6 simple homemade hair masks to treat your tresses

In 2013, Americans spent $11.4 billion on haircare products. That’s a lot of money spent on chemical-laden mystery concoctions that are potentially doing more harm than good. The U.S. EPA lists a number of unsavory ingredients found in the things we use in our hair, ranging from lead and sodium hydroxide to dibutyl phthalates and formaldehyde – with a host of associated health effects that are disconcertingly dire.

While we’re not exactly saying that your store-bought shampoo and conditioner are going to kill you, we are saying that it really couldn’t hurt to use things that are simple, clean and pure. Like, food! We’ve already covered the shampooing part; so here we have a list of one-ingredient masks using things from the kitchen to tackle a host of hair complaints. Not only are the following treatments safer for you, but they won't foul the wastewater, don't produce excess packaging and are much cheaper, among other benefits. Plus, it's fun to mash food into your hair.

Egg for all hair types

Eggs are magical little packages of protein, vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants – they are great to eat and they are also great for slathering all over your head to make your hair look awesome. For normal hair, use both the yolk and whites. For oily hair use just the whites; and for dry hair, use just the yolks.

Apply about 1/2 cup of whatever part you would like to use (if using whole, beat them a bit first) to clean, damp hair. (For longer hair, you may need more.) Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse with tepid water, and shampoo. Some experts recommend whole egg and yolks-only masks be used just once a month and the whites-only treatment be used once every two weeks; others say more frequently is OK. Since everyone's hair is different, experiment and see what works best with yours.

Beer to enliven limp hair

Just like a glass of beer can embolden the shy, so can it add pep and courage to insipid hair. Beer's yeast and vitamins can bring out the body and shine in otherwise limp hair; bonus points for having a new use for leftover beer.

There are several approaches:
Pour one cup of flat beer through your hair after shampooing (and still in the shower) and allow it to soak in for three or four minutes before rinsing with tepid water.
You can also put flat beer in a spray bottle; spray it on dry hair and leave it in for 20 minutes before shampooing.
 The messiest approach may be the best, however. Mix 1/2 cup of flat beer with a raw egg and a teaspoon of olive oil and apply to clean damp hair; keep on for 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water and shampoo as usual.

8 ways to use honey to pamper your skin and hair

Legend has it that honey was Cleopatra’s preferred weapon in her beauty arsenal, and now science is catching up to what many women have known for years. Honey, especially raw or unpasteurized, is a fabulously versatile and all-natural ingredient to use on skin. It’s full of antioxidants, which are good for wrinkles and aging skin. It is antibacterial, which helps with acne treatments and prevention. It clarifies skin by opening up and unclogging pores. It’s also a great moisturizer that soothes irritation and blemishes, and it leaves a lovely afterglow. Try the following recipes for an effective, at-home spa treatment.
1. Moisturizing honey masks

Make sure your hair is pulled back from your face before starting one of these recipes. Your face will feel clean and soft afterwards.

1) Scoop a generous spoonful of honey into your hand and spread all over your face. Rub it into your skin and let sit for 5-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
2) Combine 1 tbsp buttermilk, 1 tsp honey, and 1 egg yolk. Apply to clean skin and let sit 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
2. Honey facial cleanser

Honey is good at dissolving makeup residue, especially when mixed with a gentle oil. Combine honey and jojoba OR coconut oil to create an easily spreadable texture. Rub it into your skin, avoiding eye area, to loosen makeup and unclog pores. Rinse with warm water.
3. Honey almond body scrub

This scrub is finger-licking good. The texture from the ground almonds exfoliates the skin, while both the almonds and honey moisturize. Combine 2 tsp. ground almonds and 2 tsp. honey to form a paste. Rub into your face with a circular motion. Rinse with warm water. You could easily increase the quantities to treat your whole body.

