Scots Pine Essential Oil Benefits for Aging Skin

Scots pine essential oil benefits for skin are amazing. Also called Sylvester pine or scotch pine essential oil, scots pine’s healing properties ease many skin irritations. Scots pine essential oils provides an excellent treatment for psoriasis and acne. It fights dry, itchy skin, making it a great non-steroidal treatment for eczema.

Shiseido Co., Ltd., through joint research with Professor Nobuyuki Takakura of the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, revealed important finding in July 2015.

They found that impaired function of dermal lymphatic vessels lead to accumulation of subcutaneous fat which ultimately causes sagging of the skin.

This study was the first to discover that pine cone extract from scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) strengthens and normalizes the lymphatic vessels.

(The scots pine extract bears almost identical healing benefits for skin as scots pine essential oil.)

When test subjects used a trial product formulated with pine cone extract for two months (morning and night), Shiseido observed reduced depth of nasolabial lines, facial lines, and neck sagging.

Scots Pine Essential Oil: Superior Antioxidant

With a high antioxidant content, Scots pine essential oil fights the free radicals in skin cells that cause premature aging, lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.

Scots pine essential oil in skincare works to create a balanced, smooth, and renewed radiance to skin.

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Scots pine essential oil is formulated into many PHYTO5 products: Wood element Toner, Metal element Toner, Hand Cream, Fire element Hairlixir Shampoo, Violet Clay and P-Esserine. (Violet Clay and P-Esserine are only available to professional estheticians.)

Scots Pine Essential Oil: Origins

Producers obtain Scots pine ssential oil through steam distillation of stumps, [needles, twigs and cones] from a variety of species of pine, but particularly from Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine).

This high evergreen tree has a reddish-brown and deeply fissured bark that grows pairs of long stiff needles. Largely grown in the Baltic states, Scots pine essential oil from this species is known for being a tonic and stimulant.

Scots Pine Essential Oil: Save and Effective for Skin

With very low toxicity Scots pine essential oil is one of the safest essential oils to use. It’s a near indispensable oil for to use during the Winter season.

Scots pine essential oil combats bronchitis (antitussive, expectorant, respiratory antiseptic), sinusitis, laryngitis, allergic rhinitis, and muscle pain (anti-inflammatory/cortisone-like).

Invigorating, Scots pine essential oil strengthen the psyche (a nervous system tonic). After periods of hard work and stress both mental and physical resulting in fatigue, Scots pine essential oil can help you snap back resiliently.

Scots pine essential oil boosts the immune system too.

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In energetic aromatherapy, Scots pine essential oil links to the Anahata or heart chakra. This chakra is associated with the color green.

By stimulating the heart chakra, Scots pine essential oil assists people suffering from depression, elevate mood and invigorate physical vitality.

The pineal gland in the brain gets its name from pine since it’s shaped similar to a pine cone. When the pineal gland gets triggered by light entering through the eyes, it fulfills its function assisting you to feel one with the universe, your inner being and your environment.

With this harmony established, you feel healthy and happy. Without this harmony, disorders and diseases, mental and emotional states have more potential to develop in the body.

Researchers have found Scots pine tree extract to have potential for fighting cancer, especially of the breast. Their studies show that Scots pine needle extract and Scots pine essential oil exhibit chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic potential for mammary tumors previously unresponsive to endocrine treatment.

…

Sources:

“Shiseido Becomes the First to Reveal the Relationship Between Impaired Lymphatic Function and ‘Sagging’ Skin: Discovery of Lymphatic Function-Enhancing Pine Cone Extract.” Shiseido Group, July 2015, www.shiseidogroup.com/releimg/2455-e.pdf.

Hoai, Nguyen Thi, et al. “Selectivity of Pinus Sylvestris Extract and Essential Oil to Estrogen-Insensitive Breast Cancer Cells Pinus Sylvestris against Cancer Cells.” Pharmacognosy Magazine, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, Oct. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4653339/.

Which Minerals Are Good for Skin?

Minerals are a necessary component of human nutrition, but how often do we think of minerals for skin health? We all lose minerals as we age or live in stressful environmental conditions. Certain minerals are needed to hold hydration in the skin. Without them, creams won't help. Skin can't be properly hydrated without a sufficient mineral delivery system.

Unfortunately, the U.S. is known for alarmingly poor nutrition awareness. As a population we generally fail to correlate our diets with our health and well-being. We sometimes or maybe even often choose denial over educating ourselves.

If we learned about and applies just a few simple issues we could alleviate much physical suffering, including the acceleration of aging.

[The information in this article should not be viewed as medical advice as we are not medical professionals. We are sharing information and recommendations from and based on scientific publications and studies listed in the article’s endnotes. As always, when beginning any new program dedicated to health and which is new for you, first consult your physician.]

Minerals exist abundant in mainly three sources: plants, clays and algae. PHYTO5 skincare utilizes all three of these mineral-sources when formulating products.

Algae delivers significant amounts of minerals beneficial for skin’s radiance. You’ll find various types of algae in Wood element skin Toner, Day Cream and Night Cream and also in the same line’s Algae Shampoo.

Balancing and relaxing bath additive, Algae-Essence Bath is exactly what the name implies. It’s an algae-rich complement to bath water. We’ve formulated the additive with Laminaria digitata algae and Spirulina platensis and then blended in essential oils of lemon, lavender, cypress, sweet marjoram, thyme and ylang ylang.

Our Oligo 5 gives you a micronized mineral spray that delivers five trace minerals essential to radiant skin.

Natural clays play key roles in skincare treatments designed to exfoliate dead skin cells and remove debris. They encourage circulation and oxygenation of the skin.

We base our quantum energetic five element naturally colored clay masks on a soft fine white cosmetic grade clay base called kaolin. Although it absorbs excess oil, kaolin does not pose a problem for dry or sensitive skin. It’s also very soothing and highly beneficial for people with acne.

Kaolin also is naturally white in color making it the perfect neutral clay base to which PHYTO5 adds mineral pigments.

The Wood element line’s Clay Mask is naturally colored green. We derive this mask’s green pigment from montmorillonite, an oxide of magnesium hydrate. This green clay improves vital energy circulation.

The Fire element line’s Clay Mask is naturally colored red. We get the red color from iron oxide. It supports arterial/red blood circulation.

The Clay Mask of the Earth element line gets its yellow pigment from hydrous iron oxide (xanthosiderite). This clay encourages movement of lymph.

The Metal element’s line features a white Clay Mask. We don’t need to add pigment to this clay since it’s already naturally white and mineral rich. This clay assists with veinous/blue blood circulation.

And finally, the Water element line’s black Clay Mask derives its black color from marine silt rich in sulphur, zinc and silica. We formulated this mask to enhance circulation of the body’s water.

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The following minerals and trace minerals play an enormous role in maintaining the day-to-day health of our skin. They provide therapeutic benefits for various skin conditions.

CHROMIUM

One of the most destructive influences on skin health and aging is continual blood sugar spikes caused by eating foods that release sugar into our bloodstream very fast. If excess sugar reaches the dermis, it quickly begins to bond with collagen and elastin and then continues to create cross links between fibers causing the collagen lattice to become stiff. This leads to a loss of youthful elasticity of the skin and acceleration of the process of skin’s aging.

The trace mineral chromium helps stabilize blood sugar levels meaning there will be less likelihood that sugar will be deposited in the collagen matrix of the skin. Broccoli, brewer’s yeast, barley, oats, green beans, tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and black pepper are good dietary sourcoes of chromium.

SELENIUM

The trace mineral selenium is a key player in longterm skin health mostly because of its powerful antioxidant activity. Selenium is a cofactor (a substance required for the production of another substance) in the production of another extremely powerful antioxidant known as glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione plays a significant and very vital role in protecting cells and tissues from damage caused by mutated cells or free radicals which are responsible for aging.

Selenium is also anti-inflammatory for the body and skin. Get selenium by eating brazil nuts, shiitake mushrooms, sunflower seeds, whole grains, potatoes, prawns, tuna, oysters and salmon.

SILICA

Silica activates certain enzymes involved in the production of collagen. It rests inside collagen acting like glue between connective tissues. It helps prevents wrinkles, provides a lifting effect, and strengthens and regenerates skin and bone tissues. Silica is a strong carrier of oxygen which helps to give skin a healthy glow. It also assists red blood cells to carry more oxygen throughout the body which, in turn, helps improve skin hydration. It is imperative for healthy youthful skin.

We can derive silica from the horsetail plant as an excellent source and also from cucumbers, watermelon, echinacea root, alfalfa, kelp, bell peppers, leeks, green beans, wheatgrass, apples, berries, onions, almonds, sunflower seeds and grapes.

SULPHUR

Sulphur, the beauty mineral, is one of the most important nutrients for the structure of the skin. It is a key component of proteins and essential for healthy skin. Deficiency symptoms of sulphur are dry scalp, eczema, rashes and acne.

Get sulphur in eggs, meats, fish, garlic, onions, dairy, beans, greens, dandelion greens, celery, cabbage, kale, soybeans and asparagus.

IODINE

Iodine assists in healing skin infections, increases oxygen consumption and the metabolic rate in the skin. It also, importantly, helps prevent roughness and premature wrinkling, and contributes to skin tone. Consume iodine by eating blue-green algae, kelp, barley grass, sunflower seeds, and sea salt.

ZINC

Zinc is a trace mineral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin. It is very beneficial for the alleviation of acne and it’s naturally photo-protective. It accelerates wound healing, cell growth and immunity. Zinc can be found in pumpkin, seeds, legumes, mushrooms, spinach, shellfish, nuts, grains, kale, and eggs, to name a few.

Zinc is also delivered to the skin, in particular, when using PHYTO5’s Oligo 5 Mineral Spray. In addition, PHYTO5’s Earth Element (night) Cream also contains zinc in an appropriate level.

MANGANESE

Manganese is a trace mineral or salt important for everyday skin health as it plays a significant role in collagen production. Manganese is involved in the synthesis of vitamin B1. It acts against free radicals and has soothing, calming and protective properties. It aids in protection of the skin against oxidation and damages caused as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light by functioning as an antioxidant. Manganese is an ingredient in Ageless La Cure’s Five Secrets Serum and Cream Duo for a 3-Week Cure and in PHYTO5’s Oligo 5 Mineral Spray. We also formulate our Wood Element (night) Cream with manganese.

Manganese can be found in nuts, beans, legumes, whole grains, green leafy vegetable, pineapple, açai and dark chocolate.

MAGNESIUM

Magnesium is a trace mineral that has the ability to cleanse the skin and detoxify the epidermis. It is quite effective in treating the areas of the skin that are prone to allergic reaction. Magnesium is very effective in reducing wrinkles and fine lines. It helps to combat acne and skin breakouts. It acts on cellular renewal and on the production of energy within cells, because it contributes to glucose transport. It is very beneficial for people who are tired and overworked. As a cellular protectant, it fosters the restoration of cellular magnesium levels, facilitates effective and safe detoxification, provides pain relief, relieves aches, and encourages healthy skin tissue growth.

We’ll want to eat avocados, nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, tofu, and dark chocolate to ensure we get magnesium into our bodies and skin. Also get magnesium in PHYTO5’s Oligo 5 Mineral Spray. PHYTO5’s Metal Element (night) Cream is also fortified with magnesium.

COBALT

Cobalt is part of vitamin B12, the vitamin essential for producing red blood cells and maintaining the nervous system. The cobalt ion allows the cells to manufacture B-complex vitamins. A cellular deficiency is linked to pernicious anemia among other blood disorders. Together with sulfur, cobalt helps to maintain and repair the myelin sheath(1), transport glucose from the blood into body cells, and manufacture/absorb B-complex vitamins. Cobalt is essential to health and the human cell.

