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 We met Evan in our original Personality Spotlight at the All Natural Beauty Website several years ago. Today we've gone back into the archives to condense this article, introducing her to a whole new audience. Evan is an exceptional formulator and writer who has a huge following for her all-natural beauty and wellness products. We hope that after reading this interview you'll want to read the full article as well as visit her beautiful website (links below) This article was originally in a Q & A form, so all of the answers below are in Evan's own words. Enjoy!
On Formulating:
The entire activity of a product's research, formulation and handcrafting is defined and guided by an intention
It can happen that concerns for costs can knock at the backdoor of the formulator's mind, urging compromise with what he or she knows to be best. But compromising in the matter of quality or messing with goals undermines any high purpose activity. It reduces or blocks results so it has no just place in a formulator's decisions.
Another intention I have is to find synergies that work with the body rather than shock it into line. Response rather than resistance and submission, encouragement rather than force. This parallels life situations: I prefer someone to suggest to me lightly if I have gone off track and leave me to make the adjustments. Just so, in healing, I feel that the gentler approaches have in fact the most profound effects.
As to ingredients, well - there are a ton of ingredients that are supposedly 'okay' in the industry that are really horrible and are in fact not okay. You can read about such things all over the internet - things like sodium laurel sulfate - the foaming agent in many products like soaps, shampoos, toothpastes. This ingredient can cause canker sores when used in toothpastes, damage the corneal development of children, cause urinary tract infections when used in bubble baths, roughs up our skin, etc. Why follow an industry standard that is actually harmful?? Just because 98% of companies are doing something does not make it right.
 In regards to how Evan's Garden was formed...
One day about 5 years ago, I was looking for a product to handle a very intense (and expensive!) dental situation I had. I went to my local health food store and searched online and could not find any product that contained an ingredient that Dr. Christopher said was THE thing to handle this type of problem. So I decided to make my own formulation. I ended up creating a Tooth & Gum Powder that saved me from about $3000 in dental surgery. I shared it with friends and family and they had terrific results.
My complexion needed to revive, so I made The Perfect Rose, a serum. This really was a wow; my friends were demanding it. I next made something that was kicking around in the back of my mind, a healing salve called All Better, Honey. It handled quickly whatever it was used for and my friends began showing up asking me for this or that, something for athlete's foot, a deodorant, something for backaches... a local chiropractor sent over a patient with a flaming sunburn for me to create her a remedy...I got the message...do this! Our business was formed.
Some of Evan's Favorite Products:
I am so pleased that DreamSoap came out not drying at all and rinsing all the way off. La Créme de la Créme ended up just as I'd hoped...I don't at all like goopy creams, I just wanted results and not to have to feel it on my skin. Rose Bouquet masque was a particular pleasure as it reminded me of concocting rich food recipes like Thanksgiving stuffing...wo, everything in it and yumm!! Ma Jeunesse is a wild banquet for the skin, regenerative to the max and I'm hooked. I suppose all the Skin Perfection System products are favorites. Our customers are devoted to them. If I have orders to satisfy and haven't been able to make a new batch yet, I get calls and emails, so I've learned to make fresh batches before what we've got is used up.
 Our customers are like me generally; they love most or all of the products they try. We do have some people, very few, who are just not into skin care of any kind, but rave about Certainty deodorant or Tooth and Gum Powder or whatever. Most popular with customers would be the Ma Jeunessé™ (means 'my youth' in French) Youth in a Jar™, the Skin Perfection System products (DreamSoap™ Facial Cleanser, Velvet™ Nourishing Facial Scrub, Rose Bouquet™ Gentle Anti-oxidant Facial Masque, Skin Perfection Mist™, La Créme de la Créme™ Lotion for Beautiful Skin and The Perfect Rose™ Refining facial Serum - whew, longer names than I realized!), the Clarity System (for very oily or acneic skin) - Tooth & Gum Powder and Rinse, Natural Silk™, All Better, Honey™, the make-up: Foundation Powder and Creams, Shea Butter Cheek Tint, Rouge Powders and Eye Colors, SuperImmune Boost™, what else, perfumes, deodorants, body wash are very popular, too.
On Life...
