Christmas Crossword

Across:

2. How many points does a snowflake traditionally have?

3. Which is the most popular ornament used to place at the top of the Christmas tree?

4. A bird traditionally eaten on Christmas dinner.

5. Which token vegetable is often included in the ingredients of a Christmas pudding?

6. He comes down the chimney on Christmas Eve.

Down:

1. Christmas cookie made into houses or men?

I make gingerbread houses every year. 

It is my gingerbread house.

This gingerbread house I did last year.

I like these products:

Frontier Natural Products, Organic Powdered Ginger Root, 16 oz (453 g)

Frontier Natural Products, Lemon Ginger Tea, 16 oz (453 g)

Drogheria & Alimentari, Cinnamon Mill, 0.81 oz (23 g)

Wedderspoon Organic, Inc., 100% Raw Wild Dandelion Honey, 17.6 oz (500g)

Edward & Sons, Organic Coconut Flakes, Unsweetened, 7 oz (200 g)

It can be found online at Iherb.com and in health food stores.

Answers to Christmas Crossword:

Across:

2. six

3. angel

4. turkey

5. carrot

6. santaclaus

Down:

1. gingerbread

Crossword 9 Best Beauty Products For Me

Across:

1. This oil is the richest vegetable source of omega-3 fatty acids.

3. This oil is naturally similar to human sebum.

4. It is used in marzipan, nougat, many pastries, cookies, cakes, and other sweets and desserts.

5. The oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking and frying, as well as in soaps and cosmetics. The husks and leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decorating.

6. The fruit of the rose is one of the richest plant sources of vitamin C on the planet.

8. Sometimes called “liquid gold,” this oil is rich in polyphenols.

Down:

2. It is often called “alligator pear”.

5. Its seeds, beans, are used to make confectionery, ganache and chocolate.

7.  This butter is derived from the tree nuts of the karite trees that grow in Western and Central Africa.

Almond

Try: Now Foods, Solutions, Sweet Almond Oil, 16 fl oz (473 ml) $9.93

Argan

Try: Now Foods, Solutions, Organic Argan Oil, 2 fl oz (59 ml) $12.99

Avocado

Try: Now Foods, Solutions, Avocado Oil, 16 fl oz (473 ml) $12.22 

Cocoa

Try: Cococare, 100%Cocoa Butter, The Yellow Stick, 1 oz (28 g) $1.79, 

Frontier Natural Products, Organic Cacao Nibs, 16 oz (453 g) $15.40

Coconut

Try: Jarrow Formulas,Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 32 fl oz (946 ml) $19.04

           
Flaxseed
Try: Barlean's,Organic Lignan Flax Oil, 8 fl oz (236 ml) $10.47

Arrowhead Mills, OrganicFlax Seeds, 16 oz (453 g) $3.89
Jojoba 
Try: Desert Essence, 100% Pure Jojoba Oil, 4 fl oz (118 ml) $10.49
Rosehip
Try: Life Flo Health, PureRosehip Seed Oil, Skin Care, 1 oz (30 ml) $5.76.  Frontier Natural Products,Organic Cut & Sifted Seedless Rosehips, 16 oz (453 g) $12.25
Shea

Try: Now Foods, Solutions, Shea Butter, 7 fl oz (207 ml) $6.62

About IHERB

Take a look at the site:  iHerb.com.  It is one of the world's largest online store for natural products. iHerb, Inc. was founded in 1996 and is based in Moreno Valley, California. iHerb sells nutritional supplements, food and other healthy products both in the U.S., as well as internationally.

Free Shipping and Zero Sales Tax on all U.S. orders over $40 within the contiguous 48 states!

Super Discounted Shipping on all International orders of $40 USD or more!

On top of that, they ship your purchased products directly to your home quickly and safely.

First time customers can enter the coupon code JIV035 to save -10% on order.  No minimum spend.

Also iHerb gives out try a product or sample which you can choose and they are very friendly by placing often some extra sample in orders.

Create an account. Then you are able to create a wish list of the products you would like to try.

Add to Cart and create your order.

You can just click here and continue shopping. The promo code will be automatically added to your cart. At the checkout, it should look somehow like this:

Make sure you use code JIV035 for -10% off your first order. Enter JIV035 into the box and press the button next to it.

