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2/23/13 4:36 P

started using coconut oil about a week ago.i mix it in my smoothies in the morning or mix it with peanut butter to put on rice cakes(a little messy as it melts) but it tastes good.also cook with it for frying.Thanks for the idea of rubbing it on your neck.i went to get a haircut this week and the hair dresser asked waht i used on my hair.i told her i condition it with cocnut oil.

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1/31/13 3:21 P

Make sure your water is clean.
Lots of water has a bunch of chlorine and chloramines in it, which you really want to avoid.
You can clean these out of your tap water by adding a bit of pure vitamin C.

Also much of our water supply has fluoride in it, which is a thyroid antagonist... it was used back in the day to damp down hyper thyroids.

Ive taken to drinking distilled water to which I've added some diatomaceous earth for the silica content... great for hair, nails and taking out aluminum from the water supply.

Have a fun day
: )
Mzzchief

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8/20/12 10:23 P

The best moisturizer that I have found is -- drum roll --

MOISTURE in the form of drinking water. Yup, consistently drinking those 6 to 8 glasses of water will do wonders (even for hypothyroids.) I know it is hard to get all that water down. I struggle. But, since when is anything easy with hypothyroidism?

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7/30/12 1:26 P

Thanks for all the tips!

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5/3/12 10:39 P

thanks for the coconut oil tips

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3/31/12 11:44 A

And do you know when you take coconut oil (either dermal or internally) you are "warming" up your thyroid? Taking coconut oil internally is faster because the liver metabolizes it, but rubbing it on your skin (especially the neck) helps your thyroid function (according to some studies)

Stacy

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1/8/12 10:00 P

lips getting a little chapped?

Take some solid oil (I prefer cocoa butter) mix in some sugar and then use it as a scrub. it tastes pretty good too!

The oil will seal them and it works like a charm.

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1/4/12 7:36 A

Thanks MAVIEPOOH. Do you get the essential oils from a health food shop or pharmacist?

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12/29/11 8:43 A

facial oil mix for phytonutrients and antiaging!

I recently made this mix for my skin and am very impressed with how it is working!
Filled small baby food jar with coconut oil melted added 15 drops of frankinsense essential oil. (I use young living because their oils are organic and supposedly medicinal quality)
10 drops of citrus, 10 drops of lemon grass. Stir and let solidify. Then put on skin whenever
The coconut oil is supposed ot have sunscreening properties but i don't know how much.
The affect on my skin has been good

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11/13/11 6:56 P

And note...the main ingredients are SALTS! Salt is actually a humectant...it will draw moisture to your skin. I'm not saying soak in a ton of it for long periods of time but it is a good thing to use.

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11/13/11 11:11 A

I mixed up virgin coconut oil and shea butter (half and half) after reading this thread. I added a tiny bit of virgin sesame oil to mix better. I'm not much of a chemist but this was simple enough for me. This is so nice. I was so tired of the itchy dry skin! It's lovely after a bath! Thank you for your expertise!

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11/11/11 3:34 P

Thanks for the lovely recipe.

Posts: 8,149
11/10/11 3:11 P

An oil property quiz is great idea...
Looking forward to seeing it!

I really think that the only way of truly knowing if Lecithin is a good substitute for Polysorbate 80 though, is to make up two batches, one with Polysorbate 80 and one with Lecithin and see what the differences/similiarities are.

: )
Mzzchief

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11/9/11 11:08 P

probably so....will work on an oil property quiz to see what y'all know or don't know. :) And share some other ideas as I have time to do.

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11/8/11 11:45 A

Its a Purr-fect idea for holiday giving, too!
Placed in a decorative glass bottle or just tied up in a square of tulle and tied with a ribbon.

I wonder if soy lecithin could be used in place of the polysorbate 80, since lecithin is an emulsifier, too?

: )
Mzzchief

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11/7/11 11:04 P

For the SOFTEST skin ever!!!!!!!! You don't have to make soap to make these. The reason to use polysorbate 80? It's not a preservative....it's to prevent the bathtub from becoming one slick mess! It's an emulsifier.