When taken in small amounts such as in a liquid colloidal suspension, cobalt may help ease inflammation and provide antioxidation of free radicals to help counteract symptoms of aging. Too much intake of cobalt may cause enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter). It can also reduce the activity of the thyroid. Cobalt may also increase blood sugar levels.

“The human health-supporting properties of dietary cobalt are under-appreciated,” say Dr. Michael Glade, clinical nutritionist and Dr. Michael Meguide, professor emeritus of surgery, neuroscience, and nutrition at the Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.

Get the right amount of cobalt to help counteract signs of aging by using PHYTO5’s Oligo 5 Mineral Spray. PHYTO5’s Fire Element (night) Cream also includes cobalt as a key ingredient. Trace amounts of cobalt are also found in vitamin B12 rich foods like fish, nuts, leafy green vegetables, and cereals.

COPPER

Copper promotes healthy skin, supports healthy cartilage and tendon regeneration, and assists the body in the absorption of iron.

Copper may also assist with antioxidation function so necessary for slowing and mitigating signs of aging. Copper is also required for normal iron metabolism and red blood cell formation.

Copper activates many enzymes, including lysyl oxidase responsible for increasing the production of elastin and collagen. Using a topical solution on the skin which includes copper like PHYTO5’s Oligo 5 Mineral Spray can help replenish supplies of collagen and elastin, in turn reducing wrinkles. Copper is also an important ingredient in PHYTO5’s Water Element (night) Cream .

Playing an important role in the production of melanin, copper is also important for hair and skin pigment and we wrote a blog article on the topic of the use of copper (among other remedies) for grey hair here.

Get copper by eating beef liver, avocados, buckwheat, olives, sunflower seeds, lentils, almonds, dark chocolate and asparagus.

SUMMARY

A good mineral intake is important at any age and the optimum way to achieve this is through a whole foods diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables and other plant-based produce. Rather than worry about what to eat or what not to eat to make sure we’re getting all we need to look and feel younger longer, make consuming a rainbow diet with foods from each of the seven colors of the rainbow the foundation of your meals and snacks and build around that always making the most sensible choices we know intuitively are best for us.has

This article has been reproduced in its entirety and verbatim from the same article originally published by us at our sister site, agelesslacure.com.

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Endnotes:

This article has been updated with new information for freshness and comprehension on Dec. 19, 2020.

1 Myelin is a lipid-rich (fatty) substance that surrounds nerve cell axons (the nervous system’s wires) to insulate them and increase the rate at which information (encoded as electrical impulses) is passed along the axon.

Pinnock, Dale. The Clear Skin Cookbook: the Vital Vitamins and Magic Minerals You Need for Smooth, Blemish-Free, Younger-Looking Skin. Seven Dials, 2018.

Null, Gary. Get Healthy Now! with Gary Null: a Complete Guide to Prevention, Treatment and Healthy Living. Seven Stories Press, 2006.

“Cobalt, the Forgotten Mineral, Found to Offer Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Health Benefits.” NaturalNews.com, 7 Feb. 2019, www.naturalnews.com/2019-02-07-cobalt-anti-inflammatory-antioxidant.html.

Photo by Vincenzo Giove from Pexels

The Metal Type Personality According to Traditional Chinese Medici

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The season for Metal runs from August 7 to October 20 according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). We call it energetic Fall. In TCM, the energy of each of the five elements aligns with many aspects of life. One of those aspects is the personality. This articles discusses the Metal type of person and personality traits. Are you or someone you know a Metal type? Let’s find out.

Describing this or any other element type isn’t all black and white. Sometimes we’re out of balance in our type.

What we outline below is the basic personality of the Metal type in perfect balance. The opposite of any characteristic discussed here demonstrates an out-of-balance Metal type.

TCM embraces a fivefold concept known as the Five Element/Five Phase Theory to explain a wide variety of phenomena from cosmic cycles to the interaction between the body’s internal organs to personality types.

The five elements are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. You may not predominantly be a Metal type but we all tend to be one predominant type from among the five elements. It’s important to note that no one is one hundred percent one type alone.

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Think ‘graceful’ when you think of the Metal Type.

Masque d'argile Métal [Metal white Clay Mask for Fall • Quantum Energetic]

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Metal types are like the Eiffel Tower rising stately into the sky, reaching toward the heavens, magnificent, graceful and elegant. Metals give off a lithe energy.

Metal yearns for refinement. Metal type personalities spend energy toward perfectionism and purity. They never stop chipping away at a rock so they can reveal the precious jem within.

Metal types are orderly and stoic, regulated and resolved. They don’t exactly express feelings like most other people. They get excited, yes, and feel emotion, but they mostly hold feelings like joy and happiness within.

Think also ‘solitude,’ ‘inward’ and ‘spiritual’ when you think of the Metal Type.

Metal type personalities express their emotions when they’re alone in solitude. Even when Metal types do outwardly express emotion it will be merely a smile or nod of the head.

Metal types often find themselves alone much of the time. Even so, they usually don’t feel lonely for they feel companionship with nature and the unseen realm.

The energy of the Metal type personality pulls inwardly. This type lives in the mystical spaces in-between. Much like walking a labyrinth they easily find a zen space within themselves in the solitude.

If you highly prize solitude, serenity, and reverence, you may be a Metal type.

Metal types are usually highly spiritual. The Metal type personality constantly works towards pure consciousness. Metals need and want to connect to the present moment. They must have and will work to secure their freedom to be alone, work, and connect with the Divine.

Others interpret the Metal personality’s presentation of self as aloof or even arrogant. Others often misjudge that Metal feels more enlightened than everyone else. These assumptions couldn’t be further from the truth. Metal doesn’t feel that way.

We call the archetype of Metal and the Metal Type Personality the Alchemist.

“The alchemist transforms the mundane into something grand, releasing the old and breathing in the new. Metal energy brings inspiration, newness, and value into every day life.”

— Charles A. Moss, MD in Power of the Five Elements: The Chinese Medicine Path to Healthy Aging and Stress Resistance

They are masters at meeting life right where it is and rising above it.

The challenge of meeting life where it is motivates the Metal type personality. They love to rise above any challenge.

Stoicism in Metal personalities helps Metal weather life’s ups and downs without becoming unduly upset. They’ll feel distressed like everyone else but won’t generously express their distress.

Metal personalities enjoy the journey to be one with and flow with change. The Metal type in balance won’t overly fret over losing job, marriage, or a friendship. Alchemist Metal sees the big picture, loves the challenge of rebuilding and recreating. Metal knows better days are ahead.

Metal holds high values and strives to be honorable. In Metal personalities’ way of thinking, they can’t live with themselves otherwise.

The Metal Type personality wants authentic meaningful relationships.

Metal types in balance have a knack for letting go of what’s no longer needed in their lives: earthly possessions, distractions, toxic thoughts.

Because of this ability to let go of the old or the past, they quickly detach from others if they carry a lot of emotional baggage. When something feels off or feels like drama, Metal departs if at all possible.

Metal type personalities will actually move away from relationships — physically and/or emotionally — when they feel those relationships offer nothing to enhance their own journey.

This is why Metals can seem indifferent when relating to people. These Metal types do understand that long-term detachment from people can be unhealthy. But after a period of time they will seek to reconnect if they sense it’s impairing their growth.

Metals want to connect with people, just not in large groups or social circles. They prefer one-on-one encounters and are deeply grateful for every personal encounter.

Metals aren’t known for being funny but when they express humor it’s always dry, brilliant and sophisticated.

Metal types don’t like trite conversation. They like conversation to be deep otherwise they see no point in enagaing.

Interestingly, Metal personality types themselves are long winded in communication however it will always be meaningful.

Metals would rather be alone than participate in a shallow relationship based on need.

When Metal personalities do make friends they’ll usually allow, even hope for their new friends to express their feelings. And Metal will not judge or run away. Instead Metals will open their hearts.

It’s important for the Metal type personality to consistently open the heart. Without it he or she will develop lack of flexibility in relationships.

Metals seek a cosmic connection to other people with complete mindfulness. They naturally illuminate aspects of the relationship that really matter. They shine their generous kindness on you gradually as you get to know them.

If you are Metal’s companion you become a better human being.

Metal thrives by serving a group of people. It’s where the Metal personality feels at home.

The Metal Type personality strives to simply life.

The Metal type shows an uncanny ability to simplify life. Metals strive for simplicity to focus on what’s most important for their personal evolution.

In any aspect of service and work, Metal can distill the most complex concepts and drill down to the essential. Metal will always communicate elaborate instructions and information in a way that anyone can understand.

If Metal type personalities are teacher or leader, they listen to others in earnest. Then they extract the most vital information in its purest most meaningful form.

The Metal type personality focuses sharply and relentlessly. No matter how long a project takes, Metal resigns to taking step after step to completion and with little or no complaint.

Metals prefer to finish projects completely before they take a dinner break nibbling on small snacks until then. They don’t want their focus broken.

Metal types believe they’re here for a purpose. They work with passion and zeal to finish everything they came to Earth to accomplish. In the process, Metal will often temporarily forget others in their lives while they’re on a mission.

This said, Metal type personalities are some of the most altruistic people you’ll meet.

…

Endnotes:

Dondi. The Five Elements: Understand Yourself and Enhance Your Relationships with the Wisdom of the World's Oldest Personality Type System. Tarcher Perigee, 2016.

Swiss Skincare: Synonymous with Highest Quality and Efficacy

Switzerland, situated between France, Germany and Italy, benefits from the influence of the three surrounding cultures. One principle influence is skincare. Swiss skincare and routines are renowned across the world.

The tiny town of Fleurier, in the French-speaking part of Western Switzerland, is famous the world over for its centuries old exacting haute horlogerie(1) watchmaking companies. Everyone has heard of Parmigiani, Bovet and Chopard.

Fleurier is also home to PHYTO5 skincare’s Suisse Romande(2) manufacturing facility, Laboratoire Gibro, S. A.

The Swiss manufacturing ethic Swiss Fleurier watches are known for also and exactly applies to the manufacture of PHYTO5’s Swiss skincare.

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Essential Oil Rich Clean Swiss Skincare Made in Fleurier, Switzerland

The Fleurier name itself we roughly translate as Flowering Village. This name is entirely apropos for a factory like Laboratoire Gibro which creates Swiss skincare largely formulated with essential oils of flowers.

The factory is deliberately located very close to the Swiss Jura mountains(3) near Neuchâtel. Considering its rich history, it’s no wonder we say that Fleurier is ground zero for Swiss-Made skincare.

PHYTO5 entirely produces Swiss skincare in this uniquely situated factory in the district of Vals-de-Travers.

Here the gorges of Poëta-Raisse, the grottos of Môtiers and the Gorges de l'Areuse each express the sheer power and purity of spring water. This pristine water has endlessly flowed century after century carving narrow passages through the rocks.

And it’s this same water we formulate in all three lines of PHYTO5 Swiss skincare (Five Element, Swiss Line–traditional phytoceutical skincare, Ageless La Cure).

Because the 'aqua' (water) in all PHYTO5 skincare comes directly from the sub-Alpine Swiss Jura mountains, the water holds high vibrational frequency.

This frequency is higher(4) than water used in cosmetics manufactured near big cities where water’s been insulted forced through impersonal, transport piping networks.

Before we add Swiss Jura spring water any of our Swiss skincare formulations, we additionally run the water through high tech filters to extra-purify it.

Other skincare companies purify their water too. But because of their water source, it’s most often devoid of vital energy and beneficial vibration. All the purification equipment in an urban modern skincare lab can never equate with the energetic purity of Swiss Jura mountain water.

Highest Exacting Manufacturing Standards in Swiss Skincare

Gibro, S. A. is nestled in a clean natural environment. The factory follows extremely high European-regulated quality standards and procedures befitting the region. The standards honor the sanctity of the planet.

