H. Pylori Bacter

I am grateful that I have never had a stomach ulcer.  It is my understanding that they are difficult to deal with and painful to say the least.  My husband has experienced two in the time that I have known him.  The first time, he followed Stanley Burroughs “Master Cleanse” for 7 days and allowed me to force fresh cabbage juice and copious amounts of Aloe Vera into him for the days before and after his cleanse.  I remember struggling with my lack of ability to help the love of my life, to bring comfort and relief to him when I could see him visibly suffering. 

A short time later I was given the opportunity, through my job, to train with representatives of different vitamin and supplement companies.  It was during one of these trainings that I first learned about Mastic Gum.

Mastic gum is a resin produced by the Pistacia lentiscus tree, which is native to Greece and has been used for a variety of gastric ailments in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries for at least 3,000 years.

Until recently, it was generally thought that ulcers were caused by stress, spicy food and/or excess stomach acid. While this may be somewhat true, it is now thought that up to 90 per cent of peptic ulcers result from a stomach infection caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

It has been found that at least 90% of those with duodenal ulcers, 70% with gastric ulcers, and 50% of people over the age of 50 test positive for the presence of H.pylori. This bacterium lives in the stomach of almost half of the world's population. It gets into the stomach and stays there until eradicated. The World Health Organization now considers this bacterium a carcinogen (cancer producing).

Several studies have already been published on mastic gum with regard to its positive effects on the gastrointestinal environment, thus gaining respect among the scientific and medical community. Perhaps the most exciting breakthrough to date is that of a recent study showing mastic gum’s effectiveness against at least seven different strains of Helicobacter pylori.

In several studies using mastic gum on patients with ulcers, the original site of the ulcer was completely replaced by healthy epithelial cells.

The second time that my husband experienced an ulcer he used Mastic Gum capsules, avoided spicy food and drank a little bit of my cabbage juice creations.  After 4 days of this regiment he no longer experienced any of the pain or burning in his stomach.  He continued to take the Mastic Gum until the bottle was empty.  That was over 4 years ago and the ulcer or associated pain has never returned.

Now here is where things get interesting.  Last year my Dad called me to ask if I knew of any natural treatments for ulcers besides Aloe Vera? My Dad is a horse trainer and apparently ulcers in horses are quite common.  Ulcers affect 95% of racehorses and 70% of field horses.  The typical treatment for a horse with an ulcer is to put them on a medication called GastroGard, which is an H2 blocker.

H2 blockers, also called H2-receptor antagonists, are medicines that reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces by blocking one important producer of acid: histamine2.

According to my Dad, it costs about $450 to treat a horse for one month with GastroGard, and he finds that he need to keep the horse on a ¼ dose after ulcer seems to have healed to prevent it from flaring up again.

The first time he used Mastic Gum on one of his mares, it cost $120 for the month of treatment with no return of the ulcer, although he does give horses that have had and are prone to ulcers, mastic gum when traveling to shows etc. (stressful situations) just to be pro-active.

He called me right away to let me know that he had never seen such a quick recovery in his experience dealing with ulcers.  The horse was standing and eating within 36 hours of beginning treatment. 

Needless to say, he is ecstatic to have found something much more cost effective that works so well with no side effects!

Since this first experience with one of his horses he is quick to recommend Mastic Gum to anyone with ulcers.  He phones me regularly to tell me of co-workers and friends who have healed their bleeding ulcers within days of using Mastic Gum… people who have tried numerous things and have suffered in pain for months or sometimes years.

For some reason, his veterinarian colleagues and even a specialist that he went to Texas to listen to lecture on ulcers in horses, show no interest in this safe and effective remedy….

 

 

 

 

Sunscreens are divided into two types – natural and chemical. Natural sunscreens use a physical barrier such as zinc oxide or titanium oxide to block UV rays. Chemical sunscreens actually absorb UV rays and neutralize them in the skin tissues. While chemical sunscreens are more easily made into bases and cosmetics, natural sunscreens are generally less irritating and less allergenic, as chemical agents are often irritating to the skin and toxic to the body.

The Dangers of Chemical Sunscreens   

There are several safety concerns that are starting to surround chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens can actually increase the risk of cancer as through the neutralizing of UV rays, the agents themselves can actually be carcinogenic. Many sunscreen agents such as octyl-methoxycinnamate, octyl-dimethyl-PABA, benzophenone-3, homosalate, and 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor are known to be endocrine disrupters. The endocrine system controls the levels of hormones in the body and these agents have been shown to disrupt levels of estrogen in the body. Even young children’s hormones are being affected as traces of chemical sunscreens are found in the mother’s breast milk. The higher the SPF, the more toxic the sunscreen. Natural sunscreens are physical blocks that sit on the skin and do not need to be reapplied except after swimming and exercise. Chemical sunscreens, however, rely on the chemical properties and thus need reapplying every few hours as the ingredients become inactive.

