How Skin Heals

Posted on May 24, 2022March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

It’s safe to say that our bodies are truly magical; however, we often take the intricacy of wound healing for granted. If you get a small cut, you may clean and cover it with a bandage, and move on with your life. Yet under that bandage, the body orchestrates a complex cascade of events designed to heal wounds big and small. In this blog, we will dive into the four stages of wound healing, along with how you can help your skin heal, ingredients to look for in skincare to promote healing, and supplementation.

The Four Stages of Wound Healing

Wound healing is the process by which the skin, or any injured organ, repairs itself after injury. The main aim of wound healing is to prevent or limit further damage, clean and seal the wound against infection, and restore tissue strength.

The wound healing process can be characterized by four overlapping phases:

Homoeostasis Phase

Upon wounding, the first phase of the wound response is concerned with maintaining homoeostasis within the body, which is any self-regulating process by which biological systems tend to maintain stability while adjusting to conditions that are optimal for survival.

Most wounds, even superficial wounds, result in damage to the circulatory system. To prevent blood loss and reduce the chance of an infection spreading throughout the body, platelets within the blood begin to form a fibrin clot to seal the wound site.

Additionally, vasoconstriction, the narrowing of blood vessels by small muscles in their walls, occurs around the wound as a means of isolating the wound site. However, this is soon followed by vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels as a result of the relaxation of the blood vessel’s muscular walls, so the required cells are able to be recruited to the wound site.

Inflammatory Phase

Once the wound is closed with a clot, the blood vessels can open a bit to allow fresh nutrients and oxygen into the wound for healing. Blood-borne oxygen is essential for healing. The right balance of oxygen is also important— too much or too little and the wound won’t heal correctly.

White blood cells, called macrophages, take on the role of wound protector by fighting infection and overseeing the repair process. You might see some clear fluid on or around the cut at this time, which is helping clean out the wound. Macrophages also produce chemical messengers, called growth factors, which help repair the wound.

Proliferative Phase

The proliferative phase itself can be divided into four phases; in the case of shallow wounds the first two steps may not occur:

Re-vascularization: New blood vessels are formed around the wound site in order to supply the cells and nutrients required to remodel the wound.
Granulation: Fibroblasts, a type of cell that contributes to the formation of connective tissue, are attracted to the wound site and quickly lay down a temporary extracellular matrix (ECM), comprised of collagen and fibronectin, upon which the epidermis can be reconstituted.
Re-epithelialization: The exact mechanism of re-epithelialization is poorly understood. It’s thought that surviving epithelial cells around the wound edge become more motile and stretch to cover the wound site. Once a continuous epidermis is formed, they lose this motility and begin to divide.
Contraction: Re-epithelization is thought to occur simultaneously with contraction, where myofibroblasts, a predominant cell type that’s present in granulation tissue of contracting wounds, are recruited around the wound site and pull against each other to contract the size of the wound.

Essentially, during this phase, blood cells of all types arrive to help build new tissue. Chemical signals instruct cells to create collagen, which serves as a type of scaffolding, and other tissues to begin the repair process. Occasionally, you see the result of this process as a scar that starts out red and eventually dulls.

Remodeling Phase

Following the closure of the wound, remodeling can occur. The epidermis proliferates and returns to its normal character; fibroblasts and immune cells which were recruited to the site are degraded; and the temporary extracellular matrix that was laid down is remodeled into a stronger, more permanent structure.

Over time, the new tissue gets stronger. You might notice stretching, itching, and even puckering of the wound as this happens. Within three months, the wound is almost as strong in its repair as it was before the trauma, but the entire healing process may take a couple of years to complete.

Pictured: Stages of wound healing Source: VCU

Epidermal Wound Healing

Epidermal wound healing refers to the repair of the epidermis in response to wounding. Epidermal only wounds are typically less severe than those affecting the dermis and so stages of the wound healing response may be missed.

As the epidermis itself is not vascularized — it’s receiving blood from the dermis — a clotting and vasoconstrictive response are often not necessary. Immune cells may still be recruited to the wound site since the removal of the epidermal barrier makes the wound susceptible to infection.

Since the dermis is intact, local fibroblasts are able to contribute to the formation of a new basement membrane, upon which the epidermis sits. In very minor wounds, even the basement membrane might remain intact, allowing for rapid re-epithelialization.

Keratinocytes — epidermal epithelial cells — around the wound site migrate across the wound and close it. Additionally, epidermal cells from dermal appendages, such as hair follicles, can contribute to wound closure.

Since the dermis and underlying tissue have not been damaged, very little remodeling is required. As such, small wounds only in the epidermis typically heal rapidly and are often not observable via the formation of scar tissue within a period of months.

Source: Skin layers Source: Urgo Medical

Deep Wound Healing

A deep wound involves the inner, deeper layers of the skin, known as the dermis. Deep wounds that damage the dermis are more difficult to heal than shallow, epidermal-only wounds. The wound healing processes may be extended and scar tissue is likely to form due to improper re-epithelialization.

Additionally, deep wounds are more susceptible to infection, and also to the development of systemic infection through the circulatory system, as well as dysregulation that results in chronic wounds such as ulcers.

The wound healing process for deep wounds is similar to that of shallow wounds. However, with the removal of the dermis and its associated skin appendages, re-epithelialization can only occur from the wound edge, with no contribution from the dermal compartment.

Therefore, proper reconstitution of the epidermis is often only seen at the edge of the wound, with fibrous scar tissue — formed from the ECM deposited during the proliferative phase — covering the rest of the wound site.

With the formation of a scar, the original physiological properties of the tissue are lost. For example, scars are less flexible than the original skin and do not feature sweat glands or hair follicles. The ECM formed during wound healing may also be weaker in deep wounds, making the site susceptible to additional later wounding.

How You Can Help Your Skin Heal

A wound describes an injury that cuts, breaks, or impacts the skin. As a result, the body’s internal tissues become exposed to the external environment and bacteria. Most minor wounds won’t require medical treatment; however, while the majority of cuts heal naturally over time, there are ways to speed up the healing process:

Care for the Wound

Throughout the healing process be sure to clean and dress the wound. Even if you feel that you are healing fine and can skip this step, make sure to keep tending to your wound unless approved by a medical professional. Cleaning the wound and covering it ensures that no outside bacteria can get to the wound and infect it, while also encouraging skin tissue growth for healing.

To learn how to properly clean a wound, click here.

Pictured: How to clean a wound Source: St. John Ambulance Victoria

Get Some Rest

Getting a good night’s rest is crucial to wounds healing properly. As you sleep, your body works to repair tissue and fight off infections. A study conducted by the Journal of Applied Psychology studied two groups to see how healing was impacted by sleep.1

The first group who slept for three hours a night had high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and in comparison to the group who slept for eight hours a night, the sleep-deprived participants had a delayed wound healing time by a full day.

Add Healing Foods to Your Diet

There are an abundance of healing foods that can speed your recovery process, including:

Clean, Lean Protein: The body cannot rebuild lost tissue without protein. Try to get at least four to five ounces of organic, lean protein, such as grass-fed beef, per meal.
Wild-Caught Fish: Essential fatty acids found in foods like wild-caught fish, walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds are critical to helping rapidly heal wounds.
Green Leafy Vegetables: Broccoli, kale, spinach, and other greens are high in vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting.

Avoid Foods That Slow Healing

There are also some foods and beverages that you’ll want to try and avoid to encourage healing, including:

Alcohol can increase inflammation, which is counterproductive to healing.
Sugar and refined grains can promote inflammation, slowing the healing process.
Hydrogenated oils can promote inflammation and decrease the ability of your body to heal.
Processed foods contain hydrogenated oils, chemicals, dyes, and other additives that can slow wound healing.

Get Moving

Research has continually shown that physical activity can help accelerate the healing process in wounds. In fact, researchers at the Ohio State University found that exercise can speed wound healing rates by as much as 25%.2

Activities like strength training and yoga provide an excellent source of movement without the risk of agitating a wound. Basic lunges, planks, crunches, or jumping jacks offer another source of exercise where the risk of injury is low. Any low-impact activity can help draw oxygen to the wounds to accelerate the healing process.

Ingredients in Skincare to Use For Healing

Skincare ingredients can be complicated, but the fact of the matter is that people are now, more than ever, wanting to know what ingredients are in their favorite products and what they do. It’s important to know what you’re putting on your skin, especially when you have wounds.

Here’s a look at a few ingredients that can potentially do wonders for the wound healing process:

Vitamin A: When it comes to tissue repair and cell regeneration, getting enough vitamin A in your diet is key. Besides being vital to promoting proper skin health, some evidence even suggests that this vitamin could aid in wound healing as well. A study published in Dermatologic Surgery, for instance, found that pre-treatment with retinoids improved wound healing after undergoing facial resurfacing procedures.3
Centella Asiatica Extract: This ingredient is a traditional Indian medicine extracted from the tropical plant Gotu Kola, which helps the wound healing process by reducing glycation processes and implicitly slowing the oxidative damage. It’s most effective in the proliferation and remodeling phases by boosting the local metabolism and speeding up the healing.4
Niacinamide: Also known as vitamin B3, this is one of the most popular ingredients in cosmetic treatments due to its multipurpose and potency. Several studies confirmed the anti-inflammatory effects of vitamin B3 that are efficient in aiding the immune response and speeding the recovery. Niacinamide is also an actor in increasing fibroblast migration and proliferation– thus speeding the wound closure.5
Grape Seed Extract: A study from researchers at Ohio State University found that this ingredient can help regenerate damaged blood vessels and also increase the number of free radicals in the wound site while reducing the chance of scarring.6
Tamanu Seed Oil: As an antibacterial oil, this ingredient is capable of healing wounds by promoting healthy cell growth. When its applied to wounds, it has the ability to promote the formation of new tissue.7
Frankincense Oil: This ingredient has been used by healers throughout history for its wound-healing abilities; it’s known to regenerate tissue and prevent infection.8
Avocado Oil: A 2013 study found that the oil derived from the avocado pulp reduces inflammation when applied to a wound site. This action ensures quick healing of wounds. Further, the application of the oil on wounds showed improved collagen synthesis and re-epithelialization.

Supplementation for Wound Healing

Innumerable processes are involved in healing — from the production of platelets and macrophages to the rebuilding of the extracellular matrix and the formation of new blood vessels. But these healing processes can’t happen if the body doesn’t have the right vitamins and nutrients.

To maintain normal health, the human body needs a minimum of 20 vitamins and 16 minerals/trace elements. The following three play a role in recovery and healing at various physiological levels:

Zinc

A minimum of 70 major wound-healing enzyme systems — including DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, protease, and carbonic anhydrase — rely on zinc as a cofactor. Zinc is also important in cell membrane stabilization, carbohydrate metabolism, and mobilization of vitamins A and C, among others.

Because lower zinc levels have been associated with impaired wound healing, some researchers have suggested that zinc replenishment may increase healing rates. Furthermore, many topical agents include zinc due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, which may be especially beneficial for skin wounds.9

Vitamin B Complex

The vitamin B complex comprises all essential water-soluble vitamins, with the exception of vitamin C, and includes thiamine (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2), niacin (vitamin B3), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6), biotin, folic acid, and the cobalamins (vitamin B12). These B vitamins are found naturally in cereals, dairy, fish, and meats.

The vitamin B complex aids with cell proliferation and the maintenance of muscle tone and healthy skin. It also increases metabolic rate and improves the function of the immune and nervous systems. In one study of the effects of vitamin B complex on periodontal wound healing, supplementation with vitamin B complex significantly increased wound repair compared to a placebo regimen.

Vitamin C

As with the B complex vitamins, vitamin C is an essential water-soluble vitamin. It’s an electron donor for various enzymes, a mighty antioxidant, and a cofactor in collagen synthesis. Vitamin C contributes to enzyme processes important in lysine and proline hydroxylation necessary for the formation of the triple helix present in collagen.

It also contributes to enzyme processes necessary for carnitine synthesis, which is required to transport fatty acids into mitochondria that are used in ATP generation. Vitamin C also plays a role in immune response, iron uptake and metabolism, trace metal metabolism, and calcium metabolism for the homeostasis of epidermal gradients.

Vitamin E and Omega-3s and the Healing Process

When it comes to supplements, there’s so much hype about their potential benefits that it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. While it’s true that vitamins and minerals are essential to health and can be great for wound healing, it’s not true that taking them in pill, capsule, or powder form — especially in megadoses — is necessary, or without risks.

Vitamin E and omega-3s, for example, are both veritable powerhouses. The first, a fat-soluble vitamin, operates as a potent antioxidant and offers support to hair, eyes, cholesterol levels, hormone balance, and more. Omega-3s, meanwhile, support heart and brain health and may play a role in helping with the maintenance of a healthy inflammatory response in the body.

But one of the most serious side effects of both is the thinning of the blood. Fish oil — a common form of omega-3s — thins the blood in “similar ways to blood thinners,” medical writer Jack Challem claims in his book, The Inflammation Syndrome.

“This effect happens through the prevention of the platelets found in blood from sticking together and forming clots.” It has been said that these “blood-thinning effects may be magnified if you are taking natural blood-thinners, such as vitamin E.”

To illustrate this further: “Since both fish oil and vitamin E thin your blood, taking them in combination might put you at risk of excessive bleeding, especially if you take them in large amounts,” SF Gate reports.10

Discuss with your doctor before taking either— they may determine that you don’t need a supplement, and, if you do, will help you ascertain the right dosage.

The Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil

Tamanu Seed Oil, Frankincense Oil, and Avocado Oil are integrated into the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil for an array of exceptional skin-wellness benefits, including their ability to help your skin heal and repair itself.

You can shop the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil here.

