Herbal Soap

Coconut soap is one of the best moisturizing herbal soaps available. (Read my past article on coconut soap for more info)  It gives you a hard, off-white bar with lots of lather and its skin benefits are numerous.  Here is a simple handmade soap recipe for making coconut soap:

Before getting started, be sure to have the following:

 

• Rubber gloves and safety glasses (you will be working with lye, so protect yourself from burns and keep your eyes covered with glasses at all times)
• Soap molds
• Vegetable oil
• 10 ounces water
• 5 ounces NaOH (lye)
• 32 ounces Virgin Coconut Oil (Note: Any type of coconut oil can be used, but virgin coconut oil is the best.  Some people state that using RBD (refined, bleached, and deodorized) oil is harsh on their skin.)
• 1 large stainless steel pot
• 1 shallow pan
• 2 wooden spoons
• 2 candy thermometers
• Source of heat, preferably a stove top

 

 

Step 1:  Prepare your soap molds by lightly coating them with vegetable oil.  This will prevent the soap from sticking to them as it cures.

Step 2: Add the water to the pot.  Weigh out the lye and slowly add it to the water.  This will cause the water heat up rapidly.  Be sure to add the lye to the water and not the other way around, as doing so may cause a violent reaction. 

Step 3: Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until all the lye is dissolved. 

Step 4: Allow the mixture to cool to 110 degrees F.  Use a candy thermometer to measure the temperature.

Step 5: In the shallow pan, heat the coconut oil to 110 degrees F.

Step 6: When both the coconut oil and the lye mixture are at 110 F, combine them in the large stainless steel pot.

 Step 7: Stir the mixture rapidly until trace forms.  Trace forms when the mixture thickens to the consistency of soft pudding and your spoon leaves visible stirring patterns in the soap mixture.

Step 8: Fill the molds with the soap and let them sit undisturbed for 24 hours.

Step 9: Cure for four weeks.  To do this, remove the soap from the molds, cover it with a towel, and let it rest in a dry place for four weeks.

That’s it!!  I hope you enjoy this coconut soap recipe.  Feel free to experiment with it by adding your own essential oils and fats.  If you choose to experiment, don’t forget to check the saponification table so you can calculate the amounts needed.  Thanks and check the store if you are interested in buying a bar of soap for yourself!!!

 

 

Technorati Tags: coconut soap, handmade soap recipes, how to make coconut soap

Beer makes a surprisingly good ingredient for herbal soap.  It can be combined with many other ingredients to make a great bar that is not only good for your skin, but that also smells great and relaxes the mind like no other.  Beer soap is loved by people all over the world, primarily because it is so good at relaxing the body/mind and because is great for overall skin health. 

 

Relaxation

Beer soap is known for its unique aroma that helps relax the mind and the body.  This aroma-therapeutic effect is due in a large part to the hops that are present.  They work by stimulating the olfactory nerves which in turn stimulate the limbic system of the brain.  The stimulated limbic system is what causes the feeling of relaxation.

Skin Health

During the soap making process, there are several key ingredients common to all beers that are transferred to the soap.  These essential ingredients are very beneficial to our skin.  They include brewer’s yeast, hops, vitamin B, and polyphenols.

Brewer’s Yeast

Brewer’s yeast is known to balance the pH of the skin, normalize the production of sebum, and kill bacteria.  Through these mechanisms, it is able to combat acne.  (Acne is caused when too much sebum is produced by the skin that then clogs pores and allows bacteria to invade.)  A balanced pH further helps to fight bacteria.

B Vitamins

Beer contains a wide range of B vitamins.  B vitamins are well-known for nourishing the skin, thus making it smooth and moist.  Check back soon for an article on the health benefits of B vitamins.

Hops

The ingredient hops, mentioned above for its relaxation properties, contains large amounts of polyphenols.  Polyphenols kill bacteria and soothe irritated skin.  Hops are believed to reduce inflammation as well by reducing the amount of neopterin in the skin, which is a key marker of inflammation.  They are also rich in amino acids, which are essential for soft and smooth skin. 

What’s the best beer to use?