PHYTO5’s factory has diligently earned the coveted Ecocert and Cosmebio ecological and organic certifications (according to ECOCERT Standard).

The New York Times reports what PHYTO5 has known all along: 

“… the cosmetics regulatory system in the U. S. operates in complete contrast to a number of substantial rounds of regulations imposed on cosmetics manufacturers in the European Union (E. U.) in the last 15 years.” 

The Swiss government plays a proactive ongoing role in factory supervision for all Swiss-based manufacturers. This double layer of Swiss and European regulation and supervision provides a substantial level of protection for the American consumer buying authentic truly Swiss skincare like PHYTO5’s.

Keep in mind the skin absorbs much of what we put on it and what comes into its vicinity. The U. S. is largely unwilling to ensure your skincare products are actually and totally safe for your health.

For this reason, it makes complete sense to buy 100% Swiss-made skincare like PHYTO5. It’s been subjected to a double layer of Swiss and European regulation and supervision. 

Beware of companies generously using the Swiss flag in their branding. They often use catch phrases and titles including the word Swiss.

In many cases, these products are only Swiss-inspired or only a tiny percentage of the product actually comes from Switzerland. 

…

Endnotes:

(1) High art of watchmaking

(2) French-speaking part of Western Switzerland; as opposed to Suisse Alémanique, the German-speaking part of Central Switzerland

(3) The Jura Mountains are a sub-alpine mountain range located north of the Western Alps, mainly following the course of the France–Switzerland border. The Jura separates the Rhine and Rhône basins, forming part of the watershed of each. The name "Jura" is derived from juria, a Latinized form of the Celtic stem jor- meaning “forest.” The mountain range gives its name to the Jurassic period of the geologic timescale from about 208 million to 146 million years ago. The Swiss Jura is one of the three distinct geographical regions of Switzerland, the others being the Swiss plateau and the Swiss Alps. In Switzerland, the range covers the western border with France.

(4) "...We strenuously observed crystals of tap water, river water, and lake water. From the tap water we could not get any beautiful ones [crystals denoting high vibration] from rivers and lakes near big cities ... however from the water from rivers and lakes where water is kept pristine from development, we could observe beautiful crystals with each one having its own uniqueness". --Masaru Emoto,  (1943–2014), Japanese author, researcher, photographer, and entrepreneur who proved human consciousness has an effect on the molecular structure of water.

The Editorial Board. “Cosmetics Safety Needs a Makeover.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/opinion/cosmetics-safety-makeup.html.

13 Inspiring Summer Solstice Quotes to Celebrate the Longest Day of the Year

The Summer Solstice, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year, is a time to honor the sun’s life-giving energy and embrace the vibrant season. These 13 Summer Solstice quotes offer profound insights to inspire your rituals and celebrations. Whether you’re seeking spiritual growth or a deeper connection with nature, let these words guide you through this auspicious time.

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What Is the Summer Solstice?

The Summer Solstice, derived from the Latin words sol (sun) and stitium (still or stopped), occurs annually on June 20 or 21.

On this day, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, delivering the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Ancient cultures, from the Mayans to the Druids, revered this event, aligning monuments like Stonehenge with the Solstice sunrise.

Today, it’s a moment to pause, reflect, and harness the sun’s radiant energy.

Summer Solstice Quotes to Inspire Your Celebration

1. Embracing the Sun’s Radiance

I was rich, if not in money, in sunny hours and Summer days. — Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau reminds us to cherish the abundance of sunlight during the Summer Solstice. Take time to bask in the warmth and let it recharge your spirit.

I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower… Wherever light is, no matter how weak, these flowers will find it. — Helen Mirren

Like the sunflower, follow the light this Solstice. Create a ritual to honor the sun such as meditating outdoors at sunrise.

2. Balancing Light and Dark

Both the Winter and the Summer Solstices are expressions of love. They show us the opposition of light and dark… — Gary Zukav

Zukav’s words highlight the Solstice as a balance of opposites — yin and yang. Use this time to reflect on your inner light and shadow, fostering personal growth.

This is the Solstice, the still point of the sun, its cusp and midnight, the year’s threshold and unlocking…  — Margaret Atwood

Atwood’s poetic imagery captures the Solstice as a turning point. Journal about your intentions for the season ahead to align with this transformative energy.

3. Evolving Through Solstice Energy

Give like the sun and the whole world grows tall. — Atticus

The Summer Solstice invites generosity. Amplify the sun’s generous kind of energy and share positivity with others, whether through kind words or acts of service.

The great gift of the energy of the Summer Solstice is that it’s designed to move you from one phase to the next on your terms. — Deborah King

King emphasizes the solstice’s power for transformation. Pair this energy with healing practices, like using our Fire Element skincare line , designed to soothe sensitive skin and balance emotions with the vibrant fiery red energy of Summer.

4. Honoring Ancient Traditions

If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my God. — Napoleon Bonaparte

Bonaparte’s reverence for the sun echoes ancient traditions.

From the Aztecs’ solstice-aligned temples to the Chumash’s¹ Solsticee light-capturing caves, cultures worldwide have celebrated this day.

Visit a local sacred site or create a small altar with red crystals like bloodstone or carnelian to connect with this heritage.

5. Celebrating Summer’s Abundance

I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of the Summer… — Violette Leduc

Leduc’s vivid imagery evokes Summer’s intensity. Embrace this energy with outdoor activities like picnics or bonfires, a tradition still alive in Cornwall and Ireland.

It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside. — Maud Hart Lovelace

Lovelace’s words inspire gratitude for Summer’s beauty. Plant a rose or create a floral crown to honor the season’s lushness.

6. Rituals for Renewal

Not only is there the Summer Solstice, there is a full moon. May love surround you like sunshine on a sunny day. — William Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s quote ties the Solstice to love and renewal. Celebrate with a moonlit walk or a candlelit dinner to deepen your connection to this magical night.

And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees… life was beginning over again with the Summer. — F. Scott Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald’s optimism invites us to start anew. Try a Solstice ritual like lighting a fire, chanting softly, or baking potatoes in glowing embers to mark this fresh beginning.

7. The Moon’s Mystical Role

At midnight in the month of June, I stand beneath the mystic moon. — Edgar Allan Poe

Poe’s words remind us of the moon’s quiet presence during the Solstice. Spend the evening stargazing or meditating to absorb its serene energy.

8. Welcoming the Dawn

May the long time sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you guide your way on.  — Snatam Kaur

Kaur’s blessing is a perfect Solstice prayer. Wake before dawn to greet the sunrise, feeling the presence of your ancestors and the sun’s empowering warmth.

Summer Solstice Rituals to Try

To fully embrace the Summer Solstice, try these simple yet powerful rituals:

• Evening Preparation: Eat lightly, unplug devices, and light candles to create a sacred space.

• Moonlit Reflection: Take a nighttime walk, observing the stars and moon. Chant or sing softly by a fire.

• Crystal Healing: Use red crystals like red jasper or carnelian, associated with June’s numerology (6 for healing, 2 for divine feminine energy), to ground and energize.

• Sunrise Greeting: Wake before dawn to welcome the sun with a song or prayer. Set intentions for the season.

• Skincare Ritual: Incorporate our quantum energetic Fire Element products to soothe overheated, sensitive, irritated skin and balance emotions. Align with Summer’s vibrant energy in balance.

Why the Summer Solstice Matters

The Summer Solstice is more than a celestial event. It’s a spiritual and vibrational gateway.

Ancient cultures, from the Mayans at Chichén Itzá to the Egyptians at Giza, aligned their lives with this auspicious day.

Today, yoga centers and spiritual communities worldwide celebrate with drumming, chanting, and bonfires. By engaging with these traditions, you can deepen your connection to nature and yourself.

Are you ready to glow this Summer? Explore our holistic skincare collection to nurture your skin and spirit with the season’s fiery energy.

…

Endnotes:

¹ Chumash: Indigenous people inhabiting coastal parts of southern California.

Editors, History.com. “Summer Solstice.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 10 Aug. 2017, www.history.com/topics/natural-disasters-and-environment/history-of-summer-solstice.

Matthews, John. The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest. Godsfield, 2005.

Which Essential Oils Help Acne?

The Skin Inc. newsletter and website(1) has brought up a prevalent skincare question: How to offer skincare consumers acne treatments that work. Treating acne requires a highly personalized treatment. And PHYTO5 has provided a method and essential oil based products for acne prone skin since the late 70s.

There are many different types of acne so one cure-for-all is far less effective than a personalized treatment designed to targeting the specific type of acne.

Where a skin manifestation appears is just as important as what is appearing. This is because the skin is an organ with reflexive properties. It’s also not just vital matter but vital energy as well. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are founded on these principles.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

TCM’s 5–Element theory tells us:

a. Vital energy has five elements (also known as aspects or phases) that need to work together in balance for the harmony of the whole.

b. Each aspect of vital energy regulates both specific physiological functions and a pair of organs. Each pair is comprised of a yin organ and a yang organ.

c. The quality of the energy of these functions and organs shows up on the reflex zones on the skin—throughout the face and body. Since each of the five elements has a yin and a yang aspect, there are ten reflex zones that conveniently appear on the face representing the five pairs of yin/yang organs.

d. Any energetic blockage has consequences or manifestations that appear as imperfections on the skin or as certain body shapes. TCM outlines five groups of skin conditions. Each group is defined as an imbalance or blockage of one of the five elements or aspects of vital energy.

Which Essential Oils Help Acne?

Acne manifests as one of the manifestations of the energy of the Earth element.

If you want to get to the root cause of an Earth skin manifestation like acne, create a rebalance of that element.

PHYTO5 provides three essential oil rich products that make up the treatment phase of a PHYTO5 facial:

• The quantum energetic Earth element Phyt’Ether serum of each of the five elements with a specific blend of natural essential oils that follows the formulation principles of TCM.

In addition to a number of other hero ingredients, the detoxifying essential oils helping to balance acne are essential oils of lemon, orange, cypress and eucalyptus.

It’s important to note though that while each of these essential oils serves a distinct purpose, we combine these essential oils according to the principles of TCM to create a potent synergistic effect.

• Earth naturally colored yellow Clay Mask is also infused with the same essential oils present in the serum.

• Oligo 5 trace mineral spray disperses five essential minerals essential to a healthy skin. It helps create a good and healthy skin canvas able to combat toxicity in skin.

If you use these three products as part of your skincare regimen you can go steps beyond your standard acne treatment.

Treat acne with one of our five Phyt’Ether serums depending on where the acne appears on the face:

• If acne appears on the forehead, this signals a Fire reflex zone. Use the Fire serum.

• If acne appears in between the eyebrows, this is a Wood reflex zone, therefore use the Wood serum.

• When acne shows up on the cheekbones—an Earth reflex zone—apply the Earth serum.

• But if acne appears on the cheeks, this is the Metal reflex zone, therefore apply Metal serum.

• Should acne appears on the chin, this is a Water reflex zone, and you should use the Water serum.

Next, apply Earth (yellow) Clay Mask. After 15 minutes, gently wash all mask residue from your face.

Then conclude this facial treatment phase with Oligo 5 spray. Spray it over the entire face even if acne only appears in one area of the face.

You can treat more than one skin condition at the same time (e. g. dry acne means you have acne but your skin is dry).

Identify which reflex zone on the face is affected. Then choose the Phyt’Ether serum according to the key above and gently apply a drop of two to the clean reflex zone.

We offer five natural quantum energetic and naturally colored Clay Mask for each of the five reflex zones on the face. This is PHYTO5’s Five Clay Mask facial (pictured, right). And it’s totally unique in the beauty industry.

PHYTO5 energetic products are very effective on their own. But if you’re live near a PHYTO5 trained professional, you’re in luck. Our trained professionals can give a treatment further enhanced using PHYTO5 proprietary devices. These include the light therapy machine (Chromapuncter) and/or the Biostimulator. These unique tools are the secret of many of our most advanced PHYTO5 practitioners.

