If the image above concerns you, it's okay. Actually it's quite normal to be concerned when you realize an everyday product that you shouldn't have to think twice about is laced with carcinogenics and heavy metals. When I started making my own health and beauty products deodorant was actually the very first product I made, simply because it was so simple and my recipe slowly progressed to the recipe below.

So.. for those of you who think you cannot live a day with out your name brand deodorant because you don't trust the power of natural ingredients, I felt the same way. However when I realized that for women particularly  breast cancer and Alzheimer disease had a connection to our deodorant I had to quit using it. First I used baking soda on it's own. That actually worked, but was rather messy. Then I added coconut oil and cornstarch, because that was what I had on hand, and it worked also but didn't spread as well. Then I got my hands on some arrow root powder and played around with amounts and scents until I found the perfect blend. My personal experience with the deodorant is great, this may be  too much information but, when I did notice a body odor it was NOTHING like the body odor I had with the store bought deodorant, in fact I didn't feel self conscious about it at all! It spreads on very smooth and melts as you put it on to absorb into your skin.

          My grandfather is a very important person to me, for the last few years he has been dealing with melanoma. When I started looking into natural treatments for myself I was convinced there was something I could make that would be useful to him for his skin. My grandfather enjoys spending time outdoors and uses sun screen every day, religiously!

            As many of you know the chemicals in sunscreen are worse for our skin than if we wore no sun screen at all, and I figured I could find a way around that for him. The recipe I'm presenting you today is called "Paul-Screen" I named it after my grandfather, who seemed hesitant to try it, but now loves it. He said "I only have to use a tiny bit, and it lasts all day" he also said "I can tell a difference". After he had used if for a week he ate dinner with us for fathers day and I could really see a big difference in his skin. It wasn't inflamed or red like I'm used to seeing and it looked "youthful". For those who are interested in natural sun screen or would like the additional moisturizing benefits in Paul-screen please give this recipe a try, you wont regret it!

 Final Notes: 

-I actually used Hemp Oil  in my recipe. "Hemp oil, which is widely regarded as a “super food,” contains omega 3, omega 6 and gamma linoleic acid. This concentration of gamma linoleic acid (GLA) is 5% higher than any other plant known to man. GLA is known to help with a wide variety of disorders, ailments and diseases, including breast and skin cancer. GLA helps promote healthy cell growth, thereby neutralizing cancer cells" (1).

-The beeswax acts as a water repellant, keeping the mixture on your skin so you do not have to re-apply it all day!Beeswax is known for its healing properties. "Beeswax locks in moisture, fosters cells and protects skin from damaging environmental factors. Beeswax is a naturally nourishing moisturizer as well as being anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergenic and a germicidal antioxidant.  Beeswax has an irritation potential of zero and doesn't clog pores. Nonallergic, Beeswax sustains sunscreen action with its water repellent properties, combines well with multiple ingredients, and contains elasticity and provides greater permanence on skin or lip surfaces" (2).

-Coconut Oil has many amazing health benefits, including natural skin moisturizer and protector. Learn more about coconut here. 

-Aloe Vera Gel helps wounds heal faster, and protect the skin. Aloe Vera has been a highly regarded plant in the medicinal world for many years and it's uses in the practice of medicine are still being discovered. 

-Vitamin E oils destroy free radicals in the skin and encourage new healthy skin cell growth. It also acts as a natural preserver (since my grand-dad thinks the small jar I gave him will last a year). =]

-Frankincense is one of the many essential oils (unlike most big pharma medications) that can 

break the blood-brain barrier. "They penetrate the Blood- Brain-Barrier, a network of blood vessels with closely spaced cells that makes it difficult for potentially toxic substances (such as anticancer drugs) to penetrate the blood vessel walls and enter the brain. This makes a convincing argument for the efficacy of aromatherapy. When diffused or used topically, essential oils enter through the olfactory system, cross the Blood-Brain-Barrier and work with the Central Nervous System to promote healing" (3).

I hope this recipe helps you or someone you know. Please share your thoughts, feelings, or experiences with this recipe in the comments section below. As always feel free to e-mail me if you would like a specific recipe, info about purchasing product I've made or product information. Thank you for reading! Namaste, Kayla

1-http://www.cannabissearch.com/articles/hemp-oil-to-treat-skin-cancer/

2-http://www.sassygoatmilksoap.com/SGoatnotebeeswax.html

3-http://www.morningsideparkchronicle.com/5420/22216/a/introduction-to-essential-oils 

         Usually when you think of coconut do you think of the beach, or a mixed drink? Coconut was a word that wasn't part of my usual vocabulary until a few months ago. Coconut oil, milk, and shells are an amazing gift from nature! Why? There are many reasons, coconut oil is the main ingredients in most of my recipes, you can even use it alone as a moisturizer or eat it with a spoon for dietary needs. Here is a list from a fellow blogger about the many benefits of coconut oil:

This is the coconut oil I use!

         If you are looking for a healthy alternative to some of the well known lip balms or sticks that does not leave your lips feeling worse than before the treatment, check out my recipe below. Most lip treatments include unnecessary  parabens, petroleums, and different types of wax that actually dry your lips out worse than they were before. You may get instant gratification but you will need to reapply the lip balm/ stick over and over. Have you ever known a friend or family member that has a "chap-stick" addiction? These carcinogenic ingredients in the store bought lip treatments are known to be addictive. I searched online and did major amounts of research until I found the best solution. 

Final Notes: 

-Try to use local beeswax if possible. 

-Please always make sure your essential oils are not aromatherapy oil, they need to be safe for your body as well. These are the only oils that I consider safe for my body. 

-Vitamin E Oil is so beneficial to your lips for healing, but is totally optional. This will also increase the shelf life of your lip balm in case you do not plan to use it often.

-Tee Trea (Melaluca) Essential oil: Tea Tree is Melaluca, this can be confusing. Some companies label it as one or the other but it is the same thing. Tea Tree is soothing, repairs skin, it destroys germs and fights against unwanted bacteria and pathogens. The scent is super fresh.

-Lavender Essential oil: this may cause irritation for some people. I like it. It smells good, has relaxing properties, healing properties, and purifying properties. 

-As noted earlier feel free to play around with this recipe, put in a small glass container or a chap-stick like tube. If you are looking for a glossier version add another tablespoon of coconut oil.

-Where do you find these ingredients? Email me for the details kayla@apothekaylaco

As always I hope you enjoy this recipe! Feel free to e-mail me and leave comments about your experience with this recipe or switching from contemporary products to all natural versions.

                     Namaste,

                             Kayla

Dandelions are a great medicinal herb, and the entire plant can be eaten. For centuries (depictions have shown up throughout Ancient Egypt and Rome) the dandelion's many uses have been well known. "The Magical Plant" some call it, has roots that are known to kill cancer.

Why are so many people against this precious plant you ask? These people are on the hunt for a perfectly manicured lawn. With Dandelion's though you can have your cake and eat it too. I usually collect the dandelion heads before I mow the lawn, and because the dandelion will not die unless you remove the root from the ground, by the next time I am ready to mow I have many new dandelion heads to use.

If you use chemicals to kill dandelions, stop now! You will not want to use any dandelions that have been chemically treated or that are from a lawn that has been chemically treated. Don't worry though, dandelions know how useful they are to us and will keep coming back whether or not you want them to.

Final Note: Make sure the oil totally covers the dandelion heads while they are soaking, check on it after the first day to ensure the dandelion heads have not absorbed some oil. If the oil is not covering the top of the dandelion heads you may end up with mold in your jar.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do, and that you begin to love the sight of dandelions! Until next time, Namaste. Kayla

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