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References:

https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/sleep-helps-wounds-heal-faster [1]

https://news.osu.edu/study-exercise-helps-speed-wound-healing-in-older-adults/ [2]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17034370/ [3]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22817824/ [4]

https://www.apothecopharmacy.com/blog/how-to-speed-wound-healing/#:~:text=Niacinamide,to%20help%20speed%20up%20recovery. [5]

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021204081709.htm#:~:text=Grape%2Dseed%20extract%20may%20help,radicals%20in%20the%20wound%20site. [6]

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/health-benefits-tamanu-oil [7]

https://earthwisebeauty.com/blogs/news/the-ancient-healing-power-of-frankincense#:~:text=Regardless%20of%20the%20species%20they,and%20for%20a%20wide%20range [8]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5793244/ [9]

https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/benefits-taking-fish-oil-vitamin-e-together-10487.html [10]

Aloe in Skincare

Posted on May 10, 2022March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

There’s a reason why Aloe has become a medicine cabinet staple – it’s been used by different civilizations for centuries for a range of medicinal and skincare purposes. A cactus plant that naturally grows in arid climates, the succulent-like leaves of the Aloe plant house a clear gel that’s home to more than 75 different active compounds, including vitamins, minerals, sugars, enzymes, salicylic acids, and amino acids. In this blog, we’ll explore Aloe’s ancient uses, its nutrient content and skincare benefits, along with the importance of using clean, safe Aloe.

What is Aloe?

The botanical name of Aloe is Aloe barbadensis miller. It belongs to the Asphodelaceae (Liliaceae) family and is a shrubby or arborescent, perennial, xerophytic, succulent, pea-green colored plant.

Aloe grows mainly in the dry regions of Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. However, Aloe is also cultivated in the southern border areas of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

The Aloe plant has triangular, fleshy leaves with serrated edges, yellow tubular flowers, and fruits that contain numerous seeds. Each leaf is composed of three layers:

Outer Layer: Called the rind, this is the sturdy, thorny surface of the plant that serves as a protective barrier and is not consumed.
Middle Layer: This layer of the Aloe leaf is found underneath the rind and houses the bitter-tasting yellow sap known as Aloe latex or aloin. This sticky substance contains anthraquinones, which are compounds that have a laxative effect.
Inner Layer: This is where you’ll find the clear, fleshy, and flavorless Aloe gel. Although it’s 99% water, it’s brimming with bioactive compounds.

Source: Baden-Württemberg

Aloe’s Nutrient Content

Aloe consists of 75 potentially active constituents: vitamins, enzymes, minerals, sugars, lignin, saponins, salicylic acids, and amino acids. Here’s a brief breakdown of Aloe’s nutrient content:

- Vitamins: It contains Vitamin A, B12,C, E, choline, and folic acid. Vitamin A, C and E are antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals.
- Enzymes: It contains a multitude of enzymes, such as alkaline phosphatase, amylase, bradykinase, carboxypeptidase, catalase, cellulase, lipase, and peroxidase. Bradykinase helps to reduce excessive inflammation when applied to the skin topically, while others help in the breakdown of sugars and fats.
- Minerals: It provides calcium, chromium, copper, selenium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, and zinc. They are essential for the proper functioning of various enzyme systems in different metabolic pathways.
- Anthraquinones/Anthrones: It provides aloetic-acid, anthranol, aloin, isobarbaloin, emodin, and ester of cinnamic acid. Aloin and emodin acts as analgesics, antibacterials, and antivirals.
- Saccharides: It contains mannose, glucose, L-rhamnose, and aldopentose.
- Fatty acids: It provides four plant steroids; cholesterol, campesterol, β-sisosterol, and lupeol. All these have anti-inflammatory action and lupeol also possesses antiseptic and analgesic properties.
- Hormones: It provides uxins and gibberellins that may have anti-inflammatory actions.
- Others: It provides 20 of the 22 human required amino acids and seven of the eight essential amino acids. It also contains salicylic acid that possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Lignin, an inert substance, when included in topical preparations, enhances the penetrative effect of the other ingredients into the skin. Saponins that are the soapy substances form about 3% of the gel and have cleansing and antiseptic properties.

Aloe in Ancient Times

The use of Aloe has a history of over 5000 years. In fact, the Bible speaks of Aloe in more than a dozen passages, referring to it as the “bitter herb.”1 Proverbs 7:17, for example, says, “I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.”

The ancient Chinese and Egyptians used Aloe to treat burns and wounds, and to reduce fevers, while American Indians, who called Aloe “The Wand of Heaven”, believed that anyone touched by the inner sap, which is what we call the gel, would be cured of their skin disorders.2

The earliest record of Aloe in skincare comes from the Ebers Papyrus, which is an Egyptian medical record, from the 16th century BC. According to the Indian Journal of Dermatology, in ancient Egypt, they called Aloe “The Plant of Immortality.” with many claims of Nefertiti and Cleopatra using Aloe in their beauty treatments.3 4

In the Greco-Roman era, Aristotle, among others, used Aloe to heal wounds, boils, eye conditions, care for the skin, and prevent hair loss.5 6 The Jíbaro Indians called Aloe “The Doctor of the Sky” and “Fountain of Youth” and was considered one of their sacred plants.7 8

The benefits of Aloe were discovered again at the end of World War II after verifying that it helped cure the burns of people injured in the nuclear explosions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1968, the stabilization of the gel was made possible, which allowed it to be transported worldwide, but modern medicine and the use of synthetic drugs managed to eclipse it for a few decades.9

Today, Aloe is scientifically recognized and has re-emerged within the world of natural medicine. Currently, its main use is in cosmetics and skincare for its array of benefits.

The Benefits of Aloe

When you spot a bottle of Aloe gel, chances are you recall being slathered with it after too much time in the sun. However, Aloe’s benefits for skin span much wider than treating sunburn, especially considering that Aloe is scientifically proven to penetrate the skin up to seven layers deep.

Here are some of the ways Aloe can benefit your skin, according to dermatologists and studies:

It Can Soothe Sunburns

Aloe’s most well-known usage is soothing sunburned skin. Because of its naturally moisturizing, and subsequently healing properties, research has shown that Aloe may help heal first- and second-degree burns on the skin.10 The plant is also incredibly hydrating, which could help combat the skin peeling that usually takes effect post-sunburn.

Aloe is chock-full of antioxidants, and one antioxidant protein in particular, called Metallothionein, has been found to have a protective effect on skin that’s been exposed to and damaged by UV rays.11 12

It Can Help Fade Dark Spots

Dark spots on the skin, also known as hyperpigmentation, can leave their mark for a variety of reasons; whether from sun exposure, acne, or just the normal aging process. However, a compound called aloesin, found in the Aloe plant, may help reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation.

According to one study, when applied four times per day for 15 days, aloesin was found to be effective in treating UV-induced and post-acne hyperpigmentation.13 Another study concluded that the topical application of aloesin can directly inhibit hyperpigmented skin from producing more melanin.14

It Can Moisturize Skin

“The leaf of the Aloe plant is rich in water, particularly in the innermost layer, so it helps to hydrate the skin and lock in moisture,” explains board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, M.D. “The sugars Aloe contains, known as mucopolysaccharides, also help to retain moisture in the skin.”

When applied topically, Aloe has been shown to increase the water content of the outermost layer of skin, which is called the stratum corneum, making it an ideal ingredient for dry skin types.15

It Can Provide Healthy Aging Benefits for Skin

Sufficient moisture can help stave off the visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. In addition to its ability to help replenish and retain moisture in the skin, Aloe also stimulates the production of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin fibers in the skin — all of which are necessary to keep skin hydrated, firm, and supple. 16 17

It Can Clear Up Acne

“There is data to suggest that Aloe possesses antimicrobial properties and can help acne-prone skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.D. “It should not take the place of your traditional acne medications but can be used alongside them.”

In addition to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, Aloe is also a natural source of salicylic acids, which can also help with breakouts such as blackheads and whiteheads. One study found that the topical use of Aloe in combination with tretinoin cream was effective in treating inflammatory and noninflammatory acne.18

It Can Soothe Psoriasis and Eczema

Aloe is also able to stimulate new cell growth. It can help heal chronic skin problems such as psoriasis, acne, and eczema as it contains the antioxidants beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, which help firm the skin and keep it hydrated.

Additionally, skin with a broken barrier is also more prone to fungal and bacterial infections. Aloe can be considered an antiseptic acting against fungi, bacteria, and viruses. According to the Mayo Clinic, using Aloe cream on psoriasis may also help reduce the scaling, redness, and irritation caused by the disorder.19

It Can Promote Wound Healing

If you’re used to grabbing Neosporin for a minor cut, consider trying Aloe instead. Its molecular structure helps heal wounds quickly and minimizes scarring by boosting collagen and fighting bacteria.

In one study, it was found that glucomannan, a polysaccharide, and gibberellin, a growth hormone, interact with growth factor receptors on the fibroblast, thereby stimulating its activity and proliferation, which in turn significantly increases collagen synthesis after the use of Aloe topically. Due to this, it accelerated wound contraction and increased the breaking strength of the resulting scar tissue.20

Colorized vs. Decolorized Aloe

It’s important to know the difference between non-decolorized and decolorized Aloe. In fact, California’s Proposition 65, which requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, lists non-decolorized Aloe.

Non-decolorized Aloe is the whole Aloe leaf including the outer skin, the outer leaf, and the gel. It’s all processed together and not filtered to remove cancer-causing and DNA damaging chemicals, such as aloin, that are naturally found in the Aloe plant. Decolorized Aloe is not listed on the Proposition 65 list considering it has been purified and filtered to remove cancer-causing chemicals.

Several commercial Aloe manufacturers filter the Aloe using the following methods:

Leaf Processing Method: Aloe leaf juice is obtained by grinding or macerating the entire Aloe leaf followed by purification to remove the phenolic compounds found in the latex. This purification step is usually accomplished via activated carbon filtration in a process known as decolorization.
Inner Leaf Processing Method: Aloe leaf juice is obtained by stripping away the outer leaf rind, rinsing or washing away the latex, and processing the remaining inner leaf material. Decolorization is also sometimes employed with this method.

A two year National Toxicology Program concluded that oral ingestion of the non-decolorized whole leaf Aloe was linked to gastrointestinal tumors in rats. However, another study in rats showed that decolorized Aloe did not cause harmful effects. This suggests that the toxic components are likely removed by the decolorization process.

You can learn more about non-decolorized and decolorized Aloe here.

Always Use Clean, Safe Aloe

Caution should be taken when using non-decolorized Aloe as there can be potential side effects. The Aloe latex — the yellow juice near the rind — is where most of the danger lies. However, ingredients in the more commonly used gel itself can also be harmful to some people. Always test a small amount to ensure you aren’t allergic to the plant.

Here is a list of potential side effects of using non-decolorized Aloe. When in doubt, always check with your doctor.

Regular use of the entire leaf — which includes the latex — can deplete potassium in the body. Electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle weakness and cardiac problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, ingesting one gram of Aloe latex for multiple days can be fatal.
Products containing the latex will exacerbate intestinal illnesses such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
People with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar levels when using Aloe.
Ingesting any form of Aloe is not recommended during pregnancy as it may cause uterine contractions or miscarriage. Aloe should also be avoided during breastfeeding.
Excessive use of Aloe latex may cause kidney failure and shouldn’t be used by people with kidney problems.

Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream

Aloe leaf juice is integrated into the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream for its ability to moisturize and restore suppleness to dry and damaged skin, along with being able to address wound-healing and skin inflammation.

The Aloe contained in Humanist Beauty formulas is decolorized and deemed safe according to California Proposition 65. Additionally, the anthraquinone content of Humanist Beauty’s Aloe is less than 50 ppm and is free of PCB/pesticides, arsenic, heavy metals, and lead in compliance with CIR restrictions.

You can shop the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom Eye Cream here.

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https://invitationtothegarden.wordpress.com/2018/06/27/herbs-and-spices-in-the-bible/ [1]

https://www.herbs-hands-healing.co.uk/books/online-books/in-a-nutshell-aloe-vera-aloe-barbadensis [2]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/ [3]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/447967494181566713/ [4]

https://aloe-world.com/#:~:text=In%20the%20Greco%2DRoman%20era,loss%20or%20alleviate%20genital%20ulcers. [5] [6]

https://firstlawcomic.com/is-aloe-vera-gel-a-water-based-product/ [7]

https://nutrivict.com/aloe-vera-history-and-benefits/ [8]

https://www.aloeyoung.com/ [9]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK74820/ [10]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017010/ [11]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763764/ [12]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5843359/ [13]

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2008.00432.x [14]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17026654/ [15]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ [16]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12548256/ [17]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23336746/ [18]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-aloe/art-20362267 [19]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9562243/ [20]

Schisandra: An Ancient Adaptogen

Posted on May 3, 2022March 21, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

You may have heard of Schisandra as a super ingredient that is loved and praised by health enthusiasts. The adaptogen is often ingested as a supplement or added to smoothies as a way to bring the mind and body to equilibrium. Schisandra, also known as Chinese Magnolia Vine, Five Flavored Fruit, and Wu Wei Zi, is a woody vine that produces red berries in the forests of Northern China and the Russian Far East. It’s considered a Harmonizing Tonic or “King” remedy beneficial to qi in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) due to its well balanced energetic nature. In this blog, we’ll discuss the history of Schisandra, along with its medicinal and skincare benefits.

How Schisandra Gained Its Names

Schisandra berry’s Chinese name, Wǔ Wèi Zi, means “Five Flavor Fruit.” It earned this name as it’s the only fruit known to contain all five fundamental tastes — bitter, pungent, salty, sour, and sweet. According to TCM theory, this unique composition supports the five Zang Organs, or the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and spleen. This cooperative of Zang Organs produces and stores qi, the vital energy or life force that flows through all living things.1

The western botanical name, Schisandra, comes from the genus Schisandraceae, which was named by French botanist André Michaux in his Flora Boreali-Americana, published in 1803. Sometimes it’s incorrectly spelled Schizandra, which is a misunderstanding of origin. According to the American Herbal Pharmacopeia, “The name Schisandra is derived from the ancient Greek schisis meaning “crevice” or “fissure.”