…

Endnotes:

(1) May 5, 2019

Manzo, Robert, and Skinprint. “Personalized Acne Solutions.” Skin Inc., www.skininc.com/treatments/facial/acne/Personalized-Acne-Solutions-509510461.html

Photo by Ana Francisconi at Pexels

Foods for Hot Weather: What to Eat and What Not to Eat

Summer is not the best time for an internal cleanse. But it is a time to really hydrate and nourish the body. Always consume the naturally growing foods of the season. And particularly in Summer, eat light, nutrient-rich, easily digestible foods and beverages. Stay away from cold and icy and use just a touch of spice.

Both Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) similarly view the effects of hot Summer and its corresponding element of Fire on our overall well-being. They find consuming various foods for hot weather a primary way the body feels either great or lethargic.

Dry longer, bright sunshiny days combined with Summertime lifestyle changes can wreak havoc on our energy levels. We get more prone to restless sleep and insomnia, digestive complaints, and even dryness depending on where we live.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Foods for hot weather don’t include cold and icy food and drinks.

We know that sounds counter-intuitive but TCM has proven these diminish your necessary inner fire. Cold and icy are not foods for hot weather. Ayurveda says the same thing too.

If you reduce the icy cold food and drink and stick to regular mealtimes with smaller portions you can keep your inner fire balanced.

And because we celebrate more during Summer, many of us increase our alcohol and/or caffeine intake and eat less nutritious food while eating more erratically in general. These too diminish inner fire. So make sure you’re not overdoing anywhere.

Foods for hot weather don’t include bitter foods and drinks.

Bitters can drain heat the body requires.

Consume more pungent foods for hot weather. They support your internal heat and energy. Garlic, onion and chilies are examples of pungent foods. They will come out through your pores and even aid in repelling pesky insects.

Favor foods for hot weather that make you feel lighter and you find easy to digest. If you feel like you want to take a nap after eating during Summer, it’s a sign you’ve eaten food that’s a little too heavy for the season.

Foods for hot weather mean water rich produce.

Most of us sweat more during Summer. At the same time we lower our overall water consumption replacing them with Summer drinks.

Some people purposely drink less water so they don’t have to urinate as often while they’re enjoying Summer outdoor activities.

Hot weather is when we need to focus on keeping up adequate water consumption. 

In addition to drinking lots and lots of pure water, each water rich produce of the season: melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, plums, mangos, lettuces. It’s an excellent way to supplement your diet with nature’s next most perfect source of water your body needs.

Summer’s a season of hot weather and thus natural dehydration. Serious dehydration can lead serious sicknesses like heat stroke and sun poisoning.

Sweat is the fluid of the heart and heart’s vitality. If you sweat too much without replacing your water fluid, you can deplete your heart’s vitality.

Exercising in the sun provokes heart fire and depletes the body of fluids.

All this said, don’t be rigid with these guidelines. Feel your way through them and determine for yourself if your choices are healthy or if they’re cravings coming from emotional neediness.

If you identify a craving, satisfy it briefly and then move on. Don’t make a big deal out of it and judge yourself. Ayurveda says the greatest imbalance is to have knowledge and then go against it.

Simply strive to make your foods for hot weather choices healthy ones.

…

Endnotes:

Shea, Bridgette. Handbook of Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda: An Integrated Practice of Ancient Healing Traditions. Healing Arts Press, 2018.

Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash

8 Traditional Chinese Medicine Lifestyle Keys for Living In Harmony with Summer and the Fire Element

“The three months of Summer are called the period of luxurious growth. Everything is in bloom and begins to bear fruit.

After a night of sleep people should get up early (in the morning). They should not weary during daytime and they should not allow their minds to become angry.

They should enable the best parts (of their body and spirit) to develop; they should enable their breath to communicate with the outside world; and they should act as though they loved everything outside.

All this is in harmony with the atmosphere of Summer and all this is the method for the protection of one’s development.”

— from The Yellow Emporer’s Classic of Internal Medicine

Take what the ancient Chinese Yellow Emporer’s Classic says about how to live during Summer. Use the Summer to your best advantage to develop yourself. Here’s how.

Waking up early in the morning. Since the sun’s warmth is greatest in the Summer and since Summer is all about the sun, becoming attuned to the sun at this time makes sense. Ask your smartphone for tomorrow’s time of sunrise and set your alarm to wake up at daybreak. Even before you get out of bed admire the sunlight beginning to light up the environment. (If you haven’t been getting up this early, you’ll be amazed at how much more you accomplish in the day!) There’s a reason why Francis of Assisi called the sun and fire Brother. He saw his relationship with them as one of warmth, love, and support. Even if your Summer is extremely hot, learn to find the positive aspects of the sun’s heat and radiance as did Francis of Assisi.

Going to bed most nights at a decent hour. This is a must especially if you want to wake up early in the morning. It will happen naturally if you get in the habit of waking up with the sun.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

Foregoing taking a nap during the day. The sun gives us energy both directly and indirectly. It pours its energizing rays into the fruits and vegetables we consume. When we enjoy Summer sunlight within reason, the light also has the potential to offer us energy right through the lens of our eyes and pores of our skin. Because of this, if we are harmonizing with and appreciating the Summer sun, we probably won’t need we feel to take a nap. If we forego taking an afternoon nap, it will also be that much easier to go to bed a bit earlier at night.

When anger bubbles to the surface, pausing and with positive intention diffusing it. Just a short pause can be enough to keep us from reacting negatively to what happens around us. Everything happens around us but we don’t have to let it happen within us.

Being physically active. Summer is definitely the time for physical activity since the weather does not preclude us from participating in most sports or other activities. Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day help carry the Summer spirit forward. Take advantage of the warm weather and breezes, the flora that is gushing forth with color and life and the longer days in which we can accomplish and enjoy more than perhaps we do during other seasons.

Combining physical activity with spiritual practices such as meditation. Since physical activity is very grounding, meditation, contemplation, or prayer will help bring balance by uplifting our spirit. It will enable us to appreciate the beauty of the season even more.

Practicing pranayama, the yogic practice of breathing techniques, or just plain breathing consciously. Practice taking six breaths a minute which is a proven breathing technique for vitality. Even if we merely become aware of our breath it will assist us to deepen our breathing from the diaphragm for greater health and wellness. If at all possible, practice breathing outdoors.

Having fun and appreciating all the nature display Summer brings. Summer is synonymous with FUN and PLEASURE. And there’s nothing wrong with that! If we’re not in joy, if we’re unable to enjoy our lives, we can’t create much that is good, beautiful or true. We must give our creativity the fertile soil of joy and the way to joy is through appreciation of all the little (and the big) things in life… the birds that chirp at four in the morning, the bumblebee buzzing around your flowers, the breeze that brushed against your face while taking an evening walk or the playful shriek of a child in the park. The more we appreciate, the more joy we have and this Summer, the more balance we will experience in our lives all the way around.

This blog post, originally published May 21, 2016, has been updated on May 6, 2019 for freshness, comprehensiveness and accuracy.

A Mama By Any Other Name Might Not Be As Sweet: Exploring the Origins of the Names for Mother in Honor of Mother's Day

When a baby first suckles at its mother’s breast the mouth is closed as it takes in nourishment from the mother. The only sound the baby can make in satisfaction is the sound of ‘mmmm.’ The bilabial /m/ sound is very easy to produce and also quite natural. It’s a sound of comfort and satiation in the mother’s arms. How interesting that even as adults we say “mmmm” when we eat something delicious. (In Why Mama and Papa linguist Roman Jakobson notes that babies make the sounds for mama as a “slight nasal murmur” while breastfeeding.) It’s interesting to note that in Latin mamma means ‘breast’ and is the obvious root of the word ‘mammary.’

Add to this the bilabial open vowel /a/, another easily producible sound and we have ma. Ma is among the first word-like sounds made by babbling babies. And humans being true to form, it’s believed that parents tend to associate the first sound babies make with themselves, therefore we have the words mama and papa associated with mother and father—at least this is what historians and linguists say. (/p/ is another of only a handful of bilabial sounds.)

The syllable ma is nearly universal among the Indo-European languages. In the ten most widely spoken languages in the world, the word for mama (mother) is: māma, mama, maman, mamá, ma, mama, mamã, maa, mama, haha and mamī.

In Mandarin it’s mãma, and in Hindi it’s māṃ.

In non-Indo-European languages, we still notice similar sounding words that mean “mother.” In Navajo it’s amá, in Quechua it’s mama, in Ancient Egyptian it’s mut (similar to ‘mother’), in Korean it’s eomma and in Swahili it’s mama.

The modern English word mother comes from Middle English moder, deriving from Old English mōdor.

Some scientists believe that mama and papa were among the first words that humans spoke.

Mama was first historically recorded in 1707. The more English mum appeared in use around 1823, mummy in 1839, mommy in 1844, momma in 1852, and eventually, we come to mom around 1867.

The American colloquial momma can conjure visions of sweetness and loveliness when Urban Dictionary says, “My momma is the best woman in the world!”

Momma can be used with sexist intent while summoning an image of voluptuousness as in “Whoah, that chick in the short skirt is a real momma!”

It’s slang for one’s wife or girlfriend as in, “I need to talk to momma before I buy the car.”

In earth’s ancient history, the primal Mesopotamian mother goddess, known under many Sumerian names (Nintud, Nintur, Ninhursag, Belet-ili) is very often referred to as Ninmah meaning ‘magnificent [or ‘great’]  queen.’ (In Sanskrit, mah means ‘great.’) She appears as the mother of humankind and the gods on earth and was the matron of pregnancy and birth and queen of the birthing hut.

Her other names include Makh, Ninmakh, Mamma, and Mama. In iconography she is represented by a sign which resembles the Greek symbol omega accompanied by a knife representing the uterus and the blade used to severe the umbilical cord.

Ninmah is thought to be among the most likely candidates for the original mother earth figure since she is so prominently associated with fertility, creation, pregnancy, childbirth, and nurture. Still another of Ninmah’s early names was Ki or Kishar identifying her as mother earth. Again, we see a startling correlation to qi or chi, the unseen vital energy that sustains life. 

In the Sumerian tablets Ninmah is depicted as the consort of Anu and co-creator of the world. She was the Great Mother who presided over all, commoners and nobles alike.

Given the history of the syllable ma(h) evolving to mama, mamma, and momma, and its early associations with birth, sustenance and nurture, do we think these are all mere coincidences? Many historians like to say yes, but you can be the judge.

#####

Endnotes:

Shepard, Edward. “Why ‘Mama’ Has the Same Meaning in Almost Every Language.” Motherly, Motherly, 12 June 2018, www.mother.ly/parenting/mama-is-most-universal-word.

Mark, Joshua J. “Ninhursag.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 8 Apr. 2019, www.ancient.eu/Ninhursag/.

“Roman Jakobson.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Mar. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Jakobson.

Photo by Leandro Cesar Santana on Unsplash

Swiss Skincare: Far Safer for Skin Than American

The New York Times Editorial Board wrote an article entitled, “Do You Know What’s In Your Cosmetics?” (Feb. 9, 2019) The article’s caption states: “Thousands of chemicals, in billions of dollars worth of products, are being governed by regulations that haven’t been updated in decades.”  The New York Times is making people aware of something PHYTO5 has known all along: 

“the cosmetics regulatory system in the U. S. operates in complete contrast to a number of substantial rounds of regulations imposed on cosmetics manufacturers in the European Union (E. U.) in the last 15 years.”

Fortunately, the Swiss government supervises Swiss-based manufacturing facilities. Combined with European regulation and supervision, Swiss manufacturing oversight provides a double layer of protection for the American consumer who buys authentic Swiss skincare like PHYTO5.