Any beer can be used.  Because every beer has its own unique set of ingredients, every bar of beer soap will have its own unique set of health benefits, depending on the beer bein used.  For example, lambic ales contain subtle hints of fruit, and the vitamins and anti-oxidants in these fruits go straight to the skin, giving it health and vitality.  (The raspberries in framboise lambic ale contain large amounts of ellagic acid, a compound known to have anti-carcinogen effects on the skin.)  The oatmeal in oatmeal stouts helps to alleviate itchy skin and remove dead skin cells.  Wheat beers offer the user a wide variety of healthy vitamins and minerals found in wheat to be used by the skin.  These are just a few of the many types of beer that can be used as almost any beer makes a good beer soap.

 

Beer is a great to try in herbal soap.  It offers a wide variety of benefits to one’s skin and a bar of beer soap is great for relaxing the mind.  The brewer’s yeast, hops, vitamins and minerals found in beer have wonderful effects on the skin and any type of beer can be used.  Check my product page to purchase your own bar of beer soap to experience its many benefits.

Technorati Tags: aroma-therapeutic, beer soap, brewer's yeast, hops, polyphenols, relaxation, skin health

          Oatmeal is a great ingredient to use in herbal soap making. It is a great exfoliator and moisturizer and also relieves the itching and pain associated with rashes, sunburns, and insect bites. It is best when it is in its colloidal, or finely crushed, form as this is when most of its health benefits are released. To crush your oatmeal, run it through a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder. In herbal soap making, oatmeal can be combined with almost any ingredient. Good examples include goat milk, coconut oil, shea butter, and essential oils. This recipe uses the melt-and-pour method to make a soap containing oatmeal and honey. Honey is a great antioxidant and also wards off the effects of aging and skin cancer.

          The melt-and-pour, or re-batching, method is great for first-time soap makers to try. It gets these names because you use pre-made bars of soap that can be bought at the store. You then melt the soap, add your own ingredients, pour the mixture into molds, and allow the mixture to cool and harden. Once hardened, the bars of soap are ready to be used. The melt and pour method is great for beginners because it is simple and avoids the use of lye. Lye (sodium hydroxide) is a common household cleaner, but it requires special protective clothing when used in its concentrated form because it can cause chemical burns. Many first-time soap makers worry about using lye because of this. However, with a little precaution, almost all accidents can be avoided.

 To make oatmeal soap, you will need the following:

·   1 crock pot, microwavable bowl, or stainless steel pot for melting soap

·   1 large wooden spoon or blender for stirring

·   2 bars of glycerin-based soap. These can be bought at an arts and crafts store.  Similarly, plain unscented bars of Dove or Ivory soap can also be used.

·   Soap molds. If you do not own any soap molds, small paper cups can be used instead.

·   10 tbsp. water

·   3 tsps. honey

·   2 cups oatmeal, finely crushed in a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder

·   If desired: 2 tsps. of your favorite essential oil. E.g. Lavender, sandalwood, etc.

Instructions:

1   Chop and combine the two bars of soap into a stainless steel pot or crockpot. It is important to avoid using non-stick, cast-iron, aluminum, and tin pots. The materials in these pots can react with chemicals already present in the soaps. These reactions can be violent and/or toxic. A microwave-safe container can also be used if you wish to avoid pots and want to melt the soap in the microwave.

1.  Add 10 tbsp. water (if you are using goat milk or coconut oil in your recipe, substitute the water for goat milk or coconut oil) and 3 tsp. honey to the mix and set the stove temperature to medium-low. If using a microwave, heat for one minute, followed by 40 second intervals until the soap is completely melted. DO NOT let the soap begin to boil as this will put bubbles in your final product and ruin the look of your soap.

2.  After the soaps are fully melted, leave the pot on the stove with the heat on low to keep the mixture warm. Stir with a wooden spoon or blender until the soaps are evenly mixed. This may take up to one minute or longer.

3.  Add your crushed oatmeal to the mixture and continue stirring until it is evenly mixed.

4.  If using essential oils, add them after the oatmeal has been mixed. Again, stir for at least one minute to ensure even mixing.

