Finally, a New Post!

Sorry about not getting any new posts up for awhile, I was without internet for 10 days so I had no way to research anything. Not to mention that I started playing a new video game (Final Fantasy XIII, for anyone who cares =D) so I didn't have much ambition to make anything new. I finally got some ambition today for 2 new things: a nice exfoliating scrub for my ridiculously dry skin and some toothpaste for my 2 year old.

First off, I made my scrub with honey, granulated white sugar and jojoba oil. I'm sure you could use whatever oil makes you happy, I plan on trying the next batch with my organic extra virgin coconut oil (I have become an organic extra virgin coconut oil nut since my last post, more on that later) and I've seen recipes that use extra virgin olive oil as well. This seriously made my skin feel super soft and got all of the dry flakes off!

Honey, Sugar and Jojoba Oil Scrub

5  Tbsp honey
2.5 Cups sugar
2 Tbsp jojoba oil (or other oil of your choice)

Now for the toothpaste... I noticed today that my daughter is getting a dark spot between her 2 front teeth. As someone who never had cavities as a kid, it really made me worry so of course I went to my source of all things natural, Earth Clinic, and found that xylitol and organic extra virgin coconut oil seem to be able to not only stop tooth decay in its tracks but also regrow tooth enamel that has decayed. I researched both claims further and found everyone to be in agreement so I figure it can't hurt to try. I made her toothpaste using organic extra virgin coconut oil, xylitol and orange flavor oil to make it appealing to a toddler. I'm hoping that all the claims will be substantiated and will report back with an update (if she'll use it, that is...).

This really couldn't have come at a better time because I decided to read the ingredients on the tube of toddler toothpaste we were using and noticed saccharine is used as the sweetener! It makes me sick that they aren't putting fluoride in the toothpaste in case it's swallowed but saccharine (which is a cancer causing agent) is okay for our toddlers to ingest.

There are recipes all over the internet for the same basic thing as I have here but this is how I mixed it up. Also, there's definitely not an exact science to this, you will have to test it as you go to see if you like the taste and texture.

*** Edited 2/27/11: My daughter's dark spot between her 2 front teeth has begun to clear up after just 2 brushes with this toothpaste! For some reason though she doesn't like the taste so it's a bit of a fight to brush her teeth with it. Hopefully she will like it better as she uses it more.

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and Xylitol Toothpaste (w/orange flavoring)

1 Tbsp Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
2 Tbsp Xylitol to start (add more in increments of 1 Tbsp to desired taste/texture)
1/8 Tsp flavor oil of choice to start (add more in increments of 1/8 tsp to taste)*

*Essential oils that have been approved for consumption can also be substituted here but be sure to add those in drops as essential oils are much more concentrated than flavor oils

As I mentioned in the beginning of the post, I have become obsessed with organic extra virgin coconut oil. I won't get into much detail right now, I'll save that for my next post, but I will say that it is totally changing my life and I couldn't be happier. There are just so many benefits!

 I'd like to mention again that if anyone would like me to research some natural cures for an ailment or a specific natural product, feel free to leave it as a comment!

You Don't Use Shampoo?

That's right, I don't. I have only used shampoo 2 times since September, both with disastrous results. Instead of using shampoo that is full of detergent and various chemicals I just use baking soda and water to clean my hair, then pour some apple cider vinegar over it . My hair was always pretty life-less, no matter how hard I tried it only seemed to hold a style for a max of 2 hours. Now it has tons of body and now when I curl it, it keeps for a good while.

The Recipe
I just use 1 teaspoon of baking soda in 1 cup of water. I pour it onto my roots and massage it in for a few minutes, then rinse it out. Then I pour some apple cider vinegar over my hair to keep it soft. Some people leave it in but I rinse mine out so that it doesn't have the vinegar smell when I get out of the shower. There are also some good recipes at Crunchy Betty to play around with, my favorite is the Rosemary and Lavender Hair Softening Rinse.

