For some time, I have been thinking about starting a new thread about natural practices and products that can help our over-all health, and perhaps contribute to a lessening of KP.

I personally try to avoid chemical and pharmaceutical products, but I understand that many of you rely on them for KP help and other health needs. I would like to keep this thread dedicated to natural products and practices.

There are many things we have discussed on this forum, some in detail, some in passing, such as Baronster's theory that KP is caused by candida and how to eliminate candida, oil pulling, sea buckthorn products, cleanses, dry brushing, diet and more. I invite anyone to contribute to this thread with questions, comments or personal experience with any natural method for better health. And from time to time, I will post a practice or product I think has helped my health and/or KP.

kebod

Have you ever looked at all the ingredients on a commerical body or face lotion? You need a handbook of chemistry to understand what everything is. That is scary when you consider that the skin absorbs a lot of what we put on it. I have been trying to eliminate as many chemicals as I can from body products with the thought that my liver will be better able to function if it doesn't have so many chemicals to deal with. Some ingredients in commercial body products, like parabens, have been found in the tissue of breast cancer patients. Even if you continue to use commercially made body lotion, look at the ingredients and avoid parabens.

I love this lotion/cream. Since I found the recipe on Curezone Oil Pulling Forum (thank you, Wombat), it is the only lotion I use on my body and face. I rub it into my upper arms where I still have a little KP and it lessens the bumps.

If you make it, apply it very lightly. It may feel sticky at first, but within 5 minutes it is absorbed, leaving very soft skin. Because our bodies are mostly water, a lotion has to contain a large amount of water to be easily absorbed. Pure oil is not absorbed as easily. I apply right after a bath or shower when the skin is still damp, but I also put it on anytime.

Body and Face Lotion

6 oz. liquid oil (grapeseed, apricot, almond, thistle, sesame, jojoba) I use almond.
3 oz. solid oil (coconut oil, shea butter, and/or coconut butter) I use coconut oil.
1 oz. beeswax
9 oz. water (distilled water, floral water, herbal infusion, fruit juice, aloe gel. I use purified water.
4 drops grapefruit seed extract as a preservative -- optional
4 capsules of Vit. E, capsule perforated and oil squeezed into mixture -- optional

Makes approx. 19 oz. of cream

To measure, use a clear glass measuring cup with the ounce marks on the side. Pour in 6 oz. of liquid oil, add 3 oz. of solid oil, then add 1 oz. of beeswax. The level should be at 10 oz. on the side of the measuring cup.

Pour this mixture into a small metal pan or metal cup. Set the pan (or cup) in a pot of hot water and stir constantly over a low flame. Remove immediately when the beeswax has melted. (Beeswax melts at 140-143 deg. F. and should not be heated to a higher temp. It should be heated very slowly.) Cool oils to body temperature -- 98 deg. F. if you are using a thermometer. (I don't use a thermometer.)

Meanwhile, pour 9 oz. of water in a small pan and warm to body temperatuare (when you put your pinkie in the water and can't feel cold or hot).

When the oils and water are both at body temp., pour the water into a blender, and add oils slowly while blending. Stir in Vit. E oil and grapefruit seed oil, if using. You may also add a few drops of essential oil, like rose or lavender, for a scent.

Store in a glass container, away from heat and light. I keep a small jar out to use and keep the rest in the fridge.

Let me know if you try this.

kebod

yes your absolutely rite. we need to reject these artifitial, manmade chemicals. the large corperations dont care about our health. not at all. they only care about making more and more profit for their share holders. i know they would put a questionable chemical into anything if it ment that they would make more money.

Another potentially harmful chemical found in virtually every product known to man is called "phalates". I heard about this through Yahoo's Health announcements. Found here.

http://news.yahoo.com/featured

Here's the video briefly discussing that phalates were found in baby's urine. Copy the code and paste it into your browser and hit Enter to view the Video (javascript). It will open in a new window.

"Moisturel" lotion is free of lanolins and parabens, however it is in a plastic container, which pretty much means phalates are released into it. Phalates are in any type of softened plastic, and softened plastic consists of about 90% of the containers found on the market.

Its extremely dificult to avoid commonly used, yet potentially harmful chemicals, because they are used to make most products cheap/easier to make/produce/use.

Kebod's lotion sounss like a great option, and the glass container is a great choice. Phalates are not in glass.

Several chemicals used are of debatable safety, yet the FDA passes them anyways. The FDA is basically an organization that the public is brainwashed into trusting, yet they are only in place to pass all the products they hold stock in as "safe". These company's work together hand in hand. The FDA and the company's who make cheap products are looking out for each others investments, believe me.