Place your order! Once you hit ‘proceed to check out’ you will be asked to confirm the shipping option and review your order before confirming it.

This post is not sponsored, I just really like iHerb! Thanks for using my promo codes! Works with your first order only!

How and When To Use Burdock Root for Hair Growth

Burdock plant grows to a height of about 2-4 feet tall. Leaves are large, broad, heart-shaped, coarse leaves that are deep-green on the top and light green on underside. Leaves can grow to 40 cm in size. The plant has broad pinkish flowers on tips of prickly ball of bracts. Each floret is a disc-floret. It is surrounded by several rows of overlapping hooked bracts. The hooked burrs stick to fur and clothing. Some burrs have a network of white threads between neighboring burrs. Roots are about 1-2 feet long and about 1-2 inch in diameter. It is tough and has woody texture. On the outside, root features dark brown color. Inside it features white fibrous flesh. When exposed to air, the flesh begins to darken. Burdock root is considered an edible food product. It is sweet to the taste and has a gummy consistency.

Burdock has many medicinal qualities all its parts are used in many herbal remedies.

Burdock contains powerful antioxidants, such as phenolic acids, quercetin and luteolin. It is rich in inulin and mucilage, carbohydrates, volatile acids, plant sterols, fatty oils, tannins, flavonoids, lactome. Burdock also contains vitamins B1, B6, B12, A, C, biotin, folic acid and some minerals such as iron, potassium, magnesium, marganese, sodium, chromium, cobalt, zinc, calcium, selenium, phosphorous, silicon.

Luteolin reduces age-associated inflammation in brain leading to better cognitive health.

Inulin helps reduce blood-sugar level, body-weight, and cholesterol levels in the blood.

Burdock has been used in many folk remedies as one of the best blood purifiers, as a diuretic, diaphoretic and laxative. Burdock tea helps in stimulating the secretion of bile. It prevents colds, flu and cystitis. Burdock helps control heart rate and blood pressure. It helps treat respiratory tract conditions, asthma, tonsillitis, throat pain, stomach ailments, gout, cancers, fevers, rheumatism, ulcers, eczema, acne and psoriasis.

Burdock root can prevent hair loss and promote new hair growth.

Burdock root oil extract also called Bur oil, is used as a treatment for scalp problems like dandruff, hair loss. With vitamins and strong antioxidants bur oil prevents future hair breakage. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties aid to maintain the scalp clean and healthy. Bur oil works to intensely moisturize scalp penetrating into the pores. It is very useful for all types of hair, but is particularly good for dry, damaged hair, split ends and hair that is prone to tangling and damage. So when you see that you are losing hair at a much quick rate, you need to thick of using bur oil to stop hair loss.

How to make homemade bur oil?

To make your own bur oil you only need burdock root and olive oil. This is a very simple and efficient guide for very good and inexpensive bur oil.

Instructions

Wash the burdock root in water, and let it dry completely.

The root peel and cut into 1 inch pieces. You can use cut & sifted burdock root.

Put it in a glass jar.

Then add olive oil until it just covers all the pieces of burdock root.

Cover the glass jar and leave to soak in a dark place. Let it sit for 3-4 weeks.

Then stain the infused oil into a clean jar. Your homemade bur oil is ready to use.

How to use bur oil for hair

You need to wash your hair and ensure that they are clean.

Heat the bur oil mildly so that you can use it easily.

Put a small amount of bur oil in the palm of your hand and massage through the hair. Repeat the massage process bit by bit until the hair is completely covered with bur oil.

After hair and scalp massage, gather it all and cover your head with a shower cap for at least one hour. Let bur oil completely absorb into scalp and hair before you wash it away.

Wash your hair. Shampoo twice or thrice or as needed to remove all the oil from your head.

Use this bur oil once a week.

You can use burdock root hair rinse.

How to make burdock decoction.

Place 1 oz of dried and cut root into a stainless steel or enamel saucepan.

Cover the roots with a quart of cold water.

Bring the water to the boil, then turn down the heat down and allow it to simmer for around 10-15 minutes.

