Pain before, during, or after sex is, unfortunately, more common for women than many people think. Painful sex, also known as dyspareunia, affects up to 20% of women worldwide at some point in their lives. This number jumps to between 17% to 45% of women who are going through menopause.
Considering 1 in 5 women, and up to 1 in 2 women in menopause experience pain during sex, you would think that it would be a subject that is more commonly discussed. However, although we live in the 21st century, there is still a stigma associated with the female reproductive system which makes many women uncomfortable discussing such concerns.
It is important to know that although pain during sex is a common complaint for many women, it’s not something that you just have to live with or endure. If you are experiencing pain during intercourse, there are several natural remedies as well as medications that may be able to help relieve your discomfort.
You should speak with your doctor if you are experiencing any pain or discomfort during sex as soon as you notice it happening. The longer that you let it continue without treatment, the worse it can get and the harder it gets to treat.
If you are experiencing pain during or after intercourse, you should reach out to your gynecologist. While it often feels uncomfortable to talk about such topics, it’s important to remember that they are trained to help with such concerns and that it is a common complaint for up to 50% of menopausal women.
At your appointment, be sure to tell your doctor when you experience pain – if it’s all the time or only when you have penetrative sex or anywhere in between. It’s also important to describe the type of pain you feel. Is it burning, itchy, sharp, dull, achy? This can help them diagnose the cause of your pain and will help them determine the best treatment option for you.
In many cases, a simple vaginal moisturizer or the use of lubricants can help significantly reduce or even eliminate pain during sex. In more severe cases, however, your doctor may recommend therapy or medications.
Although painful intercourse becomes more common during menopause, it’s something that can happen at any point in a woman’s life. Pain during sex can happen for several reasons, including:
In addition to the above reasons, painful sex during menopause can also be caused by vaginal dryness, vaginal atrophy, or other hormonal changes. In some situations, women can become so anxious at the thought of having sex because of past unpleasant experiences that they develop a condition known as vaginismus.
It is important to talk to your gynecologist if you are experiencing pain with sex as it may also be the result of a bacterial or fungal infection, or more rarely, ovarian cancer.
Vaginismus is a condition that affects the vaginal muscles. It most commonly occurs in women who have experienced painful sex in the past. This can cause them to develop anxiety at the thought of having sex which causes an involuntary tightening and constriction of the vaginal muscles which can make penetrative sex impossible.
Luckily, it is highly treatable and there are several treatment options for vaginismus depending on the severity of your condition. Most commonly, physical therapy is recommended which can include yoga poses, pelvic floor exercises, or the use of a vaginal dilator.
In other cases, sex therapy, deep breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques may be more effective in treating cases of vaginismus.
Our bodies go through significant changes during menopause, so it’s no surprise that a lot of the time, sex is the last thing on our minds. Along with fluctuating hormones and massive changes in our bodies such as hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia, many women also experience relationship difficulties during this stage of their life.
In addition, women’s vaginas change as they age. The vagina naturally loses elasticity and the vaginal walls become thinner and more susceptible to damage such as tearing and bleeding.
These changes and relationship difficulties can lead to greater levels of stress, depression, anxiety, worsening self-images, worries about weight gain and aging, and many more things that can affect a woman’s self-confidence in the bedroom.
Together, all of these things can cause performance anxiety and sexual dysfunction, especially if you aren’t feeling the same kind of love from your significant other that you once did. This can lead to a lack of arousal which can hinder the production of the body’s natural lubrication which directly contributes to painful sex.
As we grow and age, our bodies go through dramatic hormonal changes. These changes occur at several key points in our lives such as puberty, pregnancy and childbirth, and the stages of menopause.
While these changes are completely natural, they can come with some unpleasant side effects. As a result of fluctuating estrogen levels, women who are going through (peri)menopause are more likely to suffer from vaginal dryness and/or vaginal atrophy.
These conditions are more common than you might think, each affecting nearly 50% of (peri)menopausal women at some point.
Vaginal dryness and vaginal atrophy tend to go hand in hand with (peri)menopause, due to decreased estrogen levels. If you have vaginal atrophy, the inside of your vagina may:
Luckily, vaginal atrophy is highly treatable, most commonly through the use of a vaginal or vulvar moisturizer such as our VMagic Vulvar Balm.
Unfortunately, yes. As our bodies age and change, our hormone levels fluctuate significantly, which can cause drastic changes in our bodies. During (peri)menopause, estrogen levels dip significantly and our bodies stop producing as much of it.
This leads to a decrease in the elasticity of the vagina which causes a thinning of our vaginal walls, vaginal dryness, and tightening and shortening of the vagina. Altogether, these symptoms can make intercourse extremely painful for some women. As many as 45% of (peri)menopausal women find sex to be painful at some point.
In most cases, pain and discomfort during intercourse can be relieved through the use of lubricants or vaginal moisturizers and through open communication with your partner. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend sex therapy, physical therapy, or prescription medication to help relieve and reduce your symptoms.
One of the most important things that you can do when it comes to painful sex is communicate with your partner. Let them know that foreplay is more important than ever now, as being fully aroused can significantly help with natural lubrication which will make sex more pleasurable for both of you.
You may also wish to discuss using lubricants or changing positions to help make sex more pleasurable. Certain positions, such as being on top, can allow the woman to better control the pace and depth of penetration which can help make things more comfortable.
Finally, if penetrative sex is painful or uncomfortable, consider oral sex or using toys to still have those feelings of intimacy without having to worry about pain or discomfort from penetrative sex.
Vaginal estrogen, in the form of a pill, ring, or cream that is inserted directly into the vaginal canal, is commonly prescribed for women with severe vaginal dryness or vaginal atrophy. These estrogen supplements are typically a low-dose option that is generally considered safe.
Other women may be prescribed a vaginal suppository consisting of estrogen, testosterone, and DHEA that is also inserted directly into the vaginal canal.
Be sure to tell your doctor of any other medications you may be on, supplements you may be taking, or other health conditions that you may have as any of these could interact with the medication they are planning to prescribe you.
In most cases, pain during sex is caused either by a physical cause that can be treated, such as vaginismus or pelvic floor dysfunction, or a psychological cause that leads to a reluctance to engage in intercourse.
For physical reasons, your doctor may recommend that you try physical therapy to help strengthen the vaginal muscles. Pelvic floor therapy can also help give you greater control and awareness of these muscles, which can be beneficial in cases of vaginismus. This control can help you learn to relax your vaginal muscles when you feel them tightening.
Some of the most common physical therapy options for sexual dysfunction include certain yoga poses, pelvic floor therapy exercises, Kegel exercises, and in certain cases, the use of a vaginal dilator.
When sex is uncomfortable, trying to have more of it is probably going to be the last thing on your mind. Increasing how often you have sex can be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to relieving pain during sex.
It sounds contradictory, but the more frequently you have sex, the more your body will expect it and grow used to it. Being frequently aroused helps to increase lubrication to the vaginal canal which in turn can make sex more pleasurable.
At first, it can help to masturbate or use toys such as a vibrator to reintroduce your body to having sexual intercourse. Self-pleasure can help increase arousal and improve blood flow to your genitals which in turn will increase lubrication.
This is also part of why foreplay is so important when having sex at all stages of life, but especially during (peri)menopause. Taking a few extra minutes to “warm up” can make all the difference in having a pleasurable experience.
Be open and honest with your partner about what feels good and what doesn’t, and take time to have oral sex, and be intimate with your partner before getting straight to the deed.
For many women, topical or oral estrogen or other hormone therapies are a last resort when it comes to dealing with their symptoms of menopause. Because of this, many doctors will recommend a vulvar moisturizer or a vaginal lubricant to help make sexual intercourse more pleasurable.
In many cases, a vaginal lubricant may be enough to help make sexual intercourse more pleasurable for (peri)menopausal women. Generally, water-based lubricants are recommended over glycerin-based ones for several reasons.
Primarily, water-based lubricants are less likely to cause vaginal irritation, they can be used more frequently and they can be used safely with condoms and toys, and they do not carry the increased risk of yeast infections like glycerin-based lubricants do.