7 Secrets that Cured My Acne without Chemicals

While I do focus on grain-free, food related topics, I wanted to share these tips that have make a huge difference in my chronic acne. After all, Empowered Sustenance covers things that sustain and empower us. And I think these natural cures for acne does both!
All I ever wanted for Christmas was clear skin…

Acne and I: inseparable since 7th grade. It requires pages to explain the myriad of treatments, lotions, potions and prescriptions under my belt. Basically, I’ve tried every prescription besides Acutane and birth control pills (and I will never touch those). Everything from drugstore cleansers to $90 serums have graced my medicine cabinet. I’ve even invested in at-home peel chemical peels, a Clarisonic, and laser treatments.
Natural acne treatments that work!

I’ve discussed how starting the SCD/GAPS diet made changes in my skin. Unfortunately, my improved facial acne situation was still considered “severe.” I’ve been experimenting with this specific combination of natural acne treatments and I think I’ve discovered what is going to permanently treat my acne.

I went cold turkey on all my skin care products–albeit “natural” products–and have been using the following, homemade regimen for about a month. While my acne is not completely gone, I know with a bit more time this routine will cure my acne.
1. Oil Cleansing in the Evening

I was apprehensive about smothering my face with oil, since my face has always been veritable oil slick one hour after I wash it. So it took a big dose of courage to throw out my face wash and tried this method for oil cleansing. I love it! It removes all traces of makeup and leaves my skin soft.

Most importantly, my face’s oil production is normalizing. This is because–in conjunction with the facial oil I’ll talk about–it does not need to overcompensate with oil production like it did when I cleansed with soap.
2. Honey Cleansing in the Morning

In the mornings, I wash my face with honey.  With slightly dampened fingers, I massage about 1/2 teaspoon of raw honey over my dry face and then rinse. The antibacterial properties of honey work to inhibit breakouts. Additionally, it removes excess oil but leaves skin moisturized. You can read more details on my post The Honey Cleansing Method.

Menstrual cramp remedies: Stop the pain naturally!

Cramp remedies… are you ready for this? Hello, ladies. I’m back talking about our “Aunt Flow.” Yes, Again. Lately, I’ve received some comments and emails asking me for menstrual camp remedies and heavy bleeding. It’s kind of a huge discussion, so I hope I can contain the essence here. Hopefully there is something useful for at least someone.

Without further ado… menstrual cramp remedies in 3, 2, 1…
What are menstrual cramps? Why do they happen?

Menstrual cramps are caused by contractions in the uterus. During each menstrual period, if there is no sperm to fertilize the egg, the uterus contracts to expel its lining. This process is driven by the release of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins.

These uterine contractions cause much of the pain felt during menstrual cramps. The contractions inhibit blood flow to the lining of the uterus. If the uterus contracts too strongly, it can press against nearby blood vessels. This cuts off the supply of oxygen to the muscle tissue of the uterus. Pain results when part of a muscle briefly loses its supply of oxygen. (1, 2)
Conventional menstrual cramp remedies
Pain Medication

Do a quick search for “menstrual cramp remedies.” Go ahead, I’ll wait. I bet you found lots of articles telling you to take ibuprofen at the first sign of menstrual discomfort. I personally try to avoid ibuprofen and most over-the-counter pain relief medications. They should be a last resort to dealing with pain, and preferably not a monthly addition to your diet.

Why? Well, without going into too much detail, ibuprofen can cause bad side effects in your digestive system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system. Um… that’s a lot of systems! (And pretty essential ones at that.) Learn more here.
Hormonal Birth Control

Another common suggestion for menstrual cramp remedies and heavy bleeding is to take birth control pills. This makes sense on some level since the latest research suggests that cramps and other menstrual issues start with hormonal imbalances. However, birth control pills are synthetic hormones. They override the normal hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian hormonal axis to prevent ovulation. In other words: very unnatural.

