Newsletter

Newsletter

HealThy Skin Newsletter

Winter 2011 Volume 7 Number 4

In this issue:

General Health

Memory Loss Factors

Combat Diabetes with Food

Everybody Needs Elderberry

Restless Legs Syndrome

Chronic Cough

Preventing Cancer / Factors You Can Control

Vitamin D and TB

Antibiotics Linked to Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

Lowering Cholesterol After Menopause

Artificial Sweeteners and Weight Gain

Something to Ponder

Drop More than 1,000 Calories a Day Without Giving Up Any Food!

Skin Health

The What and Why of Seborrheic Dermatitis

Easing Eczema

Morphea / Localized Scleroderma

Dry Shampoo / Beware

Herbal Tips

Effective Anti-viral Herbs for Kids

Reduce Age-Related Memory Deficit with Celery?

Fight Pain with Plants

A Statistic to Remember

Mayo Clinic Promotes Herbs for Health!

SHOWS AND EVENTS

Happy New Year! This newsletter is supposed to be your year-end issue, but I am a bit late. 2011 was an unusually busy year. Thanks to all of you who have been part of Nature’s Common Scents, and especially to those who attended an Open House, dropped by for a visit, and/or attended a workshop! I so enjoy meeting my customers and helping people learn more about how to incorporate herbs into their daily lives. May God bless 2012 and keep us all safe and healthy. Sondra.

GENERAL HEALTH

MEMORY LOSS FACTORS. If you feel you aren’t remembering things the way you used to, or if you are concerned you are experiencing what could be the early stages of Alzehiemer’s, first check to see if the problem might be caused by drugs you are taking, interactions between drugs you are taking, vitamin deficiencies, depression or thyroid problems. [Health Letter, Mayo Clinic, January 2012.]

COMBAT DIABETES WITH FOOD. According to the latest research gathered by the American Diabetes Association, there are “11 best foods” for fighting diabetes. They are beans, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruit, sweet potatoes, berries, tomatoes, cold-water fatty fish, whole grains, nuts, skim milk, and fat-free yogurt. [Readers Digest, December 2011]

EVERYBODY NEEDS ELDERBERRY. I know I keep harping on this, but please keep elderberry/elderflower in your pantry in some form. Studies indicate that it really does help prevent viral infections, even flu, and can shorten duration as well. Drink the flowers as tea, or make a tonic, or syrup (available at health food stores and many grocery stores now. For a good, simple tonic recipe, email me. Or order my booklet “Teas, Tonics & Tinctures.” (See the Website.)

RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME. True restless legs syndrome (RLS) is caused by deficiencies of dopamine, the brain chemical that controls movement. Triggers include deficiencies in iron, magnesium, folate, zinc, tryptophan and/or Vitamin E. (Don’t begin taking iron without having a physician determine if you are deficient because iron supplements have their own dangers.) Acid reflux medicines (Prilosec, Prevacid or Tums) can prevent absorption of these nutrients and contribute to RLS, as can diuretics and high blood pressure drugs. Also there could be a thyroid problem. Foods to help are kelp, pumpkin seeds, beet greens, avocado and turkey. Avoiding caffeine, alcohol and processed foods, which inhibit mineral absorption, is important. [Natural Health Magazine, December 2011/January 2012 and Health Letter, Mayo Clinic, January 2012]

My thoughts: Rosewood (Anniba roseodorata) diluted with a carrier oil can help. I currently offer Rosewood in a product called “Rosewood Massage Oil” but the difficulty in obtaining Rosewood oil means I may have to discontinue or limit the product. Watch the Website.

CHRONIC COUGH. Chronic cough is defined as a cough that lasts longer than six to eight weeks. Postnasal drip, GERD, and airway damage can contribute to chronic cough. But pertussis (whooping cough) has been cropping up lately. Also, if you take ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure you may begin experiencing chronic cough. This side affect can begin long after these drugs have been started. If the cough disturbs sleep or gets so bad that it frightens you, discuss it with your doctor. Keep in mind that even if your doctor stops the offending medication, your cough can still continue up to three weeks before improving. [Health Letter, Mayo Clinic 2011]