One last thing I'd like to share with your readers: People tend to minimize their abilities. This is a dangerous habit. Despite daunting social scorn, allowing yourself to acknowledge your own abilities is a sane and beneficial attitude to take. Some people prohibit themselves from this. It's notable that when someone is put to the test, when a skill is required to save others' lives, for example, under dire necessity, we come forth with ability. It's there. It is there anyway and all the time, I feel. Acknowledging your own skills and powers is about the most valuable thing you can do for yourself and the world. You can make a difference just by speaking with a strong, clear voice backed by your own intention to help. I encourage you to follow your dreams, to cast off discouragements, to ignore anyone telling you to be 'practical' or to 'get a real job' or who laughs at or belittles your goals, especially your artistic or creative ones. The world needs you, now more than ever in history. Humanity has acquired the technical means to destroy itself much faster than it has acquired any wisdom to prevent such a catastrophe. It's time we all got very wise, very generous, very fast - and you, not politicians or armies - can help lead the way to a better world. See the full Personality Spotlight here Visit Evan's Website: http://www.EvansGarden.com Evan's Garden has been a strong supporter of the All Natural Beauty Website and ANB Mall and we are so appreciative! We believe in Evan and what she offers. She has been a joy to work with over the years and hope that all who read this will make sure to visit her website and get to know this wonderful woman and her fabulous line of healthy products! To learn more about what we think of Evan's Garden products, check out the Product Spotlights below... Dental Hygiene Trio The Perfect Rose Serum Ma Jeunesse (Moisturizer) Natural Tooth Paste & Natural Tooth Polish Natural Fragrances, Shampoo & Toothpaste Meadow Foam Hand Soap Transcendence Perfume and Pure Mineral Rouge Powder Number 5 Beach House & Lady of the Flowers Natural Aromatherapy Perfume & Toothpaste 
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Written by Donya Fahmy of Dropwise Essentials
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 Essential oils with their therapeutic properties, have been used historically in rituals, for beautification, and as medicine for hundreds of years. While many people now consciously turn to aromatherapy as an alternative healing modality to help them manage their stress or just as a gentler, safer alternative to over-the-counter medicines, most people have unconsciously experienced essential oils and their beneficial properties in one form or another without even being aware of it. That’s because essential oils, the purest and most potent form of plant extracts available, have been widely used by the food and fragrance industries almost since their inception.
From spearmint, peppermint, or cinnamon flavored gums and candy, to teas and flavored waters and soda pop, there’s a pretty good chance that an essential oil was incorporated into the product. A quick glance at the spice rack in your kitchen reveals herbs and spices commonly used in cooking that are also available as essential oils. If you like aromatherapy and you like to cook, there’s almost no limit to the endless culinary creations you can up with when combining the two together. Whether its sweet or savory you fancy, essential oils can add deep and vibrant flavors to your food and beverages in a way that working with dried and powdered herbs and spices can’t. Needless to say, because essential oils are so concentrated and potent, you only ever need add a tiny amount to your soups, marinades, salad dressings, dessert toppings or baked goods to make them and your taste buds sing! So how can you begin to master the art of working with essential oils in a culinary mode and transform your kitchen into an aromatic oasis of sensual delights? Well, let’s start by categorizing essential oils to simplify your understanding of what foods you can match them up with. Once you get comfortable with the basics then you can start to stretch out a little and mix things up just for the fun of it. Essential oils can be loosely organized into four main categories: herbs, spices, citrus fruits, and flowers. Examples of essential oils that correlate to herbs include basil, thyme, oregano, rosemary, marjoram and sage, while spices would include black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, cardamom, cumin or clove bud. Citrus fruits consist of orange, mandarin, tangerine, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot (which is used to scent Earl Grey tea), and lemon verbena. Flowers would naturally include lavender, rose, jasmine, ylang ylang, geranium and neroli (orange blossoms) but not flowers like gardenias, lilacs, or plumeria for which no essential oils exist. Knowing which essential oils fall into which categories can help you decide the ones to use for savory dishes versus desserts and sweets especially if you’re just getting started or are not quite ready to be super adventurous. Keep in mind, too much of a strong essential oil like ginger, oregano, cinnamon or peppermint can quickly overpower a dish and even ruin it, so it’s best to start out with very small amounts until you get a good feeling for how much is just right for the intensity of flavor you’re seeking. Some oils, like citrus fruits tend to be light and somewhat volatile so you would likely use a little more of these –especially if you’re using them in dishes requiring heat to prepare. Essential oils that fall into the herbs category are great for meats, poultry, some fish, savory soups, sauces, casseroles and baked goods. Citrus oils are lighter so they are great in marinades for fish and poultry, dressings for salads and steamed vegetables, and in beverages and desserts. Flower oils are usually best in baked goods, desserts and sweets though some can add surprisingly good flavor to vegetables and cheeses (this is where a sense of adventure can come in handy). Essential oils that fall into the spices category are a mixed bag as most can be used for either sweet or savory dishes depending on your personal preference. Copyright 2010 Dropwise Essentials Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed. |
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Written by Shannon Schroter of Grateful Body
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 I have a most excellent friend who lives near the bay in Rio. Once a day, like clockwork, the long shadow from a church steeple in Ipanema passes slowly over her house. It's the sort of timepiece I like, regular and soft-edged, like the wake-up birds singing in the trees at dawn or the break and roll, break and roll, of the ocean waves that coax my breathing to let go of the load it's been carrying. Because there is so much external pressure in the rapidly increasing swirl of daily events, my internal mechanisms constantly need these reminders that there is indeed a gentle, relaxed rhythm that I can sway back into.
As my grown children, eyes forward, embark on their own lives, I find myself looking more closely at the aging processes that effect me. Indeed, I see there is a natural aging process, where all form - sycamore and sparrow, my grandfather and my father, mountains and suns - conforming to veiled and enigmatic mandates, dance only briefly with the stuff of existence, first becoming, then forming and growing, followed all too soon by a diminishing ebb and finally, transformation. Me - or better - what I think is me, ceases to be. The wise ones among us have said that this process is a holy mystery, an ideal opportunity infused throughout with hidden love and guidance.