Natural home remedies: Head lice

Head lice aren't fun—which is why it's so important to deal with them fast. Try these tips on banning lice from your home, plus some home remedies to try

Something is definitely moving in your hair, and the itching is driving you buggy. And that’s precisely the problem: Your tresses are now a cozy domicile for the common head louse, otherwise known as Pediculus humans capitis. Just 1.6 millimeters long, these wingless insects live close to the scalp, laying their eggs (nits) and feeding on your blood. When lice appear in school-age children, word usually gets around quickly, and parents are warned to be on the lookout. Lice spread via contact with contaminated hair, hairbrushes, combs, clothing, or bedding.
What to do about head lice

Once lice are in the hair, even a burr cut won’t help. You need to get rid of the louse eggs that are attached to the hair shafts about five millimeters from the scalp. Start by using a delousing shampoo. Choose one that contains permethrin, not lindane. Lindane is a chemical cousin of the pesticide DDT and has been linked to nervous system problems (including convulsions) and brain cancer. Once you’ve found a killer shampoo, the remaining challenge is to use it effectively and become very nitpick about preventing contamination. Otherwise, your whole household could get lousy.
Start with shampoo

• Use a delousing shampoo, and leave it in your hair for 10 minutes. That’s a long time to spend in the shower, so you may prefer to do your shampooing in the bathtub, where you can read or listen to music while the shampoo does its job.

• After you rinse out the shampoo, rinse it again using 50% water and 50% white kitchen vinegar. The vinegar helps dissolve the bodies of dead nits. Rub it in vigorously, then rinse your hair a few times to dispel the odor.

• Use the louse-killing shampoo again 10 days later. If you’re still not getting results, mix a half-cup vinegar with a half-cup olive oil. About an hour before you take your bath or shower, apply this mixture to your hair, working it in close to the scalp. Put a shower cap over your hair. After an hour, remove the cap and take your shower, washing your hair with regular shampoo.

Home Remedies for Shingles

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is an infection caused by the varicella zoster virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an estimated one million cases of shingles occur in the United States every year.

The varicella zoster virus also causes chicken pox. When a person gets chicken pox, the virus remains dormant in the nerve tissues of the body even after treatment. Shingles occurs when the virus gets reactivated. It is not yet known what causes the virus to reactivate.

Anyone who had chickenpox can get shingles. The elderly and those who had chickenpox before one year of age are at higher risk. Also, people with weak immune systems and those suffering from health conditions like cancer, lymphoma, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and leukemia are at higher risk of shingles.
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The main characteristic of shingles is a red skin rash with pain and burning sensation. The rash is usually on one side of the body and occurs in small patches mostly on the trunk, buttocks or face.

The rash can be very itchy and can develop into blisters. Other symptoms of shingles are headache, fever, body pain, fatigue and sensitivity to light.

Shingles can clear up on its own in about three to four weeks. There are antiviral medications that are very effective for treating shingles. You can also use some natural home remedies to help ease the discomfort of shingles and possibly speed up the healing process.

Here are the top 10 home remedies for shingles.
1. Cold Water

Cold water can help control the pain from blisters. It can also help ease itching and irritation.

    Soak a towel in cold water, wring out the excess water and gently place it on the blisters. Leave it on for 20 minutes and then remove it. Repeat until the pain decreases.
    Also, you can take a cool bath to help ease pain. Soak in cool water for several minutes, and then pat dry your skin completely.

Note: Do not use ice packs or water that is too cold. Also, make sure to wash any used towels to prevent spreading the virus.

How to Heal Cracked Feet

Cracked feet, also known as heel fissures, are a common problem for people of all ages, mostly caused by lack of moisture.

Other causes include, standing for long hours, using harsh soaps, cold weather, continuous exposure to water, being overweight, and wearing improper footwear. Conditions like eczema, psoriasis, thyroid disease and diabetes can also contribute to this problem.

Some of the signs and symptoms of cracked feet are red or flaky patches, peeling skin, itchiness, bleeding from the cracks and pain.

Cracked feet look unattractive and, in some cases can lead to infection and extreme pain. The problem can be taken care of with some simple home remedies.

Here are the top 10 ways to heal cracked feet.
1. Scrubbing

Scrubbing the hard, dead skin away helps a great deal in getting rid of cracked feet. Before scrubbing, soak your feet in warm soapy water to help soften the skin and make it easier to scrub.