I am not sure on the spelling of the word "phalate". I heard it on that video and I'm only using knowledge I gained from the video I provided.

Chris,

Thank you for this information. The spelling is "phthalates". Some of you may remember the recent news about plastic baby bottles releasing chemicals into the milk. This is the chemical. Unfortunately, almost every body product and many food products come in plastic containers now.

Here is some more information about phthalates:
Julie's Health Club - Where alternative and mainstream health meet | Chicago Tribune | Blog | Julie's Health Club

kebod

Baronster began a thread on this forum that proposed that many KP sufferers may also have candida, and that possibly the KP is caused by candida over-growth. Because of her thread, "Worst Case of KP Treated Naturally", I realized I probably had candida.

Here is a simple on-line test to take to see if you have candida:
Candida test, the candida questionnaire by Dr. William Crook
It is a questionnaire of 10 questions. I answered yes to 9 of the 10 questions. I have no doubt that I have candida over-growth. It was confirmed when I started a strict candida diet and immediately felt better. When I go off my diet, the symptoms return.

Everybody has candida, a type of fungus. It is normally kept in check by our natural flora -- our intestinal bacteria. Antibiotics are one reason for a candida overgrowth to occur. The bacteria that keep candida in check have been killed off by antibiotics and candida goes rampant, messing up all kinds of bodily functions. This was what happened in my case after taking antibiotics for a pro-longed period for a sinus infection. (If you do take antibiotics, be sure to follow it with probiotics in supplement form or as food, like live yogurt or raw sauerkraut and kimchi, to replace your intestinal bacteria.)

If you test positive with Dr. Crook's questionnaire, you should go online to research candida and how to be rid of it, or see a naturopathic physician.

kebod

Uh... That questionnaire doesn't work. It brings you to a page with like a screen full of Code, probably Javascript or something. (I'm using Firefox)

Baronster posted in her thread about the spit test, an easy test to do at home to test if you have a yeast and/or parasites. Maybe this also belongs here.
Directions: When you wake up, you spit an amount of saliva in a glass of water. You may not eat or drink. Best is to use bottled water or water that is cleared (like with a Brita filter). When it gets cloudy and legs are formed that go to the bottom, you have candida. When it gets cloudy and sinks altogether to the bottom, you have parasites. When you have legs AND it sinks to the bottom, you have both.

Chris,

The link for the candida test works fine for me. Maybe it is because of a setting on your computer that you can't read it. Thanks for posting about the spit test. I failed it, too.

kebod

I got the test to work, I had to use Internet Explorer. I answered yes to 3~4 of the questions. With the way my lifestyle is now though however, I very rarely take antibiotics... In my younger teens I used to constantly get sinus infections and I was on antibiotics almost every month for a few years! I've been off them for at least 2 years now. I'm probably not at high risk for candida overgrowth, but eating some sauerkraut, yogurt, and kimchi definitly couldn't hurt! Now to find out what the hell kimchi is and where to get it, lol.

What's the difference between live yogurt and, ... yogurt?

Even though the spit test sounds pretty gross, I'll give it a try later tonight when my mom isn't up to see how crazy I am!

I think no, difference. Yogurt have live cultures in it. You can read it on the label. Usually, it contains L. acidophilus.

My favorite snack: dannon strawberry banana yogurt smoothie...you can makeit at home too cause those bottles cost more$$$

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thanks for posting the recipe for this lotion! i will try to make it as soon as i get some of the ingredients and i'll let you know how it is... oh one question, where can you get beeswax except on the internet?

Misslala,

I bought mine directly from a beekeeper. Other possiblities would be a store that sells candle making supplies, maybe a craft store? You could ask at a large natural food store, but I'm not sure if they carry it or not. Let me know where you find it.

kebod

Chris and Elsa,

When I specified "live yogurt", I meant not the type that has been heat-treated (pasteurized) to extend the shelf life. Apparently, this is done to some, but not many, yogurts. Here is a quote from the web page Ask Dr. Sears:

Avoid yogurt that says "heat treated after culturing" on the label. This means that the yogurt was pasteurized after the healthful organisms were added, which dilutes the health benefits of the yogurt. Pasteurization deactivates the lactase and kills the live cultures, thereby obliterating two health benefits of yogurt. Heat-treating yogurt trades economic gain for nutritional loss. It prolongs the shelf life, but spoils its nutrition and health-food value. Lactose-intolerant persons who can tolerate yogurt containing live and active cultures may not be able to digest yogurt that has been heat treated. Yogurt-based salad dressings and yogurt-covered raisins, pretzels, and candy typically do not contain live and active cultures.

kebod