Many writers have incorrectly written this as Schizandra presumably from the Greek schizo meaning “split” or “separate” which has resulted in inconsistencies in the literature. This is further confused as the Manual of Cultivated Trees, which was published in 1954, reported that the name Schisandra was in fact based on the verb schizo.”2

Source: The Alchemist’s Kitchen

The Historical and Cultural Significance of Schisandra

Indigenous peoples of the Asian continent have used Schisandra berries medicinally and ceremonially since before recorded history – over 2,000 years. To make use of all the benefits, the Schisandra berries were most commonly dried in the sun and consumed as part of food and medicinal practices.

TCM says that Schisandra berries “calm the heart and quiet the spirit.” Indigenous Siberian hunters, known as the Nanai, have traditionally consumed the Schisandra plant’s berries to help improve stamina and reduce fatigue in the rugged terrain during the long winter months.3

Recorded use of Schisandra dates back to the Tang dynasty, described in China’s first known herbal encyclopedia: Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing, or The Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica, written and compiled between about 200 and 250 CE. It’s considered one of “50 Fundamental Herbs” in TCM. Chinese, Korean, and Russian cultures have used its berries in a number of ways; in beauty tonic blends, as an ingredient in soups and stews, and infused into wines.

Awareness of Schisandra reached the European and American countries relatively recently; the first monograph on it can be found in The American Pharmacopoeia from 1999.4 Today, Schisandra is a popular ingredient in skincare products and foods, shining a light on the berries’ myriad of benefits.

Medicinal Benefits of Schisandra

Schisandra berries are known to have a wide range of health benefits and have been used in traditional medicine to treat a number of illnesses. From helping to heal yourself by clearing toxins out of your body to aiding with specific maladies, the medicinal benefits are nearly endless.

Schisandra can:

Aid Those Suffering From Alzheimer’s Disease

Schisandrin B is a mineral found in Schisandra berries, which may have a positive effect on Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study found that Schisandrin B has the ability to block the formation of peptides in the brain.5

The specific peptide, amyloid-beta, is found in excessive amounts in all Alzheimer’s sufferers. Schisandrin B is an anti-inflammatory mineral, which can assist further to reduce neurotoxicity and the severity of Alzheimer’s disease.6

Increase Physical Health

Schisandra was studied by Russian scientists and shown to provide an increased physical working capacity. The study’s findings found that Schisandra can create a stress-protective effect in animals. This included protection from heat shock, frostbite, immobilization, irradiation, and heavy metal intoxication.7

Reduce Blood Pressure

Schisandra has been used for centuries in oral form as a relaxant. Studies conducted showed an increase in blood circulation by relaxing cardiac blood vessels. This results in lower blood pressure and ties in with a reduction in stress.8

Be Effective Against Liver Damage

One study showed that the Schisandra Chinensis Pollen Extract (SCPE) had an antioxidant effect on carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) toxins in the liver. The higher antioxidant activities and the abundance of polyphenols found in SCPE was also proven to be effective against liver damage caused by Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.9,10

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be the result of numerous liver diseases, such as hepatitis and cirrhosis. There are more fatty acids and inflammation of the liver in people with NAFLD. Researchers found that Schisandrin B reduced these fatty acids, while also acting as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Reduce Menopause Symptoms

A randomized controlled trial completed at the end of 2016 showed that Schisandra can reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms. It concluded that Schisandra is effective and safe at minimizing hot flashes, sweating, and heart palpitations.11

Be Effective Against Asthma

A study from Korea published in 2014 found that Schisandra berries exert anti-asthma properties. The berries do this by inhibiting immunoglobulins, which are antibodies that incite allergy reactions. The berries also temper hyper-responsiveness by the body. This hyper-responsive effect to allergens is what causes airways to spasm and close, creating asthma attacks.12

Work As An Energy and Adrenal Tonic

Schisandra has long been prized for its energizing and vitality-enhancing properties. Countless studies have shown the measurable increased physical performance of subjects taking it. Since it’s a tonic herb, it can strengthen and tone many organs in the body, benefiting the flow of qi.13

Schisandra can increase the contractibility of the heart and enhance the exchange of oxygen in the tissue cells. This ultimately means your muscles will enhance the utilization of oxygen and improve the gaseous exchange in the lungs and in peripheral cells to reduce the production of acidic metabolic waste while simultaneously increasing the removal of acidic waste in the cells, blood, and lungs.14

Combats Stress and Depression

There is a significant amount of evidence, in conjunction with its long-standing traditional use as a tonic, that as an adaptogen, Schisandra can be effective against stress and depression. Adaptogens are substances believed to reinforce the nonspecific resistance of the body against physical, chemical, or biological stressors.

Schisandra is most well-known in the West as an adaptogen facilitating a response to unproductive stress by modulating endocrine and immune functions. As an adrenal-cortical restorative, Schisandra can overcome the chronic loss of stamina, fatigue, over-work and chronic illness.15

Promotes Longevity and Vitality

For millennia, Schisandra has been known as a herb that promotes longevity and acts against aging. Schisandra’s berries are rich in antioxidants, but they also have an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. Both of these actions help to improve cellular function and promote a longer life. In TCM, the ability of Schisandra to promote longevity and vitality is attributed to its tonification of the three treasures: qi, Jing (essence), and Shen (spirit).

Schisandra in Skincare

Schisandra has an array of medicinal benefits that have been touted for centuries; however, it has also been highly regarded for its potential skin benefits in China, especially among the wealthy. The berries were used to promote beautiful skin and provide protection from sun and wind damage.

Packed with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, including key vitamins C and E, Schisandra’s strong astringent qualities enable the skin to hold in moisture for more fullness. Additionally, its action on the liver can largely be attributed to improvements in skin issues including hives and eczema.

Researchers at Badische Anilin und Soda Fabrik (BASF) have also discovered that Schisandra berry extracts, at the molecular level, specifically target two chemical processes linked to skin anti-aging. The extract stimulates the synthesis of these “tension molecules,” called collagen XVII and ladinin-1.16

In general, Schisandra’s benefits on the skin can include:

Rejuvenating and revitalizing the skin
Reducing the skin’s natural inflammation and the vascular swelling produced by anxiety and stress
Protecting against external damage like wind, sun rays, and pollution
Improving skin strength and resiliency
Promoting overall skin wellness

The Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream

Schisandra berry extract is integrated into the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream for its adaptogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, tonic, and astringent properties to promote overall skin wellness and to keep your skin looking and feeling its absolute best.

Remember: Your eyes are the windows to your soul, so take special care of them so they can convey the happiness and joy you feel inside.

You can learn more about the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream here.

References:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230859535_Monograph_of_Schisandra_Schisandraceae [1]

https://herbal-ahp.org/online-ordering-schisandra-fruit/ [2] [4]

https://www.herbrally.com/monographs/schisandra [3]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28891753/ [5]

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0142483 [6]

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alexander-Panossian/publication/5336030_Pharmacology_of_Schisandra_chinensis_Bail_An_overview_of_Russian_research_and_uses_in_medicine/links/5c651bc7299bf1d14cc4d598/Pharmacology-of-Schisandra-chinensis-Bail-An-overview-of-Russian-research-and-uses-in-medicine.pdf [7]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3434368/ [8]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23201450/ [9]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6412546/ [10]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27763802/ [11]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4047578/ [12]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5378736/ [13][14]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5537344/ [15]

https://carecreations.basf.us/products/sqisandryl-ls-9905 [16]

Can CBD Help Hair Grow?

Posted on April 26, 2022March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

It’s certainly high times for the world of cannabis right now. As legalization continues across North America, it’s clear that the stigma around cannabis has been dramatically reduced with more people than ever buying and using cannabis products. CBD is a substance derived from the cannabis, or hemp, plant that has been proven to assist with an array of maladies; however, CBD is an all-natural gift that may also perform wonders for more than just your medicinal health. In this blog, we’ll explore CBD and its benefits for scalp health and hair growth.

A Brief Look At CBD

Cannabis sativa L. is a hearty, nutrient-rich plant containing about a thousand and one molecules, including about 113 cannabinoid compounds. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of those compounds. Cannabinoids occur naturally in the body and, as studied, CBD has been shown to provide relief for several ailments and illnesses including depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and epilepsy. Additionally, CBD may provide significant benefits to the wellbeing of your skin and hair.

CBD should not be confused with THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis. The US government made a distinction to classify Cannabis sativa L. plants low in THC (less than 0.3% in dry weight) as hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the regulated production and commercialization of industrial hemp on a federal level; however, each state has the final say in whether or not cannabis-derived products are legal within their territories.

Source: My Golf Spy

You can learn more about CBD here.

The Stages of Hair Growth

The growth and loss of hair may seem like a simple process, but the hair growth cycle is actually composed of three distinct phases. The three phases — anagen, catagen, and telogen — cover the growth and maturation of hair and the activity of the hair follicles that produce individual hairs.

Here’s a brief look into the stages of hair growth:

Anagen: Growing Phase

The stages of hair growth begin with the anagen phase. It’s the longest phase, lasting about three to five years for the hairs on your head, though for some people, a single hair could continue growing for seven or more years.

During the anagen phase, your hair follicles are pushing out hairs that will grow until they’re cut or they reach the end of their lifespan and fall out. At any time, about 90% of the hairs on your head are in the anagen phase.

Catagen: Transition Phase

The catagen phase starts when the anagen phase ends and tends to last about 10 days. During this phase, hair follicles shrink and hair growth slows. The hair also separates from the bottom of the hair follicle, yet remains in place during its final days of growing. About 5% of the hairs on your head are in the catagen phase at any given time.

Telogen: Resting Phase

Telogen is the resting phase and usually accounts for 6% to 8% of all hairs. It lasts for about 100 days for hairs on the scalp and longer for hairs on the eyebrow, eyelash, arm, and leg. During the telogen phase, new hairs start to form in follicles that have just released hairs during the catagen phase.

Pictured: Phases of hair growth Source: Advanced Hair Studio

CBD May Balance Hormonal Activity and Stress

Hormonal fluctuations and stress are some of the most common reasons for hair loss. The common hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) interferes with the hair’s growth cycle by shrinking and shortening the hair, thus making it easier for it to fall out and more difficult for it to grow back.

DHT is derived from testosterone, which is a hormone that’s present in both men and women. As you get older, testosterone and DHT have many benefits for your body, such as maintaining your overall muscle mass and promoting sexual health and fertility.

About 10% of testosterone in all adults is converted to DHT with the help of an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase (5-AR). Once DHT is freely flowing through your bloodstream, it can then link to receptors on hair follicles in your scalp, causing them to shrink and become less capable of supporting a healthy head of hair.

CBD interacts with several receptors; it works to achieve hormonal balance to aid in coping with hair fall and also stimulate hair growth.1 In addition, while testosterone comes from reproductive organs in response to the hormones LH and FSH from the hypothalamus, it’s been shown that CBD may affect LH and FSH levels, which can result in hormonal balance.2

Stress can also have an intense impact on your scalp health and overall nutrient availability for hair growth, which can influence hormone fluctuations that further the problem. CBD is known to possess anti-anxiety benefits that can aid in balancing stress levels in the body and in turn, keep hormones at the right levels to promote healthy hair.

Can CBD Support Healthy Hair Growth?

One of the primary benefits of CBD for hair is that it contains a wide range of different amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein. As a result, CBD oil can potentially strengthen thinning hair and stimulate hair growth.

According to a study administered by Gregory L. Smith and John Satino, CBD oil may help with hair regrowth after hair loss. The study showed that people who topically applied CBD oil to their hair and scalp for six months saw successful regrowth.

In Smith and Santino’s study, the TRPV1 receptors, which are responsible for sending your hair into the catagen phase, were researched. CBD was found to communicate with the TRPV1 receptors by working to activate and soothe them excessively to the point that they become desensitized to other stimuli.

With the TRPV1 receptors being desensitized to outside factors, the study found that they are less likely to initiate the catagen phase of hair growth, thus prolonging the anagen phase and allowing hair to grow for a longer period of time.3

Pictured: Before and after photos of participants in Gregory L. Smith and John Satino’s study of CBD’s effects on hair growth Source: Hair Loss Cure

Pictured: Subject change in hair count over six months in Gregory L. Smith and John Satino’s study of CBD’s effects on hair Source: Research MJ

CBD also demonstrated promising results in a recent case study on 35 people at the Hair and Scalp Center in Clearwater, Florida. After six months, the hair in the temporal area increased by 74.1% in men and 55.2% in women. For the vertex, the findings showed an increase in hair growth of 120.1% for men and 64.9% for women.4

Additionally, after extensively studying hair follicles from patients with alopecia, a 2021 study found that CBD might also have a modulating effect caused by hormones or an excess of the signaling pathways. The study concluded that CBD may be a promising application for alopecia treatment.5

There are an array of compelling studies that suggest CBD is good for the scalp by reducing inflammation, therefore supporting hair growth. With that being said, CBD could be a game-changer when it comes to hair rejuvenation.

CBD and Scalp Health

CBD works by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is composed of a network of endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids and their receptors. The ECS plays a crucial role in maintaining a state of balance throughout the body and mind.

In addition to interacting with endogenous ECS receptors, CBD can also influence cell receptors outside of the ECS. This includes binding to TRPV1 receptors, which are receptors that play a role in the perception of heat and pain.