The New York Times articles articulates the lack of U. S. governmental action to ensure consumer safety.

In a 1988 hearing, Congress took the cosmetics industry to task for a rash of health and safety problems. Cosmetologists were reporting serious respiratory and nervous system damage. And according to government data, nearly 1,000 toxic chemicals were lurking in countless other personal care products. Cosmetics companies were not doing enough to ensure that these products were safe, and the Food and Drug Administration did not have enough power to adequately police them… Legislative reform was clearly needed. That was 30 years ago. To date, no such reforms have been passed.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

The article further explains the laws governing the role of the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors are just two pages long. They haven’t been updated since 1938 when they were first enacted.

That office with an annual budget of just $8 million and 27 staff members is now facing a seventy billion dollar a year American cosmetics industry.

The article concludes that:

such meager tools leave federal officials nearly powerless to regulate the makeup, lotions, toothpastes, deodorants and other elixirs that often are applied to the most intimate parts of the human body.

The FDA requires next to no oversight or documentation.

The FDA doesn’t require companies to submit safety data before they market a product. In the European Union a product could never be put on the market without this basic documentation.

FDA doesn’t monitor adherence to basic manufacturing standards. But the Swiss government makes it its business to do so.

In the U. S., manufacturing companies aren’t required to report problems attributed to products. The E. U. has a central data bank responsible for distilling and coordinating all product documentation including skin and toxicity tests as well as any adverse events attributed to products.

Although the article states the FDA doesn’t ensure the safety of imported cosmetics which have doubled in volume in the past decade, it fails to state that Swiss- and E. U.-made products also marketed in Europe meet stringent regulations that already exceed whatever American consumer groups advocate.

There are still many products manufactured overseas which aren’t subject to rules like those in the European Union.

The FDA inspects less than one percent of the three million or so cosmetics shipments that come in to the states every year. Among those that it does test, roughly 15% of products manufactured outside the E. U. are found contaminated or containing harmful ingredients.

Most consumers abhor the idea of testing products on animals.

PHYTO5 has never and will never test our skincare products or ingredients on animals. E. U. regulations make animal testing completely unnecessary. This is because all products must pass independent toxicity tests to ensure no harm, irritation or toxicity to human skin. 

There are no U. S. regulations even in the works to ensure consumer safety.

Both the state of California and federal government have been considering tighter measures to regulate the production and distribution of skincare products made in the U. S. But the proposals are receiving substantial pushback from the beauty industry.

Depending on the administration, varying levels of reluctance directly or indirectly impose regulations on businesses. So any federal bill is likely to be defeated. If Congress passed a bill it would probably be very diluted.

So it remains that products made in Europe represent a far greater level of consumer safety.

And while the skincare industry booms, a recent industry survey finds 71% of consumers say their skincare needs aren’t being met.(1)

1. Keeping in mind that the skin absorbs what we put on it and what comes into its vicinity and

2. Since the U. S. is largely unwilling to ensure that our skincare products are actually and totally safe for our health

   it makes complete sense to buy 100% Swiss skincare like PHYTO5.

   Swiss and European regulation and supervision subject PHYTO5 skincare to a unique double layer of protection.

   Beware of companies using the Swiss flag in their branding or catch phrases and titles using the word Swiss. In many cases, these products are either only Swiss-inspired or a tiny percentage of the product was actually produced in Switzerland. 

Rest assured that PHYTO5 Swiss skincare is 100% made in Switzerland.

Combine this with our natural, holistic and vital energy concept and you’ll enjoy Swiss skincare capable of delivering results and benefits most other skincare lines could never claim.

…

Sources:

(1) This is just one insight contained in an extensive 3-part report from Denise Herich of The Benchmarking Company, running consecutively in the March, April and May 2019 issues of Global Cosmetic Industry.(2)

To gauge consumer’s thoughts and feelings on skin care, The Benchmarking Company surveyed more than 4,600 female beauty consumers about all things skin care.

• Part 1: March 2019: Consumer attitudes, generational concerns, unmet needs, what she’s using now and products she’d like to try.

• Part 2: April 2019: What they’re willing to spend, on what and where; key purchase influencers; consumer-approved trends; retail category picks.

• Part 3: May 2019: Generic skin care and skin care kits; the continued appeal of luxury and mass skin care; social media and beauty loyalty programs; natural and organic skin care product and brand appeal.  

(2) Gleason-Allured, Jeb. “New Skin Care Report Series: What 4,600 Consumers Think.” Global Cosmetic Industry, www.gcimagazine.com/marketstrends/segments/skincare/New-Skin-Care-Report-Series-What-4600-Consumers-Say-505218081.html.

The Editorial Board. “Cosmetics Safety Needs a Makeover.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/opinion/cosmetics-safety-makeup.html.

Lipton, Eric. "F.D.A. Has 6 Inspectors for 3 Million Shipments of Cosmetics." The New York Times. The New York Times, 02 Aug. 2017. Web. 16 Feb. 2019.

How to Nurture Yourself

Beyond the usual worn out advice to get a massage, here are a dozen beautiful ways to nurture yourself. If you feel run down, neglected, overwhelmed or frazzled, you need to get back in harmony with the Earth element. Practice these Earth grounding tips and they’ll restore not only your body, but mind, emotions, and spirit as well.

How to Nurture Yourself: Understand the Earth element first.

Four 18-day periods of the year called Earth occur between the major energetic seasons of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). These are Spring–Wood, Summer–Fire, Fall–Metal and Winter–Water.

Earth is one of the five elements of TCM.

If you’re out of balance with the energies of Earth, you’ll feel stuck or stagnant. You might feel unable to complete projects or exhaust yourself taking care of other people at your own expense.

You’ll also find your skin gets toxic. Blemishes, acne, and enlarged pores will show up in your skin.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique beauty tips and offers.

How to Nurture Yourself: Start by being conscious of what you allow into your body, mind and life.

• Be conscious of what you put in your body.

  • Learn to create a yin/yang balance through food choices. This promotes health and longevity and you show your body some real love.

  • Be sure to incorporate produce from all colors of the rainbow but especially try to focus on consuming produce the color of the current energetic season. For example, during energetic Spring, eat lots of fresh green produce. Green is the color that associates with Wood, the element of the season according to TCM.

  • Read food labels. Go conscious grocery shopping and see how great that feels. Don’t just buy food because you’ve always bought it or because it looks good. Know what you’re putting into your body. Love your body enough to understand the relationship between your food choices and how you feel. Buy more food in the produce department than from any other department in the store.

• Be conscious of what you put on your body.

  • Consider clothing that helps your body heal and sleep better.(2) Opt for quality rather than quantity and you'll feel so much better. Choose organic cotton if you can.

  • Surround yourself with colors that resonate with you and make you feel at ease.

  • PHYTO5 skin and haircare will certainly make your skin, body and mind feel good. They’re consciously formulated and manufactured with your safety and vitality the goal. You will feel it.

• Be conscious of what you allow into your mind.

  • Turn off the news and play beautiful music.

  • Take some time to do something creative. Contribute your creativity not your negativity to the planet. It’s through giving we receive.

  • When past memories or worries arise, catch them quickly. Be ready with a small arsenal of pleasant thoughts or ideas you can immediately divert your mind to. Make this a practice and notice the peace you’ll feel.

• Practice mindful fitness. Mindful fitness is a catchphrase and another way of saying, meditate.

  • Just take time every morning to be still and relax. Let the thoughts flow through the mind but don’t engage with them or judge yourself. Eventually, the thoughts will stop and you’ll be in the sublime place that goes beyond the concept of nurture.

  • Join a meditation group. You may enjoy the quickening benefits of plural meditation and make new friends as well.

  • There are many ways to meditate (e. g. mantra-based, focused attention). Use this time to explore them and find the methods that resonate with you. This can be a fun process of discovery for you.

  • Take time out in the middle of a stressful day to reconnect with yourself. Take time to learn to slow down the breath to a maximum of six breaths per minute to achieve ultimate longevity and vitality.

• Practice yoga, a martial art, or weight training and cardio workouts. You will be amazed at how wonderful a newfound exercise practice can make you feel on all levels. You’ll breathe differently. Your posture and entire physiology will improve. Your confidence level will soar.

• Nature. Nature. Nature. Walk in it. Connect with it. Listen to the sounds. Be conscious while the breeze blows on your face and body. Literally hug a tree.

• Bring some green plants into your home. They’ll help transform the air you breathe and bring a sense of calm to your environment.

• Take a day trip. Get away from it all. Appreciate a change of scenery. It’s inexpensive and you’ll feel wonderful.

• Find three simple things you love to do, pastimes that are fun for you and then do them one by one.

  • It’s vitally important to have fun and experience pleasure as often as we can in life. We limit our ability to create what’s good, beautiful and true when we come from a place of chronic angst, worry, misery, or boredom.

• Enjoy natural fragrances and their healing benefits. When you squeeze an orange or chop fresh herbs, take a moment to really drink in the fragrance. Stop at the fresh flower bouquets in the stores and breathe in their healing essences.

  • Beware of synthetic essential oils sold in stores today. Did you know that very few perfumers actually use real flowers in their fragrance formulations?

  • You’ll never have to worry when you make PHYTO5 Swiss skincare part of your skincare regimen.

• Enjoy an alternative wellness therapy like Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It’s becoming increasingly practiced having now reached 183 countries and regions around the world. Based on the theory of the five elements and the five phases, TCM guides you to live in harmony with the Earth and its energies. Enjoy TCM in action with PHYTO5’s five element lines of skin and haircare.

• Slow down. If you feel like you’re always in a rush or stressed and pressured to get somewhere or do something, you’ve got to slow down. The alternative is burnout and compromised health on all levels and that’s not what you want.

  
  By slowing down and enjoying as many of the preceding tips as possible, you’ll find you are able to get all you need to get accomplished perfectly.

  
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(1) dharma: the principle of cosmic order

(2) Under Armour’s Athlete Recovery Sleepwear enmeshes bio-ceramic technology into pajamas that absorb infrared wavelengths emitted by the body to reflect them back as far infrared energy which, in turn, helps the body recover faster and sleep better.

Startup Lumiton offers light-energized apparel powered by laser technology that is designed to deliver multiple wellness benefits including producing red and near-infrared light whose wavelengths, they argue, increase collagen and muscle growth and reduce pain/inflammation.

Some companies are weaving ancient wellness healing and herbal properties into fabrics and clothing. Venice, California footwear designer Astara has created negative ion earthing shoes, using crystals like black onyx and blue apatite to make the shoes resonate at the same vibration as Earth’s magnetic field (7.83 hertz). It’s said the shoes make you feel like you’re walking barefoot on grass or sand.

Photo courtesy of Doğukan Şahin at Unsplash

Earth Day 2020 Was the 50-Year Anniversary of the Premier Global Earth Consciousness Raising Event

Just four days before Earth Day is celebrated on April 22, we enter the Earth energetic season, the period between energetic seasons according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). This is the 18-day transition period between energetic Spring and energetic Summer.

Each season, including the four 18-day between seasons periods, are associated with one of the five elements in TCM and the transition period beginning April 18 is associated with the element of Earth. With worldwide heightened consciousness surrounding Earth Day, there couldn’t be a better time to bring natural living in concert with the Earth into practice.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

Earth Day is celebrated on the same date, April 22, every year.

Founder Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1995 for having founded the earth-conscious organization which was ultimately responsible for the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Endangered Species Acts.

At the time of founding, Nelson saw forming the Earth Day organization as a big gamble in an epoch of enormous civil unrest, escalating pollution, and a conservative establishment that had deeply dug in to the pursuit of progress at any cost.