PREVENTING CANCER / FACTORS YOU CAN CONTROL. Cancer is not one, but many diseases. Still, there is evidence that certain lifestyle changes can dramatically decrease an individual’s risk. Smoking, poor diet, and/or lack of physical activity leading to excess body weight account for about 65 percent of cancers. Of the remaining third, about 10 percent are caused by genes that are inherited from a parent, which increases risk but doesn’t necessarily mean you will get cancer. Other cancers are linked to reproductive factors, alcohol consumption or medical procedures that expose people to radiation. Still others, though not as many as most people believe, are due to exposures to carcinogens and environmental toxins. To take charge of your risk factors, don’t use tobacco, keep to a good weight, exercise in moderation, eat a healthy diet, drink less alcohol, limit high-heat cooking and radiation exposure, make sure your home is radon free and your water has no arsenic (not likely in public water systems but possible in rural communities). [Preventing Cancer, Strategies that can Reduce your Risk, by John Swartzberg, M.D., and Jeffrey Wolf, M.D., University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter supplement to the January 2012 issue.]

VITAMIN D AND TB. A team of scientists examined the mechanisms that govern the immune system’s ability to kill or inhibit the growth of pathogens such as the bacteria that causes tuberculosis (TB). They found that T cells release a protein called interferon-g that triggers communication between cells and directs infected immune cells to attack the invading tuberculosis bacteria. However, it requires sufficient levels of vitamin D to be effective. Testing serum taken from blood samples in healthy humans, both with and without proper levels of vitamin D, they found that the immune response was not triggered in the serum with lower vitamin D levels. When adequate vitamin D was added to the deficient serum, the immune response was activated. [UCLA Division of Geriatrics, December 2011]

ANTIBIOTICS LINKED TO CHRON’S AND ULCERATIVE CHOLITIS. If you haven’t already determined that antibiotics are being overused, here are two new reasons to think twice before taking them: overuse of the drugs could increase your risk of developing two serious and painful bowel diseases, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis. [Reader’s Digest, Health Digest, December 2011]

LOWERING CHOLESTEROL AFTER MENOPAUSE. A recent study presented at Experimental Biology 2011 in Washington, D.C. found that postmenopausal women who ate dried apples daily reduced their LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by more than 23 percent within six months. [Johns Hopkins Medicine Health After 50 newsletter, November 2011]

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS AND WEIGHT GAIN. Can artificial sweeteners actually cause weight gain? That’s the supposition of some researchers, who noted that because they are extremely sweet (actually hundreds to thousands of times sweeter than table sugar), people who habitually consume them may wind up desensitized to sweetness and therefore overall quality of the diet may decline in the continued search for food that “tastes good.” Other research has identified sweetness receptors in fat tissue and they say that raises the possibility that artificial sweeteners could cause weight gain by directly stimulating the development of new fat cells. [Harvard Health Letter, December 2011]

SOMETHING TO PONDER. When your physician suggests a certain drug, is it possible he’s getting a kickback? Not only possible, but probable. According to Maran Wolston, very few people make this inquiry of their doctors, but it is a legitimate question. A neurologist she had seen and trusted many years, had received more than $300,000 from drug companies over a two-year period. Major contributors to that sum were the manufacturer of a drug he had specifically recommended to her. In addition to payments for acting as a speaker for the companies, he also had been paid for promotional and marketing consulting services. She found out because she lives in a state where state law mandates that payments a doctor receives from a drug company be reported to the Board of Pharmacy, which enters it into a pubic database. There are many reasons to ponder carefully the decision to take a drug, especially long term. Now there’s one more. Stay informed; do the research. Her story is at www.healthaffairs.org.

DROP 1,000 CALORIES A DAY WITHOUT GIVING UP ANY FOOD! Yes it’s true. Looking at a fictional daily intake, of 2 mugs of coffee with creamer (48 calories), an 8 oz. glass of orange juice (110), two tablespoons of butter (204), a 16 oz. coke (240) or sweet tea (230), an 8 oz. glass of 1% milk (102), 2 TBS olive oil (hidden in salad dressing or in a sauté) (240) and a 3 ½ ounce glass of wine – less than ½ cup! (about 130). This means our fictional character has taken in over 1,000 calories without eating a thing. These “hidden calories” can be adjusted easily. To see how many extras you could cut out without any pain visit www.dietbites.com/calorieindexdrinks.