All of these different receptor types exist on the scalp. Endocannabinoids have even been found in certain cell populations of hair follicles; therefore, it stands to reason that CBD could hold the potential to influence scalp health.

Many different issues can affect the scalp, and some are extremely common. Here are just a few of the most widespread scalp conditions, and how CBD might be able to help:

Itchy Scalp

As many as 25% of adults may suffer from an itchy scalp, which can be associated with other ailments or nerve damage. However, in some cases, there is no apparent physical cause.

The scalp produces large amounts of an oil called sebum, which helps protect the skin and hair. It also controls the microbiota of the scalp, which is the population of microorganisms, including bacteria and yeast that naturally live on the skin.

One particular genus of yeast, known as Malassezia, has an intimate relationship with sebum; it converts the sebum into free fatty acids that leave a residue on the scalp. If this residue becomes excessive, it can cause scalp itching, irritation, and dandruff.

It’s possible that, by interacting with endocannabinoids, CBD could help to relieve an itchy scalp. In fact, a 2006 study for the journal Der Hautarzt found that 14 out of 22 patients who applied a cannabinoid cream topically experienced a reduction in itchy skin. 6

CBD is known to reduce sebum production; therefore, it could potentially relieve scalp itching that stems from overly productive sebaceous glands.7 However, more research is necessary to confirm how effective it is.

Dandruff

Pictured: Dandruff Source: First Derm

Dandruff is another common scalp problem that affects up to 50% of adults. As well as causing itching and irritation, dandruff can be a cosmetic concern due to the flakes that it produces. Like an itchy scalp, dandruff is often related to sebum production and yeast overgrowth.

CBD may help reduce the effects of dandruff in many of the same ways it could relieve itching. In fact, reducing itching could also limit scratching, which often leads to a flaky scalp.

There is currently no research specifically on CBD oil for dandruff; however, there is some evidence that it helps with the maintenance of healthy skin, so anyone – with a doctors approval – could give CBD-infused products a try.8

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Pictured: Seborrheic Dermatitis Source: Midlands Dermatology

Yet another condition associated with sebum, yeast, itching, and dandruff is seborrheic dermatitis. In addition to the above symptoms, this skin condition can also cause redness and lesions on the scalp. It’s a common problem in babies and is known as “cradle cap.” Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect the face and chest.

The primary cause of seborrheic dermatitis is the overproduction of sebum. A 2014 study for The Journal of Clinical Investigations found that CBD has sebostatic effects, meaning it inhibits the release of sebum.9

Most of the research to date has focused on how CBD could help acne.10 However, in combination with its anti-inflammatory effects, CBD could potentially provide an effective treatment for seborrheic dermatitis as well.

Scalp Psoriasis

Pictured: Scalp Psoriasis Source: Health Central

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin condition in which skin cells grow too rapidly, forming thick patches known as plaques. Plaques are often itchy, red, and covered in scales. One of the most common areas affected by psoriasis is the scalp. In fact, as many as 80% of patients with psoriasis have it on their head.11

One primary concern associated with scalp psoriasis is that it can also lead to hair loss. Therefore, in addition to suffering the various discomforts of the disease itself, people with psoriasis often feel self-conscious about their appearance.

A 2007 study published in The Journal of Dermatological Science found that cannabinoids could have beneficial effects on psoriasis. The researchers tested CBD, THC, CBG, and CBN on human keratinocytes (skin cells) and the results showed that all of the compounds inhibited cell proliferation in a “concentration-dependent” manner.12

The Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil

There are simple ways of utilizing the power of CBD to promote healthy and beautiful hair. For example, you can explore CBD infused hair care on the market or use other high-quality CBD oil-based products, such as the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil.

Not only can the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil be used on your skin, but it can also be applied to your scalp and hair to provide deep moisture and reduce redness and irritation.

We are meticulous about the quality and purity of the cannabinoids contained in our products as well as the accuracy of our claims. That’s why we triple-test every batch as follows to ensure you receive products with cannabinoid quality, potency, purity, accuracy, and consistency

It’s important to know that Humanist Beauty products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases or medical conditions, so if you’re suffering from hair loss or a scalp condition, visit your practitioner to see if CBD infused products are right for you.

You can shop the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil here.

—

Resources:

https://cfah.org/cbd-oil-and-testosterone/ [1]

https://juna-world.com/blogs/news/cbd-hormones [2]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17157480/ [3]

https://ilesol.com/3-4-mg-of-cbd-once-a-day-leads-to-93-5-increase-in-hair-growth/ [4]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8220510/ [5]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16874533/ [6]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4151231/ [7]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7736837/ [8]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25061872/ [9]

https://wayofleaf.com/cbd/ailments/cbd-for-acne [10]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5683126/#:~:text=Of%20those%20affected%20by%20psoriasis,have%20involvement%20of%20the%20scalp.&text=Scalp%20psoriasis%20may%20occur%20in,with%20other%20forms%20of%20psoriasis. [11]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17157480/ [12]

4/20: Hitting The High Notes

Posted on April 19, 2022March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

4/20 (April 20th) is the day when droves of Americans celebrate something that had been prohibited and vilified in our country for decades: cannabis consumption. On 4/20, major rallies occur across the country, particularly in places like Colorado, California, and 16 other states plus Washington DC and Guam, where recreational cannabis consumption has been legalized. In recognition of 4/20 Day, let’s explore the facts and myths behind the name of the day, recount the storied history of the cannabis plant, and highlight the difference between THC and CBD.

How 4/20 Day Got Its Name: Myths and Facts

The myths and stories of how 4/20 Day got its name range from simple rumors to outright puffery. You may have heard about the unofficial holiday when you were a kid from older teens, or you might have Googled 4/20 to learn more. Either way: there’s quite a bit of gray when it comes to the name of the day.

Here are a few of the most common versions of the origins of 4/20 — as well as the actual truth:

Pictured: Top Left: Bob Marley (Music Universe); Top Right: Albert Hoffman (Pinterest); Bottom: Grateful Dead (Louder Sound)

Myth: Bob Marley

Many people believe 4/20 was inspired by the date of Bob Marley’s death — except he actually died on May 11th, 1981 — or when he was born, though his birthday is actually February 6th, 1945. This 4/20 creation myth is often repeated for Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, or anyone else associated with the “27 Club.”

Myth: 420 Radio Code

Rumor has it that 420 is the police code for “cannabis smoking in progress” or for “possession” or the penal code for cannabis use — none of which are factual. 420 is actually the radio code for homicide.

Myth: Chemistry

Many people believe that there are 420 chemical compounds in the cannabis flower, but in actuality, there are only 315 chemicals in cannabis, and that’s without getting technical.1

Myth: Albert Hoffman

As evidenced by his lab notes, it’s true that Albert Hoffman, the Swiss chemist who discovered LSD, took his first deliberate LSD trip on April 20th, 1943, but most argue that this wasn’t the source of 4/20; instead being a crazy coincidence.2

Myth: Grateful Dead

This rumor has apparently been denied by a Grateful Dead Productions spokesman, but there does remain a connection with 4/20 and the Grateful Dead.3 The band’s fans can be credited with spreading the “wake-and-bake” message of 4/20 across the country, and the true origin is said to hail from the same Northern California county as the The Grateful Dead.

Truth: 4/20 Was Created by Friends

Various sources, including Wikipedia, Snopes, and even the BBC, agree that 4/20 was first coined by a group of students at San Rafael High School in the early 1970s. The group called themselves “The Waldos” because they liked to socialize in front of a particular wall outside their school. They set a plan to find an abandoned cannabis crop and designated 4:20 pm as their meeting time to start their treasure hunt. They never found the crop, but started using the codeword “420” to communicate with each other about getting high.

According to a Waldo quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2000, the simple codeword soon came to stand in for anything cannabis-related, with hallway whispers of 420 standing in for questions like, “Do I look stoned?” or “Do you have any?”4 By the end of the 1970s, the term had been picked up by the Grateful Dead and their fans, before spreading across the country and eventually around the world.

While the Waldos initially tried to keep their identities under wraps, with time they came out to the media, bringing evidence to support their claims with letters dated and postmarked in the 1970s mentioning the all-mysterious “420.” Today, many who partake in cannabis more frequently will enjoy doing so at 4:20 pm as an ode to the code.

Pictured: The Waldos Source: Green Screens

Ancient Roots of Cannabis Use

The medicinal properties of the cannabis plant have been known for millennia; dating as far back as 2800 BC, when cannabis was used to treat a vast array of health problems and was listed in Emperor Shen Nung’s (regarded as the father of Chinese medicine) pharmacopoeia.5

Therapeutic indications of cannabis are mentioned in the texts of the Indian Hindus, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans. These texts reported that cannabis treats a vast array of different health problems, including arthritis, depression, amenorrhea, inflammation, pain, lack of appetite, and asthma.6

Hindu legend holds that Shiva was given the title “The Lord of Bhang,” because the cannabis plant was his favorite food. The ancient Hindus thought the medicinal benefits of cannabis were explained by pleasing the gods.7

Pictured: Shiva with a cannabis pipe Source: Binge Daily

Ancient Hindu texts attribute the onset of fever to the “hot breath of the gods” who were angered by the afflicted person’s behavior. Using cannabis in religious rites appeased the gods and hence reduced the fever.8

These early cannabis plants had very low levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for its mind-altering effects. However, there’s some evidence that ancient cultures knew about the psychoactive properties of the cannabis plant, so they may have cultivated varieties to produce higher levels of THC to use in religious ceremonies or healing practices.9

Cannabis Cultivation in Early America

The history of cannabis cultivation in America dates back to the early colonists who grew hemp for textiles and rope.9 The hemp plant originally evolved in Central Asia before people introduced the plant into Africa, Europe, and eventually the Americas.10

Because cannabis is a fast-growing plant that’s easy to cultivate and has many uses, it was widely grown throughout colonial America and at Spanish missions in the Southwest. In the early 1600s, the Virginia, Massachusetts, and Connecticut colonies even required farmers to grow the plant.

As new products were imported or developed to replace hemp — such as cotton — the plant fell out of popularity. By the end of the Civil War, the United States’ hemp production had passed its peak, but the plant was soon to see another rise in popularity.12

Pictured: Early cannabis/hemp farming Source: Fortuna Hemp

The Vilification of Cannabis

To put it bluntly, cannabis criminalization in the US stems from roots of white supremacy, power, and control. In the 1930s, xenophobic government bureaucrats, seeking to maintain ‘decorum,’ initiated a prohibition on cannabis, which, at the time, was mostly being used in the Hispanic and African American communities. They painted cannabis — and the communities using it — as a threat to the already crippled country and began the process of banning it.15 Twenty-nine states had outlawed cannabis by 1931, and in 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, essentially making the plant illegal in the United States.

The Beat Generation emerged early in the 1950s when a group of young people began to unite in their rejection of conventional society in favor of artistic and bohemian ideals. The Beatniks also enjoyed experimenting with drugs, particularly cannabis.13,14

Richard Nixon’s administration further propagandized cannabis use with its highly publicized ‘War On Drugs,’ which was actually a sham created to sanction law enforcement to raid, search, arrest, and lock up anti-war hippies and black community members that challenged their leadership.

The Cannabis Renaissance

With unsustainable non-violent incarcerations, broader awareness for the racially motivated criminalization, and mounting scientific evidence as to its wellness benefits, lawmakers have begun relaxing cannabis restrictions. However, federal laws differ from state laws, and state laws vary significantly, making the legalities of selling and consuming cannabis quite hazy.

The first major move was when the US federal government legalized the sale of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill. Hemp is defined by the government as Cannabis sativa that is bred for industrial applications and low concentration of psychoactive THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). In the U.S. hemp is defined as a Cannabis sativa plant not containing more than 0.3% THC. For that reason, hemp is considered to be the ‘non-intoxicating’ form of cannabis though it is not entirely free of intoxicating compounds.

Regarding state law, at the time of this writing, all 50 states have decriminalized industrial hemp commerce, including CBD (Cannabidiol), a therapeutic active compound derived from industrial hemp plants. Thirty seven states plus DC have legalized cannabis for medical use only. Eighteen states plus Washington DC have legalized cannabis for both recreational and medical cannabis use.

Pictured: Legal medical and recreational marijuana states Source: Britannica Pro Con

CBD vs. THC: The Basics

The cannabis plant is unique considering it produces a family of chemicals called cannabinoids. These chemicals all have a similar three-dimensional shape. However, subtle differences in the shape of these chemicals can have a big impact on how they make us feel.

The two most common cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabis plants that produce mind-altering effects are typically high in THC, and cannabis plants with high CBD and little or no THC are legally defined as hemp.

Pictured: CBD vs. THC Source: CBD Lion

CBD is often used to alleviate symptoms associated with:

Anxiety
Depression
Inflammation
Migraines
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Seizures

THC, which may be administered as medical cannabis, may be used to alleviate symptoms of a number of conditions, such as:

Glaucoma
Insomnia
Nausea; may be helpful for alleviating nausea caused by cancer treatment
Pain associated with conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, and migraine headaches
Poor Appetite; including appetite problems caused by cancer treatment
Tremors

The Benefits of Cannabis Usage

Cannabis legalization has resulted in a large increase in use for personal and health reasons. In fact, more than two out of three Americans have legal access to medical cannabis, and more than a quarter can use it recreationally.16

In 2020, researchers examined the impact of federal legalization in Canada and found that 56% of people said that cannabis is beneficial for their quality of life, while 46% of people reported that cannabis is beneficial for their mental health.17

Human research on cannabis’ effectiveness for many diseases is still ongoing. However, the most well-studied benefits of cannabis are:

For Neurological Conditions and Multiple Sclerosis

There are several FDA-approved cannabis-like medications. That is, these medicines are cannabinoids or cousins of the unique chemicals produced by the cannabis plant. Cannabidiol, for example, (Epidiolex) — prescription-level CBD that is used to treat a rare form of epilepsy in children — is made directly from the plant.