I can surely see that there are other aging influences that aren't natural; they aren't normal and are behind what might be called premature aging. War, violence, injustice and other such peculiarities of this planet are undeniably unnatural, and all these aberrant forces age me in some obscure way. And, of course, there are the daily stresses and anxieties pummeling down on everybody's head like a hard rain. What's my responsibility in all of this? How do I handle the story of my life? My form body, the cells constantly re-organizing themselves into this thing I recognize in the mirror, flows effortlessly down this river of life and death as natural as laughter and thunderstorms. But there's another part of me (my unseen body, if you will) that struggles uselessly - in other words, my reactions, my attitudes, my opinions, my postures towards life. I'm finding that these are the real culprits behind premature aging. If I'm brutally honest, I can only conclude that I am responsible for a certain amount of my unnatural aging . . . . I age myself.
It was in Rio, looking down a side street in Copacabana, that I got my first big shock regarding unnatural aging. All I did was look down the street. An indelible snapshot sketched itself on my nerves; the tempo, the rhythm, the sensual beat of people walking, shopping, talking, eating. Here was visceral proof that the pace of American life - my life - is relentless and furious. I mean these people, all of them, were moving through their day at about half our speed. My friend was patient with me, she had seen this before with Americans, she knew it would take several days for this unmindful velocity to drain out my feet.
Later, back home in California, I approached my Capoeira mestre with my current worries. I had studied this Brazilian martial art for many years and was, at the time, feeling low and dejected. Mestre, a decade older than me, is kind but resolute, a fighter raised in the raw back alleys of Bahia, tempered by the healing music and rhythm of Capoeira. A master musician, his heart is as big as his country. "I'm old and slow," I moaned, "these young people are leaping over my head like fleas! I don't know if I can continue my study." Mestre chuckled and put his bear arm around my shoulders. "Let's take a walk," he said. He said there was a secret and that it was simple. "Young people are strong and quick, so us old ones must be sneaky and tricky." His face was one big contagious grin as he said this.
Given all this background, Grateful Body has advice for natural and unnatural aging. . . .
For the former: use our products. For the second one, for unnatural aging, here is our counsel:
• If you have dry skin: You must sing. You can start in the bathroom but eventually must graduate to other rooms of the house. Dancing in the rain is a plus, so is writing poetry with your eyes closed. Every now and then, make a mess, then go outside and giggle. Get juicy with life.
• If you have oily skin: Pretend that birds are calling specifically to you. Answer them. Reach your arms to the sky and spin around 3 times before doing the dishes. If there are dust bunnies under your bed, count them carefully, then make yourself some tea. Make wishes. Keep flowers in your bedroom.
• If you have sensitive skin: Skipping is excellent, so is telling a good joke. Throw things indiscriminately out the window - you can retrieve them later. In the morning, alone in your bedroom, close the door and dance in your underwear, OMG, Ginger Rodgers!! Wave merrily to the neighbor you've been avoiding. And, every other Tuesday, wear mismatched clothes.
• For all skin types: When the wind blows, joyfully realize that it is trying to play with you! Give your neighborhood trees names (you can use your favorite Beatles songs as a guide). Have a room where spiders are allowed. Take baths with candles. Bake stuff for friends. Keep a certain type of smile on your face so that people think that you're up to something. And finally, look in the mirror, take a pinch full of your cheek, and say, "Thank you, old friend!"
By all means use some time to be alone,
Salute thyself - see what thy soul doth wear.
Dare to look in thy chest - for 'tis thy own,
And tumble up and down what thou findest there.
George Herbert, 1628
We're making skincare good for you, full of perfect herbal blends,
Our letters present a different view, so forward to all your friends.
Drop by and visit our website - YES |
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Written by Shannon Schroter of Grateful Body
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All Grateful Body Cleansers on sale at 20% off. Use code: CLEANFACE Shop Now
 Three Little Skin Care Stories
Our bank scheduled a rep to come and talk to us about maybe setting up a new account. Right on the dot, the young man breezed in. "What do you do here?" he asked, looking around at the many racks of drying herbs and long shelves of tinctures and extracts. I looked at him carefully before I answered - early twenties, fresh out of college, his suit looked new and he had peach fuzz on his chin. He didn't look like a corporate guy, he looked more like he belonged on the high school debate team. "We make skin care," I answered. "Cool!" he exclaimed, but then his manner unexpectedly grew serious. He looked at me gravely. "I need some skin care," he whispered, "some anti-aging products." He was pointing to his face as if there was something horribly wrong. It was my turn to suddenly grow serious. I turned to hide my reaction, went to the window and stared out for a very long time. When I make papaya extract, it's a fun but messy operation. Mostly, it involves getting a dozen or so whole papayas mashed down into our Texas-sized blender. I choose them on a spectrum of ripeness. Some are a little hard and green, some are very ripe and squishy and the others range between - this gets a good assortment of all the gooey goodness that madam papaya offers. I grind the whole fruit, seeds and skin included, and end up with a thick, yellowy puree with tiny black speckles of seeds all mixed in. I usually had to do this on the sly 'cause everyone here wanted some - eating it like ice cream, spreading in on toast. Sarah would stir it into her tea (funny, people didn't come running when I was boiling down and mashing the seaweed!) One day this guy from a popular ingredient supplier calls me, says he's got organic papaya extract, says he's going to send me a sample. When it arrives, I open the package and I'm a little perplexed. It's a dry and dusty gray powder that smells like superglue. The accompanying paperwork was a warning to keep away from children and pets, don't get in eyes, keep from contact with skin. I wondered what to do with it. I finally settled with flushing it down the toilet. But later, thinking about the fishes and plankton, I didn't feel so good about that.