5.  Pour the soap into your molds.

6.  Let the soap cool for several hours and then place it in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

7.  Once the soap has hardened, it is ready to be used!

 

I hope you enjoyed this recipe and found it easy to follow. Read my article on the benefits of oatmeal soap and visit my products page to purchase your own herbal soap.

 

Technorati Tags: handmade soap recipes, how to make oatmeal soap, melt and pour method, oatmeal soap, recipe

The use of oatmeal soap was first popularized by the Greeks and Romans centuries ago.  They loved it because it was incredibly versatile.  It had anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and could bring moisture to the skin.  In addition to this, it was unique in that it had the ability to alleviate itching and pain. Oatmeal soap is still popular today and is great for treating the itching and pain associated with insect bites, acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, sores, chicken pox, poison ivy, shingles, and rashes. It is now a frequent ingredient in soaps and is even recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a helpful tool for soothing minor skin irritations.

Today, scientific research supports the anti-itch benefits of oatmeal soap.  Its vital ingredient is phenol, a known anti-germicidal compound that occurs naturally in many plants.  (There are many different types of phenols that naturally occur and some of them are dangerous due to their ability to disrupt hormone activity.  However, the phenol found in oatmeal is perfectly safe for human use due to the nature of its chemical structure).  The anti-inflammatory effects of phenol have been demonstrated in several studies (See below).   It works by acting as an anti-oxidant and stopping the effects of free-radicals on the skin. Bug bites, bacterial infections, shingles outbreaks, and contact with poison ivy cause chemical reactions on the skin that result in unwanted free radicals.  Without the anti-oxidant effects of the phenol, the free radicals would be free to damage to the skin, causing itching and pain.  The oatmeal soap blocks the actions of the free-radicals, thus stopping skin and tissue damage and relieving itching and pain.

Oatmeal soap is a very versatile herbal soap.  It, like most herbal soaps, moistens the skin and kills bacteria. In addition to this, it has a unique ability to the relieve itching and pain caused by inflammation on the skin.  Phenol is the key ingredients for achieving this.  To best experience the power of oatmeal soap, be sure it is in its colloidal, or crushed, form.  Turning oatmeal into its colloidal form is as easy as running it through a coffee grinder, food processor, or blender.  If you are suffering from shingles, rashes, chickenpox, psoriasis, eczema, or any other condition that is causing your skin to itch, check my products page to purchase a bar of oatmeal soap.

 

Studies on the anti-inflammatory effects of phenol:

Anti-inflammatory action of phenolic compounds from Gastrodia elata root 

Pharmacological Studies on the Anti-inflammatory Action of Phenolic Compounds

 

 

Technorati Tags: Herbal soap, Itching, Oatemal Soap, Pain, Phenol, Skin

Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder characterized by redness in the cheeks, forehead, and upper chest.  Some individuals also have pimples or painful sensations in the affected areas.  Approximately 14 million people in the United States currently suffer from rosacea.  There are many myths about this disease that you may or may not have heard.  Here are five of those myths and their truths.

 

Myth #1:  Rosacea only occurs on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and upper chest. - False

While it is true that rosacea is usually seen on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and upper chest, it sometimes affects the eyes as well.  Rosacea of the eyes results in pain, blurred vision, red or pink eyes, and excess watering.  It is estimated that ocular rosacea affects 50-60% of normal rosacea patients.  Normally, flare ups will present themselves on the skin before advancing to the eyes, but sometimes the opposite is true and flare ups will affect the eyes first.  Ocular rosacea can be dangerous as it has the potential to result in infections of the cornea and iris.

 

Myth #2:  Rosacea is a genetic disorder – True

In clinical trials, people with rosacea were three times more likely to have family members suffering from the disorder than not.  Other clues of its genetic origin stem from the fact that it primarily affects Caucasians of northwestern European descent.  It was also found that most people with rosacea have fair or light skin, and that it is almost three times more common in women than in men. 