Cannabis is also used for diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS). Research is ongoing, but some studies suggest that cannabis may also help neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.18

For Nausea, Vomiting, and Low Appetite

Cannabis has been used to treat nausea for millennia. Although its effectiveness for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea is widely recognized even in modern times, the use of cannabis for nausea remains under-researched in the general population.

However, in a recent study, titled “The Effectiveness of Common Cannabis Products for Treatment of Nausea” published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, researchers showed that the vast majority of patients using cannabis to treat nausea experienced relief within one hour.19

For Pain

One of the most common reasons people use cannabis is to manage pain. According to the University of Colorado Boulder, more than 87% of medical cannabis users report smoking or ingesting it for pain-related conditions.

Recent research suggests that cannabis may be a safer choice compared to other pain-relieving drugs such as opioids and benzodiazepines, considering that cannabis’ side effects are not life-threatening. Opioids and benzodiazepines, on the other hand, cause thousands of accidental drug overdoses every year.20

For Sleep

Both individuals with and without chronic diseases report that cannabis improves their sleep. Some studies show that cannabis can help people fall asleep faster, but it may not prevent waking up in the middle of the night.21

Although research is still ongoing, cannabis may also be helpful for those with sleep disorders, such as restless leg syndrome.22

For Mental Health Conditions

Many individuals use cannabis for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A recent study of people with clinical depression found that those using medical cannabis had lower depression scores than those who were not. It was also determined that study participants who began using medicinal cannabis in a follow-up period saw a reduction in symptoms.23

Humanist Beauty Skincare Products Contain CBD

The Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil and Eye Cream both contain cannabinoids sourced from hemp that’s grown with care on US farms using organic practices and that are registered with respective State Departments of Agriculture and operate in strict compliance with state and federal law.

The organic CBD in all Humanist Beauty facial skincare products comes from a blend of full-spectrum whole hemp extract and pure organic CBD isolate. All finished formulas contain less than 0.3% THC.

We chose to include a full-spectrum cannabinoid profile in appreciation for the topical ‘entourage effect’ – synergistic activity where the sum of natural benefits is greater than its parts. CBD is reported to calm sensitivity and provide antioxidant effects, while also visibly soothing skin.

Our formulas are non-intoxicating and applying them topically cannot get you “high.”

You can learn more about our CBD and how we triple-test our products for cannabinoid quality here.

The Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil

There’s a reason why Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil is heralded as “liquid gold.” The exceptional formula, which harnesses the full power of CBD, is a powerful skin treatment fusing clean plant nutrients rich in antioxidant, adaptogenic, anti-aging, and moisturizing properties.

The Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil oil can be applied to help visibly repair, deeply nourish, and diminish signs of stress on your skin twice daily. As part of your holistic wellness regimen, it can also be used on pulse points and other skin externalities to help aromatically calm and soothe your mind, body and soul.

You can shop the Herban Wisdom® Facial Oil here.

The Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream

The Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream is packed with skin-rejuvenating plant-based nutrients, full-spectrum CBD, adaptogens, and antioxidants. This eye cream helps to balance the skin’s stress response and defend against premature fine lines, wrinkles, laxity, and collagen-loss, while revitalizing the skin to increase luminosity and diminish noticeable eye bags, puffiness, and signs of fatigue.

This intuitive eye cream immediately goes to work upon application, renewing the delicate skin around your entire eye area. The concentrated formula has a dense consistency that sinks in and stays put; it won’t run into your eyes or sting, and can be used alone or under makeup both day and night.

You can shop the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom® Eye Cream here.

Products Containing CBD to Take Note Of

In 2021, BDSA’s trend report forecasted the CBD beauty segment of the market to reach $720 million — a 60% increase over 2020 and representing just 10% of the total CBD market. By 2024, the CBD beauty market is projected to reach $959 million.24

With that being said, the number of new brands and product launches that contain CBD to consider buying is overwhelming. Here are four esteemed CBD products to take note of:

Happy Dance Look Alive Face Moisturizer

For celebrity co-founder Kristen Bell, the havoc wreaked on her skin from the normal stresses of the day was the inspiration for creating Happy Dance’s debut face moisturizer. Formulated as a “first line of defense,” this whipped, hydrating cream is light on the skin, but heavy on hydration. It’s infused with 150 milligrams of CBD extract, along with being powered by avocado oil, bisabolol with a ginger blend, and four types of hyaluronic acid.

You can shop the Happy Dance Look Alive Face Moisturizer here.

Khus + Khus Bleu Body Wax

Khus + Khus founder Kristi Blustein is an Ayurvedic specialist, aromatherapist, and herbalist, which takes the brand and its products to the next level. The Bleu Body Wax, for example, is a concentrated pomade that’s solid at room temperature and when warmed up in your hands, liquifies for smooth application. Each jar is packed with 225 milligrams of CBD that’s complemented by coconut, baobab seed, and beeswax with essential oils.

You can shop the Khus + Khus Bleu Body Wax here.

Prima Beyond Body Oil

Supercharged with 600 milligrams of CBD oil per bottle, Prima’s Beyond Body Oil goes beyond your average body oil. Plant actives including omegas, phenols, antioxidants, and fatty acids are combined with magnesium and helichrysum in this soothing, therapeutic formula, which repairs and restores the skin while also improving tone and texture.

You can shop the Prima Hemp Beyond Body Oil here.

Undefined Beauty Glow Drops

Undefined Beauty’s Glow Drops are not your standard tincture. The Glow Drops combine antioxidant-rich adaptogens, superfoods, and potent 600 mg full-spectrum CBD to boost your mood, support gut health, promote beauty from the inside out, and protect against UV light, smog, and stress for glowing skin. You can add a few drops under your tongue or into your favorite beverage.

You can shop Undefined Beauty’s Glow Drops here.

Do you have any products containing CBD that you love? Do you celebrate 4/20, and if so, how? Let us know in the comments!

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References:

https://hightimes.com/read/world-goes-smoke-each-april-20 [1]

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/inventor-of-lsd-embarks-on-final-trip/ [2]

https://hightimes.com/read/world-goes-smoke-each-april-20 [3]

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Stoner-Chic-Traces-Origin-To-San-Rafael-2763464.php [4]

https://sanctuarywellnessinstitute.com/cannabis/medical-marijuana-history.php [5]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312634/ [6]

https://www.elixinolwellness.com/site/blog/hemp–cannabis-and-religion [7] [8]

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.aaw1391 [9] [12]

https://www.thestreet.com/markets/history-of-marijuana-14718715 [10]

https://ministryofhemp.com/hemp/history/ [11]

https://www.britannica.com/art/Beat-movement [13]

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/drugs/buyers/socialhistory.html [14]

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/etc/cron.html [15]

https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/two-thirds-of-americans-have-access-to-medical-marijuana-one-fourth-have-access-to-recreational/article_f1bb840e-5e52-11ea-8e10-87e05c777253.html [16]

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/research-data/canadian-cannabis-survey-2020-summary.html#a2 [17]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK425767/ [18]

https://journals.lww.com/jcge/Citation/2022/04000/The_Effectiveness_of_Common_Cannabis_Products_for.8.aspx [19]

https://nida.nih.gov/drug-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates [20]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31954953/ [21]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33537945/ [22]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2021/10/31/study-finds-medical-marijuana-may-help-treat-depression-and-anxiety-and-improve-sleep/?sh=13e12d91a98e [23]

https://bdsa.com/ [24]

All About World Health Day

Posted on April 5, 2022March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

World Health Day is celebrated every year on April 7th, the anniversary of the founding day of the World Health Organization (WHO). It’s a day to focus on and raise awareness around health and wellness issues that affect people all over the globe. Each year, a theme is selected to highlight a priority area of public health concern in the world. This year, the theme is “Our planet, Our health,” and will be focusing on the availability of clean water, air, and food for all. In this blog, we will explore global health and happiness, along with how you can celebrate World Health Day.

What Is Global Health?

While definitions vary, we are expressing ‘global health’ as the status of health, wellness, and healthcare for all populations worldwide.

There are six key factors most critical to the global health conversation today:

Pandemics

According to an article published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization, pandemics are defined as global disease outbreaks. Examples of pandemics include certain influenza outbreaks, COVID-19, and other viral threats that reflect our vulnerability to widespread diseases.

Every year, there are newly emerging pandemic threats. Vaccination efforts can help, but it’s critical to address issues at the source by focusing on important areas like health education and responsible agricultural practices. Researchers have also made recommendations on global risk mitigation measures that can help even after an outbreak occurs.

Climate Change

Storms, flooding, droughts, and air pollution make it easier for diseases to spread across large groups of people. The immediate solution is to provide resources like bottled water and sanitation technology, but global health must also focus on the prevention of environmental challenges in the first place.

Climate change is thought by many global health experts to be the greatest threat to human health. Global policies to mitigate mankind’s contribution to climate change are gaining traction with more countries regulating individual household energy consumption as well as encouraging large-scale industry progress toward environmentally-conscious practices.

Such changes will have profound health benefits for those who live in urban centers, which account for more than 50% of the world’s population.

Access to Healthcare

Despite relentless progress in the field of medicine, communities across the world still lack access to basic health education and healthcare. This results in health disparities, such as high infant mortality rates, which are often related to geography. Other disparities may be the result of income inequality, with some individuals and families being left unable to afford proper health care.

To solve these economic challenges, global health professionals are exploring opportunities to uplift underrepresented communities in public health forums, encouraging physicians to practice in remote areas, and introducing policies that reduce barriers and increase access to healthcare.

Political Instability

Inadequate access to healthcare is exacerbated when international politics enter the mix. As conflicts within or between nations destroy critical infrastructure, citizens become more vulnerable to diseases. This ultimately causes them to flee the dangerous situations that threaten their well-being.

Migration can allow illnesses to quickly spread, but the WHO stresses that solutions should aim to improve refugee and migrant health through efforts like organizing across borders to endorse policies that bridge short-term humanitarian crisis responses with long-term healthcare access improvements.

Noncommunicable Diseases

Heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) account for 70% of all deaths worldwide, according to the WHO.

Education plays a role in the prevention of NCDs, helping populations understand and change lifestyle factors, such as poor diets, inactivity, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption. However, there is also a correlation between income level and the prevalence of NCDs.

The WHO notes that 85% of premature NCD-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income regions. Reducing the number of NCDs globally means reducing the factors that disproportionately arise in lower-income communities.

Animal Health, Food Sourcing, and Supply

The study of veterinary public health makes it clear that animal wellness is naturally intertwined with that of humans. The clearest connection occurs within the food chain, but animals are also relied upon for transportation, draught power, and clothing in developing areas.

Agricultural practices, including irrigation, pesticide use, and waste management, can influence animal health, making disease transmission a concern at every stage of the food supply chain. With pathogens originating from animals or animal products playing such a significant role in disease transmission, veterinary medicine must be included in any effort to improve global health.

World Health Statistics

In May 2021, WHO released its annual “State of the World’s Health Assessment.” The report presents the latest data on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and “Triple Billion” target indicators.

The 2021 edition includes preliminary estimates for global excess deaths attributable to COVID-19 for 2020 and the state of global and regional health trends from 2000 to 2019. It also focuses on persistent health inequalities and data gaps that have been accentuated by the pandemic.

Here are its key messages:

Every country is facing challenges to report COVID-19 deaths, and the WHO is working with all stakeholders to refine statistical models and obtain accurate counts.
As of December 31 2020, preliminary estimates suggest the total number of global deaths attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 is at least 3 million, representing 1.2 million more deaths than the 1.8 million officially reported.
The COVID-19 pandemic poses major threats to population health and well-being globally and hinders progress in meeting the SDGs and WHO’s “Triple Billion” targets. With 90% of countries reporting disruptions to essential health services and 3% of households spending more than 25% of their budget on healthcare in 2015, United Health Care is at great risk of falling behind.
COVID-19 disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations; those living in overcrowded settings are met with a higher risk. Lack of data disaggregation contributes to unequal health outcomes, with only 51% of countries including disaggregated data in national statistical reports.
Global life expectancy at birth is up from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.3 years in 2019, with healthy life expectancy up from 58.3 to 63.7 years. The greatest gains are being made in low-income countries primarily due to rapid reductions in child mortality and communicable diseases.
Global tobacco use is down by 33% since 2000, but adult obesity is on the rise with up to a quarter of populations in high-income countries obese in 2016. Noncommunicable diseases made up 7 of 10 causes of death worldwide in 2019.
Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year.
The direct damage costs to health (i.e. excluding costs in health-determining sectors such as agriculture and water and sanitation), is estimated to be between 2-4 billion USD/year by 2030.
The WHO has partnered with Microsoft and Avanade to develop a new, state-of-the-art World Health Data Hub to improve access to data, streamline data processes, and provide health data as a public good.

The 2022 World Happiness Report

Pictured: Least and Most Happy Countries Source: Visual Capitalist

Global health is directly linked to world happiness. The numbers shown in the graphic above, which are from the World Happiness Report 2022, represent the survey data from thousands of respondents for each country, who are asked to rate their subjective well-being or happiness score.

Happiness levels are measured in this report by looking at:

Social support
Life expectancy
Freedom to make life choices
Generosity
GDP per capita
Perceptions of corruption
Positive and negative effects
The report takes special considerations to track how COVID-19 has impacted aspects of our daily lives, and how it’s affected global happiness levels.

Worldwide happiness comes in at an average score of 5.6, which is a slight improvement since 2021’s report. Here’s a more in-depth look at each region’s happiness levels:

North America

Source: Visual Capitalist

Like last year, Canada ranks first as the happiest country in North America. However, it’s lost some ground on the global ranking, placing 15th this year, compared to 14th last year. In contrast, the United States climbed three places in this year’s report and ranked just under Canada with a happiness score of 6.97.