A lady called on the phone, "I need to return all the products I ordered." "OK," I said, was there a problem?" "Yes," she said, "I can tell they're not very effective." Hmmm, I wondered, checking the order date - she only had the products for a day or two. I was a little puzzled. "I just don't see any changes," she said. "What changes were you looking for?" I inquired. "Well, it's skin care . . . it's supposed to be tightening, lifting - you know, fixing my skin!" she exclaimed, more than a little peeved at having to deal with an ignoramus. I was quite familiar with this expectation of sudden results and explained, "Real skin care is food, so the improvements may take a little while to become obvious - same as when a person starts eating a healthier diet." But then I opened my mouth a little wider to make it easier to get my foot in and said, "for instance when you eat your steamed chard, you don't expect to feel immediate changes." "I don't use chard as skin care," she snapped in an impatient tone. "We do!" I said brightly. "In fact, there might be some chard in the product you ordered." "You're kidding," she cried, now genuinely horrified. Later, before she hung up, she said in a very stern voice, "This isn't the dark ages, you know!"
At Grateful Body, we're proud to offer several effective, luxurious facial cleansers. Our recipes use an intelligent balance of ingredients that simultaneously cleanse and nourish - it's lovely when your skin feels clean yet soft, moist, and vitalized after washing. We think everyone should look forward to washing their faces the way we do! Time to clean up!
All Grateful Body Cleansers on sale at 20% off. Use code: CLEANFACE Shop Now |
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Choosing the Right Shampoo |
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Written by Maya Jedlicka of The Cherry Mango
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 We all spend good amounts of money investing in a variety of hair care products to get that highly-sought-after soft, glossy, thick hair. These products may seem harmless, but very often they can greatly damage your hair rather than care for it. Many times advertisers misguide consumers and the consumer takes little notice of the ingredients while purchasing the product. You must be sure to always check the labels on hair care products before you make a purchase. You very likely will find harmful ingredients present in them which are damaging to your hair. Alternatively, if you choose natural shampoo and conditioners, you will get back on track to having healthy hair and scalp.
 Example of NUMEROUS harmful ingredients in one shampoo. This particular brand also contains possibly carcinogenic ingredients like DEA and environmentally problematic phosphates. To make it simple, look for natural shampoo ingredients! Your shampoo should be made of high-quality natural ingredients and be free from artificial colors, fragrances, detergents, and sulfates. Don’t be fooled just because it carries a fancy salon name! Many shampoos claim to be natural but in fact contain artificial colors and detergents that leave harmful residue on your hair and plugs up your scalp. This can cause hair loss, drying, braking, and just all-round bad hair and irritated scalp. Check the ingredient list carefully because shampoos containing “no-no” ingredients can seriously harm your hair, not help it. One of the chief ingredients to look out for is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — this synthetic substance is used in shampoos as a cleansing agent or detergent. This is a harsh substance and has many side effects and it could possibly be carcinogenic. When used in shampoos, apart from drying and damaging the hair, it causes eye irritations, hair loss, skin rashes and other allergic reactions. Several times you will find it in a disguised form with the explanation “comes from coconut” and it also goes by 38 other different names, including DEA, TEA, MEA and cocomide. Natural shampoos and conditioners will never contain ANY of these ingredients. The pH balance is another important factor in shampoos. Since the pH balance is slightly acidic, if the balance is off by too much it can dry your hair further. It is also recommended to rotate between three shampoos, though it can be within a single brand, as over time your hair and scalp become “immune” to a formula and upset its pH balance, so switching it up keeps your hair at its best. How do you know what ingredients are good? If you can easily read the label, that is a good sign. Here is an ingredient list from one of the high-quality shampoos we carry:  Raw, Vegan, Wild Crafted Natural Ingredients: Micro Clustered Ionized Water. (Montmorrillonite) Pure Southwestern White Clays Micronized Grey, Red & Brown Kaolin Clays (Quillaya Saponaria Extract) Natural Soapbark from Chile, (Thea Sinensis Saponin) Green Tea (Opuntia Erinacea) Wild CraftedCactus (Jatropha Dioica) Blood of the Dragon Rare Protein. Aloe Barbadensis) Aloe Vera (Algae Leaf Extract) Red, Brown & White Algae (Acetic Acid) Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and 92 Trace Minerals —Natural Preservative. Essential Oils of (Pogostemon Cablin) Patchouli, (Cymbopogon Martenii) Palmarosa, (Cananga Odorata) Ylang Ylang.
(This synergistic blend of enlivened, charged botanicals and hand-picked herbs are mixed, blended, and bottled according to the moon cycles used by ancient farmers.) Compare this list of pure natural ingredients with your shampoo bottle and see the difference. Try one of these quality shampoos and you will feel AND see the difference in your hair. Since most people have never used a real quality natural shampoo, it’s likely they don’t even know how beautiful their hair could be. Visit The Cherry Mango at http://www.TheCherryMango.com 
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5 Aromatherapy Tips to Quickly Erase Back to School Stress |
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Written by Donya Fahmy of Dropwise Essentials
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 In spite of its long, hot, and lazy days, the last weeks of August can often usher in a surprising amount of stress as Back to School fever starts to gain momentum in many households across the nation. Whether you’re a parent with small children or teenagers, or an adult engaged in some form of higher learning or vocational training yourself, you are all prone to the effects of the abrupt changes this transition brings to the now familiar rhythms and routines of summer.