    Before going to bed, mix some liquid soap in a foot tub filled with warm water.
    Soak your feet in this warm soapy water for about 20 minutes.
    Use a pumice stone to gently scrub off the loosened dead skin cells.
    Rinse off your feet with clean water and pat dry with a soft towel.
    Apply some foot cream or moisturizer and wear a pair of clean cotton socks overnight.
    Follow this remedy daily until your cracked feet are healed completely.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is another incredible remedy for dry, cracked feet. It helps moisturize your feet and also fights fungal and bacterial infections, thanks to its antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

    Before going to sleep, soak your feet in warm water and scrub with a loofah.
    Dry your feet thoroughly and then apply coconut oil generously on your feet.
    Put on a pair of clean, cotton socks for the night.
    The next morning, remove the socks and wash your feet.
    Do this daily for several days until you are satisfied with the results.

You can also use olive oil in the same way.
3. Mentholated Rub

This is another popular home remedy for cracked heels because of the many essential oils that it contains. It also helps heal toenail fungus.

    Apply some mentholated rub on clean, dry feet before going to bed.
    Put on a pair of socks and leave it on overnight.
    The next morning, remove your socks and wash your feet with warm water.
    Repeat daily for a few days until the rough skin peels off.

Natural Remedies For Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are not usually a serious illness*, but they can be incredibly painful and debilitating until they subside. They may be caused by several things, so I’ve listed a few treatments to try. What works best for you will depend on the underlying cause, so you may have to experiment to find the most effective treatment and prevention strategy.
What Causes Leg Cramps?

Leg cramps at night are called recumbency cramps, and are caused by spasmlike muscle contractions. You might also experience leg cramps after exercising if you are dehydrated. In both cases leg cramps can be caused by electrolyte or mineral imbalance in the body.
Leg Cramp Treatments

If your leg cramps are brought on by exercise, you may be dehydrated. Try drinking more water, both throughout the day and during exercise. Be sure to warm up and stretch before exercise and warm down and stretch afterwards as well.
Food Therapy Treatments

If you get leg cramps frequently, especially nocturnal leg cramps it could be due to an electrolyte imbalance.

Low potassium levels can cause leg cramps. Apple cider vinegar is high in potassium and this tonic should help quickly if your leg cramps are caused by low potassium: Mix 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey in a glass of warm water and drink.

If the above tonic helps relieve your leg cramps, try to boost your potassium levels by eating more of these potassium-rich foods: apples, bananas, dried fruits, avocado, mushrooms, yogurt, kefir, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked potatoes and cantaloupe. Potassium works with sodium to control the fluid balance in your body, and they have to be in the right proportions to each other in order to work effectively. If you have a high sodium diet try cutting back on the sodium a bit, use only high-quality salt such as Himalayan Sea Salt, and at the same time eat more of the foods that are high in potassium. Also, make sure you are drinking enough water.

Boosting your intake of calcium and magnesium can also help alleviate leg cramps. There is one super-food that’s incredibly high in both of these minerals, raw chocolate (also known as raw cacao). Here are some recipes using raw cacao. Eat more vegetables, especially dark leafy greens like broccoli and kale, almonds, and raw chocolate (raw cacao) all of which are high in both calcium and magnesium. One quick and easy way to get a lot of all these ingredients in your diet is to have a green smoothie daily. You can make it with almond milk as the base, add dark leafy greens, and raw cacao powder.

7 DIY Skin-Care Recipes Facialists Use On Themselves

Just as a personal trainer with a killer body is a walking advertisement for his expertise, a facialist's glowing skin is her business card. So naturally we wanted to know exactly how the experts get their complexions to be so perfect. Estheticians and spa gurus reveal the DIY skin-care recipes they use to stay fresh-faced in an industry where flawless skin is a non-negotiable:

1. Antioxidant Berry Mask
Why it's a facialist fave: This mask is made of fresh organic blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries—all of which are packed with nutrients like damage-fighting vitamin C and antioxidants. "When I take the mask off, my skin is exfoliated, brighter, and very plump and supple," says Cecilia Wong, holistic esthetician and founder of Cecilia Wong Skincare in New York City, who indulges in her homemade treatment about twice a week.