Once the liquid cools down, strain it. Use this decoction as a rinse after shampoo or conditioning 2 to 3 times a week. Do not rinse out. This rinse helps to stimulate hair follicles as well as nourishes the hair shaft imparting extra shine and softness to it. 

  

Where can I purchase the burdock root?

You can find burdock root at any health food stores.

Organic cut& stiff burdock root can be purchased from online stores and local shops selling health food.

You can use organic cut & sifted burdock root which you can easily find in stores or on Iherb store here for $ 12.21  .   

Retail Price = $21

IHerb.com Price = $12.21

You Save: $8.79 (42%)

Natural Hair Coloring with the Use of Henna and Indigo

Henna (Lawsonia inermis) contains the active coloring ingredient it’s called lawsone. It is a red-orange dye that helps obtain red tones.

Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria) also called basma or black henna. It is source of indigo dye. Indigo helps create warm chestnut brown and black hues. Don’t use indigofera tinctoria on its own on blonde or gray hair. Indigo used with or after henna. Henna neutralizes the blue-green hue of indigofera tinctoria.

Henna and indigo is a natural alternative to synthetic dyes. It is safe to dye hair. If you hair is dyes with henna or indigo, you cannot use artificial dyes.

 Henna is used to treat hair. Indigo makes the hair shiny. These plants contain many biologically active substances and vitamins, which have bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effect, stimulate hair growth, strengthens hair roots. They strengthen the hair cuticle giving hair volume and healthy shine with unique shade. Henna helps protect the scalp from sun damage.

Henna and indigo sell as a powder made by drying, milling and sifting the leaves. Indigo is greenish powder. Henna is greenish brown color powder.

     

Henna and indigo should be prepared before applying on hair. Hair must be clean and dry. Wash your hair the night before the dyeing. Do not use conditioner. The natural oils in your hair will help the color to spread more evenly.

How much powder should you mix to dye your hair?

The proportion is varied depending on the desired tone and hue intensity.

For chestnut brown or chocolate color the proportion should be 1 part of dry henna powder and 1 part of indigo powder.

For golden-bronze hair – mix 2 parts of henna and 1 part of indigo.

If you want to get black hair the proportion should be 1 part of henna and 2 parts of indigo.

Henna used without indigo for reddish hair color.

Take from 100 till 500 grams of mix power depending on your hair length.

If you have short hair then, take 100 grams of mix powder, if you have shoulder length hair, then 300 grams of mix powder will do and if you have waist hair then you will need 500 grams of mix powder. But if you have thick and curly then you may need more amount.

Put on your gloves. Use a non-metal container as metal can react with henna and spoil your dye, glass is best. Dissolve the required quantity of powder in warm water (70-80C) and stir until uniform. Never use too hot water, lemon or orange juice with dyes that contain more indigo.

The mix must rest for 1 hour before use. Then add warm water and stir until it’s the consistency of thick yogurt.

Brush your hair well. Use baby oil or petroleum jelly below your hairline to prevent staining your skin.

Put old dark colored bath towel or color cape around your shoulders.

Separate your hair on sections.

Apply the paste to hair in sections, completely coating all the hair down to the roots.

Then, wrap your hair in plastic wrap and wear a shower cap or drape an old towel.

Keep it warm and moist for several hours. The longer you allow the paste to soak in the darker and richer the color will be. Keep the paste on the hair for 30-40 minutes (to get a light brown hair color), or 1-4 hours (to get a rich dark hair color). Then, rinse thoroughly, until the water runs clear.

Rinse your hair with vinegar.

Do not shampoo for three days, as the henna and the indigo will need time to develop the color. You may to repeat this process in order to get a color as you want it to be.

Use strong black tea instead of water to get a darker and more intense result.

You can use henna powder and indigo powder which you can easily find in stores or on iHerb here for $11.35 and for $10.97.  

StarwestBotanicals, Organic Henna Powder, Red, 1 lb (453,6 g) for $11.35 ! (*plus shipping, free shipping if entire order is over $40) 

Retail Price: $15.25

iHerb.com Price: $11.35

You Save: $3.90 (26%)       

          

StarwestBotanicals, Henna Black Powder, 1 lb (453,6 g) for $10.97 ! (*plus shipping, free shipping if entire order is over $40) 

Retail Price: $14.75

iHerb.com Price: $10.97

You Save: $3.78 (26%)                     

Health and Beauty Benefits of Stinging Nettle

There are two species of nettle - stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and dwarf nettle (Urtica urens). Stinging nettle herb grows up to six feet in height. Dwarf nettle is a one-to two- foot annual.