Many parents –especially stay-at-home moms and dads– often look forward to their kids’ return to school as it frees them from the additional demands for attention and entertainment brought on by idle vacation time. But even they are not immune to the fallout that comes from shifting sleep and work schedules, the stress of arranging transportation and new after-school activities, and addressing general anxieties often associated with going back to school. So what can you do right now to help you and your kids make the back to school transition as seamless as possible? Here are a couple of pointers and tips on how to make the best of the situation while incorporating the powerful stress relief and mood enhancing benefits of aromatherapy along the way. Recognize that no matter what you do, it’s a time of transition and there will be a period where things are a little bumpy and tempers may flare. Accept this simple fact and be prepared to diffuse tension, anxiety, or crankiness whenever it rears its ugly head.
Aromatherapy tip for tension and crankiness: invest in an electric oil diffuser or two –preferably a nebulizing or fan-based model– and use it regularly in family rooms like the living room, den and/or kitchen. Diffuse citrus essential oils like orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, lemongrass and tangerine or a blend to create a cheerful, mood-uplifting environment to help combat crankiness. Alternately, try a blend of lavender, clary sage, chamomile and rose geranium or palmarosa with a touch of cedarwood to melt away tension and anxiety. Plan ahead as much as possible. During the summer months it’s easy to fall out of the rigid routines that define life during the school year so get back on a regular schedule a few weeks before school starts. Create nightly rituals starting immediately after dinner that promote relaxation and getting ready for bed. After dinner activities should be free of electronics and the mental stimulation they induce. Engage instead in some restorative yoga poses, deep breathing, and reading for pleasure.
Aromatherapy tip for a good night’s sleep: Draw a “sleepy time” bath using about 8-10 drops of lavender, chamomile, marjoram and/or clary sage essential oils with a touch of orange or lemon, in a ½ to ¾ cup of Epsom salts. This blend will help you or your kids wind down and set yourselves up for a night of restful sleep. Alternately, add a few drops to a teaspoon of carrier oil (like olive, safflower, coconut or jojoba) and gently massage it into their backs.
Carve out a space that will be an oasis of calm, quiet, and undistracted focus where either you or your kids can study. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just clean, uncluttered, efficient and comfortable.
Aromatherapy tip for improved focus and concentration when studying: For smaller spaces, try a Scent Ball electric plug-in diffuser. These are lightweight and plug into any outlet where gentle warming releases the scent of the essential oils you drop onto the cotton pad that slides into it. For better focus and mental clarity try essential oils of rosemary, eucalyptus and lemon perhaps with a hint of cinnamon leaf or cinnamon bark. Use sparingly and avoid using them too close to bedtime as they may over-stimulate.
Work through your own anxiety. Kids have an uncanny way of tuning into their parents’ emotions –especially anxiety. The more relaxed you are and the more you can model a laid-back and relaxed approach to the whole experience for them, the more relaxed they will be.
Aromatherapy tip for relaxation: One great way to help diffuse tensions and to remain relaxed is to invest in a diffuser for the car. The Car Scenter electric aromatherapy diffuser is a lightweight diffuser that plugs into your car lighter chamber where it draws heat to release the scent of whatever essential oils you place on the cotton pad that slides into it. Use it with citrus essential oils or try a combination of mint and vanilla, or cinnamon and orange essential oils, whenever you are in the car together –whether shopping for school supplies, or riding to and from school. Vanilla helps improve confidence and dissolve pent up anger and frustration. Don’t use sedating oils like chamomile or clary sage while driving!
Arm yourself and your kids with tools to help deal with stressful situations and anxiety that might come up during the course of the day while at school.
Aromatherapy tip for maintaining composure: Pack aromatic favors like lavender sachets, a small bottle of calming aromatherapy spray, citrus-scented lip balms, essential oil-based towelettes, or a small bottle of aromatic lotion in their school bag or jacket pocket. Pack extras they can keep in their school locker. The idea is to provide something small and usable they (or you) can quickly and easily reach for to feel better fast if fear, anxiety, or sadness come up.