Make it yourself: Rinse 5 blueberries, 5 blackberries, and 5 raspberries before mixing and mashing them in a bowl. Keep stirring with a fork until it looks like a thick fruit juice, Wong says. Apply to your face with your fingers over your kitchen sink (in case you drop some berries) and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.

2. Aloe & Rose Water Spritzer
Why it's a facialist fave: Jeannie Jarnot, longtime spa director and founder of Spa Heroes, a monthly subscription service of non-toxic beauty products, is a fan of healing aloe vera—both inside and out: "I drink a about half a teaspoon of organic aloe juice a day," Jarnot says. "I also keep a spray bottle of aloe vera juice mixed with rosewater in my fridge to mist my face with first thing in the morning while making coffee, after my morning shower, and once more before bed. It's really hydrating and plumping." And the benefits get better over time, Jarnot says. "The ritual has made a major improvement in my skin's tone and color."

Make it yourself: Combine 2 ounces of pure rosewater, available at health food stores, with 6 ounces of organic aloe vera juice in a 10-ounce reusable spray bottle, and store in your fridge to preserve the all-natural mixture. Shake well before misting.

MORE: 3 Ways To Get Better Skin—When The Sun Damage Is Already Done

3. Bee Pollen Face Mask
Bee Pollen Face Mask
Why it's a facialist fave: "I'm currently obsessed with the skin-plumping effects of all things bee-related for their collagen-stimulating and healing properties," says Laura Dobi, an esthetician and founder of Green Revolution Skin Studio in Bethesda, Maryland, who regularly uses bee pollen masks for smoother skin—and a visible improvement in fine lines.

Make it yourself: Mix 2 tablespoons of bee pollen, ¼ cup of whole milk, 1 tablespoon raw honey, and ½ cup of mashed avocado in a bowl, apply with fingers to your face and neck, and leave on for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water.

8 Accepted Habits That Are Actually Toxic To Your Relationship

Relationships feed our life. Strong relationships make us happier, they keep us healthier, they provide us purpose and they help us live longer. This is true for both romantic relationships as well relationships with friends.

It’s important to realize that every relationship is different, and you shouldn’t model your behavior on anyone else’s. Here are some commonly accepted habits that might actually be causing harm to your relationships without you even knowing it.
8 Accepted Habits That Are Actually Toxic To Your Relationship
Forgetting Friends

When a relationship is new, it is fresh and fun. It is no wonder we want to spend all of our time there. We have all been guilty of choosing to spend more time with someone new in our lives at the cost of ignoring our other relationships.

You can explain it however you like, but ignoring your existing relationships for one that is new is hurtful and can cause strain. Make sure and keep room for existing relationships while your new one is growing.
Becoming Complacent

When we get comfortable, we get lazy. All the things we are excited to do when a relationship is new seems more of an inconvenience over time.

Everyone wants to feel appreciated and special, and the longer you are together, the more important it becomes to put some effort into keeping your relationship special. No matter how long you have been together, it is never a bad idea to surprise your partner with something that says how you feel.
Spending Every Moment Together

Strong relationships happen between strong people, and strong people are strong because of the work they do on themselves. Giving up your interests for your relationship is a mistake.

Finding some balance around your “together” time and “a part” time, so that each of you can maintain your individual interests is important for long-lasting and healthy relationship.
Bad-Mouthing Your Partner

You might consider it venting, but when you talk bad about your partner with someone else you are lowering their opinion of your partner. Their lowered opinion will last much longer than your feeling in this moment.