Our VMagic Vulva Balm is a proprietary, hormone-free, all-natural vulvar moisturizer that is the perfect solution for relieving occasional or chronic vulvar dryness and irritation. It is made with all-natural ingredients including our honey and propolis blend, extra virgin olive oil, and organic sea buckthorn.
This moisturizer can be applied liberally and as often as necessary, and it can help to provide soothing relief from vulvar dryness due to (peri)menopause or breastfeeding, irritation from shaving or chafing from tight clothing, and discomfort from friction caused by sex.
When used daily, 79% of women in a clinical study felt immediate relief from their discomfort, while 92% saw a reduction in dryness in as little as two weeks.
Resources:
We know you love our organic products! Here is some additional insight into our Medicine Mama and CEO, Dr. Clare Bertucio. This link will take you to a candid interview done by Evernow, a company specializing in menopause treatment custom to you. We think you will enjoy getting to know what makes Clare tick and what forms the ethos of our company.
]]>Medicine Mama’s Apothecary wants to give back to our healthcare heroes risking their lives for us every day. Starting April 20th, for every package of our Sweet Bee Magic product purchased at medicinemamasapothecary.com, another package will be donated to the heroes at healthcare institutions throughout the United States. The program is scheduled to run through the end of May 2020.
One of the best ways to slow the spread of the COVID-19 is by washing your hands. However, we know the constant scrubbing may be causing serious dryness and damage to your hands. We want to help eliminate this irritation and potentially damaging skin condition by providing free product to those in need — and at the front lines in fighting this terrible disease.
Clare S. Bertucio, M.D., specializing in Radiation Oncology and Chief Executive Officer of the Company stated: “As a practicing physician and radiologist, I am someone who is very close to the COVID-19 crisis. I wanted to give back to the healthcare community that is so close to my heart. With so many of us today working long hours and repeatedly washing our hands, my hope is for our heroes to use Sweet Bee Magic to provide skin relief. I am pleased to support the healthcare community in the challenges we are all facing today.”
Sweet Bee Magic is committed to continuing to find ways to support our communities during this unprecedented time and do our role in fighting this virus. Please continue to do your part in maintaining social distancing and staying safe so we can defeat this virus together. Our hearts go out to all those affected around the world by the current coronavirus pandemic.
Share the love and purchase yours today here.
]]>We have high praise for our friend Alysse Katherine, blogger extraordinaire, who writes on relatable topics covering fashion, design, lifestyle and travel. This week, she gave us shout out and we couldn't be more excited.
In her post she suggests that "If you are looking for new skincare, I highly recommend giving this brand a try. May just be your new ride-or-die-skincare line!"
She also shares why she can't be without her MMA products, explaining "I don’t know about y’all, but my skin does not like this time of year. Always so dry and dull – and nothing seems to break the cycle. I have tried almost every moisturizer or oil or scrub under the sun, but the best cure I’ve found is Medicine Mama’s Apothecary."
Thank you Alysse for the praise! We love hearing how our products help to simplify skincare and leave your skin silky smooth.
You can check out the full review Dry Skin Remedies With Medicine Mama's Apothecary here.
]]>3 easy daily tips to keep your skin looking luscious, weather or not!
Weather changes often leave our skin dehydrated, especially our face. Facial skin can become chronically dry, chapped and irritated due to the fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Left untreated mild skin irritations and dead cell bacteria build up can turn into eczema, dermatitis and other hard to manage skin issues.
With a few simple daily adjustments to your skin care routine you can maintain super healthy skin in any weather condition no matter how extreme the climate or condition.
Medicine Mama recommends 3 quick and easy tips to keep your skin moisturized, nourished and protected no matter what the seasonal weather changes bring.
That’s it just 3 easy steps, cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize! No matter what the weather brings, your skin can maintain its’ naturally beautiful!
Check out our complete 3 step Skin Perfection Kit [Kit includes 1 jar of Ultra Beauty Balm, 1 Ultra Facial Scrub and 1 Zinc Facial Bar] On Sale Now while supplies last.
]]>I've outlined a very simple 3 step process below:
This is a magic 3 step ritual that visibly illuminates the skin. Turn on the lights underneath your skin and reveal your glow!
]]>De-puff
If you are consistently waking up with puffy, swollen eyes, try this easy fix: Add an extra pillow and sleep on your back. This allows the fluids around your eyes to drain and keeps the puffiness at bay. And of course, don’t forget to use a dollop of Ultra Beauty Balm on your face and décolletage and pay extra attention around the eyes to soften and smooth out fine lines.
Create waves
To wake up with tousled, beachy looking waves in your hair is actually quite simple. Start by showering at night. Allow your hair to air dry until it’s barely damp, run some light styling crème through your hair with your fingers. Depending on your hair type and what kind of waves you prefer, you can sleep in braids or twist your hair into a bun. And Voila! Wake up with beautiful wavy locks, saving you so much time in the morning! And we know we are going to need every extra minute in the morning because of the time change!
Before you apply your perfect shade of soft pink or luscious red its important to soften, smooth and plump your lips. Your lips, unlike your skin, have no sweat glands, hair, or sebaceous glands to assist in locking in the moisture and our own natural body oils.
The lips are made up of only 3-5 cellular layers compared to the rest of our skin which can have up to 16 layers of skin. Thus, your lips are so much more delicate and sensitive and require some attention.
Lip exfoliation is key to helping your lips shed off that old skin and bacteria along with preparing it for an important coat of Medicine Mama’s Sweet Bee Magic Wand to moisturize and restore them to their former glory.
It’s best to dry-brush exfoliate in the morning before a shower. I like to use a tooth brush or a dry towel. Brushing gently on your dry skin will stimulate circulation and cell rejuvenation. After a few minutes of exfoliating in a circular motion, massage on a thick coat of Sweet Bee Magic. Your lips will be plump and pink from all of the circulation, free of dry dead skin, and extra soft!
Kissing can be quite exfoliating and plumping in itself, so get close to your Valentine and use your soft kissable lips!
]]>Our homes are our safe spaces – where we connect with family, raise our kids, and celebrate milestones big and small. It’s where we step back from the world and get to be our stripped-down selves. Home is our sanctuary and our base of operations. Because our homes are so important, we take steps to protect them in order to keep the elements out, and also to keep ourselves safe and healthy.
It turns out that honey bees do something similar, only instead of caulk and weather stripping, they use an ingenious natural substance: propolis.
Nature’s most powerful medicine
Propolis starts as a resin that comes from poplar and cone-bearing trees. Honey bees are natural experts at identifying and harvesting the purist, most biologically active resin and sap. Then they add their own bee magic to create the propolis they use to seal the hive and protect it from fungi, bacteria, and viruses.
The amazing pure organic healing properties of propolis make it the perfect ingredient from which to build our product line. We start with nature’s most powerful medicine and unlock its full potential through our unique proprietary bio fusion process ––meticulously calculated timing and temperature over a 28-day period. The result is MelexylemTM, our honey-and-propolis powerhouse that provides extremely heightened prebiotic, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. That is why it is so effective on a multitude of skin issues, from fine lines and wrinkles, to acne and eczema, to dry skin and rashes.
But, wait! There’s more!
All of the ingredients in Medicine Mama’s products are carefully chosen and combined for their skin-loving properties. Here is the buzz on what else you’ll find in our jars.
Organic Honey (the other half of the MelexylemTM power couple)
In addition to being yummy, honey has many attributes for health and wellness. (How often does that happen? Sorry chocolate cake and potato chips!)
Since ancient times, honey has been held in high esteem for a variety of ailments. Now we know why. Honey’s chemical structure makes it naturally antiseptic and antimicrobial. Scientists have only begun to unlock its healing mysteries, but we do know that honey contains the amino acids and vitamins A, C, and E that are essential for healthy, resilient and hydrated skin.
Our honey is extremely bioactive and ideally suited for use in our topical creams. Our process maximizes its ability to:
Medicine Mama is proud to use only Fair Trade Honey from the Brazilian rain forests.
Royal Jelly
Royal Jelly is created by worker bees and used to nourish young bee larvae, especially the future queens. Turns out the same elements needed to develop strong bee royalty are also essential for repairing and maintaining healthy skin: vitamins A, C, D, E; a complex of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12); biotin; niacin; folic acid; pantothenic acid and inositol. In addition, Royal Jelly contains a natural antibiotic called 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, which has roughly a quarter of the potency of penicillin, as well as a surprising amount of gelatin – a key prerequisite for our skin to produce collagen and safely minimize wrinkles.