Copyright 2010 Dropwise Essentials Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed. |
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Grateful Body Skin Care - Shannon Talks about Wrinkles |
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Written by Shannon Schroter of Grateful Body
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When he wasn't around, I called my first Chinese Medicine teacher 'little old bastard'. Looking back, I'm thinking that maybe this was a bit cheeky, but I was young and knew everything and besides, he was just ornery enough that most likely he would secretly have enjoyed the nickname. This guy was an old-world, transplanted Chinese doctor and he was little, not even 5 feet in his sandals, and also exceedingly old, I would guess he was pushing 100 - but who knows with these taoist dudes - maybe he was 2 or 3 hundred years old. When I first met him I went to shake his hand, but he stood there and looked at my outstretched arm like it was E.T. He behaved like this most of the time, and it always scrambled my wet-behind-the-ears head. Lee was contrary and bossy and he looked old as dust, but I also had the sense he could kick my ass from here to Tuesday if he wanted. As for the bastard part, it seemed to me during my time with him that his life mission was to prove I was an incurable idiot. I remember daydreaming about saying really clever things to him or getting in the last word or actually being right about something; but that wasn't going to happen, and he had no qualms about reminding me of this. Even though we spent almost 2 years together, I'm not sure he ever knew my name - or at least he pretended not to. He did have a special Chinese name for me when it came to my needling technique; I later learned that it roughly translated to 'thumbless neanderthal' or 'barbarian hordes' or something like that. But he did make me follow him everywhere, and I suppose that was a good sign. Often we would sit on a bench down by the waterfront in Seattle while he ate his lunch and chain smoked. Busy people, immersed in their concerns, glided by us just like the ferries and tugs as they glided through the fog and drizzle that floated out on the bay. Here were people of all class, order and genus; a cosmopolitan soup of humanity, and Lee would be intensely studying them as they walked by. Frequently, he would lean forward, point his chopsticks at them and say things like 'super bad digestion' or 'kidney fire first-rate' or 'many liver worries'. This was old-school diagnosis, and he excelled at it. I'd watch him as he would he would study people's faces, checking out the color and carefully scrutinizing all the lines of their face. These lines could be barely perceivable or heavily carved - it didn't matter, he could decode their story . . . tales of organs and meridians, signs of vitality and deficiency. In his understanding, these lines, folds, creases on our face were neither good nor bad, it wasn't better to have or not have them, they just revealed patterns of flow and habit. He would say, "Lines everywhere, on hands, on feet, in ears, on face, all reveal life story." Of course, another name for these lines is wrinkles. For whatever reason, I didn't want to pay much attention to the notion of wrinkles. But being a child of the advertising age, I certainly knew they were considered a bad thing; and I do suppose that we all have been influenced by centuries of desperate efforts - by Cleopatra, by Nefertiti, Galen the Roman, Lillie Langtry, Cindy Crawford and a billion other hapless mortals - to thwart these distressing signs slowly being branded into our faces. Yet I was picking up mixed signals. On one hand, here is Lee describing great rivers of chi and energy indicated by the remarkable, branching lines on our face . . . but then, on the other hand, everywhere I turn, I'm surrounded by a world of anti-wrinkle nostrums, all screaming a much different interpretation. The paradox is profound, the pressure intense. These lines on our face . . . are they merit badges of our journey, sculpted runes of experience, a hieroglyphic narrative of our brief and shining moment under the sun? Or are they just stupid, embarrassing wrinkles, a wretched insult to our self-image, a pitiless defilement destined to humiliate us? Certainly our values and what we hold to be important will shape our response to this fierce cultural pressure about aging and wrinkles, but I do think that if we don't take time to consider these issues carefully, then our attention will be simply grabbed by the highest bidder. The situation reminds me of a passage from Frost, ". . . two roads diverged in a wood, and I - took the one less traveled by - and that has made all the difference." But who knows? Perhaps Lee, sipping tea with his ancestors by now, is studying my face as I write this, grumpily declaring, "too much wind blow through head." Visit Grateful Body at http://www.GratefulBody.com 
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Written by Shannon Schroter of Grateful Body
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I think of Thomas from time to time . . my image of him is walking on the trail in front of me, his battered bean bucket hanging down from the back of his pack, swinging back and forth in cadence to his stride. Thomas went and died when a freak mudslide swept him off a mountain.  Sometimes, I wonder if he planned it that way - wandering around alone in the wild and then . . . boom, in the warm and dark embrace. He was a solitary man, and it was just a bit of luck that I was able to hang out with him for the short time I did. He was my friend and mentor - another from my father's generation - and I tagged along with him as he explored the remote mountains way up in the northern end of British Columbia.
A little previously, I had been spending time alone in the Appalachians - it was winter and I was learning how to sleep with my boots in my sleeping bag so they wouldn't freeze. But my solitude was for no better reason than to recover from a relationship gone sour. Somehow it seemed appropriate to be surrounded by ice and a biting, clarifying wind.  But it also seemed appropriate that I was learning, in the midst of this apparent desolateness, that I could be warm and safe. One frigid night, on the top of Mt LeConte in Tennessee, thanks to a cool poster I had seen in town (or hypothermia?), I suddenly decided to go to Santa Cruz. A long story short, within a month I had met Thomas and was packing my backpack for the long trek north with him - along with a half dozen other nature junkies interested in his naturalist teachings.
Always careful about pack weight, I cut my toothbrush in half and calculated the lightest trail mix. Thomas watched my obsessive busyness from the corner of his eye while he piled - old school style - a stack of books, a sack of beans and a couple bottles of whiskey into his pack. Every day, we hiked with the rhythm of the sun and somehow I ended up carrying his books.  I'm not sure how this came about - he was part naturalist, part trickster - but I'm glad for it, for it was a tactful introduction to Muir and Emerson and those who were looking deep into the hidden heart of nature, those who seemed to share my long-standing bewilderment and disorientation with things as they seemed. At dark, with an exhilarating tiredness and a slow fire that competed with the canopy of stars for my gaze, Thomas would casually mention some topic he had been pondering on his day's walk and informally jump-start that evening's class. I benefited so much from this time shared with like minds, I still remember the effect those nightly readings from 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' had on me. Our discussions would bubble along for hours, but it was always the silences between that carried the most substance. When I asked Thomas about this, slightly vexed, he asked me back, 'how can you understand words, if you can't understand silence?'