1 C. baking soda
1/2 C. citric acid
1/3 c. epsom salts
1/4 t borax
2 1/2 T. oil or butter
3/4 T water, or aloe vera juice, or witch hazel
1/4 t. fragrance if desired
polysorbate 80

Mix the dry ingredients. Add the oils and mix well. SLOWLY drizzle in the water and mix while doing so...if it's foaming slow down adding the water. Drizzle in a few tablespoons of polysorbate 80. Mix, mix, mix. When you can pack like a snowball it's time to mold. Use a big mold if you want like the rose shaped cupcake pans or just your hands. Let dry completely before using.

To use place under running water for a bath and watch it fizz. Seriously....soft as you've never imagined it could be.

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11/6/11 2:28 P

We're here to help, and happy to do it, Treesa!
Thx!
: )
Mzzchief

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11/5/11 10:31 P

Tree, if she knows her stuff she can tell you alot about oils. If she does.....keep her!

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11/2/11 10:21 A

Thanks tons ladies, I am calling a lady in town who makes soaps to sell at craft shows. I will ask her about these oils. I am excited. I will do the patch test too Mizz, that is always a good idea for me. I have weird reactions to a lot of things. You guys are the berries!

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11/1/11 12:11 A

Another idea is to get something with emu oil in it. Emu is the most healing oil out there. I made a body butter with shea butter and emu in it....butters are always going to be better. Avoid lotions with alcohol in them...read labels. Find a local soap maker. One thing to remember is if you aren't using REAL soap...you'll dry your skin. If the label says beauty bar, bath bar or anything other than soap....it's NOT soap. It's detergent. I superfat my soap a good percentage to keep moisture in meaning I have too many oils to saponify. Another good oil to get and use is jojoba. It's the closest thing in chemical composition to our own natural sebum. The commercials saying something isn't oily? Well, that is actually a bad thing.....oils DO soak in.

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10/31/11 6:41 P

HI Treesa~
Yes the coconut oil should work just fine on your skin.
I would suggest using it after you get out of the shower, to seal in moisture.
You don't need very much, a little goes a long way.

I have found that a downside to using the oil straight is that it takes about 20 minutes before it sinks into my skin and I can dress. Not everyone will have that problem, I'm simply mentioning it in case you have a similiar experience.

I think since you are having a problem with itchiness, you may want to do a patch test on your inner arm first, to make sure you don't have an allergy to coconut oil. It would surprise me if you did, but better safe then sorry... I'd rather you had an itchy red rash on one small part of your body than all over it!

Another idea might be for you to invest in a shower head that filters your water and removes minerals and chlorine. Sometimes people have a problem with that.

There are several on the market at various price ranges.

Best of luck with this!
: )
Mzzchief

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10/31/11 3:18 P

Will the cocoanut oil work on just super dry skin too? I have the most dry itchy skin in the world and am scratching myself raw in my sleep. I have tried a million products and am seriously looking for something natural.

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10/21/11 11:15 A

Mslady, hi!

Coconut oil can be obtained at health food stores and online. Its becoming more popular, I've found it at the Walmarts here in the Dallas area.

You'd want to get the virgin oil that is expeller expressed so that there are not solvents used in its extraction. The virgin oil has a lovely coconut smell and a mild coconut taste.

But I think you might be commenting on Purrballs original recipe post... she'll have to letcha know where she gets her supplies... also check out her Soapers Team, you can find that on her Sparkpage.

: )
Mzzchief

Edited by: MZZCHIEF at: 10/21/2011 (11:18)

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10/20/11 10:55 A

Where can you find the ingredients for this, I too suffer from eczema.

Posts: 8,149
10/17/11 4:10 P

I love coconut oil too, a little goes a long way on my skin... I use it after showers or washing my face.

: )
Mzzchief

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10/17/11 1:22 P

I love coconut oil for many things. When I was tanning regularly (20 min a day, 7 days a week), I used coconut oil exclusively on my skin and got tons of comments on how great my skin looked! It's amazing what happens when you aren't baking chemicals into your skin.

Posts: 8,149
6/24/11 10:23 A

I love using triphala as a scrub in the shower or to exfoliate my face.

Triphala is a mix of 3 astringent fruits that are dried, ground, and taken internally.

Its been used in India's Aryuvedic Medicine for centuries for its intestinal toning properties, to treat diabetes and eye diseases. But I like to use it topically on the skin!