Bee Pollen
It’s no wonder Bee Pollen is considered nature’s multi-vitamin. Created to nourish bees in the hive, it contains many essential nutrients for human health as well, including all the essential amino acids, 12 vitamins, 28 minerals, 11 enzymes and coenzymes, 14 beneficial fatty acids, 11 carbohydrates, and a high concentration of nucleic acids RNA and DNA. It is a powerful antioxidant and, when used topically, stimulates cell renewal.
Organic Cera Alba Beeswax
Beeswax is the primary substance that makes up the bee’s honeycomb. It is contains all the power and goodness of honey in a condensed form. Beeswax is amazing in skin creams because while it forms a protective coating that locks in moisture and protects skin from damaging environmental factors, it does not clog pores. This barrier also assists with minimizing sun damage. In addition, beeswax’s anti-inflammatory, anti-allergenic and germicidal properties help keep skin healthy and strong.
Extra Virgin Olea Europaea (Olive Oil)
Getting all that bee goodness to work so well for people requires a perfect delivery system. Olive oil takes on that role beautifully. Because it most closely resembles human sebum, it is easily absorbed through the skin, carrying all the nutrients and benefits of our other ingredients with it.
In addition, olive oil is an effective, nutrient-rich moisturizer in its own right. It penetrates deep into the skin and creates a porous layer of protection. It contains the compound linoleic acid, which helps prevent water from evaporating which helps skin naturally retain its moisture. Unlike petroleum products, however, olive oil allows skin to breathe and does not clog pores. It’s high vitamin E and antioxidant content assists in repairing cells and preventing cell damage from free radicals.
Sea buckthorn oil
Sea buckthorn oil, a natural cleanser and exfoliator, comes from a shrub. It can also help heal burns, cuts, wounds, sunburn, rashes, and other types of skin damage. Rich in vitamins E, A, and C, when used daily, it can help slow the signs of aging.
And it’s edible!
That’s right. Our products are so pure and natural you could literally eat them with a spoon! We wouldn’t have it any other way. Every Medicine Mama container is packed with nutrient dense ingredients (unlike others that are 99% water and only 1% active ingredients). What you won’t find are fillers, binders, irritants, or anything artificial. And in case you’re wondering, we never test our products on animals.
As winter heads our way and we spend more time in our homes and out in harsh temperatures and wind, the essential healing powers of all these ingredients become even more necessary. Thankfully, you don’t have to work as hard as the honey bees to create them! We make it easy to have them on hand, at home and on the go.
We look forward to having you in our community!
]]>
Thoughts become things.
This is a key principle of much spiritual teaching. So, “Great!” you say. “I’ll just think happy, loving thoughts and all will be well.” And it works… for a while… until you’re running late and stuck behind someone driving just under the speed limit. Or, the perfectly organized, productive day you planned is derailed by yet another crisis, and sick-and-tired you can’t seem to catch a break. Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to muster those happy, loving, benevolent thoughts.
And that’s okay.
When all you can think is, “Crap!” we say, go ahead! Be annoyed. Be scared. Be angry. Be whatever you feel in the moment on those days when life is giving you lemons and you can’t remember how to make lemonade.
Yes, that’s right. You get to have all your thoughts and feelings.
And then you get to choose the ones that serve you the best.
On those days when it’s all going to hell in hand basket, start humming your favorite song. Eat a donut. Go outside and breathe. Write a haiku. Pay for the next person’s latte. Look in the mirror and smile.
Find the real you. The pure you.
And when you do, those loving thoughts will come. And joy will follow.
]]>
“Hiking is a bit like life. The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other… again and again and again. And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit.” –Unknown
We are honored to be in your backpack for the journey!
]]>
Admittedly, here at Medicine Mama’s, we’ve catered much of our brand messaging to a woman’s needs. Men’s facial skin is typically thicker than women’s and less likely to be sensitive. Also, their skincare is usually simpler because men don’t typically wear makeup.
However, shaving burns, cracked hands and feet, sores and scrapes left to heal on their own are a frequent, and unnecessary, pain...
]]>Admittedly, here at Medicine Mama’s, we’ve catered much of our brand messaging to a woman’s needs. Men’s facial skin is typically thicker than women’s and less likely to be sensitive. Also, their skincare is usually simpler because men don’t typically wear makeup.
However, shaving burns, cracked hands and feet, sores and scrapes left to heal on their own are a frequent, and unnecessary, pain.
Receiving weekly testimonials from men who praise Sweet Bee Magic for remedying everything from cracked heels to acne, we feel it is time to shed some light on the needs of beautiful male skin.
"I kept wondering why my Sweet Bee Magic was running low so quickly, and after my second jar, I realized my husband was using it on his hands and face every night, as well as on scratches and after shaving!! He just asked me last night to order him his own jar!! ~Sheila
The scalp, hair, face and body naturally takes a beating, shower and cleanse at least every other day, and more frequently when exercising, or working up a sweat. Rinse off all the oil, sweat, and sunscreen that can build up around the hair follicles.
Prone to acne on your face or back? Cleanse with products that include Zinc, a known enemy of acne and infected follicles. Zinc is also a metal that humans need in small doses to perform essential functions. In addition to treating acne, it is used to boost the human immune system.
Medicine Mama’s Zinc Facial Soap is carefully formulated to detoxify, moisturize, and nourish skin. It is even effective on acne, eczema, contact dermatitis, and redness.
"I've always just used old bar soap stubs for shaving soap, but this zinc soap seems to keep my skin from drying out after a shave." –Dylan
Yes, even guys should slough away dead surface skin cells and other impurities by exfoliating at least once a week. Get rid of surface debris and keep skin stimulated and oxygenated.
For deep exfoliation, utilizing the anti-bacterial properties of honey, Medicine Mama’s Ultra Facial Scrub, clears away dead skin. It also stimulates circulation and blood flow, helping clear away and reduce inflammation. Also, if skin is clearing from the zinc soap, the follicles may dry up. The honey scrub smoothes skin out by getting rid of the dried buildup.
And did we mention it’s pure enough to eat AND DELICIOUS…
Or if you prefer to DIY, here is a recipe we like:
2 tbs of honey
2 tbs of oatmeal
½ of an avocado (you can eat the other half!)
2 tbs of coarse sea salt
Mix together into a paste, massage in a circular motion.
Most men can get by with a light, fast penetrating moisturizer applied daily after they bathe.
If you are active, more frequent protection from friction, for cyclists, surfers, runners, rowers, swimmers, skiers, football, soccer, hockey players is essential.
If you are outdoorsy, additional protection from skin damage to face, earlobes, neck, knuckles etc. from water, wind, heat and cold exposure is also recommended.
]]>Since the human body’s largest organ includes the skin, we don’t have to look very far to discover that the majority of the population is dealing with some kind of skin problem. From adolescence, through adulthood, acne, characterized by comedones (pimples) and blemishes, is the most common skin concern in the US, affecting over 55 million Americans annually...
]]>Since the human body’s largest organ includes the skin, we don’t have to look very far to discover that the majority of the population is dealing with some kind of skin problem. From adolescence, through adulthood, acne, characterized by comedones (pimples) and blemishes, is the most common skin concern in the US, affecting over 55 million Americans annually.
The known and scientifically accepted causes of acne are genetics, clogged follicles, and bacteria.
Some common triggers are stress, cosmetics, certain foods and hormones.
Menstrual acne, a flare-up of blemishes every month that coincides with menstruation, is one of the most common triggers in women. According to a study published in the Archives of Dermatology, 63% of acne-prone women experience this increase in breakouts and inflammation around the time of their periods.
Menstrual-related acne is not a matter of hygiene; it is an internal effect. However, any extra bacteria you introduce to your face will worsen menstrual acne. So while you cannot change the relationship between acne and hormones, there are things you can do to make those breakouts less severe.
This problem can greatly affect one’s self-esteem and in some cases be incredibly painful. Please let us know how we can support you. Please reach out to us with questions and concerns, or share your story of acne and how you cleared up your skin!