Instead of venting to someone outside of your relationship, try venting in a journal. It can help release some of the frustration, allowing you to have a discussion with your partner when you are in a much better frame of mind.
Being Easily Irritated

All those quirky habits you used to love turn into the things that irritate you most. The irritation will never get better so you either have to accept it or have a conversation about it. In the end, put it in perspective. Is it bad enough that you are willing to end your relationship? If not, it is time to let your fixation with it go.
Remaining Silent

The old saying, “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” doesn’t necessarily work in a relationship. The silent treatment doesn’t help you solve problems. Avoiding difficult discussions just allows issues to fester and eventually get blown out of proportion. Resolve to communicate in a respectful and kind way.
Putting Your Partner to the Test

Sometimes we need to be assured that our partner loves us and so we make demands or challenges to see how far they are willing to go for us. Granted this is most common in the beginning stages of a relationship and often come from our fear of being abandoned.

This kind of “testing” is demeaning to your partner and your relationship. When you have doubts or insecurities, try to understand where they are originating. Instead of testing, try communicating. Expressing your insecurities is the ultimate sign of commitment, and together you can work through how best to solve the issue.
Avoiding Discussions About the Future

It’s hard to know when to bring up the “future” for the first time but avoiding it can also be a mistake. If it is on your mind and you don’t feel safe to talk about it, then maybe the relationship isn’t right. By not talking about it all, you are doing is bringing more negative attention to it. The problem with the “future” discussion is that most people want the future ironed out in one sitting. Instead, try approaching it in small doses.

Ask questions like, “What does your future at work look like?” and “Do you think settling down here is in your plan?” Questions that bring up the topic in a non-threatening way can easily lead to more meaningful discussions.

There are a lot of things we do in our relationships with the intent of trying to keep the peace. Simply “keeping the peace” should never be the goal. Learning, understanding and growing together is what you are striving for. And just like anything new, there will be growing pains.

Just remember good relationships are built on honest communication, shared values, and individual and shared happiness.

9 Signs You’re Overstressed (And How to Relax)

Longer days; more work; less vacation; later retirement…do any of these sound familiar?

The truth is that most people are dealing with one or more of these situations in their life. In addition, most people believe that they are underpaid and overextended in their working lives. Combining the pressures of work with having to manage a hectic personal schedule can mean a very stressful existence.
Here are 9 signs you’re overstressed (and how to relax):
1. You become more anxious

Anxiety and stress are two sides of the same coin. Where one is present, the other one will be as well. Physical symptoms of anxiety often include muscle tension, rapid breathing, fast heartbeat, sweating, dizziness and fatigue.

Constant feelings of anxiety can result in an anxiety disorder such as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (or GAD). As a consequence, the anxiety manifests itself as uncontrollable worrying about bad things that may happen.

Practicing stress-management and relaxation techniques can help in dealing with the anxiety that results from stress. In some instances, you may want to seek help from a mental wellness professional who can counsel you on how to counteract the presence of anxiety in your life. There are also safe medications available if you and your doctor decide on that option.
2. You become more impatient

Constantly dealing with stressful situations can also reduce your patience level. Having a disposition of impatience can increase the damage that these stresses cause.

People who become more impatient will experience physical signs such as muscle tension, hand clenching and shallow breathing. Mental processes can also be affected, causing more irritability, anxiousness and impulsiveness.

If you experience symptoms of impatience, you need to find the true cause, or “trigger.” Make a list of things that are causing you to experience impatience and avoid or minimize your contact with these triggers.

Being aware of your breath, practicing mini-meditations, and exercise can assist with improving your patience and tolerance levels.
3. You lose your temper more quickly

When experiencing a stressful situation, your mental capacities diminish. As a result, you are more impulsive and it is easier to lose your temper. When you lose your temper, your anger overwhelms you and results in trouble communicating, and you often end up saying things that you later regret.

When you lose your cool, nothing good comes out of it. It will make you feel worse, make your situation worse, and cause additional problems that you’ll have to fix later. Try to think twice before allowing anger to control you and the situation by thinking about the consequences.

Walk away, breathe slowly, or take a quick break…losing your temper is not worth the negative consequences.