It was in this contemplative, questioning frame of mind, that I walked into the virgin Cedar Grove.
For a couple of weeks, we had threaded so deep into the woods that either you watched carefully for the trail or you lost it. Now that I had entered this Cedar Grove, the path was unmistakable, and it was as if I had crossed some mythical threshold. This was the deep forest of fairy tales, a dark and powerful presence, where an ancient canopy of braided branches shaded huge swells of gnarled roots that cradled lichens and mushrooms the size of my head; and everywhere, the air was heavy and moist with the dense smell of cedar. Here and there frisbee-sized shafts of sunlight would penetrate the shadows and light up the thick, velvety carpet of green moss like a spotlight . . . infusing these luminous beams was an abundance of swirling pollen and flying sparkly things. The atmosphere was thick with an otherworldly fusion of magic and menace; I was in the place of faerie and wolves; I thought Oz's monkeys would live here. A virgin Cedar Grove . . . never seen the saw, probably filled with druid bones and little whispering voices that would get you lost for a century or two. I had entered a primordial cathedral that demanded some form of reverence but at the same time the hairs on my arms were at full alert. One whispered here.
A few years later the Grove was leveled - cut down to the ground. Death is no stranger to me, but this hit me hard - I felt some deep part of me torn out by the sinews. I actually believe that everyone of us died a little that day. Like my bond to Thomas, I think of this grove from time to time . . . and I have a question. Undeniably, I had had a transforming experience, one that planted a seed of respect and kinship within me, but close to this was a shadow of remembered fear. I had felt it in the depths of this mysterious forest. It wasn't my individual fear, my personal phobias; it was deeper than that. This was deep-rooted, an ancient-dread-in-the-very-flesh-of-humanity fear. How did I get this fear? Where did it come from? Was it passed at the cellular level from my ancestors - so sorely troubled with matters of safety and survival? Does it keep us from remembering our connection with the many different beings in this life? Did this old, fear blanket the heart of the chain-saw crew so that they wouldn't fall to their knees weeping?
But these issues are too big for me, too disappointing, for my understanding is so inadequate. I do what I can, in little ways, and make efforts to wrench this blanket from my own bruised and sleeping heart. So I have become friends with Cedar. I have burned her during sweats and I used to put little bags of Cedar chips in my children's crib.  I brush a Cedar concoction into my cat's fur and make an Cedar oil for a medicine-man friend of mine. I once made a flute from a straight Cedar branch. And of course, I use her in a few Grateful Body products. We use both the oil and hydrosol of Cedar - which can be found in Midnight Oil and in the ClearSkin Toner. I'm partial to the oil from the Lebanon Cedars (Cedrus atlantica) - this is sustainably harvested from the very old cedar groves of Morocco. Sometimes, we use oil from the Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodora) which has a wonderful amber color and deep resonant scent. An oil from the Alaskan Cedar (Thuja plicata) is available but since I don't how they harvest it, we don't use it.
There is another thing I learned on my walks with Thomas. In a rather shocking moment, I found out that the top of my head is about level with the shoulder of a moose! Let's keep in touch!
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| One of my first mentors gave me some good advice almost thirty years ago. He was what one might call a 'barefoot healer' and he had some very unique qualities. When we started spending time together, I noticed he always wore this exquisitely beautiful and mysterious pendant around his neck.  I felt that it must carry some very deep meaning for him. One day, I expressed admiration for it and without a moment's hesitation, he took it off and slipped it modestly over my head. 'It's yours now' he said quietly and walked away as if nothing had happened. So you had to be careful not to admire anything he had, for he would simply give it to you - right then and there. It was a powerful lesson, to see that people can be incredibly giving and unattached.
We spent a lot of time in the wild - Mt. Shasta, Big Sur, exploring Maui's volcanoes, the San Juan Islands and Cascades, wandering through forest, dunes and upcountry - he had a puzzling knack for knowing where the hidden places of power were.  'Dale and glade' he would say, and as we walked he would grab my arm, ssshhh me and vigorously whisper, 'listen!' Sure enough, something there, some plant, some magic had passed under my radar, but not his. So, with his patience and understanding for my apparently endless ignorance, I started on my path of listening.
Well, back to his good advice, which, by the way, I still hold dear to my heart. I had observed that he knew plants and was familiar with much of their medicinal and healing qualities. Yet, he wasn't interested in any sort of classifying mentality,  he didn't exhibit what one might call a 'trained scientist' attitude towards plants. His attitude was more in the direction of 'hey, meet some of my good friends!' This touched my heart - for I had never bought into the 'dominion over all things' nonsense. When I asked how could I learn this relationship, this benevolent rapport with plants, here was his advice . . . 'Always have 10 good friends.' That was it.
So, from then on, I began to look for plants to befriend, always knowing that his advice gave me a simple way to start my study. I'll always remember my first one - watercress! For years, I would look for her wherever I went (actually, I still do!).  She was my secret lover and taught me the wily ways of the semi-aquatic, peppery-tasting, bio-indicator of clean water. Gratefully, over the decades, I've befriended a fair amount of incredible, awesome, mysterious plants and this has helped me in the delightful job of formulating Grateful Body products. But as in our human relationships, there always seems to be a handful of old friends who never fade passively into the past. St. John's, Clary Sage and Yarrow come to mind, but I do want to briefly mention my good and kind companion who always stays in my heart and mind - Helichrysum.