EVERY DAY PROBLEM SKIN SOLUTION, keep your skin clean, exfoliated and highly moisturized with natural products like Medicine Mama’s Zinc Facial Soap, Honey Facial Scrub and Ultra Beauty Balm . Get your skins natural balance back!
Sources:
WebMD
DermaDoctor.com
Archives of Dermatology
Women’s Health Magazine
Recently in the “Beauty” world news we have witnessed firsthand the fierce transparency that lives in the social market place. As consumers we are not only savvy we are connected to an instant global community with a platform that allows us to have an instant VOICE. The NEW digital marketplace is a giant, lovely, open and fully transparent bazaar and the consumer rules the show!
Buyer beware, many giant companies still operate in the dark believing that consumers are not looking deeply into the fine print and well mostly that’s true most folks are busy, and want instant gratification and trust that if it’s natural it can’t hurt… right? For gosh sakes.
]]>Recently in the “Beauty” world news we have witnessed firsthand the fierce transparency that lives in the social market place. As consumers we are not only savvy we are connected to an instant global community with a platform that allows us to have an instant VOICE. The NEW digital marketplace is a giant, lovely, open and fully transparent bazaar and the consumer rules the show!
Buyer beware, many giant companies still operate in the dark believing that consumers are not looking deeply into the fine print and well mostly that’s true most folks are busy, and want instant gratification and trust that if it’s natural it can’t hurt… right? For gosh sakes.
As Manufacturers we have a deep responsibility to do no harm. We must tell the “whole” truth about what we are offering. We must constantly strive to improve our standards and make products that are pure, safe and free from synthetics and chemicals that cause harm. Sadly still companies cloak their questionable offerings in words like Natural, Organic and Pure.
What to do? There is only the middle way here, read the label, remain skeptic until proof is clear and keep a chemical and herbal compendium handy at all times, or your smart phone to translate the 25 letter chemical compounds on the label.
Reading the ingredients list on beauty products is like trying to read a foreign language. And let’s be honest most of us just skip it completely and trust the big bold letters on the front that say, ‘natural’ ‘beautifying’ ‘perfecting’ etc… while these are nice, safe and comforting words they are not always the truth. Many of the ingredients in the fine print on the back are actually counterproductive to our skins beauty and health.
One of the most common offenders is mineral oil, which has been linked to skin problems because it clogs pores and interferes with the skin’s natural ability to purge toxins. The subsequent build-up of toxins causes acne, blemishes, itchy, red, and generally unhealthy skin. Mineral oils are only used in skincare products because they are cheap and plentiful, it is a byproduct from distilling crude petroleum oil into gasoline. It is used as a filler in many household items like lotions, make-up, liquid soap, body oil and sunscreen.
Natural oils are among the oldest skincare remedies from cultures across the world and are enjoying a renaissance in today’s natural skincare market. Organic oils, like the Olive oil used in all of Medicine Mama’s products, are derived naturally and contain potent antioxidants like caffeic acid, oleic acid, and oleuropein. These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate skin cell regeneration leading to stronger, smoother and healthier skin. Organic Olive oils high oleic content allows for quick absorption when applied directly on your skin. To sum it up, organic oils are natural, high in antioxidants, and deliver moisture that penetrates and absorbs quickly into the skin.
Although 95% of skin care products contain mineral oil, hope is not lost. There are many natural and organic skin care alternatives to this petroleum by-product. Educating yourself on your options is your greatest tool for truly healthy skin. Next time you’re scouring the skin care aisles, do yourself a favor and check the label. Feel good and be informed about what you’re putting on your skin.
]]>We are so thrilled that Refinery29 featured us in the following article about todays modern Apothecaries and named us one of their favorites!!
]]>a-poth-e-car-y / e-pathi-kere circa 1800 : a person who formulates and sells matera medica (medicines) to physicians.
When I first came up with the name for Medicine Mama’s Apothecary several years ago very few people could even pronounce the word apothecary let alone spell it. Nowadays it has become a catch word in the skin care industry for specialty or bespoke (another old cool word meaning made for the individual need) skin care products.
TODAY, We are so thrilled that Refinery29 featured us in the following article about todays modern Apothecaries and named us one of their favorites!!
Where: Medicine Mama's Apothecary, Ojai, CA
The Story:
Because of her severe allergies from pesticides and chemicals, founder Donna Steinmann decided to study plant sciences, herbology, and naturopathy, and eventually earned her license in cosmetology — so you could say she seriously knows her stuff. For the last 20 years, she's devoted her time to researching and formulating her own all-natural healing products, which feature only the highest quality ingredients. While the flagship apothecary resides in Ojai, CA, the line is now sold in thousands of health and wellness stores around the U.S.
What It Offers:
Tell us this: Can you eat any of your skin-care products? Okay, maybe you wouldn't actually want to, but if you did, Medicine Mama's are totally viable options. Its number-one best-seller is Sweet Bee Magic, a cream created from ancient forest honey. All of its products aid in soothing, healing, and providing superior moisture — whether it's for your face, feet, or even your vagina. Yep, if you're having any issues down there, try out Vmagic — a skin-softening balm infused with honey, avocado, sea buckthorn, olive oil, and protective beeswax.
The Experience
When it comes to customer service, Medicine Mama's doesn't mess around. It offers free shipping all the time, adds samples to every box, and if for some reason what you ordered doesn't fly with you, you get a refund — no questions asked.
Author: KALEIGH FASANELLA
Article: Courtesy of Refinery29
]]>For many, summer is just that, a time of wonderful frivolity and relaxation, filled with memories sand, and love. Summer can also boast extreme environmental factors such as high temperatures, humidity, sweat, intense UV radiation, chemicals, air conditioning, and more. These intense elements host an array of skin issues including oily skin, acne breakouts, dark spots, sun damage, dryness, itchiness, and dehydration...
]]>“Summer means happy times and good sunshine.
It means going to the beach, going to Disneyland, having fun.”
–Brian Wilson
For many, summer is just that, a time of wonderful frivolity and relaxation, filled with memories sand, and love. Summer can also boast extreme environmental factors such as high temperatures, humidity, sweat, intense UV radiation, chemicals, air conditioning, and more.
These intense elements host an array of skin issues including oily skin, acne breakouts, dark spots, sun damage, dryness, itchiness, and dehydration.
Here at Medicine Mama, we’ve devoted the time and effort into making organic, pure, uncompromising skincare that heals and reveals beautiful, healthy skin, regardless of sensitivities, age, or complications.
Research shows that as many as 3 out of 4 Americans are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency is shown to cause depression, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis and new research is showing that vitamin D deficiency is even an indicator of cancer. So what’s a girl to do?!
Blog for Beautifully Tan Skin
We, along with our bee friends, will keep working, so you can get out there and let your mind, body and skin enjoy the fresh summer air!
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This sounds like an explicit pop culture term that you’d hear on twitter or Instagram, but in fact this is the name going around the health and beauty world for chafing. Most of us would have liked to be summer ready with perfectly toned body and zero “extra bits” but for those of us who have a life, that’s not always a reality...
]]>This sounds like an explicit pop culture term that you’d hear on twitter or Instagram, but in fact this is the name going around the health and beauty world for chafing. Most of us would have liked to be summer ready with perfectly toned body and zero “extra bits” but for those of us who have a life, that’s not always a reality. Those little chubby areas that we have between our thighs or under our arms or stomach when rubbed together cause friction that often leads to a burning rashy skin irritation, hence “Chub Rub”. Makes perfect sense doesn't it? Where summer comes into play is that during the summer we are often doing activities we might not be doing during other seasons, hiking, tennis, swimming, going to the beach etc. and all of this sweat and moisture, especially salt water can cause chafing to go out of control.
So what are some solution?
Some people wear “summer unders” a type of garment that is light weight and silky to prevent inner thigh chafing. I have also heard great things about natural rice based powders for underarm chafing. And here at Medicine Mama’s Apothecary we have had rave reviews from clients who pack on Sweet Bee Magic at night to heal chafing that has become blistered and itchy. I know every summer when I’m out in the ocean surfing I always get horrible stomach chafing and it keeps me out of the ocean the next day because the salt water stings so badly. I use Sweet Bee Magic to help it heal quicker and I also apply it under my rash guard on the sensitive areas as a sort of barrier to protect against the saltwater and soothe the irritated areas.
