Essential Oils for skin flare ups during Pregnancy!

Pregnancy is a magical time in a woman's life. It also brings about many changes within the body, some of which are amazing and some that are annoying. One issue that comes to mind is the blemishes that bring you back to your teenage years! Hormones during pregnancy can trigger serious break-outs for some women. All of the traditional methods of getting rid of acne during pregnancy are off-limits such as Retin-A, Accutane, Benzoyl Peroxide, and basically anything from the pharmacy. Even when you are not pregnant, some of the ingredients and side effects of these products scare me. There is however a natural remedy that works wonders for blemishes, pimples and acne...ESSENTIAL OILS! Since they are anti-bacterial and have antiseptic properties, pure essential oils are the perfect solution for acne. There are a few oils that I recommend and have personal experience using. Lavender oil cleared up a major break-out almost overnight. It did dry out my skin, probably because I used more than needed, but the red pimples disappeared. One drop on my finger and then rub it on the area of the face that needs clearing up. Lemon oil seems to help to maintain clearer skin when applied nightly as well. A little drop goes a long way with Essential Oils. They are highly concentrated and some may need to be diluted/mixed with a little coconut oil for especially sensitive skin. You want to be sure you are getting the highest grade of essential oils and know how they are made. Much like you choose your organic food during pregnancy, know where and how your oils are made especially since some can be ingested. I have also read that Frankincense and Purification can reduce break-outs as well. When you want to look beautiful and go on that baby-moon with your hubby...don't let pimples get you down!! Zap them with Essential Oils. Learn more at about Essential Oils from Young Living.

Pregnant or Trying to Conceive....Avoid GMOs!

For those ladies who are planning to become pregnant or already pregnant, diet is of utmost importance. You are what you eat means so much more than it ever did due to foods becoming depleted of nutrients. The soil which fruits and vegetables grow in is not as nutrient dense and now that 75% of foods in the grocery store contain GMOs, it is challenging to have the perfect diet for conception unless you make a real effort to go organic. Read more on the dangers of GMO foods. And more info here.

For starters, you need to identify the top GMOs and cut them out of your diet. These include soybeans, corn, soy oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, sugar beets(made into sugar). The list continues with items that surprised me like zucchini, yellow squash, and papaya. You may have heard of "frankenfish", this could soon mean that GMO salmon is sold. The list continues with more possible additions such as wheat, flax, plums, potato, radicchio, rice, tomato and apples. What is sad is that the US does not have laws requiring Genetically Engineered foods to be labeled while several other countries like Japan, France, UK, China, Australia, and Russia do require labeling.

The most troubling part of growing Genetically Modified food is that crops become overcome with "superweeds" which are resistant to pesticides. That means farmers are having to use stronger, more toxic pesticides on their crops. What do we know about pesticides during pregnancy??? Stay away from them!!! They cause birth defects, increased risk of cancer, and other reproductive problems that could lead to miscarriage or early labor. Read Sandra Steingraber's book "Having Faith" for a glimpse at the dangers in our lives when pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

You can read more at EWG.org. If you donate $10 they will send you a Shopper's Guide to avoid GE (Genetically Engineered Foods). You can also look for the label on boxed/prepared foods that say Non-GMO Project. For fresh fruits and vegetables, it is best to go organic when you are pregnant or trying to conceive. The sticker on the items will start with a 9 for organic, 4 for conventional and an 8 for genetically modified. Food shopping should not have to be this difficult but if we vote with our pocketbooks and go organic, maybe companies will finally listen. This is our health and the health of unborn babies so it must be taken seriously. Now go buy Organic!!!

CHEMICALS on CLEMENTINES OH MY!

During the winter months we love to eat oranges. We always buy organic. On one shopping trip to the health food store I decided to purchase CLEMENTINES instead since they are smaller and easier for toddlers to peel themselves. We enjoyed a bag over the holidays and I though nothing of it since they are not on EWGs Dirty Dozen list . A few weeks later we are at a large discount store and I saw a crate of them and thought...what a bargain, I don't have to drive to another store, we can buy these and drive home! Big mistake! We get home, I unpeel one and my husband says he is going to empty the crate and put them in the fridge and yells "STOP, look up these chemicals on your laptop, PUT THE CLEMENTINE DOWN". This is seconds before I am going to give it to my daughter and have some myself. Neither of us noticed the small writing on the side of the crate stating that they have been treated with THIABENDAZOLE AND OR IMAZLIL AND OR SOME OTHER CHEMICAL which is covered by a sticker. Look up THIABENDAZOLE and see that it is used as a fungicide on bananas and citrus among other uses. It is not approved for food use in New Zealand, Australia or the UK. Wonder why? Toxicity perhaps?? Look up IMAZLIL and it states according to California's Proposition 65, enilconazole(its other chemical name) is listed as "known to the State to cause cancer". I would not advise anyone to eat food treated with these chemicals, especially not children, pregnant or nursing moms, elderly, or those with compromised immune systems. Just when you think you are getting your dose of vitamin C, you are also getting a dose of toxins. Some may say the chemicals are just on the skin of the fruit, but the transference from fingers to mouth and any cracks on the skin that may let the chemicals into the fruit itself is a real possibility. Are you willing to take the chance on how tolerant you or your children's bodies are to these chemicals and increase your chance of cancer? I for one am not! Just another reason to support organic farmers!