The Dominican Republic comes in last place in North America. While the Dominican Republic has experienced economic growth over the last 25 years, the country was hit hard by the global pandemic; during this time, approximately 270,000 people fell into poverty.

South America

Source: Visual Capitalist

Uruguay is the happiest country in South America due to its high income per capita, low levels of poverty, and strong middle class. While Uruguay was not immune to the impacts of COVID-19, the country was able to transition smoothly to online learning and was the first country in the region to reopen schools.

In last year’s World Happiness Report, Colombia was the most improved country in South America; however, this year it’s dropped 14 places on the global ranking, making it the least improved country in this year’s report.

While Colombia has made significant strides toward elevating extreme poverty in the last few decades, it still has one of the highest levels of income inequality in Latin America. In 2020, its top 10% of workers took home more than 50% of national income.

Europe

Source: Visual Capitalist

Finland is not only the happiest country in Europe, but it also holds the top spot as the happiest country in the world for the fifth straight year. Finland is one of five Nordic countries to place in the top 10 with Denmark coming in second place and Iceland in third.

Romania was the most improved country in Europe, climbing 18 spots on the global ranking since last year’s report. Over the last decade, the country has seen some of the most significant economic growth in the European Union and was able to bounce back quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Middle East and Central Asia

Source: Visual Capitalist

Turkmenistan is the most improved country in the region, rising 19 places on the global ranking since last year. The country’s boost could be explained by its rapid economic growth in recent years, where in 2021 alone, the country’s GDP grew by an estimated 6.3%.

For the last two years, Lebanon has been dealing with a slew of crises. In 2020, COVID-19 spurred an economic crisis that’s been ranked as one of the top 10 most severe economic crises since the mid-nineteenth century. And on August 4th, 2020, a massive ammonium nitrate explosion left the country’s capital city, Beirut, in shambles.

East Asia and Oceania

Source: Visual Capitalist

This year, China climbed 12 places on the global ranking, making it the most improved country in East Asia and Oceania. The Chinese government recently identified “common prosperity” as a top priority, leading them to make numerous policy shifts to combat inequality and eradicate poverty.

Thailand has improved the least in the region due to the significant toll that COVID-19 had on the country’s economy. In 2020, economic growth shrunk by 6.1% in Thailand and is not expected to bounce back to pre-pandemic levels until around 2023.

Africa

Source: Visual Capitalist

With a regional score of 4.5, Africa ranks as the unhappiest region worldwide. Zimbabwe remains the most unhappy country in the region, as it continues to struggle with high levels of poverty. In 2021, roughly 6.1 million people were living below the international poverty line.

Mauritius remains the happiest country in the region, which is most likely due to its higher levels of income. It became a high-income country in July 2020; however, Mauritius slipped back to its upper-middle-income status in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How You Can Celebrate World Health Day

Celebrating and observing World Health Day can be done by individuals, families, schools, churches, and other community organizations. It’s a notable time to connect with others over important themes and increase knowledge.

Here are a few ways you can celebrate World Health Day:

Reduce Health Inequalities

The COVID-19 pandemic sparked awareness that our health is our biggest resource. Also, it highlighted that our world is fundamentally unequal. Put simply, differences in socioeconomic status mean differences in access to health services and healthier lives.

Vulnerable groups in the world were hit hardest during the pandemic, struggling for survival under poor living conditions and without access to necessities such as clean water and food security.

Learn more about universal health inequalities here, then consider what you can do to lessen the divide.

Support Global Health

Honor World Health Day by supporting needy people and giving them a better chance at good health. Consider donating nutritious food to a community food pantry or volunteering to help cook and serve healthy meals at a local soup kitchen.

There are many non-profit organizations that provide food and health services on a global scale, such as these. Do some research, select a cause that resonates with you, and take action.

Get A Check-Up

With a focus on global health awareness, it’s a great time to turn your attention toward your own health. Try scheduling a doctor’s appointment for an annual checkup to learn more about your health and wellness.

Your doctor will likely check your vital signs, such as blood pressure and heart rate, along with a physical examination. Laboratory tests, such as a complete metabolic panel, may be conducted to check your blood and vital organs.

Always ask your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about your health. While you’re there, thank your nurse for their hard work and the positive impact they’re making in people’s lives.

Run a 5K

The arrival of spring brings along warm weather and outdoor charity events and functions. Try using your fitness, physical health, and motivation to give back to others through a 5K charity run.

Even if you’re not a runner, you may still be able to participate, considering that many 5Ks touted as fundraisers, fun runs, or community events are usually open to walkers. However, there is often a separate start time for walkers, so make sure to check the organization’s website before the run.

Exercise and physical activity provide many health benefits, and when paired up with a charity, you’re also supporting a good cause. You can learn more about running or walking a 5K here.

Set New Health Goals

If your New Year’s resolutions have taken the back burner since the start of the pandemic, now is a great time to revisit your health-oriented goals. Grab a pen and paper and take some time to jot down your thoughts and aspirations.

Maybe you have a fitness goal, such as increasing your running or walking distance, adding an extra full-body workout day to your week, or trying out meditation. Or maybe you want to focus on your mental health by keeping a journal.

Whether you’re trying to add more fruits and vegetables into your diet or improve your hydration habits by drinking water or cutting out soda, focusing on your personal wellbeing and choosing small goals can make a big difference in your life. Here are a few tips to help you achieve your goals.

How Will You Celebrate?

Let us know how you plan to recognize World Health Day. If you’d like to read up on past World Health Day themes, you can read more about World Health Day here.

The Benefits of Unplugging

Posted on March 8, 2022March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” —Anne Lamott

Technology has always been ubiquitous, touching every part of our lives. Between binging your favorite television shows, shopping online, and facetiming your friends, your devices have practically become an extension of yourself to make life easier and more entertaining. While it’s true that technology has incredible value and can help us connect in ways like never before, taking regular breaks, or unplugging, from all of the screens in our lives offers an array of benefits for a happier, more fulfilling life. In celebration of National Day of Unplugging, let’s take a look at the advantages of unplugging from technology.

The National Day of Unplugging

National Day of Unplugging (NDU) is an awareness campaign observed on the first Friday in March and is organized by Unplug Collaborative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. NDU was established in 2009 when very little academic and clinical research had been conducted about the long term impact of smartphone use on mental health.

Recognizing the need for awareness of what might become a bigger problem, the Jewish arts and culture non-profit Reboot launched in partnership with Sabbath Manifesto, a project designed to slow down lives in an increasingly hectic, technology-addicted world.

What was once a small group of people gathering for tech-free Shabbat dinners turned into thousands of worldwide community partners organizing live unplugged events, year after year. To date, there are more than 135,000 people who have participated in the events hosted worldwide.

National Day of Unplugging Membership is open to any educator, organizer, parent, or individual who wants to spread awareness about how to maintain a healthy life/technology balance.

What Does It Mean To Unplug From Technology?

The idea of unplugging is to take time off from your electronics, while also making the conscious decision to be more mindful during screen time. Although technology has some wonderful benefits, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that our world is developing an unhealthy attachment to it, which is why unplugging is so important.

The statistics regarding our connected lives are nothing short of staggering:

67% of cell phone owners check their phone for messages, alerts, or calls — even when they don’t notice their phone ringing or vibrating.1
84% of cell phone users claim they could not go a single day without their device.2
Studies indicate some mobile device owners check their devices every 6.5 minutes.3
88% of U.S. consumers use mobile devices as a second screen even while watching television.4
Almost half of cell phone owners have slept with their phone next to their bed because they wanted to make sure they didn’t miss any calls.5
Traditional TV viewing eats up over six days (144 hours, 54 minutes) worth of time per month.6
Some researchers have begun labelling “cell phone checking” as the new yawn because of its contagious nature.7

The Benefits of Unplugging

The addiction to technology can be powerful, but by unplugging, you can reap amazing benefits that may greatly impact your emotional and mental health, along with your overall wellness. Here are some important reasons to unplug:

Unplugging Reduces Stress And Anxiety

Unplugging from technology is like a reboot for your brain. When you’re not bombarded by dozens of emails, constantly looking at news alerts on your phone, or mindlessly scrolling through movies on Netflix, your mind can slow down, relax, and be in the present moment.

Researchers have recently discovered one in three people felt worse after visiting Facebook and more dissatisfied with their lives. From family happiness to body image to vacation destinations to the number of birthday greetings on a Facebook wall, the opportunity for anxiety, stress, envy, and jealousy often presents themselves on social media. By unplugging, you can reduce the negative emotions commonly associated with social media.

Unplugging Combats The Fear Of Missing Out

The fear of missing out (FOMO) has been recognized as a recently emerging psychological disorder brought on by the massive increase in technology addiction. The premise is simple: our social media streams are filled with what’s happening all around us and we want to be experiencing everything our friends and family are.

Within this constant stream of notifications, our FOMO continues to grow. Unplugging can allow you to go into the world and make your own experiences. Going on a hike, spending time with your family or pets, or just reading a book can help you leave FOMO at the door and create your own memories that you’ll never have to worry about missing out on. Some refer to this experience as JOMO, the joy of missing out.

Unplugging Promotes Creation Over Consumption

Most of our time is spent in one of two categories: consuming or creating. While technology can contribute to creating, such as writing blogs on a computer or posting a TikTok, most of the time we spend in front of technology is spent consuming. Playing video games, browsing the internet, watching movies, and listening to music are all examples of technology consumption.

The next time you’re about to plug in, think of whether it is to create or to consume. This moment of mindfulness can help you consider your passion, your solution, and your unique contribution to your world. Powering down your devices is a great way to focus on your creative approaches to benefit others.

Unplugging Empowers You To Enjoy Life

Our world may be changing, but the true nature of life is not. Life, at its best, is happening right in front of you. These experiences will never repeat themselves, but if you’re too busy staring at your cell phone or computer screen, you may not be truly present to experience all the good that is happening IRL.

Powering down and disconnecting from the devices we’ve become so dependent on means less fragmented moments throughout the day. Your attention span will increase, your self-awareness and mindfulness will grow, and you’ll be able to appreciate and savor your time and the people you encounter throughout the day.

Unplugging Allows You To Connect To Nature

Did you know there’s a natural urge to go outside when you choose to disconnect from technology? Exploring the outdoors is a healthy reminder that there’s life beyond skyscrapers, computers, and cell phones.

Getting outdoors can be an incredibly restorative experience. It gives you a chance to reconnect with nature, clear your mind from clutter, engage your senses, and bring a sense of calm to your life. Additionally, being outside gives you much-needed vitamin D, which can help you avoid long-term health problems like heart disease and diabetes.

How You Can Unplug For A More Mindful Life

We all need a respite from technology and the workweek from time to time for our overall wellness. Here are some practical tips you can use to enrich life and your technology usage:

Reduce technology 10% at a time. Stopping the use of your cell phone or television cold turkey can make you revert back to your old ways. Try a more subdued approach by limiting technology sparingly. As you slowly wean yourself off of technology, make notes on how you feel each time you cut time off your devices.

Set up technology-free zones. It’s important to have places in your house for you and your family and friends to congregate or unwind after a hard day at work. In shared spaces, establish digital-free zones. If you live alone, try setting up a time before bed to read a book or meditate without technology.

Turn off notifications. It’s challenging to ignore email and social media alerts, but these distractions sap your energy and focus. By turning off your notifications, you’ll be better able to concentrate, and you’ll regain control of how you spend your time. In time, you’ll likely feel calmer, more relaxed, and more productive.

Track the time you spend online. Unknowingly, social media can take up a large portion of your day. After all, it’s easy to scroll through TikTok for hours. You can download apps, such as Social Fever and Stay Focused, that will help you keep up with social media and other app usages.

Have a technology-free morning. Instead of checking your cell phone first thing in the morning, meditate, go for a walk, spend time with family, or do yoga. By avoiding technology in the mornings, you’ll feel more grounded, energized, and ready for your day.

Be Intentional. If you can’t unplug from the world completely, try to focus on being intentional with how you use technology. Going through your apps to figure out which ones you need and which ones you can delete is a step in the right direction.

Plug into what matters. When you unplug, it’s important to let yourself enjoy life’s pleasures. Do what you love, like riding a bike or going on a walk with your dog. When you unplug, give yourself permission to focus on the things you have a passion for outside of technology.

Final Thoughts

“Unplugging is an act of separating ourselves from what doesn’t align with our values and our heart-centered desires.” —Caroline Makepeace

Today’s world is full of distractions; from cell phones to social media to television, the average person is exposed to screens and technology at an alarming rate. This constant exposure can make it difficult to focus, which can cause anxiety, stress, and unhealthy emotions.

Unplugging is a wonderful way to learn more about yourself, promote relaxation and creation, and take part in more of the wonders that the world has to offer. Without technology, you can be you, unfiltered and unedited.

How will you unplug? Do you have an unplugging routine that has helped you ease off of technology? Let us know in the comments!

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https://pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Best-Worst-Mobile.aspx [1][2][5]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276752/Mobile-users-leave-phone-minutes-check-150-times-day.html [3]

https://www.businessinsider.com/a-majority-uses-mobile-as-second-screen-2013-5 [4]

https://techcrunch.com/2013/01/07/nielsen-tv-still-king-in-media-consumption-only-16-percent-of-tv-homes-have-tablets/ [6]

https://www.treehugger.com/green-tech/gadgets-electronics/stories/why-cellphone-use-is-contagious [7]

A Guide to Antioxidants

Posted on September 30, 2021March 21, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

You’ve probably heard that antioxidants are good for you, but what exactly are they, and what do they do? The word “antioxidants” is often found on the package labels of salad mixes, kombucha bottles, dietary supplements, and of course, many topical skincare products. They are indeed beneficial for a plethora of reasons, most notably cellular protection. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of antioxidants, how they work, and the best way to get them.