TIP:
When you are on the go, being active or just for everyday life Medicine Mama’s Sweet Bee Magic Wand makes a great easy to bring with you travel size companion to help prevent and heal chafing. Apply a thin layer of it on the sensitive spots you are prone to chafing to help prevent it all together!
Have a great summer and don’t let your chub rub keep you from enjoying all your summer fun!
]]>Haole rot. You’ve probably heard this phrase on your Hawaiian vacation and thought it was a charming native greeting. Well… it’s not charming and it’s not a greeting! It is clinically known as Tinea Versicolor and it is actually a fungal growth of yeast that occurs naturally on the skin. In my experience with Tinea Versicolor, and I’ve had a lot of it. I could lessen the symptoms with exfoliation and moisturization...
]]>Haole rot. You’ve probably heard this phrase on your Hawaiian vacation and thought it was a charming native greeting. Well… it’s not charming and it’s not a greeting! It is clinically known as Tinea Versicolor and it is actually a fungal growth of yeast that occurs naturally on the skin. A type of acidic bleach from this type of yeast causes areas of skin to be a different color than the skin around them. These areas can look spotty or patchy. You know you have Tinea Versicolor when you have patches on your skin that may be white, pink, red, or brown and can be lighter or darker than the skin around them. These areas do not tan the way the rest of your skin does. They may occur anywhere on your body but are most commonly seen on your neck, chest, back, and arms. The spots may disappear during cool weather and get worse during warm and humid weather. So don’t be surprised if you notice a Tinea breakout in the summer months. They may be dry and scaly and may also itch or be irritated. A doctor will typically prescribe an antifungal wash or cream or depending on the severity of the case an antibiotic.
In my experience with Tinea Versicolor, and I’ve had a lot of it. I could lessen the symptoms with exfoliation and moisturization. I would get breakouts of it on my arms and chest so I would drybrush the area until it started flaking and then exfoliate it in the shower with a castile soap like Dr. Bronner’s lavender soap, I like lavender because it has some antibacterial properties and it smells lovely. And then I would thoroughly moisturize with Sweet Bee Magic, the honey in it is incredibly anti-microbial and has anti-fungal properties that worked great to soothe my skin and slowly kill the Tinea fungus. In some cases this alone could lessen the symptoms enough to not visit the doctor and in others I would use a prescription skin wash. It all depends on your skin and the severity of your breakout.
I wish you all healthy glowing skin this summer!
]]>Summer is here! And that can only mean one thing… sandal season! How many of you cringe at the sight of your own feet? Do they look and feel callused and cracked? Do your toes have crunchy outta control cuticles with lingering traces of the Christmas party red nail polish? Same here! So instead of dolling out $45 to your local nail salon, try this quick tip at home solution for dry cracked feet, and an affordable fun toenail touch up...
]]>Summer is here! And that can only mean one thing… sandal season! How many of you cringe at the sight of your own feet? Do they look and feel callused and cracked? Do your toes have crunchy outta control cuticles with lingering traces of the Christmas party red nail polish? Same here! So instead of dolling out $45 to your local nail salon, try this quick tip at home solution for dry cracked feet, and an affordable fun toenail touch up.
1. First remove your old Christmas party polish.
2. Soak your feet in warm water with ¼ cup of lemon juice, the lemon juice contains alpha hydroxy acid which will help slough off dead skin cells and soften the hard callouses.
3. Now towel dry your feet, really focusing on exfoliating your heels and soles of your feet. Use a rough crunchy towel, pumice stone or a Dry Brush like the one that comes in Medicine Mama’s Body Brush Kit on the built up callous areas of your heals.
4. Mix together 4 TBS of Sweet Bee Magic with 4 TBS coarse sea salt and scrub each foot, sanding down and polishing rough spots, toes, heels and tops of feet.
5. Rinse your feet well with warm water and soap and Voila, you will see and feel a remarkable improvement, practice this regime 3 nights a week before bed and you will have BRAND NEW looking feet thru-out your entire summer sandal season.
BONUS TIP: Save the $45 dollars and go without polish, because your feet are pretty now, or if you are like me and you feel completely undone and cant step out without polished toes then you can either polish them yourself or go to your local nail salon and pay for a $10 polish ONLY. Having done an excellent at home pedicure you can save the extra $35… and you still get to sit in the salon massage chair for a few minutes!
Happy Summer!
]]>"Sweet Bee Magic is my go to aftershave moisturizer. It has completely eliminated razor bumps and the irritating in-grown hair issues. Also razor burn and rash NEVER happen. I won’t shave without it." Read more testimonials...
]]>"Sweet Bee Magic is my go to aftershave moisturizer. It has completely eliminated razor bumps and the irritating in-grown hair issues. Also razor burn and rash NEVER happen. I won’t shave without it." – Leon S
“I am a busy Dad of 2 girls and work in the construction business, before my wife discovered Sweet Bee Magic my hands were always dry and cracking and I could never get them to heal and I tried a lot of stuff! Sweet Bee Magic is the only thing I found to actually work and now all my construction friends are using it too!” – Scott B.
“Sweet Bee Magic has got me through some hard times! I get shingles from time to time and a friend of mine gave me some Sweet Bee Magic to use on it and it instantly relieves the itching and helps heal it. It’s not like anything else I have ever used.” – Norman
“I am on my feet all day in boots and my heals and feet crack and it’s really painful. I’ve been using Sweet Bee Magic on my feet after work and I no longer have that problem.” – Paul
"Sweet Bee Magic is GREAT for my poor old bald head. I work outside all day and Sweet Bee keeps my scalp feeling moisturized and conditioned it also prevents the tight, dry, itchy feeling. That happens from all day sun and weather." – John
"I ride my motorcycle to and from work every day, real fasssst! I slather Sweet Bee on my neck and legs to keep them from the extreme drying and cracking that occurs from the extreme wind factor." – Mark W]]>For so long we have been told to stay away from oil and anything oil derived because of the misunderstood role of oil and it’s supposed propensity to cause breakouts. Let’s take a deeper look at the “OIL MYTH”...
]]>For so long we have been told to stay away from oil and anything oil derived because of the misunderstood role of oil and it’s supposed propensity to cause breakouts. Let’s take a deeper look at the “OIL MYTH”. Many think that surface oil leads to clogged pores, when in fact, dehydration is the culprit. When dehydration occurs our skin's natural oil production cannot efficiently secrete and lubricate the skins surface. Instead, the natural oils build up and become thick and hardened and get lodged in our pores, creating a deposit of dried out sebum, like black heads and blackheads sibling the infamous, zit, pimple or whitehead.
Try using an organic plant derived oil, like olive oil, or an oil based product like Medicine Mama’s Ultra Beauty Balm to balance and restore the skins moisture and prevent congested pores. The right kind of oils are incredibly protective and moisturizing and an essential necessity for healthy skin. Also, dehydrated skin cells can give way to tiny microscopic cracks in the skin tissue, leaving our facial skin vulnerable to bacterial penetration. Bacteria equals acne, skin infections, dermatitis, facial dandruff to name a few of the many skin issues related to imbalances in dermal oil production and dehydrated skin.
However, Medicine Mama’s Apothecary’s unique pure potent blend of olive oil, propolis and honey found in Ultra Beauty Balm is incredibly beneficial here, because of its antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that work effectively and naturally to eradicate surface bacteria and prevent new bacteria from occurring.
EVERY DAY PROBLEM SKIN SOLUTION, keep your skin clean, exfoliated and highly moisturized with natural products like Medicine Mama’s Zinc Facial Soap, Honey Facial Scrub and Ultra Beauty Balm, this will create a tight impermeable healthy barrier function that is rich in nourishing fatty acids thus strengthening your skins natural immunity to ward of bacteria causing Acne and other unhappy skin problems. The added side effect of glowing rejuvenated skin is a definite plus! Enjoy!!
Everybody wants a gorgeous glowing tan. Tan skin is beautiful; most women say they feel healthier, skinnier and more confident with a tan (I know I do ;) but with all of the scientific evidence showing that sun exposure can lead to melanoma a.k.a. skin cancer, is there a healthy way to have tan skin? ...
