This week my kids came home with their school newsletter and the first line reads
“Check for head lice”
I’m sure every parent cringes when they see their child scratching away at their head, and (if you are like me) can send you on a lice hunting mission.
But, I know how to treat it quickly and effectively; and even better I know how to help stop them catching lice in the first place.… Continue Reading
Kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum) is a native plant found throughout the warmer regions of New Zealand. It grows to the size of a small tree or shrub and thrives in shaded areas, under the taller forest trees.
Kawakawa berries are a favourite food of the Kereru (New Zealand wood pigeon).
Kawakawa has been used as a food source and medicinal plant for centuries in New Zealand.… Continue Reading
If you or someone you know suffers from Eczema or Psoriasis you’ll know the distress it can cause, especially during the winter months. While modern medicine has made great progress in the treatment of these issues, many of us are searching for a natural alternative to ease the discomfort of these skin conditions.
New Zealand Manuka (Leptospermum Scoparium) has been used therapeutically for centuries and numerous scientific studies have backed up what the Maori people and early settlers have always known.… Continue Reading
Manuka is a native New Zealand plant characterised by its small spiky leaves and white or pink- flushed flowers
Traditionally, the Maori people in New Zealand used Manuka leaves to cure a wide number of ailments – a tea from the leaves was used to treat stomach ailments, while the leaves themselves were used to treat everything from joint pain and fevers to burns and skin disorders.… Continue Reading
Manuka Oil is a concentrated oil derived from distilling the leaves and flowers of the Manuka plant – the same one that Manuka honey comes from.
Anyway, you could call us Manuka super-fans – it’s a (how’s this for a cliche?) miracle of nature and everything your skin could ask for.
And like you, we’ve used a bit of petroleum jelly in our time.
Petroleum jelly, though, is exactly what it sounds like: a jelly (emollient) made from petrol. It’s basically the leftover residue that’s made when crude oil is refined. Would you want to put this on your skin?
And did you know that what you put on your skin is absorbed, not only into the skin itself, but also into your bloodstream?… Continue Reading
There are many ways to combat chaffing, but most people will point you in the direction of a simple lubricant most households have in their bathroom cabinets – Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)
Despite being long used to treat a wide range of skin ailments, it’s not great for your skin – because it’s a byproduct of oil refining.… Continue Reading
Looking after your body doesn’t always look after the world.
You may, for example, buy a bottle of water every so often after you train. Staying hydrated is a good thing, right?
But did you know that the production of those water bottles uses 17 million barrels of oil a year? Not to mention the additional 50 million to pump, process, transport and refrigerate the water.… Continue Reading