He persuaded Pete McCloskey, a conservation-minded Republican Congressman, to serve as his co-chair and recruited Denis Hayes from Harvard University to serve as the org’s national coordinator. At the time, Hayes built a national staff of 85 to promote Earth Day events all across the country on April 22, a day falling between college Spring break and final exams.

In 1990, Earth Day went global.

Hayes involved 184 countries to reach out to hundreds of millions of people. By the time 2010 arrived, Earth Day organizers and supporters became faced with “climate change deniers, well-funded oil lobbyists, reticent politicians, a disinterested public, and a divided environmental community” according to earthday.org...

Despite these challenges, Earth Day prevailed and Earth Day Network reestablished Earth Day as a “relevant, powerful focal point.”

Earth Day is today the largest secular observance in the world.

It’s elebrated by more than a billion people every year. Earth Day is a day that calls us to action by evolving our attitudes and behaviors to more conscious ones and through our collective numbers provoke our representatives in government to make policy changes.

The pursuit of a clean balanced environment urgently continues as we more and more obviously perceive the effects and ravages of climate change with each passing day. To learn how you can get started in assisting the Earth Day organization to leverage the power and momentum of 50 activist years in a time that is near dire for our environment and very survival, visit their countdown to 2020 site here.

Making changes in our lives that will be kind to the Earth and to our bodies, minds and spirits begins with the simple everyday choices we make.

Pay attention to choices like the products we bathe in, the products we purchase to moisturize our skin or the manner in which we seek to uplift our emotions. 

PHYTO5 five element skincare is natural, holistic and is founded on principles based on the Earth’s natural cycles and rhythms. High grade essential oils of flowers and plants combined with natural extracts, vitamins, minerals and other oils coalesce in leading edge formulations designed to nourish, revitalize and uplift skin and hair.

The unique proposition of PHYTO5 is the vital energy balance aspect of the energetic line products which contributes to our vital energy balance, a prerequisite to wellness. Our proprietary formulation of these lines enhances the vibrational frequencies of PHYTO5 products to the quantum level. PHYTO5’s five element lines (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) are formulated to help bring balance to skin, scalp, body and emotions.

PHYTO5 does not test on animals nor have any individual ingredients we use in our formulations ever been tested on animals. We design our packaging with the environment in mind.

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Image courtesy of spirit111 on Pixabay

Benefits of Fragrance: Scent Is Crucial for Physical and Emotional Well-Being

Scent from high quality plant sources plays an important, if not, crucial role in emotional health.

PHYTO5 knows something about the benefits of fragrance. Not only do we formulate skincare products using high grade essential oils from flowers and plants our factory is located in Fleurier, Switzerland. The name Fleurier itself roughly means "Flowering Village" or “one who flowers.” And it’s entirely apropos for a company whose skincare products are largely made from the essential oils of flowers.

We strive to highlight the basic premise of essential oil use in skincare—that flower blossoms which are essential the face of the plant store the sun’s solar energy and vital force and transmit these to skin through their essential oils.

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How a Flower’s Scent Gets Processed in the Brain to Offer the Benefits of Its Fragrance

• In the molecules of natural essential oils, the scent of the flower is inhaled and the hypothalamus(1) in the brain produces hormones that provoke an appropriate reaction in the body. The hypothalamus controls the pituitary master gland of the body and plays a key role in connecting our hormonal (endocrine) system with the nervous system. 

• Located a mere inch or so away from the amygdala in the brain, the olfactory bulb (the neural structure involved in the sense of smell) has obvious intimate access to it. The amygdala is a roughly almond-shaped mass of gray matter inside each cerebral hemisphere.

Both of these, the hypothalamus and the amygdala, are part of the limbic system, the area of the brain most heavily implicated in emotion and memory. The hypothalamus plays a role in the activation of the sympathetic nervous system which is a part of any emotional reaction. The amygdala itself is primarily involved with the experiencing of emotions. 

Perhaps this is why philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche(2) is justified in declaring,

“All my genius is in my nostrils.”

Further, biophysicist Luca Turin developed the quantum vibration theory in 1996 which suggests that olfactory receptors actually sense the quantum vibrations of odorants' atoms. We touch this subatomic space in the arena of quantum vibration where we begin to move toward the deepest core of the mind-body system creating the space for spontaneous healing to occur.

Scent registers in our brains first—before sight, sound or touch.

“Until recently, smell has been the most underrated and underutilized of our five senses, but it’s turning out to be the most important,”

— said Joanne DeLuca of Sputnik Futures, a company that specializes in anticipating consumer trends.

Scent philosopher Annick le Geurér argued more recently that:

“Smell is revelatory not just of substances, but also of moods, climates, and even existential states. The sense of smell is a subtle tool of knowledge that allows for an intuitive and prelinguistic understanding.”

The Benefits of Fragrance: Meaning In Its Aromatic Quality

The scent of rose loves and heals. Myrrh is prophetic and grounding. And frankincense evokes quietude and holiness.

After pausing to understand the interaction of scent, the brain and nervous system, taking time out to stop and smell the roses has more meaning for us now than ever before as we quest for authenticity and connection and strive to create more mindful lives.

“This focus on scent’s powerful connection to our brains and it’s potential to heal, soothe and delight is making consumers hungry to learn more about how it can be leveraged for health and wellbeing,”

— says Matthias Tabert of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF).

Using scent to balance emotions and treat “disease” is actually an ancient practice and today large-scale medical studies are underway that will probably bring legitimacy to this healing modality.

Benefits of Fragrance for Alzheimer’s Disease

Because the brain produces memories in conjunction with smell, scientists are finding that scent can play a healing role in neurological disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Treating Alzheimer’s with scent may prove effective since loss of the sense of smell is an early symptom of the disease. It is believed scent therapy can be effective with Alzheimer’s patients by triggering positive memories from their past.

Deriving Benefits of Fragrance In These Aspects of Life

• scent in mental wellness

• scent as flavor as in choosing a drink in a restaurant, for example, by its scent

• fragrance in branding where studies show customers will be more loyal if their experience involves scent

• scent of a place; the typical place might be a PHYTO5 spa where lingering scent of the products can trigger subtle changes in clients’ bodies and minds

• fragrance in art where large-scale multisensory art exhibits focus on the sense of smell

• wonderful odors as feel good fragrances in candles and bottles (perfume) and which incorporate a wellness aspect while transporting us back to fond memories 

• scent as functional/workplace wellness where scent is an invisible mood enhancer improving learning, cognition, function and productivity; a Japanese company found that diffusing a lemon scent in the air increased productivity by 54%.

“Rachel S. Herz, assistant professor of psychology at Brown University, writes that people who work in the presence of pleasant-smelling air set higher goals and are more likely to employ efficient work strategies. People are more creative in problem solving when exposed to a pleasant scent compared to an unpleasant one.”

— Beth McGroarty et al, 2019 Global Wellness Trends Report

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Endnotes:

(1) a region of the forebrain below the thalamus that coordinates both the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary, controlling body temperature, thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic systems, and involved in sleep and emotional activity.

(2) (1844–1900), German philosopher philosopher, cultural critic, composer, poet, philologist, and Latin and Greek scholar whose work has exerted a profound influence on Western philosophy and modern intellectual history

…

Sources:

McGroarty, Beth, et al. 2019 Global Wellness Trends Report. Global Wellness Summit, 2019, 2019 Global Wellness Trends Report.

“8 Wellness Trends for 2019.” Global Wellness Institute, globalwellnessinstitute.org/global-wellness-institute-blog/2019/01/30/8-wellness-trends-for-2019/?utm_source=Global%2BWellness%2BInstitute&utm_campaign=a36e55f195-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_BRIEF_2019_1_30&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bbb41a322d-a36e55f195-69763529.

Annick le Guerer, (2002) ‘Olfaction and cognition: A philosophical and psychoanalytic view’, in C. Rouby, B. Schaal, D. Dubois, R. Gervais, & A. Holly (Eds.), Olfaction, Taste, and Cognition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Photo by ChuXue Lu（@luchuxue1997）on Unsplash

Raising Consciousness: Freeing Ourselves of the Problems Mindset

Raising our consciousness is a pre-condition to living more consciously for both our own benefit and the benefit of all the others around us. It means we become more aware of self, others and our environment. It includes awareness of the effects we have on ourself, others and the environment.

From Safety Consciousness to Raising Consciousness

Most people are overly self-absorbed with finding ways to meet their fundamental needs first, and beyond, to meet a multitude of perceived needs.

Such a search generates fears, worries and tensions that foster a climate of internal struggle as we look for solutions to our problems and ways to gain from opportunities. We’re not raising consciousness within ourselves, we’re embracing safety consciousness.

Raising consciousness means we open our hearts and live in gratitude. When we shift out of the problem mindset and into the deeply feeling heart we realize the more we work at addressing a problem as a problem, the more we validate the problem in our minds. We become more aware that the only problem we ever had was thinking a problem existed.

This echoes the admonition of the spiritual teacher Joel S. Goldsmith (1892–1962):(1)

“You cannot solve a problem at the level of the problem.”

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural bxeauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

Raising Consciousness: Freedom from Suffering

When we suffer from a negative emotion as a reaction to another person or event, that primary emotion is generally short-lived. What extends and magnifies our suffering is the secondary emotion that stems from our reaction to our primary emotion. It’s all about the feelings we have about the feeling we had—internal dialogues and stories we tell ourselves.

As long as we cling to safety consciousness we prolong our agony. If we can rise to a state dominated by heart consciousness we shift our perception and step out of despair and into awe of life.

Now we create for ourselves enhanced emotional maturity. We understand that although we face problems in life, we don’t have to suffer. Suffering is a choice. It feeds the dramatic life story we tell everyone. We fail to realize we’re authors of our own life.

Raising Consciousness From An Open Heart

An open heart feeds a fuller, truer, and more exalted view of self and life. It makes us happier and more pleasant for others. This is true raising of consciousness.

Raising consciousness from within ourselves means we become more fully aware of the potential of our true selves. It improves our quality of life and of all the others around us including people, plants, animals and environment.

More and more we see assertive programs for raising consciousness in organizations around the world. In 2019, the British government announced 370 English schools began practicing mindfulness—relaxation and breathing techniques and other methods to help regulate emotions. This was a new initiative and study aimed at addressing the mental health crisis affecting their younger generation. The study which ran through 2021 was one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Happiness Comes from Raising Consciousness

It’s been said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama suggested that the purpose of life is:

“to find happiness in an imperfect world.”

This statement leads us to see that the way to happiness requires a strong degree of consciousness raising—conscious living.

We know that many people today are more stressed than ever before and that emotional imbalance has a very negative effect on both their health and their ability to reach and maintain a state of happiness.

PHYTO5 energetic skincare products and method give you a modality of wellness that’s part of a conscious living lifestyle. When you live more consciously you get happier.

PHYTO5 claims a greater approach to wellness and conscious living for two main reasons:

1. our energetic method promotes vital energy balance, a prerequisite to wellness, but

2. the quantum energetic potency of our 5-element lines help you balance emotions.

When your vital energy flows and emotions are balanced you’ve equipped yourself well to embark on the greater journey to raising consciousness within yourself.

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Endnotes:

(1)Joel Solomon Goldsmith (March 10, 1892 – June 17, 1964) was an American spiritual author, teacher, spiritual healer, and modern-day mystic. He founded The Infinite Way movement, a spiritual teaching revealing the nature of God as one infinite power, intelligence, and love; the nature of the individual as one with God's qualities and character, expressed in infinite forms and variety; and the nature of the discords of this world as a misconception of God's expression of Himself in His universe.

Sources:

“Thrilled To Be Alive.” Live Conscious, 13 Jan. 2018, liveconscious.com/2017/12/thrilled-to-be-alive/.

Magra, Iliana. “Schools in England Introduce a New Subject: Mindfulness.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Feb. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/02/04/world/europe/uk-mindfulness-children-school.html.