SKIN HEALTH

THE WHAT AND WHY OF SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS. This is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that results in a red, oily rash with white flaking scales. It occurs where there are sebaceous (oil-producing) glands and is found most abundantly on the scalp, the face (especially the eyebrows, forehead, nose creases), behind the ears, under the arms, around the groin and in other skin folds. There may be itching and/or burning. People may develop it because of sensitivity to a particular yeast on the skin. There may be a genetic or hormonal component, or there may be some neurological conditions, like Parkinson’s disease. Also suppressed immunity (as with HIV), emotional stress, certain medications, as well as changes in season and humidity may trigger flare-ups. Traditional treatments include over-the-counter cortisone, cream or lotion, but over time these can cause rebound worsening of the condition as well as thinning of the skin. For long-term treatments some doctors prescribe topical antifungals and medicated shampoos. [University of California Wellness Letter, December 2011]

My thoughts: If you prefer a more natural route, try Nature’s Common Scents Big Jim’s Cream, Comfort Cream (especially near or around the eyes), Anti-fungal oil, and/or Scentsation Dandruff Control. Or make your own tonic using a combination of a few drops of tea tree oil, thyme oil in a quarter cup sweet almond oil, or Castile shampoo. An infusion of comfrey leaves and/or willow bark can be helpful. Always use care around the eyes. Check my Website for workshops in 2012 that will teach you how to turn your herbs into healing creams, oils and tonics.

EASING ECZEMA. Itchy, swollen, abnormally dry skin indicates an overactive inflammatory response to irritants thought to result from an immune system malfunction. Stress, exposure to irritating substances and bacterial infections, such as strep throat and staph skin infections, can stimulate the immune system response known as eczema. Changing your diet can help, particularly noting if you have intolerance to dairy, coffee, soy, eggs, nuts, wheat and/or corn. Sometimes the answer is as simple as being careful how you care for your skin. The skin of people with eczema has a weakened ability to recover from the loss of oil content that often results from over washing or harsh environmental conditions. Unrefined olive oil is rich in vitamin E, a nutrient which nourishes the skin. Calendula is an herb that speeds up healing and strengthens the skin’s connective tissue. [Natural Health, November 2011]

MORPHEA: LOCALIZED SCLERODERMA. A fairly unusual and rare skin condition known as “morphea” affects women more often than men. It’s caused by an overproduction of collagen by cells in the skin called fibroblasts. It is unclear why fibroblasts start overproducing collagen. However, the extra collagen makes the skin feel hard. Round or oval areas of the skin may become discolored, turning ivory or brown. Rarer still is a form of the disease includes lesions that resemble a long scar called “en coup de saber” (cut of the sword) because that’s what they look like. “Plaque-type” morphea often doesn’t cause any problems, aside from the affected skin being a little hard to the touch and a slightly different color. Because morphea can get better on its own without treatment, and most treatments have side effects, your doctor may suggest no treatment or treatment with a mild topical corticosteroid cream. [Harvard Health Letter, November 2011 and Mayo Clinic Website]

DRY SHAMPOO / BEWARE. Some dry shampoos contain an ingredient called aluminum starch octenylsuccinate. The Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database gives it a “high hazard” rating, saying it is thought it can interfere with the brain as well as the reproductive and nervous systems. Many dry shampoos also contain talc. Talc containing carcinogenic asbestos was outlawed by the FDA in 1973, but even the asbestos-free talcum powder sold today is unregulated and some suggest it is dangerous. Inhaling even a small amount of dry shampoo can irritate the throat and lungs, and the mineral’s rough edges can cause inflammation, rashes and breakouts on the skin and scalp. New York-based dermatologist David Bank M.D. recommends dry shampoos with hypoallergenic formulas made without talc, parabens, sulfates or synthetic dyes. [Natural Health, November 2011]

My thoughts: You might also try plain cornstarch or cornmeal.

HERBAL TIPS

EFFECTIVE ANTIVIRAL HERBS FOR KIDS. The vast majority of childhood illnesses originate from viral infections. Herbs like hyssop, lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemongrass and ginger root all have documented antiviral activity. You can look for a good antiviral blend at your natural foods store and use them regularly as teas. [Sunny Mavor, Herbs for Kids, a company dedicated to formulating safe, glycerin-based herbal extracts for children www.herbsforkids.com.]