Lead in Holiday Decorations

As many people decorate for the holidays there is something to be cautious about. LEAD! If you have toddlers who put everything in their mouths this is especially troublesome. Most Christmas decorations are made in China and are more than likely to contain lead. This is especially true of holiday lights. I have lights that even have a tag saying they contain lead, apparently IKEA sells lead-free lights! Or I found some at Environmental Lights.com I know children want to help decorate and join in the fun but be sure they wash their hands extremely well after they have touched ornaments, lights, your artificial tree(which is why a real tree is better), a nativity, or whatever else you have to decorate that may contain lead and God knows what other harmful chemicals. Homemade ornaments made of natural materials like cotton, wool or felt are safer for children to handle. Pine cones in a bowl work well for us and it keeps children busy placing them one by one! Even better if you have a tree outside to get them from. I gathered several bags of them a few years back and have been using them every year! A very eco-friendly option. Now go decorate and see how creative you can get!

Reiki Healing

If you are familiar with alternative treatments, you may have heard of Reiki. It is a Japanese technique used for various types of healing which can be done by a Reiki practitioner or you can even learn self healing. A simple explanation is that hands are placed on or just above the body in various positions to move ki(energy) to facilitate healing. Reiki was discovered over 100 years ago Dr. Mikao Usui of Japan and made its way to the United States in the 1960's. These ideals were added later to add spiritual balance and enable the client to accept they can heal from within themselves. . "The secret art of inviting happiness The miraculous medicine of all diseases Just for today, do not anger Do not worry and be filled with gratitude Devote yourself to your work. Be kind to people. Every morning and evening, join your hands in prayer. Pray these words to your heart and chant these words with your mouth Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind The founder , Usui Mikao I received my first session from Reiki Master, Catalina Rivera, who has been practicing for 13 years and studied Reiki in Santiago, Chile. I wasn't sure what to expect at a session so I laid on the table and relaxed in my comfortable clothing, kept my eyes closed and ready to accept any and all healing. As she began to place her hands on me I felt a feeling of warmth and energy at the same time. I grew more and more relaxed throughout the session and even fell asleep. When I awoke I felt alert and clear headed with a deep feeling of relaxation. Everyone will feel different. I didn't have any major aches or pains the day of the treatment so more of an overwhelming feeling of calm and good health is what I felt. It seemed to last for a couple days. I would highly recommend trying Reiki and learning more about it. It is used in many hospitals now for cancer and pain management. If you want to learn more about Reiki you can hear Catalina speak at the November 7th Holistic Moms Meeting at the Oyster Bay Community Center in Oyster Bay, NY from 7-8:30. She can also be reached at catita79@gmail.com Photos Courtesy of Photo Bucket

National Costume Swap Day is Saturday October 12th but Beware of Toxic Costumes!!!

If you still have not figured out what your child will be for Halloween, you can swap last years costume for another at National Costume Swap Day this Saturday October 12th. This is a great way to recycle last years costume without spending money. Some costumes only are worn once, unless you are my daughter and like to dress up in them year round! If you do opt to buy a costume or swap, be aware of what kind of fabric it is made from especially if it is plastic. The off-gasing of chemicals in plastic/vinyl/PVC masks or other parts of the costume disrupt a young child's endocrine system and are extremely toxic. Natural fabrics are much safer for costumes. Making your own costume is even better. Some costumes have fabrics, glitter and accessories which can be irritating to children's skin and may even contain LEAD or is stuffed with who knows what "fillers" to make puffy animal costumes. Here is one option for a fairy or a knight. Whatever your child dresses up as, keep them safe! To find a Costume Swap near you go to Eco Mom Alliance.

Most Makeup Geared for Kids is Toxic, Choose Safe Makeup!

Kids should remain kids in my book. As they get older they will want to do what Mommy does. I found this includes getting into your makeup bag! My toddler likes to put on my lip balm and one day I found her with my lipstick all over her face. Luckily I can feel confident that ALL of my makeup is non-toxic thanks to the research I have done through EWG's Skin Deep. I carefully chose all of the makeup I wear by first researching ingredients for toxicity. Most people do not realize that even the majority of the makeup geared towards kids is made with harmful ingredients. Some of these ingredients are even carcinogenic. The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is working towards changing guidelines for safer makeup and cosmetics. Luckily there are a few companies who are making organic, non-toxic products that are safe for you and your little girl in case she decides to mimic you. One company is Luna Organics. The products are made in Maryland and their standards comply with The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Another is Pure Poppet. They are based in Australia as well as Orla and Maeve. If your little princess decides she wants to be a princess this Halloween or any other time of the year, please use caution and make sure she is wearing makeup that is safe.