shaft and lock in moisture. It helps to prevent protein loss, reduce hair breakage, and protect the hair from environmental damage, resulting in stronger and more resilient strands.
Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil closely resembles the natural oils produced by our scalp, making it an excellent choice for nourishing the hair and scalp. It moisturizes and conditions the hair, prevents dryness, and helps to balance the scalp's natural oil production.
Argan Oil: Argan oil, derived from the kernels of the Moroccan argan tree, is rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and vitamins. It nourishes the scalp, promotes hair growth, and adds shine and softness to the hair. Argan oil is particularly beneficial for dry, damaged, or frizzy hair.
Amla Oil: Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Amla oil strengthens the hair follicles, prevents premature graying, and stimulates hair growth. Its high vitamin C content helps boost collagen production, promoting healthier and more resilient hair.
Olive Oil: Olive oil, a staple in Mediterranean beauty routines, is packed with antioxidants and moisturizing properties. It helps to reduce scalp inflammation, nourish the hair follicles, and promote a healthy scalp environment for optimal hair growth.
Grapeseed Oil: Grapeseed oil is a lightweight oil that moisturizes the scalp and hair without leaving a greasy residue. It contains vitamin E and linoleic acid, which help to strengthen the hair strands, promote elasticity, and protect against damage caused by free radicals.
Rosemary Oil: Rosemary oil has been used for centuries in hair care due to its stimulating and invigorating properties. It improves blood circulation to the scalp, promotes hair growth, and helps to prevent dandruff and itching. Rosemary oil is also known to add shine and luster to the hair.
Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is renowned for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it a valuable ingredient in scalp serums. It helps to combat dandruff, soothe an irritated scalp, and promote a clean and healthy environment for hair growth.
Peppermint Oil: Peppermint oil provides a refreshing and cooling sensation when applied to the scalp. It helps to stimulate blood circulation, invigorate the hair follicles, and promote healthy hair growth. Peppermint oil also has a soothing effect on an itchy scalp.
Canadian Wildcrafted Red Clover: Red clover extract, obtained from wildcrafted sources in Canada, contains nutrients that support hair health. It helps to balance hormone levels, promote scalp health, and stimulate hair growth, making it a valuable addition to a hair growth scalp serum.
Nature offers us a wealth of ingredients that can help nourish and stimulate hair growth. By incorporating a scalp serum infused with these carefully selected botanicals, such as burdock, horsetail, aloe vera leaf juice, castor oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, argan oil, amla oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, rosemary oil, tea tree oil, peppermint oil, and Canadian wildcrafted red clover, into your hair care routine, you can support the health and vitality of your hair from the roots to the tips.
Embrace the power of nature and unlock the secrets to luscious and vibrant hair.
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External support
The inside of the mouth connects to the rest of the body.
One of the most diverse microbiomes is found inside the human mouth, which includes fungi, protozoa, viruses, and bacteria.
Our teeth are alive inside our mouth, as they require their own blood supply, and have nerve endings, draining into the lymphatic system and tonsils and connect to other organ systems in the body.
Our oral health connects with our digestive system health, immune system, lymphatic system, nervous system, respiratory system, and even our skin health.
It is important to understand the role of our oral microbial diversity.
If the oral microbiome becomes out of balance, it can present other issues and symptoms in the body.
There is an identified connection between your oral health and skin health.
If there is an overgrowth of certain pathogens inside the mouth for example specific bacteria, this can contribute to various autoimmune skin conditions.
An imbalance in the oral microbiome stimulates an immunoinflammatory response because the oral microbiome affects the body’s immune system function which can contribute to dermatological diseases.
For example, atopic dermatitis shows an association with gingivitis, toothaches, and oral infections. Even bleeding gums can correlate with eczema.
A popular dental procedure is dental amalgams that are composed of a toxic metal called mercury and other metals such as silver. Mercury is a neurotoxin and exposure can lead to long-term health effects. Metals have cytotoxic, immunological, and carcinogenic effects, as well as influence on metabolism. These metals bind to proteins, enzymes, and cell membranes in ionized form and influence their function. These have the ability to trigger different types of allergies, foreign body-induced inflammation, and autoimmune diseases.
In particular, dermatitis has been linked to an allergic reaction to dental amalgams.
Another inflammatory skin condition, psoriasis presents a strong connection with the overgrowth of oral streptococcal bacteria in our mouth’s ecosystem.
Canker sores are correlated with poor periodontal health and greater plaque accumulation.
The health of your mouth is more than brushing our teeth twice a day, it is an important intricate ecosystem that connects to the rest of the body.
Dry skin can manifest from multiple factors that are attributed to a lack of water being maintained on the first layer of the skin.
Our adrenal glands play an integral part in our skin health.
The adrenal glands are part of the vast endocrine system and play a major role in the body by releasing certain hormones directly into the bloodstream that regulate many functions of the body including metabolism, immune system, and blood pressure, and help us cope with stress.
The adrenals influence tissues, glands, and the whole body.
The HPA axis is a pathway that interconnects three glands - the hypothalamus, pituitary, and adrenals. This pathway has a peripheral effect on the skin barrier.
The adrenal gland is composed of the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. The cortex produces steroid hormones including glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and adrenal androgens, and the medulla produces catecholamines, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
Two hormones in particular that can contribute to dry skin are aldosterone and cortisol. Aldosterone is responsible for regulating blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and maintaining water in the body. Cortisol, often referred to as the stress hormone, affects the skin’s ability to retain water when excess amounts are released.
Of course, no bodily system works alone.
With the adrenals being part of the endocrine system, dry skin can link with another gland in this system: the thyroid. If both glands show signs of weakness, a lack of moisture in the skin can be a result. Growth hormone deficiency, hypothyroidism, and adrenal insufficiency result in reduced sebum production and dry skin. There is also a correlation between eczema and the thyroid/adrenal connection.
Something to note, impairment of the skin's own (HPA) hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-like axis can contribute to several skin diseases.
Everyday we are exposed to toxins such as pesticides, herbicides, air pollution, and personal care products.
While it is impossible to remove all toxins from our lives, supporting our liver daily can help lower our risk of disease.
If you're having a hard time practicing gratitude, We encourage you to keep a journal and make a practice of asking yourself these questions everyday:
What was the best part of the day?
Who or what do I have to be thankful for today?
What do I have to look forward to?
Gratitude is a practice.