    Both are plants, which are well recognized for their stinging hairs or trichomes. The burning at the site of a nettle sting can last for several hours. The stings are rendered impotent after heating or drying.

    Stinging nettle leaf contains a variety of nutrients - vitamin C, beta-carotene, vitamin B1 (Thiamin), vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), vitamin B3/B4 (Niacin/Niacinamide), vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid), vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), vitamin K, biotin, chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, formic acid, serotonin, silica (silicon dioxide), glycoside urtitsin. The trichomes contain an irritant made up of histamine and acetylcholine. Nettle leafs is very high in chlorophyll, proteins, iron, copper, calcium carbonate, potassium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, titanium and zinc. Nettle contains proteins almost as beans, peas and beans. Nettle root contains steroids, lignins, plant sterols and tannins.

    Stinging nettle is used in a variety of recipes (nettle soup, pesto, polenta, herb tea), a source of fiber, as a dye-stuff, producing yellowish green from the fresh leaves, or yellow from the roots, in traditional medicine and also used as an ingredient in hair care products.

    There is a huge amount of drugs obtained from extracts of nettle. A simple poultice of fresh nettle leaves used to reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis. Stinging nettle has been used to treat painful muscles and joints, rheumatoid arthritis, locomotors system, gout.

    Iron in nettle builds the blood. Show in anemia, thyroid disease. It is beneficial for heart failure, atherosclerosis, hypertension, normalizes metabolism, function of the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems. Stinging nettle may power blood sugar and lower blood pressure. Urtica diocia herb has a diuretic effect on the kidneys. It is also used for urinary tract infections, urinary tract inflammation and kidney stones.

    Nettle root extract heals benign prostatic hyperplasia, anti-inflammatory activity, a reduction in cell growth, and antiviral properties.

    Stinging nettle useful to women, protect against the appearance of hormone-dependent mammary tumors, mastitis, as haemostatic agent in internal bleeding, including uterine bleeding, preventing the signs of aging, wound healing, promotes lactation.

    Externally nettles used to improve hair regrowth, thicken hair, against hair loss (alopecia), reducing oily scalp and dandruff.

    Stinging nettles are rich in vitamins, hence promotion a healthy hair growth. Nettle contains zinc. Zinc builds protein that is essential for hair growth. Flavonoids in nettle have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.

    Nettle mask rejuvenates the scalp by flushing out the dirt particles and bacteria.

    Here are a few recipes.

    Preparation:

1. Squeeze out nettle juice. Massage your scalp with nettle juice for 15 to 20 minutes once-twice a day. Rinse off with cool water.

 When you apply the nettle juice to your head, the nutrients in the juice will be absorbed into the scalp and help protect the roots and follicles from exterior damage. Doing massage will stimulate circulation, removes dead skin cells, helps to prevent dandruff and improves hair growth.

2. If you have dry leaves stinging nettle. You can also use nettle infusion to the same end. Place 2 tablespoons of dried nettle in a cup and add 8 oz of boiling water. Cover and let it steep for 40 minutes. Strain out the herb. Once the water is a suitable temperature apply over your scalp. Massage scalp with fingertips in circular motion. Do not rinse. Apply this 2 times per week.

3. Use nettle infusion as a rinse after shampooing.

4. You can use infusion of stinging nettle with apple cider vinegar. 15 ml of apple cider vinegar add in to a cup of warm nettle infusion. After washing your hair using it as the final rinse.

    If you don't have access to a fresh plant, you can buy a dry nettle leaf. It is sold in the form of capsules, herbal extract, powder, tea bags, dry nettle leaf. It's also available online from specialty shops and place like iHerb.

Frontier Natural Products organic cut & sifted stinging nettle leaf for only $12.09! (*plus shipping, free shipping if entire order is over $40).

Retail Price = $20.80
iHerb.com Price = $12.09