]]>Everybody wants a gorgeous glowing tan. Tan skin is beautiful; most women say they feel healthier, skinnier and more confident with a tan (I know I do ;) but with all of the scientific evidence showing that sun exposure can lead to melanoma a.k.a. skin cancer, is there a healthy way to have tan skin? And if so, does it depend upon chemical based sunless tanners and “tanning pills”? Well, when I researched this topic I found two, blaringly opinionated polar opposite positions. One being that Sun Exposure is dangerous and any sun exposure without sunscreen can lead to the potentially life threatening melanoma. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is the belief that some sun (10 – 15 min.) exposure WITHOUT sunscreen is necessary for our health due to the efficient absorption of vitamin D. Research shows that as many as 3 out of 4 Americans are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D deficiency is shown to cause depression, chronic fatigue, osteoporosis and new research is showing that vitamin D deficiency is even an indicator of cancer. So what’s a girl to do?!
1. Avoid heavy sun exposure between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm.
2. Stay hydrated. If you’re planning on being in the sun between 10 and 4 drink at least 1 large bottle of water.
3. Wear an organic sunscreen free of chemicals, parabens and sulfates.
4. Eat lots of foods high in essential fatty acids i.e. coconut oil, salmon, avocado.
5. After sun exposure apply an all organic cream like, Medicine Mama’s Sweet Bee Magic to help prevent peeling and even your tan.
6. Stay exfoliated by dry brushing with Medicine Mama’s Body Brush Kit. Dry brushing is the best way to exfoliate the skin, slough of dead skin cells as well as stimulate cell regrowth for a better even tan.
7. If you do get sunburned try using a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar applied with a cotton ball over your sunburned area, the apple cider vinegar will normalize the PH of the sunburned skin and stop the burning process. After applying the apple cider vinegar immediately apply Sweet Bee Magic All-In-One Healing Skin Cream to help relieve your sunburn, start healing your skin and dramatically reduce peeling.
Many millions of women, men and young children even babies suffer from eczema. In fact it is the most commonly diagnosed dermatological issue...
]]>Many millions of women, men and young children even babies suffer from eczema. In fact it is the most commonly diagnosed dermatological issue. For many people they notice a red or pink, itchy, dry patch of skin and usually call it a 'rash' if this 'rash' is persistent and chronic and keeps causing discomfort for weeks or even months, we typically consult a dermatologist and most likely the rash will be diagnosed as eczema. Often, the first line of treatment is a topical steroid cream. Steroid creams will reduce the inflammation and usually clear up the breakout but in many cases the skin will become dependent on the steroid and need stronger and stronger doses and even injections as treatment continues. In some cases this rash isn't even eczema at all, it can be dermatitis, psoriasis, keratosis, and what all of these conditions have in common is that they can become dependent on steroid use and withdrawal. This is a terribly common and painful cycle which can become very difficult to remedy.
A lot of the research that I have done shows that an anti-inflammatory diet can work wonders at diminishing these rashes at the root of the cause. Or in this case the root of the allergen that's being triggered to cause this inflammation.
We have also had incredibly positive feedback from, eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis sufferers (myself included) that have reported major improvement and relief from dry, itchy, red flaky skin using Medicine Mama's Sweet Bee Magic.
You want a cream or salve to be 100% Zero irritant tested. Stay away from complicated formulas using synthetic fragrance, fillers binders and harsh chemicals that often trigger allergic reactions.
Here are a list of my favorite anti-inflammatory foods:
Kale
Broccoli
Coconut oil
Salmon and fatty fish
Almonds
Turmeric
Ginger
Kiwi
Dark leafy greens
Acerola cherry
Green tea
Use a safe clean ZERO irritant product like Sweet Bee Magic, as often as needed to soothe, calm and add deep nourishing moisture to your stressed skin.
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BACNE. I’ve been struggling with bouts of acne on my back and chest since I was a teen. For so long I've been under the impression that like facial acne, it is hormonal and cyclical. But after doing some research I discovered that breakouts on your chest and back tend to be a little different than the acne on your face. They're technically called ‘folliculitis’, which is when the hair follicle becomes infected, however, it looks the same as facial acne. I recently tried this three step process that worked miracles on my latest bacne stint...
]]>BACNE. I’ve been struggling with bouts of acne on my back and chest since I was a teen. For so long I've been under the impression that like facial acne, it is hormonal and cyclical. But after doing some research I discovered that breakouts on your chest and back tend to be a little different than the acne on your face. They're technically called ‘folliculitis’, which is when the hair follicle becomes infected, however, it looks the same as facial acne. I recently tried this three step process that worked miracles on my latest bacne stint!
]]>
Maker, Maura Ambrose of Folk Fibers, has transformed hand quilting into a brand of her own. She hand dyes all her fabric, taking us picture by picture through those simple charms, walking us further until we've all reached the end of the quilt's story. As an avid Instagram follower of hers, I get to witness pieces of her process, put so visually well that I feel as though I know the quilt's insides and out. She takes her photos with such care, that it brings life to where you can almost smell the onions skins and pomegranates soaking. Nestled on her 10 acre farm between two cow fields outside of Austin, we talked about this next season in Folk Fibers...
]]>Maker, Maura Ambrose of Folk Fibers, has transformed hand quilting into a brand of her own that has caught the eye of Levis, sending her on train tours and putting her work into their stores. Last year she won the Martha Stewart American Made award for her deep passion in handmade. John Mayer asked her to design the cover for his single, XO, which was such a unique take on any album cover. And the biggest mountain of them all, this year she's began the story of motherhood. Maura and her husband, Chapman, are able to bring a timeless hobby into the modern day pixelated lives of apps and web culture, which is a craft all unto itself. She hand dyes all her fabric, taking us picture by picture through those simple charms, walking us further until we've all reached the end of the quilt's story. As an avid Instagram follower of hers, I get to witness pieces of her process, put so visually well that I feel as though I know the quilt's insides and out. She takes her photos with such care, that it brings life to where you can almost smell the onions skins and pomegranates soaking. Nestled on her 10 acre farm between two cow fields outside of Austin, we talked about this next season in Folk Fibers.
"She's eight months, started crawling a few weeks ago and it's going really fast now. It's been a roller coaster of emotions. I love it, but then I miss having unlimited time to be creative. I still get to create, it's just so much harder to find the time. It will come back, as she grows. I love your products! Your Baby Balm is the best and I find I'm using it all the time."
"It's really nice! Right now they're tucked away in the bedroom. The baby's starting to teeth and that makes for times of irritability, but having the rabbits hop around, popping out of nowhere and exploring, is a perfect distraction. Ada gets such a kick out of these magical rabbits hopping next to her. It's fun to watch! I've always wanted to keep the rabbits in the house. They're nice to have and they're a lot like cats. They stay tucked away and sleep for a long time, then come out to see what's going on."
"It was in a class at college by Doris Louie about natural dying. We ordered most of our dyes, but there was a local harvest of black walnuts that year, so we had some connection with collecting from the forest. We did a lot of dyes that year, cochineal and logwood. We did everything but indigo, I remember we missed indigo that year. Indigo is more elaborate than the others. If you need to do indigo in a day, you can force the oxidation and reduction process with chemicals. But those chemicals weren't allowed in the fiber studio, so it hindered us from doing indigo. What would be awesome is if they had a professor doing indigo, and a class could come in each day and observe. Because it does take weeks for it to reduce organically. I use madder, soda ash, and wheat bran, which make it reduce and oxidize. You have to look at it everyday, stir it everyday and in a week it's ready, or sometimes give it another day or two. It's not very conducive to a class, similar like making kombucha or yeast."
"College gives you a taste for what you might want to get into. I was just looking at the woolery website last night thinking I might want to get into making rugs. I'd learn to card wool, then spin it... but you know what, I did all that at college and you have to pick a focus. I'm going to stick with quilting and natural dyes. It was like being a kid in that candy shop in college. We did everything. We did screen printing, we were weaving, we carded our wool and spun it, we did ink-blot painting. Getting the experience of dying fabrics with all dyes is what helped me fall in love with natural dyes. It takes some time, but for me that's good. I like to walk away and coming back to it. You kinda figure it out... like a baby and then all of a sudden, it's part of your life."