 

Myth #3: Eliminating your triggers will make rosacea go away – Partially True 

Rosacea is a chronic condition, so avoiding your triggers is not a 100% guarantee that your rosacea will disappear permanently, but it does help to greatly reduce the amount and severity of flare ups that do occur.  Most triggers are lifestyle-related, so with a little patience and practice, flare ups can be avoided.  In a survey done by the National Rosacea Society, 1,066 rosacea patients were found to experience flare ups after exposure to the following:

 

§  Sun exposure – 81%

§  Emotional stress – 79%

§  Hot weather – 75%

§  Wind – 57%

§  Heavy exercise – 56%

§  Alcohol consumption – 52%

§  Hot baths – 51%

§  Cold weather – 46%

§  Spicy foods – 45%

§  Humidity – 44%

§  Indoor heat – 41%

§  Certain skin-care products – 41%

§  Heated beverages – 36%

§  Certain cosmetics – 27%

§  Medications (specifically stimulants) – 15%

§  Medical conditions – 15%

§  Certain fruits – 13%

§  Marinated meats – 10%

§  Certain vegetables – 9%

§  Dairy products – 8%

 

Note: The percentages represent the percentage of rosacea patients in the test that experienced flare ups after exposure.

 

Myth #4:  Rosacea has dietary causes – True 

As mentioned above, rosacea triggers include spicy foods, alcohol consumption, dairy, and certain fruits and vegetables, so there may be some truth to this myth.  According to one theory, intestinal bacteria play a role in causing the disease.  A recent study subjected patients to a hydrogen breath test to detect the occurrence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It was found that significantly (p<0.001) more patients were hydrogen-positive than controls, indicating the presence of bacterial overgrowth (47% of patients were hydrogen positive while 5% of control members were hydrogen positive).  To reduce the growth of intestinal bacteria, try following the Paleo diet, which is high in lean meats, fish, fruits, and non-starchy vegetables.  Followers of the Paleo diet report that the symptoms of their chronic inflammatory diseases (i.e., rosacea) were reduced when they followed the diet.  I switched to the Paleo diet 6 months ago after suffering stomach problems over the past two years (possibly resulting from chronic inflammation of my digestive track) and have not had any problems since.  Only when I eat grains and some dairy do I have problems.  The diet is powerful and effective for reducing disease symptoms, whatever they may be.

 

Myth #5:  Having acne as a teenager leads to rosacea as an adult – False

No link exists between rosacea and teenage pimples. Although rosacea sufferers can develop acne, it is a known fact that rosacea is primarily a condition of the vascular system, while acne is primarily a condition of the skin and bacterial infection.  The blood vessels under the cheeks, noses, and foreheads of rosacea patients are constantly inflamed, resulting in the redness and pain.  In acne, the skin pores get clogged with oil, dirt, and bacteria.  The bacteria than begin to overgrow and form pimples.

 

I hope you found this information helpful.  If you are suffering from rosacea or another skin condition, please read my other articles to learn how herbal soap can help you.  Also visit my products page if you are interested in purchasing a soap of your own.  Thanks.

 

Technorati Tags: alternative treatment, Herbal soap, Rosacea

          Acne, like most skin problems, is very embarrassing for those who suffer from it. Herbal soap can be an attractive alternative to doctor prescribed or over the counter medications for several reasons. First, many of those medications simply don’t work. I myself have experience with medicines prescribed by dermatologists that neither prevented, nor improved, my acne. Second, those medications contain harsh synthetic chemicals that can irritate your skin. The medicines contain high levels of benzoyl peroxide, which, although it has the ability to kill bacteria, will also strip your skin of its protective layer of oil, leaving it red and irritated. Third, some medicines, such as Accutane, have dangerous and long lasting side effects. I took Accutane as a teenager and experienced extreme sensitivity to the sun (I could not be outside more than 20 minutes with getting badly burned), in-grown toenails on all ten toes, and extremely dry skin and lips. My lips would get so dry that they would crack open and bleed in the middle of the night. Other reported side effects of the drug include suicidal tendencies and Crohn’s Disease.

          Herbal soaps have the advantage that they contain only natural ingredients which will not cause any adverse health effects. They will kill acne-causing bacteria while keeping your skin moist, healthy, young, and wrinkle free. The aromatherapy effects of the soaps are another bonus. You may feel more relaxed or alert, or that your insomnia is disappearing. The essential oils in the soaps can strengthen your overall immune system, reduce blood pressure, and improve your memory. Herbal soaps can also be easily bought without a doctor’s prescription and can be made at home from scratch, which with practice can be a fun and rewarding hobby.