Here's a link that gives you a brief overview of Triphala:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triphala

Shake some of it into your hand, add a bit of water until its a paste, apply to skin and rubin using a circular motion. The ground fruit will physically exfoliate dead skin and the beneficial acids in the fruits help to loosen any dead skin and provide anti-bacterial action.

Once you're covered, you can either let it dry and feel the tightening as it does, then wash it off and apply your body oil. Or if you're in a rush, simply skip the drying step rinse it off your face.

I usually do this in the shower, as it can be messy and discolor bath mats. Who needs that aggrevation? ha Make sure you rinse your shower out well.

I would suggest trying it out on your forearm 24 hours before you try it on your face or body, on the rare chance that you may have allergy to Triphala.

Me... I test EVERY new lotion or potion for several days using the forearm test, before applying it all over. Just to be on the safe side.

As for safety, I've been exfoliating with Triphala since 2007, when I first discovered it.
Its also helpful for constipation...which is one of its traditional uses.... if you run a search you can prolly find some old posts about it.

Triphala comes in both a loose powder and capsules.
It has an extremely astringent, bitter taste.

I love what it does for my complexion, but everyone is different, so try it for yourself and see if it works as well for you as it does for me!


: )
Mzzchief

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6/24/11 12:18 A

Want a GREAT CHEAP way to refresh your skin? Mix a tablespoon or two of oil (olive is good) with the same of liquid soap and mix in enough sugar or salt (fine only! not coarse) to become a thick paste. Use this to buff your skin in the shower to be very soft! I use my hands or a soft washrag.

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6/19/11 11:28 P

Mine contains Cetearyl Alcohol and that is all. You can buy all kinds on soapers suppliers but I only ever looked for the good ole standard. I get mine at

www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com

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6/19/11 1:39 P

Purrs what type of emulsifying wax do you use?

: )
Mzzchief

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6/19/11 4:23 A

LOTION!

REMEMBER ANYTIME you use water or milk in a lotion to add a preservative. Body butters do not need preservative since there is no water. Water is the conduit for germs in these things and it's essential to use a good preservative. Remember that breast cancer survivors are told to not use parabens so find one paraben free if you can. Optiphen is a good one that is paraben free.

6 oz emulsifying wax
7 oz stearic acid
4 oz avocado oil
4 oz cocoa butter
6 oz rice bran oil
11 oz olive oil
touch emu oil I use about an ounce or two
12 oz hydrovance
112 oz water or goats milk
preservative to directions
vitamin e
fragrance

Melt hard oils, pour in remainder and blend. You may need to chill in fridge off and on and blend with a stick blender until it is nice and thick. Add E and fragrance as desired at end. Bottle--this makes about 20 8 ounce bottles so adjust as needed to make what you want.

This stuff is thick and is the one thing with my soap and body butter that prevents my eczema from ever rearing it's ugly head. I use store bought stuff and I'm sunk.

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6/19/11 4:00 A

www.soaperschoice.com/cgi-soaperschoice/We
b_store/web_store.cgi?query_price_low_
range=0&cart_id=

That is where I get my ingredients most of the time. They are the cheapest out there and their stuff is fresh because almost every soaper I know uses them. They are initially a company that sells food stuff but the manager of the warehouse found out soapers were buying his oils so he decided to expand and specialize. We love him for this! There are a few things I don't get here but not many. Emu is one of them but we have plenty of co-ops on the soapers that I tend to buy there...same with Shea.

Chib? I make a lip scrub with cocoa butter and sugar. No need to rinse and it tastes chocolatey. Best of both worlds.

For those that use coconut oil as a massage oil, consider buying FRACTIONATED coconut oil instead. It's the ONLY oil that will not stain sheets.

Anyone want to know the specific properties of oils feel free to ask me.

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6/19/11 1:24 A

i use honey and sugar on my lips rub around for 1-2 min the rynce it works great lol

Edited by: CHIBIKARATE at: 6/19/2011 (01:27)

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6/18/11 11:52 P

Great recipes. Yes, it would be helpful to know where you get the exotic ingredients, Purr. I'm looking forward to trying something homemade because my skin is so dry and nothing much out there seems to help all that much.

Saundrella

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6/18/11 11:45 P

Whoops I posted on the wrong thread. Sorry! I should have read farther into my emails. My lotions and potions is on gadgets!

tj

Posts: 8,149
6/18/11 7:12 P

Great recipe purrs!
I want some NOW ha.
Would like to know where you get some of your more exotic ingredients.