"I was feeling really groovy with all the dyes until the baby. On a nap time I'd get a vat going, put the fabric in it and check on it the next day. That's when my mistakes were happening, when I wasn't doting over it, watching it, and babysitting the dye vats. The mistakes that came were just uneven results, air bubbles that would get into the fabric because they would rise to the top of the dye vat and I wasn't there to tamper it down. It's made for undesired results, unexpected results would be like hitting a wall. I feel like I've had to relearn my process now that I have a new ball to juggle. But with the work that I do, a lot of that fabric can be cut into patchwork, so I can cut around the areas that I don't love. Sometime even the best little exciting pops of color in a quilt are an air bubble's change in color. It's a forgiving art, which is why I like dying and quilting together."
"The first thing that comes to mind when you say that is my fabric shelf, I call my dye library that I pull from to make quilts. I get really overwhelmed and frustrated when shopping at a fabric store. It's really common for quilters to have hordes of fabric. I have some boxes in a closet that are vintage flower sacks and things I'm not using on a regular basis. They're special and I want to afford those things. I don't shop and collect fabric, where I limit my pallet is to what I'm dying or what I dyed. It keeps me focused. When creating a quilt, I'll see on my shelf what I have dyed and then maybe dying a new color specifically for the quilt. It's limited to what I can dye in the dye pot. But at the same time, what I can dye in the dye pot is unlimited because there's so many varieties of color."
"I've built the business up enough to have legs and be walking, so bringing the baby into things was really a good pause. The business was growing so fast, it was almost too fast with opportunity after opportunity. It was a whirlwind of excitement. We went on the train trip that Levi's was sponsoring for a group of makers. Then we won the Martha Stewart award for the American Made. We were pregnant when we got the award and we didn't know it. So when we got home we were excited about the award, but then we're pregnant... that's even more exciting! It's been wonderful because it's made me stop and think, 'where do I want to go and where was I headed?' I feel really well, now that I've matured and found my voice as an artist, with having some time off. I'm going to use it to the best of my ability. Sticking to what was the passion behind starting the job anyways. Because really, I stared this passion job based on gardening and quilting. And then quilting took over and I couldn't garden. But now that I've had time to set up, the garden's back! I've come full circle with the reason why I'm doing what I'm doing."
"It's really crazy when you're forced to have your hands tied and you want to be doing more than you can. Maybe let things fall to the way side knowing what is more important to me. Asking myself, 'When I can get my hands back, what will I do with them?'"
"I'm excited about the color purple! The violet's and all the colors I'm getting from logwood. Dying fabrics is very fun and I want to see the color purple more in my next quilt. Which is really surprising, a year ago I was with Monica (a friend in town who helps me with my hand quilting). She was telling me, 'I just have this feeling that purple would be a beautiful color to use in quilts'. And I'm like, 'hmmm, I don't know... that's not me'. To find myself here today having a stack of purple fabric on my table and I can't wait to make more purple. I think that's what's so much fun about being an artist that continues to grow. Trying new things, new colors and not getting to stuck in one setting."
"One project I keep talking about and just need to do, is an outstanding project for John Mayer. I don't know how he found the website, but he ordered a couple quilts. We had a short conversation and he wants me to do a guitar case insert. A ceremonial blanket you put on the guitar before you shut the case. So that's out and I want to do it, in fact it's all I want to do. I want to use silk and velvet because they seem really rock and roll. However silk is really hard to piece together. I'm nervous excited, it's been awhile since I've quilted silk. I'll need a good starch on hand. He's a very talented artist and I'm more than honored to have a piece of my art going into his guitar case. I don't know what's happening in the air, but the idea that men are excited about quilts is crazy. It's normally seen as a woman's craft but there's guys who are stoked about it. Guys love indigo. It's a beautiful color that men and women feel strongly connected too."
"Also, my husband and I are collaborating on a book. We've got the greenhouse and the raised beds going. We had the groundwork to start this book and the baby was three months old. But after one month in, we decided it was really intense and turned down the book deal with the publishers. We want to make this book but with the time the publishers gave us, we started to see the book getting watered down. The concept that we wanted to see was going to take two years. To make it work for us, we will write it ourselves, at our own pace. We're calling them guidebooks and written chapter by chapter. We have two done, one on garden design and one on hand quilting. We're having them available in the App Store. With my husband being a developer, he coded this app. We haven't released it yet, it's coming. Folk Fiber's Guidebooks are the next chapter for us!"
]]>Why do people keep telling me my skin needs oxygen? I’m breathing aren’t I? Today I’m going to explain what oxygen skin care is all about and why we need to do more than just breath to oxygenate our skin...
]]>Why do people keep telling me my skin needs oxygen? I’m breathing aren’t I? Today I’m going to explain what oxygen skin care is all about and why we need to do more than just breath to oxygenate our skin.
Oxygen skin care is based on the premise that natural oxygen increases skin cell metabolism. All cells require natural oxygen. Oxygen has proven benefits for the skin. Oxygen stimulates the body's natural healing function. It's anti-inflammatory and also stimulates collagen production. Oxygen also has antibacterial properties. Our skin needs more oxygen than is already available to us from breathing because our air is compromised with pollution. We are not breathing the same air that our grandparents breathed. Also we put our bodies through a lot of stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet choices. Lifestyle changes like good old-fashioned exercise can do wonders for your health and your skin. Exercise brings fresh, oxygenated blood to the cells all over the body. But for a quicker and easier solution many supplements and products have harnessed the powers of oxygen to deliver it straight to our skin.
Medicine Mama’s favorite quick drink of pure and potent Oxygen is liquid chlorophyll.
Liquid chlorophyll increases red blood cells and the quality of red blood cells in the body. Therefore it increases oxygen being delivered to all your cells — skin included. Liquid chlorophyll is also alkaline, so it's better for your body's health and high in antioxidants, making it an anti-inflammatory.
]]>If you're not cleaning your skin who is? Dead skin cells sitting on top of your skin for an inordinate amount of time bringing forth a vivid image of the Victorian era when people never bathed and the just applied layer after layer of powder and perfume on top of their acrid bodies. Much like the Victorians who never saw fit to take of their clothes and jump into a bath, we never think, “hey! I need to get rid of the dead skin sitting on top of my face.”
Why is it so important to keep your skin clean and exfoliated? Well think of it like this...
]]>If you're not cleaning your skin who is? Dead skin cells sitting on top of your skin for an inordinate amount of time bringing forth a vivid image of the Victorian era when people never bathed and the just applied layer after layer of powder and perfume on top of their acrid bodies. Much like the Victorians who never saw fit to take of their clothes and jump into a bath, we never think, “hey! I need to get rid of the dead skin sitting on top of my face.”
Why is it so important to keep your skin clean and exfoliated? Well think of it like this, if you do not undress your skin down to its skivvies and slough off the dead skin many negative things can happen:
1. Acne causing bacteria can build up and become trapped under the skin leading to breakouts and blemishes.
2. Your skin can become rough and textured; Dead skin can build up more heavily in other places causing your skin to be rough and uneven to the touch.
3. Your skin is more prone to lose its elasticity and collagen buildup if not exfoliated, stimulated and oxygenated.
So cleanse. Brush. Scrub. Exfoliate. Rub. Touch. And get your skin breathing again!
(Give your skin a big scrub down before you put on your daily dose of Sweet Bee.)
What the pH#%k is going on with my skin?! All this talk about balancing the skins pH for optimal health and beauty… leaves us guessing, what is pH really and why is it so important for our skin?
]]>What the pH#%k is going on with my skin?! All this talk about balancing the skins pH for optimal health and beauty… leaves us guessing, what is pH really and why is it so important for our skin?
pH stands for "potential hydrogen" and is used to describe the acid-alkaline ratio of a substance, which ranges from 0 (the most acidic) to 14 (the most alkaline).
The health of your body—and skin—is directly linked to maintaining the right balance between acidity and alkalinity.
"The skin's barrier, which is known as the acid mantle, is responsible for keeping in lipids and moisture while blocking germs, pollution, toxins, and bacteria," explains Patricia Wexler, M.D., a New York City dermatologist. "To work its best, the acid mantle should be slightly acidic, at a 5.5 pH balance. When it's too alkaline, skin becomes dry and sensitive; you may even get eczema. You may also experience inflammation which destroys collagen and elastin production and cause wrinkles and sagging."