There's an interesting thing Helichrysum has in common with the enigmatic mentor I've been telling you about. He went by a few different names; now in his 90's, I heard recently that he has a new one - I don't know why. My mystical plant friend is no different. Call her Helichrysum, Everlasting or Immortelle, or even 'super-magic healing flower.' (personally, I call her Heli-Girl - I think she likes it!). Well, I could go on and on about her, but I know without a doubt that Helichrysum's very presence in our lives reveals a great loving passion for us poor, reckless bipeds. She is so healing, so giving, so dexterous, I mean this girl is all over the map. Anti-inflammatory yet heals emotional aches; regenerating skin cells while opening the heart; reducing pain while sending subtle hints about our connectedness; for her it's natural to be simultaneously healing the skin and the spirit. Talk about multi-talented!
With all sincerity, I say it in as many ways as I can . . . this is a gift. And trying not to sound like I'm preaching, I will also say this . . . nothing man-made from the laboratory could possibly match this.  Nature is intelligent and magnanimous and we are not separate from her. By the way, I try to slip Helichrysum into as many products as I can. But her biggest presence is in our moisturizers. Perhaps you already use them. If not, give one a try and meet my best friend! Let's keep in touch!
We're having a 20% off sale on our Moisturizers. Check it out when you get a chance! 
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Written by Donya Fahmy of Dropwise Essentials
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 These days you probably hear the catch phrases “eco-friendly travel,” “green travel,” and “eco-tourism” quite a bit as early adopters in the travel arena try to set the ground rules for how the rest of us will eventually “green” this aspect of our lives too.
While the term “eco-tourism” tends to conjure up images of what some refer to as “volunteer vacations” where you might be involved in a beach clean up project or wildlife preservation program, you really don’t have to sacrifice comfort or go for an adventure in the wild to do it. There are as many different ways to green your travel, as there are ways to travel. It’s all a matter of degree and commitment.
The truth is that while these terms actually mean different things they all follow the same guiding principle: be mindful of your impact on the natural habitats and cultural environments that you visit. In other words, leave no footprint behind, respect the local cultures and customs, and wherever possible, make a positive contribution to the local communities.
If you want to green your travel then always keep this core principle close to your heart. And practice the 3 Rs inherent in any greening activities: Reduce, Re-use and Recycle. So what does that exactly mean when it comes to travel? Here are 5 tips to help you get started.
1. Maintain Carbon Neutrality. While you can purchase carbon offsets for a nominal price to assuage your guilt, one the best ways to minimize your impact is to take fewer plane, train, and car rides to get to your destination (i.e. fly non-stop as much as possible and map out the most efficient routes for road travel).
For shorter trips take the train instead of a plane. This works out well if you’re traveling in Europe where the train system is extensive, fast, and reasonably priced. If you must rent a car, try to rent a hybrid, electric car, or most fuel-efficient model available.
2. Use Public Transportation. Once you arrive at your destination, make a point of using the local or regional public transportation systems to get around as much as you can. Better yet ride a bicycle or walk. This also helps maintain carbon neutrality.
3. Reduce Energy Consumption. At home and on the go, there are numerous ways to lower your energy consumption. For example, at the hotel where you stay turn off lights, air conditioning, and appliances whenever you are out or not using them. Tell them that you would like re-use towels and sheets. Most larger hotels now enable you to let them know when you want or need the linens changed. At home unplug all unused appliances and keep critical systems like lights and sprinklers on timers for a minimal amount of time each day.
4. Think Global, Eat Local. While many of us are tempted to bring snacks and food from home along on our travels, try to get in the habit of leaving that stuff behind and enjoying local foods of the areas you are visiting. Become a traveling locavore –eat only foods that have been grown or produced within 100 miles of wherever you are on your travels. Choose regional foods, preferably organic and grown on a family farm or produced by a local business. This may take a little extra research up front to ensure you can find enough of a selection to suit your dietary needs and preferences. If you’re traveling to more exotic locales you might want to watch a few episodes of Anthony Bourdain’s TV show “No Reservations” for some ideas of where to go and what to try. Check your local listings for the Travel Channel.
5. Pack Light. There are many good reasons for packing just one bag chief among them is your increased mobility and flexibility on the ground, greater ability to walk or take public transportation, and lightening the overall load on a plane. Not only will this save jet fuel it will save you money in baggage check fees, excess weight fees and countless tips for all the porters and door people who handle your bags for you at every step of your journey.
Even travel connoisseur Rick Steves recommends you limit yourself to one carry-on bag no more than 20 lbs, and optimally one that fits under your plane seat as competition for those overhead bins just keeps getting stiffer all the time. His considerations are more practically motivated but ultimately have the same desired end-result.
Stay tuned for my follow up blog post on why this one thing alone can make a huge difference in helping you green your travel and some helpful tips on how to do it.
In the meantime, you can consult the Independent Traveler web site Green Travel Resources for ways to offset your carbon emissions and some choices for eco-friendly lodging.
Copyright 2010 Dropwise Essentials Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed. |
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