Laurapud, I use cystalline vitamin C to get the chlorine out of the water... I posted a bit on it in the supplements sticky.

I like to rub a bit of the C powder into my skin after bathing before applying a moisturizer to which I've added vitamin E. I pop open and empty a few vitamin E capsules into my bottle of Curel extra healing body lotion... to keep the C from oxidation.

C is good for keeping your skin bright and its necessary for collagen production.
You only need a dusting and you do need a lotion with E to keep the C working on your skin.

These are the same ingredients used in uber expensive face serums costing $40 for an ounce or two.
Only you will know that they're fresh and they're in there, because YOU will be putting them there!

Some people may worry about putting C directly on the skin since it is an acid. If so you'll have to check it out on your forearm and give it 24 hours before using it on your whole body. A little goes a long way.

Something to remember is that the skin is protected by an "acid mantle"... its why children tend to get things like ring worm, a fungus that thrives in an aklaline environment. A child's skin doesn't develop an acidic ph on their skin.. their "acid mantle" until they reach puberty.

FitArtist I love coconut oil for massages. Extra nice when there's a little essential oil added.

: )
Mzzchief

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6/18/11 6:47 P

Coconut oil for skin and hair. I use it as is.

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6/18/11 5:36 P

OOO- Thanks PURR!! I'm hoping to get a Kitchenaid this year, too!

MZZCHIEF- What is the crystallized stuff you use to de-chlorinate your water with again? I can't seem to keep it in my head!

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6/18/11 4:35 P

Best ever thing for dry skin or eczema? Body butter! Using organic, unrefined items keeps all the healing qualities of that oil in there and maximum benefit for you!

Whipped Body Butter A la Purr

Do NOT try this with too little or it won't whip right. A pound is about what I would do, less is risky.

1 lb Butter of choice (shea, mowrah, babassu) I prefer unrefined shea because refining removes the good things that heal!

4 oz monoi de tahiti or coconut oil

4 oz oil. I use a combination of calendula infused olive, rice bran, emu oil, jojoba, and sweet almond--best if you do use emu because it is nature's greatest healer

fragrance

Soften butter and coconut/monoi in oven at low or 170 degrees. Do not completely melt or you can cause it to become grainy. You want it soft only. Use a hand or stand mixer and put the butter in the bowl to be beaten in. Add your liquid oil mix it in. I place the bowl in the freezer. When it starts to harden along the sides I start beating it. You can take breaks in between but beat this until it is stiff and fluffy. A kitchenaid is great...you turn it on and walk away! Fragrance as desired and jar up. You do not need a preservative with this because there is no water. This is a texture like whipped butter you get in the store, or marshmallow cream. It is the most healing thing and is beyond belief! Put on at night and put on socks or gloves and even my hands which are always wet because I work in kitchens never crack...even in winter.

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6/18/11 4:05 P

Hey Team!

Welcome to the Healthy Stuff We Like Forum!
We felt that we needed a forum to pool the collective wisdom of the team, a positive happy place to share things that make our lives more enjoyable.

Since we expect a large response, initially we'll have three sticky threads.
Yes, this is my misguided attempt to impose some sort of order on chaos.
ha

NOTE: if you've got some healthy tip that does not fit within these 3 catagories, OR you'd just like to start a thread of your own, please feel free to do so!

The 3 stickies are:

1. Lotions and Potions... at home beauty recipes you concocted, additions you've made to existing commercial formulas, commercial beauty products you've used and liked... AND those that didn't meet your expectations. Okay so that may not be positive. But its positive if you warn someone else off a bad product.

2. Supplements, Herbals and Teas... Just like it says. Also valuable is where you got the best deal... cuz there's no such thing as "extra money".

3. Gadgets ... this would be anything from blenders to gym equipment/workout clothes and everything in between. Keep it G-rated, please!

As for the rest of the Health Stuff We Like forum, individual threads can be used for healthy foods you enjoy... and ways to prepare them... tips or tricks you use to make life more enjoyable... or anything that won't go under a specific sticky thread heading.

You know you have a healthy tip you're just dying to share.
So what are you waiting for?

: )
Mzzchief

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