st. john's salve

I spent the other night making a st. John's wort salve - simply melting beeswax into oil infused with st. johns wort, calendula, comfrey and echinacea. It has a beautiful, rich, red tone and would be great for burns, nerve damage and all-purpose skin healing. 

I'm feeling inspired to put together a line of pure, plant-infused body products. I can't wait until I have a bit of land to grow all of the herbs myself...

healthy glow?

I've previously mentioned that I am following the Spent program for modern exhaustion. It's 6 weeks long and I am finished this weekend! One of my tasks this week was to check all of my body care/ cosmetics for unsafe ingredients. I typed all of my products into Cosmetics Database and was appalled at what I was rubbing on my body and am now faced with the sad task of throwing out some of my favorite beauty products. The good thing about this website is you can type in a product (ie. mascara) and it rates pretty much all of the products on the market from 1 to 10 so you can find safer alternatives.

Warning! Don't try this unless you are prepared to do some major house-cleaning!

(photo via j. crew )

smoothie secret

 After coming out of an intensive architecture program, moving constantly and entering a high-stress work environment, I had recently hit an energy low. I started the Spent program, which is all about bring you back in balance with a natural rhythm through daily beats over 6 weeks, about a month ago and am really noticing a difference in my energy levels, mood and , believe it or not, my face. A few of the eliminations have been tough, but one thing I really enjoy are the morning smoothies. I think the key ingredient that gives these smoothies such a gorgeous texture is... avocado. 

I've played around a bit with the Spent recipes and my favorite adaptation is the:

StrawMan Vigor Smoothie

1/2 cup frozen strawberries

1/4 cup frozen mangoes

1/3 avocado

1/4 cup coconut milk

3/4 cup water

1 scoop whey

2 tsp greens powder

1/2 tsp ground flax

Combine in a blender and blend 'til smooth. This is the perfect breakfast- quick, portable and packed with protein, good fats, fibre and phytonutrients. And delicious!

{photo via sunset }

Science of attraction

I've always been fascinated by what makes people attracted to one another. Maybe because I've always had friends who are great guys, attractive and would make awesome boyfriends but the thought off kissing them leaves me completely cold. A lot of girls seem to have a best guy friend who is completely into them, whose attention they adore, but who they are just not into romantically.

This study could explain why. I've seen several articles discussing it this week and was fascinated when I read about the basic premise years ago in Psychology Today : Woman are attracted to men with different immune systems than them for better gene selection. Pregnant women are attracted to men with similar immune systems, protective, brotherly types. The Pill stops ovulation and simulates pregnancy in woman, therefore women on the pill are attracted to different men than they ordinarily would be. 

 

This study suggests:

- Women on the pill are attracted to more feminine men with similar immune systems and weaker genes.

- When women go off the pill, women are often less attracted to their partners.

- Men are more attracted to ovulating females, therefore women on the pill may be less attractive to men.

When I read about this in Psychology Today, the author suggested  women who were engaged and on the pill, take a break from it before getting married to test the attraction response. I find this all fascinating. Make up your own mind- read the study or these articles by Dan Savage and the Globe and Mail .

Vata season

{Photo: Flickr}

The Ayurvedic system of health makes a lot of sense to me (may because when I read the description for Vata it was bang-on me). To explain it simply, there are 3 main energies- Kapha, Pitta and Vata, and everything- people, seasons, food- has a dominant energy. You can determine your constitutional type here. As we transition from summer to fall we are going from Pitta (hot and moist) to Vata (cool and windy). This can be a difficult time for some people leading to restlessness, fatigue and insomnia, and it sets the stage for your winter health (viruses, arthritis, SAD). Here are a few tips to keep your balance moving into Fall:

• Switch from summer meals like cold salads to warm, freshly-cooked, oily foods like soups, curries and stewed fruits.
• Alternate periods of rest with activity. We are the only species that doesn't slow down from summer into fall.
• Establish routine in your life- regular mealtimes, bedtimes and work activity/breaks.
• Take time for reflection
• Exercise moderately, without overexertion.
• Oil your skin. This is very important for balancing Vata. A full-body warm oil massage, with a partner or self, before a shower is relaxing and grounding.

{photo: thriftydish}

So I really need to follow my own advice. I hope these tips lead you into a happy and healthy fall!