REDUCE AGE-RELATED MEMORY DEFICIT WITH CELERY? A study reported in the Journal of Nutrition examined the effects of dietary luteolin. Luteolin is found in many plants, including carrots, peppers, celery, olive oil, peppermint, rosemary and chamomile. Research showed that microglial cells (specialized cells that reside in the brain and spinal cord) that were exposed to a bacterial toxin produced inflammatory cytokines that could kill neurons. When the microglia were exposed to luteolin before they encountered the toxin, however, the neurons lived. “The neurons survived because the luteolin inhibited the production of neurotoxic inflammatory mediators, researcher Rodney Johnson reported. [The Herbal Dispatch, publication of the Medicinal Botanical Program, Mountain State University, Beckley, WV October 2010.]

FIGHT PAIN WITH PLANTS. There are times when pain goes beyond what we can “wait out.” Red flags that prompt you to get medical attention include pain that isn’t better after six weeks, pain that travels down your leg, difficulty controlling your bladder, a history of cancer, being over 55 with a new onset of back pain. Otherwise, regularly consume the following to reduce inflammation, which contributes to a lot of the pain we experience: pineapple, turmeric (Curcuma longa), and ginger (Zingiber officinale). [Natural Health Magazine, December/January 2011-12]

MAYO CLINIC PROMOTES HERBS FOR HEALTH! Cautiously, the Mayo Clinic Health Letter suggests the following for health: allspice, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, oregano, sage, thyme and turmeric powder to play a role in helping to prevent cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s diseases. Turmeric, garlic, rosemary and saffron for anti-cancer effects. Fenugreek and cinnamon to help lower blood pressure. Their caveat is that the “beneficial effects … were found in studies where the amount used was far greater than the amount typically used in cooking. However regular use of these spices may still add up to a beneficial effect.” [Health Letter, Mayo Clinic, January 2012]

My thoughts: We are pleased and excited at this recognition of the value of plants. Keep in mind when your doctor or some publication cites studies that say plants DON’T work, that generally the whole plant is not used. Instead an extract, or the “active component” is experimented with. It is a commonly understood fact of herbalism that often all the components of a particular plant work together for the good rather than one isolated component. Once we fully accept the healing power of plants, our lives and our bodies will be better.

A STATISTIC TO REMEMBER. Roughly 26,000 unintentional [prescription] drug-poisoning deaths occur in the U.S. annually. [Doug Hoey, pharmacist and executive vice president, CEO, National Community Pharmacists Association]

My thoughts. The number of unintentional poisoning deaths in the U.S. due to herbs is zero.

SHOWS & EVENTS

BE SURE TO KEEP UP WITH MY SCHEDULE ON MY WEBSITE. I’VE CUT DOWN THE NUMBER OF SHOWS I’M DOING TO BE MORE AVAILABLE TO DO GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS MORE OFTEN. IF YOU AND SOME OF YOUR FRIENDS WOULD LIKE TO LEARN TO MAKE SOAP OR HERBAL TONICS, OR TAKE A SHORT COURSE ON HERBALISM, CONTACT ME AND LET’S SET A DATE! Otherwise, check the Website to see what workshops will happen when. My first show of 2012 will be the Highland County Maple Festival in Monterey, Virginia, March 10, 11, 17, 18.

Your next regular HealThySelf Newsletter will come in late February. Have a healthy and productive winter! If you have questions concerning your skin or herbal remedies, if you would like to visit my soap-making studio and shop, place an order, or add a friend to the mailing list, contact me by phone or e-mail. Until the next newsletter, remember – almost everything you put on the outside of your body goes inside and what you put inside will ultimately affect the outside! Many blessings, Sondra Johnson

Nature’s Common Scents / We make in our home kitchen old fashioned, easy-to-understand therapeutic skin care products to heal troubled skin, believing you should be able to understand and pronounce everything you put in and on your body. Sondra Johnson is not a doctor; recipes and facts in this newsletter are researched from many areas and passed on for informational purposes. People with any health problems should consult qualified medical personnel. Note: With few exceptions, plants or herbs noted in this newsletter are what would be in regular use in your home anyway; this newsletter only confirms their good use for your health. If, after self treatment, your symptoms don’t begin to improve within a day or at the most two, or if you have a fever above 100.4 F see your doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing as well as anyone who is under the care of a doctor for a specific malady should always use caution when self-treating as many herbs are contraindicated. Always tell your doctor if you add herbs for healing to your regular daily routine.

Feel free to forward this newsletter to friends. To discontinue this newsletter, e-mail me at SondraBJ@shentel.net putting the word “discontinue” in the subject line.