What Are Free Radicals?

To fully understand antioxidants, we’ll first start with free radicals. Free radicals are molecules with unpaired electrons that are unstable and highly reactive. They’re created through normal body processes like metabolism and digestion, but they are also produced through the body’s exposure to excess sun, radiation, pollution, cigarette smoke, and more.

Free radical activity in the body is completely normal, however excessive free radical activity is known as oxidative stress which can compromise one’s health. Too much oxidative stress can trigger chain reactions that attack healthy DNA, proteins, and lipids.¹ According to the free radical theory of aging, oxidative stress causes unwanted inflammation that damages cells, destroys collagen, and causes premature aging.

Some conditions caused by oxidative stress include:

Acceleration of the aging process, leading to fine lines, sagging skin, and wrinkles
Deterioration of the eye lens, which contributes to vision loss
Inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
Damage to nerve cells in the brain, which contributes to conditions such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease
Increased risk of coronary heart disease
Certain cancers triggered by damaged cell DNA

Pictured: Cell under oxidative stress
Source: Serving Seniors

What Are Antioxidants?

Antioxidants, sometimes known as “free radical scavengers,” are like peacemakers to free radicals. They neutralize free radicals by donating an electron to each of them. This stabilizes the free radicals from running amok and prevents them from damaging nearby cells.

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of different substances that can act as antioxidants. The most familiar ones are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, and manganese. Others include glutathione, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, flavonoids, phenols, polyphenols, and many more.

It is important to know that the term “antioxidant” refers to a chemical property, namely, the ability to act as an electron donor in a given situation. It does not refer to the substance itself. Why? Some substances can act as an antioxidant in one situation and as a pro-oxidant (electron grabber) in a different situation. Another important note is that antioxidants are not interchangeable. Each one has a unique chemical behavior and biological property. They almost certainly evolved as parts of elaborate biochemical systems with each different substance (or family of substances) playing slightly different roles.

Antioxidants came to public attention in the 1990s when scientists began to understand that free radical damage was involved in the early stages of artery-clogging atherosclerosis.² Since then, a multitude of clinical studies have been administered to test the impact of antioxidants as weapons against chronic diseases, along with the benefits of an antioxidant-rich diet and skincare routine.

Some nutrients with high antioxidant potency include:

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an extremely powerful antioxidant that your body can’t manufacture, yet is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. It’s involved in many bodily functions, including the formation of collagen, absorption of iron, the immune system, wound healing, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.³
Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol, is important to vision, reproduction, and the health of your blood, brain, and skin. Having a vitamin E deficiency can cause nerve pain (neuropathy).⁴
Selenium is a trace mineral found in the soil and also appears in certain foods. It’s important for reproduction, thyroid function, DNA production, and protecting the body from infection.⁵
Quercetinis another antioxidant found in certain plant foods that has many well-researched health benefits. It doubles as a plant pigment, which means only plants manufacture it.

Pictured: Antioxidants donate an unpaired electron to free radicals
Source: Greatest

How Antioxidant Content is Measured – The ORAC System

There are several ways the antioxidant potency of food can be measured, but the ORAC value system is the most widely used. ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, is determined by placing a specific amount of food sample in a test tube with (1) molecules that generate free radical activity and (2) molecules that are vulnerable to free radical activity. The food sample is scored by how well it protects the vulnerable molecules from oxidative damage. The higher the score a food has, the higher its protective properties and total antioxidant capacity are. Hence, a food that has an ORAC value of 1000 will have 5 times more antioxidant capacity than a food that has an ORAC value of 200.

Antioxidants in Your Diet

Antioxidants are essential for the survival of all living things. Our bodies generate their own antioxidants, such as the cellular antioxidant glutathione. Plants, animals, and all other forms of life also have their own defenses against free radicals and oxidative damage. Therefore, antioxidants are found in all whole foods of plant and animal origin.

Adequate antioxidant intake is vital for proper biological functioning. In fact, our bodies require the consumption of certain antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E, for optimal health. For example, men who eat plenty of lycopene (found in tomatoes) may be less likely than other men to develop prostate cancer.⁶ Additionally, flavonoids, such as the tea catechins found in green tea, are believed to contribute to the low rates of heart disease in Japan.⁷

Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Many of the phytochemicals (plant chemicals) found in the foods we eat function as antioxidants. These nutrients work by inhibiting the formation of free radicals and reducing the damage they would otherwise cause in the body. This is thought to be at least part of the reason why a diet rich in vegetables and fruit has been linked to a lower risk of many diseases.⁸ However, meat, dairy, and eggs also contain antioxidants, which mainly come from the nutrient-rich plants the animals feed on.

Here are some common foods rich in various antioxidant nutrients:

Milk, butter, salmon, cheese, animal liver, and eggs are great sources of Vitamin A
Broccoli, cantaloupe, honeydew, leafy greens (turnip, mustard, collards, beet), kiwi, lemons, oranges, and bell peppers are great sources of Vitamin C
Almonds, leafy greens (turnip, mustard, beet), sunflower seeds, peanuts, and avocados are great sources of Vitamin E
Carrots, apricots, peaches, and mangoes are great sources of beta-carotene
Tomatoes, grapefruit, and watermelon are great sources of lycopene
Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, acai, pomegranate, and red cabbage are great sources of the flavonoid anthocyanin
Dark chocolate, red wine, cranberry juice, and red delicious apples are great sources of the flavonoid procyanidin
Brazil nuts, fish, shellfish, poultry, barley, corn, wheat, and brown rice are great sources of Selenium
Beef, poultry, shrimp, oysters, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, chickpeas, cashews, and lentils are great sources of Zinc

Eating antioxidant rich foods is preferred over taking antioxidant supplements because foods are enriched with other nutrients that work biologically with each other. For example, one cup of fresh strawberries contains about 80 mg of vitamin C. But a 500 mg of vitamin C supplement (667% of the RDA) lacks the robust plant chemicals (polyphenols) naturally found in strawberries like proanthocyanins and flavonoids, which also possess antioxidant activity and may assist vitamin C in fighting disease. Polyphenols also have many other benefits besides antioxidant activity.

Curious if your favorite foods have high levels of antioxidants? Check out this antioxidant food chart to find out.

Skincare Benefits of Antioxidants

Many topical skincare products incorporate antioxidants to deliver skin health benefits directly to the skin. Savvy skincare consumers read ingredient lists and look for antioxidant-rich ingredients. They do this despite the fact that the FDA does not allow traditional cosmetic skincare products to make structure-function claims, because doing so would classify these products as drugs.

Prevent Sun Damage

Antioxidants give skin a protective effect against UV damage when used alongside sunscreen by curtailing skin’s inflammatory response to the sun’s harmful rays, preventing sunburn, and providing enhanced protection against damage and photoaging.⁸ It is important to know, however, that antioxidants are not a replacement for sunscreen ingredients such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide which have been approved and are regulated to provide UV skin protection.

Help Skin Repair Itself

Inflammation from free radical damage creates an environment of harm, not healing. By working to reduce inflammation, antioxidants help skin cells stay healthier longer. Cells are better able to retain their natural ability for repair to defend against further damage. Additionally, some antioxidants like vitamin C help stimulate collagen production for a firmer appearance.⁹

Brighten Skin Tone

Frequent sun exposure and free radicals can trigger changes in your skin’s melanin production, which causes dark spots and uneven skin tone. Antioxidants help prevent abnormal skin pigmentation, and some antioxidants, like vitamin C, work to inhibit tyrosinase, which is an enzyme that stimulates melanin production.¹⁰

Defend Against Premature Signs of Aging

Oxidative stress can break down skin’s collagen fibers resulting in fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin. By scavenging free radicals, antioxidants can help prevent visible signs of premature skin aging for a smoother, more youthful look.¹¹

Antioxidants in the Humanist Beauty Herban Wisdom™ Facial Oil

At Humanist Beauty, we are fully transparent about every ingredient that goes into our products. Our comprehensive ingredient glossary gives assurance of our formula quality.

The Herban Wisdom™ Facial Oil is teeming with antioxidant-rich ingredients that were carefully selected to provide well-rounded skin benefits. Just a few drops incorporated into your skincare ritual twice daily helps visibly renew your skin so it will appear calm, soothed, and balanced.

Ingredients that have potent antioxidant activity in the Herban Wisdom™ Facial Oil include:

Tamanu Seed Oil: Shown to have wound-healing and skin rejuvenation properties. Plays a role in anti-aging and skin regeneration by promoting collagen and GAG production.
Seabuckthorn Oil: Soothes and replenishes skin. Topically, it addresses anti-aging, skin rejuvenation, eczema, acne, and rosacea.
Black Cumin Seed Oil: Helps to nourish, moisturize, protect the skin from oxidative stress, and support overall skin health. Used to address eczema, psoriasis, and acne. Learn more about Black Cumin Seed Oil on our blog.
Fermentoil Glycyrrhiza: Addresses anti-aging, improves skin tone, brightens the skin, and provides UVB protection. Leaves skin feeling non-greasy due to its improved emulsifying capacity. Learn more about Fermentoil Glycyrrhiza on our blog.
Fermentoil Complex: Known to moisturize the skin, address anti-aging, fight acne, and increase collagen production. Learn more about Fermentoil Complex on our blog.
Pomegranate Seed Oil: Promotes the regeneration of the epidermis and inhibits the growth of acne-causing bacteria. Commonly used to address eczema and psoriasis.
Red Raspberry: Inhibits enzymes that lead to visible discoloration and loss of skin firmness, helps skin defend itself against UVB light, and addresses inflammatory conditions (such as eczema).
Blue Tansy Oil: Helps to calm, soothe, and cool the skin. Commonly used to address sensitive or problem skin.
Kakadu Plum: Supports healthy collagen, helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots and dullness, boosts radiance, and promotes overall skin health.
Tocopherol (Vitamin E): Protects skin from UVB damage, brings moisture to the skin, supports anti-aging, assists with wound healing, and promotes overall skin health.
Cranberry Oil: Provides a youthful glow to the skin.

Want all these antioxidant benefits for yourself? Shop the Herban Wisdom™ Facial Oil here.

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References:

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.575645/full [1]

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/antioxidants/#:~:text=We%20also%20extract%20free%2Dradical,maintain%20the%20health%20of%20cells. [2]

https://www.webmd.com/diet/features/the-benefits-of-vitamin-c#3#:~:text=Vitamin%20C%27s%20Role%20in%20the%20Body.%20Vitamin%20C%2C,and%20the%20maintenance%20of%20cartilage%2C%20bones%2C%20and%20teeth. [3]

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminE-HealthProfessional/ [4]

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium-consumer/ [5]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3850026/ [6]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6076941/ [7]

https://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/skincare-advice/ingredient-spotlight/antioxidants-sunscreen-sidekick-your-skin-needs.html [8]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5514576/ [9]

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/phpp.12423 [10]

https://www.peertechzpublications.com/articles/OJEB-2-104.php [11]

All About Reiki

Posted on September 16, 2021March 21, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

Reiki is a Japanese energy healing technique that was created by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. According to the International Center for Reiki Training, the practice is based on the idea that we all have unseen “life force energy” flowing through our bodies that keeps us alive.¹ While Reiki hasn’t been backed by science, those who’ve experienced it claim that it works miraculously for emotional stress and various medical conditions.

What is Reiki?

The term “reiki” comes from the Japanese words “rei,” meaning universal, and “ki,” meaning the vital life force energy that flows through all living things. According to some practitioners, Reiki is acupuncture without the needles.

It’s believed that you are more likely to get sick and feel anxiety if your life force energy is low, whereas someone with a high life force energy is more likely to be healthy and happy. Therefore, Reiki revolves around increasing the level of this energy in an individual.

To achieve a high level of energy, Reiki practitioners place their hands on or just above specific areas of the body. The belief is that the practitioner can stimulate your body’s natural healing abilities by becoming a channel for energy.

Reiki is a simple and natural method of spiritual healing that has been known to be effective against a variety of maladies and illnesses. Many individuals commonly use Reiki in conjunction with other medical and therapeutic techniques to relieve some side effects and promote a speedy recovery.

Health Benefits of Reiki

According to a 2007 study conducted by the National Institute of Health, 1.2 million adults and 161,000 children in the United States received energy healing therapy like Reiki in the previous year.² Additionally, according to a different study for the March-April 2017 issue of Holistic Nursing Practice, Reiki is now used by a rapidly growing number of Americans to aid in the healing of various ailments.³

While research on Reiki is limited, there are a few studies that have helped solidify the impact Reiki can have on your whole body. These studies have found that Reiki:

Promotes Relaxation

The most well-documented benefit of Reiki revolves around the relaxation response, which practitioners say invokes the body’s natural healing process.

Dr. Rachel Lampert, M.D., a professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine, and her colleagues studied 37 patients that were recovering from a heart attack. The patients were randomized into 3 groups: patients who simply rested, those who received 1 Reiki session from a Reiki practitioner, and those who listened to music. The researchers measured the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and breathing.

Lampert and her colleagues zoomed in on heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of the pattern of heartbeats that are controlled by the ANS. According to Lampert, the higher the HRV after a heart attack, the better the outlook for the patient.⁴

In the study, the patients who received Reiki had a higher HRV and improved emotional state than the other two groups of patients.

Eases Physical Pain and Improves Quality of Life

A multitude of studies have addressed Reiki’s role in pain alleviation after knee surgery, post-cesarean section recovery, the restoration of range of motion in injured shoulders, hypertension management, and the improvement of quality of life for patients with rheumatoid arthritis or patients undergoing various cancer treatments.