Be Patient
If you do decide that the no 'poo thing is for you, be patient. The first wash will make you excited and make you think you've found the answer to everything. This is true but by the second or maybe third wash your hair will start to get extra oily. This is because your hair is trying to regulate its oil production. When you use shampoo, the detergent in it seriously dries your scalp which makes it produce extra oil. Once your hair and scalp has detoxed from the shampoo, the oil production will go way down and even out. The result? The gorgeous, bouncy hair you saw the first time you used the baking soda and apple cider vinegar. The oily stage is different for everyone, mine lasted for 3 weeks or so. 

The Benefits

The first and most awesome benefit for me was getting the chemicals out of my hair. Shampoo has some of the most harmful chemicals of all the so-called beauty products we use, second only to deodorant. I would like to caution you not to get the cheapest brand you can find because some baking soda can contain aluminum, which has been linked to Alzheimer's. Arm & Hammer is a good brand and can be picked up at any super market, along with any brands you may find at your local natural food stores. Any brand of apple cider vinegar will do but I have personally had better luck with organic apple cider with "the mother" in it.

Another benefit is of course, awesome hair. Having had super thin, flat hair all of my life that never wanted to do anything but lay flat and straight, I was amazed at how bouncy and beautiful my hair has become since starting this. I've also found that I only need to use this process every 4 days, I just rinse with water in the shower on the other days.

Using these inexpensive products also helps save money. I have found it to be much cheaper than shampoo and conditioner!

5 Amazing Uses for ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) That You Probably Never Knew About

Hello and welcome to Amethyst Daydream.  As any working adult these days knows, running a smooth household starts with the ability to save money.  Because of this, I've decided to kick off my blog by writing a post about ACV.  It's extremely inexpensive and probably sitting in your pantry right now.  I'm going to show you 5 uses for ACV that you probably never heard of which will get you the most bang for your buck and help you save money other places.

 To begin with, the most effective ACV is organic with mother since it is unfiltered and "raw".  Diluted ACV that is purchased at the grocery store will produce the same results eventually, it just takes longer to notice the helpful effects. Also, if being taken internally the organic ACV is better for you. 

ACV can ease diarrhea and stomach cramps, calm acid reflux, reduce headaches and other aches and pains.  aid in weight loss, and tone your skin.

To ease diarrhea, acid reflux and headaches, you can mix 2 tablespoons of ACV into an 8 oz. glass of water.  Relief usually comes after the first dose and can be used safely up to 3 times a day if needed.  This remedy is also safe for children although I would recommend using honey (if the child is 2 years or older, infants can get bacteria from honey) or a bit of juice to sweeten it. 
 
If your goal is to lose a moderate amount of weight, you can mix 2 teaspoons of ACV  into a 16 oz. glass of water and sip this slowly throughout the day.  To get the most benefits out of this method, sip on this mixture before each meal.  It will help you feel more full and stop the scent of food alone from triggering you to eat when you're not hungry. It's also been reported that people feel less inclined to eat fatty and/or fried foods while on this diet.

To reap the full benefits ACV has for the skin, you can use it on your skin as a toner and take it internally in the same amounts as those wanting to lose weight.  As a word of caution, if you have sensitive skin it may be wise to mix equal parts of ACV and water for a toner as it may burn more sensitive skin types. Also, it is up to you whether or not you rinse it off but if you will be in direct sunlight it should always be rinsed off since acids can cause burning when combined with sunlight.

These 5 things barely even scratch the surface of all the amazing benefits ACV has to offer.  It's amazing that something that often sits neglected in our pantries can cure so many things in our lives.  Pharmaceutical companies don't want people to know that something inexpensive and good for them can help them stop taking the widely pushed western medical answers for things.  They would much rather you take Immodium or Pepto for diarrhea, any variety of little purple pill for acid reflux, have a cabinet full of aspirin, ibuprofen, etc. for headaches, drink Slim-fast or other MSG-filled diet products that actually keep you from losing weight and have a bathroom sink full of the latest anti-acne and anti-aging creams on the market than tell people that a bottle of organic, undiluted ACV can cure quite a bit of what ails them for only a fraction of the cost.

I've decided to live a healthier, more frugal life and invite all of you to take that journey with me.  I have a few more ideas for blogs about this but I will need ideas for topics in the future so if there is anything organic that you would like researched, please post it as a comment.


Sources: Earth Clinic