          If you are suffering from acne, try using herbal soap as an alternative to doctor-prescribed medications. You have nothing to lose and will actually improve the health of your skin and your entire body while avoiding the dangerous side effects of doctor-prescribed medications. Tea tree soap, lemon soap, and coconut soap are effective acne fighters. Check my product page if you are interested in purchasing an herbal soap and my herbal soap research page for more information on the power of herbal soap.

Written by Charles R. Scott

Technorati Tags: Acne, alternative medicine, Herbal soap

WARNINGS:  USE CAUTION AND DRESS APPROPRIATELY. 

This recipe calls for lye, so be sure to wear rubber gloves, safety goggles, and protective clothing.  Lye can cause dangerous burns if it comes into contact with your skin.   If you do get a lye burn, pour white vinegar over the burn area to neutralize it. If you spill lye in the kitchen, wipe the entire area with generous amounts of white vinegar until the lye is neutralized.

Background Information

This recipe uses a low temperature technique which uses a liquid:hard oils ratio of 55:45. This prevents the soap formula from becoming solid at low temperatures.  You can use this table for determining if your oils are hard or soft.  Low temperature soap making prevents the more volatile elements of essential oils and the more delicate top notes of fragrances from burning off and prevents the starches and proteins in the goat milk from scorching during the process.  

When using the low temperature method, expect to leave your batch in the mold for approximately 24 to 48 hours. Turn your batch out of the mold when your soap feels firm to the touch. Time will vary with soap oil formula, water amount, and fragrance or essential oils used.

 Ingredients:

          Lye :  This can be found in most grocery and hardware stores in the cleaners section.

    Fats:  The most commonly used are coconut oil, olive oil, almond oil, or lard

    Goat milk:  Pure, powdered, or canned milk will do well

    Essential Oils (Optional):   Any essential oil or combination of essential oils can be used depending          on the effect you want to experience.  Want to relax?  Try lavender.  Want to strengthen your               immune system?  Try tea tree oil or lemon oil.  Want to protect yourself from skin cancer?  Try               sandalwood oil.  Read an in-depth description on the benefits of several essential oils on this website,     or visit here for a complete list of commonly used essential oils.

 Materials Needed:

     Shallow pan

     Soap mold

     Stainless steel pots

     Stove top

     Thermometer

     Blender    

     White vinegar (for cleaning lye spills)                                           

Procedure:

        1.   MEASURE YOUR INGREDIENTS

Any combination of fats and oils can be used as long as they meet the 55:45 ratio discussed earlier.  Use the saponification table for determining the amount of lye needed.  One recommended combination of oils/lye/goat milk is listed below.  Do not include the essential oils at this point if you are using them,

Olive oil – 24 oz.

Coconut oil – 10 oz.

Lard – 30 oz.

Lye – 8.7 oz.

Milk – 24 oz. – Pour the goat milk into a shallow pan and freeze solid. Break into chunks before using.

 

2.  Melt the solid fats in a stainless steel pot and then add the oils.  Be sure to not heat them above 115⁰F as this will cause the mixture to burn! 

3.  Add lye to your frozen milk in a plastic container.  The mixture will get hot, so keep an eye on the temperature, making sure it does not go above 140⁰F.  Any higher and the milk will burn.   If the milk has thawed, put the lye in very slowly in small amounts and wait for the temperature to drop below 90⁰F before adding more.

4.  Watch the temperature of the lye/milk and oil/fats.  When they both reach a temperature of 90⁰F or 100⁰F, proceed to the next step.

5.  Pour the milk/lye mixture into the oils while stirring. Stir until the soap forms a trace.

6.  – Add your essential oils to the mixture.

7.  Stir well with a blender. It has blended enough when the mix begins to thicken.  This could take several minutes, or several hours, depending on your starting ingredients.

8.  Pour the mixture into a soap mold.

9.  Allow the soap to sit for 24 to 48 hours, or until hardened.  After it has hardened, remove it from the mold and cut it into bars using a large kitchen knife.

10.  Cure the soap on a non-metallic surface for three 3weeks.

11.  After three weeks, the soap is ready to use.

I hope you enjoy the recipe and check back in the future for more natural soap recipes!

 

Technorati Tags: goat soap, handmade soap, Recipes

          Sandalwood soap contains the powerful oils of the Santalum album tree, which is native to Australia and India. In India, it is called the “royal tree” because of its many powers. Ancient Indians used it in Ayurvedic medicine to treat a wide range of skin diseases and ailments, such as fungal infections, scars, acne, boils, and rashes. They also used it to calm the mind for meditation, as an aphrodisiac, and to treat kidney disorders and menstrual cramps. Today, scientific research is showing that it may also be used as a preventative medication for skin cancer.

          Sandalwood essential oil contains high levels of alpha-santalol. Roughly 61% of the oil consists of this compound. Several recent experiments have proven alpha-santalol useful for preventing skin cancer. In one study at the University of South Dakota, mice were split into two groups, one control group and one experimental group. The experimental group received treatment of alpha-santalol on their skin one hour prior to UVB radiation exposure while the control received nothing. The mice in both groups were genetically more susceptible to skin cancer and were also given chemical dosages to further increase their risks of developing skin cancer. Most mice in the control group developed cancer, while mice treated with alpha-santalol showed reduced tumor incidence and multiplicity and a significant increase in apoptosis proteins, caspase-3 and -8 levels, and the tumor suppressor protein, p53. Caspase-3 and -8 are important for apoptosis, which is the programmed death of damaged cells and very important for the prevention of cancer.

          Another study, also performed at the University of South Dakota, performed a similar experiment with similar results. 180 mice were divided into three groups of 60 mice, and each group was further divided into two subgroups of 30 mice. The first subgroup served as control and was treated topically on the dorsal skin with acetone. The second subgroup was the experimental group and was treated topically on the dorsal skin with alpha-santalol (5%, w/v in acetone). The tumor growth in the first group was initiated with UVB radiation and promoted with TPA; in the second group it was initiated with DMBA and promoted with UVB radiation; and in the third group it was both initiated and promoted with UVB radiation. Topical application of alpha-santalol significantly (p<0.05) papilloma incidence by 67% and multiplicity by 96% in DMBA-initiated and TPA-promoted mice. Other experiments from the same laboratory have indicated that the topical application of sandalwood oil resulted in the same effects, thus showing that sandalwood oil is just as effective as the isolated alpha-santalol molecule.

          The alpha-santalol found in sandalwood soap is a very powerful, naturally occurring chemical with many health benefits. One of its newest benefits recognized by the scientific community is its ability to prevent skin cancer. Sandalwood soap is very high in alpha-santalol. If you feel you are at risk of developing skin cancer, try using sandalwood soap. To read more about these studies and others, please visit here and here.

Written by Charles R. Scott

Technorati Tags: cancer prevention, Health, research, sandalwood soap

                Coconut soap is a powerful herbal soap that has very strong moisturizing capabilities and anti-microbial properties. Its properties are so powerful and effective that it is becoming a popular ingredient in more and more commercial soaps every day, and for good reasons. It falls into the strong moisturizer category, along with shea butter cream and goat soap, due to it high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins A and E. The fatty acids in coconut soap, however, also have the ability to kill large numbers of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live outside the human body, including the AIDS and herpes viruses.

Coconut oil has a high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins A and E. The skin uses the fatty acids to absorb moisture and studies show that vitamins A and E are great for the health of hair and skin. Coconut oil is able to thoroughly clean the top layer of skin while its vitamins and fatty acids seep into lower layers and strengthen deep connective tissues. Strong connective tissues result in smooth, soft, and flexible skin with fewer wrinkles.

