Natural Health

Avocado Castor Oil Hair Mask

I love using fresh ingredients in my hair and skincare. Avocados are made up of fatty acids and 20 different vitamins and minerals: Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin E to name a few.

What do these vitamins and minerals do for your hair? Let’s break these things down: 

• Fatty acids and omega-3 have anti-inflammatory properties; this allows the hair follicle to open up and promote hair growth;
• Vitamin E has anti-inflammatory properties but this particular vitamin is also very good for promoting growth and strength in your hair; 
• Castor oil also contains vitamin E, fatty acids and omega-3, in addition to antibacterial and anti-fungal properties; which helps with dry, itchy scalp. 

Mask Recipe

1 avocado (if you have long hair double the recipe)
1 tbsp castor oil
8-10 drops of vitamin E oil (optional)
1 tbsp coconut oil

Coconut oil has many benefits to the skin and hair and can easily be incorporated in your day to day routine. Combine the ingredients in a bowl and mix them together to form a smooth paste like texture. Gently massage the paste into your hair starting at the roots and work your way down to the ends. Once applied you can cover your head with a shower cap, saran wrap or a damp, warm towel so the heat can help the ingredients penetrate the hair shaft better. The cost of hair mask is under $10, so very affordable. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Forecast Calls For Rough Skin Conditions

The cold weather has finally arrived! Cold winter air is not a friend to our delicate skin, so we must take a little extra care this time of year, especially as we get older. While most of us welcome the chilly air after a toasty summer, we are not prepared for the havoc our skin is about to endure. At the first hint of winter we are quick to winterize our cars, boats, and homes but I wonder….. do you winterize your skin?

Here are a few tips for “winterizing” your skin to keep that healthy glow and to fight off the dryness that winter brings to our skin.

1. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Hydration is important year round but during the winter months it is even more important. Drink your water ladies! Your skin will thank you for it. Also, investing in a humidifier will also help keep a little moisture in the air and help fight the dryness.

2. Switch to a creamy cleanser versus gel, and rinse with lukewarm water. Hot water can cause dryness which will lead to sensitivity, itchiness, and/or flaky skin.

3. If you typically use a lighter moisturizer, switching to one that is rich will help lock in the moisture and keep it there.

4. Eating high-antioxidant fruits and veggies help feed your skin from the inside out. Squash, pumpkin, blueberries, pomegranates and cranberries are just a few examples of high-antioxidant foods that are in season right now.

These tips also go for the rest of your body! It is so tempting to take a steaming hot shower when it is 30* outside, but this only dries your skin out more. Cooler, lukewarm water won’t be as harsh on your skin. Also, consider a creamy body wash and lotion that is more rich than your summer lotion. Moisturizing in the morning and before bed will help keep your skin hydrated! Warming your lotion before you apply it will not only feel good, but it will also help with absorption.

So, let’s winterize our skin by hydrating, moisturizing, eating healthy, and we can make it through winter with beautiful skin!

An apple a day keeps the doctor away….we’ve all heard that saying, but did you know that “Father of Medicine”, Hippocrates used to treat his patients with raw Apple Cider Vinegar? Yep! He did! ACV has great cleansing and healing qualities with naturally occurring antibiotic and antiseptic properties as well as external benefits.

A warm bath with ACV can help soothe itching from shingles, chicken pox and even psoriasis. Equal parts of ACV and distilled water in a spray bottle can also relieve any itching, redness or discomfort from poison ivy and poison oak. Keep the mixture in the refrigerator for more soothing effects.

A mixture of equal parts ACV and organic olive oil can help prevent windburn and sunburns to the skin and for sunburn relief an ACV compress (undiluted) can help prevent blistering and peeling. For those of us who really overdo it in the sun sometimes, a warm bath with a cup of ACV is healing to the skin. Follow up your soak with some aloe vera gel to sooth the skin even more.

ACV is also great for you hair. Using ACV as a rinse for your hair will naturally balance the pH of your hair, help with certain skin conditions, and even improve hair growth! It is a great follow up after using the all natural Nurture Your Locks Shampoo Bar. Studies have shown ACV can help improve circulation, which helps provide nutrients to the scalp for healthy hair. Who doesn’t want long, healthy and shiny hair?

            Bragg’s has a few recipes to help combat hair and scalp issues:

Dandruff:

2-3 Tbsps. ACV in a cup

Part hair in sections and sponge ACV directly on the scalp and wrap your head with a towel. ACV helps restore proper acid/alkaline balance to the scalp. This should be done before every shampoo.

Dry Hair:

Apply Bragg Olive Oil to the hair weekly and ACV to the scalp, then wrap with a towel. Leave this combination on for 30 minutes to 3 hours before shampooing.

Hair Growth Stimulating Mixture:

For bald and thinning areas apply 2 Tbsps of ACV with a tiny bit of cayenne powder. Apply 1 hour before shampooing and please, keep this out of your eyes!!!

Hair Rinse:

An after shampoo since for shine and body, add 1/3 cup ACV to a quart of water. Add mixture to a spray bottle to make application easier. After applying to hair and scalp, rinse with luke-warm water.

Pet Lovers: After shampooing your dog or cat, add 2 tablespoons of ACV to a pitcher of warm water, pour overs your pet for a final rinse to help get rid of any soap that was left behind. This rinse helps keep your furry friends skin healthy and the fleas away!

There are more recipes available on Bragg’s website www.bragg.com

Welcome to Overland Essentials’ - Natural Living Blog! Keep an eye out for posts like the one you are about to enjoy, for tips on how to improve your health and well-being the natural way without harmful chemicals.

This week marks the end of summer, meaning fall has officially arrived but with it comes the dreaded cold and flu season. Nothing puts a damper on our fall festivities quite like being sick. Being sick is not fun, no matter what time of year and there are natural remedies to help us push through so we can enjoy our pumpkins, lattes, sweaters and fireplaces.

One of the first signs our body gives us to let us know sickness is coming, is a sore throat! I don’t know about you, but I feel awful when my throat hurts. All I want is homemade chicken soup and a blanket. Soup feels amazing on a scratchy throat, but sometimes we are not in a position to make it, like when we are at work or school. Throat drops work well to sooth the scratchiness and pain. Below is a natural recipe from healthy-holistic-living.com for throat soothing cough drops, with links to all of the herb suppliers.

Ingredients: (click on the product to get the link of a supplier)

1 teaspoon slippery elm powder
1 teaspoon echinacea Angustifolia root powder
1/2 teaspoon ginger root powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (sweet) powder
1/4 teaspoon goldenseal root powder
2 teaspoons organic, raw manuka honey

Optional Add-Ins:
1 drop lemon essential oil, optional
1 drop OnGuard essential oil blend, optional

Instructions:

In a small bowl combine all ingredients.
With a spoon, work the mixture into a “bread dough” like consistency. Add cinnamon to thicken, if needed.

Pinch off very small bits of dough and roll them in the palm of your hand to form a pea-size ball. Note: I like to add a small amount of cinnamon to my palm while I roll.

Dry the balls in a dehydrator OR on a cookie sheet in the oven. Note: If using an oven, set to the lowest possible temperature and leave the oven door slightly open.

Once dried, store these drops in a small glass container. They will stay fresh in a cool, dark space for a year.

Makes up to 40 herbal drops.

Adults and children take 1-2 drops, 2-4 times a day as needed.


Happy Fall! Enjoy…