Photo by Jimmy Chang on Unsplash

The True Story of St. Patrick and the Holiday's Deeper Meaning for You

St. Patrick's Day represents more than the ancient folklore of snakes, shamrocks and the color green. It coincides with the promise of Spring. While the color green associated with holiday represents Ireland as emerald isle, the color green is a purifying, vitalizing color. And all of the metaphoric elements of the true story of St. Patrick hold meaning for your life and well-being.

The truth is, St. Patrick’s Day was more of a religious observance until Irish immigrants to the U. S. supercharged it.

“Until the 1700s, St. Patrick’s Day was a Roman Catholic feast only observed in Ireland—and without the raucous revelry of today’s celebrations. Instead, the faithful spent the relatively somber occasion in quiet prayer at church or at home. That started to change when Irish immigrants living in the United States began organizing parades and other events on March 17 as a show of pride.” —Jennie Cohen, St. Patrick’s Day Myths Debunked, history dot com

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural beauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

The True Story of St. Patrick Being Associated with the Color Green

We can trace the wearing of green on St. Patrick’s Day to the eighteenth century. This is the point when backers of Irish independence took on the color to represent their cause. Before then, St. Patrick’s Day was not a day of green.

Coincidentally, the green of St. Patrick’s Day falls during traditional Chinese medicine’s (TCM’s) season of energetic Spring. The TCM element (out of five: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) associated with Spring is Wood. TCM also assigns the color green to energetic Spring and the Wood element.

The Truth About the Man Himself–St. Pat

"The modern celebration of St. Patrick's Day really has almost nothing to do with the real man," says Western culture professor Philip Freeman of Pepperdine University. 

Originally a Britt, Patrick was kidnapped and taken to Ireland. There he tended sheep as a slave in the chilly mountainous region of the country for seven years.

Not particularly religious before, he got religion in Ireland and became a devout Christian.

Next, he escaped his slavery to reunite with his family back home in England. But a message he received in a dream compelled him to return to Ireland.

He became a priest and later a bishop where, according to John Roach, author of St. Patrick's Day Facts: Shamrocks, Snakes, and a Saint, National Geographic Magazine. hewas:

“constantly beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish royalty, and admonished by his British superiors,”

Where Did the Shamrock Come From and What Does It Mean?

According to St. Patrick's Day lore, St. Pat used the leaves of the shamrock as a teaching metaphor to describe the Holy Trinity. But the shamrock custom emerged out of eighteenth century Irish nationalism and the 1798 Irish Rebellion against English colonialism.

The Irish adopted the symbol of the shamrock to memorialize St. Patrick’s Day because fervor for the holiday intensified at that time.

The True Story of the Snakes and St. Patrick

As for driving snakes out of Ireland, no evidence exists to prove an abundance of snakes existed anywhere in the region. The mythos seems more metaphorical than literal. Villains and non-believers at the time (fifth century A. D.) were considered snakes.

Today St. Patrick’s Day Looks Nothing Like It Did Centuries Ago.

 “For many people around the world, St. Patrick’s Day has evolved into a secular ode to Irish culture (or at least an oversimplified version of it), characterized by parties, music and iconic foods.” —Jennie Cohen, St. Patrick’s Day Myths Debunked, history dot com

In spite of the true story of St. Patrick’s Day, today’s merrymaking and revelry can bring a lightness to our spirits as Spring emerges from the dark. And along with that revelry we look forward to the gushing forth of new life and new possibilities.

Be sure to check out our Spring seasonal/Wood element line of skincare characterized by the color green.

Purify oily skin and blackheads, lighten hyperpigmentation and stimulate blood flow and vital energy. with the quantum energetic Wood line.

Essential oil-rich, it smells like invigorating Spring, purifies skin and also works to balance your emotions. Restore your confident true nature and march in those parades!

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Cohen, Jennie. “St. Patrick's Day Myths Debunked.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 16 Mar. 2012, www.history.com/news/st-patricks-day-myths-debunked.

“St. Patrick's Day Facts: Shamrocks, Snakes, and a Saint.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 18 Mar. 2010, news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/100316-st-patricks-day-facts-shamrocks/.

Conscious Living: How Our Level of Awareness and the Choices We Make on the Local Level Affect the Global Planet

A lot of us want to live consciously. The thought of living an unconscious life is unattractive. But do we really understand what conscious living entails?

Defining Conscious Living

Conscious living is living in accord with the highest level of awareness (mindfulness) we are capable of at any given moment. That entails active self-awareness at all levels of our being: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. It also means we live with an awareness of the impact or the consequences of our being-ness on our own self, on others, and on the environment.

Partake of the mystique of quantum energetic formulated plant-based skincare for your exalted natural bxeauty and well-being. Subscribe for a discount promo code, plus get truly unique holistic beauty tips and offers.

Conscious living means we’re aware that what we think, feel, and do has consequences first on who we become but on other beings as well. Others means not only the people we’re in direct contact with, but those we indirectly impact by the level of our awareness, choices and actions. That’s the entire world population.

This conscious living action relates not only to all humans but to all animals and plants as well. And when we consider the environment, it’s not simply the ground where we stand and the air we breathe. It encompasses the local all the way out to planetary levels.

When Our Idea of Conscious Living Is Insufficient

Still, this awareness as broadly defined as we can define it is still insufficient if we lack responsibility, accountability and compassion for the negative consequences we create, knowingly or not, on the others.

Our awareness is insufficient if we lack the desire to shift and remedy our attitudes and actions in order to contribute to a more harmonious whole.

Care and Concern for All Others: Why Necessary for Conscious Living?

Humans are naturally very self-centered. This attitude immediately limits the scope of your and my awareness. It causes us to be influenced by all kinds of ideas and values handed down from one generation to the next and blindly accepted.

That collective consciousness unconsciously subjects us to a collective hypnotism that pushes us in preconceived directions. It robs us of the exercise of our free will.

Consequently, for a good part of our lives we’re likely sleepwalking—and not likely in the right direction. This creates undesirable consequences for ourselves and others. When we sleepwalk through life we’re not being our full selves. We allow ourselves to be robbed of part of our own living experience.

Conscious Living: How To

All this might sound ambitious and challenging. How do we go about living consciously?

The safety admonition air travelers are familiar with comes to mind:

In case oxygen masks are released from the overhead compartment, apply yours first before helping others, even the ones we love.

We have to take care of ourselves first if we want to be capable of helping others. In conscious living parlance it means we must rise higher in consciousness. And this starts with an enhanced awareness of our own selves.

The saying “think globally but act locally” is also appropriate.

We need to remember our actions have consequences, both positive and negative, and well beyond ourselves. This is why self-awareness is the first most indispensible step. And it’s neither obvious nor easy.

The Swiss psychologist Carl Jung (1875 – 1961), one of the first Western explorers of collective consciousness (a phrase he coined), taught that:

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

Making the Unconscious Conscious

Life itself points us in the direction of conscious living all the time if we’ll only notice.

Think of your life experience as the projection of the content of your consciousness, including all the parts of the collective unconscious that you’ve unconsciously and consciously accepted.

What you don’t agree with or are proud of you project outwardly as a discordant life experience.

The only way to change the experience is to modify the content of your consciousness responsible for those undesirable experiences.

Observation and introspection will help you identify beliefs or values you aren’t in your heart of hearts in concert with.

Consciously dispense with them anytime they resurface. This practice requires practice, skill and patience.

Don’t condemn yourself for failing because the root cause is a set of beliefs that comes from the universal unconscious. But cultivating self-love will provide all the patience and awareness you seek.

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Sources:

“Thrilled To Be Alive.” Live Conscious, 13 Jan. 2018, liveconscious.com/2017/12/thrilled-to-be-alive/.

Photo courtesy of Kristopher Allison on Unsplash

The Water Scarcity Problem

The lack of broad awareness of water scarcity on a world scale and its consequences for sustaining human life on the planet is a bonafide crisis.

Because we’ve taken water, a gift from the sky, for granted for so long it’s hard to fathom a radical, maybe permanent, absence of water in some places on Earth. These are the traditionally agriculture rich regions that produce food for the world’s population.

The Water Scarcity Problem Evident in the Central Plains of the U. S.

Take the Ogallala Aquifer(1) in the U. S. as a case in point. It’s one of the world's largest aquifers(2) underlying an area of approximately 174,000 square miles in portions of eight states across much of the central plains. It’s a shallow water table aquifer surrounded by sand, silt, clay, and gravel. And it’s seen its water level drop significantly every year since 1969. The natural replenishment from rain and melting snow is insufficient to compensate for the amount of water used year after year. As a result, the water level has fallen about 40 feet.

Large scale extraction for agricultural purposes started after World War II. Today, about 27% of the irrigated land in the entire U. S. lies over the aquifer which yields about 30% of the groundwater used for U.S. irrigation. The aquifer is at risk for over-extraction and pollution. Once depleted, the aquifer would take over 6,000 years to replenish naturally through rainfall. And the problem is generalized as we learn from the worldwide life dot org website:

“Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, freshwater—the stuff we drink, bathe in, irrigate our farm fields with—is incredibly rare. Only 3% of the world’s water is fresh water, and two-thirds of that is tucked away in frozen glaciers or otherwise unavailable for our use.

As a result, some 1.1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, and a total of 2.7 billion find water scarce for at least one month of the year. Inadequate sanitation is also a problem for 2.4 billion people—they are exposed to diseases, such as cholera and typhoid fever, and other water-borne illnesses. Two million people, mostly children, die each year from diarrheal diseases alone.

Many of the water systems that keep ecosystems thriving and feed a growing human population have become stressed. Rivers, lakes and aquifers are drying up or becoming too polluted to use. More than half the world’s wetlands have disappeared. Agriculture consumes more water than any other source and wastes much of that through inefficiencies. Climate change is altering patterns of weather and water around the world, causing shortages and droughts in some areas and floods in others.

At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get worse. By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer even more.”

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Lack of Leadership and Water Scarcity Worldwide

What’s really infuriating is that all this was predictable. Mitigating measures could have been put in place decades ago but were not because of lack of leadership in most major countries.

Consider that as long ago as the late 80s, Malin Falkenmark wrote an article in Ambio(3) entitled: The Massive Water Scarcity Now Threatening Africa: Why Isn't It Being Addressed?

The water crisis in Africa is, of course, more dire, however it signals problems the U. S. will have to confront if mitigation doesn’t occur immediately.

In the 1989 article, Falkenmark writes:

“Nations depend on precipitation + inflowing waters (rivers and aquifers)— evaporation losses form vegetation and wet surfaces—outflowing water (rivers and aquifers). Self-sufficiency in food production relies on water from rain and technical supplies (irrigation). Continual population growth in Africa cause water consumption levels to go so high that many countries have already reached the water stress level (>500 persons/flow unit). By 2000, 12 African countries with a population of 250 million people will be water stressed. 150 million of these people will live in countries with absolute water scarcity. Tunisia will be beyond the water barrier. By 2025, the total number of water-stressed African countries will be 21 (1.1 billion people). Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, and Malawi will be beyond the water barrier. Population growth accounts for the difference between 2000 and 2025. Yet many engineers and economists do not accept the existence of water barrier. They do not consider the fact that many African leaders do not have the mechanisms and tools available to meet water demand. This man-induced water scarcity is exacerbated by the fact than many of these countries are in arid climates and at constant risk of intermittent drought… policymakers must develop sound water strategies and integrate them with land management.”

Another sad example of this worldwide crisis is outlined in The Independent’s article, India’s ‘worst water crisis in its history’ is only going to get worse, government think tank says.

“India is suffering from the worst water crisis in its history and around 600 million people face a severe water shortage.

Approximately 200,000 people die every year due to inadequate access to clean water and it’s “only going to get worse” as 21 cities are likely to run out of groundwater by 2020.