The Benefits of Natural Sunscreens

Natural sunscreen agents that use zinc and titanium minerals are better for both health and beauty. Titanium, when used for sunscreen purposes, is coated so that it does not penetrate the skin but rather performs as a shield.

 

The Importance of SPF

Be aware that SPF only describes how long the sunscreen is active for. It is the amount of time it takes for you to burn multiplied by the SPF number. For example, if it takes you five minutes to burn without any sunscreen on, it will take you 75 minutes to burn if you are wearing an SPF 15 sunscreen. A natural sunscreen with an SPF of 30 is more than sufficient for sun protection. It is widely assumed that the higher SPF gives you a better protection from the sun. In fact, there are actually very small differences between SPF 15 and SPF 30. The UV filtration of a SPF 15 sunscreen is 96 percent and the UV filtration of an SPF 30 sunscreen is 98 percent.

 

 

'Dirty Dozen' cosmetic chemicals to avoid 

(Credit: Roberto Berna via Flickr.)

Some of the ingredients in beauty products aren't that pretty. U.S. researchers report that one in eight of the 82,000 ingredients used in personal care products are industrial chemicals, including carcinogens, pesticides, reproductive toxins, and hormone disruptors. Many products include plasticizers (chemicals that keep concrete soft), degreasers (used to get grime off auto parts), and surfactants (they reduce surface tension in water, like in paint and inks). Imagine what that does to your skin, and to the environment.

We surveyed Canadians to see how many of the Dirty Dozen Ingredients below appeared in their cosmetics, and our findings show that 80 per cent of entered products contained at least one of these toxic chemicals.

You can avoid harmful chemicals when you audit your bathroom cupboard using this list of harmful ingredients:

 

1. BHA and BHT

Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.

 

2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as "CI" followed by a five digit number

In addition to coal tar dyes, natural and inorganic pigments used in cosmetics are also assigned Colour Index numbers (in the 75000 and 77000 series, respectively).

Look for p-phenylenediamine hair dyes and in other products colours listed as "CI" followed by five digits.1 The U.S. colour name may also be listed (e.g. "FD&C Blue No. 1" or "Blue 1"). Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain.

 

3. DEA-related ingredients

Used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife. Look also for related chemicals MEA and TEA.

 

4. Dibutyl phthalate

Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.

 

5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives

Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which causes cancer.

 

6. Parabens

Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions.

 

7. Parfum (a.k.a. fragrance)

Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as "unscented." Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some harmful to fish and other wildlife.

 

8. PEG compounds

Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., polyethylene glycol).

 

9. Petrolatum

Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. A petroleum product that can be contaminated

with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.

 

10. Siloxanes

Look for ingredients ending in "-siloxane" or "-methicone." Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.

 

11. Sodium laureth sulfate

Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients with the letters "eth" (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate).

 

12. Triclosan

Used in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants. Suspected endocrine disrupter and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Harmful to fish and other wildlife

 

 For more information visit www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals/index.

 Healing Bliss Botanicals is a company that was founded on a simple ideal that has been essential to human existence since the begining of time. We should be able to heal ourselves naturally with what our beautiful planet provides for us. Beyond this we should be able to treat ourselves 100% Naturally with medicinal herbs (the foundation for all pharmaceuticals), and do it in a sustainable way that not only doesn't harm the plant, but promotes sustainable clean practices. Healing Bliss is committed to sustainable, environmentally friendly practices, including composting by products from product manufacturing, local organic sustainable farming, and natural wildcrafting practices, as well as organic local bees wax farmed by the kindest of bee keepers raised in the cleanest island valleys. All products are made by hand in small batches to promote freshness, and intensity of healing in each product. Ensuring that as little as possible goes to waste!

In the 15 Years that our Herbal Momma has been cooking her glorious, board certified, herbal remedies for the masses. We have listened to Our families and friends, we have heard the cries of our customers, and our own children and animals. The world is to often a rough, hard, hot and cold type of place. And to be honest, we all take a beating. We believe with in all life there is the power to heal, and we just provide the medium for the healing to transmit. We can use clean natural products to heal our skin and beautify our lives, heal our pets, keep bugs away, to treat every layer of the skin or hair, to heal wounds, or sooth scrapes, we can use the natural plants and oils our earth provides to heal the burns from the sun and wind, and sooth the aches from a long hard day. We can support the local people in our community who are taking the extra time and effort to do things right with environmentally friendly, sustainable farming practices. We can support our local economy and the people in our community who need the most help. With this practice we build a company the is truly a family. And a family is what we all are. At Healing Bliss Botanicals we are committed to healing the Planet one body at a time!