Zilda Alarcano, a Portuguese researcher, and her colleagues looked at the impact of Reiki treatments versus sham (placebo) Reiki in 2 groups of patients with blood cancer. Each group contained 58 individuals who received an hour-long Reiki treatment once a week for 4 weeks. The sessions were administered by trained Reiki practitioners or someone pretending to perform Reiki (sham Reiki).

The researchers found that the patients who received real Reiki showed significantly more improvements than the other group in general, physical, environmental, and social dimensions of quality of life. Their results were published in the 2016 issue of the European Journal of Integrative Medicine.⁵

Boosts Mood and Sleep

Research suggests that Reiki helps with depression and insomnia. A 2012 study in the Indian Journal of Positive Psychology involved 40 women who suffered from anxiety and depression. Half of the group received a Reiki treatment 2 times a week for 10 weeks, while the others received no Reiki treatments. The women who received Reiki saw significant improvements in both their sleep quality and depression symptoms.⁶

In another study, researchers at Harvard Medical School followed 99 patients at multiple sites to determine the effects of 1 Reiki session. The study, which was a single-arm effectiveness study published in the 2019 issue of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, found significant improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms, as well as nausea and pain.⁷

What Happens During a Reiki Session?

Even though Reiki boasts many holistic benefits, you may be hesitant or nervous to see a Reiki practitioner for a session, and those feelings are completely normal. However, based on your wishes, Reiki sessions can last just 20 minutes or up to 90 minutes. On top of that, you’ll always want to meet and learn about your practitioner before your first session.

Reiki practitioners have a passion to help you, so be sure to let them know:

Your expectations or intentions
The areas of the body you’d like them to focus on
If you’ve experienced any injuries
Places on your body that are sensitive to touch
Places on your body that are off-limits

During a Reiki session, you’ll be asked to sit in a comfortable chair or lie down on a table, fully clothed. Your Reiki practitioner will then place their hands lightly on or over specific areas of your head, limbs, and torso. Practitioners typically keep their hands in this position for 3-10 minutes to complete the energy transfer.

For the most part, there won’t be any talking during the session, but you should always let your Reiki practitioner know if there’s something you need to feel more comfortable or to share what you’re experiencing.

Crystals and Reiki

Many Reiki practitioners combine crystal healing with Reiki for added balance and to speed the body’s natural healing ability. If crystals are used during a Reiki session, they’re usually placed on or around your body or you may be asked to hold a crystal. While there’s not much research that supports the use of crystals to improve health, there have been numerous claims that they have a calming effect and help with healing.

Crystals that may be used during a Reiki session are:

Rose Quartz: Purifies and opens the heart at all levels to promote self-love, friendship, deep inner healing, and a feeling of peace.
Amethyst: Ensures emotional stability, reduces the strength of negative emotions and calms the mind.
Moonstone: Soothes emotional stability and cleanses negative energy from your chakras.
Topaz: Soothes, heals, stimulates, recharges, remotivates, and aligns the meridians of the body by directing energy where it needs to go.

Source: The John Harvey Gray Center for Reiki Healing

Reiki Healing for Beginners

Reiki is one of the safest energy healing modalities that anyone can learn to restore and strengthen their ki. While professional Reiki practitioners train for years to understand and navigate subtle energy shifts, you can also learn to work with energy and impact the flow of others quickly and in the comfort of your own home.

Here are a few novice Reiki techniques you can try on yourself and others:

First Step: Receive Energy

To begin any Reiki practice, you must activate the energy within yourself. Close your eyes and take a few rounds of deep breaths. Imagine the crown of your head opening and a stream of white light flowing from the top of your head, into your heart, and out through your hands and arms. Ask to be filled up with energy where you need it the most. This way, if you offer Reiki to a friend or family member, you will be full of energy.

As you feel the energy fill you, continue to breathe. If you find your mind becoming scattered or starting to question the process, regroup your mind and come back to your breath. Envision yourself as a vessel for healing, and then set an intention or prayer to receive healing energy of the highest good.

Reiki for Sleep

To give a sleep-focused Reiki session to a loved one, ask the recipient to lie down while you position yourself near their head. Imagine a steady stream of healing light going from your hands into the back of your head, clearing the mind of any pain or discomfort experienced recently.

Ask the recipient to take several deep breaths and slowly count an inhale of 3 seconds and an exhale of 3-5 seconds. Additionally, tell them to slowly navigate through their whole day one memory at a time and to thank each memory before letting it go with each breath.

Allow them to drift off as you continue to channel the energy through your palms and send the healing light into their body. Imagine the body becoming healed, relaxed, and ready for a good night’s rest. You can offer this Reiki session for as long as needed, but 15-30 minutes is most often enough to have the recipient feeling calm and ready for bed.

Reiki for Anxiety

Often, when people are experiencing anxiety and stress, they end up not breathing properly. This shortness of breath just causes more stress and ends up in a domino effect, worsening over time. During the Reiki session to address this, your goal is to channel energy down the recipient’s shoulders and into their body.

Place your hands on their shoulders for 10-15 minutes. Focus on sending energy to their whole body while breathing deeply with them. If the person you’re performing Reiki on is lying down, you can place your hands behind their head for added calmness.

Last Step: Sealing Off Energy

It’s important to offer gratitude, cleanse yourself, and close the energy once you’ve completed a Reiki session. This process can be as simple as stepping back, wiping your hands of any excess energy, and placing them in prayer to thank yourself, the energy, and the recipient for the exchange.

How to Find a Reiki Practitioner Near You

Professional associations are a great way to locate practitioners and teachers who take Reiki very seriously. The Reiki Alliance, the International Reiki Association, and the International Association of Reiki Practitioners offer tools for locating Reiki practitioners in your area.

Before booking a Reiki session, it’s important to know that Reiki is non-invasive and known to be safe, but is not intended to replace doctor-approved treatment plans. It should be used as a supplemental medicine for those who wish to participate.

Have you tried Reiki? How was the experience? Let us know in the comments!

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References:

https://www.reiki.org/faqs/what-reiki [1]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19361005/ [2]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28181973/ [3]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20828654/ [4]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382015300664 [5]

http://www.i-scholar.in/index.php/ijpp/article/view/53354 [6]

https://www.liebertpub.com/toc/acm/8/6 [7]

A Guide To Oil Pulling

Posted on August 26, 2021March 22, 2024 by Jennifer Norman

Originating in India from Ayurveda practices, oil pulling has been around for more than 3,000 years. While oil pulling is mostly known as the technique of swishing oils in your mouth for a few minutes a day to prevent dental issues, studies suggest that it benefits your entire body and can even supplement many beauty products you’re currently using. Knowing how to effectively oil pull while avoiding the potential risks and complications, though, is vital for an amazing experience that your whole body can enjoy.

Oil Pulling and Ayurveda

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic technique for healing cells, tissues, and organs by supporting the body’s elimination of toxic waste without disturbing the healthy microflora. It typically involves swishing sesame oil in the mouth first thing in the morning.¹

The Charaka Samhita, which is a Sanskrit text on Ayurveda and one of the two foundational Hindu texts on this field that survived from ancient India, was the first to mention swishing sesame oil in the mouth as a daily routine for oral health.²

On oil pulling, the Charaka Samhita says, “It is beneficial for strength of jaws, depth of voice, flabbiness of face, improving gustatory sensation and good taste for food. One used to this practice never gets dryness of throat, nor do his lips ever get cracked; his teeth will never be carious and will be deep-rooted; he will not have any toothache nor will his teeth set on edge by sour intake; his teeth can chew even the hardest edibles.”³

Two main oil pulling practices, Gandusha and Kavala, are described in Dinacharya (the Sanskrit term for daily Ayurvedic rituals):

Gandusha

The Gandusha method refers to filling the mouth in the morning with oil or medicated water daily and holding it for a few minutes without gargling. A Gandusha should be held in the mouth until there is uncontrollable salivation.

It’s been used to prevent decay, oral malodor, gum bleeding, dryness of the throat, cracked lips, and to strengthen the teeth, jaw, and gums. If practiced routinely, Gandusha enhances the senses, maintains clarity in the voice, and brings about a feeling of freshness, while also relieving pain and discomfort.⁴

Kavala

Kavala involves holding a much smaller amount of oil in the mouth in comparison to Gandusha. After 3 minutes of gargling, the oil can be spit out.

It’s been used to prevent cracked lips, gum bleeding, weak teeth, bad breath, and other issues that can infect the gums, teeth, or jaw. Additionally, Kavala has many of the same healing properties and benefits as Gandusha.⁵

If you’re interested in learning more about Ayurveda, check out our blog post that explores the holistic healing practice in-depth.

The Benefits of Oil Pulling

While many people add oil pulling to their daily routine to improve oral hygiene, the technique has benefits that span beyond just the mouth. However, research on oil pulling is limited, which means there’s a lot of debate as to how beneficial it is. With the rising popularity of oil pulling in modern times, though, science-backed studies have begun to explore the method. Here are 4 amazing, scientifically confirmed benefits of oil pulling:

1. Kills Harmful Bacteria in Your Mouth and Prevents Cavities

There are around 700 types of bacteria that can live in your mouth, and up to 350 of them may be living in your mouth right now.⁶ Certain types of bacteria can cause tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease.⁷

Several studies have shown that oil pulling can reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth. In a 2 week study administered on children, oil pulling with sesame oil daily was found to significantly reduce the number of bacteria found in saliva and plaque.⁸ Another study that asked 60 participants to pull with coconut oil for 2 weeks had the same antibacterial results.⁹

2. Improves Skin

It may be hard to believe, but oil pulling is excellent for your skin and has even been proven to alleviate conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Oil pulling in the morning removes toxins that have accumulated the night before, preventing them from entering your bloodstream and contributing to unfavorable skin, which means that acne, dullness, and rashes can be mitigated.¹⁰

Additionally, exercising your jaw muscles with gargling encourages blood flow to your face. This can help tighten your skin and smooth out those pesky smile lines.¹¹ You don’t have to stop at gargling oil; you can also try oil cleansing to rid your skin of potential breakouts.

3. Reduces Inflammation and Improves Gum Health

Oil pulling works to decrease harmful bacteria and plaque in the mouth that can contribute to gum disease like gingivitis, which is marked by red, swollen gums that bleed easily. Using certain oils with anti-inflammatory properties, like coconut oil, can help to reduce the inflammation associated with gum disease.

In one study, 60 participants with gingivitis began oil pulling for 30 days. After one week, a significant improvedment in gum health resulted.¹² A decrease in plaque, an improvement in gingivitis, and a reduction of harmful oral bacterias were also noted.¹³

4. Corrects Hormonal Imbalances

Making oil pulling a habit can help improve hormone imbalances. Some of the most common hormonal benefits reported include more regular menstrual cycles and reduced symptoms associated with PMS.

Coconut oil, for example, is full of fatty acids that assist in hormone delivery within the body. Thus, it supports the creation, processing, and elimination of estrogen and progesterone that lead to hormonal imbalances.¹⁴

The Best Oils for Oil Pulling

Oil pulling is an easy, inexpensive technique to incorporate into a daily routine. It only requires one ingredient which can usually be found in your kitchen. Traditionally, sesame oil is the preferred ingredient according to Ayurvedic texts; however, many other oils are now being used. It is important to note that you should never use non-food-grade oils for oil pulling.

These are the 4 oils you can safely use when oil pulling:

Olive oil contains oleic acid that is antimicrobial. Additionally, it has Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and other substances that are anti-inflammatory and antioxidants.
Coconut oil is full of lauric acid which reacts with the alkali substances that are present in the saliva, which helps to kill bacteria. It’s also a natural antiseptic.
Sunflower oil and sesame oil are used by most Ayurvedic practitioners today as they both contain an abundance of fatty acids that reduce plaque and eliminate bacteria. Their detoxification properties also make the duo popular for oil pulling.

Tip: You can mix coconut oil with sesame or sunflower oil to get broader benefits!

Oil Pulling Melts

If spooning a few drops of oil into your mouth makes you uncomfortable, you can try whipping up your own “melts” to make the experience more enjoyable. Oil pulling “melts” are essentially refrigerated servings of oil that melt in your mouth as you chew and swish. Here is an easy recipe to make at home:

Ingredients:

Coconut oil
Essential oil of your choice
A silicone candy mold

Directions:

In a small pan, melt the coconut oil on low heat.
Add a few drops of the essential oil you chose to the coconut oil.
Using a measuring cup, pour the mixture into the silicone candy mold.
Let cool in the refrigerator for a few hours before use.
Store the melts in a glass jar or keep them in the refrigerator.

DIY Oil Pulling

Oil pulling can be extremely beneficial for your whole body if done often and correctly. Here steps you can take for an effective oil pulling experience:

In the mornings on an empty stomach, dispense 1 to 2 teaspoons of your preferred oil in your mouth. Make sure to use high-quality oils!
Swish for 20 minutes. This may seem daunting at first, but it does get easier. Swishing the oil gently helps reduce the discomfort sometimes associated with oil pulling. Make sure to not swallow the oil after swishing since it’s full of the harmful toxins that you worked so hard to rid your body of.
Spit the oil in the trash can, not the sink. Coconut oil, for example, can regain a solid form, leading to clogged pipes.
Rinse well with warm water.
Brush your teeth as normal to get rid of the remaining bacteria.

Repeat these steps a few times a week or up to 3 times daily. You may also want to work your way up, starting with swishing for just 5 minutes instead of 20. Eventually, you will be able to swish for the entire time with ease.

Seek a Professional’s Advice First

Before giving oil pulling a try you should seek a professional’s advice to make sure it’s right for you and your health. Considering that oil pulling requires a large amount of oil, it’s vitally important to be aware of possible allergic reactions.

Besides allergic reactions, other reported side effects of oil pulling are: