Knowledge of the incredible wonders of different natural ingredients has been accumulated over centuries through experimentation and experience and perhaps even in other ways. Herbalists and aromatherapists draw on this huge resource and you can find tonnes of this information this on the internet. In recent years many of these documented effects, as well as others, have been scientifically verified. The categorisation of natural largely refers to products that occur in their whole form in nature. Many ingredients in the cosmetic industry rely on largely refined derivatives of natural products. Depending on the levels of refinement, these products will no longer be considered to be natural.
The following puts together an interesting resource of research done on certain of the ingredients of Natural Yogi products, including: Bicarbonate of Soda, Frankincense, Epsom Salts, Geranium Oil, Beeswax, Grape seed Oil, Shea Butter, Calendula and Avocado Oil.
Remember, as you read through the claims of the ingredients, many of which have been scientifically validated, just because something has not been scientifically validated does not make it untrue, it just means that it has not been scientifically validated. It is a different story if something is scientifically invalidated.
Bicarbonate of Soda
Bicarbonate of Soda, the key ingredient of natural yogi deodorant, is valuably used in many household and body care routines.
Recently there has been much excitement and research around the value of bicarbonate of soda in cancer treatment where it seems to be agreed that it inhibits the growth and spread of cancer. Here are two articles that explore this research.
http://alsearsmd.com/2015/04/truth-about-cancer-and-baking-soda/
It seems like a much better ingredient to use around the sensitive lymph nodes of our armpits – which directly connect to our breast tissue – than the much-disputed aluminium compounds used in antiperspirants.
Frankincense
As the most mentioned essential oil in the bible, Frankincense has been prized for 1000s of years for its spiritually uplifting and also anti-bacterial, healing and anti-aging qualities. Recently it has also found itself at the epicentre of cancer research!
Aroma therapists have long drawn on Frankincense’s deeply soothing and calming effects as well as the way it powerfully opens and deepens our respiration. Taking us into a calmer space beyond anxiety and preoccupation with day-to-day survival, Frankincense is understood to broaden our awareness. For our skin, it is famed for its anti-aging qualities. It is agreed to tighten saggy skin and clear wrinkles, heal scar tissue, reduce large pores and even out uneven pigmentation and dark spots.
There has also been a great furore around what would seem to be Frankincense’s powerful anti-inflammatory qualities – alongside or central to its anti-cancer effects. The following two articles discuss the discovery and implications of these effects.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314366.php
Even though its value as a cancer-fighting ingredient is yet inconclusive, with its harmlessness when applied topically and all of its incredible anti-aging benefits – there is certainly no harm in having a little Frankincense in our body care routines!
Frankincense is a significant ingredient in the following of Natural Yogi products:
Frankincense Body Butter (a high concentration of Frankincense)
Frankincense and Geranium Body Butter
Frankincense and Julip Body Butter
Epsom Salts
Epsom Salts, otherwise known as Magnesium Sulphate, is the main ingredient, along with sea salt and bicarbonate of soda, in Natural Yogi Bath Salts.
The website, https://www.seasalt.com/salt-101/epsom-salt-uses-benefits, outlines the multiple benefits of Epsom salts, amongst them the fact that,
“Studies have shown that magnesium and sulphate are both readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt an easy and ideal way to enjoy the associated health benefits. Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation, helping muscle and nerve function, and helping to prevent artery hardening. Sulphates help improve the absorption of nutrients, flush toxins, and help ease migraine headaches.”
Geranium Essential Oil
Referring her specifically to the oil derived from Rose Geranium, or Geranium Graveolens, which is native to South Africa, Geranium essential oil can be considered to be our wonder offering to the world. It has incredible skin and mood-enhancing, anti-microbial and hormone-balancing qualities which are outlined in the articles: http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/geranium-oil.aspx
and
https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/geranium-essential-oil/
Geranium oil is understood to also lift, tone and tighten skin and to enhance brain function and concentration. Studies are currently exploring its value in preventing degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s.
Calendula Oil
For many years Calendula Oil, made from an infusion of the Calendula petals, has been known to be wonderfully soothing and healing to many types of skin irritations, wounds and infections, including sunburn. This makes it a popular ingredient in nappy rash formulas. Our own Calendula and Camomile Butter is perfect for this, amongst other needs. Calendula is also known to have powerful anti-viral properties. You can read more about the benefits of Calendula Oil at http://articles.mercola.com/herbal-oils/calendula-oil.aspx
Beeswax
A key ingredient in both natural yogi deodorants and Natural Yogi Body Butters, Beeswax is a wonder cosmetic ingredient with its ability to seal in moisture and protect skin from environmental irritants without clogging pores.
“Beeswax carries antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that are essential in fighting chapped skin and bacterial infections that tend to affect us most in the dry, winter months. It forms a protective wall by sealing in moisture in our skin without smothering and clogging up the pores. Plus, beeswax contains vitamin A which has been proven in multiple studies to reduce wrinkles and age spots while re-hydrating and reconstructing damaged skin cells”.
Shea Butter
One of the richest and most moisturising natural ingredients, Shea Butter contains high levels of vitamin A and E, anti-oxidants which have powerful anti-aging effects. Shea Butter is in fact spoken of as “the all natural vitamin A cream.” Vitamin A, of which Retinol is a component, is considered, within the cosmetics industry, to be central to collagen production and the go-to for anti-aging products. More than this, Shea Butter is also soothing and healing. It has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties and to be helpful with allergies, wounds and irritated skin. It is found in all of Natural Yogi’s body butters.
For more information on Shea Butter, have a look at http://www.sheainstitute.com/asbi-library/21reasons/
Grape seed oil
Grape seed oil is an oil with a wonderful light, non-fatty texture, making it great in formulations where it where we don’t want the thick oily residue as such as with Natural Yogi Face and Massage Oils. The result is a serum that does not clog pores. More than this it is a rich source of fatty acids and the antioxidants E and C.