According to a 2010 study published in the British Journal of Dermatology that tracked women's skin over an eight-year period, women with an alkaline stratum corneum (the skin's outermost layer) developed more fine lines and crow's-feet—and were more prone to sun damage—than those with acidic skin.
Though it's rarer for skin to be overly acidic, the result is often angry breakouts when skin goes too far below 5.5 number, it's also stripped down to the point of being red, inflamed, and painful to touch.
1. Apply apple cider vinegar topically to the skin, use a cotton ball. It is renowned for its ability to balance the acid mantle and bring skin to optimal pH.
2. Eat an alkaline diet with lots of greens and leafy vegetables, this not only helps maintain the skins pH but will help your whole internal system feel better.
3. Stay hydrated, pH means potential hydration and being under hydrated, which most of us are, will knock your skins pH off balance.
4. Last but not least you must exfoliate, daily exfoliating dead skin cells that buildup on top of your skin is vital, exfoliating keeps skin fresh and glowing and stimulates rapid skin cell regeneration, which translates to BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY NEW SKIN.
The honey bee needs more friends like Sarah Red-Laird. She's working hard to bring honeybees closer to our hearts. She began the adventure of a nonprofit bee education program called the Bee Girl Organization in 2011 and has grown from teaching kid's programs to now speaking at national events and collaboration. She keeps her roots in teaching children about the honeybee's science but has traveled all over the nation working wonders for bee education. Keeping a sustainable beauty in this earth is why she has so much passion for educating our nation's children about the honeybee on their land...
]]>The honey bee needs more friends like Sarah Red-Laird. She's working hard to bring honeybees closer to our hearts. She began the adventure of a nonprofit bee education program called the Bee Girl Organization in 2011 and has grown from teaching kid's programs to now speaking at national events and collaboration. She keeps her roots in teaching children about the honeybee's science but has traveled all over the nation working wonders for bee education. Keeping a sustainable beauty in this earth is why she has so much passion for educating our nation's children about the honeybee on their land.
At Medicine Mama's Apothecary, we love to find gems, such as Bee Girl Organization,
who share in our enjoyment of making this world more beautiful. Our many thanks to Sarah for sitting with us and sharing her love for her hives and the adventures they go on together.
"It was my first time and the experience was kind of transcendent and really special, however, it was so much work: two full days of preparation and breakdown. Getting the bees in a state where they are ready to climb on your face and not sting you. Going through your hives, finding the group with the best temperament. The young bees are what you want because they don't want to fly around as much. Getting bees at a certain age who want their mama so then when we put a synthetic queen-pheromone medallion on my neck they clung to make a beard. Their mom was taken away and hid for about 20 minutes beforehand, so they thought I was mom. And you have to feed them a ton, because fat bees are happy bees. It was a lot of prep and I wasn't about to look up on the internet 'how to put 1,000 bees on my face.' So I called Dr. Mike Burgess, a professor from Oregon State University, to come help mentor me through it. He has been a beekeeping professor for about 40 years and has done around 300 beards, wonder bras, bikinis, and shorts."
"Beekeeping and the relationship a beekeeper has with their bees is very inherent, similar to the way an NBA player knows that they were born to play basketball, or Meryl Streep was born to act. I feel like bees make sense to me and I knew this was what I was going to do. I didn't think my bee keeping would go so far in this direction with the Bee Girl brand. I thought I'd be this eccentric old woman that has beehives in the backyard in her old age."
"The Bee Girl organization gave me the opportunity to take the best of my experiences and talents and put them into one. Create something I knew I could excel at and fill a niche. Supply and demand, and right now there's a huge demand for education. People are wondering why the bees are dying and how they can help. Bees, somehow, have been holding on to their 15 minutes of fame for almost a decade now and people are hungry to know more about them, what's going on with them, and how they can be a part of the solution in their survival. A lot of teachers are seeing the value of honeybees, school gardens, other pollinators, and the array of social science and biology that can be brought into the classroom. I'm able to come into a school and get the kids super excited about bees! The program has been catching like wildfire and now I'm traveling all over the world talking to kids about bees. It was really serendipitous to get to take what I love to do and build the Bee Girl brand around that."
"There's definitely a divide in the backyard beekeepers and commercial beekeeper. The two groups don't understand each other very well, but I am trying to do what I can to bridge that gap. I have one foot in each. My mentors are all commercial beekeepers and I work with them in the spring during the almond pollination. I very much understand what they do and why they do it, but then I work with hobbyists too. I think there are a lot of interesting and innovative things that the backyard beekeepers are up to that is scalable, but often times the commercial industry thinks they don't understand because backyard beekeepers don't have a thousand hives to keep alive, they only have two. There's a lot of very smart hobbyist beekeepers out there thinking outside the box on how to keep their bees alive. However, the hobbyist can see the commercial beekeeper as this big ogre who marches their bee into the ground, but they are often times the sweetest and greatest beekeepers I know. They do everything they possibly can to be easier on their bees."
"Commercial beekeepers are up against some serious challenges. Dr. Dennis Van Englesdorp was recently cited in an article for Wall Street Journal stating that, 'we are not worried about the bees going extinct, but the beekeepers'. While there is a rising demand for sustainably farmed food, only 5% of food produced in the US is organic. 1 billion pounds of pesticides are dumped on our food annually, and the beekeepers and bees are swimming in it. I believe collaboration, mentorship, and sharing of ideas between all beekeepers is the best way forward. The Bee Girl Organization's "Next Generation Beekeepers Initiative" aims to do just that. We want to clearly identify our problems, so action-based solutions can be a new sustainable narrative to save our bees and beekeepers."
"As we talk about farming and food, we can't forget about our outer health as well as our inner health. I'm quite adamant about putting products on that my skin can eat. I'm not afraid of aging, I just want to do it gracefully. As consumers we need to be more inquisitive of where our supply comes from. As humans we need to revisit our relationship with food and start delving deeper into how it gets to our plate. The role we take in making it a healthier system for ourselves, our farmers, our wildlife and especially the bees!"
]]>Pregnancy is a time, we are told, when your body blissfully blooms with new life. Your spirit lifts with the presence of your prodigy growing within. Your body grows and changes creating a beautiful curvaceous silhouette and your skin radiates light and begins to glow...
]]>Pregnancy Pimples, Really? - Pregnancy is a time, we are told, when your body blissfully blooms with new life. Your spirit lifts with the presence of your prodigy growing within. Your body grows and changes creating a beautiful curvaceous silhouette and your skin radiates light and begins to glow.
Well that sounds nice, but in the real world most women suffer from stretch marks, heart burn, leaky bladder, hyper-pigmentation, insomnia and yes "Pregnancy Pimples!" What's the deal?
This was a time in my life where I thought I would be experiencing pregnancy bliss, intoxicated by love and swimming in a maternal milkshake of delight. I thought I would get gorgeous skin, thick long hair, strong nails, and pretty much just become the goddess version of myself. Instead I was peeing my pants regularly, picking at broken out face - pregnancy pimples galore, staying up all night watching 'Lost' and popping Tums like a 300 pound man with severe acid reflux. Not so glamorous.
So yes, you are not alone in your pregnancy struggles. Most of us Mama's suffer from one or more of these issues; but today I'm going to give you some advice on how to improve your skin and alleviate some of the hormonal breakouts, sensitivity and dark spots that come with pregnancy.
Step 1: Exfoliate
I cannot stress this point enough. You must slough of the dead cells on the surface of your skin and encourage new collagen and elastin growth. The Medicine Mama's Honey Facial Scrub not only exfoliates the skin but the enzyme, melexylem concentrate, also kills surface bacteria that proliferates during hormonal changes in pregnancy.
Step 2: Moisturize You MUST moisturize daily most preferably right after you exfoliate to encourage skin to stay elastic and healthy and also promote the skin from darkening due to excess melatonin during pregnancy.
Step 3: Protect
You absolutely have to invest in a great non toxic facial sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage. During pregnancy, more than ever, your skin is sensitive to sun damage and aging
Bonus Tips: Also bulk up on your EFAs and DHA's, internal nourishment of the skin is crucial as well.
Oh, yes, water, drink lots and lots of water to flush liver and keep your skin plump and hydrated from within.
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