In the longer term, the under-supply will become even more acute in the South Asian nation, as demand increases with the 1.4 billion population growing at a rate of around 1 per cent.

By 2030, the country’s water demand is projected to be twice the available supply the Niti Aayog report reads. “[This will cause] severe water scarcity for hundreds of millions of people.”

Addressing the Water Scarcity Problem Now

The water scarcity problems is an urgent global issue that requires immediate action both in the U.S. and worldwide.

Increasing population growth, climate change, and unsustainable water management practices are exacerbating this crisis, threatening agriculture, health, and economic stability.

In the U.S., regions like the Southwest are facing prolonged droughts that jeopardize water supplies, while many developing countries struggle with inadequate infrastructure and access to clean water.

To address these challenges, it’s essential to implement efficient water conservation techniques, invest in innovative technologies for water reuse and recycling, and promote policies that encourage sustainable water use.

Collaborative efforts between governments, communities, and organizations can pave the way for more resilient water systems, ensuring future generations have access to this vital resource. The problem is governments are not meeting communities and organizations to address the water scarcity problem on a significant enough scale.

No to Marriage: Millennials, Gen X and Gen Z Trends

Everyone wants love. We all inherently know love makes life worth living. We seem to know without being taught that love is a force that pervades the universe. We know that a world without love is a darker world and this drives us to seek and to share love in our lives. Gen. Y and Z’ers don’t equate love with marriage. They’re rejecting traditional marriage in record numbers. The median age for a first marriage is now age 27 for women and 29 for men. In 1960, it was 20 for women and 23 for men.

Love is the subject most written about in novels and songs. We think about it often. It’s seems very simple to us yet mysterious at the same time. And while we feel that love comes naturally to us, we grapple with what it really means and how we express it when we’re in love relationships.

Our society has constructed all kinds of walls and barriers in the form of rules around love although both Generations Y and Z are chipping away at them. As many question exactly why we’re all expected and trained to conform to these norms most especially around marriage we’re beginning to see new ways of living and loving demonstrated by the freer and more mindfully thinking population.

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Not Exactly No to Marriage

Millennials are showing signs they’re wanting to allow the institution of marriage to evolve. And they’re tending to view marriage as an option rather than a necessity or that thing you just do. It isn’t that they’re not exploring love and relationships. They are. They’re merely recognizing more and more that marriage is a construct that boxes in their exploration of love and of themselves.

Says Brooke Genn, relationship coach, “It’s a fascinating happening, and an incredible opportunity for marriage to be redefined and approached with more reverence and mindfulness than ever before.”

“Today an unprecedented portion of millennials will remain unmarried through age 40, a recent Urban Institute report predicted. The marriage rate might drop to 70 percent—a figure well below rates for boomers (91%), late boomers (87%) and Gen Xers (82%).”

— Meg Murphy, NowUKnow: Why Millennials Refuse to Get Married

No to Marriage the Old Way

It isn’t so much that most millennials don’t want to get married although a significant number of them do not. It’s more that they’re choosing to do it wisely—once they have careers well established, have satisfied many personal needs and have created a firm financial foundation. They want to gain a more established individual adult identity prior to marriage complete with more emotional development and self-awareness. And for many, their idea of what constitutes this more holistic foundation very often is preventing them from ever marrying. 

Beyond finances, there’s a social component too. Millennials are beginning to perceive marriage as an outdated institution. Opting out of traditional marriage is their way of rebelling against institutions they do not entirely believe in. Moreover, national surveys show that half of American adults believe society is not adversely affected if people place other priorities above marriage and children, according to a recent Pew report.

Additionally, says Meg Murphy in Why Millennials Refuse to Get  Married,

“For some millennial couples, they’d rather avoid the term ‘spouse’ as well as ‘marriage’ altogether. Instead, they are perfectly happy to be lifelong partners without the marriage license.”

No to Marriage If It Has a Hidden Agenda

Marriage for legal, tax and economic, and religious and social purposes does not appeal to them as much as it did to their forebears. 

“Instead, they claim their relationship as entirely their own, based on love and commitment, and not in need of external validation.”

Millennials have also witnessed a high degree of divorce among their parents and this makes them skittish about marriage. In their parents’ and earlier generations, people just got married and then worked to figure things out. Millennials are more about certainty, being deliberate and making the right decision therefore they’re slower to pull the trigger.

No to Marriage and No to Divorce Too

Should it come to marriage, millennials and even their predecessor Gen-Xers tend to shun divorce. University of Maryland professor Philip Cohen has found that from 2008 to 2016, the U.S. divorce rate has dropped by 18%. He says that the overall drop is driven entirely by younger women.

As our world continues to evolve, we’re finding we’re having to make shifts in how we do things—how we live, how we do business, how we communicate and interact with each other and more. We’re being required to make these shifts more frequently than decades ago and to table our judgment of what we sometimes view as seismic metamorphoses in favor of a “wait and see” approach.  This begs an openness on our part to accept the winds of change making us more resilient beings and leaving our inner happiness and joy undisturbed. We’ll probably find that many of the evolutionary changes we’re witnessing today will eventually prove to work out just fine in the end.

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Sources:

Murphy, Meg. “NowUKnow: Why Millennials Refuse to Get Married.” PreparedU View | Bentley University, 3 Jan. 2019, www.bentley.edu/impact/articles/nowuknow-why-millennials-refuse-get-married.

Miller, Ryan W. “Add Divorce to the List of Things Millennials Are Killing.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 26 Sept. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2018/09/26/millennials-blame-lower-us-divorce-rate-study/1429494002/.

Photo courtesy of rawpixel on Unsplash

Gratitude for Wellness

Positive emotions have a favorable effect on our vitality while negative ones damage physical and mental health and our emotional life. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) fully embraces achieving a balanced emotional state as requisite for health and wellness. And gratitude is a practice that inspires many positive emotions that result in greater wellness.

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Enriching Relationships Foster Gratitude and Wellness

When we enjoy nourishing relationships with others it naturally leads us to develop an attitude of gratitude. With the load of concerns and worries most people experience these days, if you can have even just one enriching relationship, it’s something to be grateful for. You feel more secure and grounded.

Some people are blessed with an innate predisposition to be thankful for almost all people and events in their lives but for most it requires a moment of deliberate reflection to focus on people, animals, things, conditions, and places for which to acknowledge and express appreciation. It is so important that Dr. Mercola refers to it as “a cure for everything,” and he adds: "It is free!”

Cultivate Gratitude for Wellness and Remedy for Feeling Low.

A feeling of gratitude is a blessing but it needs to be expressed to be cultivated and to become fully beneficial in our lives.

Appreciation is a next step, even more profound aspect of gratitude. It causes us to go beyond the surface of “thank you” and feel more deeply.

Feeling gratitude for anything at all is a near instant remedy for feeling low. Feeling appreciation for anything at all causes us to truly pause and deliberately savor the beauty of life. It can begin with appreciation for the simplest of things such as a smile offered, a butterfly, a tasty bite of food, a hilarious television show or a beautiful color.

Appreciation has the potential to take us to the more meditative state where healing begins to occur, “the junction point between mind and matter, the point where consciousness actually starts to have an effect,” according to Deepak Chopra.

It is this state of awareness and feeling that becomes the “best predictor of good relationships” in our lives. It contributes to a balanced and peaceful state of mind and it supports our chi energy helping us to maintain a stronger immune system and radiant health, vitality and sense of overall well-being.

Peppermint Essential Oil: Versatile Oil for Skin and Hea

Better and more versatile than the herb itself is the essential oil of peppermint. Used topically, peppermint essential oil calms, softens and tones the skin. It offers beneficial topical, internal, and aromatic applications and is one the best essential oils to keep in your medicine cabinet at home.

Peppermint essential oil is produced by the cold extraction of the hybrid species of spearmint and water mint’s fresh aerial parts of the plant.

Myriad Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil to Skin

In the report, Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Disease, peppermint essential oil is indicated as effective for reducing blackheads, chicken pox, greasy skin, dermatitis, inflammation, itchy skin, ringworm, scabies and sunburn.

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With a higher sun protection factor (SPF) than most other essential oils, peppermint can relieve the pain of sunburns while hydrating burned skin. 

PHYTO5’s Earth and Water element Skin Toners are formulated with peppermint essential oil. This oil is often used in skincare products because it’s very cleansing, slightly antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and toning. It purifies sluggish pores and when added to a steam bath activates the skin. Very suitable in treating oily skin, acne and blackheads, it is refreshing and stimulating.

Peppermint essential oil is also found in these skincare products by PHYTO5: Yang OE Cream, Contouring Serum, and Chi Yin Massage Oil.

Other Health Benefits of Peppermint Essential Oil

Peppermint essential oil is very cooling to relieve sore muscles, muscle aches, and joint pain. Studies have shown peppermint oil beneficial in the treatment of fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome (1).

Peppermint can provide seasonal allergy relief by relaxing muscles in the nasal passages and helping to clear out pollen from the respiratory tract.

It is especially invigorating for cases of low energy simply by gently inhaling its fragrance. Inhaling the scent can help keep you awake during the long periods when you need to stay awake because it energizes the mind. It can also help improve memory and mental alertness. Similarly, the oil’s fragrance can boost physical performance such as when you are training for an athletic event.

As a case in point, a study published in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine investigated the effects of peppermint ingestion on exercise performance.

Thirty healthy male college students were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. All the men consumed a single oral dose of peppermint essential oil and their physiological parameters and performance were monitored.

The researchers noted remarkable improvements in all of the tested variables in the men who ingested the peppermint oil. They showed an incremental and significant increase in their grip force, standing vertical jump and standing long jump.

The peppermint oil group also showed a notable increase in the amount of air that is exhaled from the lungs, peak breathing flow rate and peak exhaling flow rate. 

Peppermint essential oil helps to improve circulation to alleviate headaches. Simply apply two to three drops to temples, forehead and back of neck.

Digestive disorders can be attenuated with peppermint oil’s soothing effect on the gastric lining and the colon. Taken in capsule form or by taking one to two drops in water, peppermint oil has been shown to relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by reducing spasms in the colon, relaxing intestinal muscles and reducing bloating and gas.

Peppermint oil, of course, naturally freshens breath and supports oral health because it kills bacteria and fungus that leas to cavities and infection.

Peppermint oil also naturally thickens and nourishes damaged hair. It stimulates the scalp and improves the condition of thinning hair.

Itchiness, formally termed pruritus, can be relieved by peppermint essential oil.

Ants, spiders, cockroaches, mosquitos, mice and lice hate the smell of peppermint oil so it’s an excellent bug repellant.

Although research is still ongoing, studies are beginning to suggest that peppermint may be beneficial as an anticancer agent.

Peppermint is antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-tumor, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-nausea, and anti-inflammatory. It can prevent the spread of an existing infection. One of the best essential oils for colds, flu, cough, sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory conditions, it can unclog sinuses and provide relieve from a scratchy throat and it works as an expectorant to open airways, clear mucus and dispel congestion.

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Endnotes:

(1) Chronic pain in multiple myofascial trigger points (“knots" or as hyperirritable spots in the fascia (the thin sheath of fibrous tissue enclosing a muscle or other organ surrounding skeletal muscle.) and fascial (connective tissue) constrictions. It can appear in any body part.

Sources:

Meamarbashi, Abbas. “Instant Effects of Peppermint Essential Oil on the Physiological Parameters and Exercise Performance.” Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, Jan. 2014. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4103722/

Orchard, Ané et al. “Commercial Essential Oils as Potential Antimicrobials to Treat Skin Diseases.” Evidence Based Complementary Alternative Medicine, May 4, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435909/

Keller, Erich. Aromatherapy Handbook for Beauty, Hair, and Skin Care. Healing Arts Press, 1999.

Photo by Rob Sarmiento on Unsplash