Coconut soap contains high concentrations of medium chain fatty acids and medium chain triglycerides. The anti-microbial properties of coconut soap come from the medium chain fatty acids. Non-harmful bacteria that live on the surface of the skin convert the medium chain triglycerides into medium chain fatty acids by natural processes. This means that means even more of the pathogen-killing fatty acids are made available than would otherwise occur without the bacteria. The medium chain fatty acids make coconut soap great for treating cuts and burns and greatly reduce the risk of infection occurring from either. It has recently been shown that these fatty have the ability to kill the AIDS and herpes viruses, and a great number of other pathogens as well.

                The fatty acids in coconut soap are converted by the body into powerful enzymes that kill a wide range of pathogens. Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut soap are lauric acid, which is converted into monolaurin by the human body. Monolaurin is the antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-protozoal monoglyceride that destroys lipid coated viruses (HIV, herpes, cytomegalovirus, influenza), various pathogenic bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes and Heliobacter pylori), and protozoa (Giardia lamblia), thus making coconut soap a very powerful herbal weapon. Some studies have also shown the free lauric acid is also effective in killing microorganisms before it is turned into monolaurin by the body.

                 Coconut soap is a great herbal soap with many benefits. Its medium chain fatty acids protect the skin from bacteria and viruses and are highly hydrating. It is also high in vitamins A and E which penetrate deep into the skin and strengthen connective tissues, therefore removing wrinkles. Try using a coconut soap to experience these benefits.

Written by Charles R. Scott

 

Technorati Tags: Anti-bacterial, Coconut Oil, coconut soap, essential oils, Herbal soap, Moisturizers

             Some of the most popular herbal soaps in today’s market include shea butter cream on their list of ingredients. The actual number of such soaps and other products is nearly too large to count. She butter cream is made from the seeds of the karite tree of Africa. It has natural anti-inflammatory, emollient, and humectant properties due to its rich concentration of vitamins and fatty acids. It can be used to rejuvenate dry hair and skin, remove scars and stretch marks, reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis, and provide protection from the sun and wind.

              In Africa, where shea butter cream originated, people have been using the butter of the karite tree for many years to treat their physical ailments. In Ghana, shea butter, locally known as “nkuto” or “nku”, is commonly used in a lotion to protect the skin during the dry season. In Nigeria, shea butter (popularly called “ori” in the Yoruba language) is used to relieve the symptoms of sinusitis and nasal congestion. It is believed that the mechanism of this relief is caused by the cream’s hydrating properties which help to relax tension in the facial skin, thus easing respiration.

Shea butter cream receives its natural moisturizing effects from its high concentration of non-saponifiable fatty acids (stearic and oleic acid). Soap is made through the chemical process of saponification, whereby fatty acids are mixed with hydroxides. The extra fats in shea butter cream that do not react in the saponification process are used by the skin to attract and retain moisture. Approximately 11% of shea butter cream consists of these non-saponifiable fatty acids. She butter cream also contains cinnamic acid, which is a natural sunscreen and wind protectant. It is a week sunscreen, however, at an SPF of only 6. The anti-aging qualities of the cream are due to the presence of vitamins A, E, and F. Vitamins A and E add elasticity to the skin, penetrating deeply without clogging the pores, while vitamin F improves hair health. Other anti-aging effects include the removal of fine lines and wrinkles, the removal of scars and stretch marks, the softening of extremely dry areas of skin (e.g. the heels and elbows), and the return of lost luster to hair. Shea butter’s rich content of fats and vitamins also makes it a useful therapy for the alleviation of eczema and psoriasis symptoms, such as inflammation and itching. Since there are very few naturally occurring allergens and artificial chemicals in shea butter cream, most people can use it without worry and eczema sufferers may experience a decrease in their symptoms which are often aggravated by environmental factors. People with latex allergies need to take caution before using shea butter cream, though, since it contains a small amount of latex.

She butter cream is one of the world’s most popular ingredients in herbal soap for many reasons. It has anti-aging effects, provides protection from the sun’ UV radiation, improves respiration in individuals suffering nasal congestion, and can be used to reduce the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis. It contains very few natural allergens and many people throughout the world choose to use it as one of their primary tools for achieving great overall skin health. 

Written by Charles R. Scott

Technorati Tags: anti-aging, Herbal soap, natural moisturizer, shea butter cream